Touring the USS Midway

Though the weather was still not perfectly clear, we got out of the house today and headed to the USS Midway in San Diego.  It was the longest serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, over 200,000 sailors have served on the carrier.  I have never been on a carrier before, so it was a learning experience for the boys and I.  

The museum was perfect for the boys because it was very interactive.  There were buttons to press, and even rides.  Z Step got to go on a virtual ride with daddy and was so excited.  

Z step is at the bottom testing out some seats.  He insisted on wearing a seatbelt.  When the first one was broken he had to find one that wasn't.  

Z Step was very excited to see the yellow plane on his ticket.  

this was glass that you could look down at and see the engine

After the rides and some exploring it was time for lunch.  They boys devoured their food, as always, and went to explore the flight deck.  

Z Step waiting on his food.  I love this photo!

Recognize this?  This is what hubby flew in when he was deployed on the Essex.  We couldn't leave the museum without buying a toy for the boys

We then went downstairs to explore some of what life aboard the ship was like.  

Some of the details in the ship

We are enjoying being semi-close to a lot of fun things, and this trip was a reminder of that.  We made great friends, and the boys had a blast.  We look forward to exploring San Diego a little more in future visits.  I liked it much better than Santa Monica and Los Angeles, that's for sure.  

New but old friends

When we moved to California, we knew we were in for a very special bond of friendships, much like in Okinawa.  We had heard wonderful things about the military community, but we hadn't thought about the community of friends we would meet outside of the USMC.  

This weekend, we ventured into Vista, CA to visit some old friends of Daddy Step's.  He grew up with both the husband and wife, and has fond memories together.  They live out in Vista, CA now with their adorable children.  As it may be- they are extremely close in age to Z Step and E Step, and one even share a name.  

Vista was not nearly as far as I imagined.  It was 2 1/2 hours with no stops, which is quite impressive for California traffic.  It was a really pretty drive, we drove through the desert, lots of farms, vineyards, and eventually into Vista, which is just a drive from the Pacific Ocean.  California really does change dramatically with just a short drive!  

Eventually we made it, and the kids immediately began playing.  Our boys have been without many toys for months now, and they really needed the social interaction and kid-friendly home.  This was a perfect weekend getaway.  

Unfortunately, the rain followed us into Vista.  Can you believe it has rained 6 times since we have moved out here?  I thought it hardly ever rains!  I am beginning to not believe that fact anymore.  Our beach day on Saturday was rained out, but we made the best of it.  Lots of playing, a playground, and dinner off the grill.  We have really missed grilling- we still don't have a home or our things.  

They see me rollin...

They had so much fun.  Unfortunately I was having some camera issues and didn't get the most clear shots

Z Step was so excited to feed the lizards crickets

E Step taking some guidance on proper chalk technique

Z Step and E Step really needed this weekend.  Not only do we need to escape Twentynine Palms from time to time, but we also needed to play with some kids our age.  This was perfect, as they all hit it off so well.  Z Step cried and was begging us to turn around in the car to go back to his friends.  There was talk of marriage and a baby with their oldest girl.  I'm not sure if I'm ready for that one yet!

A family to be thankful for

 Thanksgiving is a time of year for you to gather with those you love and reflect on what you are thankful for.  Usually, you spend this time thinking about just how lucky you are to have that family.  This is our third year in Japan for thanksgiving.   I've heard before that "You have two families.  Those you are born into, and those who become your family."  Though the families we were born into could not spend another thanksgiving with us, we are grateful for the wonderful family we have here.  We have spent the past 3 thanksgivings with completely different groups of people that are like our second family.  This year, we spent it with our friends, the Snyders.  

And what's a thanksgiving without a grilled turkey?  Yep.  Once again, Dima grilled our turkey.  It has become a tradition now, and I will never allow him to make it any other way.  A roasted or even deep fried turkey is nothing compared to the juicy grilled turkey that Dima makes.  It's made with fresh herbs and citrus and topped with a white wine gravy.  Does it get any better then that?  Yes!  It does!  Because this year, Dima decided to also grill a stuffed turkey breast topped with turkey bacon.  Us girls took over all the sides.  Angie made a LOT.  She made spinach dip, a while ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, candied yams, pumpkin pie, 2 pies, stuffing, and a fruit salad.  She is quite a cook, and Dima was really looking forward to her pumpkin pie, as she makes a mean one!  I planned on making a lot, but leave it to our commissary to run out of all the things I needed.  I was able to make a pumpkin hummus dip, HEALTHY green bean casserole, purple potatoes with a maple sauce, and pumpkin brownies.  We were well fed this year, with plenty of leftovers.  

