Pineapple Park, Butterfly Garden & Pizza in the Sky

We decided to get out of the house after having a few days of rain and drove north to Nago to Pineapple Park. We didn't really know what to expect, but we wanted to see it. It was recommended by lots of people here. When we got there we took a golf cart tour around the park. It was an automatic ride, so Paige got to "drive" us around! After the tour we walked through the pineapple winery where they had LOTS of tasting. We tasted wines, juices, chocolates, cookies and cakes that were all made with pineapple.

Some of the pineapples for sale

Next, we went to the Ryugujo Buttery Garden. Since the recent typhoon that hit, alot of the vegetation had been ruined, so it wasn't as beautiful as the pictures we had seen. We will definately make a trip back when it recovers.

After walking around all day, we were hungry and since we were in Nago, we decided to try a highly recommended restaraunt called Pizza in the Sky! It was on top of a hill overlooking the ocean and the clouds were low that day so it really felt like we were in the sky. The pizza was wonderful! I would have taken a picture of the food, but we were so hungry it went fast! :)

My iced tea...they are all about presentation here!

It was a great weekend to get out and enjoy some new sites. We have begun to pace ourselves so we don't get burned out too soon on seeing the sites! Once the baby comes, it will be so nice to get out not get so tired so quick. :)

May has come and gone...here's what we've done!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

We started this month off with a trip to JAL Okuma Private Resort with Jason's battery! Normally, we get to go for 3 days, but this time was just an overnighter. It was a great time as a family and we got some beach time in as well. Throughout the month, we have been enjoying the beautiful outdoors (in between the days on end of rain). We have lots of night of grilling and eating outside as well as football games with all the neighbor kids.

Also, this month, Paige finished her first year of Cubbies and got her first book award. The awards banquet was very quaint and simple, but Paige was very excited!

This past weekend, we experienced our first direct-hit typhoon! It was quite the storm and we are so thankful everything fared here. There was lots of damage on the base and I have only seen small parts off, but the island was very lucky! We are now officially in typhoon season til November. We are really looking forward to summer and in a few months the arrival of Tucker!

Our First Family Visit!

Back when we found out we would be stationed here in Okinawa, we learned that my Aunt and Uncle has just recently booked a cruise that would stop for a day here! We have been awaiting their arrival and we had a wonderful day with them! It was so nice to have family close...even if it was just for the day! :) First, we took them to our house on base and showed them around, then we visited our lovely BX (base exchange)! We were all pretty hungry, so we took them to one of our favorite Tepanyaki restaurants, Capitals. It was very yummy!

Since Greg is into bikes, this was appropriate...a lowered scooter :)

After lunch, we toured around American Village!

Connie and I decided to dip our feet into the Doctor Fish and have a "fishy" pedicure! These fish eat off the dead skin on your feet. We tried to get Paige to do it, but she was a little scared. Connie and I laughed and laughed...it was a very wierd feeling!

Of course, you can't visit American Village and not go on the ferris wheel! :)

Connie is one of the only people I know that can fit comfortably on these kiddy rides!

After touring some of the hotspots of Okinawa that were close, we headed back to the ship. Greg and Connie have become good friends with the captain of the ship and arranged for us to take a private tour of the ship's bridge!

They even gave Paige an Ocean Princess hat to wear!

Of course, she made Daddy wear it, too!

The captain let the girls sit in HIS chair and wear HIS personal Captain's hat!

The logo in the background is the captain's tatoo and when he had a ship in his own command he had it painted on the ship!

It was such a fun day! Paige thought we were going on another cruise and was very disappointed to leave the ship! We are so thankful that we got to have this day with them!