The Big Day

Today Charlie pinned on Master Sergeant (E-7)!!! He waited 1year, 4 months since he took the test to actually pin it on. It was a long wait but well worth it.

The ceremony took place in the base theater in front of the communications squadron, about 200 people. Before he was pinned the stripe, a little other business needed to be taken care of first. He was awarded a commidation medal for his hard work. He was also given a letter of reconition for community service.

Then the girls and I were called up on stage to do the tradional honors of punching the stripes on. One person stands on each side of the member and punches him as hard as they can in the arm. The girls and I did a great job. Charlie won't admit it but from the reaction on his face and the lean he gave after I punched him, he was surprised I hit him so hard. At least I got cheers instead of boos from the crowd. My pics. turned out badly from having a rookie use my camera. So I didn't get any pictures of us punching Charlie. Oh well. Maybe someone else got a good shot and will send it to us. I'm hoping.

Nice day for a swim

The girls are continuing their swim lessons this week. The temps. are much hotter and the rain has cleared. Jasmine's class worked on treading water and diving to the bottom of the pool so I didn't get any good shots of her today. Maybe next time.

Maya and Kiera's class however learned a lot today.

Learning the back crawl.

Kiera perfecting her back crawl.

Maya swimming the back crawl.

Maya doing a dolphin kick.

Maya getting some pointers from her coach on how to do a quick start.

Kiera performs a quick start.

The girls learn how to dive.

This was Maya and Kiera last year with the same coach before they could swim. They've worked hard and have come a long way. It was also great having the same coach teach them this year too.

M is for Mangos

We have mangos, lots and lots of mangos! Today Charlie helped me pick mangos off our tree. We knew they were turning ripe soon. The bats got a few of them already. We are determined to not let them get most of the mangos like last year. We learned that you have to be careful to not touch the sap from the steam because it's very acidic and it will burn through your skin. These mangos will have to sit a couple of days before we cut them. I can't wait. They are going to be so sweet and yummy!

Did I mention fruit in Okinawa is very expensive. Walking in the store today I spotted this sign: 5 mangos for about $80. We spend way too much money on fruits and vegitables. We are broke trying to stay healthy.

Tattle Tell

While Kiera was helping me make the most wonderful dinner last night, I asked her what she wanted to do for daddy on Father's Day.

Kiera - "Let's go to Sauce. It's his favorite restaurant and mine."

Mom - "That sounds great. Thanks for helping."

Right about that time daddy walks in.

Kiera - "Hey dad, we're going to Sauce for Father's Day."

Mom - "K - I - E - R- A You weren't suppose to tell!!!!"

Charlie has a huge smile on his face. He loves Sauce.

Jump in, the water's fine!

Today the girls started the summer with swim lessons. Yes, they can already swim but we want them to be more confident and more proficient swimmers. Jasmine is in level 5 and Maya and Kiera are in level 4. They swim rain or shine unless it's lightning. It's been raining for 4 days now. Thank goodness the rain stopped during their lesson.

I was ready for Kiera to start calling quits before it even began. I was waiting for the stomach aches, the "I can't", "it's raining", "I don't want to do this". But it never came out of her mouth. Coach took them the the 8 ft. and said jump. WHOA! Now I'm scared. They hadn't swam since last season. And Maya and Kiera have never been in past 4 1/2 ft.

They jumped (actually did a cannonball)!!! And swam!!! Maya is a natural swimmer. Maybe I should get her on the team this year? Kiera surprised me and did really well. They always do better at something like that without me around. Jas can't swim in a straight line though. Everyone else has to watch out for her. But she'll get it with two more weeks of lessons left. I'll get some pics when the rain stops falling. Looks like that will be next week.

Quick Update

The kids are out of school for the summer... Yea!!! More work for me....Boooo! No actually the girls are easy. Keep the pantry stocked, games to play and cartoons to watch and they are happy. They start swim lessons on Monday rain or shine (unless it's lightning of course). Maya and Kiera will be in level 4 and Jasmine in level 5. Wow! They can swim, I just want them to have more confidence and know how to do the strokes properly.

They each have a free game of bowling and shoe rental everyday until school starts again. They'll get their fill and then get sick of it. We won't be going everyday anyway.

Did I mention that it's raining for the next 8 days? Ugh! It's not how I had planned to start summer vacation. But from what I hear Okinawa really needs the rain. We are in a drought and they are talking about rationing our water if we don't get rain soon. All the resiviors are between 20 and 50%. Not good. I don't get it. I think it rained the entire time Charlie was deployed. He doesn't believe me but the sky cries over me everytime he's gone.

