Turning Japanese

Our Trip Down Under: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:21:00 +0000

For Troy's pre-deployment leave, we went to Australia. This was the trip we have been planning as the pinnacle of our time in Okinawa. It isn't necessarily cheaper to go from over here, or a shorter flight. But it was the right timing in life, so we jumped on the opportunity.

My love for Australia roots from kangaroos. I have always been enamored with those bouncy bundles of joy and the thought of seeing one in real life was mind blowing. Troy is obsessed with Australian accents and being adventurous and outdoorsy, so it was the right place for us to visit. After spending two weeks there, we were very sad to leave. It felt like Australia was right for us. I have been begging to move there since we left. :)

Our first stop was Sydney, Australia. Home of the iconic Opera House (which was actually a little underwhelming). It is such a fun, laid back, and fit place. It might seem weird to call a place "fit", but everyone is so active and outdoorsy. Sydney is a stellar mixture of water, green space, and bustling city life. Enjoy some pics from this part of our trip.

Excited to be in Australia!

The Harbour Bridge. We climbed to the top!

Cruisin' on the Harbour.

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman have an apartment in this building!

Giant cruise ship... we thought Papaw Don would like this photo.

The famous Sydney Opera House.

The perfect representation of Sydney: Green space, water, and the skyline.

Gorgeous views on the edge of the harbour.

The Opera House up close.

Ahhh.... Australian awesomeness!

Love Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 05 May 2013 06:27:00 +0000

My mom and I are the same in many ways... But one of them is our love of thoughtful gestures. Sweet notes, unexpected hugs, a good head rub. None of these cost anything, but they mean that someone is thinking about you. My mom instilled this in my brother, Drew. He has one lucky soon-to-be wifey. Speaking of, I am coming home to visit for his wedding in July. :)

I think I've taught Troy my love of these gestures. Before he left, I came home to find notes all the way up the stairs about how much he'd miss me. After he left, I began finding notes all around the house in common and uncommon places. My favorite one, so far, had to be the one below. I found it In my nightstand and laughed for at least 10 minutes while thinking about his sweet pick-up lines. I couldn't help sharing, so I hope he doesn't mind. :)

A quick update: Troy made it to Afghanistan and is getting down to work. I will ask him to send some pics to post on the blog next time we talk. I also have his address if anyone wants to mail him a note or box of goodies. Just let me know!

Airport Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:16:00 +0000

I wrote this the day Troy left... for those of you who want to know: I am incredibly okay! I miss him, of course, but the dogs and I are doing just fine holding down the fort in Okinawa. :)

So today was the definition of "D-Day" for the Walton family. Yep, he left for the most serious deployment of his career. Troy has left many times, been gone on exercises and training for more months of the year than he has been home, but this is his first combat deployment. As things get underway, I will be sure to provide more updates. For now, you can know that he is on his way to Afghanistan.

A big part of my job as a FRO is preparing families for deployment, getting them through it, and making the homecomings memorable and unforgettable. I love being that person that spouses and family members can turn to, who can provide the answers with a reassuring smile. Now it is my turn, and I felt like I was totally prepared. I have handled the transition really well, staying strong for Troy and our families. I felt really weird seeing our friends get emotional, having people ask me daily if I am ok and being surprised when I respond positively. Today, one thing ended that strong streak.......

It began with seeing Troy say goodbye to our dogs. I know that sounds silly to those of you who aren't dog people, or who have kids and think I'm crazy, but they are our children. They share our triumphs, cuddle us when we are sad, and know all our bad habits (often cleaning up floor crumbs). He gave them all hugs and kisses, promised to see them soon, and asked them to be good.

Shortly, we were off to the airport. As we drew nearer, the reality set in.

Pulling up to the drop off point was the worst. I knew he was leaving soon, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done letting him go and telling him to be safe. I have never wanted more to say a million words, while at the same time being unable to speak them. We hugged for quite a while and I felt selfish... Selfish for crying when I know he is off to do his job, defend our country, and love it the whole time. I can't say it any better than my friend, Jill, did. And here is what she said:
"I can't possibly understand. I imagine it is probably like taking a piece of your own heart, wrapping it in someone else's body, and sending it into a dangerous situation. All the while knowing that you have no control over it. Knowing that you'll never be the same if someone else makes a decision that negatively affects that piece of your heart." Jill isn't a military wife, philosopher, or even a mind-reader. She's just that good of a listener. :)

When I waved at Troy as he entered the airport, I felt like my heart was packed in his carry-on. It was the oddest combination of heartbreak, pride, and overwhelming sadness I have ever felt. It also made me feel so very loved. I remember everything in that moment, his freshly shaven face, warm chest, that final kiss and hug. And I will hold onto that feeling for however long it takes to get him back.

