Lemonade Stand and Fall Festivities

The Executive Board of the Lemonade Stand

After hours of preparation, solicitation, and cleanup each of the three board members was thrilled to have earned $1.80.

This Friday evening we hosted a little fall get-together with some of our friends. A special thanks needs to go out to my very supportive husband Jason for single-handedly planning this party, making all of the preparations, and entertaining the guests...

Crock Pot Shock and Awe

We gathered every crock-pot on Kadena Air Base and filled them all with delicious chicken noodle, taco soup and chili. Special thanks to Holly for posing next to all of the soups that Jason whipped up.

Highlight of the Evening

Everyone enjoyed the 1st Annual Kadena Air Base Fall Bocce Tournament almost as much as Jason's soups and chilis. It was an intense and cut-throat competition and in the end the Cheneys took away the grand prize and the bragging rights.

The party also featured two types of decorating events using frosting...

Event #1 - Cookie Decorating

Event #2 - McCall Decorating

10 Year Anniversary Festivities

Married Ten Years! When you look at us and notice our youthful complexions it is hard to believe, but we have indeed been married ten years. Our anniversary was officially on Wednesday, but we decided that a delayed multi-day celebration was in order...

Real Men Love their Pedis!
On Friday, Jason took a half-day of off work and joined Holly for a pedicure at Cocoks.

Holly Reading Up on the Japanese Fashion Scene during her Pedi
Lindsay Lohan's oufit this month was "Bad" and Angelina Jolie's outfit was "Good"

The End Product

On Saturday we went with our friends the Crofts to a fun place called Forest Adventure Park. The park just opened up few months ago and it consists of a large series of ziplines, suspended bridges, swings, and obstacles courses that zig-zag through the jungle....

Ready for an Adventure!

Holly Received a Stern Reprimand after Spacing-off during the Instructor's Safety Briefing

Jason Pulls Out 'Blue Steel' as He Comes in for a Landing

For Live-Action Footage of Holly Click on the Video Above

That was it. Can't wait for our 20 Year Anniversary Festivities!

Keep scrolling down if you want to see what we did during the first part of the week.

Naha Tug-O-War and Columbus Day Exploration

Last Sunday, we drove south to Naha (the largest city in Okinawa) with some friends to witness the annual Naha Tug-O-War (world's largest according to the Guiness Book of World Records). We were very excited to find out when we arrived that we would actually be able to participate in the tug-o-war. I guess when you have a rope that weighs 40 tons and is 200 meters long, you need all the help you can get...

Security was Pretty Tight before the Big Event

Securing our Pull-Positions for the Upcoming Tug

Footage of the Tug of all Tugs.

If you're having trouble spotting our fine military members, just look for the dudes pulling with one hand and holding a beer in the other. By the way - our side won of course.

Denver and McCall with their war trophies

Our family being congratulated by a Samurai Warrior

In honor of Columbus Day, we boarded our ships (a.k.a minivans) and set out to explore new lands. Like Columbus, we got lost and did not arrive at our original destination. Unlike Columbus, we did not spread any foreign diseases to the people we ended up discovering...

And what might you ask are they looking at so intently?

Click on the video below and discover for yourself...

Kindred Spirits

Every time we're with the Kendrick family, McCall and Hailey end up walking around everywhere holding hands.

Holly's Spy Cam Shot of the Week - Feeding Tuna to a Stray Dog.

Jason pretends that he is not an animal lover. However, Holly has seen this look of adoration on his face many times over the years when he thinks no one is looking. Finally, there is proof.

Sand Volcanoes - A Denver Dalpias Speciality

We hit a beach in the afternoon and stayed until sundown. The kids had fun playing in the water and on the beach. Denver has worked all summer to perfect his sand volcano construction techniques and he was proud to display the above specimen for your viewing pleasure.

Friends Abroad, Karate Testing and Comprehensive Park

Holly signed up for a program called Friends Abroad. The program involves Japanese students who coming to Okinawa from mainland Japan to learn about the culture here - including the American military presence. So... this week Holly hosted four Japanese teenage girls for a day. Everyone had a great time and McCall especially loved making new friends...

Teaching the Girls how to Burn Some Burgers

A Teary Farewell (at least for McCall)

On Saturday Denver tested for his second yellow belt stripe...

Denver Sporting his Game Face

Video Footage of the Testing

The Proud Student with his Senseis

After the karate testing we decided to unwind at an awesome and incredibly large park here called Comprehensive Park...

[Insert Your Own Caption Here]

I don't even know what to say about this picture.

Captain Denver Piloting the Vessel with the Assistance of his First Mate Holly

After Being Fired as First Mate, Holly Joined McCall in the Rear of the Vessel

Who Would Have Thought a Carp Could Make Someone Smile So Big?

McCall Making New Friends by Taking Over their Toys

Another Successful Day at the Park

Hanging Bears and Spooky Stories

Bearly Alive

Earlier this week Holly opened Denver's closet and found this horrifying scene of carnage. At first she was worried that Denver may have some hidden anger-management issues. However, she later learned from Denver that the bear was just practicing his rock climbing skills.

Saturday evening there was a "Roktoberfest" party at the 'club'. We joined the 'club' a few weeks ago and so far it feels similar to joining the mafia -- They paid us money when we signed up, we get free food and drinks every weekend and all of the activities occur in dark rooms...

We're all Schnitzel and Smiles!

McCall is all Bratwurst and Big Belly!

And the Winner Is...

While her loving and dedicated husband was outside accompanying the children on the bouncy castles, his raffle ticket was chosen. In his absence, Holly really had to fight hard for this prize. They weren't going to give it to her because Jason's name was written on the raffle ticket and the MC had a great time teasing Holly about this in front of hundreds of people. After an ID check and a sob story about Jason chasing the kids around outside, Holly was able to rally the crowd to her side and convince the raffle officials to give her this wonderful camp chair.

Denver's Spooky Story Night Recap

After "Roktoberfest" Denver attended a campfire and spooky story night at the youth center. They made smores, listened to spooky stories and played flashlight tag. After returning home from this event, Denver graciously offered to share a spooky story with us.

Many family and friends back in Utah, particularly those of the mormon faith, have asked us about the congregation that we are part of here in Okinawa. The congregation we belong to is called the Kadena Military Branch and it is one of four branches that form the Okinawa Japan Military District.

Our Church Building...

...is pretty much the same as any churchhouse you would find in Utah with the following small differences: 1) It is a remodeled neighborhood grocery store; 2) There is not an olympic-sized gymnasium inside, and; 3) It is located more than a one-minute drive from our home.

A few weeks ago our trampoline arrived. We were going to wait until Christmas to give it to the kids, but then we came to our senses and set it up the day after it arrived...

The World's Best Babysitter

Success!!!
We love our trampoline. The kids jump and jump until they are exhausted.

The Dark Side of Denver

As you will see in the spy-cam video clip above, things aren't as perfect as they seem here at the Dalpias residence...