Brody's graduation and Round 1

Mr. Policeman leading off the show!

Brody graduated from preschool (finally, no more tuition!) He had an end of the year performance the last day of school. The program was called "Community Helpers" and he was a policeman. He opened the play up and started everyone in the singing of the National Anthem. It was a very cute performance. The fireman's costume that my mom made for Hunter a few years ago was also used by another child for the play.

Yes, that is me riding a bull!!

Brody driving a semi-truck in a video game

On Friday, the first day both boys were home together, we went to Round 1. It is an indoor, multi level play place. There is batting cages, tennis, badminton, roller skating, an arcade, play structure, you name it, they probably have it. There was never a dull moment the entire 3 hours we were there (Joe was at work and missed all the fun) Everything was included in the price. We almost had the place to our self! The boys were tired when we got home but ready to take dad whenever he says he wants to go.

Brody playing soccer

Skateboard video game
Both boys are in swim lessons, we are going on week 2. The first day of lessons, Hunter got moved up a level. Brody thought that because they were in the same class, it was a package deal and he was getting to move up too! Brody stayed in level 2 and Hunter is in level 3. Brody is more of an underwater swimmer and could really care less if his arms come out of the water (as in doing freestyle). He sinks like a brick when trying to float and his treading water looks like he is bobbing in the water. All of this does not bother him, he is just happy to be in the water. We go to rec swim on the weekends and Hunter just passed his "swim test" which allows him to swim wherever he wants. Brody still has to stay within an arms reach of a parent because he has not passed the test. The test included a 25m swim with a recognizable stroke (no doggy paddle), float 1 minute, tread water 1 minute. Of course Hunter (whose glass is half empty sometimes) said that he couldn't do it and wasn't going to do it. And me, being mother of the year, told him he had no choice and he was going to try the swim test because I didn't want 2 kids hanging on me in the pool! Probably not the best motivation but he did try and passed! Maybe he should always listen to his mother!!!
I'm sure there will be more adventures to come. Joe is taking 2 days off this week (June 22 week). I thought it was because he was planning something for us to do on our anniversary.... no, he has too many days on the books and has to start taking time off before he loses them!

Brody boxing


Brody in the ball pit

Happy Birthday Joe!!!

Butch Vasquez and Joe












This blog was suppose to be of Joe and his triathlon but due to the weather the triathlon got postponed. So here is pictures from Joe's birthday celebration!! We went out to lunch on Saturday at the Tee house but didn't have any cake until Sunday. We had the Scott's over for dinner (they leave on Wednesday for Quantico)and then the Curtin's, Woodworth's, and the Vasquez's came over for cake. Joe got an oatmeal raisin cookie cake (all I had was pink frosting) and peppermint pattie poke cake. I am not allowed to say how old Joe is but most of you can figure it out or already know. But if you want to know just ask the boys, they were telling everyone his age. He got running shoes, racing flats, a wetsuit, bathing suit, running shirts, and hats for his birthday.
Jon Woodworth (Joe's boss), Joe and Butch
Mike attempting to play Wii Circus
Mike and Jo-Elle got Joe a Wii circus game and a 6 pack....of snapple!
Joe and the boys at the Tee House restaurant on Kadena. It over looks the golf course, flight line and you can see the ocean (but not today due to the rain)

Field Trip

Eisa Dancers and Drummers

Hunter with the Ox they use for farming

On Tuesday, Hunter's class went to Ryukyu Mura. It is a place where you can see all the ancient Okinawa villages, pottery factory, and brown sugar factory. There was also some Eisa dancing, a lion dance and the parade of royalty. The place was interesting and short to walk through so that is why the kids enjoyed it. It did start to rain towards the end of the field trip but we were inside by then.


Joe is now in CA getting ready for the Marine Triathlon Championships. He flew there from England where he competed with the All- Marine running team against the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines won this race but will come to the U.S. to compete again in the Marine Corps Marathon. The race in England is only a half marathon. Joe wasn't very pleased with his time, he thought he could do better, but he did run it in 1 hour 20 minutes. Next up for him (once he gets home) is a short triathlon on June 14th.

Mrs. Rawls 1st grade class

We have been getting lots of rain lately. Rainy season is here and typhoon season starts June 1 and ends in Nov. We had a hard rain the other night and I got up in the morning to find worms in my house! The doors on the houses don't have good seals and it was raining so hard and so long that the worms came in the house. My neighbor told me this is normal. Only 5 worms made it in but I had to get them out myself. Everything always happens when Joe is gone (I'm sure a few of you remember the mouse incident when Hunter was a baby!!I know my dad does) Anyway, this time it was just worms!!

A Stitch in Time....

Let me catch everyone up to date on the excitement in the Galvin household. On Monday night, Joe was packing his bike up to take to the triathlon in CA. He was trying to get the peddle off of his bike to put on another bike. Needless to say, it was on VERY tight. He pull and pull and then I heard mumbling and the light flick on in the bathroom (it was 10:00PM). I go into the bathroom to find Joe pouring water on his wrist and blood just following out of his wrist. As a good Athletic Trainer, the first thing I asked him was if he got blood on the carpet! I looked at it and determined that he should go and get stitches. So I call Jo-Elle (I am really going to miss her when she moves) and she came to sit at the house while we ran to the ER. Our "quick trip" to the ER lasted 5 hours. We arrived back home at 3:30 AM with 5 stitches and still more packing for his trip.


