Hiking Nago Mountain

Nago Mountain is located within the Nago Castle Ruins Park. This area offers many trails, picnic/scenic view areas, camping, and more.  We were here to do some hiking.

Picture this:  2 pregnant women, a toddler, a baby, a dog and 4 other adults hiking a mountain in the middle of an 86 degrees F, 94% humidity day.  What were we thinking???  We were thinking a family friendly, beginner hike on winding, sloping trails and shade from trees that's what... well, that's what the description led us to believe anyways... WE WERE DECEIVED!

Although a fun trip with great people and an awesome workout, I hate to report that the term to describe the Nago Mountain trail should have been this:  STAIRS.  Yep, that pretty much sums it up.  Up and down stairs 98% of the time.  I haven't done that much cardio in ages!  I also happened to be one of the pregnant women helping tote around my toddler, lol.  I don't think I have ever been so happy to hit a summit in my entire life.

The view was well worth the effort, however, I honestly did prefer the view from the picnic area further down the mountain.  This area also had  a large open space for the kids to run, restrooms, and various workout/training equipment.

Between the picnic area and the trail head was also the camping grounds which looked like they'd be an excellent place to camp with a group of friends.  We may come back and try it sometime.

You'll find I am short on words for this trip.  I spent most of my time attempting to breathe, downing water, and swapping my toddler with my husband (who was also very tired by the time we got to the top).  Thus, I recommend families try some of the other available trails and go on a cooler day than we did.

Blue Seal after the hike is also a splendid treat!  Nothing like splitting an all vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping banana split with your daughter after a good workout.  ;)

Pizzakaya Mommy & Me Cooking Class

We recently attended a Mommy and Me Pizza cooking class at Pizzakaya Okinawa.  This little gem of a restaurant is located in the back right corner of American Village, just around the corner from Mihama Kids Park.

What made this class extra special is that the establishment hosted it for one of our FB mom's groups (Playdate and Adventure) absolutely free of charge.  Attendees were simply asked to bring a toy for each child attending to donate to a local Japanese orphanage.  Awesome right?

Other group members with small businesses donated party supplies, snacks and even an appearance by Sponge Bob (whom I dispise, but whatever, most of the kids enjoyed his visit).

Each of the kids got to make their own pizza.  Pre-made dough was provided that they got to smash down into a somewhat circular shape and add as much sauce, cheese and/or hotdog chunks as they wanted.

O was skeptical about touching the dough but eventually pressed it a few times, then spooned almost an entire bowl of sauce onto it, added her cheese one shred at a time until shown she could put handfuls on it, and added a few hotdogs.  She quite amused me throughout this process.  :D

While we waited for hers to cook, she ate funky flavored popcorn and stared at Sponge Bob.  She DID NOT want him to come anywhere near her!

When we got O's pizza back, the majority of her toppings had slid underneath the pizza when they sliced it due to the shear amount of sauce that was on it.  She ate the hotdogs and had mommy eat the rest, so I had to find her something else for dinner, lol.

Overall it was a good time for a good cause.  I hope they host another one of these events in the future.