Catching up...

A lot has happened since I blogged last.

I really hate blogging. I even hate the word blog.

However, it's the best way to let family and friends see pix, so here I go.

Visited friends in Utah.

(Tara is going to come visit us in Okinawa in about one week... yeah! Invitation is still open to anyone else who wants to visit.)

Asher learned to walk at 12 months... but really started going at 14 months.

Trevr and I went whale watching.

Asher started reading on his own.

Not really, but he does love books. He can only say about 45 words... and can't read a thing.

He also loves bubbles... in any form.

My gorgeous sister Kathryn got married....

...which is why we were in Utah.

Asher hijacked my grandfather's walker...

This is the only pix I have with Kathryn and her new husband Mike together... at least near each other. Welcome to the family Mike!

After Utah we went to Idaho to visit Trevr's family... Uncle Brian...

Grandma Annette...

Grandpa Don...

Uncle Brent and Aunt Ashlie... not pictured.

(We just found out they're having a baby!! Congrats Ashlie and Brent!)

Uncle Shrek...

And Grandma Annette again...

And of course the great Grandparents.... we miss you all.

The saddest news is that Trevr has been deployed to an aircraft carrier. Luckily, he's not out in the desert or sleeping with the marines and he isn't in harm's way... but we would still rather have him here. He left one month ago and could be home as early as August... but most likely he'll come home late November. We miss you Trevr.

And finally, on a happier note, Asher loves "doggies"... he also loves food... what better way to combine his two passions than to feed Grannie Annie's dog food.

And Give Grannie Annie Food-Filled Kisses...

A Little Okinawan Culture

Sukura Season is over in Okinawa...

But the cherry blossoms were so beautiful, we had to make one more trip before the season ended. This is a hilltop in the city of Nago in Northern Okinawa. You climb 700 steps to a little shrine at the top. Cherry blossom trees line the entire path. Obviously Asher wasn't impressed.

These are our friends Ron and Carolyn.

Then we drove up Mount Yaedake. The entire drive is lined with blossoms and at night they light the lanterns. Traffic was slow so Asher and I got out to walk. Gorgeous Day.

This is what happens if you let a one-year-old eat blackberries unsupervised.

"What? Me... no, I'm not stuck. I meant to do this."

Asher likes climbing off the bed... but somehow he got stuck between the dresser and the bed. His little legs were just dangling.

Trevr and I went to a "Taste of Asia" event... foods from across Asia... but mostly Japanese. Delicious.

There were also traditional Okinawa performers...

Shisa Dog Dancers...

and other random performances...

Friends Lorelei and Sharon

Here are a few videos from that night. The Taiko / Daiko drummers were amazing.

SAKURA....

It's Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Season in Okinawa... the first Cherry Blossoms in all of Japan

This festival is at the ancient Ryukyu Castle known as Nakijin

I love his crazy faces...

He loved the Blossoms

It's a beautiful venue for Cherry Blossom viewing

Lately Asher has enjoyed climbing in and out of drawers, closets, cupboards... pretty much everything in the house.

And you thought he looked like Trevr before...

A friend of ours... Michael Spagna... took these pictures of my graffiti... which one of these is not like the others.

Asher in Motion...

Just a few random videos of Asher for the Grandparents... trying his first strawberry and playing catch.

What intelligent mom lets their child try strawberries on a white skirt? Yup. Obviously I wasn't thinking that day... I shot it in black, white and yellow. (you can stop watching after the funny face).

I Can't Believe It's Been A Year...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHER!!!

The blowup pool may seem over the top...

but it was definitely necessary.

First step... get naked.

Second Step... blow out the candle

Third Step... pretend we don't live in a society with cultural norms regarding food.

He wasn't sure about it at first and kept looking at us like, "What's the catch?"

Then he just started grabbing handfuls and shoving them in as fast as he could.

If I didn't know any better... definitely chocolate.

Then Jessica painted an anime version of Asher on the Seawall. Graffiti makes a good first birthday present right?

Asher's Room

And Finally... a random Okinawa picture.

These are the doctor fish that eat dead skin off your feet. It tickles like crazy.

Obon and Eisa...

Toward the end of each summer, the Okinawans celebrate Obon- a time when they believe the spirits of ancestors come back to earth. An Okinawan woman here said that her grandmother used to tell her if she didn't behave she would send her grandfather's spirit to haunt her. It's also a season of gift-giving. So imagine Christmas and Halloween combined. Anyway, during the season Eisa dancers will wander the neighborhoods beating drums, singing and dancing to welcome home the spirits. Those who lost a loved one that year might give the Eisa dancers an extra bit of money to welcome their spirits home. This is the troop that came through our neighborhood at 9:00 pm. We followed them through the streets with the rest of the crowd for about an hour. Very fun. Next week... the largest tug-o-war in the world... seriously.