Butterfly Garden & Tropical Dream Center

Aunt Christy is here! Aunt Christy is here! :)  My sister in law (SIL) flew in on Friday night (after Bunco - Tommy was able to go pick her up) and we have been busy showing her around the island.  On Saturday we got right to it and took two carloads up to the northern part of the island.  Since we can't all fit in one car anyway, we had to take two, and then my friend Greta and her friend Jayzell came along.  Greta was one of my Cyclone Aides (orientation leaders) when I worked at Iowa State is here doing Camp Adventure for the summer (the program that I did when I was in college when I met Tommy in London).  We have been showing her around the island when she is free on the weekends and were happy to have her and her friend come along!

First stop was the butterfly garden.  Wyatt has been wanting to go to the butterfly garden since day one on Okinawa.  For some reason it just hasn't happened yet. So we were very excited to take him.  The butterflies LOVED my bright pink purse and the kids thought it was funny that I was carrying around two or three butterflies with me! 

They had the flower bouquets that must have been sprayed with something to attract the butterflies to them.  You would hold one of them and then the butterflies would flock to you!

We took a stroll through the gardens and sampled some of the foods in the gift shop and called it good.  Next up was the Tropical Dream Center at EXPO park. I wrote about the Tropical Dream Center back in January when we went there so I will spare you the details but I wanted Christy, Greta and Jayzell to see it too.  I've included some pictures though.  This time the fruit were in bloom which was fun to get to see.

Funny story for the day: as we were walking thru the botanical garden, there were some workers giving "rides" to the kids and taking pictures of them on these fake lily pads.  They asked if Wyatt wanted to ride and he did!  We told him not to move or he would fall off, so he sat very still - so still, in fact, that he wouldn't even move!  He just sat there very stoic-like.  At the end of the 'ride' they gave us a printed picture of him and asked if it was okay to use his picture on their website, because it is very cute :)  Of course we were happy to oblige!

Another great day on a tropical island in Japan!

P.S. My friend Marianne just booked her tickets to come see me in February!!  Who wants to sign up for the October/November slot?!?  The weather is BEAUTIFUL then!! :)  Need I remind you that we have less than one year left in Oki????  Come on, what are you waiting for?! :)