The Aquarium (aka Tokyo Train Station)

We took a visit to the Aquarium a couple of weeks ago. It was probably the first time (of the 4 that we have been there) that we were the only Americans in the place. August is a huge tourist season in Okinawa and this place was no exception... Here is a shot of the main viewing area of the big tank (where the whale sharks are) and it was crowded!

Nice little whale shark...

love those guys..

Alessandra and Daddy in the shark teeth

I think this was a shot of Olivia and some fish.. but obviously that did not happen.

Big sharks and Manta Rays... (and small sweet girl on the outside of the glass)

My ode to Daisy's

I know I talk about it a lot...

Daisy's.

It can't be helped. It is a place that we love - the food, the feeling, the absolute fun that we have every time we visit....

And they serve Soft Serve (very sweet vanilla - Olivia would say)

And cold Orion beer

and offer a heavenly sunset view...

And make us all happy.

Brad took this because it is a rare shot of me drinking a beer...

This is the view from the porch we were sitting on.

Want to come along?

Back in La-La Land with BRAD

NOW, if I was a really good blogger and super on top of things, I would have armed myself with the camera as the girls and I got off of our flight in Okinawa after 21 hours of travel where we knew that Brad (aka Dad) would be waiting for us. However, due to the 21 hours of travel and sleepy children... my description of our reunion will have to suffice...

The baggage claim area of the Naha airport is situated behind some glass doors (where your family/friends will wait for you if you are meeting someone here). The glass doors are "guarded" by some nice ladies who will check your baggage claim ticket (with the one on your bag) to make sure all is in order...

Well, our girls... the moment they saw their dad through that glass went running under the line tape and burst through the doors with shrieks of excitement. I don't think anyone was worried in the least (how could you be... they were so darn excited) - at the same time I am crying my eyes out (behind the glass doors - because really, someone has to get the bags...) the girls are engulfed in hugs and kisses from their one and only daddy who (as Alessandra profoundly states) is "back from Iraq". And life is good.

Daddy and Olivia enjoying some time (and food) at our favorite spot - Daisy's (of course)

Mommy and Alessandra (no photos please!)

We hit a local festival the weekend after we got home. Much to our delight it was the same event that was our first Okinawan experience last year. Feeling a little more "at home" this time around and we couldn't wait for the good "Okinawan eats"

O and Daddy picking out some goodies...mmmm

I had to get at least one photo of crazy Japanese shoe selection. This is going to be one of my new projects - trying to catch good photos of the ladies in their shoes... heels at the beach... common to see... and painful to watch. (these are a small example)

Cute Japanese kiddo donning a mask...

Preteens in their summer festival outfits..

On the walk home... a marker at the park.

Loving sisters...

It got a tad bit darker as the sun went down... here we are... almost home...

Oh, so happy to be home!

The last leg...

There is a lot I could say about the last leg of our trip in Ohio. All in all.. it flew by.
The girls, Nana and I went to COSI (here is the only photo that really came out... Olivia in the tire of a John Deere tractor...)

We spent a few great days at the pool.. (Alessandra with her "kini" on)

A great visit with my Bowling Green girls (Juli, Mary, Heidi and I)

and our cheesy kids.. (okay, really only mine are cheesy... the rest are super sweet)

Here they are - Lucinda, Olivia, Ian and Alessandra

Lovely Lucinda

Adorable Ian

Exuberant Alessandra

My buddies and I (love them)

My friend Juli took a great number of photos with her fabuloso camera (and her fabuloso artistic eye) that might be of interest to you also, you can check them out at: http://picasaweb.google.com/juliannaboehm/July2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCKqctsH7o7eRpQE&feat=email#

In the end of things, it was really hard to say goodbye (but the only good thing about saying goodbye to everyone there was that I would get to say hello to Brad on the other end here). We had a fantastic visit and can't wait to do it again!

NY (yes, we have been back for awhile)

So, my apologies. I have been LAZY about blogging and I am SO far behind on what we have been up to. Here are a number of shots from NY that I have been neglecting to get out there. Most of the "cousins" trying to get a good shot of the 4 of them...

as you can tell...

it never really happened...

at this point Josie wanted nothing to do with the photo op...

she finally came back and then I couldn't get a calm one of them at all...

and the fingerprints are still on my camera...

fairly good...

Eating at Neko's with Auntie Linda

Addy and Olivia

Alessandra and Olivia on the porch of 368 Clifton Ave.

We HEART NY