Okinawa Update

I know it has been a long time since I have been on here. I have been so busy trying to take care of Jason, the house, and Travis while finding time to relax. I am now 34 weeks along in this pregnancy and it seems the due date can't come soon enough. Jason celebrated his 2nd birthday last week. I can't believe he is 2 already. I is growing more and more everyday. He even talks a lot more. He now says "I do it", "I want some", "Open", "Outside", "Love You", "Bye-Bye", "See you later" and more things of that nature. He has also started talking on the phone. He now has a new found love of puppies, and he knows how to identify animals better then his colors. I am going to miss these days for sure. He makes my day brighter and fills me with joy. He is really amusing to watch also. We have been trying to teach him about his little brother, although I am sure it will be rough no matter what we do. He has also started to have an interest in the potty. I am sure he is going to be one of those kids that just sit down and do it rather then us trying to force him too. That is how he has always done things. If he has his mind set to it he will accomplish it. Anyway we are expecting our new little boy in October. We are getting really excited and I am just ready to be done with being pregnant. I can't believe how much I have really forgotten since I was pregnant with Jason. Also my mom is coming out for a month to help us out which I am also excited for. I need a good dose of family. We experienced out first typhoon last week. Let me tell you it's not as exciting and they hype it up to be. We also had a tropical storm over the whole Labor Day weekend, yay more rain. Other then that we have been relaxing at home a lot. We have been to the beach a few times now and the water is so beautiful and surprisingly warm, it's like taking a bath when you go swimming. I am becoming good friends with my neighbors and have recently started going back to church. We have a small branch out here in a building that isn't even a church. It is a little strange but the people are amazing and I don't think I have ever been fellowshipped this much in my life. Anyway it is getting late here I just figured I would give a little update to what is going on. Miss you all and Love you all.

Life in Okinawa so Far

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything on the website. It has been an interesting few months. We have left North Dakota to begin our journey here in Okinawa, Japan. So far everything is amazing. I can't believe how different the culture is here. Let's just say everyone is very neat and clean here even McDonald's. I know when you think of McDonald's you think ewh gross greasy and nasty food well here it is the complete opposite. It is delicious and your food is made after you order including the fries. It had taken getting some used to using Yen out here. The first time I saw a sign say 12000 yen I freaked out and thought wow that is expensive. When translated into dollars it is only $120.00 big difference huh. Also when you go to purchase something off base everyone speaks Japanese. All you have to do is smile and nod and had them the correct amount of yen as the ramble off in Japanese. The weather here is amazing. I can finally say I am getting a tan. I even have tan lines on my feet. The women here are completely fascinated with Jason and his blonde hair and blue eyes. Everywhere we go they are all over him. So far we have been to a Japanese Mall called Jusco, we have been to the zoo, ate some delicious teppanyaki from Four Seasons steakhouse, and been to Toys R Us. I think next week we are going to the Aquarium. We are anxiously waiting for the weather to warm up more before heading out to the beach. It is about 75 degrees outside almost everyday with a mix of rain and humidity it seems twice as hot. We have been here a little over a month and a half and are loving it so far. We finally recieved all of out things last Monday I can't tell you how nice it is to sleep in a bed after sleeping on an air mattress for about a month, especially being pregnant at the same time. We miss all of you and will try to update you as much as possible. We are doing well and getting used to being here, wish all of you could experience it with us. Love and miss you all.

Christmas 2009

Jason's New Skill Wears Both Shoes Now.

My New Diamond Wedding Ring

Me getting ready to cry after I opened my ring.

Jason eating a fistful of pancakes from Christmas Breakfast.

Jason's Toy Box from Gma and Gpa Clayton

Jason's Stocking Stuffers

Jason's Truck from Auntie Lindsey

Jason's Flashcards from Gma and Gpa Clayton

More Flashcards

Jason's Guitar from Mom and Dad.

Jason's Frogs from GGma and GGpa Goble.

Jason's Buzz Lightyear from Mom and Dad.

Jason's Book from Mom and Dad.

Jason's Mega Blocks from Gma and Gpa Ratcliffe.