Jasmine has a job tonight. She is babysitting by herself for friends of ours. They have a 4 year old girl and 2 year old boy. I think she'll do fine. She can always call home for questions. She loves making and saving money.

So not a whole lot going on, just haning out and making plans for the summer. Charlie won't get the results from the MRI on his knee until mid-July. So we wait. He will start the paperwork on the special duty next week. So we wait. That's what the military's motto is: hurry up and wait.

Yea Jas!

It's finally the end of the year! Jasmine received an award for her grades - 6 A's and 1 B. Go Jas! We are very proud of you!

Actually, all three girls made the honor roll. Maya received 4 A's and 1 B. And Kiera got all CD's.

But I have to get on my high horse about something. I've always been a fan of if you work hard you should be reconized. Charlie has different thoughts. He doesn't care about any awards. And Jasmine would rather not have her name called than to walk in front of everyone at school. But I REALLY HATE how her school reconizes the students for the grades they receive. You only get an award for any A over 95 or if you went up a letter grade in a subject. So you are telling me if you have straight A's but they are a 90-94 you don't get an award? And if you have straight F's and get straight D's the next time, you get an award for good effort? I understand encouraging the kids that worked harder. But how about reconizing the kids that made the A or A/B honor roll like every other school? It's so backwards to me. Please let me know if I'm wrong here. I'd like to shout out to all those kids who made A's but did not get reconized. You deserve it too!

Riding to Cape Hedo

Charlie and I took an awesome ride to the northern tip of the island called Cape Hedo. It's a gorgeous ride along the coast. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The water was a crystal clear blue and green as usual.

His smile melts my heart.

Look closely and you can see a sea turtle swimming near the rocks. Charlie has an itch to dive this site now. Can you blame him? It's beautiful.

Sakiyama Dive

This weekend we went with some friends up north to Sakiyama for Charlie to scuba dive and for the girls and me to snorkel. It was so nice and beautiful out. The weather was perfect. The humidity hasn't come to Okinawa yet and I hope it holds off as long as possible. We set up a shade tent and off everyone went. It was low tide and too shallow for the girls and I to snorkel so we went on a reef walk instead.

We saw some crazy looking starfish

some little blue fish

and spiny sea urchins

Charlie saw some awesome fish on his dive.

And to top it off, on the drive home we had this beautiful sunset.

Maya's Story About Me

Maya wrote this about me, her mother. I thought it was cute and I had to share. I didn't believe I'm like so many animals and objects. Wow, learn something new everyday.

My Munificent Mother

By: Maya Starnes

My Mother is like a graceful deer in the forest. She moves in the house graceful and she is kind as a squirrel in a tree. My Mother cooks and surds food for our family. She helps us with our homework when we need help. My Mother is like a bird because she loves to travel around the world, see different things and different people. She is smart, so when we have problems she is always around to help us help-out. Sometimes my Mother is like a vanccamcleaner because she cleans the house, when we are at school. My Mother is also like a peacock cause she is so beautiful and pretty. She can be like a book because you can’t judge a book by its cover you have to look inside that count. My Mother is strong as a tiger she will do anything she can do to protect us. My Mother is like a camera because she loves to take pictures where ever we go she has to take pictures if it is a new, different place we and a place we have not been there. So I love my MOTHER!!!!!!

Light is the Symbol of Truth

The National Junior Honor Society Pledge

I pledge to myself to uphold the high purposes of the National Junior Honor Society to which I have been selected: I will be true to the principles for which it stands; I will be loyal to my school; and I will maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.


My little girl is growing up. Today she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at her school. We found out just two days ago. Selection is based on five criteria: citizenship, service, leadership, scholarship and character. Members must maintain a high grade point average of at least 3.75 and become good citizens (by participating in service projects). The NJHS requires some sort of school service to the community, school, or other organizations. We are very proud parents.



Lining up as the names were being called

Reciting the Honor Society Pledge

The new inductees

Tee House

Today Charlie and I met for lunch at the Tee House on Kadena. It's a nice restaurant on the golf course. The day was so beautiful we decided to sit and eat outside. There's a great view of the flight line

and the beach.

We watched the planes take off and land.

All we needed was some rocking chairs and we could have stayed there all day. I'll miss this part of Okinawa.