The thing that really turned my day around on the drive back North, was the outpouring of love. Love from my friends, work colleagues, and family. I am so thankful for my support system, a good balance of military spouses, family members, long time friends, and just plain awesome people.

My Oki She-husband, Sara, gave me the most tangible gifts. Let's just say a bag filled with wine, chocolate, and Gilmore Girls is getting me through the first few weeks. Can't ask for more than that!

Thank you to everyone who thought of us, prayed for us, and sent us love. It is truly meaningful.

Rollin' in the Mud....

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:07:00 +0000

We joined our crazy friends, Valerie and Eric, for the first ever Okinawa Mud Run this weekend. You may remember these crazy athlete friends from my first Triathlon from about a year ago. Eric is deploying with Troy and Valerie works on the same base as me now. She listens to me complain during lunch while we work out. I'm so lucky to have a good friend to get through the deployment beside! Okay, enough of that mushy stuff....

Mud runs have gotten popular in the States, so the Single Marine Program over here put one together and created a 10K course of muddy obstacles. The Battalion I work for helped build the course, so it was even more fun knowing that the Marines I serve had a part in making the course. We went through many mud pits, jumped over a few walls, and got really dirty! Did I mention we had some sweet matching outfits? Enjoy some pics. :)

NAM- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:46:00 +0000

Troy was surprised to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal last week for all his hard work and dedication at 3/12. Here are some details on the medal, followed by some pictures taken by my wonderful friend, Valerie, since I couldn't be there.

When Awarded For Professional Achievement: The act or service must clearly exceed that which is normally required or expected, considering the individual's grade or rate, training, and experience; and it must be an important contribution of benefit to the United States and the naval service.

When Awarded For Leadership Achievement: The act or service must be noteworthy; it must be sufficiently sustained to demonstrate a high state of development (if for a specific achievement, it must be of such merit as to earn singular recognition); and, it must reflect most creditably on the efforts of the individual towards the accomplishment of the unit mission.

Whale Watching!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 11:52:00 +0000

Today, I went whale watching with three of my Oki girlfriends. It was so fun and an awesome experience!

Many of you know about our support of Ric O' Barry's quest to save sea life. In general, we don't support wild animals in captivity and have soft hearts for any creature, big or small. So, don't try to take us to a zoo or aquarium anytime soon unless you want a lecture. ;)

Being able to see whales up close and personal, without an aquarium or any harm to sea life, is pretty amazing! Enjoy some photos from the trip, and be sure to check out The Cove to learn about how you can help protect our precious ocean life.

Our first view of a whale! He came straight up to say hello!

The ladies heading out to sea!

The mist is from a whale blowing out air.

This guy came up and waved "Hello" with his tail!

We quickly discovered that the light blue dots underwater was a result of the whales breathing out. If you kept an eye on it, you could see where they would come up next.

This was one BIG momma, who had a baby with her as well.

She got really close to the boat! Probably 15 feet away.

You can see the baby whale just on the other side of Momma.

You can really see how big she is here!

What a super amazing experience! I wish Troy could have seen them too, but I guess we will have to settle for a trip to Alaska one day to see the whales there! :)

Funsies

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:19:00 +0000

This week held Troy's last softball practice. He is bummed to miss the rest of the season (and probably has a prediction chart for how long it takes me to get Kicked out of a game without him there to calm me down). The girls wanted to get pics with him and they love sliding with Troy so that is how they celebrated his last practice.

I was having a rough morning, one of those where everything goes wrong. What could make it better? Bring your dog to work day. I tossed Coral in the car and off we went to the office. The Marines loved having a furry friend around and she certainly brightened my day!

What's Up in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:18:00 +0000

While we haven't had anything "big" necessarily happening lately, we have had a few small events that rate an update.

