Noah's, "good-bye to the 6th graders" a farewell celebration type party, that the entire school had for them...

I'm so delayed posting on here. I'm so sorry to Noah most of all, because I put Branden's final 6th grade events up in a timely manner. And as for Noah...it's just...we're moving. So his posts are delayed by weeks. I'm so sorry Noah. And things in our house are hella busy. Yesterday, I went and renewed my drivers license. We've been busy talking with real estate people, in the state we're moving. We have our eyes set on a few cars that...we will probably buy 1 of those cars for me, to do all my driving in, in the states. Which means emailing absolute strangers about their cars. "Any problems with said car? Is it a clean title? Have you ever had any accidents in said car? Or do you know of any mechanical problems with said car?" Of course we will go and see a few in person and test drive them, look them over ourselves plus take them to a mechanic to look them over, whichever one we decide. In short. I have been calling the US on the phone a lot to talk to our real estate lady. Hoping we get the place, that we love and would like to rent. Not phoning anyone, about cars but emailing lots of emailing. Plus the purging of things in our house. Holy smokes...things are busy. Plus regular life too, you know what I mean? I'm still cooking dinner nightly. I went to do the weekly grocery shopping yesterday too. I feel like I've been on a hamster wheel... for the past 5 weeks straight...seriously. I'm not sleeping well. And in the day time, I'm busy *all* the time. Stressed out to the max...would be the freakin' understatement of the world!!! So just wanted to give that little real life update, before I start this post about Noah's "farewell celebration". Monday, March 5th, our school held a great big farewell celebration to all graduating 6th graders. In Japan it's called a "Rokunensei o Okurakai" And only 6th grade parents were invited to come and watch. All other grades from our local elementary, put on performances for the 6th graders. Sang songs for the 6th graders. Teachers sang songs. There was an emotional slideshow. Basically our school wants to show their love and support to the graduating 6th graders. Letting them know...just how very important each and every one of them were to the school. That they will be missed immensely. And good luck in JHS. It started at 9:30am. We were seated and I snapped this picture at obviously...9:33am...

All the boys from 1 class. Cheering and talking about how much they will miss the 6th graders.

The 2nd graders came out. And sang a song for Noah and his classmates. It was really sweet of them.

For the most part, the 6th graders just sat as audience members and enjoyed. Enjoyed the songs, the singing, the little comedy type skits. Us 6th grade parents, enjoyed it too.

This one grade had a few kids who love to dance and so the handful of kids from that particular grade decided to do a dance. They were really good. And I loved that they incorporated the school gym uniform too! Definitely showed some school spirit!!! Which I loved!

Another grade. So many classes said..."we will miss you!!!" To the soon to be graduating 6th graders.

I watched from the parents seats. And I saw Noah in his yellow sweatshirt sitting and enjoying the performances. I saw some of his classmates wiping tears.

These first graders came out. Remember...Noah and his classmates escorted them last April, on their entrance ceremony last year... when these kids were pika pika ichinensei last April. And Noah and his classmates would go down to the first graders class and help them prepare every morning. For a solid month, the 6th graders would go and shadow them and help and support them. They even went and sat with them for lunch. Two 6th graders each day, last year would go down and have lunch with the new first graders. Noah went down and ate lunch with them last May 2017. So...all the first graders were out. And these 3 speakers said..."thank you for helping us every morning!!!!" "And thank you for having lunch with us"...."thank you for helping us this year"....Many sitting 6th graders were crying at this point. I wiped away 2 tears. I held tough and didn't want to cry. But the sentiment was so sweet. 

The 6th graders stood. And all the first graders deeply bowed. It was deeply respectful and sublimely kind. Best first graders ever!!! So kind!

Then the teachers all spoke. And they also legit... sang for the 6th graders. Again...we live in rural Japan. With a town of under 5000 people. I am not sure... how schools handle graduation in the heart of Tokyo. But I do know how we handle graduation in rural Japan. It's with great love...community...it's takes a village type love, ykwim. And tons of celebrations and good cheer. You will most definitely know...you are loved...graduating in rural Japan!!!

A picture of our school frozen on the screen. And teachers spoke...and then they sang. And parents were crying. They 6th grade kids were meanwhile... I'd say 40% of the 6th graders were crying too. Kids from other grades were crying too. 

