Bios on the Hill

We decided to head out to do some exploring while most people were watching for the tsunami to roll in. I did a little research online and found what looked like an OK place to spend the afternoon. Once we got there (the directions were horrible and I still haven't figured out how to read Kanji, so the signs were no help) we found an amazingly beautiful place that I wish we had found a couple years ago! The kids had the time of their life and only got to see about a quarter of the place. We are going to go back before we leave as well as try to eat at our favorite local Izakaya as much as possible. Our Izakaya, by the way has the best California Roll in the world. Yes this is Andy typing and for those of you who know about or were at Happy Sumo know that it must be amazing sushi if I am eating and loving it, not throwing it up. Anyway here are a ton of pictures from our outing yesterday.

A view of the main courtyard

The path leading into the courtyard

They had orchids everywhere

A two headed dragon that sprays mist

So Japanese!

Lainey saw the roosters and tried to get them...didnt work.

Ethan joining in on the rooster chasing

Awesome tree house with a slide....where were these when I was kid

Lainey loves to climb but she was a little too small so I had to help

She didnt like the slide so much...it comes to an abrupt end

Ethan and I on top of the treehouse

Handsome little man

We got to feed and walk the goats. How cool is the leaf pouch.

Lainey loved the idea then got really scared

A beautiful view of the courtyard. Notice the water buffalo pulling a carriage

Cool little restaurant, notice the all natural roof of the building. The whole park was very clean and everything was made out of natural materials.

Our turn for the water buffalo tour. Look at Lainey, she is driving!

She loved this, she screamed at Ethan when he tried to take the rope and drive and was very reluctant to give it back to the guide.

How cool is this....where else can you have a water buffalo walk you through such a beautiful place.

Ethan got to walk the enormous beast

Once again, Lainey loved the idea of sitting on it but wanted off right away

Ethan on the beast

He loved the hammock and fell out of it right after I took this


They had a bunch of huge swings or as Lane calls them "ya-ya's" on the trees

I had to snap this one fast while the goat was distracted. Those little buggers a strong. They pull harder than our 100lbs Rottweiler.

A little pump well with some old school squirt guns.

I was trying to get a decent picture but as you can see in the next one...Lainey was not having it and Ethan was annoyed. I love the look on all of their faces!

The pathway out....we were sad to leave.

Close up of an orchid

I took almost 200 pictures there.....was hard to pick a few to put on here. I guess with all the pictures it makes up for my lack of photo of the day posts!

EARTHQUAKE!!!!!

We just had a 7.0 earthquake hit about 50 miles off the coast. It woke us up about 5:30 this morning (an hour ago). It was about 10-15 seconds long and I honestly was waiting for our house to collapse. I have been in several earthquakes here but this one was huge. We had some stuff fall over in the house but luckily they built everything here to withstand earthquakes and typhoons! I noticed CNN and MSN had a breaking news headline about the quake so I just wanted to let everyone know that everything is fine!

Ferris Wheel

Sorry I have been REALLY slacking on the Daily Photo but I haven't had the chance to take many pictures! So we decided to go the enormous Ferris wheel here. We have been here for 3 years now and that was one of the few things that we had not done.



Mama and her boy

Getting ready to go...Ethan is already nervous

Lainey LOVED it

The Ferris wheel

The view towards Naha from the top



I love this picture of the shadow!

The Zoo...again!

We went to the zoo again a few days ago and this time the kids got to feed the elephants!




We got to check out the bats at feeding time: I apologize in advance for my commentary :).

My Valentine's Day

I had a great Valentine's Day. I woke up to breakfast in bed made by Andy and Ethan! I have never had breakfast in bed before (hospital stays surely don't count). They made me a ridiculously yummy Egg Mcmuffin, yogurt with granola, coffee and a super juicy japanese tangerine. It was so good! Thanks so much boys!
That night Andy made me dinner too! I know, don't I have such an awesome, sweet husband??!!
He made some grilled asparagus (my fave) and we had veggie shish kabobs (spelling?!). Here is the final product. It was SOOOO good. I kept on eating long after I was full! YUMMY!
Thanks so much for the wonderful Valentine's Day Love!

Ethan's Valentine's Day Party!

Here are a few shots from Ethan's Valentine's Day party. All the kids had a great time and I even got to volunteer since Andy was home for the day. I was in charge of "Pin The Heart On Cupid." It was hilarious, we didn't have a blindfold so the kids just had to shut their eyes. Out of the 18 kids, only ONE didn't cheat! It's so funny how at this age they don't really get how to cheat (which is a good thing). They all put their hearts EXACTLY where is was supposed to go, not close to it like what would happen if they didn't cheat, but right on the heart. It made me giggle :).


Here is Ethan at the craft table:


Ethan making his masterpiece at the cupcake table:




The final product:
Andy and Lainey showed up a little later on in the party and we couldn't pull Lainey away from the veggie tray. It had olives which she LOVES!


Earlier that morning I wanted to make his lunch box special since it was his Valentine party and all so, I made him these to go in his lunch box.....
Apparently it isn't cool for a boy to have hearts in his lunch. I didn't even THINK of that! I was thinking how cute it was and what a crafty mom I am (as you all know, I am not what one would call crafty, I can barely sew a button on the right way!) so I was patting myself on the back for my effort and Ethan comes home and tells me that the boys made fun of him for his heart lunch. OOPS! He was so sweet though, he told me that he really liked it anyway. Sweet boy.
Lesson learned: NO HEARTS in lunches for boys, even if they are only in the first grade!