The whole school about to walk into the center. The 3 classes each came in. Three held signs, one class the oldest class, the blue badges held up the sign that said, "sakura" meaning cherry blossoms, that's what the blue badge class is called, so they went walking into the center first, next followed by the baragumi/meaning the rose class came out next, they're a mixture of pink badge and red badge, nensho and nenchu. And lastly but not least, was Noah's class, the yurigumi class, meaning the lily class, also a mixture of pink and red badges.
Four little boys raced. Noah being on the far left.
I debated taking pictures or video taping this on my camera, Noboru meanwhile was video taping on the family camcorder for our own home movie use. I took pics. Noah won this. And I have the video after this pic, that shows him walking behind the #1 flag because all the first place winners walked behind that flag, the 2nd placers walked behind the #2 and so on. Noah's winners lap is below. : )Victory lap! We are so proud of you Noah! ; )
The pink badges dance number. Now I saw this on the day of the rehearsal but I really enjoyed watching this. They all did a great job!
I was working during this, Noah's ball toss. So, I wasn't able to take pictures of this. However at the last minute they decided to switch Jogo-san and I to the white ball side. So, we were able to see our kids during this, however we were so busy moving picking up the balls, we sort of missed it anyway. : ) But Branden was nice enough to video tape it on the camcorder and Noboru took pics. So it was okay actually. By their cheers in this pic, you can tell the white hats won! Noah cheering in this pic.
A happy Noah! He really enjoyed this years undokai and did so well.
The grandparents ball toss. Mitsuko was the one wearing the black top, khaki/tan pants, handerchief around her neck.
Grandma's team lost both times. : ( But she had fun! And got a box of tissue for participation.
The father child race. And that kid behind Noah is Noah's very best friend Hikaru-kun. By the way, Noboru's best friend in yochien also had the same name. And when Noah introduced granny to his best friend. She was stunned, a little surprised. She told Noboru do you remember what your best friends name was in yochien? Noboru said of course, his name was Hikaru-kun too. This fact tickled grandma Mitsuko so much.
Different sizes of balls, to be picked up and placed on a spoon and carried. Noah chose, the small sized ball. And off they went.
Then the older siblings had a ball toss. Branden participated.
All these kids used to attend this same yochien. Branden included. So that used to be their gym teacher too and they used to have undokai's in this same gymnasium. It was fun to watch this, the graduates of this yochien.
Our obento, I prepared. We obviously had salad dressing, fruit and dessert. But with my MIL here it was hard taking more then one picture of our lunch. I didn't want her wondering why and/if I were to take multiple pics, so I quickly snapped one and that was it. ; ) Also, because this undokai is held in a shogako gymnasium, we didn't use the plastic leisure sheets we used quilted blankets which is more comfortable for sitting on the hard wood flooring.The last event before the medals are held out.... is the entire school relay race. Blue badges first, white hat versus red hat. Next was pink badges, Noah's class. And then followed by the red badges. This is the most anticipated race at our yochien. Please watch the video carefully. It's so fun to see it actually unfold before your eyes. The person ahead of Noah got to him after the red hat got to the other red hat. So the red hats had the advantage, they were leading, but Noah being full of testosterone. Ran fast as lightning and not only caught up to the red hat, but passed the red hat completely giving a 5-10 seconds advantage to the next, following white hat. You can hear screaming, from me, I think you can hear Noboru and possibly my mil. You can also hear the crowd clapping and looking on. Meanwhile I decided to just tape it with my camera so glad I did. It's a little rough video, granted but I'm not a professional videographer or cinematographer. I was just a mom, cheering happily for her child. By the way, Branden won this same race when he was in yochien too. The person ahead of B handed it to B, when the other team was nearly half way around the track but Branden still caught up and passed. I wish I could get that uploaded one of these days but we only got that footage on the camcorder. not too sure what a pain it would be if we tried to upload that. But man, this yochien already knows our boys both of them are fast. And after undokai this past Sunday, the mother behind us, told Noboru and myself, "Noah's really fast" And we thanked her and stuff. And today at the yochien a few people including the older sensei, nearly grandma aged newer sensei said how fast Noah was on Sunday! Anyway Noah won every race this year. First place for every race he raced. We are so proud of you Noah!!!
