Easter 2016

 Back in March we had Easter haha. Lucy was only 17 months in these pictures!! I guess the fun part of playing blog catch up is looking at how much she has changed in such a short time! Lucy had the easter egg thing down pat. It seemed like it was intuitive. We first went to a church Easter egg hunt and she needed no instructions, she just went for it! Picking up any egg in her path. We were so proud ;). We also did a little one for her in our backyard on Easter. I don't even think there was anything in those eggs. It was just for the joy of putting the eggs in the basket!

these two!

Visit to Arkansas

We flew to Arkansas for my first Christmas with my whole family since 2010. It was a blast. Some highlights included seeing Lucy and her cousin Alistair play, watching the Star Wars as a family, lots of help with Lucy :), hiking & bike riding with Duke, enjoying the square and Christmas lights, homemade Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, game nights, Jonathan getting his Eagle Scout award, and lots of quality family time. It was a real treat to have that time together since it so rarely happens for us living out in Okinawa. Since it's been so long since Christmas, I"ll post some of my favorite pictures from the trip and call it good.

hiking through Bentonville

first time I realized she was giving me kisses

blurry, family male bonding time

all the kiddies

Hanging outside Walton's 5 & dime aka the first Walmart, in Santa's sleigh. 

 Christmas was fun with Lucy this year, but I think it will be even more fun next year! Can't wait.

 I just love her.

 mischievous babies

The morning before we flew out my little brother Jonathan had his Eagle Court of Honor. It was nice to go to something like that of his because I have been out of the house since he was 8 and have missed all kinds of events for him. Proud of my little bro!

 The Eagles Nest. Both my brothers, my husband and bro-in-law are all precious Eagle Scouts!

My whole family whom I love DEARLY!!!!

Balboa in December

Mid-December we went to the States for 3 glorious weeks. It was Duke's first time back since we had moved to Okinawa over 2 years ago. He was pretty ecstatic. We visited both his and my family in California and Arkansas respectively. It was seriously so fun to see everyone and we had a blast the whole time. It was the first time for me that it hard been hard to come back to Okinawa. I miss my family! We started our time in California. Here's some pictures from visiting Balboa Island. We didn't stay long enough to see the houses lit up with Christmas lights, because, well, babies. But we walked around, enjoyed the shops and Christmas decor and got a frozen banana. It was a good time.

 It's weird to think that Lucy wasn't walking yet in these pictures!

 Duke's brother Roy, his wife Julie and their cute kid Jack