Friday's trip to Costco Makuhari and Hanamasa. And gearing up for tonight's Christmas movie marathon and pizza night! ; )

Friday morning, we had a plan the hubby and I. As soon as we sent both Branden and Noah to school, we'd head to Costco Makuhari and then on the way home we'd stop off at Hanamasa (meat shop) and then to the drive thru at Starbucks and head directly to Noah's yochien by 1:40pm and then straight to get B who got off early at 2:20pm. So, as planned, we sent the boys to school and drove straight to Costco. Man what a very long drive. Especially since we drove the normal roads and not the highway. But on the way back we took the highway though.

I'm not sure why or what but it was so crowded. We went on a weekday hoping for a dead/uncrowded store. The parking on all levels were totally full. We parked on the roof and even still had to drive around and around until a space opened up. Once inside it was so crowded. I've never been in there with THAT many people before. Was it on TV the night before or something? I mean, you could barely push a cart through there. And there are usually a few foreigners in there like myself. But this time...none but me. How very unusual. So, through crowds and crowds galore, I felt like a fish going against stream. I tried so hard to make my way to the Kirkland premoistened cleaning clothes for the house. People everywhere. Carts left in the middle of the aisles. It was crazy. We quickly shopped made it downstairs. The check out lanes were even longer. We waited and waited and finally checked out. We ordered a pizza for Saturday night. And Noboru meanwhile got 2 hot dogs for his lunch for Friday. And I got a quick slice of pizza for mine. We ate outside quickly and with no real time to spare, we hopped in the car and left. We got to Hanamasa around noon. I was now worrying greatly about our timing. So, I ran into Hanamasa and grabbed the things I was looking for and quickly checked out. Luckily for me, Hanamasa was deader then a door nail.

A quick drive through the drive- thru Starbucks and both of us grabbed a Christmas latte of our choice and back onto the highway we went. To Noah's school as fast as lightning. Would Noah fit into my tiny red car with all the meats and Costco stuff? Hmm, we'd see. And more importantly would Branden fit in the car afterwards too. Yes they did. A tight squeeze but it worked.

Went to pick up Noah. Had a little time to spare. So dropped off Noboru and the tiramisu. And with Pizza and the rest still in the car...off I went to the elementary school. Kirkland wipes, tortilla chips. 2 packs of plain dinner rolls. And 1 large cheese pizza.

And 1 very large tiramisu.

From Hanamasa, 5 packs of very lean 100% ground beef. 2 packs will be hamburg, 2 packs will be cheeseburger night and 1 pack will be meatballs for pasta night. 1 big pack of thick pork chops for fried pork chop night. And the 2 whole chickens for the super cheap price of 1080 yen. I am planning to cut them into pieces for homemade fried chicken for Christmas dinner. Don't laugh but we're simply sick of turkey. We love turkey but the nearly 20 pounder we had for Thanksgiving was enough for us for a while. We were then thinking...buy a spiral ham. And then I got to thinking. All my Japanese friends order KFC family party meals for Christmas. It's sort of a tradition for Japanese to do this at Christmas. Seriously. So, I guess I started thinking....you know, I could make an even better fried chicken. I have an excellent southern cookbook. And it has an amazing recipe for some seriously delicious fried chicken. I can make mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, we can have biscuits, the whole shebang. Heck, I can even make homemade baked in the oven macaroni and cheese. The real kind. So...yeah I started getting excited about the idea. Mentioned it to Noboru and he *loved* the idea so much! Probably because he hears from his coworkers how they all also eat KFC for the Christmas holiday. And so yeah....and plus this is even cheaper then the colonel. I bought 2 whole chickens, and will fry up the both of them. So, like 4 breasts, 4 wings, 4 drumsticks. And so on. It's gonna be really good. The dessert I'm still deciding on, maybe an all American apple pie or maybe a pumpkin pie, who knows. Anyway...so while we were there, perfect time for us to pick up the Christmas chickens and they are now frozen in the freezer as well as the rest of the meats. We are really looking forward to Christmas dinner this year. : )

All the dinner rolls, placed in freezer bags. One bag will be used for Christmas dinner. The rest for obento's or just plain munching. Putting them in the microwave toasting a bit in the toaster oven, rubbing some butter on top and yumm.

