Branden's Junior High School graduation...

Last Thursday, March 9th Branden graduated Junior High School. He took his final walk into the gymnasium one last time. The 9th graders were split in 2 classes. There were 58 ninth graders total for both classes. But the 58 were divided in half all 3 years. Class A and class B. Branden was in class A and the teacher for class A... stood beautifully in her Kimono as her class A students filed into the gymnasium one final time. Music was playing. And every parent in the room was video taping and taking pictures. I took video and also snapped pictures in between. 

Then walked in class B after class A walked in first and their teacher stood as his class filed in one last time too. And then they waited for their name to be called. Before walking onto the stage. My American sized son, next to his classmate from class A.

Beautiful colorful flowers and a bonsai tree. He stood here until they called out his name one final time and he shouted proudly...hai! And then went and collected his diploma! I did not shed 1 tear. I was not sad. I was simply enjoying watching my great big tall beautiful son! Graduate with his class! I was so happy for him and oh...so proud! My heart was simply bursting!

These 4 were the very best of friends. Always together. Always talking. Always hanging out at each others houses. Always joking with one another. Growing up together since they were wee little... pika pika ichinensei, these 4! And now they're great big 9th graders. They will never again attend the same school together. These 4 are going to 4 different schools. Kento-kun was as you can tell  was crying. And I could feel and understand why. This was their final day together. Final day together as classmates. The class A kids were asked to each get up in front of the class A kids and parents and their teacher and say any parting words, this was done privately in their classroom, which I video taped. Branden said, he hopes to see everyone on Adult Day/Coming of Age Day when they're all age 20. And he kept his speech short and sweet. But so many were really feeling their hearts that day and were in tears. And it was at that point that I almost burst out in tears myself. But...I held it together. And deeply breathed in and out. Yes...I could totally understand why some were crying. And it was such a wonderful day. But also such a bittersweet day too. Best friends forever and ever!!! : )

Branden's sensei. She was the best teacher Branden has ever *ever* had! I liked her so much because she was an exchange student in Los Angeles California back in her day. And to me that matters so much because...if you have lived in another country or culture not your own. Your mind expands and you learn that the way you grew up...is perhaps not the way the rest of the world does things. Believe me...I learned that too... with living in Japan. And so...this gave his sensei such an open mind...and open outlook on life... especially when being a teacher to Branden. She also speaks wonderful amazing English. And she was just a wonderfully open minded teacher. Wonderful kind person. And she never made my son feel like a weirdo for speaking English at home. She never made my son feel like a strange-o for being half Japanese and half American. Granted she gave him no special treatment either... and that's the way we prefer it! But...she *always* had an open mind with him And a kind heart with Branden and the rest of her class too. So...yes...we adored this teacher for the 2 years she was Branden's teacher. Best teacher ever! We love you sensei!!! I hope you will be Noah's teacher when the time comes! : )

After graduation ended around 12:30pm considering we all snapped a ton of pics outside. We went home and we had lunch here at home. And we waited for Noah to get out of school. As soon as Noah was out of school, and he came home and dropped off his randoseru and stuff. We all went out to dinner. We went to Jolly Pasta, the place Branden picked. And we ordered pizza and pasta and we had a drink bar. And we just enjoyed about 75 minutes of eating and talking and laughing. It was such a good graduation you guys... and delicious graduation dinner too. : )

We even drizzled some of that amazing chili oil over our pizza and pasta. And just...enjoyed our time together. It was a nice quiet little celebration just us 4. Anyway...Branden now has zero school until high school entrance ceremony in April. Onwards and upwards. : ) 

Tokyo Disneyland...

Saturday, March 4th Branden and his fellow 9th grade classmates went to Tokyo Disneyland together. Their last trip together as a class!!! Forever and ever. No teachers went. No school officials went. Just about 3 mom's who organized this trip and they went to and from via a big limousine bus. They left our town... super early that morning. And they would meet back up at 7pm to catch the bus back to town. But as soon as they arrived at Disneyland the kids broke off and split off in groups of...whoever was their best friends. Branden of course spent his day with his best friend since yochien (Genki-kun) Pictured in the fedora hat. And their also really good friend Kento-kun. So these 3 besties were inseparable all day long while at Disney. And I did ask Branden's permission to share these. : )

