I always have Branden and Noah talk to my family via skype. Every week. And with my dad sometimes twice a week for the boys. And with Noboru's family, I usually have the boys call her one to two times a month. Just to say hello, tell gran what they've both been up to, how's school. etc etc. Anyway, the day Branden passed his swim course and became a #4. Happened to be the same day I was having them call her anyway. Branden excitedly told her that he had taken the compressed course and he was now a level 4. She was quite proud, so she told him, what is 1 thing you want. He told her some Pokemon DS game cartridge. And she wrote it down and said consider it done. That she'd go out, track the game down and buy it for him as a "congratulations for passing swim levels" gift. Sure enough, she found the game and sent it to Branden. The Pokemon magazine? She sent to Noah, she didn't want to leave him out. I thought that was thoughtful.
The magazine came with a dvd. Both the boys were quite happy this week. : ) And yes, as soon as the kids both got home, I had them both call Osaka and call grandma and thank her.
The small Flying Pig order came. My Mother's Day gift from Noboru. : )
The new brand of tortillas from Costco, you know I really like these. Think I'll make the switch to these. And 2 tubs of cookies and cream ice cream.
Dinner rolls (half are frozen in the freezer now), a big hunk of colby/jack. Because we are such cheese maniacs, and a big container of mixed nuts. That's it. Just a few yummy nummy's : )
With Noah's ensoku, family picnic on Friday, I started prep for that, just the day before, on Thursday. Though I did write my list on Wednesday. And I went and pulled out the adults sized obentos I have in the cupboard. We had 3, these 3 in the picture. Not fancy shmancy ones, just generic store brand Cainz ones. That's good enough. But I worried with Noboru being at the ensoku too, would I need to get another obento? Hmmm. I thought and thought about that Wednesday. And on Thursday morning after sending the boys to school, I headed to Cainz and did my shopping just for ensoku stuff. Did not do my weekly shopping, just bought the stuff for the field trip. That way I wouldn't get all side tracked and forget or leave anything off my list.
Yes, by the looks of all the plain white napkins, plain white plates. Yes I am kechi/cheap! ; ) I don't want to waste money unnecessarily if I can help it. The plates, I got the smallest pack with only 10 plates, so that was under 100 yen. The fruit forks, I also only got the smallest pack so that was 58 yen. The napkins 100 yen or 98 yen. The cups, again I bought the cheapest pack I could find, at 88 yen for the cups. As frugally and smart as I could get away for the ensoku, I did.
For ensoku or field trips, and even undokai days. I always make either. Karaage or yakitori. That's pretty common. Sandwiches are also pretty common too. And equally yumm. I decided to make karaage and since I want to actually make my life easier versus harder. I just bought an extra pack and we had that for dinner that night as well. That way when we came back from ensoku and feeling all walked out and dusty and tired and didn't feel like cooking dinner, it would be prepped and ready already to just freshly fry up at dinner time! Phew! I chopped up all the chicken Thursday evening and had it marinate in a big ziplock over night in the fridge with the sauce. Come Friday morning, I was READY, my prep meant I had very little to do Friday morning!
I also bought 2 packs of treats for Noah's classmates and pals (2 koala cookie party packs). 2 jasmine teas (generic brand, lol) a store brand oolong for Noboru and a straight tea for whomever. Noboru likes the meatballs and eggs in ensoku obento and even undokai lunches, frankly I don't. But I bought a tiny pack of each, so he'd enjoy lunch as well. : )
The bananas are for home use. So scratch those bananas. ; ) Picked up the mini potato salad for the ensoku, no need to make homemade or anything just a small pack from the store was enough. Some fruit, and I was done.
I recalled each kid could bring their own snacks with a limit of 300 yen. I know I picked Noah way way under 300 yen worth. But I knew this was plenty. 1 curry snack, 1 chocolates in a #4 since he's 4. If you recall, I bought Branden's in a #8 for his ensoku. Ha ha ha. a mini donuts and some fruity candy with a toothpick and edible cup/dish.
I went up in the attic and pulled out the picnic basket. By the way. This picnic basket, was only like 600-800 yen at Cainz home, I forget the price, I think I blogged it years ago when I bought it. But it was so cheap, such a good deal. I was at a different Cainz, they had it and I wanted it. Every time I go to ensoku, people comment on it. And it's funny because it's honestly not fancy, it was actually quite a bargain.Any other bits and pieces? Well, we're going to be going to Guam very soon as a family.
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