Summer (So Far)...

Last Monday night, we had some of our favorite peeps (The Jonsies) over for FHE. It was the first full day of summer, and we wanted to celebrate right...especially since they would not be fleeing the island like they did LAST year around this time, leaving us stranded to fend for ourselves in the fun department.

It was a hectic day for sure, and I wasn't entirely positive I'd have enough time to finish the laundry, errands, etc...AND prepare brownies for the sundaes AND prepare a lesson to make our FHE legit. So, I was surfing the net for some quick ideas...and found my new favorite FHE site. I love it because it is so simply arranged by category. One click on Music Appreciation and my plan of teaching everyone the Cupid Shuffle, followed by an evening of karaoke is TOTALLY justified.


Truthfully, I chickened out and went with a "goal setting" theme (How Mormon is that?!) and centered it around summertime and the opportunity we have to do things we might not otherwise. (But we did still manage to squeeze in some karaoke. Hey...I may be righteous...but I'm not dead inside!)

Anyway, back to the lesson. Each of us made a list of our summer top five and shared (if we chose) with the group. I LOVED that Ma Jones' list included have the children watch less TV...while her daughter's list included watch as much TV as possible. I love kids.

I was already feeling totally pumped as our first week came and went. Then, over at Bebeloo, I read Damaris' summer list, and it inspired me to do one of my own. Because in reality, I have waaay more than a top five. More like a top 500. We're going to need another tour here to do it all. (Not to mention, there's a bunch of stuff I want to catch up on while this ride has slowed down a bit.) The challege: Come up with something for every day of summer. I chose 73...one for each non-school day of our summer vacation. It's just symbolic, really...not like I have to do just one a day. Some will take more than one day...some days we can do many.

But in reality, the biggest reason to celebrate? Cliff being home. We could just stay home and watch Netflix all summer and it would beat ANYTHING we did last year because we were without the best thing this family has going.

Bring on the sticky, steamy, sweaty days, Okinawa...we will see your humidity...and raise you one family determined to make this the most. epic. summer. ever!

Carrie's Scintillating Summer 2010:
(in no particular order)
(Those already completed are in bold)

1. Get in 10,000 steps a day.
2. Make sure kids are up by 9 AM.
   
3. Visit a beach at least once a week.
4. Finally go to Peace Prayer Park.
5. Family vacation to Okuma, baby!
6. Try to Space A to California, end of July.
7. Facilitate kids' summer plans.
   
8. Finish painting the house (either myself or handyman Greg).
9. Do strength training 3 times a week.
10. Make homemade pizza whenever Cliff wants it.
    
11. Prune, weed and hedge all the plants.
12. Help Troy finish his Eagle project.
13. Enroll in UMUC for the Fall.
14. Finish my friendship quilt squares.
15. Take at least 3 walks a week...1 a week to someplace new.
16. Keep walk blog up to date with above.
    
17. Update the Chaplain Spouses' Roster
18. Make welcome basket for Cliff's replacement.
19. Be great sponsors to Cliff's replacement's family.
    
20. Eat as many fresh tomatoes, avocados and pineapples as possible.
21. Try a new vegan recipe each week.
22. Finally. Organize. All. The. Closets.
23. Get all the shredding done and finally go paperless.
24. Visit Pineapple Park.
25. Find the Glass Factory in the Forest.
26. Drive to the very northern tip of the island.
27. Eat pizza with corn on it at Pizza in the Sky.
28. Ride my beautiful beach cruiser at least once a week.
29. Make it so my front porch makes me smile.
30. Take Cliff on a beach picnic.
31. Get my photos their own hard drive. Put them on it.
    
32. Go to Japanese Toys R Us.
33. Watch all the good Summer movies in the theater.
34. Hike Hiji Falls.
35. Take a trip to Tokyo!
    
36. Finish SCUBA certification with Cliff and Patrick.
37. Golf at the new golf course.
38. Read 5 books (not just start...actually finish them).
39. Snorkel at Maeda Point with kids, Susan and Sarah at least 3 times.
40. Take kids to 3 different rollerslide parks.
41. Have a family sushi making party.
42. Correspond with at least 3 people every Sunday.
43. Make overdue dental appointments for everyone. (Ugh!)
44. Teach Troy to cook useful missionary meals.
45. Organize and catalog entire karaoke collection in binders.
46. Take family to Bios on the Hill.
47. Take family to that other nature park Jill told me about (first, find out the name from Jill).
48. Plan a Botanical Garden date with Cliff.
49. Return excess government furniture.
50. Make at least 3 recipes from Hello Cupcake (to justify the purchase).
    
51. Finish decorating master bedroom.
52. Shop at my favorite farmers market every week.
53. Find and explore more castle ruins.
54. Explore Yomitan Village.
55. Find desks for Coree and Jake.
56. Make an apron with awesome Japanese fabric.
    
57. Try yoga for awkward people.
58. Drink enough water. Every day.
    
59. Organize jewelry...again...and polish the silver stuff.
60. Use the ice shaver enough to justify bringing it here.
61. Teach Jake how to make bread.
62. Update and USE birthday list on Send Out Cards.
63. Send out baby and wedding gifts.
    
64. Have someone over for dinner every week.
65. Find parts to fix Troy's bike pedal.
    
66. Toilet paper or otherwise prank someone we love.
67. Send Lisa a postcard I've made from a photograph.
68. Have culture group ladies over to celebrate Pioneer Day.
69. Use my cheery, Indian table cloths. (Reminded why I don't use them when, within hours, it looked like someone {who shall remain nameless} wiped his face with it.)
    
