Ramune aka Japanese Soda Drink with Marble in the Bottle

A description of the origin of ramune is here. But basically the one I got tastes like Sprite. It comes with a plastic plug looking piece that you press into the top of the bottle. This releases a hidden marble into the bottle. It also caused mine to fizz like a volcano all over my counter top. :)  It is difficult to drink at times because the marble blocks the flow of liquid.  But the kids loved playing with it.  It is a pretty cool novelty drink although it was way too sweet for my liking.  The marble, apparently, is extremely difficult to remove without breaking the bottle. I used pliers and couldn't budge the plastic top. But I'm pretty sure the movers packed my bottle for me! :) So atleast I got a cool souvenir!! :)

Bottle after removing the plastic wrap that covered the cap.

Bottle with plug sitting on top just after I popped it. If you look closely you can see the clear liquid puddled around the bottle.

See the marble covered in bubbles?

Tilted so you can see the marble.

Chug it Bella!!

Chug Chug Chug!

I love the tongue sticking out while looking at the marble!

Looking for the marble. :)

Reminiscing (2005)

We are nearing the end of our stay in Okinawa. It has been an amazing 5 years. This is home to our kids and is a part of their lives they will never forget.  We decided to go back to where it all began.  Our 1st duty station, our first overseas tour and our 1st military house.  1319 Chatan

*current family photo at the old house :)

The Kids in Their Costumes!! I ♥ Halloween!!

Princess Kitty meow!

Eeet's a ME! Mario!

Chewy/ Wolfman

Last Halloween in Okinawa :(

A Sad Day

Bella had her last day of preschool at Koza Seibo Yochien today.  The move is coming up soon and it was time to say goodbye.  Her class sang to her, then they each told her goodbye as they left for the day.  The class also made her a scrapbook to remember them by.  Each child drew her a picture or wrote something for her.  Her teacher told her Sayonara many times and kept coming back for just one more hug.  She was crying the whole time, which of course made me cry.  I have never been so sad to leave a school or a place before.  The love they have shown Bella is amazing and heartwarming. It is something we will never forget. And hopefully someday we can come back to visit Okinawa and her wonderful little school. :)

 Bella and her teacher Atsuko

A page from the scrapbook they made for her!

Benimo (Okinawan Sweet Potato)

B's class went on a field trip to the sweet potato farm.  They got to go out and dig up as many as they could fit in their bags.  She had quite a few, her bag was too heavy for her to carry. I didn't want to waste them so I tried some different ways to cook them.

The benimo look like normal potatoes, but when you cut them open they reveal a gorgeous deep purple inside. The Okinawans use them to make ice cream, tarts & sweets. 

 I tried at first to fry some, like french fries. That didn't go so well. They were just kind of blah.  So I cubed and boiled some.  Then I mashed them with some butter and a bit of salt. YUMMY!!

What they look like after just being dug up.

I peeled these.

Peeled and cut open to show color.

Water after boiling benimo.

Steaming benimo hot off the stove.

Mashed with butter & salt.

Mashed again.

Something Yummy, Something Hilarious & Something Iffy

The kids and I went out shopping this morning. We headed over to the Farmer’s Market, the 100 Yen Store and then to Max Value.  We scored some interesting stuff. First we found something yummy! My favorite rice at the Farmer’s Market!

Then at the 100 Yen store, the funniest thing! A set of appliqués (stickers) for the toilet that have faces on them and say “Mission Success!” and  “ Relax your head. Relax your face good…”  Yeah, when we move into our new house, these are SO going on my toilet!!

Next, at Max Value we found some almost tasteless gelatinous blobs that you roll in a powder that smells and tastes kind of peanutty.  I did NOT care for these, but my daughter who will eat any kind of Japanese food LOVED them.

Photos from the Weekend

She was watching the fishermen.

Chucks on the beach.

Daddy long legs and Baby short legs. :)

Smile :)

Hubby's shadow.

Checking out the tide pools.

Low tide.

This was so cool to walk on and see all of the sea life.

More tide pools.

Safe from the sun.

Shisa on a bridge.

Shisa on the other side of the bridge.

Shisa up close.

More Exploring Okinawa

In case anyone is interested, I posted more photos from our family exploration of Okinawa this weekend. We drove out to Hamahiga Island.

It was beautiful. 

The rest of the photos can be seen here.

New Photos of Okinawa

New photos from a day out in Okinawa are posted on my photography blog, check em out!

http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/2010/09/american-village-in-okinawa.html

Handmade Iron Maiden Lunch Bag

One of my son's Iron Maiden shirts ripped, so I told him to keep it and I would make something out of it.

It has been sitting in my craft closet for months.

 School is about to start and he wants me to pack him a bento for lunch.

He has a double bento and a tupperware for a salad, so it is too much to fit in the bags that are supposed to hold bento boxes.

Plus he didn't really like any of the bags he saw.

Mom to the rescue!!

He now has a new lunch bag made from the old Iron Maiden shirt!

 Sweeeeeeet!!!

On the Patio

B looking at her snail friend.

B's snail friend.

My two goofballs, they make me smile. :)