Branden's 8th grade, overnight class trip...

Sunday, May 10th, was Branden's over night trip. They were going somewhere near Mt Fuji. Now because Hakone (you know, the place we love to onsen) anyway they have been getting many earthquakes lately and the volcano (remember Hakone is an active volcano) has been steaming and simmering lately and they evacuated actual Hakone. And although Branden's trip is/was semi near-ish there...we wondered if their class trip would be canceled. However...where they were staying wasn't even near the mountain area of Hakone. So we all breathed a huge sign of relief, that #1 our kids won't be in any danger...and #2 our kids trip won't be canceled. : ) About 10 days before all the kids brought home a list of "stuff" needed for their trip. Including what you may NOT bring. @_@ Apparently someones camera got broke last year on their...7th grade class day excursion to the zoo in Chiba last year and so there was a "no camera" rule in effect for this 8th grade trip. No colorful raincoats, only clear (they need to see the uniform). You could bring a sweatshirt for the campfire BUT...it could have now words...such as GAP or Old Navy. No words allowed on said sweatshirts. @_@ Geeze Louise. So, Branden just took his school accepted/approved school uniform sweater. @_@  The list of what to bring and what not to bring was in Japanese, so Noboru quickly typed and emailed me this list of what Branden needed pictured here. Aww, what a sweetie. That way...I could make sure Branden is/was all packed up and ready to go. : )  So this is the note/list of what Noboru wrote for me. : )  Don't forget to catch...they want the snacks *not* go to over 700 yen. @_@ My kids have never gone over the set $ amount of snacks. But, from what I heard about last years zoo excursion...some kid (a boy from the other class) brought like a huge gigantic amount and the teacher took half of it and gave it back after the trip, with a call to the parents about him having too many snacks. @_@ LOL. So, I was very mindful about the 700 yen limit. About $7 US. 

Just to make sure, I packed the receipt in Branden's ziploc bags of snacks. That way if anyone said anything...he could go.. blammo and whip out the receipt (they didn't even question it though). : ) Hahaha. : ) And for what it's worth, his total was even cheaper because 2 of the snacks, we bought for Noah, since we was with us when we bought the snacks for Bran and he was watching us put all this amount of stuff in the cart for Branden, , he didn't even ask to have anything...which is so Noah...so at the end of shopping, I said "Noah go ahead and put 2 items in this cart" and he was very excited and he wasn't even going to ask, but I know he was wanting something. : ) So even though Bran's total was 640 plus tax, it was really a tad less. : ) But...no worries, still under the 700 yen mark. I buy my snacks from the cheap old school Japanese snack shop, that sells like 5 yen candy or 10 yen this or 10 yen that. : ) 30 yen mini pack of donuts. 

I bought many doubles... because I wanted Branden to have snacks going to his destination and the day they left and were heading home too. Also, Branden's final 6th grade trip...their bus was so delayed in traffic, like almost 1 and a half hours late. The kids were so hungry on the bus, that about 80% of the kids ate their omiyage. Branden did not though. Souvenir snacks for their parents. Many and I do mean... many parents called complaining, I heard all details when I picked up the kids at the plaza, lol. We did not complain obviously, but...it made me remember that and so...this time...I made sure Branden had some snacks for the way home too. 

One Ziploc for the way there.

And one Ziploc for the way home.

All nicely packed up. 

And put into this 1 random bag. 

Hand wipes...

Earplugs, because 1 of the boys Branden was sharing a room with, is the same boy Bran shared a room with in the 6th grade and while he is a lovely kid, he is a snore-er. Big time snore boy. You can apparently hear him snoring down the corridor of the hotel. : ) Hahaha. Sweetest funniest kid...good good friend of Bran's, but snore and snores as loud as you could ever imagine. He also apparently goes #2 for the longest time. Branden came home from the trip this time and he told me..."mom, I timed it, he didn't get out of the bathroom for 42 minutes!!!" "And the sounds mom...the sounds"...I told Bran..."TMI Branden, TMI." Hahaha. : ) So, this is why Branden needs the earplugs (snore sounds.) Branden however doesn't snore at all. Noah snores but it's so quiet, it's honestly like a kitten purring, I'm not kidding hahaha. : ) 

Moisturizer (by Korres) and Korres Shea Butter lip balm, this stuff is divine, this lip balm. They come in the Delta bags when you travel like... to the US from Japan, long overseas type trips in first class. Korres is really good. I figured, if B should get chapped lips, I really doubt it, but just in case, he'd have it. : )

Travel toothbrush, Crest & Scope toothpaste and some dental floss. : ) 

Tissues. We have character tissues, but he picked these plain ones. 

