The Tree That Almost Wasn't

Having grown up Jewish, I'd never had or decorated a Christmas tree. This changed when I was an adult, and I helped to decorate a tree or two. When Craig & I got together, we got a little "Charlie Brown" fake tree for Christmas time and put our presents there. And when Mia was 4, we bought a fake tree at Target. Craig wanted to give her the whole experience, just like he'd had it. I admit - it was fun - yet the whole experience was a little lacking because I'd never experienced it all as a child - only from the parent side. When Mia was 5, Craig was overseas for the 3rd time. I gave her Christmas since she'd remembered it from the year before; that's what a good wife I am. Pretty classic; a bunch of Jews decorating a tree the day after Thanksgiving (except our friend Nick who came over too - so thankfully we could have some guidance).

This year we bought a real tree for the first time. For several reasons; we left the fake one in storage, and thankfully so - we would have no place to store it here. Real trees are quite reasonable here - the 5 1/2' tree was $26!! Craig tells me (and I know) that's a STEAL. And if we're going to have one, I was a little excited to have a real one - piney smell, living thing and all. Though admittedly with my "brown thumb" I was nervous about that. Neighbors & friends here spoke of how their trees died after a week, but you have to get them fast because they arrive on one day - and then they're GONE.

So coincidentally, on the same day I picked up the gelt & candles from the Rabbi's office, I went to the outdoor store on Camp Foster to ask when trees would be coming. They informed me that on Saturday, December 1st, they'd be for sale, and the store opened at 9. I had a shoot that morning, so I told Craig to take Mia and pick up a tree. His deal anyway, so maybe it'd be fun! Thankfully he agreed without argument.

After my shoot I asked about the morning, and Craig said, "Wow, I'm REALLY glad we got there when we did. The tree was inexpensive, and we picked a nice one - but that place was crazy!"

Apparently he arrived home with the tree and our neighbor, Chuck, saw him and said, "Where did you get that!?"
"Go NOW, Chuck." Replied Craig as he brought the tree up the elevator, with "oohs" and "ahhs" from our hotel staff! Chuck returned with a tree for his family and for our neighbors' family and said there were 10 left when he went. And yes - that was the only shipment that would be coming. Kind of sad, really - I'm certain that not everyone who wanted a tree on this island got one - they were out of fake ones too. (Side note, I thought of an idea - if we had brought our tree, there's no way we could've found a place to store it with 3 small closets that are already full - how about a holiday tree- put up Valentine's Day decorations, Easter ornaments, 4th of July - you get the point! So you never have to put it away!)

So I helped him assemble it in the stand we're borrowing from Anne & Derek (they'll be in the states this holiday, so they didn't get a tree) and we got it up and fed it and watered it and the following day (Sunday) we decorated it while enjoying hot cocoa and we were happy.

Until I realized that it wasn't drinking. And after surveying the moms at the school bus stop, apparently those trees sit on ships for close to a month, and we need to have the bottom sawed off when we purchase it! Fabulous.

"CRAIG! You grew up on your grandparents' farm, they RAISE Christmas trees! How do you not know this!??"
"We always cut them fresh for people who picked them, why would I know that?"
"Well dang, you should've known better than ME... please buy a saw and I'll take off the decorations." Sigh.

Craig sawed an inch off the bottom of the slightly browning thirsty tree on Tuesday night. I added water and the 3 of us talked to the pretty tree and asked it to drink and stick around through the holidays. Thankfully, she listened and she's very happy now and drinking, I'm proud to say. Crisis averted!

When we first brought her home:

Mia & I began hanging garland:

Lights are in...

Ornament time - goofy girl:

Topped the tree!

One of my favorites I found 2 years ago:

Uncle Jake made, yes MADE this for Craig when he was overseas. It's so detailed & incredible. I cannot imagine the amount of cussing that probably happened over this little glass bulb.

One of my ornaments - Wendi gave it to me.

Got this at Cost Plus last year - I do love to bake!
Happy holidays, everyone! More on the latest holiday haps soon.

Of Course This Happens

Back in late September I think it was, Mia had a school picture taken. Her first "real" one, as a kindergartener. Pretty big deal. She put on a dress, I did her hair just like she likes it (she had a pretty headband on), and off she went with the advice to "smile naturally, no cheesy faces!" and all that.

She returned from school without the headband, and I asked and she said the photographers made her take it off. Well, I guess as long as she didn't flip out on them, that's fine - though I wasn't sure why they'd do that. Oh well, as long as they made sure her hair wasn't doing anything freaky.

The pictures got lost in the mail coming here. (Campus Photo International took the pictures) Side note- now that I have the pictures, maybe someone would've noticed that the company has an AOL email address and thought to themselves maybe we should find someone a bit more established. I'd pay a few bucks more for decent school pictures, especially since we're overseas and will be sending them to relatives & friends back home! But I know, I'm a photographer, and my expectations and reasoning on this might be a bit elevated. Sue me.

