Ethan...I'm ready to play...

Jacob has a new friend that was born 3 weeks ago named Ethan. Jacob is so excited to be able to have another friend to play with while his other friend Logan is in the states chillin like a villain. Here are the pics of the boys playing.

Susan wasn't the only one to climb Mt. Fuji. I climbed with some folks from the ship and was lucky enough to complete my first re-enlistment at the top! Great time!

D

Mt. Fuji 2009...

On the 29th of August I went with my friend Amy to attempt to climb Mt. Fuji. Well for me it did not work so well. After hiking about two hours I got nauseated and was so out of breath that I had to turn around. I though my heart was going to beat out of my chest. So I turned around and Amy kept going. She did an awesome job and made it to the top about 5 hours later. I was so happy to see her at the end and to hear about what it looked like at the top. We has such a clear day which is unusual for that high elevation. I guess I can't complain about not making it to the top cause really....how many people can say that attempted to hike Mt. Fuji ( the tallest mountain/ Volcano in Japan)? So I am not going to beat my self up over it. I had fun and will never forget my trip. Here are the pics.

First highchair at a resturant...

Jacob has mastered sitting in a highchair now and looking like a big boy more and more everyday. He is 5 months and 2 weeks here. So glad he can now join mommy and daddy at the table now when we go out.

First music lesson...

Kayoko's mom sat Jacob on her lap and he was mesmerised by the music she was playing. Kayoko's niece and nephew joined in by playing the violin and finger chimes. Kayoko and her mother both play the piano so maybe we will come back to the states with a little Mozart. haha

"Dining Out"

Portions of the event tend to become quite humorous in nature, while others remain somber. Etiquette requires a diner to know what is appropriate at any given time.
The dining in follows established protocols. After a brief cocktail period of 30 to 45 minutes, the presiding officer, known as the "President of the Mess", announces, "Please be seated." The group will then retire to the dining area to be seated.
After tasting the meat (usually beef), the President will declare it "tasty and fit for human consumption", after which the meal will be served to the diners. After the dessert is finished, the President will invite the chief steward to bring forth wine and/or punch to be served, and toasting will begin. After the toasts have concluded, the floor will be opened to the levying of fines. The president and the guest of honor will have the opportunity to speak if they so desire. After this, the mess is often then returned to an open cocktail hour, and then the evening concludes with final honors.

Violations of the formal etiquette of the dining in are "punished", generally with fines. The following are considered "Violations of the Mess":
untimely arrival at proceedings
smoking at the table before the lighting of the smoking lamp
haggling over date of rank
improper wear of uniform
inverted cummerbund (Note that U.S. Army regulation requires that cummerbunds be worn upside down: i.e. pleats down.)[5]
wearing a clip-on bow tie at an obvious list
gaffes
loud and obtrusive remarks in a foreign language
foul language
discussion on a controversial topic (politics, religion, and women are commonly forbidden topics)
improper toasting procedure
toasting with an uncharged (empty) glass
rising to applaud particularly witty, succinct, sarcastic, or relevant toasts, unless following the example of the President
leaving the dining room without permission from the President of the Mess
carrying cocktails into the dining area before the conclusion of dinner
haggling over penalties or fines imposed
drawing a sword except in ceremony

At Army and Air Force dinings-in, violators of the mess are obliged to publicly drink from a grog bowl in front of the mess attendees. The grog is sometimes contained in a toilet bowl, consisting of various alcoholic beverages mixed together. As a more disgusting effect, the grog may also contain floating solids, such as meatballs, raw oysters, or Tootsie Rolls. The tradition of drinking grog originated with the British Navy.

Kayoko was our babysitter for the night. She is so great and Jacob LOVES her! Thanks Kayoko :)

Holding his own bottle...

At 5 months and 2 weeks, Jacob has decided that he no longer needs me to help him drink his bottle. :( I feel like he is growing up too fast and want to press the pause button. He has so much personality these days and is full of smiles. Here are some pics of my baby boy...