The Year in Pictures

I got this idea from my friend Megan. She's an Army wife and we met in Hawaii a couple of years ago.

January
Sydney turned two and we just found out Bob was about a month away from being split-toured (ahem, not by choice) to Japan so we started to really "play tourist" around Oahu. We went to a shrimp truck for the first time (really should have done it sooner) and got shave ice on the North Shore.
















February
We left our house in Manana Housing in Hawaii and used Bob's COT Leave to spend time with family in Connecticut. The girls built snowmen with my sisters.











March
Bob found an incredible deal on a flight and hotel in Munich, Germany so we went for four days while the girls stayed with my parents. Bob rented an Audi with a big and powerful engine and hit 240 kmh (145 mph) on the Autobahn. We got back and two weeks later left for Hawaii. After spending four days in Hawaii figuring out more move stuff and saying goodbye to some very near and dear friends, on March 27 we boarded our one-way flight to Tokyo.















April
We saw (The Great Buddha) Diabatsu on our AOB/ICR field trip and it was during the peak of cherry blossom season, Bob went out to sea, Housing called and said we got a unit and I accepted delivery of our HHG (household goods).











May
Keanna turned 4 and insisted on making her own pink birthday cake. Bob was in port for two weeks and during that time he turned 31. I also found a Carvel ice cream cake at the commissary which made me literally jump up and down in the freezer section. They're not available in Hawaii so finding them here was obviously a good thing. I also started this blog and got my first flavored Kit Kat, green tea.















June
Bob was back out to sea so we took a picture for him, my father and Jack, my father-in-law wishing them all a happy Father's Day and took our first ITT trip to Yunessun Spa in Hakone where fish ate the dead skin off our feet.











July
We took our second ITT trip, this time to Owakudani in Hakone. It's "The Great Boiling Valley" and eggs are hard boiled in the natural sulfurous hot springs making the shells black. The girls also got a pirate pool which they spent time in every day.
















August
Bob got to fly off the ship and come home for a week for a special meeting; it was a surprise to the girls and they were thrilled to see him. And we went to a bon odori festival where Sydney got to get on stage to play the taiko drum.
















September
I turned 29, Keanna had her first day of preschool and Bob finally arrived home! He was only home a week, but it was better than nothing.
















October
Keanna's soccer season was in full swing and even Sydney got in on the fun. It was also Halloween and the girls went in coordinating costumes I made - a movie ticket and bucket of popcorn. Did you notice Sydney's ticket number? It happens to be the date. Hardy har har!














November
We went to Yabusame held on Zushi Beach, Bob came home the third week of the month and the following weekend we went back to Owakudani in Hakone.












December
A few friends of mine along with the girls and myself made and delivered Christmas cookies to Housing, MWR, the post office, Maintenance and the fire station. The firemen were so appreciative they gave each kid got a hat and badge. Santa came to our house, ate all the cookies and drank the milk, the reindeer ate the reindeer food we made for them and left in the front yard and Bob (wearing his snowman pants) made the best ham to date.