I bought a pumpkin yesterday at the commissary. We won't be carving it until a few days before halloween because they mold really fast here. My friend's only lasted 2 days, inside the house.
As I was buying the pumpkin, I realize that my poor son will have NO pictures from his youth at a pumpkin patch. He won't get to experience the crafts and hayrides.... chicks and corn mazes that his sister did.
I have Fall pictures of her in overalls every year at a pumpkin patch. In San Antonio, my MOPS group used to go every year. In Monterey, we went with her school. W was only 10 months,but he tagged along and I think I have a few snaps of him there.
So - I'm tempted to take my camera to the commissary and take his picture amongst all the pumpkins. For all you non-military types, that's like taking a picture in the grocery store.
If I do, I'll post it.

We're all slowly but surely getting better... just hoping Sarah doesn't get sick!

So, I've been thinking about recipes a lot lately... how much I enjoy collecting recipes from friends because it's nice to go back and look through them and see familiar names. Also, I find recipes to be very personal. Recently, I had to make food for a mexican themed lunch and I volunteered to make the spanish rice because I knew I had a recipe stuck somewhere from Trisha Rodriguez and I thought it would be a good excuse to dig it out. I loved looking through my old recipes and seeing names of old friends I've come in contact with over the years. People who I think about when ever I make the recipe they gave me but that I haven't spoken to in a long, long time. I have a recipe from Kim (Bahl) Roberts for pound cake with fruit on top, a recipe from Leslie Keck for Ambrosia Cake (which I make often and everyone always compliments me on), and several recipes that I have had for years but have not yet made.... but I will some day. I also have lots of recipes from my Grandma and my mom. I'm glad I have these because my mom doesn't cook like she used to. One thing I wish I had is darabrat's mom's meatball recipe.... maybe some day!

We're trying to get the sickness out of our house. William was sick - stuffy nose, fever, etc, last week. He threw up once. Yesterday, I threw up 5 times and had a splitting head ache all day long. I'm better now but William threw up again last night. UGH - I hate being sick and I hate it when my kids are sick. This too shall pass - right?

We have renters moving into our house in San Antonio on the 15th so we are thankful for that. Joey is leaving for Vegas on Tuesday for a few weeks. I'm hoping to get some scrapbooking done. I haven't done that since Monterey, except for making the digital one for Missy. I thought I was going to go digital but I was looking through my England scrapbooks the other day and I was reminded how much I enjoy working with my pictures and looking through the albums when they are complete so I'm going to get all the Creative Memories stuff I have out and start using it.

I've been wasting a lot of time playing silly word games like this one.
I've been playing on facebook because you can play against your friends.
I'm pretty good at the game, but I find that I don't do well with words that begin with vowels.
I wonder what this says about me?

Busy weekend, as usual.
Friday night we has "First Friday" with our squadron at the bowling alley. The kids, of course, loved that.
Saturday we went out to eat lunch and then took Daddy to the "drop slide" park. I forgot my camera. I'm sure we'll be going again and I'll post pictures. Basically, it's a slide that drops straight down before flattening out. You hang from a bar and let yourself drop. I haven't gone down it but the kids love it.
Saturday night was our coffee. We did yoga, from which I am still sore today (Monday).
Sunday, we had the Steele family over for dinner. They arrived on island a few weeks ago. Mano went through pilot training with Joey so we have known them for 11 years! They were based with us in England and we have, of course, kept in touch over the years. We are looking forward to spending some time with them on Okinawa.
I'm glad to report that we found renters for our house! Yeah! They want to move in on the 15th.
They have 2 golden retrievers so we are a little worried about that but, that's what security & pet deposits are for, right?

Well, we got word yesterday that we are going to be able to stay attached to the 67th Fighter Squadron.
AND, we had an inquiry on our house in Schertz. Nothing in stone, but interest is good.
Our world feels like it is in harmony again... but I guess we shouldn't get too comfortable
(lesson learned)

I'm totally addicted to Facebook.
Specifically, the Word Twist game.
I'm wondering why BK continues to ignore my invitation to play.
Is it that he doesn't want to be beaten by a girl?
No - I'm fairly confident that he's just afraid of getting addicted, as we all know how he is.
I've seen him watch "Making of the Band"....
Today I took a silly "What color is your heart" quiz.
Here were my results....
The Crimson Heart is assertive, brave, energetic, action-oriented, intelligent, individualistic, independent, impulsive, full of strength, competitive, eager, straightforward, forceful, headstrong, pioneering, a leader, focused on the present and freedom-loving. They can also sometimes be intemperate, violent, impatient, fiery, rash, extreme, and arrogant.

Do you think it's true?

Joey's making breakfast and it's raining outside... oh wait, now it's sunny.
Crazy Okinawa weather.
Over the weekend, some things have changed and there is a (small) chance that we might not switch squadrons.
Basically, we'll just sit tight until December and see what happens.
I appreciate everyone's supportive comments on my previous post.
I KNOW that my friends are my friends and that won't change.
It's more about being a part of something bigger... don't know how else to explain it.
One thing is for sure - All will work itself out for the best and we'll end up just where we're supposed to.

Yesterday we had a welcome lunch... and I took Flat Stanley to Ghost's fini flight.
Flat Stanley is visiting from Carrollton. He'll be headed back to Texas on Monday.
Then, last night I watched a movie with friends before being entertained by Disco at the O'Club.
The O'Club was fun... and then today, squadron picnic.
Tonight, dinner with friends... and tomorrow it's getting ready for the week.
Sarah has Wednesday off of school and Tuesday is an early release.
Wednesday is "Educator's Day".
Personally, I think Educator's should be educating on that day!!!

Well, this was a hard week for us. Given my previous post, about Julie, this seems totally silly and unimportant but, nonetheless, something I have to get off my chest.
On Monday we were told we are switching squadrons.
Big deal? To most, no.
To me? YES.... it's a big deal.
I know this will change but, at this point in time, for me, in my world, it's like having to root for the longhorns.
I guess I can learn the lesson of "never get too comfortable" from this... When you live in a world where your life is broken up into 3 year cycles, you are constantly getting settled, moving, thinking about the next move, etc. There is a small 8 month window in the middle of your assignment where everything is in harmony - you feel settled, you feel like you have friends and you aren't thinking about your next move - yet.
I was THERE, about 2 months in and now, we're told we're switching squadrons which basically means, from a social standpoint, we're moving without really moving.
At any other base, it really isn't that big of a deal.
Here, on Okinawa it's like switching families... you've read about all our costumes and antics and dresses and colors and plaques, etc. For an Aggie who grips onto traditions and has immersed herself into the traditions and culture of the 67th FS... not to mention the wonderful friendships I've formed.
IT'S A BIG DEAL IN MY LITTLE WORLD.
I'm told to think about the positives.. think about all the NEW friendships... you already know people "over there"....
yes, this is all true and I'm very happy about those things.
On the flip side - I'm worried about how/if my old friendships will suffer (unintentionally, of course). I don't want to be in that spot again where you feel like you know a lot of people but don't know anyone really well...
I'm very frustrated that this is totally out of my control even though it effects me directly, and no one asked me my opinion (of course, I'm being sarcastic - kind of.)
We don't know the entire story and we never will... another very frustrating thing about our lives here.
I'm not sure who made this decision but whoever did, didn't handle it very well, in my opinion.
Everyone keeps saying that nothing will change for me... but, the fact that they say that tells me it already has.