Is she really turning 6?

So here it is, the night before the big day. Well... Olivia's big day that is. The BIG 6 years happens in the morning, and well, I am just not sure how I feel about it.

The funny thing is, we have been talking a lot about her birth this past few weeks. The similarity to where we were a mere 6 years ago is so surreal. I remember it like it was yesterday and having Brad in Iraq now, brings back the memory so clearly.

6 years ago. Pregnant, busy, working Kelly. Learning what being a Marine Wife was all about (because I really didn't know up until that year), going to my first Marine funeral, meeting Marines who had actually been wounded and becoming patriotic beyond my imagination.

Being at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton. My mom and best friend Jennifer being with me and having this amazing little person show up. She blew my mind - I remember not being able to grasp that I was a mom - that I, was now responsible for the life of another human being. That I could ever, ever love someone as much as I did at that moment.

I love her now. Still beyond words and still beyond my grasp of understanding. But this I know, the first 5 years with her have been an amazing experience. I think the next 5 will be even better.

Happy Mother's Day!

We just wanted to pass on a heartfelt "THANK YOU" to all of our favorite mom's out there. Between Brad and I, we have 4 fantastic mom's (how great is that?) and we hope that they all have a GREAT day!

Lots and LOTS of love to you,
Kelly, Olivia and Alessandra (and Brad from afar)

Summer has come!

After a well awaited (and many false hopes) that we would finally be in (mostly) all summery weather. I think I can safely say we have gotten there! YIPPEEE! The nice part about this time of the year - not too much humidity. Ask me how I feel about the great summer weather come August.

This was one evening a few nights ago. Olivia was home sick from school 2 days this week, so we took a walk to enjoy the evening. It was also "Golden Week" this week, so LOTS of people were out and about (although I didn't get any photos of any other people than Olivia and Alessandra)/

And yes, both small people got really, REALLY wet. Again. Maybe one of these days I will think to put a dry pair of pants in my bag.

This was tonight. Just a few short hours ago after we got back from karate and dinner. We ran out to the jetty in front of our apartment to catch the sun as it went down.

And here they are at bedtime. Snuggling (oh, how I wish that cute snuggling lasted longer).

Transcending

So, this post has NOTHING to do with my family...

When Talyn was here she left behind a book called "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan. It was a wonderful book and in the last few pages there was an additional essay called "Transcending."

I went to find it today online so I could share it. And here is the author reading her essay. It was profound to me, made my heart happy and felt as though I could have written it myself (although, I totally couldn't).



Enjoy and thank you to the women in my life.

sunset for Todd

My friend Todd once lived in the Florida Keys and commented how much he missed the sunsets there...

So my friend - this one is for you!!

Taken Friday evening on a walk down to Daisy's...

A visit with friends...

The time flew by... the last thing I remember is picking Talyn and Sherrie up at the airport and then all of the sudden, we were back there dropping them off ... where did the 9 days go?

Here is a brief recap!

The second day of their visit we were greeted with AMAZING weather. We hopped in the van (the Platypus as it has been named) and headed up north. Ocean Expo Park awaited us. Before we started checking things out, we stopped at a little Italian restaurant with a nice view.

Here are the girls in the fountains at the park. It was a lovely day!

Sherri and Talyn with a giant Shisa.

Little wet girls

We stopped in the "Traditional Okinawan Village" area of the park. It was great. The girls got to play some drums and we had tea, local brown sugar and learned how to play the sanshin (video to come)

Talyn's next career. Professional Sanshin player.

Outside a traditional Okinawan home

Check out these bamboo floors...

crooked tree

Banyan Tree

Outside of the aquarium - giant whale shark

We also went to Yomitan and the Village of Potters. It was a great way to spend the day and see some local art!

A little message on the wall of a restaurant in Yomitan (Pottery Village) about the Shisa.

This is the kiln for the village. It is traditionally built and the largest in the area.

Later on in the week we headed to Shuri Castle.

Heading into one of the gates (I can't remember the name)

Talyn and Sherrie outside of the main castle building

We stopped and had tea - it was great!

One night Talyn and I went out to dinner and Sherrie (our newest surrogate grandparent) watched the girls.

Here is Talyn with our groovy Sake pitchers. Warm Sake is yummy, and the pitchers were just super groovy.

I finally took a photo of what I eat EVERY time I go to Daisy's. THIS (above) is the fantastic Jasmine's Rice. Think Thai spicyness with a crazy egg on top (they put eggs on all kinds of things here). My favorite dish on the island. Served best with a cold Orion Beer.

Our airport visit. Sad to say goodbye to our friends - but we had OH so much fun!

I have so much more to show you...

This week has just been a blast, a blur and is already over! We had such a fantastic visit with Talyn and Sherrie. I will be posting some photos and descriptions of all of the great places we visited while they were here in the next couple of days. Until then, I will leave you with cute photos of my favorite subjects.