Zach was helping with the potatoes.  He was saying, "Hot!"

 

This being Zach's second thanksgiving, we were very excited.  Zach is a piggie, so a holiday centered around food was right up his ally.  Eli of course can't eat food yet, but he came along to hang out in our arms as we took turns eating.  We all ate some yummy food, had some wine, and hung out with some of our wonderful Oki family.  Zach was on crazy mode afterwards, so we let him stay up a little later to play.  

Zach was having so much fun with Tim!

It was a lovely evening, and it makes me think just how much I'll miss this next year.  As much as I look forward to spending a holiday with our families for the first time in years, I will miss the simplicity of our life here.  We are very thankful that they are in our lives.  

Day's done... Gone the sun...

The evenings in Okinawa are always pleasant.  The heat is finally going away, and the sun begins to set just outside our house.  This is one of the things I'm going to miss most about Okinawa.  We have the most beautiful sunsets.  Dima was lucky enough to catch this beautiful sunset from the side of our house.  After snapping the photos, our neighbor Tim drove up.  Dima played paparazzi.  He took about a dozen photos, but i'm only showing a few.  The sunsets, and these great friends- two things I'm going to miss.  That's if we ever find out about moving.  At this rate we'll live here forever! 

Another farewell

In the almost 3 years we've lived in Okinawa, we've said goodbye to many of our best friends.  We are at the point now where we've said goodbye to almost all of our best friends- many of which have gotten here after us!  It's sad, but it's a part of military life.  Boy do I wish we knew when and where we were moving right about now!  

This weekend we threw a going away party for our friends, the Blenkush family.  Jon and Alicia are a dual military couple who are both stationed on Kadena.  In their 3 years here, they have barely spent much time together, let alone time in their house!  They have both deployed many times and have been sent on mission after mission.  Unfortunately in our three years here, we haven't gotten to spend as much time with them as we would have liked, because they were never home!  But now, Alicia is out processing from the Air Force, and they are packing out for their new duty station in Oklahoma.  We have been very lucky to have gotten to spent a lot of time with them both in the past few weeks before they fly out! 

Since it's the fall, an "Oktoberfest" type party was in order.  Grilled Turkey, smoked turkey legs, homemade pretzels, and lots of yummy foods awaited us, along with a few friends and a bon fire!  We had so much fun celebrating fall and fair-welling our great friends.  We are going to miss them so much!  Can't wait to see you guys again!  

Ann Marie Made this cute sign!

Mummies in a Blanket!

These were some of the yummiest fluffiest homemade pretzels!  Awesome!

I made this pumpkin hummus/veggie tray!

Ford was working on this thing for about 2 hours!

Stealing food

My little woodstock and I

He never stopped eating!

A horse, hanging out... drinking a beer!

Best costume ever!

This party knocks off one of our fall fun five!  

Fall Feast!

Let's play some football!

Our neighbor, Joey is a ball of energy.  He's constantly on the run and is quite honestly hard to keep up with.  So when his parents asked him what sport he'd like to play a few months ago- it was no surprise that he decided on football.  For weeks after being issued his gear, he was running around outside with his helmet and shoulder pads on.  He was so excited and proud to be a football player and was excited for his season to start.  

This morning, we decided we would go to one of his football games.  Zach would love watching and seeing other people outside of our house, and we could all get some fresh air.  It was a beautiful day- perfect for a day of football!  (ok, maybe not perfect- it's still very hot out so it's not exactly that fall weather you envision with football!)  We packed up the stroller with all of Eli's stuff (amazing how much stuff is required for an hour outing with an infant) and headed up to the field for the bulldog's first game!

We had a great time watching, and seriously- how cute is it to watch a bunch of 6-7 year olds with football gear on?  Half of them were crying the entire time, but it was still a show to see.  Joey did great and his team won!  

Zach seemed to fit right in- he sat right down in a lawn chair and stole Wendy's water bottle and went to town.  He ended up drinking the entire thing while sitting and chatting with her.  He occasionally yelled "GO GO GO!" and even motioned "touchdown" once.  He liked watching everyone clap and cheer for the teams, and joined in.  The problem was he was cheering for the other team.  Guess he's showing good sportsmanship!  That's my boy!  