The 2 antibacterial hand wipes, just in case he gets sticky hands on the bus or touches something weird. Face wash on the left...

Body wash far left, shampoo, two kinds of shampoo and some face wash. 

Ear plus, we already know why those are needed. Also, do they turn off the lights on these over night trips? In case someone in his room, needed the light on, I packed Bran an eye mask. Again it's like 6 or 8 boys per room, so different personalities, ykwim. This way...eye mask...if you need it fine..if you don't...fine too. : ) 

Many things, but small travel size things, so double checked the list and packed them up. 

In here, not an attractive bag... but it was free from Delta on one of our trips, we received these, we get these each time we travel. Every time we go back to the US, we get 4 new ones of these, different colors each time though. : ) 

I highly doubt it...but you never know if someone said.."hey this is mine" This way you can go..."nonono, see, right here, here's my name"  I highly doubt that would ever happen, kids are so honest here as a whole, but you never know...it's just best for me to write B's name down. That way he's covered either way. 

Everything got a name written on it. 

I am not sure why Branden needed 4 chisai towels? 1 or 2, yes I can understand that. But 4? @_@ Lucky for us, we get heaps of these every "town undokai" so we have stacks of these and so I just made sure to pull out 4, jot his name down real quick, and so 4 chisai towels as was requested by the note sent home. Leisure sheet, check! And clear raincoat, check check! : ) 

The Friday before his trip, Branden said, "our teacher told us that since we were meeting up *so* early, if we want to bring a breakfast and eat it on the bus, we could." The meet up time was at 6am-6:10am. Roll call, head count. Getting settled on the bus and whatnot. The bus was LEAVING and driving away at 6:30am. as in...you do not want to be the 1 lone kid... where your mom is driving 90MPH because you're late and the bus has to screech their tires and everyone swivels their head and looks at you like..."shame shame shame, everyone knows your name!!!" Hahaha. LOL Anyone remember that old saying. Cracks me up! : ) So, knowing all that. I made sure I set my alarm at 5am. However, knowing how critical this day was for Branden and how I was packing him a breakfast that morning. I woke up...naturally on my own at 4:30am. I did wake up Branden. Noah was fast asleep in his room, Noboru was fast asleep in our room. Branden got dressed. I meanwhile had his 2 bags sitting in the genkan/entryway. I had the thermos right out near the hot water pot...so when I was making my coffee, I would see it and not forget Branden's thermos. I swear I live in fear of forgetting something, lol. : ) Which is why I sat the bags in the genkan. I had the thermos in a spot that I would see it for sure. And I had my hot coffee, meanwhile I filled Branden's thermos with tons of ice and some tea. And sat said thermos in the genkan. That way I would not forget. And I sliced, open 2 croissants. Pull out 2 slices of sliced American cheese. I meanwhile, fried up 2 slices of ham in a skillet. Set it aside, then I made a 3 egg omelet. Cut that in half.... half of the omelet went in each sandwich. Branden took 2 ham, egg and cheese croissant sandwiches for the bus ride near Mt Fuji. I got Branden all packed up. I double read the list again that morning, 2 extra times. And then Branden and I left, the house while the rest of the family slept.  I made sure he brought his wallet with 4,000 yen. The limit of what they could bring. And he had everything on the list. Phew. We left the house at 5:50am. I figured, I'll drive slow and we'll get there at 6am. We arrived around 5:58am. And there were a bunch of kids outside already.  

I parked a little away form the buses because it's just easier for my car to get out. I took one last look at my son. My first born. And I said very happily, "I love you...I want you to have fun and learn many many things. And don't forget I packed you a phone card too." : ) Phones are not allowed. : ( 

And off he went. Everything for his over night trip, toothbrush and chisai towels, extra clothes and socks, bath towels etc went into the Black Adidas bag. Only his day excursion stuff, I packed in his green backpack, "wallet with money, phone card, his name and address and phone number inside his wallet, lol, yes I worry"... his snacks, his thermos also in the green backpack. Leisure sheet also in the green backpack, because I was unsure if they were going to have lunch outside someplace, which is why I put it in the green backpack. I watched my baby...my big boy, my 13 year old...walk away and go in the crowd of kids right away. He's *very* popular. Superly popular. I knew he was going to be okay. I trust my son. He's got great judgement and has a fantastic head on his shoulders. : ) Would I miss him? Yes, of course...tons actually! : ). But it's only for an over night trip. It's not for a really long time. : ) I was feeling...more excited for him. Happy for him. : ) Remember when Branden went on his over night trip... his last year of yochien, remember that... I cried the whole night. Hahaha. Now I feel foolish. But...he's growing, I'm growing too. Learning to let go, bit by bit....as the years go by. Still hard. But getting a little easier too. : ) 

Bye 2 buses, take good care of our country kids now! : ) Come back safely all of you!!! : ) I love you Branden *so* much!