The 3 besties went and had curry at the Country Bear Curry house. The curry there is so delicious! And yes, that is 1 of the drinks that I packed for Branden. The day before, I bought him 3 drinks. One mugicha, 1 yuzu drink and 1 soda. I froze the yuzu drink and mugi tea. And just kept the soda in the fridge and I packed them up in a plastic bag and tossed them into his backpack. He also took Mr. Potato Head as his popcorn bucket. And I packed a pack of peach gum and a pack of grape Mentos. : ) Just in case he needed something to chew on...while in line. : ) 

See this crowd? Yep, that's exactly why I always say...please don't go on a weekend if you can avoid it. Go on a weekday. There's almost no crowds on weekdays and a gazillion people on weekends. But...the date was picked by the powers that be, so....it was fine. : ) The kids enjoyed it anyway. : )

Hello R2-D2...

Kento and Branden. 

Frozen Fantasy. Looks like it was a fun day. The kids all had a blast. And I am so thankful for the mom's who arranged this trip. The kids loved going! : ) 

Since we all purchased the tickets in January as a group. We did also make sure to give Branden ichiman yen to spend. About US$100! That way if he wanted to purchase any food or souvenirs, he could. : )  He brought back his leftover honey popcorn. He and Noah shared it as soon as Branden got home. Noah and I went to pick up Bran at the plaza around 8:30pm. And we and the other parents were happily waiting. And then we saw the great big bus pull in and all the kids got off the bus so happy. : ) 

The only thing Branden bought for himself was the Star Wars drink thermos. He's such a thoughtful boy/teen. He brought back some chocolate crunch, think along the lines of...Nestle Crunch bars. In the Disney Donald and Daisy tin. And the Darth box with cool clip that is now on our fridge were delicious chocolate cookies. And we shared both the chocolates and the cookies. On different days of course. But yum. Very thoughtful. And the Mr. Potato Head mask he bought for Noah. They are very close as far as brothers go. Very close. And he said...many were buying masks and he said..."I'm too old for one...but I knew Noah would like one." Noah was so happy receiving this. I'm just glad I have such kind considerate kids who think of each other like this. : )

He also dated one girl in the 5th and 6th grade in elementary school. Then he broke up with her because he started JHS. And he started dating another girl. The most gorgeous girl of the whole school. They dated for all of the 7th grade and a few months of 8th grade. However...when Branden and his girlfriend were in the start of the 8th grade. His ex-girlfriend from elementary school started JHS too. She's just 1 year/grade younger And she's just so nice to Branden. She always uses the most polite words. When he posted a picture of our Christmas ham a few years back. She was the first to comment and like his picture. And she said..."what a gorgeous Christmas dinner" Again...she's just always so..kind and polite. And well...she got Branden back. Anyway...so before Branden went to Disneyland he asked me...do you think I should buy her something? I said..."oh honey...absolutely!!!" And he was like...okay. And smiling. And this is what he found for her. The tin with Mickey and Minnie holding hands. And it had macaroons inside. : ) Awww. Cute teenage puppy love. And I must point out. In Japan...kids are much more innocent than in the US. They have never held hands or kissed. So it's very G rated puppy love. : ) 

He asked for a special bag. And he passed this to her...as they did their final walk outside at the JHS after graduation. She passed him a love letter. And he passed her this. And all the girls around her were like..."wow Branden gave you something" So all the girls were oohing and ahhing. And I thought that was so cute. : )

Anyway...that was Branden's final class trip to Tokyo Disneyland. And the souvenirs he brought back. : )

Today...

Today my son will be graduating from Junior High School. I am so proud and happy for him! Graduation today starts at 9am. I am dressed already and ready to go. Both kids are at their schools. I am ready for a day of happy tears. Clapping. Cheering. And of...one chapter ending. And another about to begin! I am so proud of you Branden! We will be going to a celebration dinner tonight just us 4. I love you BrannyMcB!!! To the moon and back kid! To the moon and back! Love mom. : )

Costco with friends yesterday. Tomorrow, Noah’s Observation Day. A trip to Tokyo Disneyland coming up soon. And this month we will either be going to Singapore or to Guam, we’re hoping for Singapore...

