A new friend!

 Marian found the largest walking stick I have ever seen! And they hung out together for a bit.  Check this bad boy out.  (And stay tuned for a classic Rylee selfie at the bottom.)

Cousins and Chicks

 Kera and most of her kids came to hang out when Kristy and her minions left.  The girls especially enjoyed harassing...er...holding the new baby chicks.  I think the chicks were a little less thrilled. Please enjoy the selfies, shenanigans and, sweet little chickens.

Hickory Park

 My sister in law brought her kids out for a few days so we could hang out.  Cousins are the best!  Much fun was had, and my girls demanded a trip to Hickory Park.  It IS tradition, and they love the merry-go-round.  I'm petty sure it is the last one left in the US, so we had to go.  You can see that much fun was had by all.

Annual Pilgrimage Begins!

 We began our trip to Arkansas!  This year it was just me and the girls.  Josh stayed home to work all summer.  He needs that college money!

I love these goobers!  We had three legs to fly:  Okinawa to Narita, Narita to Chicago, and Chicago to Springfield.  This was Narita. 

Sleep masks are the best!

These girls make me laugh.

We ate at Chili's in Chicago, and this was the photo I texted to Dan. 

So ready to be done flying, but still happy to be on our way. 

The last leg always looks like this!  Probably because no one really sleeps on the first tow. 

It's only Hair.... and other things

I never thought I would be a mom who let her kids dye their hair.  and now, I kind of am.  It's just hair.  And it is a simple thing to change and experiment with and it will grow out.  Is we have tried the temporary dye before and now the girls wanted to try Koolaid dye.  It is super simple.  Boil hot water for 2 minutes while stirring the Koolaid, then put it in a container and dip the hair in it.

We had limited color options at the commissary.  Pretty much pink lemonade, fruit punch, or grape.  

We went for grape.

And it totally came our magenta-ey.  Still pretty cool.

Callie tried Fruit Punch and got this lovely dark maroon.

No her hair isn't that uneven.  She was turning her head while I was trying to get this picture!

And then.... Callie wanted to go to American Village, where they have angel wings painted on the side of a building. 

We found them, but I had totally forgotten my phone, and thus my camera at home!

Fortunately, we had invited our new friends and they 10 year old took pictures of the girls and sent me the photos.