Monday at 5:30pm was the set time they would arrive. However we got an email saying they were ahead of schedule and they just made the last stop in Makuhari to all go to the restroom and now were back on the bus and the new estimated time to get home was 4:50pm. Woohoo! I was doing my happy dance. I already had Noah home with me, I picked him up earlier already. I arrived to the plaza to pick up Branden at 4:30pm. I just brought my magazine and waited. Noah used his tablet in the backseat. I was the first parent to arrive, however more cars trickled in...and soon enough we had MANY parents all waiting in parked cars. And then...1 bus pulled in. Excitement. It parked and the bus driver was pulling luggage out from the bus storage area. Then the 2nd bus pulled up. Super excitement. All the kids were now off the 2 buses. But they all had to stand in lines, have a long talk by each teacher, this took a total of about 10 minutes. I spotted 1 head from the back in particular and I just *knew*...that head belonged to my son! That was Branden's...the back of his head. Glee. I locked onto that back of his head and watched from the distance of where my car was parked. After the 10 minutes Branden came to my car and we drove home. He had so many stories to tell me. His lightning the camp fire... was great he said. He had no problems. They danced around the fire...he did a comedy skit, which is why Branden took one of my dresses, his sunglasses and the colorful rainbow wig he wore last year for..."the haunted elementary school walk through and fireworks", think along the lines of a rainbow afro. Branden danced with a bunch of kids, they had the dance already memorized....the dance group was...2 boys total and 3 girls, they were all supposed to be parody of a Japanese girl AKB type band, all comedy of course. And apparently they were so funny and the 2 classes and teachers and even the principal thought it was hilarious. : ) He said also during another part of their trip, they walked half way up Mt Fuji. I asked him....what were your best favorite parts of the trip? Branden said...the soaking in the onsen with his classmates and good friends, joking, laughing and talking in there. The over night at the hotel...Branden said their room stayed up until 2am (ghost stories, talking about girls, teasing the boy who was in the bathroom for 42 minutes, hahaha etc etc). @_@ He said the buffets were so good. He apparently ate a very large lunch Monday and was so stuffed when he got home. Branden also brought home 1000 yen. I told him, "honey you should have spent it" he said, "I didn't need anything else, and didn't want to waste it, since I didn't need anything, so I brought it back" Aww, he is a very good kid, you guys. : ) Branden brought back coconut cookies. Mt Fuji cookies. Strawberry cheesecake Kit Kats. Some charms.  

These were the best cookies. : ) 

Branden, also made this all by himself. Each kid got to choose/pick an activity to do. They had glass blowing, wood work. Making something from clay. All sorts of choices. Branden wanted to make something with clay. He was given just a lump of clay and he made everything on his own. He also put his initials on here. B...C...and then our last name initial... which I blacked out the initial of our last name. But the B...C, is for Branden Christopher. : ) Anway, that is the long and short of Branden's 8th grade over night trip. In 7th grade (last year) they just went to the zoo. In 8th grade (this year) it's this 1 over night trip. And we hear the 9th grade trip for next year will be a 2 night trip to Kyoto. : )  

Anyway it's Friday, have a lovely weekend you guys. TGIF. So glad the weekend will be here as soon as the boys get home from school today. Almost time now. They both get out at 3:45pm today, so both will get a ride home, Bran rode his bike yesterday. Tonight's supper will be buffalo wings baked in the oven, with a side of ranch for dipping the wings in. I bought some really big potatoes yesterday, so we will each have a big baked potato with melted colby jack cheese and butter, salt and pepper, and some steamed broccoli. And we will have some garlic bread to go with as well. And, I have a Fanta orange 1.5 liter in the freezer getting super cold right now : ) Noboru just got home from work, he's about to go pick up the boys for me, since I am here watching the oven and stove with our dinner stuff cooking and whatnot right now. Have a lovely weekend everyone. : )  Our weekend plan for this weekend? Not much, just staying close to home. : ) 

Happy days are here again! Ha ha ha, in other words, I survived! : )

