Earthquake!

There have been several earthquakes while we have lived here, but this morning I felt my first one. It was incredibely scary, and I hope I never feel one again. The whole house shook for 15-20 seconds, and the closet doors shook very loudly. I just prayed and laid in bed, waiting for it to be over. The boys slept through it (it was at 5:30 am). However, Ethan just came downstairs and asked me if a rocket was in our house that was shaking his bed. He obviously felt it too! He thinks it's pretty cool. I, on the other hand, am still a little shaky. We are in a tsunami warning, but we are on high ground. Pray for no aftershocks!

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

On another note, we are going to attempt to Space-A back to the US this week. Our first attempt will be tomorrow (Sunday) morning. There is also a flight on Monday afternoon if we don't get the Sunday flight. Because of our transit-status, I will be taking a break from the blog. I'll try to post once we have made it to the US.

Lots of love...Justina

We're Starting a League!

A perfect date for Andy and I would most definitely include a few games of bowling (Andy thinks 8 is a few). Andy has even been diligently coaching me so that we can join a bowling league when we get back to the U.S. Now that he's gone, I have to keep up the practice on my own. Of course, bowling has become a family sport, and now we've included our dear friends, The Duggars, on our bowling outings. Watch out U.S.A.; here come the Goldhahns!

Ethan is so stinkin' cute; even bowling! When his attitude is at an all-time worst, Andy and I are comforted by the fact that Ethan could always fall back on modeling as a career choice.

The only one-year-old to carry a bowling ball - with ease.

Austin showing us how to use the ramp.

Amelia showing us how cute she is. Note: If Amelia is ever missing, it's likely I kidnapped her.

Sam is the definition of focus.

Tamara and I should write a book on how to keep busy when your husband is deployed.

Safety First

Our trip home is quickly approaching. We have become extremely trusting and complacent while living on our safe island home. However, I am well-aware that this complacency must go out the window once we return to the hustle and bustle of the U.S. Therefore, the boys picked out harnesses to wear at the airport. I'm still bringing the stroller, but I think it will be our luggage stroller since Jackson has boycotted all "baby" activities. Terrible twos are here!

Jackson and his monkey harness.

Ethan and his bear harness.

Happy Valentine's Day

Before church, the boys opened their gifts from Mommy and Daddy. Don't they look cute in their red shirts?

On Friday, we celebrated Valentine's Day at Ethan's preschool. Prior to the party, Ethan and Sam were playing in the sand. I LOVE the sandbox (and the mess it brings home)!

Sam and Ethan decorating cookies.

Ethan's masterpieces.

Surprisingly, Jackson was not entertained by cookie decorating. He opted for handwashing (that's my boy). He thinks Ethan's school is great because he can turn on and off the sink by himself and reach the papertowels. He's so big.

My SUPER Silly Boys

The silliness has been in full-force this week!

Mr. Bubbleface

While giving myself a pedicure, Ethan insisted the blue nail polish was for boys. Isn't there a saying, "When Daddy's away, Mommy will paint his son's toenails?"

Jackson has a newfound (and annoying) obsession with Lightning McQueen. He insists on wearing McQueen trunks over his clothes and pajamas.

After he went through all of the swim trunks, he settled for wearing Ethan's McQueen hat. Also, he will only drink beverages served out of a McQueen cup. Fortunately, Ethan also had a McQueen obsession (for three years) so I am highly stocked on McQueen gear.

Nothing too silly about this picture. This is Ethan on Superbowl Monday. He was pretty pumped that his youth team had the same name as the Superbowl champs. Go Saints!

Sesame Street Live

Elmo, Zoe, Rosita, Grover, and Cookie Monster came to Okinawa to do free shows for military families. We waited in line for an hour (which was not too bad considering other bases had 2+ hour long lines and not everyone could get in), and the wait was worth it! Jackson originally cried when the giant characters came out, and Ethan tried to be too cool for Sesame Street, but in the end, they both loved it! I loved it too, but Elmo made me cry when he sang about his dad being away. Enjoy the pictures.

Waiting for the show to begin. We got free Elmo spinners!

The spinner was just one of the highlights of the show.

Dancing and clapping along with "Melmo."

All of our Sesame Street friends!

We couldn't pose with the characters so we posed with the billboard instead.

Keeping Busy - Day 1

As all military wives know, the key to surviving a deployment is to keep the kids (and yourself) BUSY. We immediately achieved this task five minutes after saying goodbye to Andy at the airport. We only go to this park when we go to the airport because it is so far away, but it is SO fun.

The boys getting ready to descend. Please note: This slide is so high that you have to climb five flights of stairs to get to the top. I had to carry Jackson each time. He's 35 pounds. I lost count how many times we did this. Workout for this day - check!

A smaller slide within the park. Flights of stairs to get to the top - zero! I like this slide.

Ethan making his way down the "bue wee." Jackson now knows how to say and recognize the colors blue and yellow. He calls slides "wee" because that's what he says as he's sliding down.

Daddy Dolls

We got the boys "Daddy Dolls" to hug and sleep with while Andy is away. They even have a voice recorder inside of them with Andy's voice. What a great invention for military families. The boys love them!

Yay! Our very own Daddy Dolls!

Ethan was really excited to get one because so many of his friends have one.

Jackson was just excited because Ethan was excited.

The boys with their Daddy and their dolls.

Andy left on Tuesday, and we will see him next month when he is on leave.