This has been a very busy week this week. A good week but wow, indeed a busy one! Which is why I had no time to update until now. Let's see, Monday, I spent the day cleaning the house and doing laundry. Not very fun but had to get done. Tuesday, I went to the Indian restaurant with friends, like I said in the last post. : ) And Wednesday was, taking both the boys to school, running to the grocery store doing the weekly shopping, told the yochien sensei I'd have to pick up Noah by 1pm, so early because I had observation day at B's school. She said that was fine. So, I shopped and then picked up Noah from school. Went home unloaded the groceries quickly. And at 1:20pm or so, Noah and I were at the elementary school. We stood for 2 hours/2 classes. The first class we observed was gym. The white hats are the 3rd graders in the #1 class and the red hats are the 3rd graders in the #2 class. Branden's a white hat and his teacher is on the left. She's an older lady but very nice and Branden really likes her. He's a good student, he doesn't mess up in class, he pays attention and gets good grades so he hasn't ever had any problems with any of his teachers yet. Knock on wood.
About to begin their warm up.
Warming up! Branden's in the orange shirt.
Jumping and really getting that blood a flowing! ; )
Both classes listening.
This is Branden and Mei-chan. They're gym partners! Object of this is obviously, "don't drop the ball" Ha ha ha. And don't use your hands.
They did this one over boxes and obstacles. They dropped the ball once! ; )
And here they were and same thing. Don't drop the ball. Mei-chan's laughing in this pic, not sure if you can see her face too well, but she was laughing.
Branden laughing in this one.
And then this one. A person gets in the center and dances and moves, and it's sort of like "Simon says" whatever the person in the middle does the people in the circle have to do the same exact dance move! Branden's teacher was first, it was sort of nice to see her jumping around and dancing. This made me smile. Next she tagged Branden and he went in and danced and everyone copied him and then B went and touched another person and then they went around. One girl was very shy and did not want to go in the center. : ) She was very cute. But the rest all did. It was nice to see what they did for gym class for the 3rd grade. I have seen what they do for the 1st and 2nd grade for gym. Seems they do pretty much the same stuff for the 3rd grade too. ; )
And then they switched CD's, on the CD player in the back. And they played the song that's often heard here in Japan. That Ghengis Khan song. It's really fast in tempo. And the kids were paired off with their partners again. And so Branden and Mei chan started to get down! : ) LOL! So, she bent down on 1 knee, same with the other girls. And Branden had to ham it up and dance, meanwhile Mei-chan clapped! LOL. Now this was the first time, Noah and I ever saw this dance...we were both pretty much speechless. We were like @_@ Ha ha ha. And then....
It was Mei-chan's turn to get down and boogie. And Branden bent down and clapped as she hammed it up! @_@
And then....if that wasn't silly enough! Then he bent down like this. And she started jumping over Branden back and forth! The music was truly fitting for their dance moves! And again....Noah and I just looked at each other. @_@
And as you probably guessed, then Mei-chan bent down and Branden started jumping back and forth over Mei-chan! At this point, I cleared my throat and I said in a quiet voice to Noah. Have you ever seen *anything* like this before?! He started laughing....no way, I haven't. Noah said shaking his head and smiling. Yeah me neither.
And then, yes it does getting weirder! : ) So they change music again. And next thing you know, they all jump on the stage and start dancing free style. Just doing whatever everyone wanted. Branden in playing air guitar in this pic and so is his very very good friend E-kun!
Branden air guitarred right across the stage. The sensei for the other class was as you can tell in the picture. She was walking like an egyptian. Exactly like the Bangles did, she did this back and forth! @_@ I was swaying my head a bit, because you know, I would have liked to join them. The other parents were just quietly standing watching this all.
3 shy kids didn't want to go on stage or dance. Which is okay, it's fun to see the different personalities at the school. Branden is definitely not shy though.
And then gym class was over. So Noboru asks me, how was Branden's gym class? I said..."you know it sorta was like "high school musical" He said, no way, are you kidding? I said, yep! They just all of a sudden just broke out dancing and they even moved on the stage and a teacher walked like an Egyptian. He looked at me, like no way. ; ) Good thing I had the pictures! Ha ha ha. Now he wishes he could have been there. It was really hilarious. And then we went to their class and they had math class. Mei-chan, B's gym partner is closest to the blackboard in the white shirt and skirt in this pic.
Branden and his orange shirt and the boy directly behind him, holding that book, wearing the navy blue tee is the "boy next door" ; ) Our neighbor.
You know, I think half the inaka wild life is in our school classrooms this season. Ha ha ha. You know the bugs that hang on cabbages? A few people brought those and they watched them grow in a plastic box with cabbage inside and then they were released. Beatles, water bugs. Bug eggs, larva, cocoons of all types. They are inside these classrooms. Branden and the "boy next door" caught some more this past Sunday and they both took them to the classroom. Ha ha ha. It's a good environment to raise kids. They get to watch the life spans of many different bugs, insects and the likes. Play through the fields.