Okay, I survived. I'm alive! Ha ha ha. Now originally, I had hoped and planned to have an absolute blast at home. Make the most of our time alone. Noah's and mine. I didn't want to have any worries. But again. Sometimes you can never tell how things will play out in the end, you know what I mean? Last night turned out better, after I posted my "missing my son post" lol. I had gotten it off my chest, felt much better just saying it and getting it out of my system versus bottling it up. I really don't like things to fester and bottle up anyways. I much prefer get it out and over with. Ha ha ha. So, yeah, I felt much better just typing it all out. After that, I did have myself a cup of hot caramel machiatto. And a toasted English muffin with margarine. I channel surfed for about an hour. Watched TV and found myself dozing off on the couch. I went up stairs and I slept hugging Noah-chan. I did get a pretty good night sleep after all. All the worry must have made me exhausted or, I don't know what. Ha ha ha. I slept like a rock. I woke up at 7:00 am. I am not sure why I woke up so early exactly. I hate mornings with a passion. Could be because I knew I could wake up and get ready to pick up B. So, I woke up. Had yet another hot coffee, checked a emails. Emailed back to everyone. Noboru came home. And in an hour we left.

We arrived 15 minutes early and nearly 80% of the families were already there as well. We all gathered in a circle and asked each other how we all were. Every mother had admitted they cried at some point since they left yesterday, even just a little bit. I admitted, I cried too. Then we all asked. Did you sleep well? How did every one's night go? Everyone said funny stories about how sad or how badly their nights were. I felt so so *so* relieved. Nice to be among friends who admitted they felt the same. Noboru told them all how sad, I was last night. I told them myself how, when Noboru went to work and with Branden gone, my house felt so lonely, so quiet. I was so sad. We were all shaking ours heads in agreement and laughing. These were laughs of relief now, because we knew it was over with. Our kids were coming out of the building at any minute at this point. One older sister, told us all really loudly "my mom was so sad last night without my brother" Ha ha ha. We had all survived. We all stuck it out. Yes, it was hard on all of us. I hoped like heck, it was going to be a piece of cake, and it wasn't! Ugh, just glad it's over with! Ha ha ha! : ) But it was very comforting that we all were feeling pretty much the same thing.

We saw them first walking from the big window upstairs, all us parents were on the outside of the building. I looked at that window hoping to get a glance or glimpse of my son. White shirt, (thinking), "yup I packed that" yellow backpack yup it is him!!! When I saw him from the window on the second floor, I was so happy. I was waving. He waved back. Oh, what utter glee! Insert happy dance! All the other parents were also waving at their kids happily. All the kids were waving back. I was so happy. I was thinking "Hot diggity dog, that's my son"!!! And about 1 minute later they all came out the door. I wanted to do one of those. You know.....one of those slow motion runs of embrace, lol, (hey I never said I wasn't a dork here)! The kind you see in the movies. Ha ha ha. But forget that. The teachers shouted, "all kids must stand in a neat line" (ala Madeleine) "and they will call each child's name one by one and then you come and collect you're kid." Now in a way, I wanted to just grab my kid and run for the hills. Just leave. Screw the waiting in line stuff! LOL just kidding. But, of course I didn't. I was actually on such a natural high by just seeing my son. I didn't mind waiting. So, I waited patiently. Lucky for me, it didn't take too long and he was sorta at the front of the line. Phew! : )

They all got these little paper signs, certificates around their necks. That said, "you did really well on your overnight trip" I will be saving this sign in my yochien artwork box. We can look at this and laugh years from now. "The night mommy nearly didn't survive without him." Meanwhile he was just fine! Ha ha ha! Oh yeah, what a laugh, we'll get out of this in a few years!

I had asked Branden if any of the kids were sad or if anyone cried. He said he thought many of the kids were sad at certain points, but nobody cried at all. I asked Branden. Did you miss me or were you okay? He said, "yes he was most sad when he was on the bus and then again when the teacher all read them their book before bed time." That's when he missed me most, but he also told me, he mostly had fun, fun, fun. And I was really glad! So all in all. What do I think about this? : ) I think the kids absolutely missed their parents for sure, no doubt. I know Branden missed me twice, like he said. But I think it was actually worse for us as parents. It was especially hardest on us moms. It's certainly not a walk in the park, that's for sure. There's a love there. A bond there of course, so no doubt, it's tough. So, one of these days I might have one of my foreign gal pals who goes through this very same thing and I'm just going to say (if she asks of course, though I am no expert but I'll share and say something like this), "just do the best you can, that's all anyone could ever ask, you know : ). Try to have a good night without your kid. Key word being *try* of course. But it's tough. It's tougher then I certainly had hoped. But you will get through it, yes, even if just barely and by the skins of your teeth, you will make it (I was really worried if I was going to make it, myself last night in fact, but I did)". And I'd give her a hug for support. Sigh. It really was hard, you guys! I'm so glad Branden's is over with. Oh man....I am so glad! Ha ha ha! : )

