Twas the Night Before...

Santa Claus is Coming to town..

The Happy Campers

As the Christmas Holiday approaches, there have been multitudes upon multitudes of boxes arriving for the Moloko Siblings. The highlight to last Friday's delivery was from our beloved Okinawa, Japan. Aunt Michelle, Uncle Dave & Cousin Dave treated the kids to a box of presents, which quickly went under the tree. The highlight was the Japanese Okashi (goodies) included. What was once familiar treats in their pantry, is now considered a luxury. They were ecstatic with the arrival of these sweet treats and they are slowly savouring each and every bite.

December Highlights

Goodness, this month has flown and I am stupefied that tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I had the best of intentions to sit down on numerous occasions to update the blog. (Guess I know what my New Year's Resolution is going to be.) Therefore, I decided I would sit down and just do a brief review of December.

This was a photo of our first dusting of snow. The Moloko siblings have SO eager for a BIG snowfall as they have never had the experience to play in the snow. Big Sister's eyes were full of excitement and merriment as she tried to catch the snowflakes on her tongue and she worked hard scraping snow off the car to form a snowball. Unfortunately, the flurries did not last long, but, the kids enjoyed stormtroopers blanket the cars and sidewalk.

Big Sister is growing up so fast! Here she is heading out to friend's birthday slumber party. She had a fabulous time but nothing could have prepared her for the sheer exhaustion she would fell the next morning. She was returned to our care with her 'fun-meter" pegged and sleep deprived. We tried to get her to nap/rest, but, she resisted as she felt she was too old to nap. She is already planning her B'day for 2010...a Slumber Party.

Big Sister is all smiles at the St William of York Christmas Program. The First Grade sang several songs and she could definitely be heard singing on her favorite "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

The Little Dudes are modeling their new school t-shirts. As Preschoolers, they are not required to wear a uniform, but, they so wanted to show their "Panther Pride." They were all smiles and wanted to wear them again the very next day!

The Little Dudes have become extreme fans of all things "Speed Racer." Little Dude B wanted to make Shrinky Dinks and suggested we make ornaments for the Christmas tree. The Little Dudes quickly navigated me to the Speed Racer website so I could accurately draw and color their favorite car characters. It was a great activity and the ornaments look fantastic on the Christmas tree.

Big Sister LOVES to dress up. This particular afternoon, she was Mary and was headed off to Bethlehem for Jesus's birth. Moments later, she decided she was Saint Lucia.

Needless to say, it is never dull in the Moloko household!

Another New Smile

Not quite sure what is going on at the Moloko household, but, we are sure keeping the Tooth Fairy busy. In the past month, we have lost four teeth amongst the three munchkins. The latest to loose a tooth was Litte Dude B, and it was his first. He lost one of his bottom front teeth and his initial reaction was not one of smiles and cheer. He quickly recovered as his brother and sister reminded him of the monetary gift the Tooth Fairy delivers.

Immediate Reaction

It's Gone

Realizing he was going to be rewarded for his tooth!

Little Dude B wanted this photo!

Little Dudes and their "New"Smiles

Oddly Comforting

This past Tuesday, I had a crew scheduled to arrive at 9am to replace hard wood floorboards throughout the kitchen and living room. I so LOVE my wood floors and during the past two months noticed that some were splitting. Although we were well past our 45 day follow-up walk through, I contacted our builder. He quickly responded, assessed the situation, and contacted the company who installed the floors. Not sure if we just got unlucky with a "bad" lot of wood, but, over 40+ boards needed replacing.

I was prepared for a LONG Day and had taken my Motrin in anticipation of the noise. When the crew of four arrived, they quickly removed their shoes, cautiously brought in their equipment, and scattered about the rooms to tackle the job. What was oddly soothing was how comforting it was to hear them communicate amongst one another in their native language.
I quickly assumed these gentlemen were Japanese as they bowed me up and down, inquired about photos hanging of the munchkins in kimono, and questioned me on the Japanese art acquired while in Okinawa. They quickly set to work and finished within 4 hours, not the projected 8.

