Chuck the Truck Travels the World

Now that Matthew is 2 1/2 years old, he has started to understand when Daddy has to leave for a few weeks to go "fly an airplane" (aka: TDY).  This means that Ryan is away for a few days or a few weeks at a time, and Matthew sure does miss him!

About a month after Catherine was born, Ryan was scheduled to go on another TDY.  Since we had spent so much quality time as a family, we knew it was going to be harder on Matthew to see Daddy leave again.  So, we came up with the idea for Ryan to take one of Matthew's trucks with him and he could photo-journal his travels with "Chuck the Truck".  Ryan really got creative and has had lots of fun taking pictures of Chuck traveling the world, so I thought it would be neat to share them within the blogging world too.  Since we're stationed in Japan, Ryan has gotten to travel to some really neat countries, so this allows us to also keep track of where he's been.  

I think it's just as exciting for me to receive the pictures as it is for Matthew.  We both have so much fun opening the email and looking at all the fun places that Chuck and Daddy are visiting.  Hope you enjoy the photos too!

Here are pictures from Chuck the Truck's trip to Okinawa, Japan and Australia.  See if you can find Chuck in each photo!

Chuck the Truck landed safely in Okinawa, Japan

Having pizza with Daddy at Kadena AFB, Japan

Taking a nap...zzzzzzzzz

Having a fun fruity drink at Sams-by-the-Sea in Okinawa

The staff at Sam's-by-the-Sea thinks Chuck the Truck is A-Okay!

Where are we going next, Chuck?

Chuck making friends!

Chuck signed the guest book at Sams-by-the-Sea

Ready for the flight

A beautiful sunrise in Okinawa

Big Wheels vs. Little Wheels

Big Truck vs. Little Truck

Checking out the view

Charting the flight to Australia

Admiring the big clouds along the way

Sunset in Darwin, Australia

Chuck the Truck enjoys a hearty meal after a long flight. He ate Crocodile sausage and Kangaroo steak!

Flying to Sydney, Australia

Sydney at night...

Sydney at sunrise

Chuck the Truck helps the Australian police.  Can you spot Chuck?

Life as a Family of 4

Words can't express how much I love being a Mother to our two beautiful children.  I had anticipated that it would be hard, and it is at times, but I honestly feel so blessed!  The months of July and August were a complete whirlwind for our family.  Ryan was TDY for the majority of both months, so I felt challenged at times as a "single Mom" while he was away.  We have settled into a very nice routine and I feel like our transition to a family of four has gone more smoothly than I expected.  Here are a few pictures we took of the children during those months...it's amazing to me how quickly they grow right before your eyes! 

Catherine - 1 month old

Matthew - July 4th weekend

There was a goat for sale in a local store in Japan -- it could be yours for 59,800 Yen or almost $800!

My favorite Japanese lunch from a place called Pepper Lunch -- it's rice, corn, steak, scallions, and freshly ground pepper that is served on a sizzling hot plate where you stir and "cook" your food.  It's delicious!

Sweet smiling Catherine

Matthew out in Tokyo

Thumbs up!  I like it!

Sitting on the back of a firetruck at a birthday party

My sweet baby boy!

Catherine's model pose  :)

I'm a happy girl!

This is a picture of Catherine at 2 1/2 months old wearing a baby blouse that I wore as a baby...she looks just like Matthew did at this age (see the photo below...).

Matthew at almost 3 months.  do you see the resemblance?

Pretty girl - 2 months old

Wearing one of my baby blouses

Look at all that beautiful red hair!!

Our First Visitors to Japan!

A few weeks after Catherine was born, we were excited to welcome our first visitors to Japan!  Ryan's parents, Mark and Candy, arrived and stayed with us for two wonderful weeks.  Not only was it fun for Matthew and Catherine to have some time with their grandparents, but it was also fun to show them our new "home" here in Japan.  We did some sightseeing and lots of relaxing.  Overall, it was a special time with family!

Of course, we had to make a stop by Starbucks!

Looking out at Fussa City (near the base) from the roof of the local Seiyu.

Awesome view of a C-130 while playing golf on the Yokota base course.

Playing cars - Matthew's favorite thing to do these days!

Having fry-frys at a Japanese McDonald's

Riding Thomas the Train with Grandma at the Ome Train Museum

At the Ome Train Museum

Riding a train with Grandpa at the Ome Train Museum

Candy and Mark

Swinging at the park

Reading books on the "baby" couch

Playing at the park with Grandma.  Peek-a-boo!

Grandpa introducing Catherine to sushi

Touring a C-130

Dinner out at Un Quinto - a delicious Japanese Italian restaurant

Do you see Mt. Fuji?  It's supposed to be right there!!

The Falls near the base of Mt. Fuji

By the time we were heading home, the clouds finally started to lift so you could see the top of Mt. Fuji.

Reading books with Grandpa!