Peaceful Illumination (December 28)

I read about a "Peaceful Illumination" at the southern part of the island near Peace Memorial Park.  It takes about 1.5 hours to get there.

So, I declared "Family Fun Day," met with the usual complaints and we got in the car.

To tell the truth, no one felt like going, especially me.  But the illumination was only taking place until January 3rd.   

We had a fun drive down. We stopped at the Ryukyu glass factory, the lacquer factory, and had dinner at the local Family Mart.  Someday, I should do a post on the Family Mart and the Lawson's.  They are like our convenience stores, but the food is so healthy and fresh.  Salads, fish etc all for under $2.

We were surprised to see that the illumination had plenty of food.  

I love the masks.

This poor girl finally gave up and waved as Bill kept taking her picture.  I think he was going after the food behind her but she was there.

Making our way to the grounds.  I still am not feeling 100% after being sick but I was thrilled when we got there.  I love, love, love Christmas lights (and fireworks by the way).

This is a beautiful bird of peace... They also had a band playing.  It was really nice.

I did not realize that you could walk inside the displays until the kids showed me.  That was fun.

Patrick found a friend at the petting zoo.

This turned out much better than we thought.  Another successful Family Fun Day.
Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

We were supposed to go to Hong Kong for Christmas.  We went last year (see previous posting) and loved it.  But, I got really sick after China, so we decided to stay home.  I didn't feel like decorating and I was planning to be elsewhere so our only tree was a glass miniature I bought the day before Christmas.  I did not want to take a picture of it but Bill and Caroline decided it would be funny to make fun of my lack of Christmas spirit.

We had to wake Patrick up at noon so we could get started... If we let him, it would have been about 4 in the afternoon.
Caroline was getting anxious...

He was rough around the edges but awake.

Caroline was happy to get started on presents...

Scarf for Patrick... (He really has been asking for one!!)

Thank God for iTunes Cards.  The perfect gift for every teenager.

Saw these masks from Bali and knew Patrick would love them.  You can't tell from the half asleep face, but he really does like them.  I love them.

Patrick gets his iTunes cards...

We decided that the Christmas House Restaurant would be the best cure for our dismal Christmas display.  It was!  We love this little restaurant.

Caroline's birthday is December 26.  I thought the Christmas House would be the best place to give her her 13th birthday present.  I have had her present on lay-away for 4 months.  Some of you know that I have a part time job at a gift store on the Kadena Air Force Base (yes, I still have a full time teaching job, but is in online).  It is really like an import store.  Our managers travel all over Asia and buy furniture, housewares, clothes, jewelry etc and we sell it really cheap.
Anyway, we have a guy in the shop from Hong Kong.  He sells far below the states, and the staff gets 50% off, and he does lay-away.  So I found something for Caroline my first week there and have been paying about $20 a week. I was so excited to finally give it to her.

It is a beautiful pink sapphire and diamond ring.  Yes, way over the top but she is my little girl.

So as soon as I paid off Caroline's ring, I put a ring on lay away for myself.  Our jewelry guy (His name is Patrick) specializes in pearls.  I picked one out for myself.  
Bill comes to visit me in the store every Saturday.  After I close up, at about 2pm, we go for lunch or coffee.  I was busy like crazy the Saturday before Christmas (another reason I did not feel like decorating), anyway, apparently my boss told Bill that I had jewelry on lay-away.  He bought it right under my nose and surprised me on Christmas.  I was thrilled because I did not expect to have the ring until the summer.  
So here it is, 18k gold too!

He bought a matching pendant to go with it.

Bill got a breath mint and chocolate at the restaurant...(yikes!)  I did not plan anything because we were supposed to go to Hong Kong...He looks happy.

Merry Christmas!

Pre Christmas Dinner (Dec 18)

So I heard about this restaurant that is only open for six weeks during the Christmas season.  It is called "Happy Dream."  We just call it the "Christmas House."  

The restaurant is actually a residence of a retired marine and his Okinawan wife.

I designated the day a "Family Fun Day" which always gets greeted with groans and complaints.  I offered to have the kids invite friends.  "No one wants to have dinner with my parents, mom!"  I guaranteed them a GREAT time--and threatened them--so they agreed.

Patrick brought a couple friends, Antinette and Ashley...

Caroline brought her best friends since 2nd grade (they are in 7th now), Veronica.

Mr and Mrs Claus for the evening!

As soon as we arrived, we were all smiles!  What a treasure!  Not that we are short on Christmas decorations around Okinawa, they love celebrations, so the whole island is lit up.  But there was something special about being in someone's home, filled with the Christmas spirit. 

The front door to their house/restaurant...

The courtyard was all decorated and Christmas music was playing.  Kids from the neighborhood came with the parents to see the lights.

These two are growing up so fast...

You may have noticed that Caroline and Veronica don't have any shoes...
Since this is an Okinawan home, leave your shoes at the front door.

The menu is written in Katakana.  Katakana are the characters reserved for adopted words.  Japanese words are written in Hiragana or Kanji.  Caroline and Veronica are taking Japanese I and were reading the menu for us.

Turns out Bill knows the owner of the home/restaurant.  He greeted Bill right away.  He retired from the Marines in 1995, then he worked a civil service job in Bill's building before retiring from everything, for good, in July 2011.  They chatted for awhile and I walked around and took pictures.

Our family loves curry.  Bill got the chicken curry and salad.  All served on Christmas plates.

The kids got along great.  Good conversation, great food, super-cute atmosphere. 

Dessert!

Another great Family Fun Day!!