36/Leap Year = 9

Give Dave a full day a little extra attention and he turns into a giddy little kid!

(As if my 9 year old husband isn't spoiled enough already!)

A 9 year old Dad's Birthday Party checklist:

• Cafe Rio salad (Guam's version anyway)
• checkerboard cake for the birthday boy (truly a labor of love)
• Hot dogs (it's a 9 year old party)
• cuppycakes
• pinata
• kids!!!
  

We're in Carabao Country

What is the Carabao?

The carabao, known as the water buffalo elsewhere, are enormous!

They have huge curved horns and a long, concave face with a flat rectangular muzzle.

They also have funny hairy lips.

With a description like that - it's a good thing that they are placid, gentle beasts.

It also makes for a very entertaining episode watching David try to get the courage to take a photo of these intimidating animals.

The animal was once Guam’s traditional mode of transportation and used widely to pull carts and plow fields.

Over the years, they have come to symbolize strength, hard work and humility by the Chamorro. Carabaos are still bred by local farmers today and can be found all over the island - both living and statuesque.

Our favorite carabao of all is the one we usually see being walked along Marine Corps Drive each morning. (Just like walking a dog on a leash - only very very slowly.)

I loved Wednesday night!

We finally got a chance to recognize Valentines Day Grandpa Green style.

Dessert first - courtesy of Coldstone at Micronesia Mall . . . . .

All of the workers were fascinated that Grandpa knew how to contact them

"all the way from Utah - brah!"

I couldn't help but wonder if we were getting all this extra attention not only because of Grandpa's phone call, but also because we were the only English speaking patrons around!

Ko - nee- chee - wah!

(Poor Garrett had enough of the photos! He DOES NOT want people to think we're tourists!)

Who knows what Wednesday night means in Guam . . . .

Chamorro Village - a little dinner, culture, and a whole lotta wonderful.
Other than Grandpa, Sidney and Amanda - you'll just have to take our word for it!

An Amazing Afternoon

My heart was litterally all a flutter today. That's the only way I can describe the moment when I realized the dark spots I was approaching on my jet ski weren't snorklers - they were dolphins!

We've seen pods of dolphins before - but it's always been from a pretty good distance. Today, we got within arms reach of these guys.

They stuck around long enough for me to go back to the beach to pick up Madi. (I'm not sure she really believed me until she saw it for herself.) We spent a good hour plus with them.
We figured they were playing a version of hide and seek with us. Popping up on one side of the jet ski - then swimming directly under us just to pop up on the other side. At one time we counted over 20 - basically surrounding our little jet ski.
We spent a long time just bobbing in the "dark blue" so we could listen to their blowholes and even a few squeaks. AMAZING!

(you must understand here: Madi HATES to go over the reef line - to the deep dark part of the ocean. Hence - the "dark blue")

Here we were having this opportunity of a lifetime. A pod of dolphins were swimming all around us. Playing with us in their natural habitat!

Honestly, it was a little surreal.

Every once in a while we are reminded that we are living on a little tiny tropical island in the middle of the really big Pacific ocean.

Instead of calling my therapist - I'll share all the details with you . . . . get it off my chest:

Valentines Day: I woke up to find a bottle of Clinique Happy and chocolate covered strawberries sitting on the counter for me before my husband left to spend the day with his other "significant other".
Instead of being all giddy - I was instantly grumpy that I forgot Valentines.

But I sort of have an excuse. . . .last week I had spent time in the hospital. Not volunteering or holding a bake sale - I thought I had meningitis. Turns out the weight of life was just sitting literally on my shoulders - so I had been blissfully drugged 3 times a day for a few days.

I spent the day making red spaghetti sauce, Garrett's cheesecake, banana cream pie (for those picky family members who don't eat cheesecake), etc.

When I picked up the kiddos from school I was bombarded with heartbreaking stories from Garrett's day. Madi had a bundle of Valentines (but I thought we weren't doing that!) - you know, the usual.