Someone donated to our yochien a huge Christmas house, like a gingerbread house but not made out of gingerbread. ; ) All the kids got to eat some Friday and also bring some of it home. That's what's picture on the left here. The parts of the house Noah took off. He shared with Branden. And that on the right is a Santa bell Noah made.

It's got the date on it and everything and after Christmas is over I'm going to hide it away in Noah's yochien keepsake box.

Our most recent movies we ordered/rented. A Christmas Carol. The new one with Jim Carey. And Extraordinary Measures. We haven't seen them yet. A Christmas carol, the kids and I'll see tonight. And Extraordinary Measures Noboru and I'll see tomorrow.

These are our Christmas movies. We watch them every year with the boys. Usually 1 or 2 movies each night tops. Polar Express is my least favorite movie in the bunch. The kids favorite is Elf. Noboru's favorite is Christmas Vacation and my favorite is A Charlie Brown Christmas or A Christmas Story. Tonight Noboru has his year end party. Noboru doesn't really go out very often. Actually unless it's fishing with his fishing buddy's. He's more a homebody type guy. He does however go out with his coworkers once a year for this end of year party. It's going to be just the guys....a bunch of married men. And even 1 child. ; ) One of the guys wife is a flight attendant and he needs to watch his son (1 year younger then Branden), so he's bringing him along tonight since she's working. Their plan? Go to the public bath. And then to a karaoke dinner place. And then home. None of the guys smoke except 1. LOL. Noboru quit 2 years ago. As did the rest of the guys. So, one very family oriented end of year party for them. ; ) Also, Noboru doesn't drink. So, anyways, while Noboru's at the end of year party tonight (which I'm glad he's going and I hope he has a lot of fun : ). Branden and Noah and myself will be throwing our own little party here at the house, just us 3. We'll throw the pizza in the oven. Warming it up. Having some grape soda with ice. Some tiramisu for dessert and after I send the boys to the showers and into jammies they go. I'll jump in afterwards and take a fast shower and we'll start movie night. A big bowl of popcorn and also chips and salsa. The boys chose Elf already. So we'll be watching...a Christmas Carol tonight and Elf afterwards. Noboru said he'll be home before 11pm. Because half the guys need to make sure they can catch the last train. ; )

Anyway the oven just beeped you guys...time to throw the pizza in the oven and get the boys fed and ready for our little movie night we have going here. Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful weekend.

My baking seems to be in full swing and a little update! : )

December is here and I really like all holidays, but *especially* Christmas....ahh it's such a nice time of year, right? I think so. : ) I enjoy it a lot. Also with school nearly on Christmas break and many half days ahead of me and Noah's Christmas recital coming this week (two days in a row, goodness can you believe that?) Just been sorta focusing on stuff going on here at home lately, sorry for being a bit quiet. : ) Anyway little update, last week, with a bag of apples that went uneaten. Hmm, we usually eat them right up. Anyway not wanting anything to go to waste, I decided to make the apples into a pie. So last week with the boys at school, that's exactly what I did. Think that was last Friday.

Got my homemade butter crust all rolled out. You know the more pies I make, the faster at it, I become. Practice practice practice. : )

Lots of apples, some cinnamon, a bit of lemon juice, a tiny knob of butter and a bit of flour for thickening the apple mixture and then I was rolling out the top crust.

Closed and sealed up the pie.

Made a few tiny slashes in the pie. And whacked the pie in the oven.

