Grandma & Grandpa's visit, Part I.

My Grandparents got in on the Thursday that marked Evelyn's two-week birthday. I drove down to Naha alone because Dan's paternity leave was over by then. Evelyn and I parked, then waited inside with many others who were waiting to greet people as well.

An aquarium in the arrival area of the Naha airport.

The first couple days of their stay we lounged around the house which I was happy to do and I think they were fine with that, too. The jet lag from the trip is pretty awful and long-lingering. Even though they were tired from the trip they were an immense help with Evelyn.

Grandma had brought some goodies from home, including homemade fudge (I devoured it), peanut brittle, chex mix, and some Christmas decor that she had made. Dan and Grandpa enjoyed the peanut brittle and everyone would've enjoyed the fudge a lot more if I wouldn't have snarfed it down so quickly. 

Is it sad to say that I can't remember what we did first? That goes to show me that I should've started blogging about this sooner after they left so the details did not escape me. Oh well, I'll do the best I can. :)

One of the first things we did was get them passes onto the bases, both the Marine bases and the Air Force base. We had to sit and wait for quite some time at the Air Force base as there was a long line for passes and only one fellow working. He was a grouchy son of a gun...probably because he was the only one working.

Before we went to the Air Force base we went to the camp where Dan works for Evelyn's two week visit. We also got their Marine base passes there but wouldn't be able to pick them up until after 1pm so we went to the AF base. After we got their passes we went to the Exchange and grabbed some lunch and did some shopping.

One of the first outings we had off base was driving down to Naha to go to a fresh-fish market. Little did we know that the Sunday we picked to take a drive down was the same Sunday they were hosting the Naha marathon which had 25,000 entrants. It is safe to say that we were stuck in traffic for most of our trip.

After we got through the worst of the traffic we still hadn't found the blasted market. We looked some more and finally decided to turn around and head back home even though we didn't come away with any fresh fish or produce. On our way back home Dan spotted the sign that he thought was the market so we stopped to check it out.

Sure enough, our navigator had gotten us there! There was no fresh fish but we did come away with some wonderful spinach, tangerines, a six-pack of local beer, a head of lettuce, cucumbers, and a giant carrot or two. We taste-tested the tangerines before we left the market parking lot and they were simply splendid. Grandpa had done some research earlier in the day and learned that it is that time of year that tangerines are in season on the island. Yum.

Our next outing was to the Awase fish market, close to the neighborhood where our first house was. Dan wasn't able to come with us to that fish market because he was at work but it was much easier to find than the Naha market; I think we'll be going back there for our fresh fish needs in the future.

Albacore tuna at the Awase Fish market.

Once we got there there was no doubt that we were in the right place - there was a very strong fishy odor when we went through the door. We browsed and were bummed that we did not see any fresh lobster. We got two packages of shrimp and a pink fish that we weren't sure the name of. Attached to the Awase Fish Market there was a little produce stand so we got more tangerines and some other items.

Throughout that next week they were here we hung around the house quite a bit. I got caught up on rest while Grandma helped clean and organize our house. Grandpa took a couple walks around the neighborhood but otherwise hung out in the house with us, watching some movies on Netflix and playing bridge on his computer. They took turns holding Evelyn and they are champs at getting a burp out of a stubborn baby, let me tell you!

Here is where I get my days mixed up. I can't remember if we headed north on Saturday and to the AF Base on Sunday or vice versa...Anyway, here is what we did:

On one of the weekend days, Grandpa and Daniel went golfing on the Air Force base while Grandma and I went to Miss Phai's auction at the Exchange. I wasn't too excited about the auction but was excited I got to spend one-on-one time with my Grandma. I came away from the auction really excited about it, though, and I'd like to go to the auctions again sometime. Grandma got a necklace and a tea set but they didn't say they were selling the tea set "as is" so when she got it we realized it only had three of the six teacups. They refunded her money back. She also bought me some flower pots for the tulip bulbs she brought and gorgeous gold and black vase.

On the other weekend day we drove up to Nago to the Underwater Observatory and glass-bottom boat tour. We went on the glass-bottom boat tour first and saw lots of neat fish. The most memorable, for me, were the bright blue neon fish and the starfish. I've never seen real, live starfish -- only dead, dried ones. There were even some blue starfish, they sure were pretty. We also saw some "Nemo" fish which I believe are technically called clown fish. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

We were going to grab a bite to eat between the glass-bottom boat tour and the Underwater Observatory but the restaurant we were going to eat at was closed. We started walking toward the Underwater Observatory with a fussy, getting-hungrier Evelyn. Grandma, Grandpa, and I went down the stairs first. There were some neat fish down there but I went up after a short bit to go feed Little Miss.

After Evelyn was fed and burped we decided to venture around Nago to find a place to eat. We settled on "Flipper Restaurant" which we wouldn't have found if it wasn't for our great driver, Dan. We had to take a picture by the restaurant's sign for my Mom. Why? Well, if you aren't familiar with our family, you wouldn't know that she endearingly calls her loved ones Flipper. Family friends, too. When she asks me, "How's Flipper doing?" I have to say, "Which one?" It is her way of never getting anyone's name wrong. Clever, right? :)


The last week they were here we hung out around the house some more, puttered about base doing the grocery shopping and browsed what vendors had to offer in the Exchange, and generally enjoyed each other's company. It was wonderful to eat some of Grandma's cooking.

Thursday, the 16th, I brought them to Naha for their flight back to the States. Even though it was raining I parked in an uncovered lot (I couldn't figure out where the entrance was to the covered lot) and got ready to walk them into the airport and to wait for them until they got through security. Grandpa thought it was best for me to just get back in the Honda and go so that I didn't submit Evelyn to the cold drops and slight wind so they had to walk to the terminal in the rain. I do regret that; if their suitcases wouldn't have been out of the car already I would've taken them up to the terminal in the car.

Grandpa is a smart man, though, and it made the goodbyes easier. Goodbyes of any sort or hard but they seem to be harder the longer they are drawn out so he saved us from that. I still cried while leaving though and cried once I got home. It was so sweet to have them here. I am going to love having loved ones come to visit but man, I'll always be waterworks when they leave!

Photobucket is being pesky so I'll come back with a "Part II" featuring more photos.