We have both been working hard lately. I had a huge holiday work party to coordinate while my Mom was here, Troy has been training for deployment, and we are coaching a softball team again. Here are some photo updates!

There were some super impressive gingerbread houses at our Holiday Party!

The cake at my work Holiday Party.

Husband being supportive at my work party.

We also had the St. Barbara's Day Ball this weekend. You can see the details of this occasion from our first year in Oki when Troy had to drink the artillery punch by clicking the link above.

Our softball team this year is a bit older. We are coaching 12-15 year old fastpitch girls and our team name is the "Gators" with uniforms just like those of the Florida Gators. Luckily, we have family members who love to shop AND were visiting and living in Florida, so we got some sweet Gator gear in the mail to sport at our games. Thanks Momma Walton and Auntie D! We will be sure to take some photos. :)

Looking ahead to 2013:

This year, we have a few big things coming up. The biggest thing is Troy deploying to Afghanistan. Before he deploys, we are hoping to make a trip to Australia. That will be the final check on our Okinawa Travel Bucketlist. I can't wait!

As soon as he gets back, we hope to make our move back to the United States! As much as we love Japan, our time is up and we should be heading to a new duty station around the end of 2013! We do not know any details about where we will go next, but will certainly let you know as soon as we know!

Christmas in Oki!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 04:18:00 +0000

I received the best Christmas present ever! My Mom! Momma K and Gary came to visit Okinawa for about a week. It was great to spend Christmas with family after two years without them. Enjoy some photos from their visit!

Touring the Osprey's on MCB Futenma.

The Osprey has been my favorite plane ever since I saw it at Thunder Over Louisville. :)

We explored the island, and it was a particularly gorgeous day when we went to Peace Prayer Park!

And of course, we got pedicures! (Gary refused the offer to have painted toes... how rude!)

Zanpa Lighthouse

Yummy drink at Four Seasons.

Soba!

It was hard to say goodbye to my Momma (again), but I am so happy they could visit. I hope that next year we will be home for Christmas! *cross your fingers!*

237th Marine Corps Birthday Ball

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Troy and I attended two balls together this year, and I attended two without him. It was a busy, busy November. Here are some photos from the balls!

Val and I at the 3/12 Ball. Deployment Buddies!

My date, Luke, and I at the Marine Corps Ball for Kids! I organized this event for work. :)

Joanne and I at the 9th ESB Ball (my unit)!

Some of the wonderful 9th ESB ladies!

Leora and I!

The 3/12 ladies!

Husband and his hot date!

Troy and I with my CO (boss) and his wife.

Now it is time to throwback to FAQs. I did this when we first came to Okinawa, and thought it was time for another round.

FAQs about Troy's Deployment:

1. Where is he going and when?
Troy is going to Afghanistan in the Springtime. We cannot let you know any more details than that.

2. Will he be in danger?
Troy is going through extensive, thorough training to ensure that he can do his job well and protect himself from any dangers while he is there.

3. What will Kara do while Troy is gone?
I will not be coming home to stay while Troy is gone. I have found my "happy place" over here in Okinawa and consider my job a very, very important part of that happy place. I will stay here with my puppies and work hard. I also have a supportive, loving military family that will help me on the tough days. The time will fly by. :)

Have questions? Email me or leave them in the comments! I am happy to answer as long as they don't give away any details that would make the answer to FAQ #2 a YES.

As always, thanks for reading!

Thai Travels: The finale!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:04:00 +0000

We ended our time in Thailand in Krabi. It is a beautiful beach area that is shockingly similar to Okinawa on the beaches. We had good food, met cool people, and enjoyed super cheap massages on the beach!

Troy with a sea urchin walking across his hands!

"Floating" islands in the Thai waters!

Look closely! SHARKS!

Muy Thai Fighting

These guys were crazy!

Ahhhh! Vacations on the beach are the best!

Thai Travels: Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 03:56:00 +0000

I apologize for the long delay. This has been the busiest few months of our lives with Troy preparing to deploy and my job being in full-throttle fast forward.

Here is the second part of our trip to Thailand. This was by far our favorite part-- ELEPHANTS!