The 6th graders sang 2 beautiful songs. About getting older and growing up. This would be the last time this specific particular group of kids would be all together again. Ever ever!! This was so bittersweet for me. Looking at all these sweet amazing kids...that I've known since they were age 6. Full circle moment... for sures!

Then they sang their final song and then we wrapped things up with the slideshow. I told myself. Do not get emotional. Do not cry!!! But yep...I cried...I cried like a baby. 

Yes that's Noah in his bright happy yellow winter coat from the Gap. It had snowed and all the new first graders went outside to play in the snow together. Picture on the left. And in the summer they all played on this jungle gym. Just my eyes seeing all of these kiddos at age 6 again...on the big screen. All us parents were like...awwww. Yep... our kids as ichinensei.

When they were 4th graders. And they had a performance. And the teacher sent a note home...everyone wear a white top/t-shirt. I noticed the pic on the right, I could pick Noah out of the front row right away. And all the other little sweetie pies...that I have watched grow right up...with my son!!! So...super nice to see a blast from the past pic.

Farming on the right. Because well obviously... these kids are indeed growing up in the countryside. And the pic on the left is of Lily-chan on the bars....and all the other kids about to twirl around on the bars too.

Their 6th grade... over night stay. 

First person I picked out of this picture was Lily-chan. She's such a beautiful girl, flat out gorgeous and I always notice her immediately. This pic is blurry, so it's safe. She was in the pink shirt on the front row but more so... in the middle of the first row. And I always notice Noah immediately too because he's so western looking... and as white as chalk, as we all know. So, I zero in on Noah in his yellow sweatshirt immediately too. And I really adored this principal on the right hand side of this pic. He was so nice. He is no longer principal there. But he was very chill. Next thought of mine was...wow they were all *so* small and little and innocent and adorable.

Ninensei. Second grade. I remember blogging about the pic on the left. Noah brought home a note. Said all 2nd graders were required over the weekend to "make their own" fishing pole. The rules were that... it could *not* be a "store bought" fishing pole. It had to be homemade. And preferably from items already at your home. But you could spend money on it, but not more than $1.50!!! #1...I thought the idea and concept as a whole was brilliant. Talk about waste not, want not. Noboru and Noah went to the nearby farming DIY. It smells strongly of farming chemicals in the store, but also sells laundry soap...and sells veggie plants and flowers. Noboru and Noah picked up a green gardening stake....a long green one...it was like 78 yen or so. They used that as the fishing pole/rod. And that was all that was spent. Noboru lent Noah some fishing line...since Noboru fishes. And they sat on the front porch putting it together. Father and son. Noah was so proud. And that Monday...all ninensei went to school with their fishing poles. And after lunch, they all walked by the near-by creek. And the teacher and the kids spent the rest of the afternoon fishing. They brought their zarigani boxes/crawdad boxes, filled up some water in them. Not too much. They also sketched the surrounding tanbo (rice fields) and crawdads and the creek. They had a nature class and art class for the final 2 classes outside. The pic on the right is where their grade, was having a performance and asked all kids in class to show up wearing their yukata or jinbei. Noah wore his jinbei. : ) You know...watching this slideshow...I was reminded how fantastic and amazing...and what wonderful life experiences that my child got to experience... getting to grow up a country boy in the Japanese countryside. The sense of community. How much we value our children here. We do a lot!!! The sense of safety. Just watching this slideshow. Plus the music that accompanied said slideshow...and yes...I was crying my eyes out. 

My shy pale one on the right. Both of these boys, have older brothers, the same exact age and grade. So we have known them forever...and they have known our family...forever too. : )

These are pics of the slideshow. I chose to record this as a movie, versus take pics. 

And their final group photo as 6th graders. The 6th graders all filed out of the room and high fived all us parents. It was such a wonderful way for the school to say...good bye to the graduating 6th graders. This all happened on March 5th. The good bye celebration. I have to still get up Noah's actual graduation day. And I will. But it will be delayed. Because again...things are just really hectic here, right now. In a months time... everything will be over with. And we'll be in the states. But right now. I just have a hundred things to scratch off my list.  This is a positive move. It's a blessing and a good thing we want. It's just...wow moving is tough. It really is. : )

Decluttering and getting rid of more stuff...

