Andrew's trip to Ecuador

Andrew is standing on both sides of the equator at the same time. the Cathdral in quito has been under construction since the 1500's. Looking down the mountain at the waterfall. Eating in the clouds.

Cherry Blossoms Festvail

Cherry Blossoms are everywhere! The last week of April to the beginning of May the bloom and fill the streets with petals. We wet to Hirosaki. It is known for the their Cherry trees. There are so many different varieties. The model is of an old castle that use to be here. The building is a watch tower. Now they have old armor and weapons and I am sure it tells about what happen here, but i haven't learned to read kangi yet. i had a hard time taking pictures of the girls. Every time we stop to take a picture a Japanese would ask if he could then there would be a line. I would say one more and everyone would get in with them at once, and the cameras flashing. It is hilarious.

Japan Day

The base every year holds a Japan Day. Japan day is when the Japanese come and show the Americans some thing of their culture. The show us how how to arrange flowers, how to work with clay, origami, they put on shows for us, tea ceremony, kite making and the dress us up in kimonos. It was a lot of fun we didn’t get to do everything because they have so much to show. The dressing took forever. The girl is dressed in a $180,000 kimono that is part of the royal army. It is very old and beautiful. She is in the Navy and is standing next to the Base Commander and a Japanese dress in an old army warrior armor.

Festival

We went down to Hachinohe for a festival. They show dances that represent how they use to plant and harvest rice. This festival is to ask to bless the crops for good harvest. The guys with the big hats represent horses. That is a big thing here. In all the pictures there was snow for the posters. We were glad that it wasn't any colder. We were freezing but had lots of fun. It was cute to see the Japanese kids with their hats.

The Climbing Wall

This was the girls favorite thing to do while and Andrew and I worked out. Annalee didn't want her picture taken. The community center was awesome. They had machines and weights. a playarea for kids, Virtual golf you rent for ten dollars and hour, arcade games, just to name a few. Every base should have something like that. I actually lost weight over Christmas!

Cristmas Morning

We enjoyed our Christmas. It was nice to be able to relax and not have to be anywhere. The girls loved their legs warmes. They are always complaing their legs are cold. I think Annalee thought they were a hat or something that goes on your head.

Cristmas Morning

We enjoyed our Christmas. It was nice to be able to relax and not have to be anywhere. The girls loved their legs warmes. They are always complaing their legs are cold. I think Annalee thought they were a hat or something that goes on your head.

Art musem

We went to the Anchorage Art museum. They had antique toys and on display. The girls had fun in the children section where you could play on the train planes and cars.

Ginger bread house

One of the things we did on our vacation in Alaska was make a ginger bread house. Annalee kept licking her fingers everytime she put on a candy. The girls had lots

of fun with dad.

Decorating the Tree

The Irvines let us barrow a small tree to decorate the house we were staying in. It help raise our spirits so much. The girls loved having the lights blinking. We had a lot of fun in Alaska.

Look what i got.

The girls were so excited to see that santa came. They told everyone at church that day he came early. We had a couple of upset parents at us! Oops!

Santa Came

Santa was nice and came early. So the girls had things to do on the way to Alaska. The girls were worry that Santa wouldn't know where they were. I sent Santa a letter expaining we were going to Alaska.

Ava

Ava belongs to one Andrew’s coworkers. Shannon was lonely with her husband gone. So we had them over. Ava was just three weeks old. The girls just loved her. Annale couldn't let her go.

Kailynn's gingerbread house

Kailynn made a gingerbread house at school. The girls devoured it.

Kailynn’s class went to an apple orchard on a field trip. They had fun picking and eating apples. Afterward they had a picnic at a park.

Halloween

Jen was an angel, Kailynn a pirate and Annalee was a princess. The battery died so we didn’t get one of Annalee and we forgot to take one once we got home. I know we are trying to get better. Andrew now has three batteries. Jen's wings moved Kailynn loved the sword. Annalee had fun bobbing for apples.