Kindergarten!!!

Today I walked Bryton to her first day of Kindergarten.
Last year she did attend a full day preschool at the local elementary, so I think she was very excited to "go back to school".
We live only 10 minutes away (by walking) from Cole Elementary, and it was really nice to spend the morning with her and talk about whatever popped into her head on the way to school.
Last night we were able to meet her teacher, Mrs. Berg.
She seems very sweet and nice and bubbly (everything a Kindergarten teacher should be)
Bryton and I walked into her classroom this morning and she immediately found her coat and backpack hanger. We unpacked all of her school gear and put it in the class bins then we found her seat.
Her teacher had given each child a small canister of playdough and Bryton set to work right away.
I felt horrible when I realized all the other parents had remembered to bring their cameras and were clicking away at their shutter buttons. And then I remembered that my phone was a camera. So I took a few pics to capture the moment.

Can you tell she is just distraught at the thought of being at school?

And one last look before I walk home...

Finally

Wow!!! It has really been a long long time since I have written anything on my blog!
I also haven't taken any pictures is a while, so I will have to add those in later.
first off we finally made it home to Utah and spent 3 weeks there with family. It was really great to see all my sisters and one of my brothers, and all of my nieces and nephews. and after keeping it secret for almost 5 months we got to tell our families that we are going to have another baby! and just recently found out that we will be having a little boy!!!
I went to Lagoon for the first time in almost 5 years, I had Watermelon for the first time in 3 years! (it was soooo good!) It was just so nice to see everyone that I have missed for so long, and to walk into a Wal*Mart and bask in its hugeness.
We then headed to Wyoming. after nearly 24 hours of flights and airports a few weeks prior the 7 hour drive was nothing, actually enjoyable. We spent a couple weeks in TLF while we looked for houses. We found a nice home and managed to move in before we closed.
Soon after that we adopted a little puppy. He is half Lab and half Pitt mix. and we named him Hurley.
Things are going really well. and now we are just waiting for all of stuff to get here.

Bryton's Easter Photos

Having a white bunny rabbit has it's advantages you know. A gal from the Branch, who does photography, asked to borrow Yuki-San to take Easter pictures of her daughter and offered free pictures of Bryton too. So at the park across the street we took Yuki and Bryton (all dolled up in her Easter dress) and got some sweet pictures taken. Enjoy!

Whale Watching pics-Finally!

WHALE WATCHING!!!

Last weekend Bryton, Jason, and I went on a whale watching tour.
The boat was nicer than I had expected. There was a spacious indoor area, a wide bow and a very big top deck area to watch the whales from.
We spent our time on the top. I was very surprised to see whales nearly right off. Although none of them jumped with their heads out we did see their backs, their blow holes spraying out water and their big back fins! It was really cool! I don't mean to brag but Jason and I were definitely the ones to see the whales first 7 out of 10 times (because we're awesome).
It was an awesome experience and we all really enjoyed it!
3 days later we got a call from a different tour group saying we had won whale watching tickets! So instead of going two weeks in a row we just gave them to friends of ours.
Then the tour got canceled due to inclement weather, and those friends would not be on the island for the reschedule date. So, we asked another family, then another, then another! For one reason or another we could not find anyone to take these free tickets. So I sent out a mass email to my branch (ward) and finally found a family to take them.
Although the weather was worse than when they canceled before, the tour was still on and they had a great time! I am so glad!

Sayonara Okinawa

Ja matta Okinawa

Our time on Okinawa has just about come to an end.
Although we don't yet know as of now where we will go, we will be leaving in about 3 months!
I have missed my family and friends so so so much since we've been so far away. I have missed a niece and a nephew being born. I have missed my sisters wedding. And I have missed two funerals. And in March I will miss my little sister going into the MTC, and if I don't see her when she departs to Cambodia, it will have been almost 5 years before I see her again!
However, I have love love loved being here. I learned Japanese in high school and so coming here was a dream come true. I love the sights and the people here are so kind. Okinawa has a slow paced way of life and it's almost calming. I love the beach, to swim or just lay out on the sand. I get a kick out of American Village that sells anything from used leather jackets to American license plates, and the gift shops that for some reason always sell Spam.
And although my time away from my family is over due, there are many things that I will miss in Oki.
I will miss Chula-u's free foot bath (Ashiyu) with its natural hot spring water. I will miss all the neat attractions here like the castle ruins, Ocean Expo, Butterfly Park, and the crazy crazy parks with nets ropes and rings that are ridicuously dangerous for children to play on. (but fun)
I will miss driving around the shoreline and taking in the beauty of Okinawa's sapphire ocean.
What I think I will miss the most is probably all the wonderfuly delicious SUSHI!!!!!!!
I don't know how I am ever going to eat sushi in the States after enjoying the most fresh and delectable fish and Japanese dishes here.
So in the next three months I am going to see everything again, and eat so much sushi it will come out of my nose!
I don't want to leave here with any regrets......