Monday, April 30, 2018

Meeting Our Grandson ~Day Eight

Here, Baby Boy is four weeks old.
He still likes to eat and sleep best,
however, is now alert for longer stretches of time.
He is quite interested in watching what his humans are doing!

We needed to go out and drive to a different base to obtain 
a sticker for Amy's new car. Since Jack and I rode along,
I needed another base pass. Yes, it was still raining.

It was a pleasure to meet another of Amy's good friends.
                She joined us for lunch...

We served this Spinach, White Bean, and Orzo Soup.
You can find the recipe on my Pinterest page.

We all love to snuggle with a Jelly Cat...
         this is Fuddlewuddle Kitty!

This business of being a baby is exhausting!

                   We are Blessed.
                       Take care,
                         ~Natalie 

Friday, April 27, 2018

An Evening Out ~Another Taste of Japanese Cuisine ~Meeting Our Grandson ~Day Six

Ramen was one of the things I wanted to try while in Okinawa.

  
It was raining cats and Shisa dogs when we got there.

                                This is the menu...

Amy's advice was to order what I want, by looking at the pictures.
We each had a bowl of ramen and shared a plate of the dumplings.

The restaurant was long and narrow. The four us sat in a booth.
There is a counter along the other side. Patrons eat quickly...

...then, the waitstaff clears their dishes away, 
and the stools fill in with the folks that are in line by the door.

The ramen was delicious. At first, I was a little concerned about how I was going to eat homemade "noodle soup" with chopsticks...however, one just needs to get it to their mouth and then slurp those slippery ramen noodles the rest of the way! It was certainly a fun experience!! Thank you.

                         Take care,
                           ~Natalie 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Getting Acquainted With My Furry Friend ~Jack and Bella

Baby Jack and Baby Bella, just checking each other out.
Amy adopted Bella about 12 years ago when she was in Lincoln, going to school at UNL.

Some of you might remember when Amy and Bella stayed with us 
during one of Amy's rotations for PA school.

Since then, Bella has moved with Amy to Rochester, Mn, to Okinawa, to the UK, and then back to Okinawa. Bella has more "stamps on her passport" than I do! Just kidding!!

Bella is a faithful furry friend, and is now sharing her Amy with a tiny human.
I think she appreciates her quiet space...

...but, in time, Jack and Bella will be good friends.

       Life is good for the furry friend and the tiny human.

                              We are Blessed!
                                 Take care,
                                   ~Natalie 

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Weekend Dinner Party ~Entertaining Family Friends ~ Meeting our Grandson ~Day Five

I have enjoyed meeting Amy and Nick's friends while here.
They hosted a dinner party in their home last weekend.
We had this delicious appetizer...
...and, Here's how you can make it.

 
3 tbsp. Apricot Preseves
4 oz. log of Goat Cheese
1/4 cup Pistachios, roughly chopped 
Drizzle of Honey
Fresh Basil Leaves, sliced for garnish

I was in charge of this Appetizer Platter while Jack was in charge 
of entertaining the guests with his sweet little sounds and facial expressions.
Nick and Amy prepared a meal of Steak, Roasted Vegetables, and Kale Salad.

           Good Food + Good Friends = A Great Evening

                        Thank you for including me!
                              We are Blessed!!

                                 Take care,
                                   ~Natalie

Sunday, April 22, 2018

An Evening Out ~A Taste of Japanese Cuisine ~And a Stroll Along the SeaWall ~Meeting Our Grandson ~Day Four

    An evening on the Sea Wall...A lovely start to our weekend.

Amy and Nick have discovered this awesome Sushi place...

              ...and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, 
from leaving our shoes at the door to sitting on these mats on the floor.

With a newborn, there is a small window of time to be out and about.
                            Jack was a good boy!

My son-in-law was so patient to explain the menu items to me,
the proper use of the chopsticks, and the fine art of dipping the sushi in the sauce and putting the whole piece in your mouth at once!

                   Edamame for our appetizer.

Amy and Nick ordered their favorites...




Jack started to get a little restless about the time we finished our meal.


A soothing ride in his stroller was all he needed to take a little snooze!

      Just loving my time with Jack's beautiful momma.

Amy and Nick lived along the sea wall, the first time they were here.

  Thank you for showing me a great night out on the town!

                            We are Blessed,
                               Take care,
                                ~Natalie 

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Rub a Dub Dub...Baby Jack In a Tub ~Meeting Our Grandson ~Day Three

On Baby Boy's bath day, this Nana gets to help. 
Well, to be honest, I mostly watch, as Jack's momma could easily do the bath by herself.

I am there with an extra hand to support his slippery, wet little body...
especially when he is getting his hair washed.

All clean, dry, and warm again!

Then there's the baby laundry...I love to fold those little onesies and sleepers.

I love how it is all so soft and smells so fresh and clean.

This may be the last week to wear these sweet little newborn sleepers...

His toes have reached the end of those little "feeties"!

Remember those dimples I told you about?
There's a little hint of them here!

      Baby Jack is growing up!

           We are blessed.
               Take care,
                 ~Natalie 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Meeting Our Grandson ~Day Two ~Lunch at the Tee House


Here, Baby Jack is three weeks old.
While he spends most of his time eating and sleeping, 
there are these special little moments when he is awake. 

He has the best facial expressions. My favorite is when he looks like he is trying to whistle... 
Or as some might say, he's making a "fish face". A very cute fish face, indeed.

This expression in the photo, on my second morning here, seems to say, "who is that lady and why is she still here?!"
   
                            (google image)
We ate lunch out at the Tee House. It is located near the 
tee box on hole number one of the golf course on base.

Jack was a very good baby...

The view from the Tee House is beautiful.
It was a misty, rainy, typical spring day on the island,
so we could not sit out on the patio, however, 
enjoyed our time together, just the same.

                      We are Blessed.
                           Take care,
                            ~Natalie 

Road Trip ~Day Three ~Burger Battle ~Sweet Shopping Highlights

Our last full travel day took us through four states… Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Including some Big Bridges over some Big ...