Churaumi Aquarium

We took Cece and Caroline to Churaumi Aquarium on the north side of the island.  The aquarium has a huge tank with whale sharks and rays swimming around.  The girls had a great time.

 

Okinawa World

Cece's class went on a trip to Okinawa World to see the caves and the habu snake.  It was very cold that day, almost 60 degrees.  Here's a photo of her on one the shisa dog rides near one of the many gift shops.

Vampire Blood

This Halloween Cece wanted to be a vampire, a scary one with bat wings and purple fur.  Thank you mom for the fabric and all the trim.

Hong Kong

Our first big trip was to Hong Kong for 4 days.  We went with neighbors which made the trip a lot more fun.  On our first night we watched the fireworks set to music and lights from all the skyscrapers in Victoria Harbor.  On one day we took the Peak Tram to Peak Tower at Victoria's Peak to see a 360 degree view of Hong Kong.  Here's a photo of Cece and Caroline jumping in front of some mechanical out buildings at the Peak.

We walked everywhere, to the Stanley Market and the Temple Street Night Market and the Ladies Market and the even the Goldfish Market.  Here's Cece in front of a wall of fish in little baggies.

 

I think the highlight of the trip was Hong Kong Disney.  Cece and Dirk had a great time, but I thought Space Mountain was too scary.

 

Sweet Potato Farm

Cece's class went on a trip to a sweet potato farm to learn more about where food comes from.  Personally, I think a third grader should already know that food grows on farms and doesn't just appear at the grocery store.  Okinawan sweet potatoes are not anything like yams, they are not sweet - just very fibrous.  She picked so many and then had to carry them back to the bus.

After the sweet potato farm we went to Bios on the Hill for lunch.  It's a huge garden of wild growing orchids with a boat ride and a small animal petting zoo.

Ryugujo Butterfly Garden

This weekend we visited the Butterfly Garden on the north side of the island.  The reviews said it wasn't worth the trip, but we loved it.  I think Cece and I could have stayed all day.  The weather was overcast and rainy but the butterfly section is enclosed and filled with butterflies.  They seem to flock to the red hats that they have hanging everywhere.

First Day of School

Cece started her first day of third grade at Killin Elementary School on Camp Foster, Okinawa Japan.  She's standing in front of our semi-attached, concrete block home on Camp Lester.

Snorkeling at Medea Flats

Dirk and Cece went snorkeling at Medea Flats with one of the other docs.  He took some great photos and even a movie.  Thank you Rob!!

Cape May, New Jersey

We are getting ready to move to the other side of the world - Dirk has orders to be in Okinawa Japan by August.  Before moving, we decided to visit with as much of family as possible.  Here are some photos from Sunset Beach in Cape May.

Brian and Shannon decided to treat us to para-sailing for our anniversary.  I was pretty terrified, but I loved it.  The view from up high is amazing.

Camping in Maine

Cece's Grampy and her Daddy took her camping while Nana and I stayed home.  They kayaked to Ram Island and then set up a tent, no cabin and no beds.  Cece took so many photos of scenery and rocks and even some squirrels.

 

They fished and scavenged for their dinner, Cece ate barnacles on crackers - yummy.  For dessert, they went traditional and roasted marshmallows on dirty sticks.

 

Dirk's Graduation

After medical school at USUHS, flight school at Pensacola, and emergency medicine residency at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Dirk is finished with school!  Thank you everyone for coming!!!

 

 

Washington DC

It was wonderful to see Chad and Rhonda in Washington DC. It has been about 7 years since we've seen each other and this is the first time we've met Roland and Holden. Cece and Roland hit off from the start. Here's a photo of them in front of the Washington Monument.


Here's another photo of the two of them in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I asked Cece to try and squish the memorial, not so much...

After the monument, we decided to visit the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. They had an amazing butterfly enclosure. A butterfly even landed on Chad's hat.

In the afternoon, we went to the National Zoo, but most of the animals were not out.