David got REALLY delayed at work and then he called to tell me he still had to make church visits before coming home. Sweet me - I want him to take his church job duties seriously. But "NOT" if it's going to be on Valentine's at dinner time when he's already late. And besides, I really need a break from G's incessant talking!!!!!

So we shove our food down and everyone tries to go their separate ways.

"Oh no you don't!" (I've hit crazy mom status now)
"We're going outside to share some quality family time - NOW!"
Madi came whining to me that she gorked her arm doing back walkover thingys on the grass.
"BULL-ONY! GET BACK OUTSIDE - I'm gathering the bunnies and I'm coming right behind you."

Garrett's "participation" is getting bounced on the trampoline by David as he sits in his Yoga meditation hold. The whole time Madi's wanting her turn before dad gets bored with us and goes back inside (TRUE insight there)
Madi's turn - one bounce from Dad and she's screaming/crying.

"Everyone - Get in the car! Quality family time is not over just because we're going to the ER. Besides - I don't think we'll be too long. Who's going to be at the ER on Valentines . . . ."

We got home really late with a splint that ended above the elbow - in a sling.

We went back the next day to get it cast. Madi chose sky blue - but the color inside the silver package didn't match the little color square on the outside. So it's more of a royal blue. Ending just below her elbow. (Thank heavens for little miracles! It means a tiny bit more peace)

Whew - Thanks. I'm actually feeling a little better getting that off my chest.

We've asked to officially rename EXAM ROOM 5 toMADI'S ROOM. We always end up in that room!

Seriously - when will we ever get a break!?!

Just when we hit Thursday and I think the week couldn't get any worse - it did.

We spent Valentines Evening in the ER with a broken arm for guess who . . . . .Madi. Unfortunately we have to wait until tomorrow morning to get it cast. Nothing like dragging out the drama!

Poor Madi was shivering and her teeth were chattering - so I gave her the sweatshirt I was wearing. It wasn't until then that I realized I was in a tank top - and boy was I uncomfortable. Lucky me - I remembered I had left my Valentines sweater in the car! (I had tried to wear it for old times sake while shopping at the commissary. It only got up to 80 today - completely sweater weather!)
So I came back into the waiting room wearing my pink running shorts, my tank, and my festive sweater. David leaned over and told me I looked like trailer trash! O.k. now - who seriously gets dressed up to come to the ER . . . . .

Too bad he didn't really see the mom who had been on mind altering drugs since Saturday from my own visit to the ER. Who had dealt with a rapidly decompensating Asperger's boy while trying to fix a memorable Valentines dinner even though I had completely forgot it was Valentines until I woke up this morning (gotta love those sweet sweet pain killers)

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

I love my bunns!

I just came inside after enjoying a nice phone conversation while on the back patio. (only 87 degrees here today.)

I heard the unmistakable sound of UhOh in the storage room/pantry (Garrett must have left the door open while I was outside.)

I shoo'd her out - but still could hear the rustling of the Xmas Tree bag that is stored below the bottom shelf. . . . .MAMA! I kept saying her name, hearing the bag rustling - but she wouldn't poke her little head out from behind. UhOh comes trotting back in and climbs on top of the bag while Mama is still hiding somewhere I can't see - but still hearing the rustling.

By now I'm fed up and try to just scoot out the tree and make a space for them to run out. But the bag is stuck to the floor and won't budge. I then recall water "mysteriously" spilled all over last week (still haven't found the culprit on that one) Well it was still wet under the tree and had formed a pretty good suction.
Meanwhile, I keep trying to locate where Mama is hiding from the rustling sound. Thinking she would have been scared out of her hiding from Garrett and me tugging - making all this noise.
So the tree is stuck halfway under the shelf - sticking out in the pantry when I notice a lump moving INSIDE the bag. OH! MAMA!!!!!
I couldn't reach back far enough to unzip the zipper - meanwhile Garrett is freaking out and grabbing some scissors ready to slash my $5.00 bag to bits (nevermind that the bunnies have pretty much done that already!)