Things here have been insanely busy. Obviously so.... considering we just had Noah's graduation from elementary school last Friday. Plus 3 of us are moving to the United States in about 3 weeks and it's a wonder I can even find some time to update here. So...for now...if my posts are few and far between you will know...and understand why. But...today I am reserving 2 hours to writing on here... and trying to write at least 2 blog posts for today. Starting with this one. More decluttering. Getting rid of things that we can't bring back to the US with us. For starters, we found a Japan based website that lets you post pics and a description. It's local. Though I am assuming it is all over throughout Japan. But for us...we posted a bunch of pictures of things we'd like to give away for free for anyone living in our district. Think of "county" for you in the U.S. And if anyone lives in the same district/county and would like it for free, simply contact us and you may come to our house and take it for free. We listed these 2 toy boxes which I bought at Costco years ago. They were in perfect condition. I didn't want to make money off them. But I didn't want to trash them. So we listed then. And within 3 hours some family from our district contacted Noboru. And picked them up that very same day. It made me extremely happy knowing these toy boxes would get a whole other life with new kids. Versus just being thrown to the trash. It just did my heart good. And granted if I had endless countless infinity time...I would have liked to do this with every single item we own. But as you all know... time is of the essence too. And since time is an issue. Just the big things...we are giving away for free. If by us leaving...means items of ours, can make others happy and touch other peoples lives, in that small way. Awesome! I do believe in karma and so yep. This feels really really good to me... to give things away, to those who could use them. So very cool.  

These could not find homes. So they went to the trash. This clock was awesome, it had a digital clock and hands clock. And it spoke in beautiful American English and taught both my kids to tell time when they were itty bitty. I wish I could have found homes for these, but again...I don't have hundreds of years to just post it and wait. If time allows...great...if not. Oh well, I tried. 

These got rehomed...somewhere in our housing community... little brother of Noah's classmate. : )

We put Branden's desk on the free list...locally of course. And in less than 1 hour, a women emailed Noboru, asking if the desk was still available. And that she has a little girl who will be a pika pika ichinensei this April. A shiny and bright first grader. Noboru asked me. And when I heard this desk could be going to a 6 year old...and would get so many good years of usage and love! I immediately said yes! It's hers!!! So Noboru messaged her and said..."my wife said, that the desk is yours" And she said her husband would be picking it up the next day at 10am, they live in the small city nearest our town. So, what is this picture of??? We had to go through every single drawer of B's. We threw almost every single thing out. And we own so many Diary of a Wimpy Kids books. And Noah loves them so much. Bran read them tons when he was little. But...they're too heavy to bring with us...especially since they're so cheap to repurchase in Target. Once we're back. So the kids books will go to an American mama friend of mine, since she has kids a little younger than mine... who could use them. : )

On the day of the desk pick-up. Pick up was set for 10am. Noboru and Branden dismantled some of it, so that he could fit it in his vehicle. The father drove a great big van. El Grande, I think was the type/name... very nice vehicle. It was a man about 10 years younger than Noboru. Made sense... considering Noboru has a 16 year old and this man has a 6 year old. Not that it matters at all. But they were not financially poor. But instead financially wise. He said they had 2 older kids and they bought desks for the older 2. And for the 3rd kid, they were really wondering should they pluck down the money for a 3rd desk or not? They also heard of the free website that is for free for locals to just pick up. And he said they saw our desk and loved it. He said it was in brand new condition. And it was. Noboru told the man...that our family is just glad that it gets a new child to use it and love it. And so a win win for all of us. I love people who are penny-wise. He brought us omiyage/a gift of cookies. All wrapped up in a box. A nice box of German cookies to be exact. They were delicious and we were not expecting anything in return. 

Did you ever see Toy Story when Andy gives Buzz and Woody away to that little girl? I firmly believe toys should be played with. And desks should be used too, if you like them, my kids never really used their desks much, they preferred study on the kitchen table lol. So Branden did go outside and thanked the desk, before anyone came to pick it up....and said..."you will get a new life and a new owner." Much better than being tossed and thrown away. This makes my heart so happy. You desk, will no doubt be used for all 6 years of elementary school and 3 years of JHS too. You will get 9 full new years of love. Enjoy your new life.  

Thank you for being such a useful desk for my son. And have another *amazing* 9 years. I'm glad I snapped these pics of you, before the new papa came and picked you up. : ) We did get an email from them later that night, that his daughter simply loves her new desk. So thoughtful to message us.