He finally got the peddle off, finished packing and went to bed. He will be competing in England in a half marathon this coming weekend and hopefully will be doing the triathlon in CA the next. He is still waiting to hear the final word on if he is going to the tri so he packed like he was going! I am very tired but was able to get him to the airport, grocery shop, pick up the kids from school and cook dinner, now I think I will go to bed!!


Soccer is finally done. Both boys had their end of the year party and got their trophies. They will be signing up for baseball in June. The end of the school year is coming, lots of field trips to chaperon. I have no new pictures because Joe didn't want a picture of his wrist taken so here are more from Family Fun day!!

Family Fun Day

Last Saturday was Family Fun Day at Cherry Blossom Preschool. It was a day of games and food. It was held on base, which was a good thing since Brody had a 9:00 soccer game. It was a hot, humid day but the kids didn't seem to mind. Brody was on the white team (hence the color of his hat) and Hunter was allowed to join in too. They had an obstacle course, tug of war, kids walk on parents feet, and a blanket race (the child sits in the blanket and 2 adults run with them in it). There was alot of food too. Since some of the kids are Japanese and the teachers too, there was alot of Japanese food. Joe was in heaven. Apparently, the boys like rice balls because that is all they ate along with some chu-chus (they are like the frozen otter pops).

After the family day, we went to Hunter's soccer game. By that time it was extremely hot and humid. Brody played with an umbrella during the game (he was suppose to use it to block the sun but some how he used it as a bucket and was putting dirt in it) Hunter had some nice assists to help his team to a win.


That evening, I went out to a surprise going away party for our neighbor Jo-Elle. For those of you who don't know, Mike and Jo are from MI and went to Western MI. Since Joe and I went to Central MI there is alot of trash talking going back and forth between houses. They are moving this summer to go to Quantico, VA for a year. We will miss them and their twin boys (age 2) but hope to meet up with them again at another duty station. Joe has always worked the air side of the Marine Corps and Mike is a C-130 pilot so hopefully this will work out. Anyway, we went to a Karaoke place where you get your own room to sing, so the only people that can hear you is the people who came with you. It was alot of fun and I think we all went home hoarse from yelling the songs instead of singing them!!Not the most appealing shot of us but it is all I have.


Joe has made the Marine Corps running team again and will be traveling to England soon. He will be running a half marathon. Hopefully, he will make the triathlon team and travel to CA for the championships there. If he does make the tri team, he won't be back to Okinawa until the beginning of June. We are use to having him gone over the Memorial holiday and proud of him for his accomplishments.

Winding Down

Finally, the end of soccer is coming. Last weekend had Joe and I at different games (different bases for that matter) to watch the kids. I stayed with Hunter and Joe made the trek out to Camp Courtney (30 min. one way) to watch Brody. Hunter's team is very good and have many talented players. They are very discipline and do what the coach tells them. After the game, which they won, the other team accused the coach of hand picking his team and stacking the field. Of course Hunter hears this and turns to ask me if his coach is cheating. At practice on Monday the coach explained that the teams were already formed and all he had to do was pick the group of names he wanted. No one got to hand pick the teams. I think Hunter feels better knowing this because he hasn't said anything since.

Brody played the entire game on Sat. He scored a goal. Actually, the other girl kicked it and it went off Brody's leg and into the goal, so we count that as a goal. On the way home, he asked Joe if they could go to Building 1 (where Joe works) and go work out (there is a mini gym in the basement). I guess all that running around didn't tire him out enough.


I spent 2.5 days power washing the driveway and sidewalk. It was a very long boring process. I did forget to put sunscreen on one day and I am still paying for that. Joe helped a little but once I got into the groove I didn't want to be interrupted. I was ready to quit after only doing a quarter of the driveway but that would have looked really bad. I never want to see a power washer again. I think my hand was stuck in the trigger pull position for awhile. I did take a break on Friday to go and have cocktails with the ladies (AKA "The View" according to Joe - he says all we do is talk about nothing, just like the show). It was a well deserved break.

We have family fun day coming up this weekend, along with 2 more soccer games and one race for Joe. Talk to you next week.

"The View" is (l to r) Trina, Gretchen, Chris, Laurie.
Trina and Laurie have kids in Hunter's class and all of us live within 3 houses of each other. This was taken on Easter Sunday before the egg hunt.

New Car

We did it!! We now are proud owners of 2 cars. I have a friend who works at Vehicle Registration and in Japan you have to de-register your car when you leave. She found a girl who was leaving the island on Sat. (this is Thurs) and she was going to junk her car. Amanda told her she had a friend who needed a car so the girl gave it to us! Yes, that is not a typo- we got a car for free. Sure, we had to pay the road tax and car insurance but other than that we paid nothing. The car will eventually need brakes (which Joe thinks he remembers how to do thanks to Jon Geske) but it will get Joe to work and back. Gone are the days of Joe riding his bike to work!!!

We had soccer again this weekend and Joe had a race. He completed in a triathlon but it was a team event. He went to the race thinking he was going to do the biking portion of it but was told at the last minute that he would be the runner. His team came in 2nd and the boys were excited when they saw the trophy (the trophy could have said "last place" and the kids would have been equally excited) We did not go to the race due to CCD (Sunday school) so I have no pictures of the race. Next weekend... no soccer!! I don't know what I will do with myself.