A Visit in November

That's it--the dates are set, leave is approved, and airline tickets are purchased....we're coming to GA in November!!!

We're arriving November 17th and leaving December 5th, so it'll be almost a two-week visit that also encompasses Thanksgiving! Hooray! I'm already envisioning a major pigout session (or a couple of major sessions--one's just not enough) over scrumptious turkey and dressing, mac n' cheese, broccoli casserole, cranberry sauce, and many, many yummy desserts! And since it is my FAVORITE holiday, I think it'll be okay to secretly ignore the big "D" factor for a couple of days and fudge on my diet plan a bit. Hey...a girl just can't be good all the time! :)

So, for all of you friends and family out there in GA (and anyone in the nearby vicinity) that we haven't seen in a good long time, mark your calendars and start planning for a fantabulous visit with the awesome, incredible and wonderfully satirical Dudley family. ;) We'd love to see as many of you as possible...let's make it happen!

Cheers!

~ Amanda

The Art of Butt-Scootchin'

Noah discovered a new ability today and it's pretty funny, so I'm hoping you'll forgive the double post. :)


Two months ago, when Noah didn't seem to be physically progressing as fast as other babies due to his prematurity, the pediatrician asked us to bring him in for a check-up between the standard 6 mos and one year wellness baby appointments. At the time, we expressed our mild concern with the fact that Noah didn't seem to have any inclination for wanting to crawl. In fact, he hates being on his hand and knees and would rather be sitting upright or even standing. My thoughts were that he would bypass crawling altogether and go straight to walking as our friend's baby did. The pediatrican said not to worry and that some babies never do, in fact, crawl but find other means of getting around before walking, like slithering on their tummies. He then said not to worry; in fact, Noah's fine motor skills were advanced for his age. Well, Noah has discovered his own means of transporting himself from one place to the next...he butt-scootches. :)

I sat him down in the office today so that I could work on some school work and looked down to discover that he had used his hands and legs to propel himself (on his butt) across the room. Here he is looking pretty please with himself:

And here he is deciding which thing it is he wants to crumple, chew on, and ultimately destroy--Daddy's JPME book or a blank piece of paper. It appears he's going for the book:

Thankfully, he chose the piece of paper (it also helped that mommy moved daddy's book out of range):

After he mangled and "killed" the piece the of paper, he then decided to move on to bigger and better things...like MOMMY'S school books. :) I didn't even let him even have the option of choosing on this one.


So that's it...my kid's talent is that he "butt surfs" better than the dog. :) I'm just glad he's finally becoming mobile. I guess it's time to fully kid-proof our house now.



~ Amanda



P.S. Here's the standard "naked baby in tub with a mohawk" photo we're planning to blackmail him with when he's 16 and starting to date:



He doesn't realize it now, but I'm sure it'll come in handy when he's a teenager and we need the lawn mowed, garage cleaned, or the dishes washed. :)

Fellowship...

For those of you who don't know, I applied for a financial counseling fellowship a few months ago through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education. The program pays for the entire cost of Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) training and testing and also provides a web-based program for online instruction. It's co-sponsored by the National Military Family Assocation in hopes that those awarded the fellowship will help respond to the increasing demand for financial counseling services, particularly in the military arena.

Well...I got it! Yay, me! :) The even bigger news is that I was assigned the minimum number of practicum hours required to complete the program and earn the certification. That's really BIG given the fact that I was facing almost a 2000 volunteer hour requirement to be completed by August 2011. YIKES! I was really worried. Fortunately, I have only 400 hours to do in two years...that's awesome. I guess my years of toiling in the insurance industry combined with my advocacy experience at CADA and my Master's degree really paid off.

So, while I'm a glutton for punishment in the education department (I finish my Master's in December and will be studying under both programs until then), I'm thrilled by this opportunity. And whether I decide to pursue grant writing, an executive directorship, or financial counseling, I'm sure I'll find a comfortable niche that's corresponds well with our frequent relocations and general military lifestyle. That's the plan, at least. I've learned the hard way that flexibility/versatility is your greatest asset as a military spouse pursuing her own career goals. Take that, NAVY!!! ;)

Love to all,

~ Amanda

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

This is INCREDIBLE! I hope to one day visit as many places as he did--42 countries in all and in only 12 months.

