Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder??

To my blog followers. I am sorry I have nothing new to post.  I recently went back to college full time and it has left me with no free time to crochet or craft.  But the good news is my creativity has another outlet!

Through my classes I am able to play around with my photography! YAY! So I may not be posting here as much, but I hope to be posting periodically on my photography blog located here :http://nikkipaigephotography.blogspot.com/ 

Wish me luck in school! So far it is amazing and I am so glad to be back at it and SO glad I took most of my prerequisites when I went the first time! :)

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 :)

Happy Veterans Day!

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a

blank check

payable to the United States of America for an amount up to,

and

including, their life. That is beyond honor. Today is the day

we salute you! 

 Support the Troops.

 

 

*(photo of my husband's return from one of his many deployments with all 3 of the kids)

Heading Home

Soon our tour of Okinawa will be ending. It has been a great 5 years and we hope to return again someday.  This is pretty much home to our kids. They have grown up here. B was born here and is confused when I say that we are going "home", I mean this IS her home.  Although we are sad to leave, we are excited to be moving back closer to home and our family.  Anyway, I just found a photo of our 1st Easter in Okinawa, we had been here a mere 7 months and the boys were so little.  I just had to post a before and after shot of how much the kids have grown since we moved here. 

April 2006

June 2010

and little Miss who was born here. :)

(photo taken Aug 2010)

On the Patio

B looking at her snail friend.

B's snail friend.

My two goofballs, they make me smile. :)

Glass Blowing in Okinawa

This was a really cool experience. Ryukyu glass began after the war when they used tossed out alcohol/beer bottle from the US base to recycle into new glassware.  We went on a tour and were able to each blow our own glass to take home. We each got a turn to blow our molten glass orb and then shape it into a drinking glass. What an amazing afternoon.

C

T

C's finished glass

T's finished glass

Big C's' finished glass

Finished glasses

If you get the chance I highly recommend this tour! :)

Sibling Valentine Love

Topher wrote a haiku for Valentine's Day. It was about Bella. And just about the sweetest , cutest thing I've ever seen!

Bella

Little, Sweet

Sharing, Laughing , Playing

A funny little girl.

Sister.

By: Topher

Nasty Easter

We had the opportunity to try something totally different and super fun this Easter. Our friends included us in their Easter tradition, which we will be sure to continue for years to come. The moms did ALL of the prep work for this, but if we start earlier next year the kids will be able to do most of it themselves, atleast the older kids will. :)

We started by blowing out dozens of eggs. (Try to start early so as not to waste any egg insides).

Make a pin hole in the top and a hole about the size of a quarter in the bottom.

Blow the egg out of the big hole.

Then rinse each egg thoroughly.

Let the eggs completely dry.

Dye the eggs.

I wore rubber gloves and just used food coloring and vinegar.

They will float since they are hollow, so I just rolled them around in the dye while they floated.

Then set them out to dry.

It is VERY important that they be completely dry in order to stuff them.

We used confetti & glitter to stuff the eggs for the kids.

Then we took small squares of tissue paper and used a bit of water to adhere it to the egg covering up the large holes.

Once they were dry, they were sealed and ready for action.

*** The adults also participated and stuffed their eggs with: flour, cinnamon, ground up catfood, funyuns, fritos, etc. Some also filled theirs with whipped cream. Make sure everyone "playing" is willing to get messy!)***

Then we took everyone out into an open field and let them go WILD! It was the most fun I have had on Easter in years! Although, I cannot stand the smell of catfood,and my lovely friend Steph nailed me immediately with a "catfood egg".

Thanks Steph!

Enjoy the pictures of our fun "Nasty" Easter! Our friends are our family while stationed overseas, and we have the best family ever!

Love you guys!

Bella smashed atleast a dozen on HERSELF!!



Look what I did Mom!

Steph's confetti hair!