And hour later, it was ready. Self control. This was for last Friday's dessert. Mind you, I walked past this pie all afternoon long and resisted any and all urges to get a slice. Noboru on the other hand couldn't stand it any longer and said, can I have a slice? I sadly had to say sorry but it's for dessert. When the boys came home, they said the same thing. Thank goodness when dinner was over, we were all waiting for dessert. What was for dinner that night? You know it was a blur, all I can remember from that night was the pie. :P

Curses on you pie, for tempting us all day long like that. ; ) ; ) But man, it was totally worth the wait.

And now for this week. On Tuesday I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies, they didn't even last 24 hours, between the boys and the hubby and some for me as well. Wednesday December 9th, I went to lunch with my 2 good friends, Noriko-san and Jogo-san. We went to an Italian restaurant. A small little restaurant that is packed to the gills during the day with ladies eating the lunch sets. Hmm, have I ever seen a guy in this restaurant? You know that is a good question. Lots of mom's eating with friends at this place. And even a table of older granny types (late 60's) all eating lunch together as well. The cake we had for dessert was enormous, I mean seriously it was huge. It had caramel sauce dripping along the cake. How on earth could we meet at 11am and stay until 1:30pm until it was time for the kiddo pick up time? You got me. But we always seem to have good conversation. Talked about Christmas, stuff like what are we planning to get our kids for Christmas. Also talked about New Years. Any new DVD's or movies we all have seen. You know just fun chitter chatter type stuff. Time seemed to breeze on by and then it was time to leave. Friday December 11th, Noboru and my plan was, as soon as the boys were sent to school, we would hit the Toys r us in Narita and then head back to the country side and go and have lunch at the Indian restaurant I went to with Jogo-san the week before. I have kept talking and talking to Noboru about HOW good the kobocha (sp?) curry was. And he finally said, let's go there to eat lunch. So that was our plan for Friday.

So, after Toys r us. And a brief stop at home to hide the few things into the attic. We then went to lunch. From noon to 1:10pm is when we left to go and pick up Noah from yochien. Anyway when I was at this restaurant with Jogo-san I ordered my curry in medium. You can choose the degrees of hotness you want for your curry. I felt the medium was a tad too mild and wanted to step it up a notch. So this week, I asked for my pumpkin curry in hot. Holy goodness! This was so hot, I almost thought it was too hot??? Almost inedible hot, but not quite, but almost though. Ha ha ha. I love hot, but gee now I don't know. Maybe next time I go there, I can ask them to make it somewhere between medium and hot? Hmmm. : ) It was delicious though, but wow it set me on fire! : ) : ) Noboru had the keema curry. After we picked up Noah, we then went to go and pick up Branden and then the 4 of us all went home. I was so happy for the weekend to be here. Although it was a nice quiet week and I did get to go out to lunch twice in a week which is a bit unusual for me. Maybe once a week, but very rare for me to go twice in 1 week. So, yeah it was sorta quiet but a definite good week. : )

Friday this week, Saturday and also Sunday, we had kids come to play. Just 2- 4 of Branden's good friends. Friday (2 friends) and Saturday it was 3 of Branden's good guy friends (they played dodgeball and beyblades so including B that was 4). And on Sunday 1 of B's guy classmates who lives in our same housing community plus Saya-chan came to play.

Our second batch of Christmas cookies of the season! These are the Christmas tree ones. : )

What a good little helper! : )

And now some stars!

Aha and my other helper adding the sprinkles to the cookies. Well done boys, well done! : )

Two and a half dozen cookies later and we were done baking. Baking Christmas cookies with the boys has really become tradition for us. We all look forward to it. These didn't last 24 hours either. Smiles : )

Some of the boys presents this year so far. And a few were ordered online and should be here this week. You know, we usually set up our Christmas tree, every year but this year with going to Guam, I didn't set up the tree. That way it'll be one less thing for me to take down when we get back after Christmas.

