Gift #109- Teppanyaki

Today is our last day here in Okinawa.  The kids and I head home tomorrow.  We finished our vacation well by eating at a Japanese Teppanyaki Steakhouse.    I googled the word "Teppanyaki" and learned that, in Japanese, teppan means iron plate and yaki means grilled.  We had a great time together.  The chef twirled the utensils and salt and pepper shakers. The kids loved it.  Sam said that he can not wait to get home so he can try it for himself!  Yay!

Gift #108- Day Trips

To celebrate Discovery Channel's 25th Anniversary of Shark Week, Team Thomas took a little day trip to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.  It was fantastic.  The highlight of our trip was seeing the whale shark!  

Gift #107- Sweet Potato Icecream

 A friend of mine told me that we had to try purple sweet potato ice cream while we were here in Okinawa.  Twist my arm!  You can't tell from the picture above, but the ice cream is a pretty shade of lavender and it tastes like Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole.  Dr. Oz calls the Okinawan sweet potato a "Purple Powerhouse of Nutrition" and listed it as a top Superfood in 2010.  This made me feel really good about my double scoop choice.  We might go back and get some more today- for nutrition purposes of course.

 We found a neat shopping area called American Village.  It is an outdoor shopping complex with American style clothing stores and restaurants.  We felt right at home.  We took a ride on the Ferris Wheel and got a birds-eye view of this beautiful city.

Look who is standing under the Big Dip sign.  :0)

Gift #106- Do-Nothing Days

Hank had to return to work yesterday, so the kids and I were on our own.  We found a little mini-golf place and played a few rounds. It was at least 172 degrees outside, but not one of the kids complained.  Of course, I bribed them with the promise of soda and sugary treats.  But any mom who values her sanity would have done the same thing.  We spent the day golfing, swimming, and snacking.  We had a great day just doing nothing.  I love vacation!

Gift #105- Take Out in a Hotel

The Thomas Kids LOVE staying in a hotel.  Especially if the hotel has a pool.  We don't have to go to Disney World or Legoland to have a fun vacation.  All we have to do is pack up and drive 5 miles to the nearest Holiday Inn and they are completely content.  We are here in Okinawa for the week staying on a beautiful Air Force base.  The pool is within walking distance and we have cable tv (we don't have cable in Iwakuni).  The kids are in heaven.  Last night we picked up chicken nuggets and fries for dinner.  A hotel room, chicken nuggets and fries, and Cartoon Network- does life get any better?  I think not.  Hank and I love seeing them so happy, but the hotel room does get small after a day or two.  When Josh was little, he called hotels "heltels".  Hank and I thought that was a very appropriate name and for years we have affectionately referred to them as such.  :0)  As I type, the kids are watching Cartoon Network and eating leftover fries for breakfast.  It is going to be a good day! 

Gift #104- Toes in the Sand

We found a great little piece of paradise today in Okinawa-  

a beautiful beach on Torii Station Army Base. 

    

Gift #103- Adventure in The Sky

Team Thomas is heading to Okinawa for a week!  We are all very excited.  This is the first time that the 6 of us have traveled together on an airplane.  We miss home, but are so very thankful for the unique opportunities that we have while living here in Japan.

Gift #102- A Little Boy and His Questions

Sam is, without a doubt, our most inquisitive child.  As I am typing these very words he is asking me "what does carry on mean?".  Some of his questions are funny.  Some are simple.  Some really make me think.  Here is just a sampling of some of the questions that Sam asked last week:

Will Santa live forever?
How many more Presidents are we going to have?
Are old people really full of wisdom and knowledge?
Is anything possible?
Will you draw a mustache on my face?
Will you make the ends curl up?
Is the tooth fairy real?
Are you the tooth fairy?
Can we go to the pool?
Can we go to the pool?
Can we go to the pool?
Why does everybody want to go to heaven but nobody wants to go now?
Can we get a cat?
What is a tidal wave?
Have you ever jumped off of a bridge?
Has dad?
Do rabbits have tongues?
Have you ever been in a rocket?
Are God and Jesus the same guy?
Do you have any tattoos?
Have you ever seen a meteor shower?
Is the Pope really Catholic?
What are bygones?
Is Jeff Gordon real?

Can Sam be any cuter?

Gift #101- Joy is Coming!

This is Joy.  We have known each other for as long as I can remember.  We sat next to each other in Sunday school and sang off-key together  in church Christmas pageants.  We were together during the culottes, big hair, and acid-washed jeans years.  We worked at Chick-fila-A together as teenagers and danced around in our bell-bottomed uniform pants and black high-top Reeboks.  I loved Joy through her clogging days and her Cher obsession.  And she loved me though my home-perms and whale-trainer aspirations.   Although we never followed through, we spent many a day dreaming of travel and big adventure and saving our pennies in jars labeled "Bahama Cruise" or "Trip to Graceland".  

(It was a simpler time.)  ;0)

Thanks to my sweet hubby, Joy and I will finally have the chance to live out an adventure-  She is coming to Japan!  Hank surprised me with this wonderful gift for my birthday!  I just love that man!  Joy arrives on October 5th and we have a whole week to visit, explore, relax and just be!  I can hardly wait!  Maybe I can convince her to give me a home perm while she is here.  :0)

Japan or Bust!

Gift #100- Hank, Boiled Peanuts, and Pecans

Not only did Hank arrive home safely, he came bearing FL boiled peanuts and AL pecans! 

Trifecta!

Thanks for the peanuts Mimi and Papa!  Thanks for the pecans Paul and Catherine!  You all certainly know the way to our hearts!

Gift #99- A New Box of Crayons

We did our back to school shopping today!  Macy was excited.  The boys... not so much.
21 days and counting!