Merry Christmas, Okinawa Lily!

This is our first Christmas in Okinawa. The mood and the feelings were pretty mixed around here. 

On the one hand, we are so happy we at least have each other; we cannot forget that there are 20 families in CT who's Christmas will NEVER be the same again and thousands of military families who are separated by deployment every year.

On the other hand, we miss our extended family and Christmas, much like Thanksgiving, the day had that "something's missing" feel to it. Of course, those mixed feeling are only from Jeff and I.

 Lily Grace had an AMAZING Christmas.

Our holiday started with a Candle lit church service on Christmas Eve, opening presents on Christmas morning and going out for sushi for Christmas dinner. Maybe this will be our NEW Christmas tradition.

All dressed up for Christmas Eve service

We decided to get Lily Grace a few presents that she REALLY wanted, instead of hoards of junk toys that she would break or forget about the next day.

"I Love this!" She kept saying. She REALLY wanted a play kitchen. Jeff put this one together using just a diagram. The written directions were all in Japanese. 

Super Lily Cape!

Merry Christmas!

Okinawa Lily - Dec. 14, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....well, as much as it can look like Christmas on a tropical island in Japan.

Lily's preschool had their annual Christmas recital and party today. The kids had a great time and Lily Grace did AMAZING. Jeff and I are so proud of her.
This program really demonstrated the difference between Lily Grace and other children her age. Not only in size, but general demeanor. Lily is so happy, energetic and today we found out, not shy in front of an audience. One of her teachers had to stay on stage beside her to contain a bit of that excitement, but all in all she was very well behaved. I can't post many picture because this is a public blog and I really should not post pictures of other people's children, but trust me when I say, it was adorable.

Singing

Hand print ornament she made at school. I love stuff like this!

Popsicle stick snow flakes. :-)

Okinawa Lily - Catching Up

Okay. I have been really slack with updates....So, I am going to do a few bullets, then some pictures.

-Jeff turned 30!

-Lily met Santa for the first time and was not impress. She did not freak out, but she was just like, "Who's this guy?"

-We had our first Thanksgiving without family or friends around. It kind of sucked, but we are thankful we had each other. The food was kind of good too. I'm a good cook, but I could tell my heart was not into it.

-The best part of Thanksgiving was Lily Grace helping me bake. Reminds me of the reason why I wanted to be a Mom in the first place. I love those moments with her.

- Jeff and I decorated the tree after Lily went to bed. I forgot how much I adore our Christmas tree.

Okinawa Lily - Nov. 3, 2012

Wordless Weekend Post

Bumble Bee

Lily was too busy collecting coral and shells to pose for pictures.

Amazing Panoramic

Amazing Roller Slide

Lily wanted to go down it again and again.

Okinawa Lily - Oct. 26 2012

Jeff enjoys doing crafts with Lily Grace as well. Most of their crafts have to be done in the evenings or on weekends. I love that Jeff takes the time out to have that one on one time with Lily, it is so important to her.
Last night they carved the medium pumpkin for the stoop. Boy, was it messy! Lily loved every second of it though.

"What are we doing, Daddy?"

"Carving a pumpkin?!!! YAY!!!!!"

"umm....gross."

"Let me try!"

Happy Pumpkin!!!

Happy Halloween!!