themorrillfamily

Araha Beach- July 2009

2009-07-17T18:06:00.001-07:00

While Mike is away at his Advanced Course School up at the northern part of the island, we have to get out and stay busy as often as possible. Mia, Gracie, and I went to Araha beach to watch a beautiful sunset and to bid another friend on island farewell!

Gracie's new bicycle.

2009-07-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

Gracie got a bicycle for her birthday from Grammy and Grampy. It is too hot to ride around outside right now, but you can tell by the excitement on her face she doesn't mind riding in doors. We still need to practice a little before heading out, but she has knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet to keep her safe :-)

Trip to Texas 2009

2009-07-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

While stateside, we were able to visit my family down in Texas. Below are a few pics of the girls. They had a great time playing with their cousins Kameron and Ashlyn. I also got to meet my new nephew Hunter!

Gracie's 3rd B-day in Newbury, MA

2009-07-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

We were all finally able to make it back stateside in June 2009 to visit family. We had a wonderful time and only wish we could have stayed longer... Gracie had a nice birthday party and Mia enjoyed watching all the action!

Red Sox Game

2009-07-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

I can now say I have officially had a Fenway Frank and gone to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park! I have waited almost 4 years, but I finally made it! Unfortunately, the Red Sox lost that night, but the experience was so much fun!!!

Forest Adventure Park

2009-07-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Mike, Lindsey, and I visited the Forest Adventure Park and spent the afternoon zip-lining through the Jungle in Okinawa. I must say, for Mike to be afraid of heights, he certainly was a champ that day! It was so much fun, but a little terrifying at times! Not sure about Mike, but I would love to go back!

Easter 2009

2009-07-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

This year we celebrated Easter without Mike :-( He was deployed to Korea, but that just gave us all the more reason to keep busy. We went to a Festival on Kadena AB and Gracie enjoyed jumping in all of the bouncers. We dyed Easter eggs with the Beeman family and hunted them later that day. We also had a visit from the Easter bunny and enjoyed a nice brunch with our good friend Lindsey Borjas. It was definitely a fun filled day!!!

Araha Beach a.k.a. "Pirate Ship Park"

2009-07-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

We love spending our weekends at Araha Beach. It is only a 5 minute drive from the house! Gracie loves playing in the sand and on the huge Pirate Ship playground. Plus, it gives Mike, Mia, and me a chance to relax while Gracie burns off some energy :-)

Playing at Araha Beach

2009-07-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

One of Gracie's favorite places to visit is the Mihara Horse Stables. Gracie loves riding and grooming the ponies. Below are a few pictures of Gracie with Lisa and Kiah Beeman (our next door neighbors in Okinawa).

Playing catch up....

2009-07-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

I realize it has been forever since my last post, and once you see all the updates, you will completely understand why I have not been able to stay caught up on my blog. Below are a few random pictures of the girls.

Mia 4 weeks old

2009-02-01T18:33:00.000-08:00

As you can imagine, our home has been very busy lately. I haven't had any time to snap photos of the girls, but here are a few I was able to capture this past weekend. Mia will be a month old this week! I can't believe it! I was just looking through all the photos of Gracie when she was an infant, and now she is almost 3 years old! It is bittersweet to watch them grow so fast :-)

Mia 1 week old...

2009-01-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

Well, we survived our first week! Mia is doing well and already growing so fast! She is sleeping every 4-5 hours and eating like a champ! Gracie loves every minute she can get with the new baby and has proven to be a wonderful big sister :-) Hopefully, I can capture some pictures of the two of them very soon.

We

Welcome Mia Kathryn Morrill

2009-01-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

She has arrived! Mia Kathryn Morrill arrived on January 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM weighing in at 8lbs 2.3oz and 20 inches long. I went into the hospital around 1pm with some pretty steady contractions and they decided to go ahead and admit me since I was already one day past my due date. I must confess, the labor and delivery felt like a piece of cake compared to Gracie's delivery. Everything went well and Mia arrived perfectly healthy :-) We had to stay two days in the hospital for the routine follow-up, but we are now home and adjusting to all the new changes. As you can see below, Gracie is extremely happy to be the "big sister" finally! Below are a few pictures of the arrival. More to come, I promise :-)

40 Weeks and 1 day...Hurry up!!!

2009-01-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

Well, my due date has come and gone! Mia is taking her sweet time and seems to be quite cozy! I on the other hand am not feeling so "cozy". Time is up little one! Come out come out! We want to meet you!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year! I must admit, it was very lonely this Christmas without any family around. Although the webcam brought a nice feel from home! We opened presents early in the morning, and then exchanged presents with our neighbors. Later in the evening, we went and had dinner with some close friends at a Japanese restaurant. I guess you could say we threw all traditions out the window this year! Overall, it was nice to spend some quality time together. Hopefully next year we can make it home for Christmas!

