Yokosuka Gazette, 10/25/13
Welcome to the end of October, which means that Halloween is right around the corner, which means I'd better get busy on the costumes. That Pokémon costume that we got Will is three sizes too big and has to be altered. He's going to look like he's wearing a Pikachu snuggie, but there's not much else to do about it. I will have two Pikachu(s) and one Ash. And if you don't know what that means, then you obviously do not love Pokémon with your entire soul, like Josiah and Annika do. William just loves Pokémon because they do.
This has been a busy week. I'm getting more involved in some organizations around base. I had my first "official" meeting this week. YESS is Yokosuka Spouse Sponsorship Program--basically a program dreamt up by two senior wives who saw a dire need for sponsors for new folks coming into Yokosuka (a sponsor being someone here in Yoko who helps an inbound Navy family with questions/needs before they arrive and just after they arrive). Those of you who know me know that I'm passionate about having good sponsors. It is so very important, especially for an overseas move. As always, my motto is "Happy Families/Wives = Happy Sailors = Better Navy".
Next week, I have my first Japanese-American Wives club meeting, which I'm a little nervous about as I am pretty sure I am the youngest and most junior wife there. That could just be my imagination. It's just that every other wife that I've met who is in that group is someone like the base commander's wife or around that age, impeccably polished and lovely and always wearing the most appropriate outfit. The base CO's wife called to invite me to join--I signed up and was on a waiting list and my number came up. It's not like some secret society where they make me do initiation or anything. BUT...she did inform me that I have to try my utmost to be at every meeting since the Japanese place so much value on the relationship and that if I missed more than a couple of events, I'd be booted. She's Irish, so everything she said sounded just lovely. I'm sure that it will be a great cultural exchange. We take turns hosting things back and forth with the Japanese. Halloween next week is the American's turn, then November we will be going shopping in Yokohama with the Japanese ladies at a big department store.
Sigh. You know I'm not terribly social, so I really have to stretch myself to do all of this.
I've signed up to do COMPASS, which is mentoring for spouses on things like moving, being organized, budgeting, Navy traditions, etc.
I'm taking two class through University of Maryland to finish off the history minor that I got at MSUM in 2002. One history class and German I. I've already managed to embarrass myself with my bad German that I thought was reasonable German. Oops. Doch!
Oh, and being the CO's wife is coming up in about five weeks too...I have no idea how much time and energy that will take, but I do know that I will finally have a good parking spot. Parking is kind of a bitch on Yokosuka.
OK, enough about how busy I've been. Josiah is good--he had his first book report this week and I guess it went well. We cannot get this kid to read fiction. He'd rather sit upstairs reading his dictionary. His teacher doesn't allow non-fiction reading, which I think is kind of dumb since any reading is good reading, in my humble opinion. She insists on the class reading fiction. Sigh. We've tried just about every kind of fiction out there for Josiah and he still gravitates towards his dictionary or his Pokémon manual. That kid can write a list for you with all 600+ Pokémon characters and which classification and powers they have, by heart. I really hate forcing him to read fiction if that isn't what he's interested in, but what can a parent do? He will be forced to do things in life that he doesn't really enjoy. Hans and I won't always be there to smooth the path for him.
Annika is flourishing in second grade, queen of the playground no doubt. She is an alpha wolf, this one. She will walk into any situation and in 10 seconds flat, all the other kids there are her minions. Willingly, I should add. She is a force of nature.
William is now able to go to daycare on a full-time basis, which is so awesome. Seriously, why didn't you guys tell me that daycare is AMAZING?! OK, I wouldn't have listened. I don't think I could have done this when he was a tiny little guy, but now that he's four and not able to go to preschool, it is so great to be able to drop him at Miss Sara's. We pay a low flat fee and he can spend any amount of hours between 25 and 50 (50!!) there. Hans has been home on leave, so with the older two at school and Will at daycare, he and I have been able to get out and explore Yoko a little during the day.
Wow. I just never thought that we'd get to this point and here it is...
