Happy Father's Day, Doody.

I'm not really sure how it started, but my father is Doody to me. I was at least a teenager when that became the norm. Of course - I was Stinky after that. What a nice family. And of course, when I had a kid - his name became Granddoody. I've read that terms of endearment are good things for kids - I hope they're good things for fathers because I always mean "Doody" with the utmost respect and admiration.

The term "Daddy's Girl" is thrown around quite a bit in our family. In fact - after I gave birth to one and she started growing up to be beautiful and smart and funny and her father was deployed 3 times - I got sad. I know she's going to get to the point where I'm not her favorite person and Daddy can do no wrong. She is his biggest fan that's for sure. So happy slightly belated Father's Day to my hubby too, you're a fantastic father, honey bun.

As for my father - well, he's strong and funny and loving and supportive and always the life of the party. (I do get that from him.) He (acutally, my Mom too) has the most contagious infectious laugh and I LOVE making him do it! He was born and raised in THE City (NYC) and truly loves it and knows it like the back of his hand. He enjoys a good dirty joke, a vodka gimlet now and then, he knows how to spend money to have fun (you deserve it!), plays one mean game of golf, is always up for an incredible meal, if it's dessert - make it TART, and even though he chose to be a Nikon shooter, I'll still keep him! I'm so happy we share photography talk now among so many other loves.

I value your opinion and your praise, Doody - I remember that whenever I felt the worst was when I disappointed you. Thank you for everything, and each year on both Mother's Day and Father's day - and every day - I do know how precious you both are and how hard I work and hope to live up to the amazing parenting examples you have set. Thank you, Doody, and enjoy your day!

Yoshihachi's=Oishii!

Ate sushi last night at a local favorite of the American crowd; because Yoshi (the sushi chef) is basically American. He makes the specialty rolls like we do in the US - interesting combos like California rolls, dragon rolls, etc. The menu is very large, and includes all kinds of things - raw and cooked. (Shark teriyaki, blowfish sushi, etc.) Yoshi also puts pictures all over the restaurant walls of celebrities he's met, golfed with, made sushi for, etc. He's quite the local celeb. Here's a picture of the shot that was hanging right next to our table:
As you can see, it's almost 16 years old - pretty neat, huh?

Here is my "KASABURANKA COMBO". Read that. Slowly. Out loud. Yes - it was named after the Japanese translation of the American movie. Delish. Great fish and speedy delivery.

Craig's teriyaki combo - complete with tempura, miso soup (in the round container in the middle), dipping sauce, chicken & beef, and rice.

Mia's Kid's Combo Plate served in an airplane dish. Hello carbs and protein! Good to know what they think of our children's healthy eating habits. Hot dog, hamburger, tempura shrimp, fries, potato/corn croquette and fried rice. Nary a veggie in sight. But Mia gobbled up that shrimp tempura! That's my girl... you be that date that orders surf & turf! She's gotten quite adventurous, she even had lasagna the other day!

I didn't take a picture of it, but I also ate a fantastic mahi mahi collar in teriyaki sauce. It was one of the best dishes I'd ever had - amazing. Ate it too quick to take a picture.

Service was great, and we even met a couple of other families in the small room where we were seated. One had just moved into our neighborhood and I recommended that she visit Okinawa Hai! Good times - small island - life is good.

Tonight - we dine at Arin Krin - the garlic restaurant! There are dancing heads of garlic painted on the outside..haha! I know, Mom (poor soul - she's allergic to garlic!) - not where you'll eat. But Mia is a big fan of garlic it seems, and I'm here to foster that in case I suddenly can't eat it anymore one day.

I'm Back - Much To Say!

I still exist - really I do! More pictures for you from the last - jeez, almost 10 days? Sorry.

We went to Kurashiki Dam the weekend before last, which was very cool. It was WINDY (as you will notice from our kid's wild hair in the pictures. The signs have pictures so that they're universally understood. We realized they were also very funny, and our witty child with the sharp sense of humor was posing up a storm when we said, "Do something funny".


Don't you dare leave your doggie poop here!
Ok - so she didn't pose like she was holding a fishing pole...
Having some fun in the middle of the street. Yes, I did have to move from my lying down position in the center of the road several times during these shots.


This was my fav - TOTALLY Mia's idea. (the "no swimming" sign in the background)

Holding back her hair because of the wind:

The bridge out to the mystery building in the middle of the water next to the dam (you can see the dam on the right):

Some pretty water lilies on a pond next to a croquet course (they call it lawn golf or gate ball!):
Headed back across the dam/bridge:

I like this one - just some lone interesting tree on a green green lawn.

