June 2011 - Peace Prayer Park

In June 2011, I went to Peace Prayer Park with work. It is a memorial park for the Battle of Okinawa for World War II. I got a nice big history lesson and a chance to see the history that fills this island.
Here is one of the caves that the Okinawans hid in during the war. Very sad stories come with this that I will not share here:

This is one of the battle sites, the stairs lead to another memorial. The wall in front is a piece of concrete left from the war, with bullet holes still there.

They are still recovering weapons from the war. Divers find things in the water, stuff turns up on the beaches, things can be found in the jungles. It's everywhere. This gun was found only a few months earlier on one of the Marine bases.

Paper cranes made by Japanese elementary students for peace. These hang in the beginning of the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. The war was mostly strategized underground.

Map:

Showing US forces:

You can click and read this one:

Walking thru the underground headquarters. Very low and tight.

The corner stone of peace. Memorial at Peace Prayer Park. Beautiful scene:

Peace:

In the background are walls with the names of those who lost their lives. American and Japanese.

The Walls:

June 2011

Ok, so it's been a while since I last posted. Why? We've been busy!
I'll bring you to speed a month at a time. I'll try not to leave anything out. But, let's face it. We've probably already told you most of our lives via the phone or facebook. But, nonetheless, here it is. Complete with pictures.
First up is June. June brought many, many things. Along with our daily activities, we moved, Olivia got her second set of tubes, and my grandmother passed away. I love her and she is missed. I love these pictures that I have of her and Olivia. She didn't like getting her pictures taken much. But you can't really tell from these.

I can hear her talking loudly to me in this picture. And by my smile, I'm sure it was something like "I'm gonna kick her butt"

These were taken in August 2008. Olivia was 3 months old! Seems forever ago.

So, June took off with Daddy celebrating his promotion selection. You can see the pretend sticker stripes in this pic:

Olivia also changed "schools" aka day cares. Since she turned 3, she moved up to the preschool rooms, which are at a different center. Here is one of her last events at Shima No Ko. It was a cultural celebration day. And her room had Mexico. She is making a maraca.

We jammed out to the finale of American Idol:

We won a sprinkler at family night and played in it outside:

This is outside the new house. We got to move out of our tiny 2 bedroom into a bigger 3 bedroom, since Mike made Master. Yippee! We moved to a different house, one that is actually on Kadena. Much more convenient. Also convenient that we got to get new furniture. Our couch was from when we first moved in together, and it was pretty loved (and falling apart). And we moved into a neighborhood where we already had friends. Pretty awesome.

Oh and Olivia got a hair cut! A major hair cut. Before:

During: She wasn't that sure. But no tears!

More During: Still not sure.

Beginning to look really cute and feels a little famous with the stylin' going on:

After: Sportin' a new 'do! Very sassy.

At the hospital in the hospital clothes, ready to have the second set of tubes put in her ears, and the adenoids removed:

After the surgery: Still passed out. She recovered just fine.

And you get a glimpse at the new furniture. Couch, loveseat, and Daddy's recliner (although Jill tries to steal it from time to time).

Ok, July coming soon!