Happy Halloween 2015

The kids had and I quote "the best Halloween ever!!!!" As they put it!

The Japanese are sponsored on base in swarms and we must have had nearly 1,000 trick or treaters! I ran out of candy around the 650 mark and borrowed from a neighbor. 

The Japanese love our American holidays and are as polite as ever saying "trick-or-treat-o"!! And most would give the girls a Japanese treat when we have them a piece of our candy!! 

For the first time the kids enjoyed handing out candy more than collecting it! They fought over the candy bowl on the front porch and Maddy particularly took it on as her duty. 

Student Zombie Abigail

Cheerleader Maddy

Japanese visitors--Abby was asked many times during the night to take photos with the Japanese kids! 

Fire Safety

Maddy's kindergarten class walked to the base fire station today for a field trip! 

They were very thorough in explaining every aspect of their jobs. 

Sitting at the fire chiefs desk!

Learning that 30 firemen are on site daily to run the station. 

Growing pains!! No more babies

The girls got their school pictures back!

Abby just turned 8, and Maddy turns 6 November 4th VERY soon!!! 

Happy Halloween

Last weekend our squadron hosted a Progressive Halloween Dinner!

Four courses at four different homes. 

One of the many reasons I love living on base. We just walked between our homes....in costume! So much fun! 

Forever Friendships

I am lucky to call so many military families FRIENDS!! Today we got a special package from our friends in Germany.....delicious treats!!!

Earlier in the summer I sent their two boys a package from Japan! So fun to be living in different countries and exchange cultures!!

Carved

The girls pumpkins "we" carved!! Kid designed....mom created.... They questioned my carving skills since it's usually dads job! They approved!

Pumpkins

We carved pumpkins today!! They both helped gut their pumpkins. And I carved them! Maddy chose a cat, Abby chose a spooky face. And I did Mikes plane!

Fall is coming!!

The girls love playing on he swings at their school when I pick them up!!

And Thursday night their school hosted a very fun Fall Carnival night!! 3 hours of games and food and fun!! 

After they went to bed I joined my awesome neighbors for a bonfire out back!! It's turning into Fall and I love it!!

Sake!!!

This past week I was able to go on a tour at a Sake distillery in Tokyo! We did more drinking than learning!! So we did it right!

The tour included a set lunch with alcohol! Four beers from the brewery on site and sake!! 

Family-Fun Times

We managed to squeeze in a lot of family time in the short 17 days Mike was home! Abby had this new board game that we tried!! Maddy was trying to guess what kind of animal she was!! 

Yakiniku

We celebrated Mike's final meal home tonight going out for Yakiniku! Essentially Korean BBQ where you grill your own meat and veggies at your table! The menu was amazing and it was a 'set' course (all you can eat price $25 ea adult, kids half price). So you could order any type and quantity of meat and they walk it to your table raw! Then there was the huge variety of veggies, kimchi, soups, octopus balls and more!! 

Mike was pretty satisfied with the all you can drink beer set for $10!!! 

Aquarium Fieldtrip

Maddys class had a field trip to our local aquarium today! And I was able to be a volunteer!! She loved having me there. I was in charge of her and two other girls from her class!! 

Shoulder rides!!

She is going to miss having these shoulders to ride on for a number of weeks!! It's been how she gets home from school almost everyday! Her own feet will have to do for now......

Where does the time go??

The past two weeks have flown by! And we've enjoyed every minute!! We celebrated with some bubbly tonight....knowing more days together are just on the horizon. 

Truly though I can't wait until my couch is full like this every night!! Getting to snuggle daddy is a luxury!! 

USS Ronald Reagan

Mike and I made a trip down to the aircraft carrier today (an hour south). He needed to drop off his personal items on the boat....we had a nice lunch at Chili's on base, and did a little shopping since the base stores are a bit larger there. 

Selfie with Old Ronnie!! Second time for Mike on this ship. It's amazing being able to walk on as a bystander, and appreciate the magnitude of this vessel and all it contains within its steel walls. Seeing the behind the scene workings is humbling. I watched them bring aboard pallets of dry cereal!! Just a blip on the radar of what it takes to sustain thousands on a ship at sea for weeks and months!!

Abby's Birthday

Abby turned 8!!!!!!!

We celebrated very low key at home, and she requested sushi-go-round for her birthday dinner. 

Wedding Bells

I had the most amazing weekend in Los Angeles celebrating my youngest sisters wedding. It was wonderful to see all my family, and so amazing to watch Sarah and Dustin make vows to each other! 

Cheers to endless years of happiness! 

Date Together---Middle of the day....no kids!!!

Mike and I squeezed in a day date today while he was off work and before I left for my trip back to the states. We explored somewhere I've never been before, so it was great to get out!

Enoshima Island

Enoshima Shrine

Mount Fuji in the background 

Cave exploring 

By candlelight 

I tried Black Vanilla soft serve!