I danced at the Yamato Awa Odori festival and then went on a tour of Japanese festival foods with some new friends from our AOSA Book Club who are in the know of what things are and what you have to eat. It was an EXCELLENT idea. YUM!
Allison, Monica and I (we're the only Saberhawk ladies dancing this year)
This is my "traditional Japanese clothing is SO not flattering on pregnant women" face. God bless my hubs who still said "You look so pretty!" when I sent this.
Jennifer (left) and Erin (right) and I on the bus to Yamato!
waiting for the parade to start! 
In action during the parade
and nomming on some of the BEST festival food I've ever had. This here is a DEEP FRIED BAKED POTATO. Oh heavens. Anyone who knows me knows I love potatoes of all kinds (mashed, sweet, baked, boiled, roasted, fried) for all meals every day. Jess from Book Club has been talking about these (she finds the guy who sells them at every festival haha) and oh man they totally lived up to the hype. It was SO good. And soooooo bad. And so worth it.
Next to the deep fried potato man was this awesome shaved ice stand! Like REAL shaved ice (a huge block that he shaved it from) and you got to pick your flavors and do the syrups yourself, which I loved because I mostly wanted the ice (again, HOT!) and they always put way too much syrup! It was amazing!
And one to make you laugh...this is my life right now haha. Last year this happened too; I dance behind Allison (who danced while she grew up and teaches on base now) and she looks SO lovely and graceful everytime the base photographer takes her picture, and I'm behind her looking grumpy and sweaty and round faced and not even doing the dance right. Hahaha!
