Saturday, November 17, 2012

Happy Birthday, Michael!


Fifty-two years ago, today, Michael was born. Fifty years ago, today, my parents were married. This is  a red-letter day. Both momentous events in our family history.

We began the day by decorating and wrapping gifts while Michael slept in.  I also had a Skype with the PWOC Region's local presidents.

Michael got up, had breakfast, and we Skyped with my parents.

We headed for the beach.....We saw a lot of this.....
So close to a glass float...but alas...light bulbs of varying sizes! We did find some glass bottles and sea glass. I headed one way on the beach and thought I may have discovered an icthasaurus.....afterall, they DID find one in Japan. We had just studied it. Everyone finally convinced me it was a sea lion. Sad....but it was a hands on science lesson.


Michael chose Karinbas for lunch. We LOVE the Sweet and Sour Chicken and Cashew Chicken here....last time I ordered vegetables here there was a layer of ground pork with the veggies. Today, I found vegetable chop suey...It  was quite good once I convinced myself the eggplant was not squid.  I would really like to order some plain rice and veggies and mix it with the sauce from the cashew chicken or sweet and sour chicken...but all that "explaining" is too hard with the language barrier. ::snort:: 

We dropped the children off at home and Michael and I went out for a drive to explore some new areas.

Back at home we played Quelf! Some of us love it, some of us didn't like the randomness of the game....but it was fun to play together.

  I thought it was impossible to drink the way the card told Zander to drink...but he did. Here he is right before he realized the cup had created a suction on his chin. OUCH.

 Of course, everyone else had to see if THEY could come up with a way to drink from the far side of the cup without spilling the water....who knew?


Fun game - though a bit challenging for Zander, who doesn't understand humor real well. 


Stacia was SO EXCITED for presents! She could barely contain herself. 

I had asked the kids repeatedly, "Does that say Dad?" and so as he opened gifts she said, "It says DAD!"  She got him a chain to hang a garbage bag when you're traveling.

Zander got Michael a bomb (firecracker propelled) so he could deal with on the job stress. ::snort:: 

These totally cracked us up - and we'd not read the package until tonight. 

I picked up an ipad Mini in Nashville...and he was TOTALLY surprised. I was worried he'd seen the expense on the credit card...and prepared to just act like I was hiding something I'd bought myself if he quizzed me...but he didn't see the expense and was surprised. 


Arielle and Nolan made this yummy ice cream cake -  I DID have a small slice. This was my first really off the wagon splurge since August 1st.  I'm hoping it didn't reawake any monsters. LOL

Michael was able to connect with Mom G via skype tonight. All in all a very good day.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI: PTL it was a great day for you all! That game sounds fun....just so it would never ask me to do a push up. :):) I can hardly even lift or put down a heavy dish with my left hand... :):):)

You all look super great! love/prayers - mom t.

Renee said...

what a fun day ... I keep thinking about an iPad or mini but then I think I have an iPhone, what would be the advantage to bigger?

Laura said...

Looks like a fantastic day of celebrating Michael! Lovely. :)

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

The only advantage I see to bigger, Renee is if you use it to read a lot. This IS my e-reader and I like the bigger screen.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Mom and Laura, it WAS a great day.

Unknown said...

The thing with drinking water from the cup that way is supposed to cure hiccoughs! That's the only way I know about that! You might try it!
And the squid looking things in that are bamboo shoots, aren't they?
Wanting something that they don't serve is great language stimuli! :) Ask! They'll give it to you! You're a foreigner trying to speak Japanese! That goes a LONG way in Japan. Just TRY saying it. They'll repeat it. If it's not right, just say "chigau" and try again! (Or is "chigau" a word from the south of Japan only?!) I'd love to come to Japan for a vaca again!
PS- LOVE the briefs! :)

Anonymous said...

Isn't Skype awesome? Such a great way to connect from far away. Love the birthday stories and the pig hat. Am interested in how y'all like the iPad mini; am interested! Always a blessing to visit your family here!

Anonymous said...

Bre and g' ma G were here