Regular Internet only a few days away!

Okay, so really I don'tknow if this worty of a blog update, but I am excited, so I thought I would share.

We had signed up for fiberoptic, but after awaiting our 3 weeks with no word, we called and found out that they ran out of fiberoptic cable in our neighborhood, so they need a new line put in - and they have no idea when they are doing it.

SO, I signed us up for DSL. We will be happy new owners of a Japanese landline and DSL modem come next Tuesday. Hopefully we will have no problem hooking up our vonage line as well as our computer.

Happiness will ensue when I feel more connected.

Fancy Fish Toes, Flightline Fair and Food

Olivia and Alessandra last night after some Okinawa Noodle and playtime at the park!

So here Monday has gone by already (for me anyway) and I have yet to do a post from the weekend.

Here is a recap:

Kelly (that's me) got to go to a local highlight of a place called Cocoks (said like Coco's) for a pedicure. The great thing about this place (and what they are known for) are the amazing leg massages they give you and the fancy nail art. SO, I went full fledged and had some Koi fish painted on my toes. This is no lie people - this artwork is really amazing and the nice woman who took care of my feet for the morning, was well worth the time and money!

My Koi

That afternoon/evening we headed down to MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Futenma (about 10 minutes from us) for the Flightline Fair. Since we missed the Ohio State Fair - this was about the closest we were going to get! They opened the base to everyone and had a great number of aircraft and other Marine Corps vehicles around that you could climb around in. Olivia was especially excited about the airplanes.


Fair Food - we really have no idea what it was, it was sort of like a frittata, but we aren't quite sure. It was, however, super delish!


Pilot Olivia

Climbing aboard the back of a CH-46 - Olivia said it was like a BIG MOUTH

The girls at theFlightline Fair

Hope you all had a great weekend!

This week's produce. I won't even tell you about how ripe the mangos are!

Hello everyone!

So, today's post is a bunch of random stuff. We have had a few pretty low key days, spending time indoors when it's hot and trying to get out a little, but the reality is - I am ready for school to start. It seems like this summer has gone on FOREVER, and we are in dire need of some routine. We are doing relatively well with this, but school will aid in less arguments between the girls and hopefully offer Olivia some well deserved social outlets (without her sister around), brain action and will hopefully allow Alessandra some time solo with mom and doing some of her own activities. Almost there.

Yesterday I ventured out with the girls to the Jusco (department store and more!). My intent was to purchase curtains for our bedroom, but that part didn't happen. We actually did have a pleasant time (with Alessandra's 2 year-old-ness, you just never know) and just browsed through so many fun things. (if you like Hello Kitty, this is the place for you!!)

Ah, I almost forgot the highlight to the day: Mister Donut. Inside the Jusco thre are a number of different places to eat including stands to pick up smoothies, octopus balls, rice snacks, a Starbucks, a McDonalds just to name a few). We parked out by the entrance to the Mister Donut, so on the way out Olivia said "mom, maybe we should get some donuts" (does she know what to say or what?). So, we stopped, it was right before lunch time, so I was planning on getting a couple of donuts to go, and then we found out.... THEY SERVE LUNCH. Noodle Bowls and Donuts. What could be better?

One of the things I like about Japan is all of the crazy organizational doo-dads that they have everywhere. There seems to be a tupperware container or bento box for just about everything possible, and although I haven't been in a Japanese kitchen yet, I would imagine they have the organization down to a T. Which brings me to what we purchased yesterday... Now, our kitchen, although nice and decent number of cabinets is a lot smaller than what we came from. It has taken me some time to adjust to cooking in a small space again, and since our dishwasher still isn't hooked up (we have a hot water pressure problem at the moment), we are doing a lot of handwashing. We are also lacking counterspace (and we don't even have a microwave yet).

So, here is what I found:

This contraption was actually 1 item to begin with and then you add the elements that you want. I love it! It isn't so pretty, and Brad REALLY doesn't like it, but it works for the function, and it makes me feel happy. SO, it will stay.

Here are a couple of photos here of our drainage system in the kitchen. We have no disposal (no one does) so there are these cage type things that catch all the goop. THANKFULLY someone told me about these bags you can buy to put in your "trap" to catch the goop and that way, you only have to pull out the bag and not the icky stuff all over your hands. Needless to say, since I cook so much, I am using at least 1 or 2 bags a day, but they make me happy too. So, they will stay.

And, lastly, some photos of our girls outside 2 nights ago with Alessandra on her "new" tricycle (it used to be Olivia's) and Olivia sporting her new helmet (complete with elbow and knee pads which cracked me up).

I like them both too, so they will stay.

That Star Spangled Banner

This actually happened on Alessandra's birthday, but I figured it needed it's own post.

One of the great things about living close to Camp Foster is that we can actually hear when they post Colors for the night (bring down the flag). Olivia was standing on the porch the other night and opened up the door and said:

"Come on guys, put your hand on your shoulder, come out here and listen to the trumpets"

Oh, how patriotic we are.

2 year old birthday's are the best!

So we finally have a 2 year old in the house! Happy Birthday to Alessandra!