I uploaded some videos of Gracie opening gifts. I also uploaded some photos of Gracie playing dress-up with her new clothes her Grammy and Grampy sent. She will be a very busy little girl for the next few weeks playing with all of her new toys! Thank you!!!

Happy Holidays!

2008-11-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

I managed to capture a few pictures of Gracie over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is rare that she will allow me to take her picture, but luck was on my side...plus, she thought she could open one Christmas present if she smiled for the camera :-) The last picture was taken today...Mommy is getting ready for Mia's arrival, and packing a bag to be prepared this time around. Gracie felt the need to pack her own little bag when it comes "time", and I suppose she felt a guitar would come in handy! Enjoy the pics!

I passed!

2008-11-19T02:49:00.000-08:00

I must share my news and excitement!

After accumulating 3000 supervised hours, a long flight from Okinawa to Hawaii, many nights of studying, and a lot of unnecessary stress...I passed my licensing exam! I am now officially a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker! As a result, I am now free to practice on my own, I received a nice raise at work, and I no longer have to stress about traveling and passing the exam!

Thank you to all of you who encouraged me and reassured me that I could do it! I just can't wait to return to Hawaii for a much needed vacation. By the looks of things...It might be a while for that one :-)

Baby bump...34 weeks

2008-11-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

Here are the most recent baby bump pics. I am finally at 34 weeks and feeling great! With the exception of the occasional kick in the side/ribs/bladder, I can't complain! Crazy to think Gracie was born at 36 weeks...who knows when Mia will decide to make her debut! We will keep you posted!

Marine Corps Ball 2008

2008-11-19T00:14:00.001-08:00

This year Mike and I attended the MACS-4 Marine Corps Ball. It was exactly like last years ball except I look like a mini version of a Beluga whale :-) I wasn't left with too many options for a gown that would actually fit around my big belly! Thanks mom for helping out with that one!

We had a really great night, and it was fun to finally meet all the guys in Mike's new command. Below is a picture of all the Marines in Mike's shop...as you can tell...they were all having a pretty good time.

The big sister!

2008-11-19T00:05:00.000-08:00

Below are some recent pictures of Gracie preparing for her role as the "big sister." Gracie takes this role quite seriously and has been practicing everyday to refine her big sister skills. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-30T04:12:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween! Gracie dressed up as Abby Cadabby off of Sesame Street this year, and I must say, she looked pretty darn cute! She went around "poofing" daddy before the party! After a while we had to take her magic wand away before she "poofed" another kids eye out! Below are some pictures of our visit to the MACS-4 command Halloween party. The last one is a video of Abby Caddaby getting into a little pushing match with Raggedy Anne...funny stuff! The little girl pushed Gracie and bounced right off of her! Regardless of the "winner" Gracie had enough of the bouncer experience.

Baby bump...7 months

2008-10-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few pictures I had a chance to capture today. Sorry, I am once again slipping on the blog posts, but as you can imagine, things are quite busy around here. Gracie is getting taller by the minute, and becoming quite the "little princess." However, her favorite show is to watch Ultimate Fighting with her daddy. I can't say the show has been "mommy approved," but I guess I can't monitor everything! As a result, she enjoys playing "boom boom boom" and play hitting mommy :-) Thanks honey!

Baby Morrill #2 is also growing by the minute! She never stops moving...but, I suppose she is preparing for the day she meets her big sister! :-) Boy are we in for it! Overall, I am feeling great and can't really complain...although I am sure I do! I go for a check up next week and some routine testing. Let's keep our fingers crossed everything goes well. This is about the time when I started getting so sick with Gracie.

No names picked out just yet...we are still debating! We have a few prospects, but nothing definite. I am sure it will come down to the last minute on this one. We definitely appreciate all the suggestions.

Videos of Gracie.

2008-09-17T02:27:00.000-07:00

I finally had a chance to upload some video clips of Gracie. The first chance I had, I captured Miss Gracie playing in her new kitchen. She is hysterical to watch! We have been "eating" play dough delicacies for dinner practically every night.

