"Winter" in Guam

Looking at this picture you would think it was a typical wintery day in Seattle.  However, it is the results of an unusually stormy weekend here in Guam.  In fact, we all decided that we just had our "winter" season.  We had two days of rain with completely grey skies, and it was relatively cool -  probably 78 degrees

We've had high surf warnings since Thursday so we've been experiencing abnormally strong currents, rip tides, and white caps in bays and at beaches which are normally quite calm.  The surf warnings are supposed to last until tomorrow so we decided to take a drive and check out the ocean after church today.  We dodged multiple waves of rain showers, braved high winds, and took some fun pictures . . .

Another wave of rain is about to hit.

Strong winds!

 

Hold on tight!!  :)

10' to 15' waves today - stunning, amazing, incredible . . . I've run out of words to describe the beauties of the water here.

These pictures were taken on the other side of the island during a volleyball game that Chad, Reed,  and Rachel attended.  Amazing the difference 8 miles can make.  On the Pacific Ocean side - clear skies and a few showers.  On the East Philippine Sea side - grey, windy and lots of rain.  Crazy!

Grilled Tuna and Tanner's Day

Grilled Tuna
Last Thursday, as Chad, the bishop and the 1st counselor were finishing up bishopric visits, they stopped by a man's house who happens to be a fisherman.  As they were leaving he gave each of them a yellow-fin tuna he had just caught that day.  Chad was thrilled and put it in the fridge.  The next day he and Reed cleaned it, prepared it and grilled it for dinner.  All I can say is . . . YUM!!

Tanner's Day
For Christmas Jessica and Rachel told Tanner that on January 12th they would give him "Tanner Day."  He could do, or have them do ANYTHING he wanted!  (However mom was called upon to be the judge and mediator in case things got out of hand . . . just sayin')  :0)

"Tanner's Day" actually went from 5p Friday night to 5p Saturday night.  On Friday night we had pizza, (along with our tuna - see above post) and then watched three episodes of a new family favorite "Eureka."

Bright and early Saturday morning, after being served his breakfast of choice (homemade banana muffins, oatmeal and a big bowl of cantaloupe, raspberries and blueberries), everyone but Sloan went to exercise and then to the pool.  (Sloan had a family history training class and was very sad to have missed the outing!).   On their way home Tanner was hungry so they stopped at (horror of horrors) . . . McDonalds . . .  After coming home and doing a few chores (done by everyone but Tanner), we played several of the games we got for Christmas.  As it drew near to 5p, Tanner made one last ditch effort to be waited on hand and foot.  For his last request he was able to procure a muffin, a sandwich, a York Peppermint Pattie and a drink.

Everyone had so much fun, we've decided to make it a tradition for everyone.  On the Saturday closest to your half-birthday each of us will get to celebrate "our day." Niiiice.  I'm already starting to plan!!

Happy New Years and back to school . . .

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

Each year for New Years Eve we go to a different ethnic restaurant.  Since we are in Guam we decided to go to . . . a Jamaican Grill?? :0} Very tasty.  Two thumbs up from everyone!!

Three days before school started, all of us went to the theater and watched, "Les Miserables."  Wow!!  I hope it wins some awards.  We thought it was VERY well done.  In fact Rachel went again the next weekend with friends, and the kids are still singing songs from the soundtrack around the house.

Back to School
We had so much fun over the break that it was REALLY hard for everyone to go back to school on Monday, January 7th.  Although this is typically shown as the difference between a Friday and a Monday, this hilarious video clip is actually VERY descriptive of our household when comparing the day of break, to the last day of break . . . and back to school . . .

Christmas Break part 2

We also went snorkeling several times - mostly to San Luis and Gab Gab beaches (both located on the Navy base).  It was fun, but due to storms out at sea, the water was a little choppy and visibility wasn't as clear as it normally is.

                                          Snorkeling at San Luis

So many fun shapes and colors!

I love the varieties of coral we see

                             Enjoying the sun and scenery at Gab Gab

Love those colors!!