As they were so carefully cleaning their mess, I quickly discovered it was not Japanese they were speaking amongst each other, but Korean. If anything, for a few hours my mind escaped to the sights, sounds, and smells of Japan.

New Smiles

When Hubby recently discovered that Little Dude M had a loose tooth, I was not alarmed. Had it not been for Big Sister losing her first tooth just weeks prior to her 5th Birthday, I would have been in a panic scouring the Internet and consulting Dentists wondering if this was abnormal. However, with Little Dude M, I thought it would be months, not weeks before it fell out. Friday evening, just moments before his bath, after some slight wriggling by Hubby, his first tooth fell out. He was initially disturbed, but, his once he felt his permanent tooth break through the gum he was OK with the whole process. Lucky for him, his permanent tooth is visible and ready to take on the empty space.

Little Dude M's tooth!

Permanent tooth ready to move into place

New Grin!

Tooth Fairy Delivers!

Not to be overshadowed, Big Sister's loose tooth fell out less that 24 hours later. Yet, another new smile.

Our Shining Star

With a move this summer and an adjustment to a "traditional" school from the beloved Okinawan Montessori Schools, I was concerned about the transition for Big Sister. With the first quarter under her belt and the completion of hordes of spelling homework, accelerated reading and math homework completed, we can declare success! St. William of York has proven to be a fabulous fit for Big Sister (not to mention the Little Dudes) and today she was rewarded with her hard work.

Last Friday, I received an email inviting me to attend the award ceremony scheduled for this afternoon. It only stated that my child would be publicly acknowledged and that familial support was desired. I did not share this information with Big Sister as she became aware of the ceremony but not that she would be honored. As the classes filed into the gym, it was so fun to see the kids smile as they saw loved ones in the audience. It took Big Sister a couple of minutes to see me, the Little Dudes, and her neighborhood friend, Conner. It did not dawn on her that I was in the audience for anything other than random curiosity.

The Principal, Sister Lisa, explained that in Grades K-4 the students are recognized as "Shining Stars" in the subjects of Religion, Effort, Reading, Charity, Math, and Spelling. I could not have been more tickled for Big Sister as she was beaming from ear to ear when she received not only the Reading Award, but the Charity Award. She was already tickled after receiving the monthly "Corporal Works of Mercy" award yesterday which earned her points to spend at the School Store. We are so proud of Big Sister! Now, if we could only get Sister Lisa to pronounce Moloko correctly!

Way to go Big Sister!

Election Day

Like my sign? Wish I could say it was my idea, but, Big Sister proudly created this Saturday morning as I was out taking a run. When I returned, it was hanging on the front door. I inquired as to what inspired her to make the sign and she responded with "Why don't we have a yard sign? Obama/Biden signs are everywhere!"

Over the past few weeks, Big Sister has been inquiring about the election and the candidates. She is fascinated by the media coverage and the pictures of the US map covered in a sea of red and blue. Yesterday after school, she was extremely inquisitive as to how you choose a President? I carefully explained that I try to select the candidate whose beliefs are more closely aligned with mine and the candidate who I feel will best serve my country as a leader. Her questions were well thought out and I was impressed. It was only after she told me that she would be participating in a "mock" election today that I understood her quieries. Her teacher had instructed the class to go home and learn about the candidates. This immediately took me back to the Presidential Election of 1976, when I too, was in 1st Grade at a Catholic school. I remember clear as day voting for Gerald Ford and was so dissapointed to find out that he was not chosen.

Big Sister assured me that she "heard" that McCain was going to be the *winner* and that Obama was going to make every United States Marine quit his job (not so cool to a kid whose Dad is a Marine). These two wild rumors were passed on by a classmate. I explained that according to all the predictions is does not look so favorable for John McCain. Her response was "Shame on John McCain if he does not win." I asked her why? and she retorted with "I had to make my own sign!" Campaign finance reform is not such a good idea to a 6 year old either! As for Obama making every US Marine quit his job, my best guess is that is has something to do with his pull out plan for Iraq.