The second video is of Gracie and Daddy playing after school one day. Gracie has finally learned to jump, and absolutely loves showing off her new skill. She is quite the entertainer!

Dr. Gracie to the rescue!

2008-09-17T02:18:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post some cute pictures of Gracie playing doctor. She was chasing mommy and daddy around the house wanting to listen to our "thump thumps". I am assuming that meant our hearts :-) Enjoy!

Okinawa World

2008-09-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

Over the Labor Day weekend we visited Okinawa World. We had a chance to walk through caves, watch the Eisa dancers, and look at the native Habu snakes at the Habu museum. Oh! And I can't forget the ice cream treat to top off the day!

It's a girl!!!

2008-09-02T03:28:00.000-07:00

Okay! So, I am not exactly staying on top of this blog. Sorry! My life has been a little overwhelming lately. I will promise from now on to do my very best to keep it up-to-date. As you can tell by the picture...the belly is growing! Mike and I found out a few weeks ago that we are having another girl! Mike seems to finally be adjusting well to the news...but, it did take some time to sink in. :-) We have NO CLUE what we are going to name the little bugger. Not even the slightest clue. We are definitely up for suggestions...Only a few more months to go!

Not so terrible twos...

2008-07-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Let's just say it hasn't been easy taking pictures of little miss Gracie :-) She is constantly in motion, and does not even entertain the idea of standing still! Below are a few pictures I took this morning...the last one taken, she was kind enough to hold still just long enough to flash a big "cheesy" smile, and then she was off again!

Back by popular demand!

2008-07-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance for the gap in time between posts...but, now we are back by popular demand!!! As many of you know, we have had a very busy summer; therefore, I will refrain from making excuses for not posting.
So, this past weekend, Gracie and I went to the Chula-U resort for some fun in the sun. We spend three hours swimming and playing! We had such a wonderful time and will most definitely be returning in the near future!

MASS 2 Easter Party

2008-04-13T03:46:00.000-07:00

I am trying very hard to stay up-to-date with this blog. It has gotten extremely difficult lately with my crazy little monster running around! The day before Easter, Mike's command had a fun Easter celebration for all of the Marines and family members. There were pony rides, egg painting, egg hunting, and lots of fun games for everyone to play. I had my heart set on getting some good pictures of Gracie riding on the pony...but, Gracie had other plans in mind. She had her helmet on and looked as though she would actually participate, and then she changed her mind at the last minute. Maybe next time! Overall, she had a great time! She found the golden egg and won a really fun prize. Mike and I played in the egg toss and I ended up with cracked egg all over my face and clothes! Thanks Mike! Of course, Easter would have been better celebrated back home, but this was the next best thing!

Southeast Botanical Gardens

2008-04-13T03:30:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we decided to break out of the house and visit the Southeast Botanical Gardens. Gracie loved petting the goats and all the free space to run around and act like a mad woman. I still have no idea how they maintain so many plants. I guess I wouldn't, considering I only have 1 living plant in my entire house! The gardens are a "must see" if you ever come to Okinawa. It is breath-taking looking at how colorful and beautiful nature can be.

Jane Wayne Day with MASS 2

2008-04-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

Meet the Marine Corps finest recruit! That's right! Me! Okay, so I can honestly say, I wouldn't last a second as a Marine. The Jane Wayne Day started off by dressing in helmets and vests, and getting my face painted by the SgtMaj. I think I looked pretty scary, but the second I tried to march in line, no one could keep a straight face. We had girls going every direction! I am sure all the "real" Marines found it quite funny to watch. After attempting to march and do formation, we had a chance to go shoot a bunch of guns. We had tons of events planned, and it was nice to finally see what Mike does every day. The day was amazing! It really makes you appreciate all of our military service members.

Taste of Asia

2008-02-29T04:58:00.000-08:00

Our last big night out was to Taste of Asia. We enjoyed an all you can eat seafood buffet prepared Asian style with complimentary cocktails all night long. Dinner was followed by an amazing performance of the Daiko drummers. It was truly breathtaking at times. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen. The talent is amazing! We ended the night posing with a ShiShi dog in the lobby. Mom thought it would be funny to have the ShiShi dog eat my head! Real funny!

Gosh, mike looks really happy, huh? ;-)

There's a happy shot!

