Uni Maki - Won't be making that mistake again!

OK, so at this point we are of the mindset that "American" food is over-rated. We had our "Outback" and then had our favorite, Indian food. In the meantime, Kurt and I have been touring the sushi places here in North Little Rock. So one night, we went to one of our favorite places and sat at the sushi bar. Keep in mind that the kids eat sushi rolls too, Sarah eats a whole roll of "Spicy tuna" by herself and Ty and Hannah always have "California roll" or "Crunchy Shrimp" (tempura battered). So we ordered a ton of different rolls and some regular sushi (which is just the fish layed on top of a rice ball) like white tuna and yellowfin (both awesome). We have had eel and octopus before, but were considering something new in our adventurous state of mind. We asked the chef about Sea Urchin or "Uni." He said it tasted "like the sea," not a plus for me! Then he said "It also tastes like French pate' - yet another strike for sea urchin so we obviously didn't order it. Towards the end of dinner, the chef (who was Korean and thought it was funny that I could say some things in Korean), presented us with two rolls of sea urchin on the house. Uh, ok, what do you say when you are presented with a gift that is also considered a delicacy. So Kurt, with absolutely no shame said, "you first." I fixed his wagon...I promtly stuffed the whole thing in my mouth. He looked at me expectantly and my eyes went wide and I nodded profusely, so he stuffed the whole thing in his mouth. HA to him! As he was attempting to choke it down without throwing up, I got mine finished. Well, all I have to say is that those of you who won't eat sushi because of the experience you think it will be...if you eat sea urchin, it will be that experience! For those of you who trust that I only like "good" food, try a piece of white tuna sushi some day, you will be pleasantly surprised! Lets also say that I will not be making friends with Japanese sushi chefs who want to feed me delicacies!

Sad Farewell..the Adventure Begins

Ok, so I feel like a big dork that I left my phone in the car and didn't get any pictures of any of you guys at our farewell. I am glad that most of you blog and I can see your smiling, happy faces with just a click of a button. It has been great re-visiting our Cabot Ward family...seeing some of you again and meeting some of you for the first time. This Ward is so inviting and way fun (that's why we "forgot" to go back to the Jacksonville Ward where we were supposed to be)! Thank you to the Hazeslips for hosting yet another shindig at their gorgeous house of art! Thank you to all of the people who came out to say goodbye, it meant a lot to us. As you have all heard at least once from me, "All C-130 roads lead to Little Rock Air Force Base" so there is a really good chance you will see us again. In the meantime, you will all take a trip around the world with us, as I make every attempt to continue this blog in real-blog fashion (and not as an after-thought every three or four months) keeping you up-to-date on our adventures. Stay tuned for the horrifying next issue "Traveling from Little Rock to Seattle with three small children" and the terrifying sequal "Flying from Seattle to Tokyo with those same three small children who are already tired of sitting in an airplane seat from the day before."

Tyler the Texan's Birthday Party

Well the third year has come! Tyler celebrated his Birthday on Saturday with lots of friends. We went to the indoor playroom/partyroom at the on-base activity center where the kids got cowboy hats, paper vests to decorate and shiny sheriff badges. We ate barbecue and had cake...an all 'round fun time was had by all. Tyler is grateful for his gifts, two dinosaurs, cars and Play-doh! He loves his tonka garbage truck from Grammy and Grandad (he picked it out). He also loves his transformer that came from Grandpa Bill, and the soccer ball, football helmets and airplane launcher from the Fifes. Thanks to Laurie for getting a portable airplane gift...Hot Wheels "Snake Escape" - which has made as many trips to preschool as Tyler. Thanks to you all.

My Stint on Youtube

OK, so it was kind of fun thinking that if I got enough of my friends to "pity vote" for me, I might be able to win some credit towards "Liken" products by entering LIken Star 2 contest. (They really are amazing videos awesome for the whole family, check them out at: http://www.likenthebible.com/affiliates//idevaffiliate.php?id=133). So after hemming and hawing, I finally got the nerve on Friday night and the submission deadline was on Saturday. Tyler's Birthday party was that day so I couldn't do any videoing, so I made Kurt stand on the bed with our ancient digital camera at 11pm as I sang just loud enough to be heard by the camera and not by the other people in the TLF (military hotel). That was a blast...NOT. So it came out well enough or so I thought until I got blasted on YouTube by a 43 year-old computer junkie who has nothing better to do than sit around writing nasty things about people. Have to say that didn't do anything for the confidence level! Guess I will stick to acting and leave the singing to the professionals!