Sorry you guys, I usually always take a cart pic while at Costco. But, I actually met up with 2 of my American mom friends who also live in Chiba at Costco yesterday. So, we were so busy chatting our brains out... at Costco. That, I forgot to take a picture at Costco. Sorry. : ) I guess...I was just so in the moment...enjoying some good conversation. And I forgot the cart pic. But...if it helps... this is what I bought yesterday. Nothing all too wonderful. But...ehhh...it's what we needed. It's just regular food ingredients type stuff. I'm making cheeseburger night at home this Saturday. And so bought 2 packs of hamburger buns. They're like 230 yen or around there... a package, so super cheap for the amount you get. I made Italian last night. Baked Ziti. So the mozzarella 2 pack (I'm also making homemade pizza later this week) and the ricotta was for the baked Ziti last night. Ham for sandwiches. Eggs for baking or breakfasts. Chips for our dip for movie night, Noboru and Noah eat chips and salsa... like it's going outta style! LOL. And a cheesecake. This cheesecake is so bomb. I usually will buy one... every few months. It's been a few months...so I picked one up for the fam-bam. and they loved it! We still have 3/4 of it in the fridge. So...dessert for tonight...is in the bag! I also bought a pack of chicken breasts too. 

This cheesecake is too good. Sooo good. And the price for the huge amount you get. Amazing.

Dinner last night. We also had simple salads and a buttered baguette fresh from the bakery. Dinner was super simple last night and really good. : )

Now for the good stuff! The informative stuff. Today is March 1st. Because you know...Branden is graduating JHS and also starting a new school in April. That means we are dealing with 3 schools right now. Meaning Noah's elementary school. Bran's JHS. And Bran's future high school. And so we have like 3 balls in the air right now...so to speak regarding that. Besides the regular daily living type stuff. Such as cleaning the house.. grocery shopping. Running to Costco every week or every other week. So March is going to be fun. Yes super fun. Nothing bad or terrible. But March is also going to be...hella busy. And as parents of a graduating Junior High Schooler...we are pretty darn busy. : ) Again though..not a terrible bad...blech type busy. But busy. But...such is life. And onwards and upwards and so...all positive. Let's update each of us... in paragraphs.

Noah. Noah has a parent observation day tomorrow. So, Noboru and I will be going to that. Also last Sunday or the Sunday before. There was a meeting for the kodomokai yakuin (which means the kids club PTA) all future 6th grade parents need to go. And you might be picked for PTA duties. Went to that meeting. And wasn't picked because I was fukukaicho (Vice prez) a few years back. Remember? So...they had to pick 5 other members. Yep, me and Little K's mom could not be picked because we had done the job. We were so happy. We were practically giddy! Hahaha. However...the meeting tomorrow? After Noah's observation day. Is the day we will pick PTA for the elementary school. Which is different from the kids club PTA. And so...I could still get hit with the PTA bullet at shogakko tomorrow. Hoping to dodge that bullet. But...you never know. : ) Crosses fingers. : ) Anyway so...tomorrow. Observation day for Noah and the longest meetings at elementary school of the entire year. You have a class meeting...then you have a school wide meeting... then a meeting by where you live. A district meeting. I mean..it's meetings times a million tomorrow. So...looking forward to seeing my little guy... in observation day. Yes, for that! Not looking forward to the 100 zillion meetings afterwards. : ) The observation day isn't until 1:50pm. So, I will be making dinner tomorrow morning. I know...crazy me! But to be fair. I am making enchiladas. And I can make them in under an hour around 7:45am tomorrow morning. Boil up 1 chicken breast. For 30 minutes. Meanwhile skillet fry corn tortillas and blot with napkins. To de-oil them. Shred the chicken breast put seasonings in the chicken to flavor the chicken. And then roll with chicken and cheese. Wrap in tin foil and whack in my fridge! The spanish rice I can make when I get home from meeting hell. And we can will have a salad on the side. And a soda with ice...I will deserve that soda with ice...yes, yes yes because I don't drink alcohol but...the soda with ice will be my reward for surviving all those meetings. Hahaha. : ) Anything else to say for Noah? Noah's last day of school is March 24th. So after that... Noah goes on Spring break. And won't go back until April 5th or 6th or whatever. and when he comes back. He'll be a 6th grader. : ) So other than tomorrow's observation day. Noah's March will be quiet. And nice. He's still playing with his friends who live in our area. In fact Naoki-kun came to ride bikes yesterday. And "twin boy" came to play tennis with Noah a few days before that. He's been playing with friends. Helping around the house. He's such a good boy! And that's about it about Noah. : )

