Sunset Dinner Cruise!

I love these friends of mine and I feel so blessed to have the in Saipan.  They are so wonderful, caring, and FUN!! :)  I'm going to miss them more than I can say!  

A few weeks ago was my friend Kara's birthday and we spent a whole day doing fun things to celebrate.  In the evening, we went on a Sunset Dinner Cruise.  It was my first time to go on one, although by the time you've been in Saipan for two years, most people have gone on multiple dinner cruises!  I thought it was SO much fun- here are some pictures of the night.

 Below: On the dock, getting ready to go out to sea

 The dinner cruise is on a large sailboat (ours was called the Jade Lady) that makes a big loop inside the reef to Managaha island and back.  It lasts two hours and includes drinks, dinner, and dancing!  

Here's where you go.  And there's our 2nd favorite island- Managaha!

pic via

The live music by our musician, Jerry, was so good.

Laura and I

All the girls on the boat and birthday girl Kara with her bday shells and lei.

The dinner was also so yummy- steak, rice, and veggies.

When the boat starting making it's way back to Saipan, we were sitting in the front of the boat with our feet over the edge and the wind in our hair.  As Saipan came closer into view, I thought about how much I love this little island that has been our home for the past two years.  That moment is one of my favorite memories from Saipan.

Last but not least, a little video from the night.  Thanks so much Kara for the pictures and video- love them!

Girls Day: Parasailing!

My friends and I have been talking about going parasailing forever, and in February we finally did it!

Lynette was 6th, I was 3rd, and brave Anna went 2nd!

See??  It's really far up there!  My friend Becky took these pics during her turn.

Parasailing in Saipan rocks.

We all look so tiny from up above.

Then came the dunk into the ocean... a little chilly!

And back up into the sky! 

Just a bit nervous on the big day!

Saipan girls

This post is because me and my friends take a million pictures and because I just LOVE them.

 Beach day at Obyan Beach

Surprise half-birthday party for our friend Amy.  We had a tea-party by the beach with cupcakes and, of course, party hats. 

Delicious hot chocolate during Friday night Pretty Little Liars. 

Waiting in line at the theater for the premiere of Breaking Dawn.  We watched all of the three previous Twilight movies in the weeks leading up to Breaking Dawn, then waited in line for over an hour at the theater... best ever ❤

 At our Friday Night Pretty Little Liars watching + pizza tradition

 Two of my past coworkers, Pearl and Donna.  Love them, and Pearl's beautiful little 2 week old baby girl, Lydia.

 At PLL night with the handsomest little guy ever, our friend Kayla's baby.

 Going to see the ballet, Swan Lake, in December.  Russian and Korean ballet dancers came to Saipan to star in the show and it was beautiful.  It was all outdoor seating, and cool, breezy weather that night. One of my students gave me a VIP ticket, so I got to sit up front with her to enjoy the show.

 Spending the afternoon at the beach- our very favorite thing to do on a Saturday or Sunday.  

 Eating lunch at Bobby Cadillacs when Kara and Grant's parents came to visit.  Best pizza on the island.

Girl's night at the theater to see New Years Day

  

I'm so thankful for these girls.  God has blessed me with the most caring, fun, and wonderful girl friends these past two years in Saipan.  I will miss them so much next year!!

Surfing and the Spa

Five of us girls spent the afternoon at the spa on Saturday and it was FABULOUS.

Saipan's spas (and resorts) are so amazing, and every once in a while, they will offer a deal for locals.  

 This time, we were able to spend the day using the Mariana Resort's many different spa pools (hot tubs, flower pools, swimming pools), AND get an hour long massage for only $35.  The regular price for this would have been way over a hundred dollars....  Saipan treats their locals SO well!

 Dressed up in our robes and ready for our massage

 The ridiculous flip flops we wore than really wouldn't stay on our feet!

Relaxing in the infinity pool.  It had been such a rainy week before we went to the spa (there had been another tropical storm circulating around the area, so it rained HARD every day), but the clouds finally opened up and the sun shone on Saturday.  The next time they offer the local discount at Marianas Resort... we're going again!!

 That night, our friends Kara and Grant hosted a fish fry at their apartment.  Here's some of the guys out on the back porch with their guitars giving us all some background music.

 THIS puppy got to try surfing at Sugar Dock beach on Sunday afternoon.  Brian and his friends Jake and Will tried putting her on Jake's surfboard twice.  Both times, she shakily rode the board for a while until she got too nervous and fell off :)

Note: Saipan usually does not have good surfing waves (I think because of the reef that surrounds it but I'm not sure about this).  However, because of the tropical storm I mentioned before, we've had great waves this past week.  When we went to Sugar dock on Sunday, it was PACKED with surfers taking advantage of the crazy waves.

 Our friend Chris found some WWII bullets up near his house in Marpi, and gave some to Brian.  Here they are next to Brian's id to show just how huge they are.

 I've been taking weekly Chinese lessons from my friend Pearl.  Here's one of the books I'm studying from.