After months, of biased media coverage and mudslinging, I find myself hoping and praying for a miracle. With Virginia being one of the battleground states, I was more than prepared to brave a long line this morning. With my book in hand, and a neighbor watching the Little Dudes, I headed to the polls. Fortunately, my timing was impecable as it only took a mere 15 minutes from the time I exited my car and returned to my car. I quickly headed home so I could return the favor for my neighbor who too need to vote. I was assured by the election officials, that it had been mobbed at the opening and they expected it to become increasingly worse after lunch.

Needless to say, I will be glued to the returns all evening. There is no doubt today's election is one of historical proportions! I pray for our Country and our President!

Straight Hair

I finally took the plunge last evening and salvaged my increasingly greying scalp for a much needed cut and color enhancement. Finding a new hairdresser upon each new move is one frustrating task! I find myself completely jumping in to uncharted territory asking everyone and anyone for suggestions and strong recommendations.

After numerous calls to salons I finally decided on one featured in the weekly newspaper. All the stylists pictured had great hair. When I called to make the appointment, the receptionist assured me she had the stylist for me...boy did she! I will gladly sing the her prasises as she did a wonderful job covering my natural highlights and giving my hair some shine and bounce. To top it off, she somehow managed to blow it out straight and give me a WHOLE new look...check it out!

George the Monkey

It has been a bit crazed with the preschoolers in the house the past two weeks. We have had the opportunity to have, George, the class monkey visit with us. George comes home with the student assigned to bring in the snack on the next class day. The Little Dudes teacher wisely scheduled their snack duty back to back. However, with a school holiday and then Columbus Day, I did not anticipate George being in the house for over a week. Not a problem you would think. George, you see, is a stuffed animal that arrives in a HUGE yellow bag accompanied by a marble composition notebook. Each child is to document his time spent with George in the notebook.

Well, the Little Dudes interpreted having George around as a true homework assignment and wanted to make sure they had noteworthy adventures to share. George was included in all activities, he participated in family conversations (annoying high pitched monkey-speak), and extra events were scheduled in George's honor. George was treated as a guest as we pulled out all the stoppers. We made Shrinky Dinks, wrapped presents, stamped cards, and baked with George. I was so thrilled to have George return to school this Wednesday as I was running out of activities and not eager to return to Michaels for more supplies. I do know I will be better prepared for George's next visit. The Little Dudes are already making plans!

Litte Dude B with George

George up to mischief!

Making Shrinky Dinks. George needed a "Monkey Tag."

George was helping Little Dude M craft
The edible craft...chocolate covered mummy pretzel

Smiles

I have been on a quest as of late to try and capture "authentic" smiles from the munchkins. I find myself chasing them around the house, the playground, and other locations trying to catch that Pulitzer photo that will resemble the candid joy and personality of each. The frustration of having a memory stick full of fake smiles induced by uttering "cheese" is exhausting. I truly feel a sense of accomplishment as I managed capture the true essence of the Moloko siblings in these photos in the past week.

Litte Dude B

Big Sister

Little Dude M

Boys at Play

Last Sunday afternoon was beautiful. The Little Dudes and Hubby were outside in the back yard hanging out waiting for the Eagles vs Redskins game to start. I grabbed the camera and captured some classic photos.

Little Dude B...future QB?

Huddle Confusion

Now what do I do?

Perfecting the Letter "S"

Little Dude M has perfected the Letter "S" and is smitten! About three weeks ago, as I was in a long line of cars to pick the Little Dudes up from school, I noticed Little Dude M coming out of the school holding hands with a pretty little girl, Sophia. I assumed they had been paired up as buddies to exit the building, but, as I inched up in the car line, I observed how closely they were huddled together, watched the sporadic hugs, and the continued hand holding. Next thing I know, Little Dude M's face contorts into a pout and the tears began to flow...Sophia's car was ahead of mine in the line. He looked so forlorn as her car drove off.