We had an awesome time and it makes me excited for the days when my boys play sports.  Whatever sports they decide on that is!  

GO BULLDOGS!

Getting ready for the game

He loves making silly faces!

Joey at half time!

What a face

My littlest little football fan!

This little girl was really into her cheering!

Looks like a wink there!

Does it get any cuter?

LOTS to finish!

Zach gearing up for the weekend with Mommy and Daddy's protein powder

 As we fast approach the end of my pregnancy, we have both felt a rush to get things done before baby is born.  The house is clean and prepped for baby's arrival for the most part (minus some decorating in baby's room!) and we are in the process of mentally preparing for another newborn.  In our prep, we are crossing off the final things from our list.  And this weekend has really been a busy one in that department so far, with much more to come soon! 

The first thing we crossed off our list was flying a kite.  This was actually done last week, just before the typhoon came.  We figured flying a kite just hours before a typhoon was a great idea with an infant.  So we headed out to the front yard with our new kite!  Unfortunately, the wind was kind of funky that morning.  It would be strong for a little bit, but then there would be no wind, causing our kite to fall down.  But in any case, we flew a kite outside.  A flying monkey kite at that!  We look forward to using it again!

Who wouldn't want a flying monkey kite?

Daddy trying to get it going

It was only in the air for a short time

Next up was tye dying.  When I was a kid, I seemed to tye dye a lot.  I was a girl scout, and we always took advantage of this past time.  When I got older, I was able to tye dye once a week at summer camp.  But here in Okinawa, I had not yet done this summer task.  I tried and tried to get RIT dye at the "craft" store on the island, but they had been out since June.  FINALLY they got a shipment in and I was able to tye dye!  We dyed clothes for the baby, a polo for Zach, and some of mommy's old clothes that had some stains.  One is a maternity shirt that was too big, so it may go to the thrift shop or pregnant friends down the road.  We invited some of the neighbors to dye with us who had never done it before.  I hope their stuff came out good! 

Mommy's shirt and shorts

Zach's polo and some onesies for the baby

Claire and Ben's shirts

Natalie's clothes

Popcorn balls were also on our list.  I remember popcorn being something I ate a lot of in the summertime as a kid.  I don't eat much popcorn these days, as I'm a cleaner eater now.  But I do believe in once in awhile indulgences in moderation, and this was just what that was.  Dima invited a friend of his from work over for lunch, which was the perfect excuse for some popcorn balls.  It was also Dima's excuse to get some Madden in with his friend!

mommy's caprese salads

The boys brought over a skateboard and their helmet.  Zach loved the helmet!

Silly boy.

Caramel popcorn balls

For the first time EVER Dima was beat at Madden.  Look at the score and the fact that it was the 3rd quarter!

A very exciting one to cross off was a slip and slide.  This was a neighborhood effort, as our neighbors the McDaniels and the Snyders got to join us in the fun!  Zach had SO much fun.  He is completely fearless going down the slide, and he had a ball the entire time.  Who am I kidding?  We ALL had fun.  Yes, 1 week away from my due date, I too went down the slip n slide! 

Mom, you're embarrassing me.  Let me play!

WEEE!

Ready to go!

I love this!

Fearless

He LOVES to "wash wash wash" 

He loves washing his hands

 

He loves splashing around at the bottom!

Snuggling with Ms. Courtney

Daddy had a little bit too much fun playing with the hose!

 After our slip and slide fun we were invited to our friends, Jon & Alicia's for dinner.  They are both great cooks and cooked up an amazing Thai dinner (my favorite!) for us.  They are a dual Air Force couple, and are both about to leave for a few weeks.  They will both be gone for our new arrival and wanted to have us over to enjoy some adult time before welcoming a newborn.  They had originally planned on making mojitos for the non-pregnant drinkers but my mint plant died from the typhoon.  Instead, we crossed another thing off our list- Pina Coladas!  Alicia was nice enough to make a non-alcoholic version for me.  They were wonderful!  One of my favorite drinks by far, though best with the booze!

And so ends another day of our weekend.  If you can believe it, we still have one more day of the weekend to cross more off our list!  More to come soon!  In the meantime, we are very close to the end of our list!  If I didn't go into labor by now with all of this fun then I don't think I ever will!

Stepanoff Summer Sixty Checkoff:

Fly a Kite

Tye Dye

Slip n slide

Popcorn balls

Pina Coladas