Håfa ådai yan Felis Påsgua

Håfa ådai, yan Felis Påsgua = Hello, and Merry Christmas in the Chamorro (Guamanian native) language. This Christmas was the most unique, and I'm sure will be one of our more memorable Christmases. It was so nice to see the parentals and Jiggies after their 1.5 year absence in the service of the Lord. Hopefully we all had enough fun to tide us over for their remaining 1.5 year absence. Here is our trip in summary (and by summary, I don't really mean short).

We stopped in San Fran and Osaka on the way over. Here's a moment of our layover in Osaka. Nick and Megan took a shower while we were there and we enjoyed some shrimp tempura and the Christmas tunes.

We all wished we could have slept as well as the Minsters while en route.

We made it!!! We left on Dec. 19th our time and arrived at 1 AM Dec 21st Guam time. Brutal!

We headed to the mall after a little rest and a shower to bring in some Christmas cheer.

Snow in Guam?? That's right!! Only in the mall.

Dec 22nd, we went to Ritidian Beach. It was the most beautiful sand and water I've ever seen!!

Before the big wave.

After the big wave. He didn't touch the water willingly the rest of the trip, poor guy.

Keepin' cool.

Sistas!!

Scuba Matt, Scuba Nick, the the confused children.

Look at those curls!!

Make-shift fishing pole.

Grandpa got some company.

This "sandman" was made by others.

Matt attempting ro replicate.

Not sure the kids were impressed.

Guess Lincoln's not so kool with Ko'Ko' birds. By this point Lincoln had had a fever much of the day. The beginning of the end. Little did we know then, the "man cold" would sweep through the entire male population of the family, minus Eldon, plus Minnie.

Dec 23rd we did a round the southern end of the island tour:

Umatac Bay where Magellan landed in 1521.

Rockin' Christmas Party at the bay. Aren't those trees amazing?

Complete with a Carabao.

She put the lime in the coconut.

Bennett wanted to throw rocks in but was afraid another wave would come and get him.

Fort Soledad above Umatac Bay. Fort Soledad was built by the Spanish in 1810 or so to protect their interests on the island.

View from the fort.

Peek.

Everything must be ridden.

 I think Megan was either running to make sure my kids didn't jump off the cliff or to make Minnie smile for the cute Korean lady that wanted to take a pic with her.

Minnie wasn't having it. Brings back fond memories of traversing Korea with blonde babies.

Always.

We finished the night off with some Christmas lights.

Dec 24th was mostly spent preparing for the evening meal and eating the evening meal, but mostly preparing.

Slaving away.

The sister missionaries serving on Guam.

We did a white elephant gift exchange with all the missionaries on Guam.

The kids got bored, so...

they decided to wrestle and the Minsters won!!

"Chuukese"

The classic Minnie nose scrunch.

Someone's getting tired.

Christmas jammies.

Some "white trash" for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

This is how Robert calms and prepares Minnie for bed.

Christmas Morning:

Poor Benny-Boo. The "man cold" hit him pretty hard Christmas morning. Thank goodness for Tylenol!!

Matt is excited enough for both himself AND Benny.

"Oh Boy!!! It's Christmas!!"

Observing from the sidelines like always.

Rescue packs!!!

Laura gave us all a digitized version of some of our home videos. The kids are very entertained by Nick's rendition of "Castle on a Cloud".

Laura sent my parents on a scavenger hunt for old times sake. "Santa" used to always make us kids do that.

You figure it out.

Christmas Day we went to Ypao Beach:

Grandma holdin' down the fort.

Pretty Minnie.

Downton Abbey talk.

Discussing current events, I'm sure.

Eldon toe dipping in the Philippine Sea.

 Dec 26th we went to Talafofo Caves despite the rain.

Spotting blue lizards

Lincoln showing Grandpa the way through the jungle.

Waiting for Grandpa to make sure the coast was clear.

It was so hot and humid in the caves. We were dripping with sweat.

Suppressing Anxiety Attack #1

Bennett didn't suppress his.

Recover.

Scary Grandpa emerging from the cave.

