Month of the Military Child

On this amazing day, where I am so happy and proud to be a military wife and American, I thought I would show you pictures of the Month of the Military Child celebration last Friday.

It really is extraordinary, living on this base in Japan, sending your child to school knowing that each and every one of the children are somehow a part of our military. There are some kids whose parents are civilians (teachers, GS workers, etc), but every one of those parents are over here, serving the military and all of these children have Iwakuni as their temporary home.

There were a lot of fun activities for the kids throughout the month. Audrey talked and talked ("Daddy, did you know they were going to do that?!?!?) about how a bunch of Marines burst into the cafeteria when the 6th graders were there and took them out for a mini-boot camp! So many units came in and did special things for the kids.  The fire trucks came, the military dogs, robotics from the wing...it was a really awesome month!

The last day the parents were able to go have lunch with their child out in the field. There were 5, or was it 6, bouncey houses and a live band, The Rock and Roll Junkeez, made up of three teachers and a Marine wife.  The girls were really happy that I brought them Subway for lunch and both held my hand as we walked around. :)

Olivia with the two Brandons and her friend Kinley. :)

Clockwise from Audrey is Kate (4th grader, but tres cool), Lebet (short for Elizabeth...and her Dad is one of the Rock and Roll Junkees...and she has lived here nearly all of her life), Bobbi (who just transferred in from a Japanese school. Her Mom is a Japanese National and her Dad works for the government, perhaps the Navy?), and Haille (Mom is a 5th grade teacher and her Dad is the high school principal).

When I left the picnic lunch, I photographed the girls' classroom doors that had been decorated for the "Month of the Military Child. Some of the photographs aren't great (sorry!), but the decorations WERE! :)

This one was done by Olivia's class. Even small hands can serve the world!

This one was on Audrey's door. The Few, the Proud, the Kids!

Audrey's class decorated each window too. They were so cute; I wish the pictures didn't have such a glare!

I think that's a map of Japan on the left with the names of all of the units here at Iwakuni. On the right, a picture of a military Dad and a kid having "quality time." :) 

Audrey and her friend Shaina, who just moved to Hawaii, made this one together. Splatter paint is Audrey's favorite art and it says "Small Hands Big ♥'s!" She brought this home from school today, the first school day of May, and we hung it in her room. :)

I am proud of my military children. They have moved around and around (and around for Audrey), but they are stronger kids and will be stronger adults for it. We have enjoyed every where that we have lived while still loving "home" in Iowa/Nebraska. We are looking forward to settling down when Daddy retires from the military in a few short years, but wouldn't trade the experience for the world!