Mr. Graduate

Everyone say CONGRATULATIONS JOEY because he graduated last week!

I am so proud of him! Just another step closer to a promotion. He worked hard and deserves nothing but the best! And now, he can relax. We had a congratulatory dinner, just the two of us, and to commemorate the moment, he got a "Happy Vacation" drink!

I just love living in paradise.

Happy Mother's Day 2009!

I know, Mother's Day was yesterday, but it's still Mother's Day back in the states! So, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY momma's in the states!!! We love you and we miss you!

I called my mom earlier to greet her and this is what happened.

Me: Happy Mother's Day Mom!
Mom: Thanks! We're at Crab Hut right now. Your sister said she'll take pictures and send it to you to make you jealous. Hahaha. Here talk to your sister.
Me: Uh ... okay.
Nanie: Hey, what's up?
Me: Nothing. I want to talk to my mom, not you!
Nanie: Oh, okay.
Mom: Hey! It's loud here. I'll talk to you later, okay. Love you! Bye!

Great, huh? I love her still! (And yes, my sister's and I refer to our parents as, "my mom" or "my dad.")

Things I Love About My Mom Are:
1. She's the best mom ever!
2. She's the best cook ever!
3. She's the hardest working nurse I know!
4. Her laugh. She's loud.
5. Hearing her scream, yell, clap and laugh during Dancing with the Stars.
6. She plays with my hair when I put my head in her lap.
7. Every time we pass by a flower or plant, her garden-loving self would snap off a leaf, break it, and shove it to your nose and say, "Hmm, smell."
8. Sing the Beyonce song, "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, oh no no" and she'll shake her booty! I taught her well!

An extra Happy Mother's Day greeting to:
- Joey's Mom!
- Joey's aunt, Tita Alice
- Joey's aunt, Tita Brenda
- Joey's sister, Joanne
- Joey's sister, Lovely
- Joey's sister, Brenda
- Joey's sister, Gail
- Joey's sister-in-law, Sharon

Joey has a lot of women in his life!

Lots to Celebrate

Friday, Joey and I went out to celebrate Laura's birthday at Tonneau, an izakaya shaped like a huge barrel! And it was yummy! I have to add that it was an extra celebration for Joey's graduation (check for another post on that later), and Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

Around the table, L to R: Jessica, Brian, Joey, me, the birthday girl Laura, Robby, Amy, Chris, Charity, and Chris

After dinner, we headed out to an Irish Pub out Gate 2 Street - our first Gate 2 experience, and had a little more fun than we anticipated. It was Joey's first time meeting my crazy friends, and thankfully, he's still allowing me to hang out with you girls! Haha!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day 2009

Yes! There is such a day, and it's today - Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

It's always the Friday before Mother's Day and I personally think it's a great day to be celebrated!

Dragon Boat Races

Yesterday, I took another girl's day trip down to Naha to see the Dragon Boat Races to celebrate Children's Day during Golden Week. Competitors have been training for a couple of months - Joey wanted us to sign up, but I nixed that idea. During the race, three teams compete and race from one end of the dock to the other, and back again. Then three new teams compete, and so forth.

We left early, and even though I'm not a morning person, it was a good thing we did because we beat the crowd and had pretty great seats! We brought our chairs, some of us had beer (at 10:30am!), got ugly slipper tans and sunburns, took tons of pictures, ate yummy food, and had another awesome day of sun.

Me, Amy H, and Amy S

Heather, Charity, and Jessica

The Girl's Air Force Team vs. two local groups

(Back to front) All girl's: Navy team, Marine Corps team, and Army team. Navy won!

Dragon Boat

Find anything odd with this picture?

Video clip of the part of a race. Sorry, I don't have a steady hand!

Yours = Mine

Last week, Monday night, 4/27/09
Me: I took dollar bills in your wallet for tip when I go grocery shopping.
Joey: Okay.

Last week, Tuesday night, 4/28/09
Me: I took Yen from your wallet for when I go to Ie Island tomorrow.
Joey: Okay.

Last night, 5/4/09
Me: I took Yen from your wallet for when I go to Naha tomorrow.
Joey: Why don't you get your own money?
Me: I did. I got it from your wallet. (Smiles)
Joey: Thief.

Marriage - what's yours is mine baby!

*I went to see the Dragon Boat Races in Naha today. Check back tomorrow for pictures!

Ie Island Lily Festival

Yesterday, I took a girl's day trip to Ie Island for the Lily Festival. It was wonderful! Perfect weather, relaxing time, great company, and beautiful flowers. The Lily Festival is exactly what you'd expect. Just a whole bunch of lilies - the main reason why the husbands weren't invited.

(L to R) Laura, Heather with B, me, Charity, Jessica, and Amy.
(Picture courtesy of Charity!)

We hopped on a 30-ish minute ferry ride from Motobu Port in Nago to Ie Island.

Docking at Ie Island.