Reed is home, and Christmas in Guam

Chad wrote a great update for the family last night, so I thought I'd add a few pictures and use that for our blog post this week.  I may add a few more pictures from past events, but this is where we are right now in our wonderful lives.

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since we have written an update from Guam.  As I write this it is about 9:00pm Sunday night and Reed is mid flight from Tokyo to Guam.  He will arrive in just over 2 hours so to keep myself busy while we wait to go to the airport I thought I would write an update.  The anticipation and excitement are driving all of us crazy!

The Christmas season here in Guam has many similarities to the Christmas we are all used to and many differences.  Many homes decorate with lights, inflatable Santas on the front lawn and a variety of Nativities.  Being mostly Catholic they recognize the spiritual side of the season as well as the Santa side.  The radio stations often play Christmas songs although it's hard to believe "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" when it's 87 degrees and you need the AC on!  I asked one of my classes how many had never seen snow and 2 or 3 students raised their hands.  They said they had seen pictures of snow but had never made or thrown a snowball.  They said they went to the beach once and made 'sandmen' instead of snowmen.  You can often see the traditional Santa Claus but I've also seen Santa dressed in an Aloha shirt and sunglasses many times.

Jessica, Rachel and Tanner are all doing well.  Jessica is very involved in StuCo (Student Council) and helps with the morning announcements.  Guam High School was selected with a handful of other school to have every student receive a laptop computer.  She and I are on the committee to plan and coordinate how to distribute them to all of the students at the end of January.  She and another girl were asked to make a presentation to the Commander of the Navy Base and other top brass last week.  Rachel is also involved in student government and has a job tutoring a student after school for a couple days each week.  She has made some really good friends in the time we have been here.  Tanner is running cross country and really enjoys it.  His first race he came in 55th place. The next race he was about 46th.  Then he came in 35th, and this last race he was in 29th, so each race his time keeps improving.  He is looking forward to seeing "The Hobbit". Sloan has the house totally decorated for Christmas.  It looks wonderful!  She and I went and saw "Life of Pi" the other day.  I read the book and would recommend the movie.

On Saturday we went up to Anderson Air Base on the north end of the island.  There is a neighborhood called Rota which houses most of the senior officers in the Air Force. The houses wind up a hill with the General and his family living in the house at the top.  Saturday was the 'Rota Walk' that we have heard so many people talk about.  It starts at the entrance to the neighborhood right at sunset and you walk through the neighborhood looking at all of the lights and decorated houses.  Many homes offered cookies and snacks as you walked by.  Being on an Air Force Base, a couple of homes built a model of a big B-52 bomber and wired it across the street.  Throughout the evening the model plane would 'fly over' and open its bomb doors to drop handfuls of candy like a pinata to all of the kids.  I'd estimate there were over 2000 people that made the walk during the evening.  It was really amazing and a fun tradition.

McDonalds here is offering Taro Pies for a limited time.  Like their apple pies it is filled with a sweet purple taro mixture.  It was...unique and definitely and acquired taste.  I can now check that off my bucket list.  We are all looking forward to some time off from school and spending time together as a family.  Having Reed here with us is the perfect Christmas gift!  We miss all of you and you are always in our thoughts.  We'll write more later.

Merry Christmas!!

 

                                                          Reed's arrival in Guam

The Rota Walk on AAFB 2012

Even though Chad didn't mention it, the kids had some friends over last weekend to decorate Gingerbread Houses. 
Tons of candy and lots of laughter!

Tanner has improved so much.  He's shaved off over two minutes in the last three weeks, and will find out the results of Friday's race today.  He is doing awesome, and will race in the all-island meet on Tuesday.