Don't laugh or think it's corny. But...if by us leaving....can make 10-15 peoples lives a little improved...by 2 new toy boxes...or a stack of fun new books to read...or some Nerf guns for summer time play....or a new study desk. Then...that just makes me, so fulfilled and happy. Someday maybe someone will say..."I met them once and they were *really* cool nice amazing people" or if someone said..."they were our dear friends and wow...they were such for real and nice human beings and our best friends" ..Or simply..."what kind people." So yep...at least we could leave a little footprint of goodness, before we left. Giving something without *expecting* anything in return. Giving *without* a motive...other than... to just make someone else's life better, is always the right thing to do.

What's in Branden's room now? Just his bed and a night stand and a lamp. It's paired...way *way* down. We have since thrown 3 huge bags of trash from Noah's room too. Every notebook or text book of Noah's. The text books went to be recycled. And his written notebooks had to go to the burnable trash. Seat cover. Crayons. You name it, it's gone. Last week. And again...we are just streamlining.

As much as we have gotten rid of and given away. We have just as much stuff to still go through and make decisions on. Which is why...I have not used the computer so much lately. I have received so many emails from friends...well wishers...and I am sure they are kindly patiently waiting for replies. And I'm afraid...right now...I just can't reply to emails right now. I just don't have the time for it. Moving is so freakin' fudging incredibly stressful. I'm sure in May...I will be laughing and smiling and thinking...what on earth was I stressed out about in March. But right now...what to throw...what to keep...what to save. OM flipping goodness!!! I feel like I'm in the eye of a tornado right now. The middle of an ocean and I'm treading water. Right now, it's work, work work. Which means...prepare to move. This is the NOT so fun part. Granted in a month, I will be glad it's over. Glad I endured it. But as for now? Meh! It's hard. It's stressful and horrible.
 

Throwback Thursday. Reflecting on Noah's elementary school days, 1 day before his graduation...

I thought today, 1 day before Noah's elementary school graduation. I would do a TBT. It seems so fitting. Perfect time to do it really. In light of tomorrow's graduation, today is all about you Noah and your elementary school adventures. I remember before you started the first grade... you were 50% excited and happy to start elementary school and getting to go to school with your big brother... also you were 50% scared of meeting all new classmates except the 1 and only other kid that went to the same yochien with you. The rest of the first graders all went to the same local hoikuen together. And you were *so* nervous to meet them. And this picture, I snapped the day of your entrance ceremony. You were now 10% excited to go to school with your big brother, but you were now 90% petrified to be in a class of new faces. As everyone who reads this blog knows...you Noah are a very gentle soul. Extremely kind. And a little shy when first meeting someone but as soon as he knows you, then he's really chill. I reassured my kind sweet boy at age 6 when he was just a pika pika ichinensei. "Noah honey, you are okay" Mommy will be right in the gymnasium and I will wave, so you can see where I'm sitting, okay?" "Not to worry dear heart"..."I will be there." You mustered a few smiles and I quickly took these pics. And since Branden was already at school. Daddy, you and I hopped in the car. And we made sure that you made it to your classroom and got you all set up. And your stuff all put away.

While Branden has always been very chill and calm and zen about everything, you were always my worry-wart. And I love you both. Exactly as you are. Branden knew how "doki doki"/nervous you'd be. He asked all his friends to clap so super loud for you and cheer for you and boy did they ever. And when they did roll call. And called out your name. They all clapped and cheered so loudly and my heart was bursting with happiness and relief for you. And I could see your kind shy smile. I had absolute peace of mind knowing your big brother could watch out for you... for 2 years in elementary school and he did. He never let anyone be mean to you. He's just that kind of protective big brother, he's not ever been a bully because Bran is a good kid too, but he's just protective about Noah. And when it was time for him to leave and go to JHS, you were by that time.... totally more than okay. Okay to be there alone, so relieved he could be there with you for your first 2 years of shogakko. Anyways... all these years, I have enjoyed watching you come into your own element. And now you are a 6th grader. Yes you are still a little shy. Ha! You probably always will be. But...we love you exactly as you are...my dearest Noah. I can't believe you will be graduating tomorrow. It frankly blows my mind. 