Noboru took these picturs of the medals being handed out. I was busy handing the medals out to the blue badges. Chi-chan, Noah's first friend at the yochien back when he was a yellow badge. was one of the kids I helped hand the badges to, I told her...congratulations. I know she will be graduating this school next February/March. And we will miss her. She was a big help in getting Noah used to this school and we will forever be grateful for her for that. When I was done with my duties of helping hand the medals out, I quickly ran to see Noah's face with the medal around his neck. I just wanted to see his face...just real quick with my own eyes and not after the fact on the camcorder. *bliss* I saw and I was so happy. He saw me and I gave him the biggest thumbs up. Way to go kiddo look. And I shook my head up and down and smiled.
All the kids were to raise their hands, and I just soaked up the last couple seconds of the moment. Noboru took the pictures, these ones. And I tell ya, I couldn't possibly be prouder of Noah! Both Noah won all his races and his best friend Hikaru-kun won all his races. They're probably the 2 fastest pink badges. When they went to swim school yesterday (Tuesday) everyone told both Noah and H, the other mothers in the dressing/locker room, you both are so fast! Lots of bowing and thank you's passed back to the nice people saying so.
The undokai ended at 1:30pm. We usually help clean up, but with me working so much of the undokai, I sort of think, I did my fair share. And so we left. Plus we had grandma Mitsuko with us, and we couldn't just ask her to stay for an hour. So, we went home. Noah changed clothes. And grandma, Branden, Noah and their friend, Aoi-kun (same shogako) played in thebackyard. We decided to go to dinner between 3:30pm-4pm. With it barely being 1:50pm. Noboru took a nap and I also took a power nap. Having been awake since 5am, I badly needed a nap. Grandma said not to worry she'd watch the boys. And plus they were only in the backyard. So, I must have drifted off to lalaland. Because next thing you know...Noah's in my room talking to me, saying, "mommy Branden says it's 3:45pm, and it's time to get up if you still wanna go to the restaurant" I was like....Huh, who, what where why? Groggy, I picked up my head. And I said, you're right, I will get up now. And so Noboru woke up and I woke up. The power nap worked I felt better after that. I brushed my teeth (sleep breath you know) and got dressed, was thinking about a makeup retouch up. Said, no way on that. And we left.
Back at Narita mall once again. Hmm. Weren't we here last week? I think so. Jeans alterations or something like that. Grandma Mitsuko had asked Branden what do you want for your birthday. And Branden said, he'd like the new Pokemon DS games" Black and also white" 2 seperate games btw. Grandma, said, done and done! So, when we got to the mall, She bought both DS games for Branden for next weeks birthday.
Meanwhile Noah, had 3,000 yen leftover of birthday money from this past July from grandpa. And since he wants everything Branden has. He also wanted a black or white. So, he got only 1. He picked black. Now, he was 1200 yen short, but Noboru said, Noah did so well at undokai that he was chipping in the rest for Noah's Pokemon game.
After all that Pokemon business was out of the way. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe at Narita Mall. My mil and I shared a small nachos. Noboru hates onions as you know, so he didn't have any. And my mil and I agree onions are just so necessary. lol. ; )
Branden had the chargrilled cheeseburger. Noah had the mac and cheese and garlic bread. Then during the meal, I realized neither kid was eating. Branden confessed he didn't like his burger and he should have ordered what Noah picked. Meanwhile Noah said, he disliked his mac and cheese and should have picked what Branden picked, so I switched their plates and so Noah ate the burger and Branden happily ate the mac and cheese. @_@ Kids, yep, this happens alrighty.
I had a chargrilled chicken sandwich with cripsy bacon and a side of fries, my mil ordered the same exact thing as me.
Noboru ordered the fish and chips. Vinegar on the side and everything.
Mitsuko had them gift wrap Branden's black and white. And meanwhile Noah's been playing his black since Sunday. Anyway that was Noah's undokai 2010. It was a pretty exciting undokai. And the volunteering kept me on my toes. We all really enjoyed it. : )
Posts
