Billie turns 5!

We woke up this morning to a new cukcoo clock from Nanna (a REAL German one!) and had birthday pancakes. Billie reminded me "Mom, remember bunnies do NOT eat with their noses." It is important to note that the number of chocolate chips used in your pancakes is in correlation with the number of facial features present. Clearly, she did not fall for my most recent submission of a bunny with no mouth.
Jackson seems a little frustrated with the way this morning is going. It's the first year he's cognizant enough to realize all the ways he'll have to be really nice to his sister today in the hopes that she'll share some of her loot with him. When I first sang the birthday song he kept asking. "Why are you singing that? There isn't any cake!!"
I need a shower and then we're off to the kids museum with playgroup. We're bringing cupcakes along! We'll open one gift tonight and then we'll wait for the party on Saturday(Jackson has 3 gifts to open then). I've included a pic of Jackson and Sloane here so we don't forget about them!

Karate

We started Karate this week. (with Billie's Christmas money from several of you...Thanks!) Jackson is adamant that he wants to "be only in gymnastics." After watching the class once and then watching while Billie participates unti,l on the drive home, we are talking about the order of belts and Jackson says "Actually, I would like to do Karate so that I can earn a green belt." And Billie keeps asking when she will be able to earn a pink belt. It's a class for 5-12 year olds, off-base in a real Do-jo. Billie struts in wearing a striped shirt and flowered pants (picks out her own clothes, as she has since she was 2) not a bit intimidated by all the kids in the proper uniform, the youngest kid by far. She goes right to the front and follows Sensei's every move. Afterwards the teacher told us "I've seen a lot of kids...I mean a LOT of kids and she's really GOOD." They had us do a trial class because she's so young they have to make sure she won't be a disruption to the class. She is a follower 100% which will be a concern when she's in her teens but earns her a lot of praise at age 4.
Jackson is the NICEST kid. He isn't much of a follower, doesn't care about making other people happy- he won't say 'hi' to strangers unless he feels like it. He's just nice and friendly when it matters to someone he cares about. He's fiercly protective with his family and he is the most thoughtful when someone is hurt...or when someone has hurt feelings. There's not a mean streak in him. He gets a little wild sometimes and he doesn't always (ever) follow directions but he NEVER does a mean thing. He's made a lot of friends, being such a nice kid, with no need to impress any random grown-ups who approach him at a store with happy questions like "Let me guess...are you five?"
That's it for the kids. Sloane is still herself. The most difficult baby I've ever had. Totally adorable and CRANKY!!!
Bill is getting loads of contacts about jobs and it looks like we'll be able to get a nice job nearer to our starting date of Aug. 1st.
I'm working on a little project of my own to start and keep me busy (because i don't have enough to do now) when we move. More on that as it develops.

March 21, 2006

Okay, so I got through the baby shower, most of the time with a baby on my person (that's nicer than saying 'boob') and most of the women were smiling and everything except for the cake was yummy. Is that good enough? The recital was fantastic- Billie danced her heart out and I let her switch back to gymnastics (thank goodness she wanted to...the hair work alone is just too much trouble!!) Today we're making paper dolls and music books. Bille wrote numbers up to 39 when we did school this morning. They are going over to the Pascoe house later for a playdate. And then it's Kindermusik this afternoon (for them, not me...I taught my final class last week) at Mrs. Melanie's!

I have been working on a binkie for a steady MONTH but she's insistant on sucking her fingers. I can't get them away!


 

Our super-cool playgroup had exercise day this week- lot's of fun at the gym. Here is Billie demonstrating a move with our instructor...you guessed it...she's not afraid to perform.
We checked out an off-base Karate class (Okinawa being the originator of Karate and all) and Billie can't wait to sign up, Jackson just wants to stick with gymnastics. In her 4 (almost five) years she's loved everything she's tried: gymnastics, ballet, kindermusik, school (of all variations), T-ball and more. Jackson likes to play and sports but he's not all about performing. Jackson is happy reading a book, playing on the computer and being my 'helper'. He's a sweetie!


Girls just fall madly in love with him sometimes, like this little chick in the picture here. She just kept following him and clinging to him all day.
Now I'll get some Sloane pictures on here. Sloane is an 'in the moment' kind of girl. When she's happy- she's ECSTATIC and when she's not...well, she's REALLY not!
Happy St. Patricks day!
-angi 

This morning we woke up, early for a Saturday (early for any day, really) BEFORE 8am. We had to...to start on hair. There was water and gel and all sorts of things because there "should be no bangs with a lion's mane." Billie's ballet class all dressed in outfits handmade by their interprative dance teacher to the tune of the Lion King as little ballerina lions. How can she not have bangs? AND a bun?!! So, that took hours and then she was SO great at the recital. We're all set for next week.
So, the Moms went shopping and the Dads took the kids to see Hoodwinked- a movie about red riding hood, which sounds like it was fun. Home again, cooked a meal for another family that just had a baby (everyone did it for me so I'm payin' it forward) and then hopped back in the van to have dinner at a sushi bar with friends. The dragon roll was delicious!
This blogging thing is turning out to be rather easy so I'll stick with it. Is anyone reading it? Bueller...Bueller...Bueller?

 

more March

So, here's what's going on with us: Billie brought a rain gauge home yesterday from school and we're already putting it to use. She has her own little weather station here with a homemade barometer and all- they're doing it in Science. Jackson came home with a leaf rubbing and his favorite part was P.E. because they got to tie balloons to their ankle and try to stomp on everyone elses. The homeschool co-op has been so much fun and they enjoy having different teachers and classes each week.
Sloane lets everyone else get a chance to hold her while I teach Kindermusik there. Right now I'm planning Tiffany's baby shower, Lucia's welcome to your forever family Camille shower and Billie's birthday party. Also, her big ballet recital is coming up in two weeks and stay tuned for pictures on that. 2006 is getting crazy quickly.
A big shout out to Annabel Sampson- Sheri just had her second little daughter and it sounds like all is well there.
We are looking forward to the U.S. and catching up with all you friends again.
Bill gets calls about his resume on our Skype phone; usually one a day and he's emailing and networking that constantly. He'll start in August so he's considering a trip for interviews in May or June.
Sloane is the most adorable kid- much more so now that I cut dairy out of my diet. This requires more research than you'd think...did you know lunchmeat has dairy in it? Sloane did.
Love you!
-Angi

Fun in Okinawa

Well, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. It had rained for what at least seemed like weeks, the kids were bouncing off the walls, but finally the sun came back. We've been going to a few new playgrounds and having a great time. The japanese really know how to build playgrounds. They have cool stuff like roller slides, crazy spiderweb things to climb on, and more. It seems like american playgrounds are all the same prefabricated playground replicated in a million places. The kids are doing great, Billie's ballet recital is coming up soon, Jack is still having fun in gymnastics,Sloane has grown so much she's hard to recognize, and Angi and I are doing great too.
Till next time......