Happy 2010!!

We had a great New Year's Eve - it was our best one on island!!

Here is me and Pigdog before we headed to the Howard's house:

Shelly explaining the "rules" for the night.

Chris (BN FRO), broke the rule first ... and had to take a shot and wear the stylish bow-tie:

after a while, the bow-tie couldn't keep up with who was the last one to have to take a shot ... somehow Jim ended up wearing it most of the night!

Shelly kept adding words to the "forbidden" list :)

Travis upset that he had to take more shots:

Eventually we all meandered outside since it was chilly :P

The CO enjoying a cigar:

then it started going downhill ... when the girls wrote out things for the guys to act out and vice versa in a game of charades. Here, Michael is acting out "brazillian wax" ... they actually guessed it!!

the best part of the night was enjoying the firepit outside ...

Happy New Year!!! May you have a healthy and happy 2010!!

This is the year we head back to the states ... WHOOP!!

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!