Bird island

Our neighbor is an avid hiker and has found incredible historic sites leftover from world war ll. He took us out hiking one day with the intention of showing us an old japanese cave he found but because of the rain we decided to go to a small nearby island called bird island. We started in the jungle and hiked thru mud and cliffs to get to the beach. we saw all kind of neat plants and wildlife (like coconut crabs!) on the way. Once at the beach we hiked thru the ocean, the water coming to our waist, the rest of the way to the island. We spent the next few hours snorkeling deep pools, coral reefs, exploring beach caves, picking up sea glass and hiking all around the island (including a section where the waves were crashing, was really narrow and we were told what to do if we got swept out with the current---yikes!)  I got my first real sunburn but it was soooo worth it! So far saipan does not disappoint!
*sorry for the sub par photos. We need a waterproof camera!

8 months

Our little lady turned 8 months while we have been here! What a joy she has been! She definitely is showing us more of her personality every day and she can be quite the diva.

At 8 months:
-eats well now! She eats a bowl of rice cereal and fruit at least twice a day.
-usually sleeps 8 hours a night
-takes two naps,  one in the am and one in the late afternoon.
-army crawls!
-talking! Says momma all day long! Sometimes ba ba and pa pa.
-likes to play with brother! (most of the time)
-makes a silly "mischievous" face where she srunches up her nose, squints her eyes and smiles. So funny.
-still very grabby! She is just so curious!
- loves spoons, necklaces and keys.
- still teething, poor baby!
-bites! Ouch!
- Is super cuddly.

Love you baby bug!

We are saipanese, if you please.

We have been here in saipan for almost a month now and are enjoying island living!
I think we may have traveled the most round about way possible but we made it! We traveled from salt lake city to los angeles to honolulu to the marshall islands to guam and then finally to saipan. we conducted some business upon first arriving and stayed a mere 5 hours at a crappy hotel where I almost lost my mind. With the help of our land lady and some friends from the ward we were able to move into our house that night. Thank goodness it was furnished!
Since then we have been working on getting set up which has been quite a process! Everyone goes on island time which basically its whenever people feel like it.  Getting started here is actually really expensive as everything requires a deposit (even water!) So we were cleaned out pretty quickly upon arrival. Thank goodness tim has one of those "paying" jobs again. (suck on that internships!!!!)
We were immediately welcomed by neighbors, church members and even the locals. Everyone is really friendly and helpful. Almost every store I go to they gush over the kids  and then help me to my car. So nice! In church they get passed around and fed lots of candy. Yes, I would say we are well taken care of here. :)
We have already had several adventures as there is much to see and do here. We sure miss our family and friends (and our comfy couches! Wicker with cushions just aren't the same!) but island living seems to agree with us!

Owen wasn't used to Dad going to work again so he sat and waited for him to come home.

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our first morning in Saipan

 Trees in our yard

Ocean views!