Kona, Kona & more Kona

The kids... actually behaving...
Kona asleep on Dericks foot!
Everyday on my way to work I look at the mountains getting more and more snow!
"Get him Kona"
Kona trying to get the peanut butter out of her kong... look how bent up her nose is, she looks like a cartoon character
Sleeping on eachother, Kona makes a great pillow
Derick loves his puppy so much!

14th Christmas Party!

We had our Christmas Party with the 14th at the Grand Kamaki Restort... it is like the holiday Inn Executive Center of Misawa... BUT WITH AN AWESOME ONSEN!I think Derick cleaned up nicely... he is wearing a suit he got while he was in Korea and I am wearing the dress that I wore in Caitlyn's wedding... and who says you cant reuse bridesmaid dresses?!
I just thought the little chopstick and fork holders were so cute... so you never get food from your utensils on the table
Derick eating yakisoba
who gets sushi at their Christmas party? I guess thats what happens when you live in Japan!
It was a huge spread, we each had a tray of sushi and tempura and then there was a huge lazy susan in the middle of table that they kept bringing out course after course of food
I thought this looked like something I would make... this is the hallway to the ballroom
On our way back to base, we rode the resorts bus so we would not have to drive, we were excited for the afterparty at La La La's... a karaoke place right outside the gate
Erica and a backwards LA LA LA's sign.. its funny cause Japanese people generally have a hard time saying L's so it comes out RA RA RA's so that is what we call it... and I know people that think RA RA RA is the actual name because that is what everyone says...

so at this place you get your own room, they have small ones and big ones, and its really fun becuase you are only singing in front of people you know and love you... we had the big room and this is what Japanese Karaoke looks like....

There are two mics (Derick is one one at the bottom) and the whole room sings with you! It is SUPER fun!
And there was this crazy Christmas light show going outside the window of our room! I think this was the best Christmas party I have ever been to! Good job 14th!

WOOD!

Christmas Tree Hunting and Gathering

Sooo... I did not know for sure if they would be selling real trees on or off base... but I told Derick we were having a real tree one way or another... even if I had to go into the Japanese wilderness and find it myself... I am pretty sure that would be illegal though so good thing the boy scouts were selling them!

It was the day after thanksgiving and the quest for the perfect tree began...It was actually really easy because they were all bundled up so we had no idea what they looked like... so we picked the tallest one in $55 categories... I picked the ONE!... Here we are with our brand new bundle of JOY! (I dont know if you can tell but I was really sleepy... I had not fully woken up from the food coma of thanksgiving!)
My mountain man making a fresh cut outside our house... and my mountain puppy getting her sniff on!
Well... not quite what I wanted... it seems so skinny... oh wait...
BAM! it was so amazing I gave it a hug... one of the best hugs of my life... maybe that is why I dont like hugs... I have been hugging the wrong things...
Sabastian refused to get in the Christmas spirit and decided to take a nap on the decorations instead... I guess that is about as Christmassy as he gets!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE decorating the Christmas tree... and I love how Derick just watches... no really I do... bless his heart but we leave tree to me! He gets to put the star on the top! He really likes that part!....

Derick: "I get to put the star on top remember"
Lisa: "oh yeah, but I think the top is too thick and needs to be carved down... here is my exacto... why dont you do that while I decorate"
Derick: "okay"

2 seconds later
Derick: "um Lisa, I dont really know what I am doing you should probably do it"
Lisa: "okay"

30 seconds later
Lisa: "AHHHHHHHH"
Derick: "WHAT?!? ARE YOU OKAY?"
Lisa: "AHHHHHHHH"
Derick: "uhhhh........ Lisa?"
Lisa: "I just sliced myself and blood is coming up in the middle of my thumbnail"

No worries... it was just a flesh wound, I walked it off... it just really hurt for such a tiny cut... maybe cause it was the middle of my nail... i guess that is why they say... ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM BODY PARTS!... oops!
and after all this we look over and Kona has totally Christmafied herself!

Kona: "look mama you can decorate me too"
Derick trying to untangle her... what a silly puppy

Thanksgiving

Fresh arraignment of maple leaves and gourds on my dining room tableTurkey Prep... this is another big step in my overcoming dead bodys... I am playing with a turkey body... gross... I even made stock out of the giblets...
Making crusts for the pies... of coarse Kona has to be EXACTLY where I am.... Kinda frustrating
All the hard work was tottally worth it! We had Three couples over and everybody brought food and it was a SUPER fun thanksgiving! I am SO thankful for all our awesome Japan friends!
We finished the meal of with mugs of cidar... delicous

Kona even got some thanksgiving deliciousness....
The turkey was beautiful but I wasn't fast enough to get a picture before it was devoured!
All the great pies I made... from the front a honey sweetened pumpkin pie with a whole wheat crust... pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust... blackberry apple pie, and a pecan pie with a cream cheese crust... delicous! I love baking!

Treasures From The Sea

This is one of those glass floats that I keep leaving really early to go find... I have only found one... I baught this one... to paint on and sell... but until I get some glass and tile medium its hanging in front of my window making me happy

These are all bottles that I have collected from the beach on my walkes... I want to fill them with sand from all the beaches Derick and I go to.... Becca I put these up mostly for you ; )

No Hair November

Well... apperently some people celebrate no hair November... Derick is now one of those people... the Mohawk was just a brief stop along the way!Wood!

First Snow

Yes its true... we have already had our first snow! This was super early November... I woke up to SNOW! It was only a light dusting and melted by afternoon but it was still exciting... here are my little pansies and ornamental kale in my garden
This is looking off my front porch down the street
Here is Kona out on her lead in the back yard
It snowed all day but it just didnt accumulate... this is looking out my studio window later that afternoon, I thought the bright fall leaves with the snow was kinda cool!