Enjoy! :)

While in Chiang Mai, we visited Patara Elephant Farm. This is an amazing place, with amazing people who have the best interests of the elephants in mind. If you recall, Troy and I are huge animal rights people. We don't support zoos, aquariums, or businesses where animals are abused or mistreated. Abuse is more than something that may hurt them or leave a bruise. We don't support places that do not give their animals proper space, living conditions, or care. That being said, we fully support Patara. We spent the day taking care of our very own elephants just like the owners at Patara would do. Many of the elephants are rescued from circuses and they all receive undying love and care daily.

You can see us above with our elephants. Mine was a female saved from the circus, named Prau. Troy had a Baby and her Momma! Momma's name was Mae Thong Kham.

We had to check the five healthy signs of the elephants in the morning. These included checking their appetite, temperature, wether they slept laying down, and... their poop! Afterward, we cleaned them with bamboo brooms, rinsed them, and gave them a little drink. Afterward, we took them for their daily exercise and rode them through the jungle to a waterfall where we washed them and did skin care rituals.

Troy's little baby was feisty! She would walk by and give you a swift kick (Yes, we got kicked by an elephant). I quickly learned to avoid her. After their bathes, we had a fabulous organic lunch and got to share our leftovers with the elephants!

My favorite shot. I kissed Prau goodbye and cried like a baby while promising her I would bring my kids back to see her one day!

Brand new baby elephant giving me a suction kiss!

Our group of elephant care givers. From Hong Kong and Spain.

Thanks for tuning in to see another part of our Thai adventure!

Thai Travels: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:04:00 +0000

About a month ago, Troy and I took a little hiatus from work for a trip to Thailand! Our first stop was in Chiang Mai. The hotel was amazing (and so cheap) and the little town was great! We got in some much needed shopping (in my opinion, at least) and had a few great adventures, too!

Our Hotel

The view from our room.

Gorgeous Gardens!

Free bananas from a banana tree! Yum!

Waiting for our ride into town.

Beers in Thailand!

Riding in the back of a tuk-tuk (open air taxi).

Big ol' lizard on our balcony!

Off on a tour of the temples.

Cruising on the river.

Gorgeous temple from the water!

Buddha!

Troy makes friends everywhere we go. ;)

Stay tuned for some more Thai Adventures and Marine Corps Ball Photos! :)

Halloween Haunt

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:27:00 +0000

Troy and I had a Halloween party at our house last night. My friend, Sara, helped plan and decorate. She always has such an eye for cool party ideas. I have to say it turned out pretty creepy-cool. We also had awesome guests with cool costumes. I should have taken more pics, but here is what I did take. Enjoy! :)

Candy Corn Drink!

Spooky Wine Bottles

Freddy attacks!

Shark- attack victim (Chesty was a shark) and Effie Trinket.

Peeta, Katniss, Effie, and Ceasar. Hunger Games is in the house!

O-H-I-O!

Monster Teeth

Jell-O "Shots" and decor.

Kristle setting up shot roulette. Don't worry, she didn't drink any. :)

(Hot) Mess Night

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Forgive my plethora of Marine Corps related updates lately, but I have another today! A few weeks ago, I was invited to a "Mess Night" at work. This is an event that spouses are not typically invited to, but my Company Commander at work invited me. The Battalion is broken down into sections, and Headquarters and Service (H&S) Company is the section I fall under since I am providing a service to the Marines, Sailors, and Spouses in the Battalion. The Company Commander is sort of the "boss" of that section. Typically, FROs are left out of these events, so I was honored to be a guest at the event.

I got to wear a nice dress and joined the Marines in their Dress Blues and Sailors in their Dress Whites. I sat at the head table where I was exempt from the more rowdy festivities (although there was still plenty to eat and drink!). The Marines and Sailors were allowed to "fine" one another for various transgressions ranging from not wearing a uniform properly to hilarious prank related reasons. It was quite interesting. As punishment, these Marines and Sailors were ordered to drink from the "Grog," a nasty mixture of food and drink products or pay into an ever-growing bar tab. Let's just say that by the end of the night, many of the attendees were a "Hot Mess!"

It was a hilarious event that I am honored to have been a part of thanks to my awesome job. Enjoy some photos from the occasion. :)

Photos include: My dress for the event; a group of Sailors in their Dress Whites; the table with a Purple Heart for fallen Marines; Marine Corps covers (hats) all lined up; toasts to Marines of the past and present; the honored guest with the moderator; and the band member who played taps.