Fall in Arkansas

Well, so far we have survived the TLF (two-bedroom hotel) that we have been in since August. We took advantage of the base pool and the local "Splash Zone" as well as Chuck-E-Cheese and the indoor and outdoor playgrounds on base. Recently we took a trip to the Longeway's "Farm" where the kids got to see the community garden. Hannah and Tyler have started morning pre-school programs to keep them busy now. They are at the Jacksonville Christian Academy which has the ABEKA curriculum that worked so well for Sarah. Both kids are so smart and are doing well.

Sarah is attending Arnold Drive Elementary School on base and is doing really well. She was the top scorer in her class in reading and very high for her age on Math! Hannah and Sarah are both in Soccer and are doing really well.

Hannah is getting more agressive on the field, and stopped making eyes at the boys (no, really) and Sarah has gotten a piece of the ball numerous times during her games. Tyler loves to help his sisters "practice." Team Mom keeps me plenty busy as does the party I am planning for Tyler's Birthday...pictures to come soon.

We all have taken every opportunity to have sushi in preparation for Japan. Our sponsors sent us each our own set of chopsticks too and some Japanese candy and snacks. This has made each of us that much more excited to go, although it is nice catching up with our friends here in Arkansas.

Kurt is doing very well in his school, although he is his typical modest self when asked. He starts flying the C-130 again next week and can't wait - simulators just aren't the same. He only has six flights until he is finished so depending on weather and scheduling, we could be gone right at the beginning of November...will keep you all posted!

Homeless

Right now we are officially homeless. We moved out of our Del Rio house, which we were blessed to have sold in this terrible market, on June 28th. We drove to Arkansas and then got on a plane two days later for New York. We had a nice visit with the Campbells; the whole family was there and we had a lot of activities: Saratoga County fair, Hoffman's playland, Clifton Park Library (where Sarah got to learn a dance from High School Musical from two girls who were dancers in the movie), day at Sacandaga Lake, rainy day at indoor bouncy castle/land, date night with Laurie and Billy, and of course time at Grammy and Grandads.

We then got on a plane and made it to Charlotte, NC where we got laid over for 24 hours because of weather. We spend the day at the Concord Mills Mall and ate, saw "Space Chimps," walked, shopped, ate, played on indoor playground, walked, napped in car, and then went to the airport. It was exciting when someone had broken through security and the entire airport locked down including departing flights. They got the guy so business resumed shortly thereafter and we got to Little Rock at about 1 am. We turned around the next morning and drove to Utah. It was really cool driving through Kansas...there was a double rainbow, didn't see what was "over" it as we were going pretty fast, but it was neat nonetheless. We stopped in Stratton, Colorado at the Best Western, a really nice little place, newly renovated and very reasonably priced. We did get the last room and at one point there were four of us in the King bed and one on the rollaway. After hot buffet breakfast (was included) we hit the road and made it to Brigham City about 8pm, where we were greeted by Great Grandpa Gunther and "George the Weiner Dog" whom we had saved from the streets about a year ago, and who was hand-delivered by us to Utah as an early Christmas present for Great Grandpa last year. Anyway, we had a big family dinner for Aunt Jennifer's belated Birthday and it was great to see the cousins...who knows what other adventures await us here in Utah.

Javelina Movie

I was really lucky to have gotten involved in another movie here in Del Rio. "Javelina" turned out to be better than I expected. I didn't know anything about the movie when I answered the extras casting call, by the end, I had made some great new friends and worked with some very talented people. Barry Tubb ("Wolfman" in Top Gun..."Where'd who go?") is the director and is quite a character on and off the set. I also got to meet and observe Kate, a very talented actress from Ireland. We got to chatting and the subject of the Oscars came up. She finds going a terrible bore and more like work than anything else. Three hours of traffic for three blocks, then you get there and sit for seven more hours. When you get up to use the bathroom, your seat is taken by a designated seat filler so the audience is always at top capacity for the cameras. When anyone performs, the television cameras completely surround the stage and it is impossible to see anything from the audience. So how does Kate get invited to the Oscars? She goes with her Father, Peter O'Toole! You never know who you will meet in the most unlikely of places. Lets just say, my six degrees of separation has gotten quite a bit more star-studded! Anyway, I am grateful to have had the opportunity and for Mr. Tubb to have had us back for multiple scenes. Will have to wait at least a year...am still awaiting fruits of last May's labors and "The Man Who Came Back."