Bennett wouldn't have anything to do with the second cave.

Hiking back out.

Dec 27th we went to a Chammoro Cultural Center. We got more of a cultural experience than we bargained for. Check our our tour guide!!! It was very cool.

Fish hooks. There were also pottery pieces with symbols that were the same as on pottery found in Taiwan. I am fascinated at how people were able and daring enough to navigate their way to these islands.

Our tour guide showed us how to shred coconut with a tool made out of a shell. 

You squeeze the shreds to get the coconut milk/oil.

L-R: Betel nut, a sprouted coconut, star fruit.

Betel nut is a carcinogen and leaves your mouth and teeth looking like this.

I got these photos off the interent. I was horrified when I was tracting in Taiwan and a guy dressed in all black with long greasy hair opened the door. He had been chewing betel nut, but I thought he had been drinking blood. Gross!

I preferred sampling the star fruit over the betel nut.

This is what a chiefs house would look like, built up on the "latte stones"

Inside the chiefs house. Our tour guide built all of the houses in the mock village.

They showed us how to weave these angel fish using palm fronds.

The demo on how to climb and coconut tree was interesting...

VERY interesting.

Feeding the goat.

Close up look at a carabao. 

We went to Ypao Beach again later on the 27th.

Grandma blowing noses, some more.

Bennett playing it safe next to Grandma.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

The coral reef makes for some calm water.

Getting ready for for snorkeling, prepared with a disposable waterproof camera.

Matt mocking my flipper walk.

So many fish. The camera does not do the color justice.

If you look carefully, you can spot at least 4 different kinds.

Blue-green Chromis fishies

I was so bummed cause right after I took this one, the "Picasso Triggerfish" in the top right swam right up to me. I tried to take another picture and it was the last one on the roll. I hate film!!

The shot shoulda looked like this. 

There were several times I thought this fishy was a shark.

Lots of White-tailed Damsel Fish (the B&W striped ones in the bottom-right corner).

Many, many schools.

There were a bunch on these almost clear, long skinny ones with two inch pointy noses at the surface. It makes sense, looking at this picture. With the waves at the surface, they blend in really well!!

Those long skinny fish were probably 2-3 feet long.

Ten inch long, 3 inch in diameter sea cucumbers, and Matt's hand.

The camp.

Tradition Chammoran Boat.

Adam and Eve (sorry, Laura, had to post it).

Gpa sqeezin' Benny.

Cheese.

Dec 28th we went fishing first thing in the AM and then hit the bowling alley:

You can see two fish jumping out of the water. One in the center and one under the rod.

Reelin' her in.

Into the cooler.

Just so pleased. That ain't no Walleye!!

And another one into the cooler?

Megan thinking happy thoughts like, life vests. 

The catch.

Robert, Nick and Matt got DRENCHED!!

Slippery little guys.

Filleted them right there for us.

This was a legit Mickey D's.

Got myself a Taro Pie.

Enjoying my Taro Pie.

No Comment.

Strange place built by Japanese called Leo's Palace Resort.

Feeding the fishies Cheerios.

Leo Palace cost $15 a game to bowl so we hit up Central Lanes.

Enjoying the fruits of our labors. Grandpa was the one out sick here.

Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa, by Chef M. Adsero.

Dec 29th we attended a baptism and did a bit of a history tour. 

Two-man submarine in front of the museum.

Grandma entertaining as per usual.

Some typical homes we saw between museums:

Buzz's house.

The house across the way.

The hill the Americans had to climb while the Japanese were pickin' them off, right mom? Do I have the story straight?

Too funny.

Benny loves Nick.

I thought the reflection in the window was cool.

Post-tour iPod fun.

Post-tour nap with baby. Looks comfy.

Dec 30th, we went to church and saw some Japanese hide-outs.

A little windy.

The mission home.

Neighbors to the right.

Down to the left.

Japanese Peace Garden.

How 'bout that bamboo???

Cave where a Japanese solider or two hid for 30 years after the war was over.

So jungly.

\

Still not over the bamboo. 

Longest post of all time, I know!!! You can tell we had fun. A Christmas to remember.