Oohrah, Kill, and all that motivating stuff....

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:30:00 +0000

I love my job for many reasons, but one of the biggest is getting to share the military lifestyle with other awesome military spouses. You may remember my post from a few months ago about 3/12's Jane Wayne Day. I was lucky enough to host one in conjunction with my job for the spouses of 9th ESB (and a few other units with great FROs!).

The most exciting part? We made the Okinawa Marine (The Marine Corps Newspaper in Okinawa) and an AFN Commercial (The news network here).

Check them out here:

Okinawa Marine Article

The suit weighed 70 pounds. Picking up the 10 pound fake bomb was harder than you would think!

This is what happens with you call me "Ma'am"

And this is what happens when you complain about my emails!

Never forget.

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Sometimes it really is a different world being associated with the military. I absolutely wouldn't trade it for a thing. The pride, the heartache, the gratitude, and the lonely nights have all made me a better person. I have noticed that we can close our eyes to a few things in this lifestyle -- namely to those who walk a slightly different path but have the same heartaches, joys, and worries. This day in history leaves me thoughtful, thankful, and humbled. The individuals I am referring to include policemen, firemen, and all other dedicated American's who walk their daily life in shoes dedicated to saving and improving the lives of others. 11 years ago, we saw the true colors of America when these men and women sacrificed themselves for the lives of Americans.

Seeing the outpouring of remembrance on this sacred and never-to-be-forgotten day is overwhelming. There are many who spend every night lonely because their loved one gave all to save the lives of others. My heart goes out to those families and I hope they swell with pride knowing that we all live a little safer and have faith in humankind and the United States of America thanks to their sacrifices.

I saw a few eye rolls today when I shared my location 11 years ago during the attack. A Biology classroom at my high school. Boy, it seems like that makes me young compared with those Marines and Sailors I serve who remember rapidly deploying seconds after the towers were attacked. But I will say, 11 years ago, I became a more mature, educated, respectful, and humbled American seeing these men and women jump into action without hesitation or fear. It made me want to be a better person.

So my plea to you... Join me in dedicating my day to appreciation. Think of those who gave everything so that we could live this life without fear. Dedicate your day to appreciating what you are given, down to the smallest detail, because many people gave up that privilege 11 years ago today when they entered burning buildings, confronted enemies head on, and rapidly deployed to defend our freedoms.

Watch the red, white, and blue fly high today, America.

Career Designation

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:04:00 +0000

A beast has been looming over our heads for a while now concerning Troy's career... Because of the force drawdown and government budget cuts, the Marine Corps is now requiring all officers to go up on a board. Anyone who has heard me fret over this fact, knows how huge a factor this played in our future.

A board is essentially a fancy interview where they look at all Troy's records, military achievements, billets (jobs) he has had, and fitreps (reviews from his bosses). They decide if he is a good Marine leader to keep around.

If he did not get chosen on this board, we would have one more shot. If he didn't get chosen on either board, we would be forced out of the Marine Corps.

Like any financial and fiscally minded individual, I was terrified he would not get chosen. While I have the utmost confidence in my husband's work ethic, dedication, ability to lead Marines, and love for the Marine Corps, I have seen some of our very deserving friends get passed up for Career Designation. I was worrying day and night about our transition from Okinawa back to the States if we both ended up jobless and without direction.

Today, the good news came in. Troy was chosen on this Career Designation board. They only chose 60 percent of the Marines in his field (combat arms). Needless to say, I felt a huge rush of relief and pride when I heard that he was in the top half of Marines, although he is always number one in my book. :)

Now our future is a bit more directed, while still wide open. He has to commit to 2 more years as an officer and then decide to stay in or leave to join the civilian sector. I can speak for myself in saying I really like this lifestyle and hope we stick with it for a good little while. While I love Okinawa, I look forward to future moves and adventures, growing our family, and seeing the world with my hot Marine.

Congrats, husband! I am so lucky to share my life with you and could truly not be more proud of your good heart and stellar work ethic. :)

Random Marine photos for your enjoyment!

