Rainbows & Rain!!!

I just wanted to update how Japan is going so far-

It rains A LOT!!! It rains good and hard, but stops after only a few minutes. It's funny because it will start pouring while the sun is out and there isn't a cloud in the sky. It's like... Where is this coming from? The kids LOVE it though. The rain is different here and is really warm! We put on our swimsuits and run out to play in it! It had been fun! In the van we have 2 sun roofs, so we always make sure the kids can see the rain coming down!

After looking at the on base housing... we have decided to live off base! I was really nervous about this at first, but have learned quite a bit about the japanese culture and am really looking forward to learning more while we live amongst them. One thing I learned is that Japanese people don't take what doesn't belong to them. Most people around here only lock there car or house while living on base! I think that's a little sad that they have to on base, but there you go...some American's try to get something for free when they can. Anyway, we are excited to live off base and have already found a small apartment!

Our apartment is a 3 bedroom, 1400 sf, and is on the 6th floor of the building. The kids love the elevator and are excited to move in in a couple days. We were suppose to move in tomorrow, but due to the typhoon that is going to hit us tomorrow morning at 7:00, we will have to stay in TLF a couple more days. I'm actually a little relieved though, because our apartment is right on the water. I mean RIGHT on the water. The view is killer though!!! I'll post some pictures as soon as we move in!

On another note- We got lost the other day! Rhett was trying to take us to a park his sponsor had shown him, but due to me trying to find the 100 yen store, we ended up on the wrong road. We drove around for 3 1/2 hours looking for the base. The problem with Japan is that ALL the signs are in Japanese and the people just speak Japanese. We pulled over and asked a guy and he tried so hard to explain to me where I needed to go, but in all honesty it was like playing a game of pictionary with a 6 year old. He would point to the light and I would say stop light and he would get so excited and nod his head. It didn't really help, but bless his soul for trying! After calling his sponsor for the third time and ending up at the Naha airport...we finally made it back to the base! I was pretty worried, but Rhett was really great. He was completely calm and even was able to calm me down! It didn't help that it was pitch dark outside!

The pool here has been AWESOME! They have a diving board, a water slide, and a HUGE splash pad area for the kids! The babies love the splash part. Hunter is quite the dare devil and runs right through the center while Ryker will slowly go up and put his toes in. The only way that Ryker gets wet is when Carter grabs him and drags him through them.

We are starting to work with Taylor and his swimming and he is doing great! He prefers to stay in his lifejacket, but will practice with daddy. He is getting a little better, but complains when we are at the pool that he wanted to go to the beach! He loves jumping through the waves and throwing the seaweed at his brothers!

Carter is never seen at the pool. He is ALWAYS on the slide. He also loves to go off the diving board! He tried a flip yesterday and landed right on his back. It was hilarious! He came up crying and I could tell it was hard for Rhett to keep the smile off his face as he consoled him. What a cute little stinker.

Carter started school today too. He is SO excited!!! He goes to Killin Elementary. They are the gecko's. He thought that was really awesome that that made him a Killin' Gecko. It was funny because he told everyone we ran into. He thinks Grandma Olsen should come over and be his teacher! I think she should too. The DoDDs teacher make $1500 a month more than Rhett does! They get paid really well! :) I looked into preschool's for Taylor and they are WAY expensive! It looks like I will be able to use all that home schooling stuff to due a little preschool for Taylor and the twins!

The BX and Commissary run out of stuff really fast! If you see it and like it... you had better buy it right now, because it won't be there in a couple hours! I got Carter's school list and took him shopping. The only thing they had left was back packs and a few pairs of scissors! Oh well! Oh and today it was CRAZY at the BX. We are on T-Core 2 right now. That means that a typhoon is scheduled to hit Kadena in 24 hours! We will be put on T-Core 1 tonight at 7. That means it's within 12 hours. We will have locked down bases and will not be able to go on or off! No school for Carter tomorrow and everyone is stocking up for the electricity to be out for 2 days!

We waited for 2 1/2 hours just to check out with our groceries today. The line wrapped clear around the store and ended up clear over by the produce! By the time we got there... most of my stuff had been squished due to Hunter in the back of the cart! Oh well, it should still taste the same! I also got stuff unloaded and noticed they had helped me throw stuff in the cart too. I'm so glad that they grabbed the bag of tea and 2 cans of dog food! If we run out of food... I'm feeding it to the babies! :)

Anyway, they haven't had a typhoon here in 3 years. It waited for us to get here! :) People are pretty freaked out, but I'm sure we will all be just fine! We love and miss everyone!

We see rainbows ALMOST everyday! The kids love to spot them and honestly they always bring a huge smile to my face! What a beautiful world we live in!

The "New" Van

Me and Rhett knew we needed to get a car that would fit the whole family and Rhett is SO excited that he found this one! I on the other hand think it has to be the "ugliest" van on the whole freaking island! I believe it's a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica. Anyway, meet the newest member of our family- "The Beast."