As he entered the car, he was just inconsolable and worried that it would be three days until he saw Sophia again. He quickly shared with me that she played with him on the playground and that she likes trains too! I quickly learned, that if I am not one of the first Mom's in the pick up line that tears and pouting ensue if she gets in her car first.

I thought he was the lone participant in this "crush" however, this does not appear to be the case. I had the opportunity to read to the Preschool class last Friday and witnessed Little Dude M say "Sophia, I saved you a spot on the carpet." She quickly sat next to him and put her head on his shoulder. It appears to be a mutual admiration as a flurry of cards and pictures have been created and shared with one another. Little Dude M has become quite proficient at spelling Sophia and has mastered the letter "S."

The most hilarious aspect is that Little Dude M has taken on Hubby's ribbing with such finesse and maturity (beyond that of a 4 year old) and emphatically let his Dad know that "GIRLS DO NOT HAVE COOTIES" as he had been instructed. This past Sunday, Max was very wiggly in church and kept looking around...he was in search of Sophia.

Little Dude M

Updated Look

Figured it was time to change the 'ole blog and when it came to looking for a new picture, I could not find one that aptly portrayed our new surroundings. As I was sorting through photos, I found a photo Big Sister had taken of one the beloved squishables-a platypus named Pete. The closest things to pets in the Moloko household are the Webkinz Beagle, Aida, the Webkinz Bullfrog, Dee and then Pete, also a Webkinz. These critters have taken on personas created by the munchkins, providing hours of enjoyment as they immerse themselves in the virtual world. Seeing as Aida, Pete, and Dee have become additional family members, I figured I would introduce them with great fanfare....a spot on the blog.

Visitor of the Week

It has been a great couple of months for the munchkins as they have had the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and old friends. The kids have enjoyed the re-connections and Monday was an especially blissful afternoon. Uncle Dave arrived from Okinawa as he was in town" on a business trip. The Little Dudes were beside themselves as he was a favored visitor from our Okinawa days. Although he was jet lagged beyond belief, he was a real trooper and got on the floor to play with his nephews. To his credit, he managed to reserve some energy for his niece too. Having him in their new surroundings was fun and they were especially humored to see that he still catches random naps on the floors, bean bags, and couches. Here are some smiling faces.

Acorns & Snails

You know you are on the East Coast when... you find yourself crunching acorns vice snails. The sound is oddly similar yet both are very familiar and unavoidable. After six years of island living and trying to dodge snails on the road, I have found myself back to crushing acorns on my morning runs.

Roots

I have been contemplating an observation made by my Hubby early on in our dating years, to the effect that I had no one place I could say I "came from" ("...you have no roots!"). At the time, I remember taking umbrage at such a statement. He had been in the military a few short years and had no concept of what my life experiences and moves had been. So what if I had lived in five states and resided in over a dozen homes? I personally found it stifling that he had only a couple of addresses during his formative years. To top it off, it was in New Jersey:)! Having numerous addresses in various states was never something I contemplated, just accepted. For me, growing up as a military dependent was always a privilege. I thoroughly enjoyed moving every three years and experiencing travel opportunities along the way.

This week however, as I was filling out some background check paperwork to volunteer at the munchkins school, I came to the realization that only one of five homes that I have lived in Virginia in my 38 years is still standing. All my childhood homes in my beloved Quantico have been renovated at least two times in the past three decades and the addresses that I knew them as are no longer valid. To top it off, three of eight addresses that Hubby and I have called home in the past ten years are no longer in existence either. I kept wondering as I was filling out the form whether I should save the investigator the time and let them know that none of these homes/addresses existed or just tell them I was part of the Witness Protection Program.

If anything, I may not be able to have a physical home to show to my munchkins, as Hubby once prided himself on being able to do. I do however have memories. I have come to realize it is not the facade of the home that provides one's roots. It is the love, nurturing, and events that take place within the walls that make you who you are. It is a bit depressing to think I have outlived so many homes in my few short years, however, the ride along the away has been a real thrill.