Branden was fourth from the beginning of the line. He ran to me right away and gave me a hug. The relief on all us parents, faces. Man, it looked like we all just got "botox" or something! His teacher told us, Branden did really well. And since we told her we were worried about the food and if he would be able to sleep well. She told us, he ate very good! All the foods, he didn't like, he just didn't eat and all the food he liked, they gave him more of those. Ha ha ha. And she said, he said "the food was delicious/oishii" (sp?) and she said he slept well and basically had a great time. There were no men allowed on the trip. And we only have women teachers at our school anyway except the gym teacher. And he wasn't invited. I asked Branden which teacher washed the kids. B said the lady teachers washed all the boys in the sento, but the lady teachers were all fully dressed! Ha ha ha! We all got into the car, and on the way home we stopped off at Coco's restaurant around 11:00 am for brunch. I had the french toast and some hot coffee. Noboru told me I looked about a million times more relaxed and happy. I said, absolutely. Now things are back to normal, and the way things should be. I can finally exhale. Phew! All is right in the world, once again at our house.

Anyway, I just wanted to post this real quick before I go and thoroughly enjoy my day and weekend with my 2 wonderful sons! Have a great weekend everyone! : )

Okay you guys.....I *really* really miss my son! : (

So, we all dropped off our kids at the school at 2:30 pm. All mother's were smiling but I could just sense the nervousness in the air. Mine included, ha ha ha. Branden ran into his classroom, started speaking to his friends in Japanese right away and he didn't even look back. Didn't say "good bye mommy" or anything. I, for surely thought he'd at least look back and wave or something. Nope, he was playing and chatting in the class. A bit sad that he clearly wasn't going to miss me all that much. But also at the same time, happy he was handling things clearly better then I was, ha ha ha. It was no big deal really, we would see him off at the ward office. So at 2:50 pm all us mom's and a few dad's and one grandma and grandpa all showed up and waited at the ward office. The big limosouine bus was already there waiting to drive the kids to where they were going. All us parents waited to see our kids. Our kids were walking from the yochien to the ward office hand in hand down the street. The walk was a short one, but we all waited in anticipation. I had planned to take a few quick pics of Branden. Not hundreds, just a few. I assumed all the other moms were probably going to do the same. However, 2 mom's had asked me, if I had my camera with me. I said yes. And they said they all forgot their cameras. Oh man, what are the odds. Ha ha ha. They all asked me, if I could take as many pics as best as I could. I said sure. I'd do my best, I am by no means a professional or anything of course. But totally sure, I would help if I could. So, with camera in hand, I did my best clicking as many pictures as I could. Suddenly we saw all the kids filing in 2 by 2. Each set holding hands for safety. It might seem like it took a while, but honestly they walked down that short sidewalk and got onto the bus in a matter of about 2 minutes. It was over before we all knew it!

There's Branden, the last row is a row of girls and the row in front of the last row of girls is of Taito-kun and Branden. They are buddies and also swim together, his dad is the local policeman. Remember his mom is an identical twin and they came to my Easter party thing, very nice family. Genki-kun is the guy up front with the orange packpack straps in front and he's holding the little girls hand with the Marie backpack.

The kids were all being silly and funny as they walked.

All the parents, and even grandparents all waved. I waved and B was actually waving at Noboru and Noah when I snapped this pic.

It seems they just breezed past us. In a matter of seconds, they were already getting in line and boarding the bus. You can see Branden, by the yellow school bus backpack on his back. A new uniform was given this year for PE/gym. It's yellow and there's pics of in this blog somewhere. However only about 1/4 of the students wear the new uniform. B has the new one and also the old uniform too. I purposely made him wear the old uniform today. Because he would be better easily identified as being a part of this group since they are all wearing the same exact thing. Sorta just put my mind at ease a bit better. Ha ha ha. Nervous mom here.

I was smiling on the outside but I was feeling sorta sad on the inside. Branden on the other hand was just thrilled, excited and happy about going.

These kids did wonderfully! Each and everyone of them! They were real stars! Not one of these kids cried. Everyone was happy or at least handling it! They truly did...gambatte!!! I was very proud of these kids! Not just my own son, but all of them! Before I knew it, Branden got onto the bus. I couldn't tell which side of the bus he was on. What side should I stand on? Oh heavens! ha ha ha! Ahhh, not to worry, I see him. I stood on his side of the bus and snapped a few pics.