We got a note home speaking of the lost photos, and that the company would be reprinting and sending again and they'd be here hopefully in time to drop into holiday cards. Fabulous.

Yesterday Mia got off the bus and said, "I have great news! We got PICTURES!" She proceeded to unzip and unload her backpack in the middle of the street on the walk back to the house - very excited. (mind you, this is my picture taken of her picture - so bear with the quality)


Wow! My little girl is all grown UP! I can't get over how big she is and how pretty. Best picture she's ever taken? No, definitely not - but for a school picture, very pretty.

Wait.

What is that?

It's in an envelope with a plastic cover, that has to be crap on the sleeve.

I take it out.

No - it's the film, it has to be an imperfection on the film. Is it on all the pictures?

I look closer at the 5x7.

Nope.

One thick gorgeous strand of hair is hanging smack dab down the center of her face. Not just across her forehead, but it continues to the side of her nostril, around the corner of her mouth, and to the right of her jaw. You have GOT to be kidding me! I can't even look at these pictures anymore. It makes my teeth itch. I can't stand that there wasn't SOME person there - in front of xenon bulb lights shining on her face while taking pictures of my well-behaved child - after removing her headband or having her do so - who didn't say, "Oh, wait - she has a GIANT HAIR HANGING IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FACE AND HER PARENTS WILL PROBABLY BE COMPLETELY IRRITATED BY THAT - especially her photographer MOTHER!"

I think even if I email these people at their AOL address they'll say there's nothing they can do. I mean Photoshopping that out would be quite time-consuming and probably impossible for their crack team of editors.

Or the email will bounce back. They don't even have a website.

I'm done with the rant of the day.

Happy Hanukkah!

That was from the first night lighting candles. It was lovely.

These delicious babies were part of a fantastic meal I cooked last night for the Neathery fam and the Bowmans. Yes - that's right, dare I say, "toot. toot." Toasty delicious matzoh ball soup (I know, wrong holiday - but Craig & Anne have colds and I LOVE matzoh ball soup!), beautifully falling apart mouth-watering brisket, oh-so-tasty crispy on the outside soft and savory on the inside latkes, and yummy homemade apple fritters for dessert! YUM-O.

We had a great time yapping and the kids had a great time destroying Mia's freshly organized room. Oh well, it's Hanukkah.

Okinawan Sledding

As Anne & I perused the Camp Lester gift shop a couple of weekends ago, Derek & the kids discovered a nearby hill. There were 2 boys there with pieces of cardboard, and as I came over to where they were playing, it came clear that the kids were having one heck of a time.

Derek said, "I'm not responsible for grass stains or anything like that!" and he quickly coined it "Okinawan Sledding". I just know I threw away the pants she wore that day because there were rips in the seat from all the sledding. No biggie, they were from Target & didn't owe us a thing. And her fun was well worth it!

I give you Nicholas, Mia & Logan:



They ran back up the hill so many times I was exhausted watching them. It was nearly dark out when we left - and if it weren't for the grown-ups whining about being hungry, they would've stayed!

Soccer Awards Night

Ok - on our way out for some fun today (GORGEOUS Saturday!) but real quick - Mia had her final Soccer game yesterday which went great, and on Wednesday the kids had the trophy ceremony. We were supposed to have a parents vs. kids game, but it was very rained out. So these are all from the food court on Kadena.

Mia, Natalie & Cole being goofy (nothing new):

Photogenic soccer superstar Arissa:

Mia receiving her award & a small speech from the coach:

Kanoe congratulating Natalie:

Kanoe & John's kid #3, Ella - who LOVES Mr. Craig. She looks very interested in what's happening.

More pictures can be found here.

Meredith Saves the Day.

I just love my friend and co-photographer Meredith. We're very much alike, and she is now dealing with 1 and 3-year-old boys while hubby's away with the MEU all by herself. And they are energetic little climbers, divers, adventurers - what have you. She always has the best stories, and she is always thinking of others - despite her current exhausting single parenthood.

Several weeks ago, I posted a question on a group forum recently (a bunch of people who work on the Okinawa Hai! website together) as to whether anyone knew where to find malt syrup. My neighbor is a baker and makes bagels - and one ingredient is malt syrup - made from barley. It's kind of a specialty store item, and I thought I'd see if anyone had a clue if they sell it here.

The next time I saw Meredith she said, "Here ya go, maple syrup."
"Oh... did you read that I wrote maple syrup? I said malt syrup. I'm quite certain I could find maple syrup at the commissary, just like you probably did."
"Of course you did. No. I didn't realize that. But please, take the maple syrup."
"What? You don't eat pancakes?"
"No... my kids don't eat pancakes." Ok - that statement needs a whole post by itself because I have NEVER heard of a kid who doesn't like a giant sweet doughy pancake... but I digress.

