Koinobori

Koinobori means "carp streamer". Traditionally in Japan, they are flown annually every spring from April to May in honor of sons in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. This year was particularly meaningful to me as I now have a son. However in the present day, times have changed and this celebration is now designated a national holdiday termed Children's Day on May 5. And of course I celebrated my two beautiful daughters as well as my son.

These koinobori are flown over the Mizugama River.

Young Houdini has figured out how to wiggle and twist his way out of the stroller harness so he can stand up for a better view...

Isaac's first Dragon Boat Festival



You know the festival was a success when you 've got a ginormous bag of cotton candy, and an even bigger blow-up Snoopy to ride around on your shoulders...

Beautiful Frau-san

In kimono...

Ikey's favorite spots

The chairs...

The cupboards...

My toolbox...

Helping Bri with her homework...

 

Happy Easter!!

We started the day very early with an Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. It was windy and chilly, but at least it wasn't raining and the sunrise was beautiful.

Breakfast with colored eggs...



On the hunt...

The booty...

Isaac was pretty happy to have new books to chew and drool on and a new plush lamb to puke on...

Happy St. Patty's Day

Here's a couple of leprechauns now...

Azalea Festival March 2012

We went to the Azalea Festival. I must admit, I had no idea what an azalea was. Thank goodness for Google. They turned out to be quite pretty.

Isaac thought they looked good enough to eat. And he tried. Several times.

Of course, no Okinawan festival would be complete without the typical food booths...

And a downhill skier giant blow-up slide.

The Ikester

Santa Isaac...

Laughing Isaac...

Floating Isaac...

Cute Isaac...

Close Issac...

Show me angry face Isaac...

Little brother Isaac...

Waiting Isaac...

Nakey Isaac...

This is usually how a diaper change ends up. The kid is quite impossible. I have to put one of those 50 lb. bags of salt on top of his chest so we can change his diaper. It's usually a 2-man operation... minimum.

Erin's first science fair project

For Erin's project, she compared the strength for columns with different shapes. She must have a nerdy engineer-type for a dad. We built different shaped columns and then stacked cans on top of them until they failed.

Can you guess which shape held the most weight?

Thanksgiving 2011

We decided to leave all the Thanksgiving preparation and clean-up in the capable hands of the Okuma restaurant staff, and spend the weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and atmosphere. The Thanksgiving buffet included all of the traditional American cuisine, but also added some not-so-typical South Pacific dishes. As you can see we had some crab legs, sushi, and other foods from around the Pacific rim. One thing that was not different, I stuffed myself silly.


Instead of the traditional football events, we participated in NASCAR...


And buggy racing...


The weather was quite nice. The water was just a bit on the cool side, about 75.


Beautiful women, er... woman, and amazing sunsets...


Erin and Brianna spent plenty of time playing here...