Talk about a means of uniting people across the globe...


~ Amanda

A Visit from the Pope

Dear Friends and Family,

I wanted to pass along some exciting news!

The Pope came for a surprise visit today. I had no idea he was even in the area, but he was very kind to grace us with his presence. He didn't stay very long, but bore an uncanny resemblance to a little boy we know. The similarity was remarkable!

What was most interesting was his strange fascination with toy trains, stackable boxes, and rolling monkey balls. He also seemed to have a propensity for being very silly. Who knew!!! I really thought the Pope would have no time for such things...he's such a busy guy and all. I also had no idea he would be so approachable, so easy-going, or so HANDSOME!!

Maybe we should consider becoming Catholic? :)

Love to all,

Amanda (and the Pope)

The animal tamer...

Since Noah just recently got big enough to fully enjoying the panda Chris brought home a few months ago, I thought I'd share some cute moments with you. Enjoy!

~Amanda

Fear Mountain and the "Wild" Horses at Cape Shiriya...

To escape work, school, and the ever-present claustrophobia associated with Misawa living, Chris, Noah, our friend Keli, and I opted for a little adventure this past weekend and decided to take a little roadtrip to the upper peninsula. We had heard rumor of a herd of wild horses that roamed free along the northern coastline and thought it would be fun to go in search of them.

After winding up and over mountains, passing through teeny coastal fishing villages, and traveling around the "Obscurity Wood of Hiba" (I kid you not--check out the sign), we finally made our way to Cape Shiriya, the northeastern most point of Honshu and home to the Kandachime horses. The result of two hundred years of crossbreeding between the Tanabu and French Breton breed of horses, these guys' claim to fame is their remarkable ability to withstand northern Japan’s brutal winters. Their name literally means ‘to stand in the frost’.



Our first view of these magnificent creatures involved a pretty amazing display of both their remarkable intellect and fiercely untamed spirit. I managed to capture the moment on camera:

"Hey, Blackie...Quick!! Go get some more change from that tourist. The old man just hung up on me when I told him last week's oats were stale, the hay was moldy, and that we're organizing a strike if something doesn't give ...."

So much for wild. :) I think one too many tourist has offered up a tasty treat and these guys now recognize that humans aren't to be feared. They were beautiful, though, and their imposing (yet elegant) stature reminded us of the Clydesdales we've seen in the States. It appears the Budweiser horses have some Far Eastern competition should the beer company ever be in need of additional "actors."

Noah greets Mr. Ed...





















...and shies away from others! (No, the foal isn't dead, just resting)

















Keli with one of the babies...
















Grazing at the cape...

The stallion...(he's the one that's closer)
















Family photo...



Having made good time on seeing the horses, the four of us then decided to travel inland and visit (or revisit in the case of Chris and me) Osorezan, which translates into English as "Mount Fear." The mountain is actually a volcano in the center of the peninsula and is considered one of Japan's most sacred locations. Unfortunately, my nose didn't find it so sacred--I had forgotten just how strong the sulfurous fumes that emanate from the place were and I was quickly reminded upon our approach as I grew nauseated from the "rotten egg" smell. Your nose just never seems to adjust to such things.

Before entering the temple, I took a few photos of Noah, Chris, and Keli at the beautiful red bridge that marks the gateway from "hell" into "paradise."





















Given our surroundings, it felt rather eerie to be there with a happy, smiling Noah. The temple is dedicated to the souls of unborn babies and dead children and I felt rather sad to witness the number of pinwheels (each represent a lost child) while in the company of my own little guy. Walking beyond the temple, we noted the piles of pebbles rising from the ground that are built in effort to ease the children's struggle in getting into heaven.


Since it was hot and Noah was getting a little pink, the four of us decided to cut our visit short and head back to Misawa. Although it was a long day trip, we had tons of fun! Here's a grinning Noah to prove it!



Cheers!


Amanda