Little Dudes First Day

WOW! check out those smiles. After 8 days of watching Big Sister hop out of the car and into school, the Little Dudes FINALLY had their turn! Today was a "meet & greet" session to familiarize the kids to the classroom, teachers, and new friends. Upon entering the classroom, my boys ditched me. It was a classic moment and one I will cherish...no drama, no tears, and no looking back.

Here come the Moloko Boys!

Crafting masterpieces

Bunny Confusion

Big Sister and I took advantage of the Labor Day sales and headed out to the strip mall less than 1/2 mile from our home. We tackled several stores before sauntering into the Ross for Less. I was on a mission for a curtain rod and just knew I could find one for a fraction of the cost I had seen at the other stores. My hunch was right...the selection was astounding.

As I was making my selection, Big Sister was perusing the sheet aisle and commenting on the myriad of patterns. Next thing I know, she brings over these beige satiny sheets with the Playboy Bunny on them and says "Mom, Dad needs these for his next Birthday!" I was taken aback at her statement and bemused. I asked her "Why those sheets?" Well, "I counted 40 bunny ears on this side of the wrapping and since he will be turning 40, it will be perfect." I quickly squelched the idea and noted that the "Playboy Bunny" motif is just not something I thought suitable.

At dinner that evening, I shared this anecdote with Hubby. He sat across the table with a perplexed look on his face. Big Sister then stated "we always see the "Playboy Bunny" commercials when we watch TV with Dad." With this statement, Hubby had this incredulous look on his face and immediately responded with "I have no idea what she is talking about." I decided then to ask her a few more questions. She stated that since "Daddy will be "Over the Hill" next year, I thought he needed some energy. Just like the battery commericals!" I then realized, she was confused...it was the "Energizer Bunny" to which she was referring. Hubby and I are still chuckling!

Homework Questions

I do not remember having homework in First Grade, however, I am finding that not to be the case these days. Big Sister came home with an assignment the other night that stills has me thinking. She was to fill a lunch size brown paper bag with four items that corresponded to questions listed on the outside. These items were to represent:

1. Something you did this summer.

2. Something that makes your family SPECIAL.

3. Something that you would like to learn how to do.

4. Something that you wish you could do better.

I thought these questions were fantastic and thought provoking. What a wonderful way to introduce yourself to your classmates and teacher. I immediately went into brainstorm mode throwing out ideas to Big Sister. I was so tickled as she quickly rattled off answers to 3 of the 4 questions indicating she had already given this assignment some thought. A hula girl magnet from our Hawaiian vacation was her answer to Question #1, a snack baggie with needles and yarn was to represent her desire to learn to knit (inspired by Aunt Andrea) for Question #3 and for Question #4 was a swimming fin keychain to represent her desire to swim better.

Big Sister was only stumped with Question #2...something that makes your family special? The Little Dudes quickly chimed in with "We have twins in our family." I agreed with Big Sister that although this was unique, it was not quite the tidbit she wanted to share. Many suggestions were thrown out during our ride home and during our afternoon snack. Finally, we discovered the "SPECIAL" element when we determined that everyone in our family had ridden an elephant. We quickly printed a photo from our Thailand vacation of Moloko Five riding on elephants in Chiang Mai to answer Question #2.

As she headed off with her treasures this morning, I wondered how her "show and tell" would go. She jumped in the car today and before I had the chance to ask, she declared that she had a "GREAT DAY!" She learned alot about her classmates today and found the exercise to be an extremely enjoyable experience. By the way, riding an elephant in suburban Virginia is not commonplace...her photo was a big hit!

If anything, this assignment has me personally contemplating Questions #3 and evaluating Question #4 in my own life. Keep the homework coming Mrs. Fahland!

A First Grader in our Midst

Whoa...it is hard to fathom that the Moloko household has a First Grader! Big Sister headed off to school yesterday with a huge smile and a sense of excitement. As the "morning greeter" opened our car door and directed her into the school, I watched her trudge ahead and not look back. I drove home marveled by my brave little girl entering her new school with such a sense of purpose.