Mom and Vernon

Me and Mom with the Shishi dog

ShiShi dog eating my head :-)

Valentine's Day

2008-02-29T04:51:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day, all of the ladies, to include Gracie received flowers. We decided to combine all of them since I only had one vase. ;-) Mom spent the day playing with Gracie, and Mike and I headed off to work. Later that night, Mom, Vernon, Mike, and I all went out for a very nice dinner at Kinser Surfside. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and had some great entertainment. It was one of the best Valentine's ever!

Mike, Gracie, and I in the morning

Mom, Gracie, and Snoopy going for a walk

Aww how cute!

Mom and Vernon

Our combined flower bouquet

Pedicures, Ice Cream, & poll dancing!

2008-02-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

What a perfect day! Mom and I started off the weekend with a pedicure and manicure at Coco's on the sea wall. Later that night, we all went our for dinner and TCBY ice cream. We were then entertained at TCBY with a poll dancing lesson by the one and only Gracie Morrill!!! It was hilarious. I have NO IDEA where she learned to do that! hmmm? Nana?

My nail art (hand drawn!)

Mom's nail art.

Gracie wanted her toes taken as well! ;-)

Mike, Gracie, and Vernon enjoying ice cream!

Let the poll dancing begin!!!!

Churanium Aquarium

2008-02-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

Another must see when in Okinawa is the aquarium. It is definitely one of our favorite places, and Gracie is finally getting to the point where she enjoys it as well!

Mike, Gracie, Mom and Vernon with Sea turtles

Mom and Gracie is shark's mouth! And you thought my mouth was big! :-)

Mom and Vernon outside Aquarium

Gracie loved the shark exhibit

Whale shark! yikes1

Okuma and Cape Hedo

2008-02-29T04:25:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, we headed up to Okuma Beach Resort and Cape Hedo. It was a very cold and rainy weekend, but that didn't stop us! Other than having some difficulties with a Japanese style heater, everything went really well. The rain held off just long enough to capture some good pictures at Cape Hedo. As you can tell by the pictures, it was so windy!

Gracie and Vernon at Okuma

Mommy and Gracie pooped out!

Vernon, me, and Mom and Cape Hedo

Mike and Mom at Cape Hedo

Pineapple Farm and Pizza in the Sky!

2008-02-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

While visiting Okinawa, we decided to take Mom and Vernon to see the Pineapple Farm and eat at Pizza in the Sky. The Pineapple Farm is always a fun place to hit because you can eat all the pineapple treats you want! You most definitely get your pineapple fix for the duration of your trip.

Next, we ventured off the beaten path (literally) to find this restaurant called "Pizza in the Sky". Well, that's what the Americans call it. It is really called something like Kongihoo. Anyway, it is a traditional Japanese restaurant, and they serve the best pizza ever! I still can't believe Vernon was willing to take his shoes off and sit on the floor! Way to go Vern!

Mom, Gracie, and Vernon and Pineapple Farm

Mom at Pineapple park

Pizza in the Sky (Mom calls it a Slice of Heaven!) heehee!

Mike, Gracie and me at Pizza in the Sky

Pizza and chopsticks???

Pizza in the Sky

Lazy days with Nana and Biscuit

2008-02-29T04:03:00.000-08:00

The first few days of mom and Vernon's (aka Nana and Biscuit) trip were spent hanging around the house while Mike and I were working. Nana and Biscuit taught Gracie tons of fun stuff that mommy and daddy would later say that they regret ever having visitors. heehee! But, really, Nana taught Gracie the fun trick of sliding the dining room chair all the way into the kitchen. Now, Gracie thinks every time the water is running, she needs to slide her chair right up to the sink and "help out." But, unfortunately for Mike and me, "helping out" consists of filling up whatever dish she can find and dumping the water all over the floor. So, thanks Nana! You always said paybacks would be hell! I never doubted you for a second. But, don't get me wrong, Gracie did a number of both of them while they were staying at the house. Nana and biscuit were both worn out by the end of the day!

Nana, Gracie, and Snoopy

Nana and Gracie

Vernon occupying Gracie

Gracie in action with her chair at the sink

Can't forget Snoopy!

Trip to Tokyo

2008-02-29T03:46:00.000-08:00

We have visitors! Mom and Vernon arrived on February 4th to Tokyo, and Mike, Gracie, and I decided to meet them in Tokyo for a much needed vacation. Mom and Vernon were surprisingly ready to roll when they arrived. We hit all the major hot spots in Tokyo and had a great time touring the city and navigating the subway system :-) We visited T.G.I.F's and the Hard Rock Cafe... however, the cuisine is much different from that in the states! Overall, we had a blast, but we were all ready to head back to Okinawa.

