My Butter Chair

We have been here in Okinawa now for 6 weeks. Exactly, to the day 6 weeks. In that time we have been off base looking at furniture. Not big furniture, not a lot of furniture. But furniture none the less. Three weeks ago we visited a stored called O!K Today. The ! is not a mistake. That is really the name of the store. The reason is because they say it is ok if you take your purchase home the day you buy it. They don't deliver, however they do 'loan' moving trucks so you can get your purchase home. Pretty neat idea actually. They take a 'deposit' for the rental of the truck and as long as you bring it back in the same shape as you borrowed it you get your deposit back. Well, needless to say we didn't borrow a truck, so I don't have a photo, but the moving trucks are really cute!! Remember, we are not looking for big furniture. Anyway, three weeks ago we went to this furniture store and I saw a chair that looked yummy... So I sat in it. And I sat in it. I could have fallen asleep in this chair, right there on the show room floor. I sat in it and immediately said "This chair feels like butter!" So of course everyone wanted a turn. They all agreed. The chair was amazing! Beau was ready to buy it for me that moment.

The original price was 60,000¥ which on a good day is $600,
on a day like today it is $722.89.
It was marked down to 45,000¥ which was $542.17.

Now I REALLY loved this chair, but not quite enough to let go of $542.17!!
Are you kidding me!
That is my grocery budget for 2 months!!!
So we left the store. I said goodbye to the butter chair...
and moved on.

We have been looking for a dining room table also. Right now we are using what we loving refer to as the 'knee table' and it is really killer on the knees! It is a very low table, Japanese style. If you ever visited my house on a 'craft' day or a children's party day then you have met my knee table. We sit on cushion chairs on the floor. I love it, but Beau hates it, and it isn't any fun when you have to get up 5 time during a meal because someone forgot a fork, or a cup, or their chopsticks or worst of all, their dinner!!

Cinderella and Pluto are having a tea party!

Anyway, so we have been out looking for a chair for mommy, that would be me, and a dining room table with taller legs. I found all the shelving I needed on Okinawa Yard Sales, and I got really close to a dining room table (someone else beat me to it) but a chair isn't so easy. So we went to another store and looked at a cute little rocking chair. Little being the operative work. A little too little. It was meant for an adult, but it was fashioned like a childs piece of furniture and although I really love children (especially mine) I decided when I became a mother that I would use grown up things, wear grown up clothes (I mean grown up sizes, so literally, grown up clothes) and have nice grown up things. I have never had a chair that was just for me. When I was pregnant we got a rocker/recliner so I could rock the baby, but it wasn't for me, it was for the baby. Just because 11 times out of 10 I was the one rocking the baby doesn't count. So all this time going from store to store looking for furniture my heart kept going back to the butter chair. No other chair would do.

The day before yesterday we ended up back at O!K Today, and what do you know, but the butter chair is still there. And whats more the price tag has changed again,

15,800¥ ($188.10)

Ok, so I wouldn't typically spend $188.10 on a chair. But you have to understand this is a $700 chair for $188!! That is almost 75% off the retail value!!

So, it was 7:15pm and the store closed at 8pm. We were all at the store so of course the chair wouldn't fit in the car and there was no way we were going to get home unload me and the girls and get Beau back before 8. Beau said, "After our stuff gets here if it will fit I will come back and buy it." I said, "No, no, no, you must buy it NOW!!"

I didn't say that!! For anyone who knows me you KNOW I did not say that!!

I said "Ok. That is fair. If I am meant to have the chair it will be there when we come back. After all, it is three weeks later and it is still here. Not only that, they have 4 in stock." Now that sounds more like me right.

So yesterday, Beau comes home from work...with the butter chair. He couldn't wait. He said I loved it so much and he didn't hate it. In fact, it comes with an ottoman and he REALLY wanted to put a butt print in an ottoman *Nicole* so he thought I should have it!

Long story short, I got a new chair and I LOVE IT!

I love to sit in it,

I love to knit in it,

I love to cuddle in it,

I love to recline in it,

I love to rock (well, its more like a swivel) in it.

I LOVE MY BUTTER CHAIR

And even better than the love I have for my butter chair, the love my girls have for the box it came it!!

Really! These crazy girls turned it into a house

And a truck

And a kennel

And a stage coach

You name it, they pretended it. We spent all day coloring it and cutting out windows and making up stories.

What a wonderful day!

Don't you wish you had a butter chair!!

By the way, it is Ivory. The original chair I fell in love with was yellow, that is why I called it butter...

Happy 5th Birthday Samantha!!

WARNING: Birth story below!!