Look the cookies almost gone by the looks of this picture, lol over a dozen cookies eaten by the time I snapped this pic. Happy smiles. : ) : ) That's why we baked them so.... that makes me happy. After dinner, and after baths on Saturday, we got out all our Christmas DVD's and watched 2 of them. We watched Elf and a Christmas Story. With big bowls of popcorn and drinks and the rest of the cookies, we enjoyed watching Elf and A Christmas Story very much! These stories always make me laugh and are good to watch every year around the holidays. Goodness that boy who wanted the BB gun and the mom who kept saying..."you'll shoot your eye out" LOL! Anyway this is what we've been up to. Not anything too earth shattering, I'm afraid but this is it. : )

Last bits and pieces:

Noah's last day to have lunch at school was today. The rest of the week are half days for Noah. So I am on a very wonky schedule this week and I have to check my calendar on the fridge daily just to make sure I don't muck up anything. ; ) Branden meanwhile has a normal schedule all week this week.

Noah's Christmas recital is this Wednesday and also this Thursday. Wednesday is for us parents. And Thursday is for grandparents only. So my MIL (Mitsuko) is flying in from Osaka, Wednesday morning, will be spending the morning and afternoon with my bil Jun and his family. While B is at school and we are watching Noah's Christmas recital. And then we will meet her either at our house around 3:30pm or we will meet her at the swim club around 4pm. Not quite sure. I am going to be making homemade pizza and salad the night she comes. So after Noah's recital Wednesday for us parents, we will run home, I'll get the pizza dough made and resting. Prep the salad stuff. Pack Branden's swimming backpack and then we will most likely meet my mil at the swim club around 4pm. She'll get to watch B swim and then the 5 of us will head back home, and I'll turn the oven on and start the pizza right quick and dinner shouldn't take too long. That's another reason I chose pizza, because it's quick and easy to make and plus I know she enjoys it too. So, I do have a plan, loosely forming, coming together, hopefully. : )Thursday we will drop off my mil and Noah at the yochien. And her flight isn't until the evening, so maybe go to lunch after his play? Hmm. Haven't gotten that far in the thinking or planning yet. : )

Both the boys last day of school is this coming Friday. We leave for Guam this coming Sunday morning December 20th, we get back to Japan, December 26th around 7 or 8pm at night, so it's a late arrival considering by the time we get our luggage from the carousels, get our car and plus we usually eat someplace and then drive home. Oh yeah, just forgot, Friday December 18th, I have a candle light service at the yochien. It's a really beautiful ceremony probably one of my most favorite things that this school does. All us mothers hold candles and the kids come in and the room is all dark and the baby Jesus is at the front. My description doesn't do it justice, but it's so pretty. It's a very nice service. : )

So in a nut shell, lots of half days for Noah this week. A MIL coming this week. Business as usual for Branden this week, thank goodness about that. And I have to get myself and the boys packed for our trip (hubby packs himself, bless his heart: ). A week from now we will already be gone. I will try and blog one more time before we leave. Probably just a quick fast one about Noah's recital.

I went to the grocery store this morning, bought food to last us the week. And I also bought 3 packs of butter, an extra bag of flour and some sugar, I plan to somehow find the time to bake 3 more batches of cookies still. Why? : ) Because I'd like to give some to my bil and his family when I see them when they drop off my mil. Give another batch to my dad, and some to my mil and hopefully we'll keep a few for ourselves to snack on and enjoy too. : )

Anything else to add? (thinking) Oh, I went ahead and ordered the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs DVD for the kids. And Paranormal Activity for the hubby and myself from Amazon.com. They should get here the first or second week of January, hopefully.

Okay I better get going now, I have to start dinner right now. Spaghetti and meatballs and salad tonight (lol and I just mentioned that movie with meatballs in the title, talk about a coincidence, how funny). Anyways, I also have to go and pick up Branden from Kumon soon too. How's the weather? The weather outdoors has been really cold. Definitely feels like winter around where we live. Anyway just wanted to catch up with you all and say, stay warm, stay happy and talk with you all, in a few days. : )

Tis the season to be jolly! : ) And time for some Christmas cookie baking! Yum! : )

On Saturday, we watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the Cartoon Network has been airing a lot of those classic television specials that I myself grew up watching as a kid! Thankfully we have satellite and so our boys watch them same as how I used to when I was a kid. They had the Santa one, on after this one, on last Saturday as well. Anyone remember the one elf, from Rudolph, his name was Hermie, he didn't want to make toys, he wanted to be a dentist?! Ha ha ha. We all watched this last Saturday. Computer was turned off and we really enjoyed the heck out of our weekend. Just doing family fun type stuff. Even just staying home not doing too much was fun. : )

Rudolph's dad, wanted him to hide his red nose.