Another book from Mom and Dad

Jason's book from Mom and Dad

Jason's Truck from Grandma and Grandpa Clayton

Jason's Bounce and Play Turtle from Mom and Dad

Jason's Truck from Gma and Gpa Clayton

Our Christmas Tree

We had the opportunity of seeing my family for Christmas. We had an awesome time. Got family pictures taken before we go to Japan next month. I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. To think we will be clear across the world in a month and a half. We had an awesome christmas. and hope to have many more. Love and miss all those who couldn't join us. Jason got more mega blocks and a small batmobile and so new pajama's and a sweater also. Didn't feel like loading every little picture up. Enjoy.

Halloween and Utah

I know it has been ages since I have been on here. But there really wasn't anything exciting to put on here. Finally Halloween came and we got some cute pictures of Jason in his costume. He was Batman. We also took him trick or treating. We only went to 12 houses but it was still fun, at least I think for us. Jason doesn't quite understand the concept yet. We just got back from our goodbye trip to Utah. We had to bid the family a farwell before we went to Japan. Also we have had quite a bit of things happen the past little while. Back in September I broke my back, and was down for about two weeks. Now I am all healed though. And beginning of October my grandpa had three strokes. However he pulled through all of them. He is like a new person now. Jason also had his first trip to the ER when he had a fever of 102.4. We were told that it was the flu, but we later found out that it was just from him getting two teeth at once. So about 5 days of unecessary meds. He is weighing in and 24 1/4 lbs. Big boy, I know. Other than that just been busy with the fall weather. And getting ready to leave for Japan. Love and miss you all. I will try and be on here more often.

From Newborn to One Year Old

Well another chapter has finished in our journey. Today we celebrated our little bug's first birthday. It seems like yesterday I was still walking around with a big belly and waiting for him to arrive. This past year has been one of many ups and downs. It is true, your life completely changes after having a baby. The first few months were all about adjusting. It was hard work. I don't think I have ever ran on no sleep for that long. Finally at about 3 months I caught a break, Jason started sleeping through the night. I remember thinking okay maybe this does get easier. And then three months later I learned that it may get easier in the aspect of getting more sleep but then I never thought how hard it would be when Jason started crawling. Suddenly, he was crawling everywhere and getting in to everything. Then what seemed like day and night Jason was walking. Now he is so big. I just remember holding that little 6lb 9oz baby when he first arrived and thinking this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have heard that you never know what love truely is until you have a child. Well let me just say that is 100% true. I have watched Jason slowly grow up and he is now becoming a little boy, not a baby anymore. He is learning new things everyday. He opens and closes the doors down stairs, which is a little game we like to play. He has six teeth now. He weighs 22lbs 15oz and is 30in tall. I cherish everyday I have to spend with him. When I am having a bad day it seems as if he can tell and he will come up and give me a hug and let me know that everything is okay. He is my little prince and I love him more than words can say. I can't imagine my life without him. I just want to thank Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an amazing, energetic, handsome, and loving little boy. This is the beginning of another chapter in our lives. Today is the day of the rest of our lives. All I can say is Happy Birthday to my little bug, and I love you more than anything.

California

Ahh back from California. The weather was nice, the beach was fun, and we went to the zoo and seaworld. We all had a great time. Jason played in the sand on the beach and loved it. Me and Travis boogie boarded. We also went swimming at our hotel. Let me just say one thing about the San Diego Zoo IT'S HUGE. We also went to our share of mexican, sushi, and italian restaurants. Other than me getting terribly sunburned it was a great trip. Jason got pretty worn out though and took a few naps along the way. Don't even let me get started on our plane trip home. First our flight from San Diego to Minneapolis was delayed an hour. Then we arrived in Minneapolis only to find that our flight to Minot had been cancelled due to runway construction. So we then decided to get our luggage before it flew to Minot without us. That process took a total of 3 hours. We then decided to get a rental car and drive home which took a total of 8 hours. Ugh after the exhausting trip home we could wait to have a relaxing time at home for a few days. Our trip was fantastic. We got to spend time with my family and enjoy a little vacation. Thanks to our little monkey he made the trip even more exciting.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is our 3rd anniversary. I can't believe that it has already been that long. This year has been so eventful. We were blessed with our little boy. We have never been as close as we are now. Everyday I fall more and more in love with Travis. And I just wanted to take this time to say thanks to him for loving me and taking care of our family. I love you so much and I hope that you know that. "Here's to the rest of our lives together". Happy Anniversary My Love.