A typical Thursday night turned Japanese

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:39:00 +0000

Tonight Troy and I both got home late, frustrated and slightly burnt out from working too hard. We sat down to our boring dinner and were moping about being exhausted.

In the distance, there was a sound. The sound of Eisa drums. You may remember my posts about them earlier, it is an Okinawan traditional drum sequence accompanied by dancers and a funny character who gets the crowd fired up. Our Thursday night was quickly turned around and our faces lit up with smiles as we chased them down the street outside our home to enjoy the show.

It is hard to determine if the best part was the end of the show when they looked at us and said 'Eisa, eisa, eiiiiisa. ARIGATO!' Or the many thank you's and almost every person acknowledging us and thanking us for coming out. I think they targeted us because we were the only Americans out watching, appreciating the culture we are so blessed to be immersed within. All I can think is that we are SO LUCKY to live this life in Japan.

Sorry Moms and Dads, we may be too deeply in love with Japan to leave.

The Walton Guide to Typhoon Preparation

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 02:19:00 +0000

1. Stow all dog toys in a neat pile in a safe place.
2. Just give up when the storm shutter won't close.
3. Stock up on the essentials: Wine.
4. Stock up on the other essentials: Junk food.
5. Allow your 'children' to choose their favorite toy to bring inside for the typhoon adventure.
6. Laugh at your husband when he says 'Lets bring in our favorite tree!' and then runs it into doors and walls, eventually storing it in our shower.

THAT is how you successfully prepare for a typhoon with the Walton family.

Life's a beach....

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 09:13:00 +0000

This weekend, we tried beach camping...again. And it was once again slightly disastrous. Here is the full scoop...

We decided to go to a gorgeous beach up north on an outer island. The drive there is absolutely gorgeous and the beach is stunning.

The unbearably ugly beach where we stayed overnight...

Our friends, the Gregg family, joined us. I am sure they are featured in another blog but this is the first time we have beach camped together.

The adventure began with our kayak, filled with the cooler and our *dry* towels flipping. Buh-bye ice for the food and towels. Well, it could only look up from there!

Sara helped the cause by ordering these awesome beach wine holders. Definitely a necessity!

We brought the pups with us, and they enjoyed the ride!

Coral is excited!

Are we there yet?!

Gorgeous views along the way!

Our campsite. Note the fire burning.. it only lasted a few seconds at a time. And then it rained! Talk about unfortunate (now does the blog title make sense?).

These are all the photos we got, but we have definitely learned that Murphy does not like sleeping by the ocean. I ended up sleeping outside on the kayak because he does not like being in the tent. High maintenance dog!

In the morning, as I sat drearily watching the sunrise over the ocean, I could think of two things:

1. I do not see enough sunrises. They are so beautiful and peaceful. I want to make an effort to appreciate such a beautiful, free gift more often.

2. Camping as a kid, I remember thinking the adults we camped with were so weird because they sat around like zombies drinking coffee in the morning. As I fought the zombie within, I realized exactly why they felt that way! Oh, to be a kid again!

Typhoon Time: Beaches

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Ahhh. Now that is the life. :)

As we sit inside, bored from a typhoon passing over (don't worry, it is a small one!), I am going to share some of our favorite Okinawa beach photos to cheer myself up!

Our first beach photo on Okinawa, Torii Station Beach.

Sunset view from atop a castle!

Near the Southernmost tip of the island.

Minna Jima, competing for my favorite place on the island.

My favorite hottie on the island. ;)

Miyagi Beach, the beach nearest to where we rescued Coral (our dog, not the kind in the ocean ;))

This counts as a "beach" right?

And of course, laying on the beach with my bestie. Miss you, Bean!

Babies Galore!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:40:00 +0000

Let me stop you right here by saying:

Troy and I are not planning to add to our family anytime soon. We would rather spoil our furry creatures with four paws, and there is photo proof! This blog is being written to celebrate my friends who are being blessed with children!

No, she is not spoiled at all.

Busted, we see you cuddling.

Aww someone get Murph-baby a bottle.

Hugs for Dad!

And you can't forget Baby, the chubbs!

Of course, the girls help me love Coral!