Branden. Between now and March 10th, Branden will be going to Disneyland with his JHS class as a celebration... this is a woohoo "we graduated JHS trip!" This trip is optional, not mandatory. In Branden's class 2 are not going. In the other 9th grade class, I think 3 are not going. So it is optional.  It costs ichiman yen. 10,000 yen $90 US. The entrance fee plus the limousine bus ride from our town to Disney and back. Parents and family could go if they wanted. But...almost no parents are going. 2 parents in Branden's class of 25 are going. Only 2 parents. And 3 parents from the other class are going. We chose NOT to go because...Branden will be off with his friends. It will be their last time together. Hanging. As a class. So...it's sorta lame...if we go and like... follow him around. Ykwim. And we're not lame parents! We're cool parents! And yet...good parents. And we respect that he wants to enjoy his last time too. So Branden is REALLY looking forward to going to Disneyland with his fellow 9th graders. Their last trip together. I'm so happy for Branden. And he is now deciding if he will bring which popcorn bucket...the R2D2 or Mr. Potato Head popcorn bucket. Hahaha. So Bran is looking forward to that. These kids deserve this trip! They accomplished so much! I told him I will freeze him 1 mugicha and 1 will half freeze another mugicha (slushy consistency) because by the time he gets there... it will be melted and perfect. That way he can have 2 drinks while at Disney. And we have been there enough times to know...drinks are allowed to bring in. : ) He can carry them in his Jansport backpack. : )

We have Branden's graduation at the local one and only JHS. March 9th. Branden growing up in a tiny town of 5,000 people. Means he grew up very rural. Very "Country Kid" And there are so many pros of that. He got to go to school with these kids from the 1st grade all the way to the 9th grade. These kids know Branden. Branden knows them. And with a 9th grade class of 45 kids total (and this was 2 elementary schools combined) these kids are like sisters and brothers. They know each other super well. They're safe. There's a comfort of living in a rural town. and going to the same school with the folks you grew up with for 9 long years. They will be graduating. They will be flying away from our town so to speak. There is no high school in our town. So all... will go elsewhere. And many will not be together anymore. Branden for example. Not one of his classmates will be entering the English program at his high school. And while that can be exciting. That comfort...that safety of growing up in a town of 5,000 will not be there regarding school anymore. He'll now be in a big huge bustling city. Where nobody will know BrannyMcB. And that's scary for him and scary for us... as parents too. So yep...graduation will be very emotional for us all...come March 8th. And...of course Japanese school graduations also mean. parents need to wear "ceremony outfits" and they're expensive. Like 20,000-30,000 yen. $200-300US. And so you hope your outfit still fits. Mine does. And you make sure you have a bright corsage type flower. And your nylons are good. And Noboru took his suit and my dress and blazer to get dry cleaned. So...yeah preparation for Branden's graduation. Yes...there is a mild busy-ness regarding that. Not huge busy-ness though. Since we didn't really need to buy anything new. We just dry cleaned our stuff to be fresh. We will also have to dress up in April for Branden's entrance ceremony at the high school.