Vernon and the mannequin

Nana and Gracie at Shrine

Kathy and Vernon in Rappongi District

Gracie at dinner

Mike, me and Gracie at Shrine

Gracie giving Nana a big kiss!

Me, Gracie, and Mike

Gracie eating some Miso soup

Mom and Vernon eating with chopsticks (hilarious!)

Nago Cherry Blossom Festival January 2008

2008-02-29T03:10:00.000-08:00

We attended the Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago about a month ago. Rain or shine, we were determined to see the Cherry Blossoms. Unfortunately, it was raining :-( No worries though... We ended up having a wonderful time! Our adventure started out with a climb up 500 steps to see the Nago castle ruins. And that is exactly what we found! No castle...just ruins...well, pretty much just the land the castle used to sit on! I can't believe we made it to the top with Gracie!

After our long hike back down, we stumbled upon the Cherry Blossom Festival parade. It was quite different than any other parade I have every seen! The floats are all pulled manually and it definitely had an oriental flare! Below, you can catch some photos of the festival. I even posted some movie clips to give you a glimpse of just how different the parades are over here. Enjoy!

Me about to eat a chocolate covered banana. yum yum!

Part of the parade.

Gracie under the umbrella (right before she threw herself in the mud!)

Gracie telling daddy she doesn't like the drummers.

Shot of the 500 steps we climbed up and back down!

Geisha dancer in parade

One of the floats in the parade.

Daiko drummers performance

Not sure what to call them, but they are so cute!

My birthday

2008-02-22T00:58:00.000-08:00

Happy 25th Birthday! This year, I had a low-key birthday celebration. The night started off by attending someone elses birthday party :-) My commander was having a 50th birthday party for her husband at the Kadena Officer's Club. We attended the party with a few of our friends. It was a great party, and we watched an excellent Salsa dancing performance by two professional dancers. We left the party somewhat early, and headed off to a small Irish Pub. Believe it or not, there was actually an Irish bartender. He had such a foul mouth, but he was a great bartender:-) I really enjoyed just being able to get out and relax with a group of my close friends.

Mike and I at the party

Nicole, Jaime, and Ruthy at Irish Pub

Jaime and Brian

Tobin!

Looking back...

2008-01-29T21:52:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you know that I have not been neglecting to post, but rather I am having difficulties with my new computer. Mike and I finally broke down and bought a new Mac. It is an awesome computer and has tons of cool features, but I am still working on the compatibility issues for uploading photos.

BUT, on another note...I was just sitting here looking through some old photos. My gosh how fast time flies. I look at Gracie every morning and wonder where the time went. It just flew by! It is ironic in that sometimes I feel like the day will never end! And then, almost 2 years have gone by since she arrived. It is bittersweet to watch her grow...

It is crazy to think that my little monkey was ever that tiny!

Camping on Hamahiga Island

2008-01-08T03:38:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, Mike, Gracie, and I packed up and went camping! That's right...I said it! Camping! We slept in tents on the beach and Mike refused to let me bring the air mattress. Overall, we really had a wonderful time. There were 20 + people and tons of kids running around. Gracie quickly got over her fear of sand, and before we knew it, she was covered from head to toe and loving every minute. When the sun went down, we built a nice camp fire, and everyone sat around singing and chatting. We did get a creepy visit by some strange, intoxicated Japanese man wondering around, but it made for an interesting evening. I will admit, we were the first to pack up and leave in the morning. I had all the sand and fun I could stand for one weekend. :-) Not sure if we will ever embark on such an adventure again, but it was a fun experience.

New Years Eve 2007

2008-01-08T03:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Mike and I brought in the New Year with a small group of friends at the Rocker Club here on Okinawa. The evening began around 8:30pm and we ate, danced, and had tons of fun! I must admit, at 12:01 am I was exhausted and ready to get back home! It really was a great New Years Eve, but hopefully next year, I can bring in the New Year with friends and family back home.

Mike and Nicole New Years Eve 2007

Lindsey, Brittney, Nicole, & Ashley
Lindsey testing out the camera!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-25T01:34:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Well, I tried very hard to capture as many videos and pictures as possible of our 1st Christmas away from home. It is not very easy to get a good picture of Gracie these days...she can't sit still for one second. I did get some cute videos of her opening some of her gifts. Santa came to visit on Christmas Eve morning, and we decided to open all of our gifts on that day as well.