Thank you Branden for always being the best big brother...that any little brother would be lucky to have!!! And Noah...you are shy yes, but that's okay. You are also kind and nice and absolutely gorgeous. When they announced your name at the..."Goodbye to the 6th graders" event last week" all grades voted what you were known for the most....they said..."Noah is known for always being kind and friendly to *everyone*" and that is so super true. They described you perfectly. And funny...you entered elementary school wearing gray. And I made sure when I picked out your graduation outfit, that I also picked out gray too. How truly fitting. At our local elementary school graduation ceremony....everyone wears their future JHS uniform for elementary school graduation. But since...Noah is going to the United States and has no JHS uniform like how they prefer kids to dress for graduation. I made sure to get Noah a suit. And considering Noah is as white as chalk (just look at his legs and face in this picture), I prefer get him a suit in gray, because it just suits his fair skin/coloring better. 

Tomorrow my dearest Noah, you will complete another milestone. Your elementary school education will be complete. I will watch you walk into that gymnasium one last time. I will clap and cheer and cry my eyes out! They will be proud tears. Not sad tears. They will be happy tears. They will be...I love you tears!!! It will be my very last time to ever step foot in that lovely amazing elementary school. And it will be the last time to ever be near all the other awesome parents and kids we have come to know all throughout these years. A chapter will close for you tomorrow.  And I will be there. On the sly...I will be waving to let you know where mom is sitting to reassure you as always. We have 2 cameras all charged up and ready to go. One of those takes very good digital videos. My suit is all ready. Tomorrow will be awesome! Just take it all in. Enjoy it. You will remember tomorrow for years and years to come trust me, I know. The journey to getting to this point... has been been absolutely amazing. Because this elementary school was so fun! You cooked. You had class turtles. You went on some amazing field trips with your class.  And I'm just so proud to be your mom. And know, that another adventure awaits you in America. So good luck tomorrow! We love you Noah....so much!!! And yes, we're taking you to Jolly Pasta tomorrow night for your graduation dinner! Since that's the place you requested. Good luck tomorrow. We love you.

Bits and pieces...

Today the weather in Chiba and Ibaraki was crazy for our area. The elementary school warned yesterday, that there would be super strong winds and pouring rain today. Possible school delays this morning too. However, I know that our local elementary school did *NOT* want to delay the elementary aged kids school start time at all. When I woke up at 4:50am this morning, I could hear wild howling winds and pelting pouring rain. It frankly sounded like a typhoon out there. Looked like one too. But Branden went to school as planned, such dependable trains. I dropped him off at our usual time at the train station before 6:30am. The weather? Felt really warm. Freakishly so. But again pouring rain and outrageous winds. Dropped off Branden. Noboru wondered if Noah's school would be delayed? It was a fair question because... In the past 30 days Noah's school put all elementary kids on a delayed schedule twice for rain. And today's weather was *way* worse. But I knew....for a fact that the local shogakko was not going to cancel elementary school or even delay it under any circumstances. Why? Because our 1 and only JHS/chugakko in town had graduation today. Yes, and was this the.... worse weather day to ever have a graduation day in? Sadly...yes. But this was their celebration day. We have 2 ninth graders on our street, both boys. One has a 5th grade younger brother. And frankly if school was put on a storm schedule. How could they drive their 5th grade son to school at say 10am for example if graduation at the local JHS starts at 8:30am? Impossible and not everybody lives with extended family nearby. And Noah's classmate...a very good friend of Noah's...that friend...he has a 9th grade sister. So many graduating 9th graders in our town absolutely have younger siblings. And it would piss off all 9th grade parents with younger kids...if their younger kids could NOT start school on time at 7:30am. As a parent with 2 kids. I "get it" I know...how you love both kids and must keep track of both their schedules and not just 1 schedule. So yep....I know...hell or high water...the elementary school would be on their regular schedule. Because of the JHS graduation today. And if chickens and/or cows go flying in the air due to high winds... so be it. Exactly 7 days from now... 1 week from now it will be Noah who is graduating. And our family all dressed up and inside the elementary school for our final time...experiencing Noah's graduation. I hope the weather is better for us next Friday, than today. I really feel for the kids graduating today. Because the weather was just not cooperating today at all for them. : ) Anyway....This pic was from February 27th. After shopping around Costco. We decided to have lunch there, my husband and I. He had 2 hot dogs. I had 1 slice of cheese pizza and we shared this caramel pecan soft serve ice cream. 