Ok, so some stuff has happened since then, but nothing I've photographically documented. Mia's parent/teacher conference was this week. Not surprisingly, she's thriving in kindergarten and is a real leader in her class. She has a strong personality, but avoids conflict with other strong personalities - so that's encouraging. We are very happy with her progress and her development. We were talking, and even in the past 5 months we've been here we've seen a real change in her. She's growing up - she's oh so smart - she is just a great kid. We're very happy and VERY lucky.

On that note, I want to mention that not everyone is as lucky - my friend-by-blogging, Edith, and her husband Trinity are now in Hawaii after only a brief time in Okinawa. Their son, Diego, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia this week, and they immediately left to begin treatment at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. We are praying for all of you, you are at an amazing care facility and I'm so very glad that you found out when you did.

Edith is so incredibly brave, honest, and helpful to others - she is blogging the experience on her site: http://senoritamommy.blogspot.com. I was in tears reading her post today...any parent probably would be, but I'm so very happy that he's getting such great care and so much overflowing love. And that his mommy & daddy are there to be with him and hold his hand, sweet baby boy. Edith, I am here to do or send anything - ANYTHING you need. Just say the word. Please let me know what would make things easier for your family. Craig, Mia and I wish you all the best and hope this story continues in every positive way it can.

Last but not least - the 7th Communications Battalion USMC Birthday Ball was last night. We got ourselves all dolled up and schlepped up to Camp Hansen for a 650-person party!


Thanks for taking a couple of pictures, Anne. I don't have any from the ball itself because I brought my small camera and it took pathetically blurry pictures. Suffice it to say we had fun enjoying the company of friends/coworkers, and decent food. Not great, decent. The ceremony was mercifully short. The drinks at the cash bar were mercifully cheap. And not so merciful was the amount of people that someone saw fit to put into this ROOM! We were packed like sardines in there. Craig said they're the biggest battalion on the island - and it showed. I had full body contact with the people on either side of me at my table. I had to squish my arms together to cut my meat. It was rather crazy. We left at about 9:30, got back and had a drink with the Neatherys who were watching Mia, and then came home to crash. Very very fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIA!

You're six. Technically, you're still 5 because you were born at 11:45 am PST on October 4, 2001. But I suppose that's splitting hairs.

You bring us so much happiness and laughter and FUN. You're a beautiful, smart, sassy and STUBBORN (shush, people, I know where she gets that) little, I guess I mean big, girl. And though we wish we could stop time to hold you at this amazing age of discovering and learning and lovey doveying - I realize the age where I'm not your favorite person rapidly approaches - we can't.

So here's a picture of you this morning in your new skirt that Grammy got you for school (that I still had to cinch in at the waist with those elastic/button thingies - and why did it take so long for someone to figure out to do that, because it's the best thing EVER for skinny kids) and with your big strong hunka hunka Marine Daddy who loves you more than Rubio's fish tacos. And would probably give up his right arm, the Wii and the PS3 if you signed documents saying you'd never become a boy-crazy teenager.
I have to admit, even though it does make me cringe a little, your recent discovery of how "cute" boys are makes me smile. Last night we went to Chili's after your request to go there (Dad has a 10-mile hump at 6:30 tonight so he won't be home to celebrate with us), and the Turner family joined us. The Turner family is made up of beautiful Hawaiian mom, Kanoe and Marine Dad John and 3 gorgeous kids, Cole, Natalie & Ella (almost 7-yr-old Cole & 5-year-old Natalie are on Mia's soccer team, Ella is 2 and ADORABLE). Mia sat at a 2-person booth with Cole and behaved like quite the young lady. I couldn't help but get a flash of things to come watching her & Cole talk and color together at the separate table. Eventually Ella & Nat joined them, squeezing into the little seats they were on, because they didn't want to be left out & sitting with - ew - grown-ups.

We had such a nice night, and Mia declared, "Cole is so cute!" and the immediate, "HEY there, easy on the 'cute' - he's a nice boy and all but I don't know that you need to go and start with the 'cute' and everything there, kiddo..." came from her father like a recording.

Yep. The prediction stands. About eight years from now he'll be on the front porch polishing his rifle and wearing a wife-beater and his camouflage pants when her date comes to call.

We're Simpsonized!

Thanks again, Edith - these are great. Here are Aviva, Craig & Mia - Simpsonized.

I doubt Craig would wear cargo shorts with black shoes, but that wasn't an option.
And Mia insisted on having a kitty.