There he is.

I call this pic, the "let me outta here pose" Ha ha ha. Just kidding. He wasn't wanting out of the bus or anything. He just put his hands like that though. It seemed like mere seconds and again before you knew it, the bus took off. We waved. I waved and I waved and I waved once more. Until I was all waved out! We all waved until we could no longer see the bus.

Immediately after the bus left. This mass hysterical laughter hit us all. No, we hadn't suddenly all gone berserk or bonkers. I think it was nervous laughter. Someone said, "I can't believe they are gone" and laughed/nervous chuckle. That nervous sad left. Then someone else said "is everyone okay? Is anyone crying?" Yes, there were 2 mom's crying actually. They cried and laughed at the same time....tears coming out their eyes and chuckling at the same time. They were being so strong. Then we all laughed. Were we all laughing to stop the rest of us from crying? I honestly think, we could have! A few more said "I can't believe they managed to get their kids on the bus" and chuckled some more. I think we were all just a bit sad, but we all really didn't want to show it. I think, I was the first parent to leave. I had a hair appointment in a few minutes. And although it was only about 2 minutes from where we were, I had to leave. I also was feeling a bit sad. Sad my child just drove away. It certainly did sting a little bit, when he left, I won't lie. Sorta gave me that...knocking the air out of me feeling. : (

Poor Noah, he was trying to make sense out of all this stuff. All the big kids just drove off in a bus with their PJ's? He was probably thinking...what the heck? And what happened with his brother, he is probably wondering that too. I did tell him Branden will be back tomorrow though.

I went to the salon. I am *so* glad I went. Because it kept my mind off B for a while. I read my National Enquirer and Parents magazine in the salon. They brought me some iced tea. And I sat there for about 3 long hours. Gosh was it boring being there for that long. But oh well, it's done and now I don't have to have frizzy or poofy (sp?) hair for the summer or the next 5 months at least. So, I'm happy. It's so straight and sleek. Like straight as a freakin' pin type straight.

After the salon, we went to the Tsutaya. I didn't get anything. What I wanted was out, so I'll check back maybe tomorrow again. However we went and got a large pizza. Peperoni and mushroom. By now it was lightly sprinkling/raining. We came home and ate pizza. And then Noboru slept for a few hour and then he left to work. Meanwhile Noah and I stayed downstairs watching TV. At about this point, I really start missing my first born son here. It's absolutely boring without him. The house is so quiet without his laughter and constant chatter. All his funny stories. Weirdly quiet, I hate it being this quiet. And also there were pizza slices leftover. Those were the slices that usually Branden would have eaten. I realized how much I miss him. I didn't want to be one of those heartsick mothers, who missed my child all night long during one of these things. But, I think that's how it's ending up. Because honestly you guys, I am absolutely heart sick without my son. I'm plain ol' besides myself. I've heard the saying a million times that people feel "a piece of them is missing". Honestly, yes I really do feel a piece of me is missing right now. I feel a big gaping hole in my stomach is either missing or turned inside out. It's nearly midnight and I am absolutely miserable. Sigh! I'm hopeless. Ha ha ha. But I will always be honest here, whether it makes me look like a dork or not. I'm just really hurting right now, I'm really sad, I'm besides myself. In a nutshell, I just want my son back! I can barely wait until tomorrow at 10:30 am when we are supposed to pick them up. I swear I will be there at 10:00 am! Ha ha ha!

Noboru on the other hand is fine. He says, I should not be sad at all. That B is not dead. He is clearly having fun. Yada yada yada. Geeze, I know all that. Ha ha ha. Logically, I can see, yes he is fine and well. But it doesn't stop a mom from feeling this aching gut wrenching missing my son type feeling. Clearly there's a difference in the way women and men feel. He's such a man sometimes! Blech! : )

Oh well, I hope I didn't type all this out and it ends up not making any sense at all. I'm just typing down feelings as they come. Sigh. I just miss my kiddo basically.

Anyway, I am going to fix myself a caramel machiatto right now. Lay on the couch flip through some channels and then I will try my best to get a good nights sleep. Good night everyone. : )

Today is the day!

