Labor Day Holiday at Araha Beach

 Trying to get them to look at my phone to take a photo. Mackenzie was very excited to wear her goggles and look for fish, but upset when they kept swimming away!

 Araha Beach or Pirate ship beach is a GREAT place to go with kids. This part of the ocean is blocked off with nets to keep the jelly fish out and is perfect for kids to play in. The water is a very comfortable temperature, it is calm water (no waves), and nice sandy beach (no sharp coral.) 

 We will be back here often to get them used to playing in the water and swimming.

 Some of the Japanese buildings in the background.

 Looking for fish and shells.

 I can't wait to get them into swim lesions. They want to swim so bad!

 Snack break!  Nothing is for sale at this beach, so you do have to bring your own snacks. As in most of Okinawa, there were some drink machines nearby!

 All made possible by SPF 50 Sunscreen!  The sun here is hot and intense!

Exploring Okinawa: New Playground

 Last weekend we took a drive with our friend Patsy Miller and she showed me some different ways to get around Okinawa. We passed this playground so I decided to take the kids to check it out today. We were the only ones playing on it, probably because it is super hot out today. Yes, Cooper is wearing a long sleeve shirt because he wanted to wear his "bee shirt" today.

 Checking out this crazy climbing thing/slide

 Little slippery because they are rollers!

 Mackenzie decided it would be more fun to slide down it

 Cooper did a great job going through the ropes, future Marine?

 Two swings, perfect except for the mud they both got on and in their crocs!

 Taking a snack break and making a quick phone call to Hello Kitty

 Still on the phone with Hello Kitty, but able to check out the fish with Cooper

 Some of the fish in the pond

 Pretty little park that will be nice when it is cooler

 View back up to the playground and parking area

 Mackenzie decided the fish needed to eat her puffs, all of them!

 Cooper is a big boy now! No more diapers and using the Japanese potty too.

 They were HOT from playing so I allowed them to get a drink from the vending machine. They have  these EVERYWHERE even in random alley ways. So many choices and some are hot and some are cold. Cooper got an apple juice and Mackenzie cherry juice. Yummy and refreshing.

 Some photos of the views from the playground area. It really is beautiful here and the clouds look like you can reach up and touch them.  I hope the fall, winter, and spring bring some cooler weather, but I suspect a lot of rain too.

 You know it rains a lot here when you see so much GREEN! 

Okinawa Aquarium with the Joo Family

 We had a GREAT time at the Okinawa Aquarium today with Jae, Kana, Sarah, and Kyle Joo! I am so lucky to have such a great, sweet family that I know here in Okinawa. Jae was one of the OMS residents I worked with for the 3 years I was at Balboa. He graduated this year and is working at one of the clinics near the hospital. His wife, Kana, is incredible and very helpful since she was born and raised in Toyko.

 Climbing up a castle to look for a princess.

 Playing on some nets. The Japanese are amazing a designing play areas for kids!  Too bad it was HOT out today!

 Mackenzie and Kyle taking off to find some air conditioning inside the aquarium.

 Group photo with all the kids. Smile!

 Silly photos (might see this on a Christmas card...)

 Into the aquarium for some fun with the sea life

 Cooper and Kyle checking out the puffer fish. Cooper said he was cute.

 Amazing whale sharks

 Silly time a lunch. She said they were talking to daddy on the phone

 Yep, those are people SCUBA diving in the tanks. I think they were cleaning.

 All the kids in the whale's mouth

 Looking for Gary and Harry the sea turtles from our book

 Watching a movie with baby sea turtles coming out of their eggs

 Checking out the sea turtle eggs