December 2023

Owen started Newspaper Club at the beginning of the month which will last until the end of the year.  Owen is pretty excited about going to his club sessions.  He goes on Monday and Thursday and then walks home on his own.  Then I meet him at home.  If he makes it home before I do he will send me a message through Skype using the laptop at the house.  Owen and Milton both have piano lessons on Tuesdays and they ride their bikes on their own to and from the lesson.  Owen goes first for a 30-minute lesson and then Milton goes second.  Milton is really motivated to make it to the same level book as Owen.  The piano teacher tried to do a zoom recital but it was rather ineffective.  Milton refused to join, so Owen played Milton's music too.  Owen is playing with both hands now which is out of my skill set.  I tell him that I am only helpful with reading the bass clef line and he's on his own for what the notes are on the treble line. Owen really loves music.  Milton is a huge builder and puts together super intricate designs for some sort of vehicle or other creative scenario. The end of December is the big Japan cruise with MSC but we were still able to jam a ton of stuff for Christmas in those first two weeks. We went up to the Rota walk at the Air Force Base where one of the roads gets totally decked out with Christmas lights.  It is a really cool display.  My favorite part is all the military gear integrated into the design.  Not many places would have an illuminated bomb shell in their front yard.  This year we watched the Operation Christmas Drop movie which is set at the Andersen Air Force Base and features the Operation Christmas Drop. It was a cute movie.  This was the first year we were able to get a spot to help assemble and decorate a box for the Operation Christmas Drop.  I've been trying to find out about that ever since we got here because it is rather hush hush on how to sponsor a box since there are so many people interested. The boys got to open their presents from family on their first day of Christmas break which made those days before our departure much more fun.  They got probably a million more legos.  Then the boxes that Rod and Ileene sent had not arrived yet either so the boys are getting Christmas in several different stages.