Summer Days

The days are hot, humid, and rainy here. Before Chris left, we decided to brave the heat and go for a walk for milkshakes from the base gas station. It was a great idea until the kids ran out of milkshake in 30 seconds after leaving the store and complained the remaining 15 minute walk back home. 

Since he's been gone, Quinn has spent her days at summer camp and Rylan has been finishing the last days of school before his break. The kids all started a summer reading program through the base library and so we've spent some time there picking out books once or twice a week. It sounds really sweet and whimsical to spend mornings in the library but I dread going to the library with them because, like most kids, they're so stinkin' loud! Finley loves taking books off the shelves faster than I can put them back in the right location; the poor librarians have their work cut out for them when the Schaubs come to visit! They have a kids computer in there with kid games on it and it's the source of many quarrels between my three barbarians regardless if other wildlings have their own sights on a turn too. Library visits last all of 10 minutes and feel like an hour of herding cats and books to the check-out counter where the librarians politely smile at my chaos and frizzy unkept hair. Okay, I added the frizzy hair part, but seriously, it's out of control! 

Speaking of out of control, the spiders and bugs are disgusting. I actually don't want to be outdoors because I know they're lurking out there. The bigger spiders gravitate towards the playground swings and unfortunately so do my kids. I also just recently had to relocate a different kind of spider who took up residence in the kids' empty plastic pool and beach toys on the patio. I feel like I conquered the world and was still humane enough to move it instead of squishing it. I was talking to that nasty thing, threatening it, "not to move or else!" I feel like after that episode of Caitlin's crazy spider whispering, I ought to revisit the book, Charlotte's Web, and tear a page from it to improve my communication skills. Just kill the mosquitoes and stay out of sight, okay? 

I've met up with friends for dinner play dates and the squadron has held a few functions already with more to come. We went to Kuga Park last weekend which would have been a great time, except the kids all decided to gravitate towards the zip line and then spent way too much time and my patience arguing over turns. It's so much work to take them anywhere, it's almost not worth it to keep doing it. That is, unless I get some blood pressure medication to help simmer down the blood-boiling when they get out of control. 

Ok seriously, end rant! That was very long winded and I promised when I started this new blog I would shorten up the commentary. 

Car Fragrance

A few days before Chris left, he got a flat tire. I took it to have it changed and spent over 4 hours there at the car repair shop. 3 transactions later for the back tires, new windshield wipers, and new headlights, I was able to get out of there. During my half-day wait, I perused the store section of the shop which is two stories and loaded with every kind of car accessory you can imagine and then some! They had retractable umbrella holders and bag umbrella holders, several different accessories options for the purpose of holding kleenex, curtains, mirrors, phone gadgets, dashboard accessories, and finally, the largest selection of car fragrance I have ever seen with some of the most random scents! Please enjoy my tour of car fragrance!

 

Happiness Shampoo

 Squash

Samurai Man

 Relax Shampoo

 Sexy Rich

 Sparkling Squash

 Sexy Soap

 Platinum Shower

Independence Day 2016

Being that the 4th landed on the day before Chris had to leave for Fuji, we spent most of the day getting last minute housework done and Chris blew up the dining room with gear while he packed. There were a few base-wide mini celebrations but we decided not to brave the crowds to get a free scoop of ice cream or other minor incentives to participate. We had our good friends over for burgers and hot dogs and water-gun play and that was enough fun for us. I am ashamed to say, I never did take any pictures because I was busy making dinner or chasing children, but they had adorable coordinating outfits that I will get a belated group picture of sometime. I will post the picture of the amazing care package that my best friend, April, sent though! 

IKEA Getaway!

I can't believe I've been to IKEA twice now and not taken any pictures. Really, if you've seen one you've seen them all. This IKEA trip was much more exciting, however, because I got to go with a friend without grumbling husbands and whiney kids. We talked with ease the entire 3 hour trip there and perused every nook and cranny without the sounds of sighs and shadow of raised eyebrows. I was able to get the final items on my wish list to get the kids' toys organized in their rooms and some decorative items to finish off some of the plain spaces at last in the house. Just in time to give me something to do the first week Chris was gone.

After we exhausted every aisle of IKEA, listening, ironically, to American patriotic music while there, we headed down the street for a Starbucks pick-me-up. The barista was so friendly and very interested about us being in Fukuoka. Being that there aren't any bases close by, they likely don't often see a ton of foreigners and she was so nice in welcoming me to the city and was surprised to hear we lived in Japan. I've learned that telling people we live in Iwakuni is comparable to telling them we live in some armpit town of Kansas or somewhere nobody has ever heard of (sorry Kansas!). While I didn't get any pictures of our IKEA adventure, here is a picture of my Starbucks cup that the sweet barista took the time to personalize. Also, there's a new drink that sounds anything but appealing! I don't think that's one I'll be trying- ever.