Upon hearing that she was required to wear a uniform daily, Big Sister was not thrilled. However, when she realized that she has two uniform options to chose from she was relieved. So, yesterday, she headed out in her polo/walking short ensemble and today she selected the traditional plaid jumper and peter pan collared shirt. I had to chuckle as she insisted I take photos of her in both of her uniforms to mark her first days of school in Virginia.

Our Adorable Catholic Girl

Fortunately, with two days complete, she is enjoying school and having a great time meeting her new classmates. It sounds like she has some characters in her class and a really special teacher. Here's to a great year ahead!

Laying Down New Roots

Figured I ought to get at least one entry in for the month of July! Yep, as of today, we are now re-connected to the world of technology. It is amazing how a simple land phone line and a wireless router has me so tickled. Our snazzy new laptop is just awesome as I float about the new townhome writing this blog entry.

Since I last left off in the land of Aloha, we have had several more adventures. We had a fabulous weekend in Half Moon Bay, CA attending Uncle Bill's wedding to newly minted Aunt Melissa and getting reacquainted with family members we had not seen since December of 2005. The munchkins and I had a enjoyable week in San Antonio with Grandma & Grandpa McSorley before arriving in Virginia.

Within the past 30 days, we have closed on our new home, purchased two cars, painted bedrooms, hung blinds, received three of four shipments, celebrated my 38th birthday, and have still managed to keep our sanity in tact. The house is a work in progress and my sense of urgency to get everything out of boxes is bordering on obsessive-compulsive. I am at a bit of a crossroad as I just loathe brown boxes and clutter; however, I am in need of a "catch-all" type closet and a piece of furniture to house all the craft goodies I have acquired with three munchkins! Therefore, I am purging and realizing that I can not have everything unpacked and assembled in just a few days. I am not looking forward to our last shipment arriving on the 11th...those items have been stored for six years. YIKES!

The munchkins are handling things rather well. However, they have become a bit stir crazy this past week. The first week we were in Virginia, we managed to enroll them in a Vacation Bible School which was a great diversion for them and provided Hubby and I the freedom to complete some taskings. They had a wonderful time and it was held at their school, so, it was a blessing in they met some classmates and provided them the security of what it will be like upon entering First Grade and Preschool this fall. The weekly Monday arrival of boxes of goods has been like Christmas in July for them. Continuous pleas to play with their toys are heard as we try to usher them to the dinner table and to bed.

Tomorrow, we are headed to PA/NJ to visit with Hubby's family and childhood friends. It should be a fun adventure to see everyone again as it has been way to long. The munchkins are especially thrilled to see cousins and forge a relationship in person. I will say this, I really am not eager to pack my things back in a suitcase!

The Land of Aloha

We made it to our old stomping grounds.  It certainly was not without a bit of worry, stress and delays.  We arrived at the airport in Okinawa on a cramped shuttle bus of other military families moving to the US and traveling with obscene amounts of luggage. We quickly learned that our connecting flight in Tokyo to Honolulu was cancelled.   Quickly, the panic, stress, and frustration start to ooze out of our pores.  Fortunately, a flight was found on another airline which was going to route us through another airport which only delayed our itinerary by 3 hours.

As we stepped on the ground in Honolulu we were greeted with clear blue skies, the scent of plumeria flowers, and balmy trade winds.  Just as I had hoped the kids were instantly thrilled. The boys were looking for the "Big Pink Hospital" where they were born and Madeline was looking for anything that might have brought back memories.  The highlight of landing was having the Lee's, Ron and Marianne, come and ferry us to their home.

We are having a great vacation and have managed to pack in a lot of sights, restaurants, and activities to keep us on the go.  Our accommodations at the Lee's home has been beyond belief and made this week a real comfortable haven for us all.  It will be a sad day on Friday morning, as I am not sure when I will ever get back to this homey island paradise!

