Bring it 2010!!

This is us right now ... gearing up for a fun-filled New Year's party at the Howards!!

Merry Christmas ... a little late

We actually decorated the first of the month ... so we could enjoy Christmas goodness all month long:

Michael was a sport and let me play Christmas music the whole time :)

Baileycat helped by getting in the tree box:

Bailey was the most interactive this Christmas than ever before ...

... here she sat riveted while Michael opened presents:

and then she found another box to take a nap in:

Michael got me an AMAZING jewelry armoire (left in the pic) and a kindle ... then I checked my email to find a great amazon gift card from Phillis and Bruce so I can start buying books!):

Jan and Steve sent the kids some great gifts and us a Las Vegas puzzle! The puzzle that Michael got me last year is still a "work-in-process" on our kitchen table ... I can't wait to do this one!!

Michael enjoying some of his new toys:

... and then enjoying Pigdog on his lap and a cup of coffee:

Piglet helping out in the kitchen:

Piglet got a new Rudolph (aka Rudy) from Mandy and the girls, as well as a really loud Christmas chicken from Jan!

This was our last Christmas in Oki - Whoop!!

Whimsical Christmas Toes

Here are my last toes for Christmas from Okinawa :) I've gone "responsible" (aka pretty, but boring) on all the other Christmas toes I've gotten and I was determined to get something fun before Christmas came and went this year ...

From the littlest piggy ... candy cane (can't be seen b/c I have little pygmy feet), candy cane, Rudolph, Christmas tree, Frosty

How cool are these toes. I love them.

I cut my hair!!

The before pics:

The after pics - I had about 6 inches cut off!!

Christmas Toes

Here are our toes for Christmas!! Phillis went with poinsettias and snowflakes, while I went with a Christmas argyle :)

Michael's Mom Came To Visit!

Michael's mom, Phillis, came to visit for Thanksgiving! We were able to show off our island a little bit and she was the first person to stay in our guest room! I had to work the first few days, but Michael took her down to Shuri Castle:

Phillis with a big Shisa:

Michael and her in front of the castle:

Nothing like a little overpopulation:

We went and had our toes done at Cocok's so she had some fancy Christmas toes to take back to Texas:

We went down South to the glass factory:

... and then we went to Peace Prayer Park and ate at Cafe Caracuma (Thai in the Sky)!

at one of the memorials they had the cool origami cranes hanging:

We made pumpkin pies and German chocolate pecan pies for Thanksgiving (for the Marines and us):

Michael made his delightful stuffing:

We went to Expo Park and toured the Aquarium. Here is Michael and I in front of a turtle and a dolphin :)

We saw a REALLY cool close-up view of some dolphins:

Michael and Phillis got splashed:

We also saw the dolphin show where this cute little guy stuck his tongue out at us :P

I got caught in a megaladon's wrath:

and we ended the night with a perfect sunset :)

... even Baileycat LOVED the tunnel that Phillis brought her. We still can't keep her out of it!

Thanks for coming to visit us!