Happy New Year 2011

Merry Christmas
Christmas has come and gone along with Brody's birthday and new years eve and the boys and I are still recovering. Christmas was hard this year without Joe there but I think it was harder on me than the kids. They were playing with all their toys since they were opened. I have put together at least 8 Lego sets while Brody put together one. I guess it is more fun to play with them than put them together. Hunter had a baseball themed Christmas and he couldn't be happier. Brody had a Lego and Star Wars theme going with his presents. We all had fun in the kitchen making SW pancakes and cookies (Thanks Nee!)
Star Wars in the Kitchen



For Brody's birthday, we went bowling. He took two friends. We bowled, we ate, we bowled some more then ate cake. Brody's birthday has been a month long celebration. We started when Joe was home at Thanksgiving with a cake and now have finally closed the birthday month.
New Webkinz from Nana and Opa

New Year's Eve took us up to Nago to the Marriott. Our friends were staying up there and invited us to come play for the day. The boys swam while Micky and I hung out in the lounge. We made it home around 7pm and tried to stay up till midnight but we didn't last.


The new year also brought Hunter impetigo! I have no idea how he got it but the left side of his body was hit hard. We finally went to the doctor and got on anti-biotic but most of the lesions had scabbed over. I figured after the school nurse called me (while I was subbing in Kindergarten) to tell me that Hunter would be spending the rest of the day with her, it was time to make an appointment. He is on the mend now. He never had any other symptoms but the sores which was a good sign.


Joe has 3 months left. He was suppose to come home the 1st of March but now he has to stay for a Change of Command. They are extending him about 2 more weeks (what's 2 more weeks after already completing 52 weeks??)so he won't be home until end of March. There are guys who came over after him and are getting to go home before him- not fair in my book! No word yet on where we are going in the fall. We do know for sure that it will be stateside. Joe has been accepted to the SEP Law program. He will be going somewhere to get his LLM in International Law. This is only for 1 year then we will be on the road again.
Snow at the zoo.


The CA house finally sold!!! Although we loved our neighbors, we knew that we wouldn't be going back to the house and now was the time to get rid of it. Until next time...

Snow Festival at the zoo.

It's been awhile...

His flight has arrived
Seeing Dad for the first time
Lots of hugs for dad
It has been awhile since my last post. Joe came home for his R&R for 2 weeks in Nov. He was able to spend Thanksgiving, Hunter and my birthday with us. The boys were very excited to greet him at the airport. The boys hung on him the entire 2 weeks he was home. Joe and I went to Forest Adventure. It is a zip line course 120 feet above the ground. I am not thrilled with heights but we had a great time. It was a work out climbing all the ropes but worth it. We did take pictures but unfortunately they are all on Joe's camera. I forgot to transfer them to my computer. So the pictures will have to wait.

Rock Band with Dad

All the boys did the Distance Dare. It is a distance event. The swimmer has 2 hours to complete 5000M (3.1 miles) or as many laps as they can do. Brody and Joe were competing to the first time. Brody completed 2400M in 2 hours. He wanted to get out at an hour but I kept giving him "power pellets" (fruit snacks) and he felt he could finish the swim. Hunter completed 5000M in 1 hour 39 minutes. He set the new record for 8 year old boys. Joe completed 5000M in 1 hour 45 minutes. Yes, Hunter is faster than him but he also hasn't been swimming for 9 months. For the Distance Dare, the Galvins hold the record for either time or distance in 6 and 8 years old.






The last swim meet was this weekend (12/11). Brody got his first blue ribbon in the breast stroke. Both boys did great and are happy to take a break from swimming. Flag football has started and the games will start in January. We were lucky to get on a team with some friends so the boys knew someone on their team already.

Joe returned to Afghanistan and will be there until March. He thought he was going to be able to come home the end of February but it isn't looking that way. He now is coming back around the middle to late March. He is staying about 2 weeks longer than expected due to a change of command. I guess we have already done a year, what is 2 weeks more???