Here they drive on the wrong side of the road--- therefore we couldn't ship over our car because the steering wheel would be on the wrong side! This is going to take a little while to get used to!!!

The family on our first family drive!

It doesn't get much better than this beauty!

Side view-
The fantastic ladder to no where!!!

The best part of the whole van is that the seats move in all sorts of crazy ways- I wonder how safe that is? Anyway, this was the reason that Rhett loves it so much.
Ta Da!

Anyway, we have had the van for two days now and it died yesterday- Stupid car!!! We are hoping it's just the battery, but wish us luck and lots of happiness with our fantastic new vehicle! :)

A "Quick" Update

A couple big things happened right before we left to Japan and thought I needed to post a couple pictures of these "BIG" deals! First, the twins had a birthday! Hunter and Ryker turned 2 on Aug, 1st. They loved the cake and ice cream! Taylor loved the blowers!

They both got money from everyone this year because we were moving and couldn't really pack anything! We will take them over to the BX and let them pick out something fun!

My mom thought they needed cake and ice cream. If you had heard how loud the screaming was later I would argue that they really only needed a SMALL bite of cake! :)

The next BIG thing was that my sister Julie got married! She married Ben and we are SO happy to have him part of the family! We have treated him like part of the family since the very beginning though! They have been great with our kids!

We were all in the wedding. Taylor was a flower boy, Carter carried the ring, and me and the twins walked down the aisle together! Taylor DID NOT want to marry Sarah, just for the record! They all did a great job!

Rhett finally came out of the closet and admitted that he was gay and LOVES stuffed animals... or maybe... the cousins came to visit!!! ;)

Sure enough! We got to see Steph's whole family before we left! It was great that they came to visit! My kids LOVE them!

We made it-

We finally made it to Japan and have the internet to contact family! We love you guys! Sorry if we had you worried! We are here and close to being on schedule! We left from the Las Vegas airport and flew to San Francisco. It was only about an hour and a half flight, but then we had to switch planes! This doesn't sound that hard to most people, but we had 9 suitcases, 6 checked bags, 3 car seats, 4 kids, 1 stroller, and 2 adults. I found it extremely stressful. Rhett was GREAT! He kept me calm and led our circus through the airport with ease!

After we got to San Francisco we had a 2 hour lay over to run clear to the international side of the airport and catch a bite to eat before we flew to Narita Japan. We got on the airplane fine and whenever I felt too stressed out I just asked for some help. People were really great! This flight took 11 hours not counting the 1 hour we were stuck waiting for someone to get her luggage off the plane. She had lost her passport and wasn't able to fly there so it took a while to get all of it sorted out. The kids did really well, we slept, watched a couple movies, played on the game boys, and snacked! The babies were FANTASTIC and with the help of a little benadryl slept for about 6 hours of the flight!

The hardest leg of the trip was when we got to Tokyo. We had to get all our bags, and get everything through immigrations and customs. Again, we had TONS of luggage! The kids were pretty good sports, but it had been a long day of playing train, following daddy, through the airports so they were a little fussy. Then, the really hard part was that we had a 4 hour layover before the next flight! 4 hours in a tiny terminal was HELL! I tried to feed them, but none of them would touch the soba or chow mien. They will eventually learn to love both these dishes as they are very popular here in Japan.

Anyway, we finally got on the last flight from Tokyo to Okinawa. It was a 3 hour flight and by then the kids slept the entire flight due to pure exhaustion. It was the longest day of my entire life, but we made it here safely and everyone is doing well.

I was a little worried about Taylor for awhile there- He cried a lot and said more times than I can count, "I just want to go home mommy." I felt so bad for this sweet little boy that had no idea what was going on. He is doing better now and only says it once or twice a day!

Once we flew into Naha, Rhett's wonderful sponsor was waiting to pick us up and take us to the air force base! It was about an hour drive and she had thought ahead and brought an extra van just for the luggage! She has been an absolute ANGEL and has made the PSC as smooth as it could possibly be! We got to the TLF, temporary living facility, which is basically a hotel room with a small kitchen attached. She had thought of everything... she picked up a fridge full of groceries, brought in high chairs, and even set up us with connecting rooms so we have twice the space!

I will write more on our adventures here in Japan, but for now just wanted you guys to know we are here and safe! We love you all!!!

Taylor LOVED that they brought him soda!

Tying to watch the movie with HUGE headphones!

On the flight to Japan we weren't together- I sat with the twins and Rhett was 10 rows up with the big boys!

The last flight we weren't together either, but it was me and Ryker. Then Carter and Taylor were right behind us, and Rhett and Hunter were right behind them. Carter thought it was awesome and while me and Rhett slept he even ordered them a drink and got some pretzels for the two of them!

Here we are in Japan. It is GORGEOUS! I do need to invest in some raincoats though! It is very sporadic, but has rained a little everyday we have been here!