Pearl Harbor

Anyone who grew up in the United States ~ had a history lesson or 2 about The Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941 ~ but if you need a refresher nudge you can read about it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor.

We always hear about the devastating casualties to the US, which were extensive.  But there were also casualties to the Japanese ~ deaths, planes lost....which I don't remember hearing in a history lesson.  A comment was made to us before our trip about a family members visit to the historic site ~ "several Japanese tourist were on their tour and they seemed to have the attitude of triumph because of the Japanese victory".  I thought about that for several days, and then the thought occurred to me ~ do Americans look like that to others when we visit Nagasaki or Iwo Jima or other places of great victory for the allies.  Just a thought.









The Arizona is directly below the Memorial ~

 


USS Missouri



Greg tried on a $600 leather fighter jacket ~ we didn't purchase.



Broken glass from a hangar at Hickam Field on Dec. 7

USS Bowfin Submarine ~ the original Teak deck has been replaced by metal slates because of the many visitors

Even at 5'2", the hatch was too short for me



Sample weekly menu from the Bowfin ~ men on the submarine ate well!



We are thankful for ~

the country we live in

the Men & Women of our Military who protect our Nation

the sacrifices of the military families

the opportunity to visit & pay honor to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice

those who work hard to preserve these historic sites

Bucket List Vacation

Greg and I just returned from an awesome "Bucket List" Vacation ~ we were blessed with the opportunity to visit someplace we've always wanted to go ~ our 50th state Hawaii.  We left on Sept. 21 and arrived back today. 

So items we accomplished on our Bucket List ~

visit Pearl Harbor
go to a Luau & show
see volcanoes (as up close as you can get)
swim in the Pacific Ocean (cold)
drive around the islands (Oahu & the Big Island)
see a lava tube
watch the sunset (pictures to follow)
take loads of pictures (2- 2 gig cards & then bought a 16 gig card)
visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation & ride the Pineapple Express
visit a Coffee Farm or Plantation
go deep sea fishing (didn't catch anything)
got a flower lei (purple)
found lighthouses
buy Hawaiian fabric

Things we did that weren't originally on the bucket list

taste poi (pretty tasteless, lovely lavender color)
stand in the crater at Diamond Head
eat poi rolls (absolutely delicious)
see steam vents at volcanoes
battle time zone changes ~ hard!
toured a submarine at Pearl Harbor
ate from a Food Truck
Saw bullet holes from the P Harbor attack
stood at the table where the surrender treaty was signed
went to the Southern most point of the United States
followed the road from one end to the other on Oahu
saw a sea turtle
got stuck in traffic from the Aloha Festival Parade
found the Wood shop and bought Greg Koa wood for projects
saw a blow hole at the ocean

Here are our beautiful sunset shots from Oahu ~

Thankful for ~

time away with Greg
fun & sun
new adventures
another birthday
having a rental car so we could explore on our timetable
children old enough to "hold down the fort"
picnics

Blogging Break

 

I am taking a blogging break

to celebrate our 10th anniversary/my birthday

with my husband.

We are excited to have been blessed with

this trip.

 

See you soon!

 

Here is a hint ~~~~~

 

 

photo from Pinterest



The Ladies

Here are some pictures of our ladies ~

They like any organic table scraps ~ watermelon is a favorite
They like crumble feed instead of pellet feed
They are laying blue, green, brown, & a lighter brown (rose) colored eggs
They like to clean out the many flower pots the previous owner of the farm left

Mouse Trap

PaPa took the mouse trap game to entertain the grand young'uns and it worked!  After PaPa and Bryant built the "course", Robert had a blast turning the handle to release the ball and watch it roll ~
they ended up trapping all 4 mice in the basket!  Taking the game was a hit!  Its back at our house now, waiting for the next time some "keep the boys busy" is needed!  Good idea PaPa!

This is a remnant from Amy's childhood!

excitement!

such a sweet boy!

this little one is pure energy!

sticky fingers swiped the ball

how does that work?

helping set up the bucket

MaMa & PaPa x 4

Our newest grandson arrived yesterday at 12:31 pm.  Alvin Cullum York Cutler (named for Sargent York from WW1) weighed 8 lb. 3 ounces and was 19 inches long.  He has dark hair.

We got to the hospital about 30 minutes before he was born and got to see him and his mommy when he was about 1 hour old.  And he is a snuggle bug. 

We are thankful for ~

a safe delivery for Alvin
for bringing Katie successfully through her 3rd natural birth
for the blessing of a beautiful, healthy grandson
for being so close to get there in time
for familytime this week
for baby snuggles, toddler snuggles, & 3 year old snuggles

10 AWESOME Years!

We've been married for 10 years.....today!

In 10 years we have ~

*had 6 of our 7 graduate from highschool
*had 2 graduate from college ~ 3 if you count Gregs Masters Degree
*been on mission trips to Honduras, Oklahoma, & New York ~ Gregs been to Haiti once, Will twice, and K,W, & A have been to Street Reach many times
*we've been church cooks
*we've self catered Katie & Allens weddings, and Andys rehersal dinner
*we've been blessed with 3 cute as cute can be grandsons ~ #4 is now 4 days late and taking his own sweet time
*we've been on a Family Vacation (cross between the chevy chase movie & RV) 2 1/2 weeks of snow, sandstorms, sites, Old Route 66, and lots of games & laughter!
*we've done Disney World & Washington DC and many place in between

And just this year ~

*Greg has retired
*we've moved to GA
*we bought a little farm

I am thankful for our good and bad times.  Greg is my best friend & I am thrilled to be on this journey with him!

And we would be very thrilled with lots more grandchildren in the next 10 years ~ who knows ~ maybe someday we will get a grand girlie!