Noah walking down from Branden's elementary on Wednesday. We stayed the entire time until school let out. So, Branden and Noah and I walked down the hill together until we got to our car. We went home and I made dinner. I tell ya, I was on the gogogo, all Wednesday. And wasn't home Tuesday either because of that lunch date I had, which was fun.
Noah enjoyed being at B's school. : ) And Branden was so happy we came. Though I always come, I have never missed an observation day.
And now it was Thursday. Time to go to Noah's observation day. First I made them both breakfast, sent B to school. Ran home, made Noah's lunch. Yes I knew they would open lunch boxes while the mother's were there. They did that last year and while Branden went there. However I didn't really do anything out of the ordinary for his lunch.
Hmmm, these kids look WAY tinier then the kids I saw the day before! ; ) At Branden's school! Ha ha ha. ; ) First we all did an art project with our kids in their classrooms downstairs. And then we went upstairs for gym. Now I thought I would be *observing* gym class! You know like I did the day before! You woulda thought, right? Well, they wanted us mother's to actually *participate* in gym class! Which is completely different obviously. Seriously, I was wearing a freaking dress! If I had known I would be doing gym class myself versus just watching, I would have dressed a little more appropriately like perhaps, shorts, capri jeans. Something. But I wouldn't have worn a flipping dress, I can tell you that! Jump up and down for 2 minutes. I could do it. Granted it was certainly no fun. Some mom's were getting pooped out by half way and believe me, I could totally understand. Just a constant up and down for 2 minutes is a lot harder then it sounds. By the time it was over, I was so ready for it to be done. Then the gym teacher shouted, "earthquake" and we mom's had to jump to the floor and take cover and then the gym teacher would shout cover your face, for flying glass. And so he was screaming like 5 different commands and here I was in a dress nonetheless. Jumping to the ground covering my head, standing up and covering my face, then he'd shout and we'd cover our stomaches. You wanna talk about feeling like a total dork?!!! But I did it and with a smile, because of my son. They were our partners our own children and Noah watching my face, there is no way I would EVER ever do an eyeball roll or anything. So, I smiled and kept smiling through the whole entire gym class. I was dying inside believe you me. Even when they had us spread our legs way far apart, to stretch. Like a spread eagle position and there I was wearing a flipping dress trying to cover myself and be proper but still smiling whenever Noah looked up at my face. But between you and me reading! That gym class blows! However next year I will remember to wear pants. But for my son's ears and for Noah's sake, I had the best time ever ever. ; )
Then we went down for lunch. Pink badges and red bagdes. I think 2 yellow badges but they went home before lunch. So it was just the pink and red. The pink badges I know, because I'm the mom of one and, they know me. We're all friends of course. And we sorta know what's in each other's lunches. Because we talk, we chat about obento sometimes, my yochien mom friends and I. Advice, questions and stuff. Some of us mom's looked a bit nervous at the unveiling. And I wasn't so nervous. One new mom, a red badge mom. She did walk all the tables to see the other lunches. That sort of made me a bit nervous. But I kept a poker face on and a smile. She did peek at Noah's lunch and then peeked at the other lunches. Lots of mom's had regular simple delicious looking obento's and some went a little over the top with faces on everything. Either way is okay. I personally prefer a well balanced meal over cutesy. But then that's just me! ; ) After the unveiling of the lunches. We stood downstairs watching the kids eat for about 10 minutes before heading upstairs. What were we doing upstairs? We were having our first meeting about the Summer festival. First there were speeches. Then we seperated by class. Pink badges went with the pink badges, reds with reds and blues with blues. Then. They asked who wants to sell food? Who wants to work the crafting area? Who wants to work the games? I signed up for the games. Noah's best guy pal's mom is doing games. Mayuko-san is doing games. Quite a lot of my friends are doing the games. Jogo-san is doing the food. And then we merged all classes but we then seperated by games, food etc. Then we decided who wants to work the first half or last half? My friends and I picked the first half. I prefer the first half too. I like to get things over with. It's just my personality. I like getting my work done first so I can truly relax. And then it was over. By now it was 1pm and the kids didn't get out until 1:50pm. So, 9 of us decided to go to lunch. We were going to go to Indian for curry. LOL, seriously we were. But someone thought a drink bar would be better. So we went to Johnathon's instead. Jogo-san met us at the restaurant, so there were 10 of us for lunch. We took 3 tables and smooshed them together. We were like a yochien mom's gang or club! Ha ha ha. We had lunch. And the drink bar. We chatted for nearly an hour and then we went and picked up our kids. When I picked up Noah I made sure to say...."thank you for inviting me to your observation day today, I had so much fun" And he got so happy!!! It sorta makes the gym class I went through worth it, seeing how happy it made my son. My husband always jokes with me and says. You are in the popular mom's clique, at the yochien, he tells me this often. I shake my head. and roll my eyes at Noboru while laughing when he says this. He says you are!!!! Anyway...the lunch Thursday with my friends was really good. One mom is going to Guam in August for her 10 year anniversary. Which is awesome. Another mom went to Guam in March. Mayuko-san went to Hawaii in February, they have a time share at a condo there. All very well traveled ladies. We have a lot in common. Anyway, during lunch Mayuko-san mentioned we should get a little group of us mom's and take a trip to Guam together. And I told them...count me in! So not sure if it will be this year or when our kids are blue bagdes but talks are underway. We would have a blast that is for sure.