70. Clean patio furniture on back porch.
71. Eat dinner on the patio often.
72. Make a beautiful salad (almost) every day.
73. Send Amie a deployment care package. (And...some bonus ones):
    
74. Go to the Southern most part of the island.
75. Find a man walking a bull.
76. Travel to one of the neighboring islands for a bike ride.
77. Tour Shuri Castle.
78. Find the Chinese garden in Naha.
79. Tour the other cave that's outside of Okinawa World.
80. Eat at 5 different Coco's Curry House Ichibanya. (3 down).
    

Do I dare dream I can accomplish them all?! Well, unless I try I won't. What's that famous Les Brown quote?

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars."

Anyone else have big plans this summer? Share them with us!

Breaking Bread and Burying the Hatchet

Some of these faces might look familiar, and you might be asking yourself if the Hatfields really invited the McCoys over for dinner? We did...AND Family Home Evening to boot!


With so many between us, the kids' table was pretty crowded. We had to put in both leaves!



And the adults were relegated to the coffee table!



I had them all captivated during my lesson on gratitude.



And the activity? What else? Karaoke...baby!



The Joneses discovered that Elijah really has been listening to what they play in the car...



And Josh and Patrick make for a pretty studly duo.



I can hear the hearts breaking all over the world!



But their air-guitar...



doesn't even come close to Jake's air-guitar!



We had a major Copacabana jam session (is any evening of karaoke complete without it?)



And Josh and Brenda shared "What they like about you".



At 10:30 (on a school night, no less) it was finally time to go...so I decided to send everyone off with Etta James' "At Last"...which turned out to be a serenade to my Cliffie (it just came naturally). I don't remember who, but one of the Joneses scrawled this sign really quick, and they all started swaying back and forth, American Idol style.

Which brings me to my new nickname, of which I am proud...Carrie-Oki.

We had such a blast, we need to make this a regular event. This is even more fun than toilet paper and popcorn put together. With chopsticks on top.

Singing for Their Supper

We had the Elders over for dinner last night.
On the menu...teriyaki glazed salmon (Cliff broiled to perfection) yummy green salad (with cranberries, almonds and feta cheese), garlic mashed potatoes and pink lemonade.
For dessert...apple cobbler ala mode.
The entertainment...THE funniest elders we have had grace our home to date.

We were laughing almost from the time they got there until they left. One of them did an impersonation of a blogger that had me totally pegged. I even snorted at one point!

They loved our kids...and we think we have even converted them to home schooling! (That wasn't our intent...but I sure hope they find those special ladies that are willing to give it a whirl...)

Cliff was the one that made them sing...but first he made them leave with us the obligatory spiritual message. No worries, Mission President...I insisted they do a religious number...it's never too early for Christmas music!

"Thank you, thank you...we'll be here all week!"

We were still talking about them tonight at dinner. Coree wants to invite them to dinner every night.

Patrick said, "Isn't it cool how we get the missionaries we need? We got Elder Richardson and Elder Bunn when we were doing the back yard..." (they were very handy, hard-working guys) "and now when we REALLY needed to laugh, we got these guys."

Great observation, Patrick...they really were a tender mercy.

Oooohhh...Heaven is a place on Er-earth!

We went to Costco on Friday to get our passport photos taken (no...I'm not suggesting Costco is heaven on earth...although I think that Cliff might think so...but read on...) Anyhoo, while we are there, we might as well check out the free samples and survey the latest in Christmas decor...that we WON'T be consuming this year, right?

We get to the LAST aisle of the Christmas goods when I see it...(scene: Heavens open, choir of angels sing) THEEE karaoke machine! I've wanted one for YEEEARS...and ever since my sister, Erin, got it a few years ago...THIS one in particular...

LAST year I almost had it, too. I saw it and made the mistake (Costco shoppers out there know the scenario all too well, I'm sure) of leaving the store without it. I had my Costco executive rebate check IN MY PURSE...but like a good wife, I went home to clear the purchase with my partner in crime. Needless to say, when I got back there a few days later, there were none to be had. Literally every time I've been back to Costco since, I've looked for this baby...and there she was, at last! And as kismet would have it, once again, I had my Costco executive rebate check in my purse...and my partner in crime right there for consultation. Life is Beautiful!

I didn't wait to get it home, though...they had one out for demo, so I gave it a spin right there. I was "Workin' for the Weekend" and "Headin' on down to the Love Shack", let me tell you!

I probably should put up a disclaimer here. It's not that I think I'm spectacular at karaoke. I don't have a terrible singing voice, but I'm certainly not fantastic...and I have the WHITEST dance moves, ever (read: Elaine from Seinfeld). But there is just something about karaoke that I can't resist! And if you invite me to a karaoke party...I come to JAM, so you'd better not be letting the kids hog it with "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"...they'd better know some Rick James...or move over!

Jake is always on board for helping if it involves tools!



Isn't it gorgeous?!? (I think we are watching Troy do something on the Xbox at this moment.)



Mr. Fix-It. Doesn't he look 'in his element'?




This is too funny...Troy can't even focus in on me, I'm so into my jam...but watch Coree...



She stops singing all together and moves as far as she can get from me. She says, "Oh yeah, Mom...You're drunk, alright!" It's called, "high on life", sweetie...you should try it!



She obviously has no taste. I was SO Belinda Carlisle on that one!



Mrs. Lisa Troublemaker...I will be awaiting your arrival eagerly...with Superfreak cued and ready!!!