Christmas

The USO is really good to us here. 

The kids had a lot of fun at this show and it was FREE!

Happy Birthday to Troy.

Ben is doing Karate now. He's so cute, but he's only just recently realized that he has to remember the moves to make it to the next level of yellow belt. I guess for the first two months of lessons he was just getting warmed up . He's getting more serious now. 

Veronica was given the one and only speaking role in her school Thanksgiving production. She is so responsible and brave. They sang some pretty cute songs. 

William's birthday breakfast.

William's crocodile cake.

We went to an indoor play place to celebrate William's birthday and the kids had a really good time. They played for 3 hours straight. They were tired and sweaty in a way that makes parents happy.

The Japanese kids at the play place were pretty nice, except for one girl who stayed in this ball pit the whole time throwing balls at kids who came down the slide, all the while screaming and crying. 

Happy as a clam.

William wanted lots of french fries for his special birthday dinner so we went to Chili's. They have a Chili's right here on base - it's nice to have an American restaurant near by.

The rest of them.

Bigger is better; for sure at this age.

Veronica with her Santa present.

Ben with his Santa present.

William was also good enough this year to get a Santa present - barely.

These pictures are a little out of order as usual. 

Our dog Cara "opening" her gifts.

The mullet is a gift from my Mom and sister to Troy. They take him pretty seriously. HA!

No one was scared this year! Why do they have to grow up? I got a kick out of the "scared to death of Santa" picture each year. Scared babies are hilarious.

Flag football - obviously.

It doesn't matter what team you're on, just pull any flag you can see. 

Goof Ball.

Exactly what I had in mind for what to wear to the football field on a windy cold day. 

Water breaks are essential after so much random running around.

He was having fun with the fake snow until he realized that it didn't come off easily, then he was pissed.

Zakimi-jo Castle ruins near our house.

Shisa dog/lion catching evil spirts - it was full after they left. 

Okinawan pottery village.

Kiln.

The boys giving me a heart attack as they "were just looking" at all the pottery. 

They did a Christmas festival on base. They even had a snow machine that pelted us with clumps of slush.

Those are peanut butter balls that flipped off the counter. Yes that's my boys licking the chocolate off the floor in their underpants.  And yes we ate the peanut butter balls that were salvaged from the floor. Are my mothering and housewifery skills in question? Yes and I'm at peace with that.

It was crazy sock day at school for Ben and Veronica had pajama day.  For William it was just a normal day.