Glorious Friday

How quickly this week flew by! Hubby was actually "off." He officially ditched his computer and the handed over his blackberry last evening, so, we were free enjoy the beautiful day. Seeing as this was our last day on Okinawa, we solicited the munchkins for suggestions as to what to see and do. Big Sister, spent the morning at school, the last for the school year. We retrieved her around noon and headed out on our afternoon adventures.

After a few errands and a picnic lunch, we headed to one of our favorite parks, the Dolphin Park. The playground apparatus/jungle gym and roller slide were under construction, however, the adjacent beach was was deserted and the tide low. We spent an hour walking along the beach and out into the ocean looking for critters, shells, and crabs. The Little Dudes walked out with cargo pockets full of shells and actual pinchers from deceased crabs and Big Sister was looking for exotic coral pieces and clam shells to take to Hawaii.


With our trip to a beach checked off, we headed down the road to the Ferris Wheel. It has been a favorite spot since our arrival and we have multitudes of photos of the family on various occasions. Not only is it a favorite spot, but, a landmark that we will always associate with Okinawa's skyline and "American Village."

As we were headed back to the Westpac, we decided to drive through the neighborhood for one last whirl. We saw that Aki's car (mamasan/babysitter) was at the home of her current employment (family friends). Our timing could not have been better. It was moments before she was to get off of work and we were able to say goodbye to our friends and invite her to dinner. We were headed to the Macaroni Grill for the first time in ages and it was going to be a first time adventure for her. Aki, being an Okinawan native, was blown away by the sheer size of the restaurant and the decor. Her comment to me was, "you Americans do everything big!" She quickly asked the waitress in Japanese "What do Japanese people eat here?" Once she had her first bite of the rosemary bread, tasted the balsamic vinegar, and finally took her first bite of the seafood linguine, she was hooked. She told me that she is going to bring her friends back and now wants to go to Italy. It was wonderful spending our last dinner with such a great lady and the kids were just tickled! It was definitely a perfect ending to our glorious Friday!

Not to be Outdone

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities, appointments, and goodbyes. Hubby has been "fare welled" no less than four times, received some awesome gifts, and the accolades abundant (well deserved). Big Sister had her graduation and the boys have had me driving to all of their favorite haunts.

My time to shine, right? Well, yesterday morning I had an early morning Okinawan humid run at 6:00am. I got back to our two room kitchenette suite just in time to touch base with Hubby before he headed out to take his replacement to a meeting. I figured I would throw a couple of waffles in the toaster for the kids and they could eat breakfast while I was taking a much needed shower. Everything was going smoothly. Big Sister was sitting down to her syrupy waffles and chocolate milk and I was preparing the next set of waffles for the Little Dudes. I was pouring their milk when I suddenly got a whiff of smoke, I turned around to see my waffle turning black. As I reached to unplug the toaster and retrieve the waffle, the smoke detector went to an immediate blaring BEEP! I tried fanning the detector and even tried to disconnect or reset the blasted thing. Nope, continuous blare and then the announcement on the loudspeaker stating "There is a fire on the first floor." At this moment, Big Sister is in a state of panic and the boys are holding their ears. I quickly call the front desk to alert them of the situation and the clerk responded with "Ok, just a toaster again." I figured at this point all was right and I would be able to continue on with breakfast. No such luck!

Next thing I know, they are alerting everyone via loudspeaker to please evacuate the building. I had the luxury of knowing it was not a full blown fire, so, I had my pajama clad children put on shoes and I grabbed our passports and tickets. Fortunately, it was almost 7:30 AM so, many of the military personnel were headed out the building on their way to work. Once I got outside, I quickly let everyone know it was a "toaster" and that I was to blame for the inconvenience. Everyone was understanding and had a good chuckle at my expense. I figured these people were either just arriving in Okinawa or departing very shortly, so, I would not be too stigmatized by claiming responsibility.