The boys and I will celebrate Christmas in the morning on the 25th then it is off to the baseball field across the street for a neighborhood kickball game. After the game we are going to Trina's house for drinks and food. I think the boys will be so excited about kickball (we usually play once a month in the hood when the weather is nice) that they won't be too bothered that Joe is gone. I will post pictures from the big game, so be looking out for that.

Swim Again

The boys are back in the pool and have already had one meet. Hunter is not very thrilled with swimming but is doing it until football starts. He swam the 50 freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly. He did very well in all 3 events and was able to place 1st in all three. Although he hates butterfly, he is pretty good at it.





Brody swam in his first swim meet. I guess it doesn't matter if he is swimming or not...he was ready to go home half way through the meet. He swam the 25 freestyle, backstroke and kickboard. He was able to place 4th, 6th, and 8th place. I don't remember what stroke he got what place but he was very excited to win some ribbons. Unfortunately, the boys are in the same age group so Brody will have to beat his brother but so far they have not competed in the same event.





The Marine Corps birthday was Wed, Nov. 10th, the boys had the day off of school for conferences. We went to see the parade of Marines through the years. They have people dressed in the uniform that Marines would wear during that war. Hunter was having a good time guessing what war it was and Brody was counting the flags in the background. Brody did lean over half way through and ask me if Dad was a Marine. I said yes and he turned and said "okay". They also had no school on the 11th for Veterans Day. According to Brody, it is Ventrance Day! It was funny to listen to. No school again on Friday for conferences.
A rare photo of me before bunco!

I had Bunco at my house on Friday. It was a hunting theme. All the ladies came dressed in orange and played bunco. It was fun and even the boys got into the spirit of things. Joe should be home this weekend. I will let you know when he gets here.

Rocky and Ryan

Hunter and his new shirt.

Well, after Typhoon Chaba came through it was time to get ready for the weekend. Chaba hit on Thursday which cancelled school for the boys. We had strong wind and lots of rain. We didn't have any damage to our stuff but there were a lot of downed trees on base. The boys were back in school on Friday and then our busy weekend began!

On Saturday, the boys were suppose to have a swim meet but that got moved to this weekend due to the storm. I had planned a surprise 40th birthday party for my friend Chris that evening. Chris's husband deployed just after Joe (but he went to Iraq) and he is also gone for a year. Saturday happened to be their wedding anniversary too so we were able to celebrate both of them. She was very surprised and everything went very smoothly. I started getting a sore throat Sta. evening so my appearance at the party didn't last long.
Allison, Gretchen, Carol, Michelle, Tanna, Trina, Carol,Rebecca, Gina, Chris (sitting in chair)

Sunday was the day to trick or treat on base. He boys both dressed up. Hunter went as Rocky Balboa and Brody went as his cousin, Ryan Klahn. Ryan plays football for Kalamazoo College and both boys were sent a t shirt. I put Ryan's number on the back of the t-shirt so Brody dressed up as a football player. As I was standing on the sidewalk, I could hear this man talking to the boys. This is how the conversation went:
Man: "How's it going Rocky? Have you won any matches lately? And who are you? (looking at Brody)
Brody: "I am Ryan."
Man: "Well, Hello Ryan!"
Showing off his number


Brody insisted on wearing a hat for the picture because that "is what Ryan does!"

I know the man thought that his name was actually Ryan so after I explained to Brody what he needed to say, he was telling people "I am Ryan. He is my cousin. He plays for Kalamazoo College. He gave me his number."
Rocky Balboa
The boys before they went out. Isaac Anderson (Chris's son), Brody, Hunter


That isn't exactly what I told him but that was what he was repeating the entire night! They both got lots of candy and for the first time since we have been here, it didn't rain. More later.