: ( But then of course as well all know, Rudolph saves the day....at the end anyway! But so cool to enjoy all these movies with my kids. It was a very relaxing Saturday, very low key, just staying home and stuff. No big deal or anything. But yeah, we really enjoyed it. : )

Sunday again another relaxing day at home. Saturday in the day B and Noah played with the kids in the neighborhood. But on Sunday, we spent the day together, just the boys and I. Since hubby had to leave to work. : ( We made our first batch of our holiday cookies for this year. The same cookies I have made for 10 plus years. I share this recipe on my blog every year and will always continue to do so. Because it is a very good, basic butter cookie recipe. No weird or strange, hard to find ingredients to look for. So perfect for us ladies in Japan to make as well. I got this recipe off a box/package of butter in America. Inside the package of butter, it read...."BEST EVER BUTTER COOKIES" Who can argue with a name like that? Ha ha ha! Heck, I sure can't. : ) One night 10 some odd years ago, I made a batch. Thought what the heck, I'll try them. And sure enough, they really were the best ever butter cookies, I had ever tasted. Not sure why...maybe simplicity at it's best? Or I don't know what. But they really are truly a great cookie! And so, the boys and I bake about 3 batches of these throughout the month of December. They look forward to making them every Christmas! If you like, feel free to double click the recipe, and use this and bake these for your own family!

For reference, this one box of butter, equals the 1 cup of butter needed. Just trying to be helpful! : )

My nice cold chilled cookie dough. Ready for rolling out! : )

Sunday about 4:30 pm. Both Branden and Noah loved to shake the sprinkles onto the cookies. We had Christmas tunes playing in the kitchen. They both love to cook with mom! And I love to cook with them too! : )

Done with some of the Christmas trees!!! Job well done boys! Ha ha ha! *winks* : ) And of course out of every batch that cooled, the boys had to eat a cookie and I had a few myself while we were baking them! : )

What the cookies look like that the boys and I made on Sunday! : ) A green Christmas tree, and some green and red stars! : ) You know...like for the top of the tree. So stars! : )

A couple dozen cookies, just like the recipe says. Minus a few that we munched on while we baked them! Ha ha ha! : )

My walking steps picture for Monday! : D Let me give you my weekly update so far! : )

Saturday: 9,487 steps

Sunday: 8,913 steps

Monday: 10,877 steps

Tuesday: 8,337 steps

My walking is going really good still. I am walking daily. I feel really good, by just adding this walking regime into my life! It's been a really positive thing for me. : ) I recall what I weighed last month. I usually only jump on every month. And I can honestly tell you that I have lost 15 pounds/7kg of right now. Again though, it is still something I wanna keep really modest about because, again, I have that teeny tiny lingering bit of fear..."will I keep it up?" So again, I am still really keeping things on the down low, staying really super conservative with things. And pretty much staying quiet about things. But yes, I get my walk of 8,000 to 10,000 steps each day. Sunday, I think it was....I really did NOT want to walk on the treadmill. I wanted to do anything but. However, I forced myself on and walked anyway. Only logged 8,913 that day, buy...at least I got it done. So, I was happy afterwards. : )

And I am not dieting. I'm just not. I guess I figure, the holidays are a time to eat with loved ones and enjoy all the yummy things we usually eat this time of year and I don't wanna feel guilt or anything like that this time of season. So, nah, no diets for me at all. I am trying to watch what I eat, not over indulge too much. But other then that, no diets. : ) Just exercise. : )

Monday, after I logged a lot of walking that morning. I started my Monday's cleaning regime. Pushed back the corner dish cabinet. Swept and antibacterial-ed back there. Wiped my shelves off with orange Clean and antibacterial wipes. And then just put everything back. It's decluttered already,so only needs a weekly wipe down. : )

Floor, corners, baseboards. Mopping the kitchen floor came at the end.

