In November we...

 Attended our sixth ball in celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday and had a fabulous time!

 Reunited with fellow dancing queen, Joelle!

 Attended an amazing birthday party with a petting zoo and rides on a pony with pink(and purple glitter) hair!  Amelia LOVED the bunnies and followed them around the yard almost the entire time.  Kristen LOVED the potbelly piglets and briefly entertained the idea of one as a pet.  Briefly.

 Dressed up as a turkey for the fall music program at Mae's school.  Gobble, gobble!

 Learned sudoku on Grampa Hone's computer!

 Made and ate a super-cute gingerbread girl with Gramma Lizzie!  Thank you for the fun, Gramma Jonnie!

 Celebrated Amelia's 2nd birthday! 

Got an early start with the Christmas spirit!

This October we...

 Became members and dedicated Amelia at our new church, Vineyard of Grace.  She was super squirrely, but we expected that as it was a long time coming!  Our pastor, Greg, found poems written by two poets born on her birthday, the church gave her flowers, and the prayers were beautiful.

 Visited a pumpkin patch in 90 degree weather, ehhh!  It was definitely NOT a legitimate pumpkin patch visit, as we were sweating and there was no need for hot apple cider or donuts to warm us up, but we had a blast with Auntie Jo, Andrew and Jacob and bounced galore in the multiple bouncy houses available!!

 Decorated Auntie Meg's famous pumpkin cookies with friends.  This might have been the day Amelia realized her love for M&Ms...she is OBSESSED!

 Spent a LOT of time outside because it had FINALLY cooled off!

 Welcomed our Oki friends, Jacqueline (pictured left of Mimi), Auntie Maria and Mr. Andre for a weekend visit.

 Went to the Texas State Fair!!!!  It was an awesome day to listen to the USMC Drum and Bugle Corps, people watch, ride a couple carnival rides, and gorge ourselves on deep fried Snickers, deep fried salsa, and a deep fried Smores Poptart (notice the trend?!).

 Carved pumpkins.  Of course, Kristen did most of the dirty work as Mae has a thing against getting her hands slimey, but aren't they great?!  Mae drew the design on the pumpkin on the right by herself and that was the best one on the block!

 Toured the stockyards in Fort Worth with Gramma Lizzie and Grampa Brett.  We happened to hit the stockyards during a cowboy convention and it was too cool.  That might have been the day that Kristen turned Texan (or as close as a Yankee girl can get!).  Can you guess what's on her Christmas list?  Mae got to sit on a long-horn ("Dad, give the man some money and put me on a real [cow]!") and feed goats with Gramma Lizzie (below).

This last picture is our single shot from Halloween.  Mae chose a ballerina outfit from her dress-up bin and Amelia fell asleep at 6:30!  It was a quiet, early night for us all!

So far this September...

 We've been eating cupcakes nearly every week!  Mae had a hankering, so we made these at home.  Our favorites, though, have been from two Dallas cupcakeries, GiGi's and Sprinkles, that our fab friend and auntie, Caitlin, steered us towards.  Double YUMMM!

 We had the Sidwells over for chili and Mae and Jaiden decided to go to "the planetarium" and nominated me as the teacher.  Well, the teacher was washing dishes so she pointed to Kevin and designated him as the bus driver to the museum.  God love him for taking it literally!!! 

 Amelia discovered that she could fit inside the pantry...

 We're exploring the trail by our home that leads to this elementary school park...

 "I'm sorry, babe, I don't know how that happened."  HA!  I was sorting through files and Kevin was coloring with the girls and, evidently, was TOO focused on his own picture to notice that Mimi had chosen her dress as her canvas!  Gotta love that mug.

 Then, the next day, Amelia fished the outfit out of the dirty clothes basket to put it on over her dress!  I think she's spending too much time with her big sis!!

And, best of all, we've reunited with awesome friends from Oki!!  Here's Mae with her long-lost Auntie Jo. 

First Day of Preschool!

Having just arrived home the night before from our trip north, it was amazing how happy and excited Mae was to wake up at 6:30 AM yesterday for her first day of preschool in TX!

This is the outfit she picked out the night before, surprisingly coordinated ...the sassy pose was a last minute accessory. :)

Mae had an awesome first day and, although she REALLY didn't want to wake up this morning, a fabulous second day as well. We are very proud of our big girl!

It's Moving Day!

I started tearing up (AGAIN!) as I watched the movers pack up our living room just now, and it wasn't because the sound of constant packing tape was hurting my ears (REALLY loud by the way). Honestly, the water works started because one gentleman was packing a table that our friend Jeremy made us as a wedding gift and he was so careful in the packing of it. In contrast, the American movers that moved us from Texas to Okinawa ripped off the top of that same table to fit it in a crate and I had to have it repaired while on island.

I am going to miss Okinawa so much for its honesty, simplicity, respect, and safety. You may think that I should be watching these movers like a hawk, or at least that I would have something better to do, but I don't! Kevin is occupying the girls at McDonalds and I have nothing but my thoughts and roller coaster emotions to keep me occupied. The Japanese gentlemen truly are that, gentlemen, and I am so grateful.

4 more days and then it's FLYING DAY!

It's Fort Worth, Texas or BUST!

We FINALLY received our travel itinerary this week! We will say an official "Sayonara!" to Okinawa this coming Saturday, June 11th. After spending about one week in Ft. Worth choosing a house to rent and buying cell phones and a TRUCK (!), we will take a few weeks of R&R in Atlanta with Grandma Heather, Grandpa Mike and Nikki. Then around July 8th(ish), we will either go back to Texas to check in, or finish our leave with a few weeks of family and friends in Chicago.

Getting our itinerary was like pulling teeth; Kevin had to make several calls each day and for weeks and it took hanging out at the travel office with A LOT of serious eye contact to make it happen. :) It was almost as hard as waiting for our orders. But, we have a saying in the military, "Hurry up and WAIT!" and a saying isn't a "saying" for nuthin.

The light at the end of our PCS journey is leave (vacation time) with Kevin. I've often thought that in order for the girls and I to see him, we'd have to be in the move process and, through all the errands and stress and rigamarole!, I am grabbing as many amazing moments as I can. To that end, please pray that we have LOTS and LOTS of those wonderful moments and that our leave is what we need it to be as a family. We CAN'T wait to reunite with ALL of you. Lots of love and see you soon!

First of the "Lasts"

Kristen celebrated her last coffee with the Sumos on Cinco de Mayo. Hosted by Carly and Andromache, it was a fabulously fun end to three years of Sumo spouse shenanigans...especially because Crystal (above) dive-bombed Kristen to get all the pinata goodies! SHENANIGANS!


God love her! Maria wasn't shy with that bat! It should be in the defense budget; every military spouse should be supplied with a pinata and bat yearly. :)

Kristen and Cole - SO happy to have survived Okinawa still smiling!

YUM!!! Gotta love the Texas shaped chip bowl! Thank you SUMO SPOUSES!