Watching the Nautilus submerge

Chamorro Village is a market in Agana (Hagatna) that sells local produce and touristy nicknacks.  On Wednesday nights they have a huge night market which includes hundreds of vendors and food booths.  Chad says it's kind of a mix between Pike Place Market and the Puyallup Fair (without the rides - unless you count the caribao).  Because the girls have seminary on Wed. nights they have never been able to go to it.  So, since they didn't have seminary over the holidays we took advantage and went to it the Wed. before school started.  We had a lot of fun and made some great memories! The boys held a monitor lizard and a coconut crab, we shared some amazing fruit juices, and we all had fun ballroom dancing. :o)

Christmas Break part 1

Since we had a week and a half left before Chad and the kids had to head back to school we spent our time having fun and enjoying each other!  Here are some pictures of our many activities . . .

Just before Christmas the kids enjoyed a day together.

They went to lunch . . .

and stopped for a photo shoot at a favorite park

 . . . shopped

Check out those blues and greens . . . unbelievable!!

Hiking, aka Boonie Stomping, is very popular.  There are several books filled with different hikes that can be taken.  Some end up at stunning beaches, others end up at waterfalls or spectacular views.  One morning Rachel, Tanner and Sloan got up at 4:30am so we could go with a group of friends on a sunrise hike up Mt. Lam Lam.  It's the highest peak on Guam.  We hiked up - mostly by flashlight - and then back down and drove home; all by 9:30am.

Another day our whole family went hiking to Talofofo Caves.  It is a series of four caves - each one of them unique in some way.  One was really long and dark, one was very deep and dark (we didn't go very far down that one), and for two of them we had to crawl through really tight places, squeeze through caverns, climb up and down caves walls, and eventually come on the other side of the mountain which was overlooking Talofofo.  It was beautiful!!  You can see clear to Yona (pronounced Joan-ya).  We went with several other families and had a great time hiking, talking, taking pictures, avoiding huge spiders, drinking water and tasting wild berries.

Entrance to the cave that was deep

The first cave we went into - long and dark

A view of Talofofo from the side of the mountain.  We went in one side of the cave and crawled around until we popped out here.

As part of our ward missionary efforts, the missionaries typically organize some sort of sports activity once a month.  We usually play volleyball - either at Ipan Beach on the east side, or at our church building on the west side.  For this month's activity Bro. Albert reserved a local baseball field so we had a ward baseball game and potluck.  It poured most the night, but it was still warm, and the rain didn't seem to deter too many people.  Several non-members came and a great time was had by all!

Several of our days were spent at the Charles King Fitness Center's pool.  Our Christmas break was mostly blue skies and sunny during the day.  Pretty hard to complain!!  One day we did have about 10-15 minutes of hard rain.  Chad and the girls had been out of the pool reading, so they just sat under a covered area until the rain stopped.  Sloan and the boys continued to play in the pool.  Much of the time was spend playing with our new underwater camera.  We got it mostly for snorkeling, but figured the pool was a great place to practice.  :o)

Christmas in Guam

About a week before Christmas we had our monthly devotional down in Merizo.  As part of the devotional, some the primary children and youth acted out the nativity.

I always love going down to Merizo; especially for the devotionals.  Chad spoke for a bit and shared an observation that has stuck with me.  He commented that many people (mostly people from the states) kept commenting on how it was hard to realize it's Christmas because it is so warm and tropical here.  However, the surroundings & climate where Christ was born may have been similar to what we are experiencing.  It may have been more arid, yet still warm; and some of the vegetation is the same.  Regardless, it's not the temperature or the weather that makes it Christmas, but the love in our hearts, a remembrance of our Savior (His birth and His life), as well as a desire for goodness, forgiveness, giving and service.


Christmas day for our family was very enjoyable and relaxing.  Here is a before shot . . .

 . . . and after:

Later in the afternoon we all walked down to watch the sunset at Old Wives beach.

If you remember our blog from Okinawa, you may remember my tradition of making Christmas "sandmen" instead of "snowmen" at the beach on Christmas day.

Our Ninja Master

Jessica and Sloan

Sunset on Guam, with my boyfriend  . . . and we live here!