Graduation dinner. March 9th.  Same day as Branden's graduation. Noboru gave me the wrong date beforehand but lucky for me... he read my blog and told me the dinner and graduation is in fact on the same day. We are not attending the dinner. We were originally given a form asking us if we would go to Disney and the dinner back in September... was the first time they asked. And they sent another letter at the end of November askign for the final time. We said.. Bran will go to Disney. And we would not attend the dinner. The school was *so* shocked about us not attending the dinner... the teacher actually pulled Branden aside in September asking...are you serious you guys aren't going to go to the graduation dinner? Keep in mind the teachers don't even attend the elementary or JHS dinners anyway. They did at yochien but not for the older grades. We could be the first people in history to ever do that! Here's the deal! Branden's yochien graduation dinner. We attended. We felt we HAD to attend. And it is expensive. It's was like $60 a person. So $60 times 3. For Noboru, Bran and I (Noah had to go to a baby sitter for the first and last time ever because siblings were not allowed). Now you know my mind is open- minded... but my tastebuds are NOT. I have very western tastebuds and I'm sorry but that's obviously never going to change.  I hated Branden's graduation yochien meal. It was gross and I didn't eat any of it. Branden didn't eat his either. Noboru munched 3 meals that day. Noah's graduation. Same thing. Horrible meal... we paid 6,000 yen each for Noboru, Noah and myself (Bran was at elementary school that day) because we felt we HAD to. But....I enjoyed my friends and the teachers. But the meal...terrible. And then Branden's 6th grade graduation meal. It was.... 6,000 per person but 1,000 yen or 2,000 yen for the limousine bus... so around 7,000 or 8,000 yen per person. That was $70 bucks times 4. Noah came too. It was at a big fancy hotel in Narita. And the food was horrible. They had curry which was bad. Iced cold fries. And most other dishes...we couldn't eat. Like dark meat fatty karaage. Iced cold spaghetti with wieners in it. It was like. WTF? Now before you start thinking...we're picky...ummm no....Coco Ichiban curry. Which is a chain makes delicious curry. Even Disneyland makes a delicious curry. How many buffets in Japan have we been to? We liked them all! You know that. However the curry at this buffet for Bran's 6th grade graduation was horrible. The meat...was gray! Was it beef? Was it lamb? OMG! What was it? And why was the meat gray, was it old?!!! What did we get for $70 bucks a person? And btw, sodas were not even offered. They had apple juice or mugicha! Do you realize we paid $280 US...for the 4 of us to eat...gray meat curry. Iced cold fries. Cheap tasting spaghetti (not even Saizeriya quality) with wieners in it? And not even a cup of coffee. Or a soda. $280 dollars is a lot of money for 1 meal, do you agree. Do you realize our family could have taken... Branden to Red freaking Lobster 3 times for that amount? Our family could have taken Branden to the Outback Steakhouse 3 times for that amount? We could have went to Coco Ichiban curry and enjoyed our meal better! We frankly..would have enjoyed our meal better if we went to Saizeriya! At least they have a solid drink bar, for crying out loud! I mean...seriously. Think about it logically! Would you...spend $280 again? After doing that in the 6th grade? Again the teachers will not be there. It's not mandatory. We started talking about...if we should go to the graduation dinner this summer. We all remember how Branden and Noah were starving after Branden's 6th grade graduation supper. And how I fixed us all something to eat at home after we spent $280 for the graduation dinner. So yes...live and learn. And we debated all this past summer? And by the way. For the record...this graduation dinner for the 9th grade is going to be at the EXACT SAME place we had the 6th grade dinner too. Same place. Bottom line is...whoever planned this graduation dinner...is picking this place because...it's their personal favorite place! Okay. fine. If you love this buffet. Great. But...to be fair...it doesn't mean...we should be subjected to going there. Why should we attend the buffet of YOUR choosing? Again...we're not mad. We're not sad. We're not feeling anything. We're sorry... we're not going. But not $280 dollars sorry!!! Meaning not enough to attend. But ...no...none of us want to go and eat that horrible food. And so... we're going to go to a place...Branden is going to pick the restaurant! Besides it's HIS graduation! He's deciding if we will go to Kua"Aina Hawaiian delicious place...Jolly Pasta (he loves that place) or if he wants to go to that Italian buffet place. Again...he should get to pick. Since it's he's graduation. Oh and FWIW, for what it's worth...every time we go to Kua"Aina burger our family of 4 spends 6,000 for all of us and we're full/stuffed when we walk out the door. About US$55, for all 4 of us combined. And we actually love that food! Versus paying 7,000 yen a person for a place...we hate. It's sorta a no brainer. And the Jolly Pasta we only spend about 6000 yen sometimes 5,400 yen (about $50US). And that's for all 4 of us too. Again...it's not to make our fellow graduating parents upset. It's just....why should 1 person who loves that hideous buffet... get to choose for us ALL? It just makes zero sense to me. And it always has made no sense to me at all. It makes zero sense to Noboru too. Noboru graduated high school in Denver and his parents and host parents they all went out to a restaurant they picked. And that was the same how I grew up too. And when Noboru and I were in uni together, we went with both our families...and we went to have Italian for our graduation meal together. Again though...it was a restaurant *we* chose. And so...no...we will not be paying $280 damn dollars for a restaurant we don't even like. When we could go to Kua'Aina and eat and each get a meal each...a drink...or go to a pasta place we like. So anyways...word has been going around... #towngossip...all Fall and Winter...that Branden and his family won't be attending the graduation dinner. And....I guess...maybe a lot of people were feeling the same. Because when the list came of... who is going...therefore who is not going too. Genki's family is NOT going...so that whole family is not going. And about 3 other families are not either. And a bunch of parents are not attending either... when...they originally were attending. So just some kids going alone. But...yeah...my friend joked with me..."you started something" now others are admitting they didn't want to eat there either. That surprised me. Because...I felt... it was JUST us? But...apparently not. And again...it's no disrespect to the planners of this graduation dinner. But really...what if a family prefer go to Cappriaciosa for dinner to have a nice quiet low key thing. Why can't they? Why do we all have to be borgs...or sheep and blindly follow and pay threw the nose for a place we don't want to go to... in the first place. And no...we will NOT be attending Noah's graduation dinner... next year either. See...the longer we live here. While we're still deeply respectful of the culture and whatnot. We also...understand we have our own...brains and our own places we want to eat. And we're not going to just follow blindly. And I'm sorry but spending $280 on a place for 1 meal... all 4 of us hate. Is nuts! And I am so proud of my family and myself... for being strong and saying. No. Thank you for asking...but no thank you. We will not be attending. And in some small way...I think us saying no first. Let people...think about it all Fall and Winter. And it did give the handful of those the courage to say...I decline also. 

