Top Ten Things I Would Rather Do Than Run

10.  I would rather eat 30 boxes of ho-hos (mmmmmm......ho-hos) in a 5 minute time limit.

9.  I would rather have a show called "Mike and Jen Plus Ten."  Heck, 11, 12, 13, 14 ,15............

8.  I would rather have bamboo shoots shoved under my fingernails (I do need a manicure).

7.  I would rather be doused in petroleum and set aflame.

6.  I would rather someone cut slits all over my body with a rusted razor blade and soaked in a bath full of rubbing alcohol (what's another tattoo or two).

5.  I would rather jump off a 50 foot cliff with a 55 foot bungee cord wrapped around my ankle (that might leave a mark).

4.  I would rather give a speech on the technical comprehension of chemical disruption of the DeLorean to the 3rd power over the letter Z minus 0 given a flux capacitor and a safety pin wearing a pink tu-tu and sporting a "GI JANE" hair-do. 

3. I would rather jump from a C-17 in the middle of Korowai tribe in Papua, Indonesia.  Strapped to my front is a sign that says "long lost tribe member" and on the back it says "I'm a witch."

2. I would rather have my husband give me papercuts for as many times as I have had him stop and get me a cup of joe (BTW...that's a lot).

1. I WOULD RATHER BE THROWN IN A POOL OF FREAKING SHARKS WITH FREAKING LASERS ON THEIR HEAD.

Snow Bunny!

So, for the longest time I felt so sad for my oldest daughter.  As she was growing up I enrolled her in soccer, softball, basketball, cheerleading, hop scotch, kickball, jump rope, 4 square...lol.....you name it.  Unfortunately, she just didn't have the skills.  Couldn't get the fundamentals down.  BUT.....I think we found her nitche.  Her place in the athletic world, if you will.  SKIING!  She completely rocks it.  Not only is she really good at this sport, but she is the prettiest snow bunny I've ever seen.  ;)  Her first time skiing was 26 December 2009 and she has been on several ski trips since we've been stationed here on mainland Japan.  I just hope we will be able to support this passion she has for this sport.  Enjoy the pics.  

 Asia's first ski trip to Tanbara Ski Park

      Skiing Iwappara

Skiing Naeba

Snowboarding Naeba.  She enjoyed this as well.  I know she would rock it if given the opportunity again.

 Asia and her best friend Alex skiing Sapporo

Skiing Iwappara again with her friends Sophie and Sydney

I'm so happy that we are able to give her this opportunity to explore her horizons.  Some people just are not fortunate enough to give so many opportunities to their children and I certainly do not take it for granted.  Life is good to me and my family.

How....Bizaar?

One thing I love about being overseas is shopping the bazaars.  You can usually find all kinds of treasures for anyone that is near and dear to you.  This past weekend I hit the Camp Zama Bazaar, but it was....well....kind of bizaar because there really wasn't much there (sorry MIL....I didn't get you anything this time).  Not what I had really expected.  Much smaller than others that I have been to.  I will say though....it was nice to walk and peruse the items and I saved money.  I give it.....

ONE THUMB UP!

They had a couple rows of tents full of old and new items....cool and not..so...cool products. 

Cool....puzzle box!

Cool....Kokeshi Dolls!!

Cool....Kimonos!!!

Cool...gorgeous blue table ware!!!!

Cool....old man writing in Kanji!!!!!

Not so cool.....toys the vendor probably paid a buck for, but charged us an arm and leg.  Toys that I couldn't say no to my daughter because she stuck out those pouty lips...you know.....the one that mommy can't say "no" to.  Toys that they play with for one day. Not because they wouldn't play with it again, but because it broke.  It didn't break because it wasn't handled properly.  It broke because it was made purely of crap and it was sold to suckers like me.  :(  Anyways....moving on.....

Last, but not least....not so cool....fake hair hats.  These hats make two adorable kids look like complete dorks.  LOL.  I still love them dorks.

At the end of the day, I bought a couple small items and the girls where happy.  That's all that matters!

What Was I Thinking?

When I told Mike we were going to go out to eat, I'm sure what he heard was "Take two chopsticks and gouge my eyes out."  I almost forgot why we really never go out to eat with all the kids.  Tonight reminded me of exactly why we take it "TO GO."

I love my kids....I really do, but you have to know your limitations.  I mean, yeah....we can handle them, but why put ourselves through the torture in public when we can take the same torture at the house, BUT we can give hell back without having all eyes on us from others.  

I have some really good friends.  I mean, if I knew a family like mine I would spend time with them, but the day they asked me if I wanted to spend an evening out to a restaurant with the entire family....well....I'm sure something would come up that I would have to take a reign check......every....single.....time....I was asked.  LOL.  I appreciate it.  I do, but I will never ask again.  That is misery wanting company (of course I'm exaggerating...somewhat).

We get to Great - Viking Restaurant.  So excited.  I could just smell the aroma seeping out the building.  My tummy does flips excitedly.  I figured there was going to be, at a minimum, a 10 minute wait, but we ended up waiting about an hour.  OMG.....an hour.  A total of 5 adults and 6 children.  Someone choke me already.  This happened to be my GREAT idea.  

And this guy was not really happy with it.  Thank god he loves me for reasons other than my bright ideas.  

But he was a trooper and a scholar!!!

 He made me so proud.  Proud because he didn't give me an ear full!

No issues with this kid.  Until you ask him to clean his room and all hell breaks loose, but tonight, he was an angel and he minded well.  