Nothing you can't handle...
but for those who HATE birth stories you have been warned!

July 20, 2005 at 6:30pm in Okinawa my water broke. I was in the middle of a meal which was good because you know they don't let you eat at the hospital while you are in labor... So we called the babysitter to come watch Jessica, 30 minutes (7 pm) later we were on the road to the hospital to 'get the baby' as Jessica would have said. From our house to the hospital was maybe ten miles... 45 minutes later (7:45 pm) we were pulling up to the hospital. I walked all the way up to labor and delivery (no one offered a wheelchair, but I didn't ask either...). 30 minutes later (8:15 pm) I was laying in a bed and the dr said I was dilated to 8 cm. Beau forgot the cameras in the car so he ran to get them, knowing how long this took the first time. 20 minutes later (8:35 pm) Beau got back and I was in a delivery room telling myself to calm down and not push. Thenurse said she had never seen anyone coach themselves as good as I did! 10 minutes later (8:45 pm) I kept telling them I couldn't not push. I wasn't doing it. My muscles were acting separate from my brain!! 5 minutes later (8:50 pm) I was SCREAMING, and I would find out that a tour was coming through at that exact moment and all the husbands put their hands over their pregnant wives ears and redirected them AWAY from labor and delivery. Apparently 2 of my friends who were also pregnant were touring the hospital that night and they told the story of this woman who was bringing down the house, and when we put the time together with the date they knew it was me. Thank you, thank you very much! At 8:58 pm I was the proud owner of a 10 lb 1 oz beautiful baby girl. What a joy it was to have her flopped up on my tummy, she wasn't very gross because she was 4 weeks over due.. She was PERFECT.

(Are you still reading? The birth story is over. *smile*)

And now, my huge baby is 5! And she is still perfect!

Samantha has a kind heart and a gentle spirit and a very loud personality. She loves pizza. In fact, she wanted a pizza party for her birthday. Even though we are in Okinawa and we can't really go out for pizza, unless it is Anthony's at $3 a slice, I was bound and determined to give her a great day! So, we began with breakfast and a gift from Jessica. We went to Toys-R-Us in Mihama the weekend before and picked up a few gifts. Jessica gave Samantha a baby doll with Minnie Mouse clothes on. Her name on the box was Suki, but Samantha said her name was Bella. Then she changed it to Melody, then she changed it to Suki-bell, and now her name is Strawberry. In any case, she loved it!

We continued our day of fun with preparing the birthday cake. Samantha wanted a triple chocolate fudge cake with pink icing. So we got a triple chocolate fudge cake mix with strawberry icing and Samantha also wanted to help make the cake, so she helped make the cake. Actually, she helping with the cleaning up!

Samantha didn't clear the whole bowl. In fact, she took three 'licks' and then declared "I'm done". When you are done with something and you leave it out inevitably scavengers will show up...

Next we had to bake the cake. It was not easy to be patient. Then the cake had to cool. And yes you guessed it, it was not easy to be patient. But when the cake was ready for the icing I had a very willing participant! Jessica took the photos.

When Beau got home we had the pizza which Samantha was very excited about...

Then she got to have her birthday cake...



And some more presents...

You must hear the dialogue for these last two photos:
Samantha: 'Mom, I know this toy. I was with you at the store when we bought it.'
Mom: 'Yes, you were. Good memory.'
Samantha: Shy and hiding behind the box after her declaration of NOT being surprised!

After our dinner and presents we took the girls out to have ice cream at the Blue Seal ice cream shop. It was Big Dip day which means you get two scoops for the price of one! Beau had Chocolate, Jessica had Okinawan Brown Sugar and Samantha and I had Mango. Mango was the best, hands down! It was a really great day! My baby is growing up so fast! She wanted to tell everyone who facebooked me for her Thank you and also everyone who sent birthday cards. It was a wonderful birthday. One she will not soon forget!

TLF

If you are in the military or attached to it in any way you don't need an explanation, but for those of you who are not... TLF mean Temporary Living Facility, also known as a hotel. So for lack of better terms we have been in TLF of some form or another since June 3rd. It is now July 13th. From June 5th to July 5th we were not only homeless, but also carless... It was difficult to explain to the children when they asked where we lived and we said no where. Obviously we aren't really 'homeless'. In our case it is just an expression, but a true one. So, let me give you the run down of each 'home' we have had in the last month.
Moody TLF in Georgia: Nice, one story, two bedroom, kitchenette family unit. Fridge, stove with oven, dishwasher, microwave and coffee pot. Three televisions all with dvd players and cable, three telephones and free wireless internet.
Our California accommodations: Beautiful, 4 bedroom, three bathroom, two-story house (we lived in one bedroom). A full kitchen (we are in a house, after all). Five televisions most with dvd players and or dvr's and cable, three telephones (plus a cell phone attached to every adult) and free wireless internet. And a VERY gracious host! Thank you sis!Eagle Lodge in Okinawa: Nice, 6 story walk up, three bedroom, stove top and microwave. One bathroom that belongs in a motor home (the entire bathroom is in the picture...). One television with one English channel and a dvd player, one telephone and internet used by plugging in the blue cord.