So with Garrett freaking out - Mama freaking out inside the bag - and BabyUhOh freaking out on top of the bag. I freaked out because I saw some bitten wires sticking out of the hole they produced down where the water has suctioned the bag to the floor.
I finally found the zipper and there was Mama. Sitting right on top of all the branches. Poor thing (sort of)

I'm still mad about my pre lit Christmas Tree probably not lighting come November.

I'm trying to squish the unmovable tree back under the shelf but I keep slipping in the water that has made it's way out from under it. I hollered for Garrett to help me but he tells me he can't because he's claustrophobic! I couldn't help myself when I yelled back that a dog would never have done this!

I know, try to contain your jealousy while I go mop up the pantry.

Why David loves Guam!

Bow chica bow wow wow!

(tell her she completes you . . .)

Hamamoto Fruit World

Sometimes school can be so overrated!

Especially when it wreaks uncontrollable havoc on our household. In the midst of what is becoming Garrett's routine morning crisis I decided FORGET IT - we're trying homeschool today.

The Oakleaf Club was having a Discover Guam Day and I figured my guys needed to discover Guam too. What better environment than to hang out with a bunch of moms and learn about the island we live on.

Besides - I just didn't have the heart to pry G's cute little fingers from the post he had attached himself to.

The makeshift tram drove us around a small portion of the Hamamoto property. It was so beautiful under the canopy of the jungle. They grow mango, papaya, starfruit, avocado, cherry, calamansi, banana, peanutbutter fruit, breadfruit, macadamia and so many more I can't remember. The chickens hang out in the trees at night, keeping the bugs under control. The monitor lizards keep the chickens in check while the dogs make sure the monitor lizards don't take over. Throw in random deer, wild pigs and lost carabao and you get the idea of Hamamoto World.
We finished up by making our own lemonade type drink and Garrett demonstrated how to traditionally grate coconut.

I may be biased, but I'm thinking it was much better than a day cooped up inside an old barracks turned school building.
And not a single bully to ruin our fun!

Saturday is a speshal day

It's Saturday and Madi has found her new favorite weekend activity: pedicures. (That is if the *jet ski* is not operating)

So Madi and her friend got dropped off at the new nail place to get their toes done. I knew Madi had chosen a dark blue and her friend Samantha chose a dark red (which the girls described as a ketchup red).

I noticed when they were done that Sam's little piggies weren't painted her chosen red. I asked why she changed to girly pink and the silly asian man doing her toes answered "Dat color too old. Choose nother! Dis good. O.K."

Madi had the older asian lady do her nails. She tried to talk Madi into a sky blue but Madi was insistent on her first choice.
O.k. - thanks for watching out; Keeping those tweens from being too "hottie"!

*Jet ski - we tried to take it out this morning. Got it in the water and it wouldn't start - only a click click click. As we're fiddling with the start button Dave starts with his not so nice Navy slang! Spewing filthy words. Not only was the jet ski not starting - but it was sinking. He had forgot to put the plugs in after our last run. Oooops!
So I'm giggling, he's cussing, and the girls decide to abandon the chaos and swim off. After getting it loaded back on the trailer - David asked me to sit on the back platform to weigh it down and help it drain. I didn't giggle after that.

Grumpy as all get out. I SOOOO wish I had a swear jar today - Dave's mouth could have earned me a first class ticket to Utah.

We've had trouble off and on with our personal water craft - but today it was a complete dud!

The Yamaha dealership won't honor the warranty. If you read the fine print asterisk after all the other fine print - it says "good in the 48 contiguous states". Nope - not Guam. Never mind that we're closer to Japan over here than if we lived in Salt Lake. But Whatever.

And it gets better . . . . he thought of calling a different shop called JetWorks that specializes in dude-ing up jetskis. (He thought that may be cheaper than the Yamaha place.)

He tried to call 411 - but they aren't open on Saturday! (Go ahead and giggle. I did!)
So now my "head of the household" is still not happy as his jet ski sits in front of the Yamaha store waiting to be looked at.

It really shouldn't bother him all that much - it's all his fault anyway. We wouldn't have had this blog post if it weren't for the Navy in the first place!

Gotta run - time to get ready for SUNDAY!