Spring break is happening soon. Noah will not have school after next Friday and neither will Branden. So lunches at home are necessary. Mac and Cheese and 4 frozen cheese pizzas. We also always have instant ramen and/or yakisoba UFO type things, quick fast things for lunch. What else is in this cart? Pasta sauce. Mozzarella cheese and great big hunk of Colby/Jack cheese. 

I baked the family a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, last Saturday. They loved it. 

All this week Bran has been getting out of school between 10:30-11:30am. And gets home around 12 or 1pm... depending on when he catches his train or if he's going to grab a Starbucks with his friends on the way home or make a MickeyD's stop along the way too. So, this week...I had a hard time doing the weekly grocery run. Because I drive 50 minutes to Inzai. One way. So, I have to be *extremely* careful with my time. Which lucky for me.... the one thing I really really excel at... is time management. I left my house by 8am March 7th. Made sure I was at Japan Meat/Joyful Honda by 9am. On the elevator to the first floor. I park on the roof because they have free charging for my electric car. I bought all the weekly meat. Checked out and was back in the car after 21 minutes. I then popped into Cainz, bought toilet paper and shampoo. And had enough time to zip across the street to Costco before opening. I was there before the Costco doors rolled up. I grabbed my cart and picked up these 2 items. Tortillas and dinner rolls. Noboru threw the other quick meal thing in my cart and we were in the car super fast. 

I snapped this pic after we loaded the things in my car. This pic is date stamped March 7th 10:16am. basically I was in and out within 16 minutes. Damn! I crushed it!!! Super crushed it! Told ya...my time management skills are amazing. I truly zip in and out ....get my list scratched off and leave. I was home around 11:40am. Noboru said..."I can't believe you did all that and got back to town with so much time to spare." 

Noah's 2 besties waiting for Noah to grab his bike. I snapped this pic on my security cam/ monitor. There are only 36 kids in Noah's grade/class. And in that only half are boys. However only like 7 live in our housing community and these 7 play together *all* the time. And I do mean all the time. Every day that the weather is nice. No rain, no snow. They're off riding bikes. These rural Japan kids... play like kids in the 70's and 80's played. They ride bikes. They play soccer. They go to the playground. They go fishing or zarigani/crawdad hunting in warmer weather. They're all Line friends too. This specific day they went to one of their friends house to play Nintendo Switch. LOL. : ) 

You can see Noah's green Gap sweatshirt in front of his friend in the right. He grabbed his bike and the 3 of them rode off to go and play Nintendo Switch. : )

Anyway, it's Friday here. Obviously... I already said that. : ) I'm so glad the weekend is here. What have I done today? I washed all the cozy fuzzy warm couch blankets on the couch and then tossed them in my dryer. They're now all nicely fresh. And all fluffy and on the couch waiting for 2 kiddos to chill and relax in them later this evening. I washed everyone's bath towels last night and just tossed them in my dryer before bed and yesterday in the daytime, I did 2 loads of clothes (lights and dark clothing) and don't have enough for a full load yet. So laundry is done for today. And you know Saturday is the day I wash both the boys bedding, sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases etc. I'm also planning to bake some cookies tomorrow too. I made a double batch of pork green chili and beans yesterday, so tonight we'll have bowls of pork green chili, with some beans, some tortillas. It's going to be delicious and awesome since I made it all yesterday. Phew. So no dinner for me to cook tonight. : )

Yesterday Branden had high school tests. Geography and music and French. Branden loves his French class. And today he has 3 other tests. Today he has Japanese (his final Japanese test ever ever ever) and he had an English test (not his final English test, not by a long shot) Hahaha. And some other test. I'm completely drawing a black on what the 3rd subject was for today, oh well, sorry about that. Branden just messaged me and he and his 2 besties are at McDonald's right now. Having combos and celebrating getting through their tests for the week. They have more tests next week too, but just on Monday and Tuesday.  Have a good weekend. We're just going to relax at home this weekend.

Noah's final Observation Day at our local elementary school in Japan...