Gracie woke up around her usual time 6:30 a.m. It was definitely rough getting up that early, but we were excited to see Gracie's face when she saw all of her presents. Gracie, however, had a very different reaction...she didn't even want to go near her gifts! When she heard that Santa brought the gifts, she wanted nothing to do with them!!! But, after a while, she finally gave in and explored all the fun stuff.

After Gracie finished opening all of her gifts, Mike and I exchanged our gifts. I bought Mike an antique helmet worn in 1502 by a Japanese warrior at the Imperial Palace. It was definitely a big splurge on my part, but I new he would love it...and he did!! I also LOVED my gift. I was very surprised when I opened the box to find the Tahitian pearl necklace and matching earrings I had admired sometime back. I still can't believe they are all mine!!!

We received so many gifts from friends and family back home, and we are so grateful and blessed to have so many people that took the time to remember us for the holidays. It would have been so nice to be home and celebrate the holidays, but I am constantly reminding myself that at least my Marine is home for Christmas. So many other families are really struggling through the holidays with their Marines over in Iraq or on some other deployment. I would have loved to been home, but this is the next best thing!

So, to spread the cheer, Mike invited his Marines over for Christmas dinner. We had a nice turn out, and I cooked another wonderful meal! Watch out! I am becoming a little Martha Stewart over here! No, I really didn't go all out, but it was a nice meal and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Below are some of the pictures and videos of Christmas Eve morning. Enjoy!

Mike and Gracie holding the Christmas ornaments from Grammy and Grampy

Mike showing welcome mat from Gram and Gramp

Nicole showing off the Tahitian pearl necklace and earrings.

Gracie figuring out which gift to unwrap next.

Mass 2 Christmas Party

2007-12-21T03:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! We have officially kicked off the holiday season with the MASS 2 Christmas party. The party was held at the USO on base and we had a huge turn out. There was tons of food and lots of presents for all of the children. Gracie was dancing the night away...well, that was until HE arrived!!! Gracie was dancing and having a wonderful time...until, she turned around and there was this big, burly man with a big white beard standing behind her! She totally freaked out! It was hilarious and a bit pathetic. Needless to say, she did NOT have her picture taking with the jolly fat man this year. I have a hunch, she won't be doing it next year either! She refused to even open the gift that Santa gave her. Poor baby! She will probably be traumatized for the rest of her life. Overall, we had a wonderful time visiting with all of our friends. It was a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Santa attempting to give Gracie her gift...Gracie refusing to receive the gift...
Gracie playing in the cooler...
Gracie scared that Santa is coming back to see her...
Gracie trying to figure out what this kid is doing...

Welcome Home Snoopy!

2007-12-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Okay! Mike finally gave in! We have a new addition to our family! Now, officially introducing Snoopy Morrill. Snoopy is an 18 month old miniature Dachshund (a.k.a. mini wiener dog). Snoopy came from a very loving family who had to return stateside on short notice and could not take him with them. They were very sad to part with Snoopy, but we assured them he would have a caring, loving home. He is small in stature, but has a bark that would scare any dog away! He is so sweet and lovable, and he adores Gracie. We honestly could have never found a better dog. Of course, Mike wasn't totally on board with getting a dog (especially a mini wiener dog), but you can't resist loving Snoopy! He is just too sweet!

When Snoopy first arrived in our home, Gracie had a hard time understanding that Snoopy was a dog and she was a toddler. Gracie wanted to eat Snoopy's food, and she refused to get out of Snoopy's bed. She has been following him around with his leash all day. She hasn't quite figured out that he has to be attached to the leash, so she just chases after him. It is so cute! I am already trying to convince Mike that we need two dogs :-) He isn't convinced just yet!

Snoopy!

Snoopy playing at his new home!

Gracie following Snoopy with the leash.

Gracie refusing to get out of Snoopy's bed.

Gracie eating Snoopy's food. Apparently, Gracie enjoys eating dog food. Not sure how we are going to prevent this one from happening ???

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-12-07T23:50:00.000-08:00

I know! I know! I am sorry it has taken so long to post. Things have been nuts around here! Well, as for Thanksgiving...it wasn't so bad being millions of miles away from home. Don't get me wrong...We definitely wish we could have been home with friends and family, but it really wasn't too bad. I suppose we decided to be thankful we were able to spend the holiday with our little family, unlike many military service members serving in Iraq. Gracie and I are certainly grateful that we had our Marine home for Thanksgiving!

Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving the traditional way (back home with family), we invited over all of the single Marines from Mike's unit and had a Thanksgiving day feast at our home. I began preparing dinner two days in advance, and if I do say so myself, it turned out beautifully! I couldn't remember exactly how my grandmother prepared all of the dishes back home, so I searched online some recipes and made others by memory. The only thing missing was my grandmother's cornbread stuffing. I had no idea how to make it, and everything online just didn't sound right. I should have just called and asked for it, but I figured everyone else was busy making their own Thanksgiving dinner. Overall, the evening went great and the guys had a terrific time. After cleaning up the kitchen, the guys decided to break out the Monopoly game. Who knew such a simple old game could be so much fun! The one thing that stands out in my mind is when one of the guys said, "Can you move my sewing kit thing two spots?" I assumed that he was referring to his thimble. haha! Gotta love those Marines!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! Although it was a nice alternative, hopefully next year we can celebrate the holiday in the states.

My delicious turkey!!!

Yummy! Desserts!

AWWW! Gracie and Daddy having a moment!

Okuma Resort

2007-11-18T02:07:00.000-08:00

This weekend we went up to the Okuma Beach Resort in the northern most part of the island. We stayed in a cabana that was literally 100 feet from the beach. It was a dreary weekend to be out and about, but that didn't hold us back! We arrived late in the evening on Saturday and went to the Surfside Grill for dinner. While eating, we were able to watch the movie Spiderman on the beach. It was really cool...they had a projection screen set up and you could see the ocean in the background. On Sunday morning, Gracie had a fun time playing at the playground, but she isn't a big fan of the beach. She didn't like how the sand got in her shoes or that it stuck to her hands. She would literally freeze and refuse to move until I cleaned it off of her. She was also a little afraid of the water. I guess she just needs a little more exposure before she will enjoy going to the beach. Okuma Resort has tons of stuff to do for entertainment...golf, putt-putt, tennis, batting cage, maze, go-carts, bicycles, and much much more. We will definitely be making many trips back to Okuma!

Cape Hedo

2007-11-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend, we finally took a short trip up to Cape Hedo. Cape Hedo is the northernmost point of Okinawa’s main island. From here you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views on island. You’ll see both the Pacific and the East China Sea in one glance from the 230-foot-high cliffs. At the tip of Cape Hedo stands a Memorial Tower commemorating the reversion of Okinawa to Japan. The monument is simply inscribed with the words, "Present People of Japan and the World." Cape Hedo is one of the few sites on Okinawa that is considered almost sacred ground due to the many people who died there during World War II. If you ever visit Okinawa, Cape Hedo is a must see!

Comprehensive Park

2007-11-15T03:11:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, Mike and I took Gracie to Okinawa's Comprehensive Park. In one word...amazing! It was one of the most beautiful, and, well, comprehensive parks I have ever seen! It had many trails, a water park, a duck pond, playgrounds, and tons of wide open space. Gracie had a great time at one of the playgrounds. I think her favorite part was going down the roller slide. Most slides in Okinawa are made of rollers, instead of the flat, slick surface the slides have back home. They make a lot of noise when you go down, but you can go really fast! I honestly think Mike had more fun than Gracie at the playground! We didn't even come close to seeing all this park has to offer, so stay tuned and hopefully we can post more pictures of our future trips to Comprehensive Park!

Gracie going down the roller slide.Mike and Gracie going down the slide.
Gracie playing on the playground.
Gracie and Mike running around the playground.
Gracie waving bye-bye!

MWHS-1 Marine Corps Ball

2007-11-15T02:58:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few of pictures we took at the MWHS-1 Marine Corps Birthday Ball. This was the second ball for us to attend in one week. Overall, the ball was exactly like the one we attended on Tuesday (see post below)...it was even held at the same location! The speaker at this ball was phenomenal! The guest speaker was Sergeant Major Cook, and she was hilarious! She didn't give the traditional blah blah blah speech....her speech was funny, and it was focused primarily on why it is so great to be a Marine versus other service branches. It was a great morale booster!

Nicole

Mike and Matthew

Where's Gracie???