(sticker courtesy of big sister)

We decided that since it was the weekend (and her birthday was on Monday) that we would celebrate the big day on Sunday (since in reality, she is still quite unsure of which day is which) and then we wouldn't be rushed for time after Brad got home on Monday night. The BIG celebration included: Mom, Dad, big sister and the birthday girl.

Mom made fancy chocolate cupcakes (with a little help from Betty Crocker's boxed recipe), and note here: Alessandra DID pick out which flavor, it went a little like this at the commissary last week:

"Okay, Alessandra (as I hand her both boxes of cake mix), do you want the yellow cake or the chocolate cake" her response:

"mmmm, choc-ate" (while hugging the said box and throwing me the yellow cake mix box).

A girl knows what a girl wants.

(the idea for the "2" shape of cupcakes, I totally stole from Sara - although I did forget the food coloring, so white buttercream frosting it was)

The day was pretty low key, Olivia and Brad went shopping and mom worked on making dinner (we figured that Alessandra would love Indian food for her birthday, so I made a yummy eggplant curry and homemade Naan bread). She did enjoy the naan, not the curry so much.

Celebrated with singing, a candle and cupcakes, a few presents and fun was had by all.

Getting a little adviceon the best opening strategy from Olivia

On her actual special day, I took the girls to a playgroup meetup at one of the local small waterparks. This place is located about 5 minutes from here and we had a great time (well, they did, I was watching to make sure theyu didn't drown, thus, it was not as much fun for me). Thankfully, one of Olivia's friends (marissa) made it and her mom renee helped me quite a but with the daredevilish 2 year old who has NO FEAR. You think I am saying that, but she truly is terrifying to be with - just jumping right off the side! (and she loved the big waterslide too)

Marissa, Olivia and Alessandra at the water park


The birthday girl enjoying another cupcake on her actual special day.

The sunset last night - it was quite brilliant, so I think I may need to change the settings on my camera

The Monkey Store and Fast Food with Style!

In honor of our friend Kevan, today's blog post is more photos, less verbage.

MAKEMAN - aka "The Monkey Store", like Home Depot, only smaller and with more gagety type things

And they had REALLY nice flowers.... (note Olivia's new haircut - she wanted me to make sure you noticed).

I mentioned vending machines before I think, but they are literally EVERYWHERE. Someone in one blog I read said that you can totally survive in Okinawa, as long as you have yen in your pocket, because there are vending machines on every corner... no lie. We especially love the coffee drinks and lemon water.

Tonight for dinner we walked down to the beach and went to Okinawa Noodle. I don't know if you can read this sign or not:

But the gist is this: Put your money in the machine (below) and pick what you want. It spits out a little ticket, which you then drop by the food counter and they fix your food for you. (Noodle bowl), which you then top with a huge variety of items (i.e. dumplings, hamburger, cabbage, spices, green onion, veggies, sliced beef, chicken, tempura fried things, seaweed, spam and more!), then you eat.

Here is what the girls and I ate (Brad was much more adventurous let me tell you). Olivia loved the noodles and well, Alessandra, loved it all.

Olivia and Brad climing the stairs at the Araha Beach entryway. It's sort of like the "Rocky" stairs in it's own way, yet way easier, and not really like it at all.

And here is my little family tickling their toes in the surf in the dark before heading home for bed. It's nights like these that we feel like we are on vacation.

All this and a bag of fruit!

Happy Day everyone!

All is well on the home front here. Today (Wednesday) was a pretty low key day for the Aiello clan. Yesterday we registered our KINDERGARTENER for school and today we had to go to the bus office to make sure she had her bus id. The bus stop is a few blocks away, but I am sure once we get started on a routine, all will be well. Olivia is very excited about school - she will be attending EC Killin elementary here at Camp Foster and they are the THE GECKOS. SO, once she found that out, she decided that everyone at one time in their life, should be a gecko. AND, thanks for LL Bean, we ordered a new lunchbox with a gecko on it. What could be better?

We are getting more and more settled every day. There is still SO much to do. The main minor changes are that our kitchen is a lot smaller than our house in Oregon and we don't have any linen closets. Other than that, the space itself doesn't seem to different in size. We also have an apartment with a dishwasher (well, space for a dishwasher). We bought one from another kind soul last night (gently used, they moved and coupldn't use it anymore), I haven't hooked it up yet (due to cowardly home-improvement issues and no time without small children underfoot). Therefore, a nice person from the Furniture store on base will be coming out to hook it up next week. I never realized how lazy I had gotten, but I really do NOT like to do dishes by hand. Argh.

Today I also took a plunge and bought some carpet squares for the living room. The carpet options on base are limited (be forwarned people who may come here). We brought every carpet/rug that we owned, BUT, our whole home is tile... thus needing more rugs. It already has made a difference in the look of the space (and the feel on the toesies). Brad will be surpised when he comes home.

And, last (but certainly not least). FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES. One benefit to living in tropical island paradise has got to be that you have the ability to have great produce. Now, living in Oregon made me a bit of a produce snob (man, do I miss those blueberries) and coming here I was excited about what we would find. At this point we have been to a few Japanese grocery stores and bought some local stuff, but time and kidlits have impended me from shopping at any markets yet. I found this great service that another spouse of military person had started called Fresh In Oki (http://www.freshinoki.com/). You email in your order and viola:

Gorgeous and fresh produce. How happy am I?