I have my big yearly, once a year doctors appointment complete with barium drinking and the whole thing on March 13th. They give you a pap smear. Eye check. Blood pressure. Blood tests. Mammogram. You name it...they test for it. Cholesterol. They also check for stomach cancer. This is a huge test. So that's also in March. Oh yay...fun day for me. : ) hahaha. But necessary, I know! Good health should never be taken for granted. : )

High school orientation March 18th. The entire family will have to go. Because we're certainly not leaving Noah...only 11 years old at home all alone. We'll be gone for super long. What if we had an earthquake or some disaster. It's best we all go. And guess what. My Japanese girl friends told me, they're angels and so wise... they help me so much. You know how...in elementary school and JHS your kid gets text books for free right? Well in Japan high school is NOT mandatory. So text books for high school you have to buy them! And they're around 25,000-30,000 yen for a year of text books for Branden. So if you have a future high schooler in Japan. Just keep that fact at the back of your mind. So you don't die of shock when they ask you for $250-300 US for text books! Also the uniform we already bought for Branden. Branden is going to a very *very* fancy high school. And his uniform is an actual classy name brand... high school uniform versus a brand X one. His high school uniform is made by Benetton. And super expensive. We bought that at the uniform shop weeks ago. So we were smart to buy that. For our particular high school the uniforms are made to order. They're near heart attack expensive, that's how pricey they are! However the gym uniform will have to be bought on high school orientation day, which is on March 18th, it must be bought at the actual high school. And we have to buy Branden's inside shoes then too. My mama friends who have daughters older than Bran...their daughters high school allows them to wear slippers. Such as Uniqlo slippers or Gap slippers, Hello Kitty slippers. Ykwim/ You know what I mean. But...Branden and his fancy shmancy school...slippers are not allowed for inside shoes.@_@  They are "special" ahem absurdly pricey inside shoes. Curse you fancy school!!! Hahaha. : ) That must be bought at the actual high school during orientation. And what do they look like? Like Noah's elementary school inside shoes/ballet shoes. Except each grade has different colors. @_@ We are guessing it will be hella expensive come...orientation day. But we expected this when we picked this school and Noboru's fine with it. But yep...so many things to buy. But...we are allowing Branden to go to this particular high school because it's almost like an international high school environment. If ykwim. English is placed with the *greatest* importance at this high school and we want that for Branden. Plus he will have so much fun going to this school. My kids are 100% bilingual, but they *strongly* prefer English (speaking, reading and writing). So this will be a wonderful environment for Branden to be in. 