Opened every kitchen drawer. Did my monthly declutter of my kitchen drawers. Now they are clutter free. And very well organized.

Not a dot of dust or a speck of dirt, when I was done with it! : ) Rolled the drawers back in and was done.

Back where it goes, dusted off the pics. Placed things back to their rightful spots. Orange cleaned my counter tops and my stove. Washed my kitchen rug and 3 kitchen towels that hang on my oven door. And then started mopping the kitchen floor like a mad woman! Ha ha ha! : ) While the floors dried, I cleaned the downstairs toilet, straighted and swept the genkan and vacuumed the living room. Went upstairs and folded the laundry fresh out of the dryer. Vacuumed the upstairs. And went to go and pick up B from school. Drove him to Kumon at 3pm. Meanwhile got started in on supper! I had walked, I had cleaned. Done everything I had to do for the day. Ahh, the night time, when it starts to be restful. Oh yeah! We had dinner, Noboru and Branden took showers. Noah and I showered. And we went downstairs to check for any Christmas movies. Besides watching Rudolph this week, we have also caught the Polar Express movie on TV as well as a few others.

Tuesday, same routine, wake up at an ungodly time of 5:30 am. Ha ha ha. : ) Make breakfast for the boys to be eaten at 6am.. Make myself a coffee ASAP. Check email, glance a few bloggie friends stuff. Then get back to real life and make sure Branden has his stuff ready, and drive him to school. Noah and I come home. Read Noah 1 book. Currently he is having me read The Cat and the Hat, have now read Cat and the Hat about 20 times these past 7-8 days, ha ha ha! And yes...I do the cool voices for the Fish and the Cat too! Fish says, "He should not be here while your mother is out" LOL! Hop on treadmill for about 50 minutes. About 5,000 morning steps. And then, start cleaning house for about 2 hours. After that...I am free. I might...jump on the treadmill. Prep dinner. Watch TV, scratch my butt, pick my nose. J/k! I am just kidding about those last 2! Ha ha ha! Anyway, Tuesday evening came and after dinner, then bath time, then we flipped on the TV and checked....any Christmas movies on??? And sure enough we were not disappointed. We watched the Santa Clause 2, on the Disney channel! With fresh bowl of popcorn. Ahhhh, this is the life! The simple life! : ) Around here, we get excited by Christmas movies, eating popcorn and munching Christmas cookies! Oh yeah! Good times, good times! Ha ha ha! : )

A perfect way to end a day! Watching the Santa Clause 2! We sure do love watching Christmas movies around here!!!! Oh yeah, I forget...I also went and got my hair cut on Tuesday morning and in the afternoon I took Noah to swim school. Same cut as the last couple times before. Chin length straight bob. Should last me passed New year's for sure. : )

Today's plan? Today/Wednesday, I will be making dinner and stuff as usual. But this evening, before dinner I have to take Branden to swim club. Should be there at swim club until about 6pm or so. And then come home and make dinner.

No other plans this week. Except the boys and I will be baking up another batch of holiday cookies this weekend as well! And hoping to catch some more holiday movies. : ) Oh yeah, next Monday, I am supposed to make Branden an obento/lunch from home. Something about the ichinensei/first graders are going to be playing or doing some project all day at the elementary with the second graders? Or something like that. And so, they will all have lunch together, the 1st and 2nd graders. So the note said, be sure to pack a lunch, a thermos and a leisure sheet. I have it written on my Coca Cola calender on the fridge already, so I don't forget! Ha ha ha! : )
Have a wonderful week you guys!!! : )