Okuma, one last time...

Okuma-our favorite vacation spot. We will certainly miss spending our holiday's here. We have very fond memories of nature trails, mini golf, the beach, glass bottoms boats and one heck of a view! We spent one last weekend at Okuma for the Easter weekend. We love Okuma!

LtCol Sullivan!

While Farrell and I were in Quantico the first week of March, Farrell was promoted to lieutenant colonel. The ceremony was very small but very meaningful as it was held near the brick at the Marine Corps Museum which bears his father's name and honors his father's service. The boys were there, although they found the snow more interesting so they lost out on the photo opportunity! We are so proud of Farrell and so excited for his future.

World Travelers!

Here are some pictures of the flight to the United States. Peter is showing off his passport, Daniel is in awe of the big planes and the three of us are having fun (we hadn't even left Okinawa yet, you should have seen us 20 hours later!)

Okuma Again!

Have I ever wrote on this blog that I love Okuma? Well, I do. I really really really do. My idea of paradise would be to have my family at Okuma where we can eat all the Mongolian BBQ we want, snorkel in the one of the world's most beautiful seas, sleep in or nap all afternoon, read Twilight on the beach, and hike some of the best trails in Okinawa. Yes, I am a HUGE fan. We went for our third time this past MLK weekend. We went along with our awesome neighbors, the Rohrs. These pictures are of the glass bottom boat ride, go karts, and one of the great places to take a nature walk. I have so many fond memories of Okinawa but some of my favorites are of Okuma!

Cape Hedo

I can honestly say this is one of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen in my life. It ranks right up there with pulling into the Malta Bay, Gozo island, Palma de Mayorca, and Florence...it may even top the list. There was something very peaceful yet forceful about the cape. You can see for miles and there were literally hundreds of different colors in the ocean. This is the northern most point on the island and is where the East China Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the pictures!

Bungee Trampoline!

This could go in the Okinawa v. USA section of our blog but I won't embarrass the States and keep it here. No where in the States would they let you hook a two year old up to a bungee and let him fly as much as Danny did...holy cow. (I made Farrell a little nervous by how high I was throwing Danny) The boys had a great time!

Our Oura Wan Vacation Pt II

Back to the Cottages at Oura Wan Bay for some relaxation. This time the weather was much cooler and we did not swim in the Ocean (at least the adults didn’t) but we did, however, enjoy an incredible morning walking, exploring, and searching for sea glass having just as much fun. The boys had a great time as well. Danny had so much fun that when it was time to go, he just put his head in the sand….oh well!

Okuma Part II

The sunsets at Okuma were my favorite part. I can't wait to take Farrell!

Okuma Part I

Wow! We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful vacation spot just an hour and a half away. Although the drive time was short, once we were at Okuma we felt as if we had traveled to an entirely different island. We stayed on the Okuma Beach Peninsula and were able to enjoy beach on all sides! The beach picture above was right outside our suite which made it easy for Sue and I to enjoy our morning coffee while watching the boys play in the sand. The picture of Sue and Danny was taken during our glass bottom boat tour which took us from reef to reef visiting the many fish below the bright blue waters. The picture up top is of Peter after he got his "hole in one!" on the mini golf course-no kidding! There was so much to do. Even in November we were on the beach in our swimsuits enjoying the East China Sea.

Our "Oura Wan" Vacation

I finally got to see where Farrell has spent 1 1/2 years of his adult life-Camp Schwab, Okinawa. At Camp Schwab we stayed in the cottages at Oura Wan Bay. We went with our neighbors, the Holts, and had a ton of fun. The kids played and the adults had a cocktail or two and told stories. The next day we spent the afternoon on the beach (which we had to ourselves) swimming, flying kites and exploring. We will certainly be back-another great Okinawa getaway so close to home.

Our Little Vacation Right at Home...Torii Beach

I gotta be honest, sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask if all of this is real. Last night we picked up Farrell from work and headed to the Army post on Island called Torii Station. On Torii Beach we found a little slice of paradise. There is a 200 ft water slide right on the beach that the entire family can enjoy, a beach side cafe complete with cocktails, live music, and a beautiful sky scape as a backdrop. Peter was so proud to go down the slide by himself and as you can see by the pictures, Danny had a pretty good time too! After the water slide the boys had fun running up and down the beach picking up and throwing rocks. We can't wait to go back-soon!