Around these Parts

There has been a lot of outdoors activities going on around our house lately.  Aaron has been off since the weekend after Christmas and Blake has been out of school and returned on Monday so we have had lots of time to hang out and be a family. 

We've been on this tiny island for almost 2 years and Aaron still hasn't been driving around on the south end (he was deployed when have been so I guess he has an excuse).  It really is pretty down there and living here you really seem to forget how beautiful it is.

We went to some forts and parks so here are some pics from our adventures~ minus the ton that I can't seem to get off of a BRAND NEW SD card... Grrrr!

 Sirena Beach~ on base

Harbor

 

Two Lovers Point

  Some Spanish Fort

 

 

Fish Eye~ don't mind my crazy hand :)

 Great Barracuda behind Aaron~ he was 4-5 ft long and about 9" tall 

Snorkel date at GabGab while Blake was in school

 

 

Flowers around our house

On to other stuff...  since we have been here I have been looking for a job and putting in applications like crazy for the school but nothing ever comes from them, since I am not transferring from one DoD school to another I don't have that preference :( I also put in for a job at the old dive shop that was on base (a lady we knew worked there and was leaving) but their contract was ending.... not luck again.  But then a new dive shop opened up and I put in an application and went in for an interview and left with this "I'm offering you a position but need to write up a schedule and I'll email you in about a week after we get our new system".... how cool is that :)  So I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this comes through and I will get my shop t-shirt to make it official!  This would be the PERFECT job for me~ fun, dive related, learn new stuff about diving and equipment, and possibly get higher certifications for free, and I won't be bored throughout the day and it will work around Blake's school time!  I am really excited just waiting for that email :)

I just want to share a product that I heard about on Pinterest and fell in love with, it's OPI Nail Envy!  It makes your nails stronger and makes them rounded on the sides to keep the edges from cracking, breaking, and peeling which seems to be an issue with my nail.  I usually have to repaint my nails every few days and lightly file them down every time but not with this stuff, you put 2 coats on with forst application then 1 coat every other day for a week, then remove and start over~ it is absolutely great.  I am hard on my nails since I'm not a girly girl I work out in the yard and flower beds, do dishes by hand... all the fun stuff and my nails are still going strong after a week and a half :)   I got the original here but they also have a Matte formula as well!



That's a wrap!
 TTFN

Peppermint on a Shelf~ 2012

Last year I wanted to do the Elf on a Shelf with Blake but being in Guam I remembered to late to get one here in time so I waited ever so patiently for this year!  He arrived right on time and made his presence known to a little boy in our house.  At first this little one was not so sure and hated the idea of someone watching him until he figured out it was a game!  So here is what Peppermint has been up to so far.

 Just hangin' out

On Blake's Christmas tree in his room

Eating marshmallows

 Taking a ride

We made cookies and Blake saved him one "just in case he gets hungry again"!

He obviously enjoyed them :)

The stache'

Swingin'

Blake has had a lot of fun with him.  So happy I remembered this year :)

Diving

I know I am very very behind on my post and you'll have to forgive me b/c I am not going to back track but start fresh :)  

So today we were invited to go down to one of the bee-u-tiful beaches and go diving with a few of our friends.  So this AM we woke up and got ready packing the cooler, our dive gear, sand toys, and a few other things and we were on the road.  We stopped by and rented an umbrella with picnic tables, then went by the dive shop to get our tanks... we were set!  

Here are some pictures from both of our dives at GabGab 1 that we have been on!

My babe

 

Us in our SEXY suits!!

Our spot for the day! (not sure who the girl is)

Blake and 1, yes 1, of his girls

I was crossing my fingers and toes that my sinuses would cooperate with me for today.  I started getting very congested on Halloween night and it is STILL here but I was able to knock a few (okay maybe more than a few) Ibuprofen and Decongestants.  Even when getting into the water I wasn't 100% sure I would be able to do it but after getting out and down I was okay and could clear my ears!  I did however have lots of pressure in my head but I was good (oh and I came up with a bloody nose).  Once we turned around and was heading back (I had 1500 psi left in my tank) I was getting very light and started to float upward (not a good thing when you are 67 ft down).   My dive buddies had to hold onto me to keep me from ascending (thank Lisa and Aaron)... so lesson learned I need more weight... like double it probably!  I am also oh so happy that we invested in wetsuits since last weekend.  I would have froze my butt off today. 

