In Search of Marines in Taverns Since 1775...

We had such a great time at the Chaplains' Birthday Ball this year! These are some partyin' people!



We were so pleased that our CO and SgtMaj and their wives joined us for the festivities...especially considering all the balls they are required to attend this time of year.






Aren't these a good looking bunch? The Wing knows how to represent!



And some of our Chaplains have hidden talents, too. Too bad I wasn't quick enough to get the break dancing on film. The back spins were awesome! (You think I'm kidding?)



This lady makes any event a party! She's always so much fun!



"How low can you go? Can you go down low?"



"Now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself"



Going my way, Sailor?
(I seriously have know idea what I was doing here...and I SWEAR I wasn't under the influence!)

Flashback Friday...Pumpkin Patch Fun

Man, we miss this family! This is 5 years ago with the Kellys in San Diego...Oct. 2004. We went to the pumpkin patch and did the big slide and the rides and such...but went to Albertson's to get our pumpkins because these were SO outrageously priced. What...did they think we just fell off the pumpkin truck?

Beatnik Coffee House and Fright Night

Patrick's drama class puts on a "Coffee House" each quarter. It's a way to raise funds for the drama program, and let them perform for an adoring audience as well.

I'm not exactly sure whose accent he's channeling here. It seems to travel around between Boston, Brooklyn, Britain and speech impediment. But I'm sure with some practice he can flesh them all out.


He really seems to be in his element here.


Soaking in the acclaim.



Patrick and his teacher. The kids LOVE her.



Then we had to rush of to Foster Fright Night, where some friends and I were serving up taco rice for a good cause (the football association).



Troy came by for dinner after he helped out in the dental department of the haunted house (that is SO wrong).


And Patrick ran around with friends balloon sword fighting. Tough job. Someone's gotta do it.

Cross Country Finale and Color Guard Cutie

This is what cross-country season coming to an end looks like.


Patrick's had a great run of it. (RUN of it...I kill myself!)



And just to make this post even cuter...here's Jake preparing to do his duty in the Cub Scout color guard for his friend's Arrow of Light ceremony.

Homecoming Dance

These were the shots I wasn't privy to (and had to steal from Josh's Facebook) since I wasn't in on the chauffeuring for the dance/dinner before hand.



I only got to order and pick up Troy's date's corsage. And Josh's date's.



I must say, Troy has great taste. Danielle is a doll!



I hear a great time was had by all. Oh, and here's another pic I stole from the Facebook of a kid I don't know. (LOVE the whole "tagging" thing!):


It's of Patrick at the reception that was held at the Butler O Club here in Plaza, before the bus ride to the Habu Pit (the club on MCAS Futenma) for the Homecoming dance. Patrick had a great time and the party continued on the bus ride back. It was a great idea someone had!

Here was my part in the evening:


(If swine flu isn't spreading in this scenario, I don't know where!)

Being out front 30 minutes before the dance ended, so we could get a parking place (and not have to wait in the line that snaked out the front gate) in order to pick up Troy in the pouring rain. Danielle's mom was driving down to pick her up from quite a distance, so Troy waited with her under that overhang until her mom got there (second to the last car... I'm just sayin') which gave us quite a nice long time to spy on them through our binoculars make out in the back seat.

I actually feel a little sorry for these guys that the driving age is 18 over here, and with the bases being so spread out, they have to rely on parents for transportation. At the same time, it's kind of fun to be included in their dates.

Homecoming Game

The cheerleaders decorated the players' lockers before the big game. Isn't this cute?



OK...now that I've photographed it, I can throw it away. It got a little drenched.

It was a little unnerving to hear of events on island being canceled left and right due to weather concerns. Of course, the Dragons play rain or shine, but it just made me nervous to think about what we were in for.

Here we are for the pre-game festivities...which included special recognition of the senior players and cheerleaders and their parents. Barely a drizzle yet...will we get lucky?







Isn't this the sweetest?!? It was so sweet to see all those players lined up with roses for their moms. I wish I had a picture of all of them together.


Then the grand entrance...






I LOVE this part of the game.



I also happen to love that we include Japan's national anthem after our own, during morning colors and at events like this. I couldn't (obviously) film with my hand over my heart...but I did film Japan's, just so you could hear what it's like:



I think our band did a pretty good job!

And as the game starts...so does the rain...and pours and pours...

Those little cheerleaders were just as tough as the players, cheering their hearts out no matter how hard it came down.