Okay, obviously I shared this pic on the post down below as well. But yes, today is really the day. We've been packed since yesterday. So, this morning was really easy. I got B ready and dressed for school as usual. He ate breakfast. I didn't have to make obento today, since he just has a half day today. He will come home around 11:45 am. And we have to drop him back off at the school at 2:30 pm. That's where the oldest class is meeting up and will take their bus to their destination. I think the bus leaves at 3:00 pm this afternoon. How am I feeling? I am feeling pretty good about it. I am not so worried about it. I know Branden is a pretty good little guy. He is behaved and he listens, so I think he will do just fine. He'll have a great time. I'm not going to worry myself to death. Or at least I'll try not to, ha ha ha. I have been speaking so positively about this trip with Branden, he is actually not dreading it at all. He is looking forward to it. He is a bit worried about the food. He does try everything but he is a bit worried. So that is our only worry. I figure if I am peppy and upbeat about the trip, he will be too. And if I were all crying and sobbing my eyes out and telling Branden all sorts of worries, he could be in a panic state right now. I have only told him positive stuff. Like, "wow Branden you get to have fun with your friends and bath and play with them and all have a sleep over with them, what fun" "I wish I could go" "wow you are going to have FUN" He is just really looking forward to it. So, I hope he stays that way. Ha ha ha! I'll let you all know how it goes after I drop him off! And of course I think it goes without saying, I am sure there will be a few kids crying or whatnot, but I don't in any means think it has anything to do with how their mom's spoke about the trip at all either. Sometimes kids are just scared. I think everyone knows what I mean though here. : ) I am just trying my best and trying to stay really positive and I just hope it works. Here's to hoping at least! : )

Noboru has the night shift tonight. So he will be working from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. So, I will be without Noboru and I will be without my Branden. It will be just Noah and I all night long.

I have a hair appointment booked at 3:15 pm today. Just 15 minutes after Branden leaves on the bus for his trip. I am getting my hair straightened again. That Japanese thermal reconditioning thing. I get it done twice a year. As do quite a few of my western friends who live in Japan as well. Because for many westerners (not all though), our hair turns to frizz in the summer. Why is that, really? Anyway, with rainy season underway, I thought it would be a great time to do it. Plus Noboru only has to watch 1 child versus 2. The results are amazing, but it takes about 3 hours! My butt turns as flat as a pancake, after sitting in the hair chair for that long! Ha ha ha.

After my hair appointment, I think I will go and rent Noah and I, 2 DVD's. I'll rent us some funny comedies. And I am even thinking about going and ordering Noah and I, a pizza. Yes after typing this, I will *totally* be ordering us a pizza for our dinner tonight. That way, it turns into a sorta fun night. A pizza and DVD night. Not a sad, thinking about my son, and counting the minutes and whatnot. Ha ha ha. I am sure, I will think of him during the night of course. But I know he is having fun and so I will try my best to have fun too. : )

PS, about our family trip we are taking. And yet another reason why, I have been so busy lately.

We are leaving in a few days. We are leaving on Monday, July 2nd. And we won't return for a week. We will return July 8th, Sunday night very very late. We wanted to go for 2 reasons. First reason is we wanted to spend the 4th of July, in the America and actually enjoy festivities and fireworks and stuff. Heck we are teaching the kids both holiday ways, Japanese holidays and also American ones. So, we really wanted to spend American Independence day there. Also, Noah's birthday is July 7 th. We wanted to share Noah's birthday with my dad. We had asked Mitsuko to join us, since she can use Noboru's flight benefits too, but unfortunately she wasn't able to swing it this time. So, at least this way Noah can spend it with one grandparent at least. Besides we will be going to Osaka in August, so we will see them then. Our neighbors, 3 households are watching and keeping a good eye on our house for us. And believe me nothing gets past these ladies. They are always outside hanging clothes or what have you. Even the slightest creak and they peek out the window. Ha haha. So we are all good with that. Ha ha ha : )

So, you can imagine all this week I was busy with regular stuff, like running Branden to swimming class and stuff, house cleaning etc. Besides my sewing projects and getting Branden ready for this little overnight trip. Friday/today B goes on his first ever overnight trip, Saturday we pick up Branden. Sunday is my only day and time I have to pack for our, week long trip to Guam. So I actually might be running like a chicken with my head cut off on Sunday. And on Monday we leave. So, anyway if I have been a bit quiet, now you all know why. Things are just sorta crazy lately around here. And even now. : )

Getting ready for Branden's first overnight school trip! : )

I haven't shared what Noah's towelket looked like when it came in the mail last week, whoops. No big deal really it's just Paddington Bear, ha ha ha. : )