Went and picked up B after I picked up Noah on Thursday, and to Kumon they went. Then they came home and I made dinner. I thought of updating the blog Thursday evening, but I was tired. I had a busy couple days, it was a busy week and all I wanted to do after dinner Thursday night was throw the dishes in the dishwasher wipe down the kitchen and have the boys take a shower. I read Noah 2 books before bed in his room last night. And Branden read me one chapter of the book we're currently reading in his room. After they went to sleep. I flopped my body on the couch and sat there in night gown/night shirt. That was my relax time, relax the ol' brain and the ol' muscles. I watched TV for a few hours. While Noboru came home. I told him all about my day, he told me all about his. And we zonked out.
Friday morning/today, the last day to get the house in order before the weekend starts. And I am not kiding you, I had this first load of towels hanging by 6:30am. I'm honestly not kidding you. A second load was already in the washer. The grandma next door, was openeing her shutters while I was hanging my second load. I cheerfully told her this morning...."ohayo gozaimasu" She good morning-ed me back. LOL. And no, I am not super mom, I just like I said, I like to get my work over with. Just get it done and I don't have to think about it for the day.
Branden's spare gym uniform hanging on the jungle gym, and the fish print towels that I lay down on the couch in the Summer were now hanging.
A misc, load now hanging on the jungle gym. I am telling you. While getting the kids ready, breakfast and rides as well as obento, I was meanwhile hanging laundry at the same time here and there whenever I could pop outside. Yes I certainly can multi task! That is for darn sure! ; )
By now the way they are flapping in the wind you can tell they were dry. Dry by 8am they were. But I let them stay outside until 11am though anyway.
Today was trash day, so with dilluted bleach and water soaked the trash can, rinsed a few times in the kitchen sink, then stuck it on the back terrace to dry, it's inside now but fresh for the weekend.
This morning, the kuroneko man came to deliver our ribs. We are going to BBQ this Saturday. And I was going to get yakiniku stuff. But Noboru said he wanted ribs so he ordered from "the Meat Guy" this week, while I was out running around like a chicken with it's head cut off sometime this week. ; ) Anyway they were delievered this morning. 
The English page for these ribs does not specify that each order comes with 2 slabs. However the Japanese page does say each order has 2 slabs in it. So, we ordered 2, so 4 slabs total. 1 slab for Noboru, 1 for me, 1 slab for Branden and 1 slab for Noah. We bought some huge roasting potatoes. And tomorrow/Saturday we will be having a BBQ out back. BBQ ribs with Tony Romas BBQ sauce, baked potatoes and some salad, etc.
1500 yen or something like that is a very fair deal for 2 slabs of ribs. We'll be ordering these again this Summer for sure.
Two of our June Dvd's came this week. We haven't watched them yet. The Haunting in Connecticut and The Ugly Truth. We will be watching these DVD's this weekend! I think we'll watch the scary one tonight after the boys go to bed. : )What else....You know the little strip on the left of our backyard?I said a few years back, we'd like to grow some trees there. Anyone remember? I mentioned a lemon and apple tree. Anyway, Noboru's coworker, a guy who lived in Hawaii when we did. Anyway he and his wife are really into gardening. And after hearing tale after tale. Noboru has caught the gardening bug and he mentioned last week, if we could plant some veggies and such on that area. The area we weren't really using. And I said sure. let's try. Worst thing that can happen is our garden fails. But no harm in trying. So, this weekend we will be buying a few veggie plants and some flowers and we'll see if we can make it a sucesful garden or if they'll get eaten alive by bugs? Who knows! But by gosh we are going to try. So stay tuned on that. ; )
Noah's birthday: It's not until 7/7. July 7th. But, aside from buying him his big birthday gift already, we decided to take the boys to Disneyland or Disney Sea! We will be going around July 7th. A little before more then likely. Anyway we are starting to pick the day already. And formulate the plan. ; ) We did mention to Noah already he gets to go to one of the Disney's for part of his birthday gift and he's so excited! Branden is too. Because they both get to go. ; )
This weekend: We will be heading to the mall. Because Branden brought home the paper about swimming at the shogako already. And we signed it and stamped it, saying we give him permission to swim at the elementary school. He wore the same navy Adidas swimwear for ichinensei and ninensei. But he's grown so big he needs new swimwear this year. So, we will go and buy that tomorrow morning way way before we start the BBQ. Also, Branden needs a new pair of trainers! They're doing undokai practice already. Though undokai, for us, isn't until September. But he needs new sneakers now. So tomorrows plan? Go to the mall, buy Branden some navy blue school swimwear, and some trainers. Then head home relax and around 3pm start the BBQ. Just take it easy and enjoy the weekend. Anyway, just wanted to say, I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! : )
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