Now that you know we are creepy dog people, on with the babies:

There is at least one thing that is a constant between my work and personal life-- babies everywhere! A favorite part of my job is going to see new babies at the hospital. We take them a little onesie, baby "orders," and a 9th ESB baby certificate. Dad usually loves the "super moto" (motivation--in Marine speak) onesie and mom loves the baby orders and certificate for the baby book. Sometimes, I even get to go see them again and take them donated meals! When I'm really lucky, they trust me enough to let me hold their new bundle of joy. :)

In my personal life, almost all of my friends are pregnant, just had a baby, or talking about having kids really soon. While it is getting lonely on the "no baby team" for me, I have vowed to drink an extra glass of wine for them and listen to the crazy pregnancy stories so that one day I might be slightly more prepared (or scared off forever). Nonetheless, I have really enjoyed being part of their pregnancies, holding their little ones (BEST PART, seriously, just hand over the babies!), and going to many pinterest-inspired baby showers.

The most recent "guest of honor +1".

I was lucky enough to have Kristle's shower at my house, and with the help of my lovely Oki hostesses, Kaylie, Kendall, and Jaymie, we really made it fit her personality.

The theme was "underwater".

We had a "make-your-own-bag-of-sweets" bar.

Yummy and beautiful sugar cookies! And homemade rock candy!

Our resident cupcake genius, Mariko, whipped these up! Coral, shark fin, octopus, and beach cupcakes.

I told you I love holding them! My favoritest little "niece", Hadley. :)

The man of the hour, he stole every heart! Jalen. :)

Me, the Mom-To-Be, and the Just-Became-a-Mom. (Can we get a Woot Woot for how good she looks 7 weeks post-baby!)

The whole set-up ready for a day of fun!

Wishes from all over the world for Baby White!

We don't discriminate. We like hanging out with "big kids" too. Meet my boyfriend, Luke:

It's a pirates life! (a pinterest-themed birthday party!)

He and Troy are buddies, too. :)

We also get to attend cool baby-related parties:

We found out Hadley was going to be a girl along with Kaylie and Adam. Their reactions were priceless! :)

As our Oki time ticks on, I am sure there will be more baby-related fun on the schedule!

Roo and Bean take on Japan!

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 05:12:00 +0000

After almost 2 long years, I was reunited with my long lost BFF, Jilly Bean. We met in high school and have that awesome kind of friendship where it feels like no time has passed when you see each other again.

She flew into Tokyo and I went up to meet her. The scene we made in the airport was probably Facebook-Update-Worthy to strangers. "Just tripped over the suitcases of two silly American girls screaming/crying/laughing in the airport like idiots." Yep, that was us.

We quickly caught a train to downtown Tokyo to start our adventures!

And it was time for a night on the town!

We had fun, lost an iPhone, and found out drinks in Tokyo are crazy expensive.

The next day, we were off to defeat our ultimate Tokyo demon, hike Mount Fuji.

Two excited girls on the train to Mt Fuji. No seats, so we were stuck in the floor!

After getting to the city of Fuji, we ventured to find a cabby who drove us to the 5th Station, where our hike would begin. Unfortunately, we were stopped at the station and told we couldn't hike since it was out of hiking season (by 2 days!). Very upset, we descended the mountain and left it on our bucket list for a later date.

Really sad that the mountain duped us. :(

After Tokyo, we were happily headed to Okinawa.

With mini beers!

In Okinawa, we spent a good amount of time beaching, drinking, and catching up.

We also got super cute toe art....

Visited the beer factory...

And ate interesting Okinawan food!

Not to mention getting to meet some of my best Oki friends. :)

I am looking forward to many more Bean and Roo adventures!

Trains, Towers, and Tons of People: Tokyo, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Kara Walton) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:39:00 +0000

After Kyoto, we were off to Tokyo for a few days. Troy has been there many times for work, but this was my first time. We saw a few of the sites and enjoyed some "American" dining at Outback Steakhouse. Judge as you will, but after a year and a half in Japan (where we really do LOVE the food), we were ready for a true Americanized meal.

The bullet train we took from Kyoto to Tokyo.

Tokyo Tower next to the "Green Building". It literally has plants growing out of the side of it.

Tokyo from the sky!

Shibuya. The busiest intersection in the world!

Only in Japan: Sweet cars with stuffed animals on the dash.

Tokyo at night!

Above is a video of Shibuya intersection in action. Crazy, right?!