Last Thursday March 1st, was Noah's final Observation Day as an elementary school student. And on a more important note, it was also Noah's final Observation Day in Japan PERIOD. So a super special day for us and him. Observation Day was for the last class of the day, for all 6 grades. Two weeks beforehand, Noah told me that his 6th grade class had planned to bake cookies the day before Observation Day. Something us parents and our 6th grade student could share together. And a week beforehand the 6th graders were deciding, if the final Observation Day should be us watching and observing class or if we should go and play some dodge ball in the gymnasium. They voted and decided we should play dodge ball. So that's what we did. March 1st, at 1:20pm us 6th grade parents met outside the school gym. Our 6th graders were already waiting for us inside the building. Important to note... this is the day we all paid for their elementary school yearbook. 22,000 yen/ around US$200.00 We paid, got our receipt. And entered the gymnasium. Living in rural Japan, with a town population under 5,000 people. Our school has just one 6th grade class. And only one 1st grade class, and only one 2nd grade class etc.  36 kids total for the 6th graders. We split the kids in half and had 2 dodgeball games going at once in the gym. I've known these parents since Noah was a first grader. Remember since our town is so tiny, our town doesn't even have a yochien. There is 1 hoikuen in our actual town, but both Branden and Noah went to a yochien in a small city nearest our town. And some of the parents, I have known since Branden was in the first grade too. So, for me...when I look at these pictures. I see parents that I am really fond of. I see people who we have enjoyed undokai/sports day with  for 6-9 years, if they were also fellow parents from Branden's ichinensei too.When I see this picture, I see Noah. I see my husband and I also see my friends and Noah's friends. 

The biggest of smiles and best of laughs. My husband and his friend. They are both in the Father's Club. This man in red has 2 daughters. His oldest daughter was a classmate of Branden's since they were first graders. And his middle daughter is Noah's age. We have been close with this family for 9 years. Living in rural Japan, your relationships with others... especially if you raise kids here. Your bonds are tight. Your friendships are close. Noboru being originally from Osaka and me being originally from America, this town just welcomed us with open arms and an open mind. Friendships like this are truly priceless. And the "helper" teacher in the background in gray, I adore her so much! She's fantastic. 

Let's try not to get hit with the ball!

Noah's main teacher in the gray pants and blue sweatshirt. 

Noah having such a great day! He loves dodgeball.

The 6th graders sang a graduation type of song for us parents. They all did so wonderfully. 

Noah is part of the Baking Club, so he had to get to school extra early, the day before and make the dough with the other 6th grade baking club members. And then at regular school starting time, the rest of the 6th graders met them in the cooking room. Our school has an amazing huge cooking room. And they baked cookies until lunch that day. After the kids sang... they passed out the cookies to us parents. The note sent home the day before, said for us parents to bring our own drink. Noboru and I each brought a bottle of tea and Noah had ice tea in his thermos. 

One bag for the 6th grade child and the other bag with note attached, was for their parent. Noboru and I munched on the cookies Noah made for us. They were delicious. It was a very good idea to bake cookies. Teachers have the best ideas! : )

This note attached to the cookies was written to us from Noah. It says, "For 6 years, thank you for supporting me" Truly such a fantastic note. Such appreciation from my son. Thank you Noah! I will always continue to support you and also your brother too. I love you both so much. So anyway, that was Noah's final Observation Day.

We also had another event, which was basically a "Good bye to the 6th graders event," where all grades sort of celebrate the 6th graders. There was an emotional slide show too. In Japanese it's called, Rokunensei o Okurukai. We had that yesterday. March 5th. I enjoyed all of it, but I admit I cried when they showed the slide show, of our kids starting out as little "pika pika ichinensei" And show pics of our kids, throughout all 6 grades. And by the time, we hit the 5th grade, I was crying. Many of us parents were. So were the kids. Noah graduates March 16th. Right now, because the 6th graders will be graduating soon. Noah goes to school 20 minutes early in the mornings now.... all 6th graders are right now. They have been practicing for graduation since yesterday and this will continue until the day before graduation. Also right now because Noah is a 6th grader and also spring break is almost upon us, Noah has a very irregular schedule right now. He gets out of school right now 2pm most days, but some days it's 11am. So his coming home time right now is shortened now. And as for Branden, he has high school tests this week and next week. So he is getting out of school at 11am for this week and next week. I feel with their irregular schedules....I really have to stay on my toes. And be sure to check and double check *both* their schedules every single day. March is proving to be a busy month for our household. : )