Some geniuses from Kadena High unfurled this "Dragons aren't real" sign and ran across the field at half time. They are clever ones! Something tells me they'll be telling their grandkids this story. Over. And over.

As it neared half time I know I wasn't the only mom thinking about these poor homecoming court candidates having to go out on the field for the big announcement.

But there must have been some serious praying going on, because just as half time started, the rain just stopped.

We even got to enjoy the rest of the game sans umbrellas. It was nice. It was not nice watching Kadena win...but the Dragons played a great game. Their last game of the season...for most of the seniors, their last game ever.

Here's some clips of Troy in action:



(Not anything glamorous. Defensive line is not flashy.)

The whole team gathered in the end zone with the coaches afterward while he gave them (what I'm sure was) a great speech about football and life. As everyone headed back to the locker room...a few of the boys stayed behind, I think not wanting it to be over.



One of Troy's friends was really visibly emotional...



And then they all came together and stood frozen like this for what seemed like forever. It just broke my heart. It just kind of sums up this whole season...this whole experience.

And then the rain started pouring down again.

We weren't ready for this night to be over, either. So we drove in the rain in search of late night eats. Remember this place?



We were excited to share the goodness (and cheapness) of "Dragon" with Cliff.



Cheapness makes Cliffie happy.



Noodles make Coree happy.



And doesn't it only seem fitting to take the Dragon to eat at Dragon? I thought so.



What a ride this has been! We are all so grateful for the experience. Next on Troy's agenda? He and his friends are going to keep working out and pick up hot chicks.

(Sorry Troy...I couldn't resist.)


Speaking of throwing things away. Ugghh!

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do...

Oh my nostalgia! I normally don't make it a habit to attend high school functions which don't involve my children performing in a way that might appear to obligate my attendance (you know...sports, drama, etc.). Maybe it's just me...but this is NOT my idea of a good time:



Going through this once was too much for me...and it's WAY too weird stepping back into time...because nothing has really changed. Same scenario, same characters, just played by different performers.



Unfortunately, the ASB President asked me if I'd come in and play the part of a "football mom" in a skit he couldn't tell me anything about. Hmmm. It's not that I don't trust Josh...but high schoolers and secrecy cannot add up to any good.

When I showed up ahead of time, he went white (which is quite a feat for him...I'm just saying) as he realized that he had forgotten to let me know that the skit was cut due to time limits, thinking that since I am his neighbor, of course he'd have a chance to tell me.

I had turned down a lunch date (not that I'm bitter) but it gave me the opportunity to enjoy the rare experience of the high school pep rally. Yay!


The football players are pumped and ready to kill.



And everyone was sorted into class according to bleachers and class colors. Woohoo!

(See Patrick in the red cape? We discovered too late that he is the only one in the family who doesn't own a red shirt.)

What would the high school pep rally be without the class tug of war?




Here, the sophomores demonstrate that they are one year stronger than the freshmen. Impressive!






The pic above is actually the football team going Varsity vs. JV (I'm sure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict the outcome of that one)...


And here are the seniors proving they can squash the juniors. Shocker!



Then they announced the results of the spirit week competition. The seniors might have lost it again this year (because do seniors really care?), were it not for that dedicated, spirit filled kid who, in the eleventh hour, sprayed green paint on enough Burger King crowns for the entire senior class...thus assuring 100% participation. Thanks, crown-painting kid!

Troy, hoping the Kubasaki Dragon will rub some good luck on him for tonight's Homecoming game. Go Dragons!

Flashback Friday...Wild Animal Memorial

Today's flashback takes us back about 4 years to our last visit to the Wild Animal Park. While the Wild Animal Park in East San Diego County is a great place to visit for anyone, it is especially significant to our family.

My grandfather helped to construct the Baja Cactus Gardens at the top of the park. It took many years of volunteer work from him and his partners. Whenever my grandma had the opportunity, she would sit with him and enjoy the view of the valley below while he worked.

After my grandma passed away from breast cancer in 1989, he had this pavilion constructed in her memory. There's a picnic bench inside, and it is one of the best places in the park to enjoy your lunch, or just take in the view.

I apologize for not including pics of the view here...but I didn't have any readily available. You'll just have to settle for this beautiful view:








Sometimes Corenne's hazel eyes look green, just like her great-grandma's. I know she would have loved this little girl as much as I do.