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.

I think I'm finally caught up

I started school a few weeks ago and have been doing a lot of reading. I tend to highlight when I read and I accidentally left a blue highlighter on the bed... I don't really need to say more.

He's been trying to walk everywhere lately. He's pulling himself up on the furniture and scooting around it. Ron Gibb is helping him take a few steps here.

Yup. That's big barrel in the background. It's a restaurant we went to with a few of our friends. Why a barrel? No idea.

This is OuraWan beach. It's a pretty quiet beach at the northern end of the island. Beautiful eh?

More OuraWan

Trevr believes in getting Asher used to the water early. He's been dunking him in pools, in the shower, in the ocean... any form of water since he was three months old. It must work... Asher just sort of blinks afterward... and eventually smiles.

Trevr gets random days off during the week, so we try to spend at least a couple of them at the beach.

We think the beach is the best place for a nap.

Bath time... I figure the pictures are okay as long as their cropped in all the right places.

Cute picture until you think Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton or the joker...

then, kind of scary. :)

This is Somo Blah Blah. It's Asher's favorite bedtime toy... a very cuddly sock monkey.

Every time we go out, Japanese people stop us and ask to have their picture taken with Asher. We don't mind, it's a good way to meet people. But, we decided to start taking a few pictures of our own. If the Okinawans can have a random baby in theirs, we can have a random Okinawan in ours... yes?

This is Jessica's 32nd birthday. We went to a place called the "American Village" and ate a traditional Okinawan meal... complete with pig's feet. We don't recommend them.

The rest of the meal was good.

Asher's been getting up on all fours and doing an army crawl for the past month or two, but just started a legit crawl this week. Very exciting.

First taste of something besides rice cereal. Yummy sweet peas. We haven't gotten any better at the whole eating thing. Instead, we've just started wrapping him in towels during meal time. Much more efficient.

Asher's friend McCall gathered up a bunch of sand crabs at our last trip to the beach and let Asher play with them... we just had to keep him from eating them.

Great little spot for snorkeling- there is a large pool left behind at low tide. We went with a few families from our branch.

What do you call a woman wearing a nursing cover, snorkeling equipment, carrying a large rope for some kids, and a sleeping baby... Trevr calls her the Okinawan Statue of Liberty. Jessica calls her a mess.

A little trip for Frozen yogurt. Asher didn't get any, but you would think he did based on this smile.

Trevr and Jessica on their final dive before getting scuba certified.

These are some of the random people coming up to meet Asher. We love this place.

Cute huh.

This is Asher seeing himself on the computer. It made us laugh almost as hard as he did. He stopped as soon as he saw the camera... he usually does. So we had to get him again when he wasn't paying attention.

More Stuff...

Okay, so I'm just going to fly through these... because I'm that far behind.

With Grandpa Dave

Great Grandpa Winterton

GG Winterton

Flying to Okinawa and happy about it. He only cried once... notice the plane shoes. Thanks Grannie Annie.

Leaving behind Aunt Katie

Uncle Stevie getting ready for his date

GG Harrington... yes, I'm jumping around.

Now we're in Okinawa... first time in swings

With daddy in Uniform

Back on the plane... this is what happens when the swine flu hits Japan

It was a long plane ride... but a good one

Our first beach in Okinawa

The View from our window

First slide Ride

First Swing

Enjoying playgroup

Post Haircut Trauma

Pre- haircut trauma

First movie. He was supposed to sleep, but he loved it and watched the whole thing.

Star Trek...

Trevr's Birthday party... It's a Japanese thing

Happy 33rd Trevr!

Japanese Temple

Shuri Temple

Playgroup... these are his first friends... Owen and Jack Jack

You are not allowed to live in Okinawa unless you have your toes done at Cocoks... and they have to be completely over the top. Why yes, you do see glitter.

Asher started rolling over at about 3 1/2 months... which made diaper changes difficult

I hope this picture doesn't offend anyone. :)

Lovin Daddy

From our balcony

First taste of rice cereal... yum.

Incidentally, rice cereal makes a good hair gel. I have no idea how it got in there.

On the reef outside our home

This is the view of our home from the reef at low tide

He even sleeps like Trevr

First time at the pool- 3 months old and he loved it

Trevr and I got our divers' licenses. So much fun.

My best friend's aunt and uncle (Caroline and Ron) also live here on the island... small world.

What do you do when you need to use the restroom and you have a baby...The Japanese think of everything

Now we're back at the pool... I'm a new blogger... it will get better