Saturday, November 28, 2009

Liberty, Caches & Sunsets

Guess where we went today?

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Statue of Liberty Park, Momoishi Park, Ichou Park - all the same place...The S family invited us....and we were happy to go.... The kids enjoyed the long, long roller slide....


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Arielle, Jared, Mike and I slipped away to find a couple of caches. We invited everyone else...and planned on taking all our kids....but they were happy to accept the invitation to stay and play. Fall is here - and I'm LOVING IT.

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It was COLD at the park today. We will have to take Rodney's lead and buy a thermos - or two for future outings.

We found both cache's. This one took us to a part of the park we didn't know existed...and we thought we'd explored it thoroughly.

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We were SO cold by this point. Due to my thyroid issues, I'm still cold, hours later. I am going to have to make some "wheat bags" or "corn bags" in order to survive the fun. ::Snort::

As we walked back to the play area we noted the swans on the lake in front of Lady Liberty.

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Zander...breaking barriers

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The unseen story is that the boys had taken Zander's toy and he wanted it back. He was rather upset. Jared was able to communicate with them using his Japanese lessons...and they readily gave the toy back. Way to go Jared.

We dropped Arielle and Jared at the chapel to decorate. We ran to the BX. We stopped by the postoffice to pick up a package. It turns out it was a notebook for me....now I can begin work on my new PWOC position. We drove home to see this view....

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What a beautiful country we've been placed into. We are blessed.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas Decorating 2009

Well....formerly....EVERY room of our home was decorated for Christmas. There were Nativity sets in each room. The lights were amazing....and I even had music last year. ::snort:: We purposely left 99% of our Christmas decorations in storage in the states. We knew we wouldn't have storage here....but WOW what a difference it made when we started to decorate.

It usually takes us 3 days to get the decorating done. One day on the interior, one day on the exterior, and one day for the tree. It took 3 hours to do ALL. ::snort::

The JESUS STOCKING, the Jesse Tree Banner, the Advent Wreath, all of Nolan's Photo ornaments, all wreaths and bows, Christmas movies, most Christmas books... are missing. I know they were packed to come...but aren't here. I'm praying we find a box - though we've looked everywhere....or that the packers sent the box to storage.


We bought a small pre-lit tree - that sped things up!
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The kids enjoy the books that DID make it
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The tree is decorated SOLELY in children's photo ornaments...
Stacia took this photo
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This is the FIRST time we've had a child who was old enough to remember that the youngest child gets to top the tree. There is usually a new one before they remember.
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This is ALL the outside decorations we have - 5 strands of light, an outside nativity...
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and a sign...Thanks, Deja.
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Jared and Mike were happy to have less decorations....Thanks, Rodney and Windy for the use of your ladder.
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We couldn't find the Fisher Price Nativity for the longest time. We were RELIEVED to find it....Stacia slept with the angel.
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....and took this photo of her TIVITY to show Grandma.
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Lots less fripperies....but more time to relax this weekend. That's been good and just what we needed. I really am going to have to look for a few things...like something for the door and maybe make an Advent Wreath....but even with these few decorations one of our neighbors made a comment expressing shock that we'd put up Christmas lights...so it's best we didn't have the whole arsenol....we no longer live on Christmas Lane...and I miss it. ::snort::
For a list of various Advent ideas and activities that we do around here....visit All Things Advent.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...