 It was still a great experience with the group to sit on cushions on tatami mats and have the hot cloth to wipe our hands or our kids faces.

Don't let this smile fool you.  He's a devil in disguise right now.  ;)

There's nothing better than to end your meal by making your own cotton candy.  Super scrumptious.

  Thanks to all that joined the circus this evening .  We'll be here all week! 

B-Ball Time!

There is no fear greater than having my child feel as if they failed.  It's the process that they go through in their little brains.  Things like "I suck," "I'm a loser," or "No one likes me because they won't throw the ball to me."  I want my children to be confident in whatever task that is presented to them.  No matter the outcome, as long as they give their 100% effort they will be successful (okay...that's loser talk....j/k) and this is what I try to instill in them. Okay.....my boy is playing basketball (on a team) for the first time ever.  I'm so proud of him.  He absolutely loves it.  I don't worry so much that he will get physically hurt (that's going to happen and it toughens a kid up) during practice or a game.  I worry that he will feel that he's not good enough or if he feels as if he's not contributing to the team.  He hasn't addressed or shown any signs of his fear of inability to perform his position, but when my husband comes home from practice I always ask "how did he do?"...."did he get the ball?"......."did he make any baskets?"  Sometimes a parent worries more than the child (I know this).  I just want to ensure he atleast gets to touch the ball.  I've been there (this is where is stems from....LOL).  It's funny how I was always open, but the ball never ended up in my arms (@!$@#%).  :(  It's all good.  

So, my husband is one of the coaches on the team.  I feel so much better because now I know my boy will play EVERY SINGLE TIME.  LOL.  J/K.  I do know that my husband is fair.  He will ensure that each child gets their chance and MY SON WILL PLAY EVERY SINGLE TIME.  Really...that's not true (cough cough).

My son also has a good support system.  Here he is with his sister and friend (mommy is behind the lens).  Just having Family and Friends there to show that you are rooting for them is a help and makes them feel special. 

And not special like short yellow bus!

What what!!!!  Here is my boy traveling like a mug attempting to put this ball in a 18" in diameter hoop. 

 

Here he is again AND HE HAS THE BALL (Mommy is happy).

That's my boy.....#3.  Faster than a gazelle on the courts.  Shoots like a.......well......let's just say he needs help in that area.  

It's all good.  He'll get to learn the sport, learn how to be a team player and decide if he wants to try this basketball thing again. I hope so.  He really looks like he enjoys it.  I will post a video once I figure out how to collect it from a friends FB post.  He's too freaking cute.

Cohesion

This weekend there was some social cohesion amongst several personnel from my work force.  At times people think "why would I want to hang out with folks I have to see all day?"  Well....because.....it's important.  A person that can work and play together will more than likely accomplish the mission in a timely manner.  You have a better chance of achieving task cohesion.  Unfortunately, if you dislike someone you tend not be as  motivated to coordinate your efforts as a team to achieve whatever goal that has been set forth (not me though....lol). 
  Let me also say, as it is important to have social and task cohesion it's all about balance in the end.  For instance, too much socialization can lead to insubordination.  You have to find balance in your life (work, home, self......).   Enjoy the pics.


What better way to bond with your peers and subordinates alike with a pitcher of yummies.

Maybe not a pitcher, but certainly yummy......once you get past all the head in there. 

So, I had to take the train.  All by myself.  I was a little intimidated at first.  I don't like doing things by myself.  I was successful though.  YAY ME! 
We start off at some restaurant that I've never been to, but it's definitely a place I would go back.

Even though it was a good time, I don't know why I continue to put myself in positions like so.  I always get picked on.  It's like I'm always reliving my middle school years.  :( 

That's okay.  After throwing some back I saw lips moving, but words were not coming out.

We later head to The Hub which was not far from the restaurant we started at.

Once we had our fill of The Hub we head over to the nearest karaoke bar to end our night.  I love karaoke!!!!  Well, once I get that liquid courage in me.   

 

Remember the whole spiel I mentioned above....well....the guy on the mic that is not japanese is my XO and the chinese dude is my 1SG.  We make up a great command team.  I'm pretty proud of them guys (tear). 

You Complete Me

Ahhh.....Valentine's Day.  A day to show your love and affection to that special someone whether your spouse, a friend, a child.  A day of excuses to eat chocolate (BTW....diet starts tomorrow).  A day of reckoning for some, but the general idea of 14 Feb is to express to that special someone that you care.  MISSION SUCCESSFUL for my husband.  Although a simple card with frilly hearts would have sufficed. He went above and beyond.  As I walk through the doors of our humble abode I look on our dining room table and there lays a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

The colors were so vibrant....full of life......sooooo.....okay, let me stop.  Although I truly love the flowers and the way they look, smell, and all that jazz.....what really caught my eye was the item next to the bouquet.

  AN IPAD (yay me). 

No no....don't get me wrong.  I'm not materialistic, but I'm certainly not going to shrug off AN IPAD.  I'm not one of these females that "expect"
 on this day either.  I'm also not going to lie and say it didn't make my heart pitter patter to hold THE IPAD.  LOL.   I love you Mike and it's not because of THE IPAD.  You truly do complete me.  You are the greatest father, husband, and best friend a woman could have.  I look forward to the many memories that we will make together.  Love you.

*  Question - What do you call a person that doesn't give their spouse anything for Valentines Day, but recieves an IPAD?  :(