Expecting another rainy weekend. The kids have school off today, so we're taking Will to Miss Sara's and taking them to Enoshima Aquarium. I'll try to post pictures.
Sayonara!
This has been a busy week. I'm getting more involved in some organizations around base. I had my first "official" meeting this week. YESS is Yokosuka Spouse Sponsorship Program--basically a program dreamt up by two senior wives who saw a dire need for sponsors for new folks coming into Yokosuka (a sponsor being someone here in Yoko who helps an inbound Navy family with questions/needs before they arrive and just after they arrive). Those of you who know me know that I'm passionate about having good sponsors. It is so very important, especially for an overseas move. As always, my motto is "Happy Families/Wives = Happy Sailors = Better Navy".
Next week, I have my first Japanese-American Wives club meeting, which I'm a little nervous about as I am pretty sure I am the youngest and most junior wife there. That could just be my imagination. It's just that every other wife that I've met who is in that group is someone like the base commander's wife or around that age, impeccably polished and lovely and always wearing the most appropriate outfit. The base CO's wife called to invite me to join--I signed up and was on a waiting list and my number came up. It's not like some secret society where they make me do initiation or anything. BUT...she did inform me that I have to try my utmost to be at every meeting since the Japanese place so much value on the relationship and that if I missed more than a couple of events, I'd be booted. She's Irish, so everything she said sounded just lovely. I'm sure that it will be a great cultural exchange. We take turns hosting things back and forth with the Japanese. Halloween next week is the American's turn, then November we will be going shopping in Yokohama with the Japanese ladies at a big department store.
Sigh. You know I'm not terribly social, so I really have to stretch myself to do all of this.
I've signed up to do COMPASS, which is mentoring for spouses on things like moving, being organized, budgeting, Navy traditions, etc.
I'm taking two class through University of Maryland to finish off the history minor that I got at MSUM in 2002. One history class and German I. I've already managed to embarrass myself with my bad German that I thought was reasonable German. Oops. Doch!
Oh, and being the CO's wife is coming up in about five weeks too...I have no idea how much time and energy that will take, but I do know that I will finally have a good parking spot. Parking is kind of a bitch on Yokosuka.
OK, enough about how busy I've been. Josiah is good--he had his first book report this week and I guess it went well. We cannot get this kid to read fiction. He'd rather sit upstairs reading his dictionary. His teacher doesn't allow non-fiction reading, which I think is kind of dumb since any reading is good reading, in my humble opinion. She insists on the class reading fiction. Sigh. We've tried just about every kind of fiction out there for Josiah and he still gravitates towards his dictionary or his Pokémon manual. That kid can write a list for you with all 600+ Pokémon characters and which classification and powers they have, by heart. I really hate forcing him to read fiction if that isn't what he's interested in, but what can a parent do? He will be forced to do things in life that he doesn't really enjoy. Hans and I won't always be there to smooth the path for him.
Annika is flourishing in second grade, queen of the playground no doubt. She is an alpha wolf, this one. She will walk into any situation and in 10 seconds flat, all the other kids there are her minions. Willingly, I should add. She is a force of nature.
William is now able to go to daycare on a full-time basis, which is so awesome. Seriously, why didn't you guys tell me that daycare is AMAZING?! OK, I wouldn't have listened. I don't think I could have done this when he was a tiny little guy, but now that he's four and not able to go to preschool, it is so great to be able to drop him at Miss Sara's. We pay a low flat fee and he can spend any amount of hours between 25 and 50 (50!!) there. Hans has been home on leave, so with the older two at school and Will at daycare, he and I have been able to get out and explore Yoko a little during the day.
Wow. I just never thought that we'd get to this point and here it is...
Expecting another rainy weekend. The kids have school off today, so we're taking Will to Miss Sara's and taking them to Enoshima Aquarium. I'll try to post pictures.
Sayonara!
Comments
In my mind, there is no one better to mentor an incoming Navy family than you. I'm positive, they are going to make you the President of this organization! You own it! There is no one more organized than you are.
I loved hearing about Josiah, Annika and William. They are precious and growing up way too fast!
Have a great weekend!