I quickly learned that the alarm had gone off the previous morning for the same reason. I had been warned by neighbors and friends that have had the pleasure of staying at the Westpac that the were subjected to inconvenient fire alarms (fortunately, false ones). The Westpac smoke detection system is extremely sensitive system (which I applaud); however, with almost daily visits from the fire department it seems like there has to be a more cost effective and less time consuming fix. I heard numerous stories as we were waiting for the fire trucks to arrive. Evidently, the toasters, burnt microwave popcorn (always a trying process), and even the heat of the hotel dryers are causes to set the alarm off. Just as I am feeling less embarrassed, Hubby drives up and unaware of my ability to evacuate a building, jokingly says "OK, what did you do?

Not to be outdone by my early morning escapade, I had two other moments where I had to check and make sure my hairdresser had dyed my gray roots brown. The Little Dudes were napping and it was time to pick up Big Sister. I decided to grab the keys to the car to start the air conditioning before waking them from their much needed slumber. I step outside the suite only to realize I left the room key inside. I am in a panic to get to the front desk for a duplicate and return to the room while still trying to pick up Big Sister on time. Fortunately, it was not crowded at the desk as it had been in prior visits and Big Sister was retrieved on time.

Last evening, I headed out to the Exchange moments before closing to pick up a few items. We are borrowing cars from our gracious neighbors, so, I still have to really think when I exit someplace to look for their car vice the one I just sold. I quickly locate the Pearl White Supercharger Toyota Minivan in the dark of the night and stepped inside. Once inside the smell immediately makes my nose curl, I then put my arm on the arm rest and the fabric just felt all wrong. It was only when I tried putting the key in the ignition that I realized I am in the wrong car. Granted, I should have been alerted from the beginning as I had locked the car prior to my shopping expedition. I quickly jumped out of the car before I was a suspect in a car jacking. I looked two spaces down the row to indeed find the correct "borrowed" car. Needless to say, upon my return, I decided to go to bed. I was not ready for another mishap.

Oh by the way, this morning I ran into a guy at the post office, and he truned to me and asked if I had used the toaster today? This island is just way too small!

Homeless

It is official, the Moloko Five are currently "homeless." There definitely was a sense of relief this morning as we turned in our keys to our government quarters. Not the most usual response I am certain, but, as I see it, it is another completed step in what seemed to be the most daunting move ever! We will no doubt miss our little concrete bunker as it was located in a fantastic neighborhood and many wonderful memories were created and will be cherished for an eternity. Hubby pointed out this AM, that this house had been the longest we have ever lived in any one home in the past 10 years.

With our cars sold, home packed, and house emptied, we can begin our summer journey back to the East Coast. Saturday morning we head out to Hawaii for a week long adventure. As the days approach, I find myself anticipating the sights and smells of our last duty station with excitement and expectation. The munchkins are eager to explore their "old home" and see Hawaii through their older and wiser eyes.

On June 27th, we leave Oahu, HI for a quick weekend in Half Moon Bay, CA to attend a family wedding and then to San Antonio, TX on June 29th. The kids and I are truly excited about spending a week with my parents and hitting a lot of sights which the munckins have not been able to appreciate in previous visits. Hubby will be busy closing on our Virginia home on June 30th. Hopefully, this will go smoothly and as planned. This would then only make us truly homeless" for the better part of two weeks.

In a Blink of an Eye

Wow! the munchkins and I were taking a trip down memory lane just yesterday looking at photos from the last three years. When we arrived on Okinawa, the Little Dudes were 15 months old and were just starting to take their first steps unaided. Big Sister was our curly headed 3 1/2 year old eager to soak up the Japanese culture and whatever else came her way.

We attended a "going away" function last evening along with three other families who arrived in the summer of 2005 who are also departing in the next few weeks. It was fun to reminisce about our early days in Okinawa and to marvel at how enjoyable our time here has been and how quickly all of our kids have grown.

I can only say this: the past three years have been such a wonderful experience and education to us all! It will definitely be a tour I will cherish and I hope the kids will always remember living in Japan fondly.