We had a blast and will hopefully make this a regular thing!  We normally have our neighbor watch Blake but we really like having him around but obviously we can't both dive and have him so this was perfect we had 3 families down there so we broke up into 2 groups and went out separately since there were 4 small kids and 2 older kids between all of us.  Blake was beyond ready for bed tonight since had had been playing with his girls all day long! 

Anywho, Lisa (one of my dive buddies for today) and I are going diving on Wednesday this week!  I can't wait!!     

Tomorrow we are going to the Hyatt for a day at the pool!  Lisa's crew may be coming to hang with us... again (we haven't seen each other in ages :)

Well TTFN

Playing Catch-Up

Sorry about the delay in writing!  When we got home our house was full of all of our outside stuff, to the point where I couldn't cook in the kitchen.  I had to put the tarp back up before I put everything back outside which took some days since it was rainy.  Then we had Blake's end of school year stuff going on and then to top it all off we have been under the weather for a few weeks so needless to say we have been busy and when I'm not I just want to relax. 

So anyways, our trip to Japan was awesome.  I didn't really know if it was going to be worth it to go see Aaron and all that since he was going to be coming home 3 weeks later but to see the look on Blake's face at the airport was priceless and made it ALL worth it.  We were all happy to be a family again :) 

The first and last day in Japan we went to Miyajima Island and it was awesome.  It's an island that people live on, shop at, eat at, site see, etc.  There is also deer that wander around the island and you can pet and they try to steal your food... I think they plot their attack :)  There is also many shrines, temples, parks and an aquarium.  I took a ton of pictures but here are a few...

On the train

 

Blake petting a deer

Temple

You can see the all the pictures from day 1 here and from day 6 here.

Day 2 we went to the Kintai Bridge and to the Iwakuni Castle.  Not much to talk about here it was just gorgeous so I'll let the pictures do the talkin' :)

Kintai Bridge

Cable car to the top of the very tall, steep mountain and the castle

View from the castle

You can see the whole album here.

Day 3 we took a $40 taxi ride each way to go to the Chicken Shack which was a FANTASTIC restaurant/store.  We were a little confused when we first got there b/c it was this open air place with tables put all over in no particular place and there were many kitchens.  So anyways we walked through while looking at our map and made our way back to the front and looked at the menu and well we can't write nor speak fluent Japanese so we had a little Japanese help with writing our order down... thanks friendly Japanese people!!  We went and sat down at a table with a great view and waited for our food to be brought to us we ordered 2 chicken havles, 2 rice, 2 gyoza, 1 udon soup!!  It was fantastic... I haven't had better food in a loooonnnggg time.  

When we pulled up

Cooking rice

view from table to the right

Another to the left

Here is the link to all the pictures.... enjoy!

Day 4 and 5 I wasn't feeling well and running a fever (Blake was sick on day 2 and gladly gave it to me).  Aaron worked half days these days and Blake and I just hung out on base and wen to play grounds.  Day 6 we went to Miyajima Island for the second time and the pictures are on the link with day 1.  

One of the days 4 or 5 we went a little Mexican place that a a mile from the base so we walked there and since I wasn't feeling well we got a taxi home.  Surprisingly it was pretty good... I know Mexican food in Japan weird but good!  We also went to Thai place one day that wasn't good at all.

We stayed in Japan for a week and were very sad to leave daddy.  We got on the plane and Blake turns to me with tears in his eyes and tells me he misses daddy :(  I knew he would but didn't expect him to vocalize it since he didn't really acknowledge him being gone for the past 5 1/2 months.  I felt horrible but told him daddy would be home in 3 1/2 weeks.  So, note to self never go see daddy during a deployment until the end.

Blake's last day of school was last Thursday and so there was a few of us moms that took the kids to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate :)  The kids had a fantastic time which is all that matters!

We are also awaiting the return of daddy.  He gets home on Tuesday and we are very excited :)  I will post pictures of his homecoming if I can get some!

Until next time...

TTFN

So Sorry

Sorry I haven't written a blog in a while.  Blake and I got back from Japan but we have been busy with the end of school year for Blake, yes you heard me right, my little man is growing up.  We also have been under the weather lately with allergies (my favorite).  So, I promise to write a blog here shortly of what's been going lately but to be honest I feel like crap so it'll have to wait!  I just thought I'd write a hello since I see I have had some of you checking in on me :)  

Till next time...

TTFN