Now realize that for this story to REALLY work, you have to have the previous part happen 3 weeks ago - have forgotten it - and then have the next part happen.

So on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Craig schlepped across base with Mia to pick up our turkey. There was a strike going on that day - the Japanese workers on American military bases were striking to protest pay cuts. This meant that when Craig arrived at the Popeye's, ONLY the drive-thru was open. We were one of MANNNNYYYY people who ordered turkeys from Popeye's. The line was down the street. Craig was not happy. And he had planned to take Mia to Burger King for dinner that night too (yeah yeah - keep judging me for the healthy meals my kid eats - but she actually eats broccoli now! So shut your cake hole.) which was also closed and had a big drive-thru line. So after he called me to complain and moan about the wait and how hungry they were, and how we're NEVER doing this again because OH MY GOD I'MGOINGTOBEHEREALLNIGHT!!!! (translation - he was in line for 20 minutes)

So on his way back to the house he called, and said, "I just promised Mia breakfast for dinner, ok?"
"Ok - fine, I even have some bacon!" (I know I know, again with the health food, shush.)

They arrived and as I began pancake prep I realized I had only 1 cup of Bisquick left. ARGH. And with the strike and it being the day before Thanksgiving, I was NOT headed back on base to wait in line at the zoo that was once the commissary.

Craig says, "that's fine... I'll have cereal." UGH. No, dangit, you said you were eating pancakes, and I'm making a half-batch for you & Mia and I'll eat something else. And you'll like it. FINE.

I make the pancakes...fabulous. Plenty for hungry hubby & Mia. I make bacon - delicious traif.

As I'm plating up and Craig is putting out some drinks, he pulls out the bottle of Mrs. Butterworth's. "Is this all that's left?" I whip around to see 3/4" left in the bottle. AAAAARGH!! For the love of Pete, what is going ON!? Again, "It's ok - I'll just eat cereal and I'll eat those some other time, put them in the fridge."

"NO YOU WILL NOT. YOU WILL HAVE THE PANCAKES I MADE BECAUSE TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING AND SO YOU WON'T EAT THEM AND THEN BY THE TIME I GO BUY SYRUP YOU'LL SAY THEY'RE NOT GOOD ANYMORE SO I'M GOING TO GET SYRUP IN TOWN AT THE STORE BECAUSE I'M SURE JAPANESE PEOPLE OCCASIONALLY EAT PANCAKES!!!!" Yes. I was caps-lock mad and throwing on a jacket and shoes and grabbing keys as I stifled 4-letter words.

As I swung the front door open to get fresh air & a drive to the Kanehide (grocery store) overwith - I suddenly whirled around and opened the refrigerator. "We have maple syrup!!"
"What? Cool! Hey, Mia! Mommy saved the day!"
"Actually.....Meredith saved the day."
"HUH?"

And so I explained the malt syrup mix-up because Craig had not heard it nor had he seen the syrup I brought home and placed in the fridge door. And then I told Mere the story and we laughed and laughed and thanked goodness for her lack of attention to that particular detail.

Our Daughter, Top Chef Judge

Craig & I love the show Top Chef. We were watching the latest season in the states before coming here, and when we figured out how to get it on iTunes, we did and we got to watch the rest. It's Bravo, so they bleep the 4-letter words the chefs say when they mangle or burn themselves or get into debates about whether to use squab or sea urchin. Mia ended up watching the show with us on occasion and making yummy sounds with me even though she wouldn't ever TOUCH most of the things they made.

This morning at breakfast she sat down and said, "Mama - serve me my breakfast like I'm a judge on Top Chef."

I snickered. "Ok."

Her choice today was Rice Kripsies (That is not a typo, she still says "kripsies" so I do too, and it's totally cute and no I will NOT be correcting her and she might not get a date with a boy because of it but what the heck is wrong with that anyway? I mean Craig & I figure if we don't tell her it's wrong to make body noises and talk about poop, she'll never get a date and we won't have to worry much about her in her teen years.) and I grabbed the bowl, a spoon, and the soy milk.

"Today we have a fresh serving of Rice Kripsies with a soy milk reduction which I will serve to you tableside." (She's sitting up straight and looking at me - DEAD serious - with her hands folded in her lap - listening intently.) I pour the milk in. "If you listen carefully during your meal, the Kripsies will talk to you. Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you, Chef Mommy," again, said in all seriousness. I walked behind the kitchen counter, and watched her lean over for a moment and put her ear to the bowl. She gave an impressed little nod, and delicately took the spoon off the table and dipped it into the bowl. She opened her mouth and ate the bite, chewing several times and nodding with a smirk. I looked at her as if to say, "so???" and she gave me a nod of approval and a big thumb's up. I love working on a local cooking show for a living.