Oh, yea and get this, we have a balcony that is accessible out the front room and both little bedrooms. To both sides of you is a gray wall with the following sign...

Makes you think, huh!

Now tell me why is it that Japan is so technologically advanced and we don't even have wireless internet? We have running water but we can't cook anything, that is unless it goes in the microwave. We have eaten a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, oatmeal and hot dogs in the last ten days. Needless to say we accept the keys to our house on base tomorrow morning. It is a nice house. A little small. Terrible floor plan, but we will fit. And we will have internet, as of yet it is not wireless. No cable. One phone. Actually three phones, I was counting handsets above not phone numbers... No cell phone. A great kitchen, as long as everything works.

I am actually very excited. Life here is so...slow. I can't explain it any other way. They drive fast, and the turn signal is an invincibility sheild (more on that later) but otherwise everything is very low key, laid back, and slow. So enjoy where you are and what you have. It may be better or worse at the next place, but at least we can be happy with now.

Everything is temporary. Even the house I am moving into tomorrow is technically TLF, but it will be a little longer form of temporary...

I am happy with now. Are you happy with now?
*View out our front window to Highway 23. It was raining. Wonderful Okinawan weather!*

The Joy of Airports

So I have spent a fair amount of my life in airports. As an adult I have traveled at least once a year by plane and most of those planes were international. My travel 'obsession' began in 1997 with a return trip to America from Okinawa Japan. That time I was a dependent and all I had to worry about was my bag. Then it was Hawaii in 1998. I took a small break and just worked for a few years. Then it was back to Hawaii in 2001, this time for my honeymoon. Also in 2001 I flew to Texas. This was all pre 9/11 travel. Now airports changed dramatically after that tragic event occured. In 2002 I flew from Id to Ca and back. And in 2003 what do you think would happen, but I get to go back to Okinawa. Traveling with a 7 month old was not too difficult except for the fact that I had 3 changes of clothes for her and ZERO for me. Big mistake! In 2004 I flew back to the states. In 2005 I flew back to Okinawa. In 2006 I flew to the states and back to Okinawa with 2 in tow now. In 2007 I flew back to the states and then to Georgia. In 2008 it was from Ga to Ca and back. In 2009, ditto. Most recently we flew from Ga to Ca, then Ca to Wa, then Wa to Yakota Jp, Yakota Jp to Iwakuni Jp and Iwakuni Jp to Okinawa. You would think I really like crossing the Pacific Ocean or something. So this is the preface. I am a seasoned traveler. I am not afraid to fly. Crying babies don't bother me. Even 4 cats and 2 dogs IN the passenger cabin didn't bother me. My children travel well. There was very little upset and bouts of tears that lasted less than 3 minutes. So why do I choose to open my blog with the Joy of Airports? I'm not actually sure. Before Ugly Betty was canceled she had started a blog, a sort of vent blog. This in NOT a vent blog. I aim to keep my people posted on the progress of our family. And the first progress we have to report is: we are here! We are here! We made it. All 4 people and 16 pieces of luggage. That is 2 adults, 2 children, 7 suit cases, 1 car seat and 8 carry ons that were eventually cut down to 6 carry ons because of some creative stuffing... Airports are the same no matter how much they have changed. You wait in line, you show id, you check your bag, you wait in line, you show id, they check your bag, you wait in line, you show id, you stow your bag. And every once in a while you are asked to step aside, which didn't happen to me once this time and only twice in the past 10 years (one time I was pregnant and they were on high alert for people faking pregnancy to get 'stuff' through security, you want to talk about irritated!, the other time I was traveling through Shang Hai, which I would not recommend and would NEVER do again!) So, I have some photos to capture what it is like to travel with a family of four across the ocean. Enjoy!

J is on her DS, S is watching a movie on the Zune. We were first in this line for 4 hours! Yes, 1st in line, and we waited the longest...


This was our tower of luggage. Almost 6 feet tall!




We arrived here at 11 pm and waited until 3:30 am for the plane to board. The children definitely had the right idea! My angels!

Thank you for your undivided attention! I will try to be more entertaining next time!
Love you!