2007-11-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't resist sharing this with you! Mike and I were sitting down to relax for the evening, and Gracie decided to literally get inside our entertainment center. Luckily, the camera was near by and we were able to capture the moment. It was hilarious! I bet she got in and out of the little cabinet at least 15 times! She was so amused at the fact that she could fit in the small cubby and still manage to close the door. Each and every time we would say, "Where's Gracie?", and she would fling open the door and "surprise" us! Of course, we acted surprised each and EVERY time! She probably would have continued this for the rest of the night (and Mike and I would have probably watched it!), but it was time for bed. It obviously doesn't take much to amuse us these days!

MASS 2 Marine Corps Birthday Ball

2007-11-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

Last night was the 232nd Marine Corps Birthday Ball for the MASS 2 Squadron. The ball had an amazing opening ceremony to include a memorial table with a candle, purple heart medal, and blank dog tags to recognize those Marines who have given their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country. It was a truly moving ceremony and precisely planned by the commanding officer. After the ceremony, we visited with friends and enjoyed a fantastic meal. The night flew by with dancing and tons of picture taking. The best part was that the commanding officer and the Sergeant Major danced the night away with all of the other Marines and spouses. It truly was a great night, and we get to attend another birthday ball on Thursday!

Mike and Nicole

Mike, Curt, Tim, and Matthew Mike (That's MY Marine!)
Lindsey and Nicole

Video of Gracie

2007-11-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have captured any recent videos of Gracie. She is all over the place lately and into everything! I am usually finding myself either dodging flying objects or protecting what little valuables we have left! Anyway, here is the most recent video I was able to capture of Gracie. She is surprisingly having a great day and playing very nicely! Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hello! Happy Halloween to all! The Morrill family had a wonderful Halloween experience this year. Mike dressed up as the Milkman and I went as the pregnant/unfaithful housewife. Gracie dressed up as a cute little Pumpkin, and boy was she cute!!! From 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. we were overwhelmed with treat-or-treaters. And when I say overwhelmed, I mean it! I have never seen so many kids in my life! Many of the local nationals (Okinawans) were allowed on base and they sure did take advantage of this opportunity...heck, who wouldn't?! Free candy! Needless to say, we ran out of candy about 20 minutes after it all started! And, we had tons of candy! It was just crazy! So, we spent the rest of the night walking around the neighborhood looking at all the creative costumes, haunted houses, and herds of children coming down the streets. Overall, we had a great time and are definitely going to be better prepared next year!

Welcome to my blog!

2007-10-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I have finally decided to join the blogger world. I think this will be a good way to keep everyone up-to-date with the Morrill family and to see all the fun stuff we are doing in Okinawa, Japan. So, welcome to my blogspot!

As most of you know, Mike is proudly serving in the Marine Corps and we are stationed on Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan. We arrived on March 22, 2007. We are enjoying every minute on the island and spending a lot of quality time together as a family. We are tentatively scheduled to leave in February of 2010, and who really knows where we will end up next!

I am spending most of my days working as a social work case manager at the Counseling and Advocacy Center on Camp Foster. It is a really great job and I work with some awesome people. In my spare time, which is from 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. I attend Boot camp. That's right! Boot camp! I joined a boot camp program to finally get some of this baby weight off that I have become quite attached to I might add. :-) Other than that, I spend most of my time with Mike and Gracie touring the island or playing at the park.

Gracie spends most of her days at a Japanese Montessori school out in the local Okinawan community. She loves her teachers and classmates, and really seems to be enjoying herself. Heck, who knows what language she will end up speaking! As of right now, she mostly communicates with her self-developed sign language skills and grunts or squeals. It can be amusing at times; however, it can be unbelievable frustrating figuring out what exactly she is pointing at!

Mike is currently at a wonderful unit and is really enjoying his job....not many people in the Marine Corps can say that! Mike is also working on his second degree in Business and should be finishing up in the next few months. As many already know, Mike enjoys spending his time watching the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and any other team from Boston for that matter. Mike has become Super Daddy to Gracie over the past few weeks. Gracie no longer wants Mommy to put her to bed, feed her, dress her, etc. She only wants Daddy! Do I sound a bit jealous? Yes, it is nice to have a few minutes alone, but I definitely don't prefer this new found "daddy is the greatest" attitude. I must admit, it is a little cute though :-) And it is no surprise to me, Mike has managed to rise to the occasion with these new little demands and has proven yet again his superb Daddy Skills.

Well, I suppose that is the best update I can give right now. Not too bad for my first blog comment. Stay tuned for updates!