happy time to you

This is not a joke or a gag gift. This is exactly how I purchased it from the store.

I had been looking for a tent for Quin for a while- and out of total boredom one day, decided to take the hit and pay for a crazy overpriced, mediocre quality tent they had at a store here (we were desperate, and in need of instant gratification).

I didn't even look at the info on the box, only the picture to be honest. It was not until later that night, when Ryan was looking it over and told me not to throw the box away, that I noticed the detailed description the manufacture had so thoughtfully printed...

What exactly are Sea Balls?

It didn't matter to Quin though- she still has a blast playing in it. As you will see from all the blurry pictures!? It's impossible to get a good picture of a toddler playing a crazy game of "hide out away" (whatever that is). ;)

shoe envy

So...for Christmas, our friends decided to buy Quin rain boots. But not just any boots, you see- Hunter rain boots! Since I have wanted a pair myself for like 5 years now, I was a little jealous! They are super cute! And I can't wait until she can wear them. Everyday. Everywhere we go. :) Hopefully I'll have a matching pair someday soon!?

Not a bad way to spend New Year's

One advantage to living on a tropical island? It's never a bad day to head to the beach. And this year, New Year's Eve was no exception. Quin LOVES the sand and water! It is so much fun to watch her run, play, and eat shells! ;) (Yes- she is wearing clothes in the water. This actually started as a beach "walk". We quickly learned that our now mobile toddler is impossible to keep out of the water!)

Quin's first Christmas!

Because we were spending this holiday season thousands of miles from family, our Christmas was relatively mellow. Unfortunately, due to some serious USPS issues (surprise! surprise!) majority of our Christmas orders and packages have yet to arrive. And because we didn't intend to completely fail our first Christmas as parents- we did the only logical thing we could think of. We went shopping. At 5pm. Christmas Eve. On Guam. (No joke.)

So, that morning, she woke to a few gifts under the tree. I am not sure Quin understood the concept, but she definitely seemed to have fun and is enjoying the new toys! ;) The special Christmas morning waffles though? Not so much!?

Rota Walk

This past weekend, some friends invited us to join them for an event held on Andersen Air Force Base. Apparently it is a tradition- all of the residents of this one particular street go above and beyond (by Guam standards) to decorate their tropical lawns for Christmas. To help welcome the season, they then host a "walk" for others to come and enjoy the lights. There were all kinds of crazy, "only on Guam" scenes, including fake snow (soap) and decorated cars and rocks. Of course, it would not have been complete with out a good old Guam shower about half way through. ;) Wet or not, it was a good time with friends and a lot of fun!!

it's beginning to look a little like Christmas?

We didn't exactly expect the holiday season to feel the same here on Guam. But, I think we may have underestimated! The first sign...? Sweating to death as we stood in front of industrial size fans in the Home Depot parking lot, surrounded by men in shorts tossing trees out of a Matson container. For some reason- we never associated heat stroke with picking out a Christmas tree? This experience (and Quin's first, I'm a little sad to say) was a far cry from that of last year, when we were still in CA. We drove all day to a great little 'cut your own' ranch. There was a fire burning and hot chocolate served with every tree. We wandered the rows for nearly an hour looking for the right one. No snow, but for us this was perfect. 

But, because it is our first Christmas as a family of 3,  I would hate to look back at the pictures and regret not making the most of it. So, hot chocolate in hand, Quin and I got to work. And while I have never been a fan of seasonal music, I have to admit...turning on the Pandora Christmas station and hanging the stockings made me forget about the heat outside our door, at least for the afternoon. ;)

yes- she is chewing on a glitter ornament

we are family...

For anyone who might not know, I come from a family of 5 sisters, all married, resulting in 12 (soon to be 13) grand kids under the age of 10 for my parents. So I just wanted to share a few family photos from the trip. I am sorry to say we didn't manage a group shot this year since it took 3 separate gatherings to get us all together. But, just the same, it was great for the family to finally meet Quin!

OK, so maybe that was more than a few. But hey- it was, after all, the entire reason we made that crazy trip! ;)