Fall Festival

Brody throwing a sponge at the Principal at the Fall Festival

Another busy weekend in the Galvin household. The boys' school had the Fall Festival on Friday. I was there from 11:30-6:30. I worked Health Promotions from 9-11 first then went to the school. The PTO had a dunk tank and I had to work that. It was fun but ended up being a long day. Brody and I went around and played games for the first 2 hours then I worked the booth the last hour. Hunter was off with his friends.
Brody's winning cake
The boys doing the cake walk

Brody finally won a cake at the cake walk. I think it took him a good ten minutes to pick out a cake. He played one of the first rounds so he had so many to chose from. Hunter played the ring toss and ended up winning 13 drinks (if the ring goes around the neck of the drink, you win it) I don't even buy Mountain Dew, let alone like it, but now we have 4 bottles of it. It was a long day capped off by drinks at Trina's with some of the other neighbors.
Completing the obstacle course

Baseball Saturday took up most of the day. Brody had his last game and party after. I must say, I was glad to see this season end. There is something about watching T-Ball that gets to me. Of course, Brody did a great job. He played first and pitcher, danced in both positions (maybe I should stop watching Dancing with the Stars with him). He got up to bat, after a little on deck booty shake, and then hit a home run (okay- it really went like this, he was the last batter and and everyone hits and scores, so he tells everyone he hit a home run!!)Dancing at the pitcher's mound
Dancing on first

Hunter's team was in the tournament today. They ended up losing the game but it was a very close one. Any loss is hard to take but this one was especially hard on Hunter. He didn't have a great day batting, the ump was inconsistent in calling balls and strikes but Hunter also wasn't swinging his bat. He had a few balls hit to him but the runner was safe at first. Hunter wears his heart on his sleeve and takes error personally. I found myself giving the pep talk through the fence to him throughout the game. He is an emotional athlete (I wonder where he got that from???) so I am hoping that this is just a phase and he will grow out of it.

After the obstacle course
Doing the ring toss

Swim also started for the boys. Brody loves it. He is actually pretty good (considering he is only 6). He has green goggles so he looks like a frog in the water. He went to swim this morning at 7:30 without complaining. Hunter, is a different story. He doesn't want to swim. He has the talent but just doesn't have the drive for this sport. We are giving it 2 weeks and then he will decide. I wanted to get through baseball season and the first swim meet to decide. I think once he sits out a swim meet, he will miss it. HE doesn't want to go to Tokyo, if he qualifies, and that is fine. It is just hard to watch someone sit out when they have the talent to do well.
Brody's home run

Hopefully our fall will slow down. Flag Football will start in November for the boys so we will be on a 6 week break from sports except for swimming. More later....

Swim Season

Swim season is upon us and I am happy to announce the newest Galvin on the Okinawa Dolphin Swim Team.....Brody Galvin. Yes, Brody tryout out and made the team. He will be swimming in the Dolphin group and Hunter will again swim in the White group. Both boys practice on the same day but not at the same time. Brody celebrated the tryout with dinner at Pizza Hut (okay, it was just an excuse because I didn't want to cook.)


Football (flag) sign ups are next week. Both boys want to play so our Mondays,Wednesdays and Saturdays will consist of Football while Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will be football. I might regret the schedule later but right now it doesn't seem that bad.


Baseball will be done for Brody the weekend of the 16th. We have this weekend off due to the holiday. Hunter has one last regular season game on Tuesday and then the playoffs for him start the 16th. His team is not as strong as others and it is very frustrating to Hunter. He is very competitive (I have no idea where he gets it from) and wants his team to win. There are only 4 kids who know what they are doing and they rotate between pitcher, catcher, shortstop and third base. The team would do fine if the batters would hit it to those players but that doesn't happen. It is a good experience for Hunter and he has been able to improve his pitching. It would be nice to live next door to the Shaws again so Mark could help Hunter in Joe's absence but I am doing my best.



The Fall fundraiser started at the boys school and I am in charge of it (cause I have nothing else going on!!) They are doing recycling bags, check out the website, they are pretty cool- www.mixedbagdesigns.com The fall festival is coming up in the middle of the month and then at the end of October I am planning a surprise party for a friend's 40th birthday (her husband is deployed too but not with Joe). That is pretty much the schedule for the month of October. I sure hope November isn't quite as busy.