As the note said, I made sure to iron and sew my child's name on everything! Sigh, man that was some work! For the towelket, I wanted it to have that felt type stitching. I bought the letters at a local little store in my nearest city. Each letter cost 50 yen. My secret I am sharing, not serious or anything but, would you believe they only had 1 letter "N"? OMG!!! I needed 3 for my kids names. Not wanting to drive all over the entire country of Japan and with absolutely no time to order online. I used the one and only 1 "N" for Noah's name. Only because, since i needed 2 "N's" for Branden's name, and I didn't want him to have 2 different looking N's I just used 2 letter "Z's" and turned them sideways!!! Ha ha ha. I think it worked perfectly fine though. No one would notice unless, I told them first really. And both Branden's "N's" look the same, so they match and look great! Phew, a potential disaster, definitely averted here! So, I ironed them on, but because I don't want them curling up and eventually falling off, I also sewed them on. It took me a super long time, since I am new to the world of sewing here. Honestly yet again, sweat beads rolled off my forehead because I was nervous. But, I did it! And it came out pretty good and I think I have a tiny reason to be proud only because i really hate sewing and gosh darn it, i tried very hard! The towels and stuff, I did it the affordable way and used the white iron on labels, and wrote his name on there and I also sewed all around the label so again, the name tag wouldn't just fall off with lot's of washing. So I am happy I ironed and sewed, both ways for everything. These tags will never come off! Ha ha ha. My sewing projects took me an entire morning, one day this week. But I am glad it is done with. And very happy with the results! : )

Close up. Yup, each and every letter was really and truly sewn on there, one by one. Turning the towel and outlining each letter basically, geeze. Oh man, how crazy! What hard work for a non sewing type person like myself! For an expert it probably woulda been a piece of cake, but for me. Ha ha ha forget about it. : )

I washed all of Branden's towelket and bath towel etc, twice for extra cuddly softness (nerdy me). Threw in a few dryer sheets in the dryer before they dried. And I packed things off my list, going one by one. By Thursday evening around 4:00 pm, I had Branden completely packed and ready to go. Nearly a day early. The little yellow school bus backpack has his little Spongebob brush and Donkey *from Shrek* toothbrush, his cup for rinsing. Spongebob PJ's and just basically everything they told me to pack. Meanwhile the Clear Spongebob zippered bag, just has his towelket in there. Both bags also have his name on them. It feel good to be done.

By the way, when I was at swimming on Wednesday, a fellow yochien mom told me in the dressing room that if I can on Friday, to make sure to shower and wash B's hair before he goes on the trip. I was like "what the heck?" but again I listened because any advice is at least worth listening to (I don't have to follow it of course, but I can always at least listen to it and make up my own mind ykwim?: ). Plus I figure, Japanese mom's are the experts on this stuff, not me. I never went to school in Japan. Ha ha ha. So, I listened. She told me, that she heard last year from the mom's from the oldest class last year. And the mom's from last year said that in the night when they all take their public bath. The sensei's have so many kids to wash, that they can't wash each kid too well. And that some kids from last year came home with itchy heads? Again, since I don't speak Japanese all that well. And usually our speaking looks like a game of charades. She was itching her head in the dressing room on Wednesday. I understood what she meant. And I thanked her for the advice. Granted, Branden is able to wash his own hair and body just fine, he actually doesn't need any help from the senseis at all. However, I must say, she didn't have to give me any helpful advice/pointers at all and I know that. I found it kind that she took the time to try and help me out. So I really appreciated it. So, since the kids have a half day on Friday. I will give him a big lunch first thing when he gets home, and throw him into the shower and wash his hair, just in case. Ha ha ha. I really appreciated her helpful advice. Very kind! : )

Also, I wanted to say. The other afternoon while waiting at the bus stop. Genki-kun's mom said to me. She was getting worried about the overnight trip. She worries about Genki-kun. Which is understandable, she's a mom, I listened. Meanwhile on another day (Wednesday). The mom who told me about the hair washing thing. She told me, she was also very worried about the overnight trip. She said "my son doesn't want to go", "and "he's never been away from me before" "he might cry" It was at this point, I realized something. American mom, Japanese mom, doesn't matter. For right now, we are all just mother;s. And we might be worried about different things. However it was very reassuring that we were all a bit nervous and worried about something. Glad to know I wasn't the only one. I told her, as we both sat on the floor drying up our two older sons who just came from swimming. I said, "I understand you, because my feeling is the same" I am also worried about Branden. We both had this milisecond of a moment, we both locked eyes and smiled because, we knew it was true. We *were* feeling the same. At that moment, understanding each other completely, even though no more words had to be said. We really aren't so different after all, I thought, as I dried up my son. At the core, we are all just mom's. Sometimes we do seem so different from one another (American mom's and Japanese mom's) , but at times like these, we just all seem the same. Just worried mothers, worried and nervous about our children taking their first overnight trip. Anyway, Just wanted to say, we are all ready for Friday's trip at our house! : )