Anything else to add? This post is already a mile long. A couple days AFTER high school orientation. We are going to Singapore. As a graduation trip to Branden for passing his entrance exam. Getting into high school which was his #1 high school pick is a pretty major accomplishment. So our family of 4 will be heading to Singapore for a few days in March. In Japan it is pretty usual/standard to go on a trip after your child "gets into" is accepted into high school here in Japan. All of my Japanese mom friends have taken their children on trips. Either to USJ, to Okinawa (gorgeous), Hokkaido (domestic in Japan trips, but fun trips). Also, Branden's one female classmate and her fam-bam are going to Guam this March for her graduation trip. So no...it is not uncommon at all. It's pretty standard. Because such importance is placed on getting into high school. Therefore reason to celebrate. We do have 1 of Branden's classmate who is not going on a trip this March however his family bought him a brand new IPhone of his choosing. So either gifts or trips are pretty common for kids graduating JHS. Because if you get into a good high school...you're pretty much set! A good life guaranteed if it's a good high school. We have our hotel reservation already. We are planning to go to Universal Studios Singapore. We were originally planning to go to Universal Studios in California a few years back. And then we got bumped and went to Hawaii instead. Remember? Anyway. We were thinking of going to Universal Studios Japan sometime this Spring. However...with Branden having no school for March after this Friday. We started to think about USJ again. The only downer is everything is in Japanese which sorta sucks. And March in Japan means JHS students who just graduated are off school....all 9th graders nationwide. 6th graders are off school too. And 12th graders are off too.So amusement parks in March in Japan, hahaha... might want to be avoided if you can avoid it. March and amusement parks means super busy. However at Universal Studios Singapore, we're still in Asia plus the best part is... everything is in English. Our family of 4 has been to Seoul, South Korea... amazing, safe, modern country delicious food!!! Bankok, Thailand, gorgeous country, delicious food, kind people. We have never been to Singapore before. But my impression is. Singapore is very safe, very clean. Very modern. English is one of their official languages. So communicating should be awesome. I know they have Sephora there! Hello gorgeous Singapore... you just swayed me with Sephora! Hahaha. They have many Korean beauty brands there too. Innisfree. Face Shop. Etude House. Their shopping is killer. My friend went there and she said...best shopping ever! Amazing experience. Though I am not going for shopping. Okay maybe I can shop for 1 hour, while my family gets an icecream. LOL. Oh yeah... I was watching a video on YouTube and they called Singapore a foodies paradise. So again...I have never been to Singapore. But, honestly...my impression is......what a dazzling country! They have street food. Food stands. Which we love. They also have shopping mall food courts too. They have American Chili's restaurant. And Popeye's fried chicken. They have Long John Silvers. They seem to have something to offer everyone. Again though...we have never been there. But..our main goal is Universal Studios. And looking around a bit and trying some foods around the city. We will stay 2 nights. And then...we will be back in Japan. So a short trip yes...but a trip! And a fantastic chance to see another country. To see and respect another culture and learn things first hand..in person. Versus reading about it in a book!!! Economy seats are full on our airline. And out of 35 seats or so first class... 30 seats are wide open. And we are hoping we can get on the flight, Now what happens if we can't get on the flight? Well then...we will fly to Guam. And spend 3 gorgeous glorious days/2 nights in tropical gorgeous Guam and swim along the beach. Oh by the way. We have 12 free stays at a hotel and they expire at the end of August 2017. So we will have to use those 12 days. Sometime. So like ....2 days here and maybe 5 days in June. or whatever. But...we will most definitely be using those 12 hotel stays for sure too. So, I see lots of travel for 2017 for us. Especially now that the Japanese JHS study your brains out.... tests tests and more tests is all over. Plus we still have our once a year big long vacation in summer too and I'm feeling sorta like Hawaii again. : ) So we are hoping for Singapore this March. But we are willing to accept Guam. Because...we are frankly grateful for any trip...period. : )  The seats are more available right now for Singapore. And we hope for that too. But again...either trip is good. And we'd be happy with either. Bottom line though. A trip happening this month. So good positive stuff happening. : ) 

Any news about me? My hair stylist is pregnant. She is having her second baby. And that is so amazing. She told me last time. I went in. That she will be on maternity leave for the next year. @_@ I'm happy and thrilled for her. But sad for me. Because I finally have the best best hair stylist. Our personalities just click so well. The past 2 years I have been going to her. And then I had a 2 year gap.. but before then... I saw her all through my kids yochien years too. So, many years for us. And the other hair stylists at that salon are good. They're kind. But I'm more like. Meh. About going there now. I liked the conversation and talk that her and I used to have about kids. About life. Ykwim when you have that perfect hair person and it's awesome. And then that person is just gone. And now I'm like...what should I do? And I mean... she should be home resting taking care of herself and her future baby, she deserves this time. She has a toddler little girl right now too. Anyway. I could frankly color my hair at home... every 2 weeks for 990 yen a box of dye every 2 weeks. My hair coloring is 5,000 yen once a month at the salon but it's a price I don't mind spending since she and I click and it's relaxing for me to be there and have her do my hair. But that's no longer an option so.... if I did it myself that would be cheaper. No sense in going there once a month for a color, if she isn't there. When I could do it at home cheaper and get it colored more often. I mean...if it was my regular stylist of course I'd prefer go to her. But...if she won't be there. I think I'll just color it myself at home every 2 weeks and it'll look fresher anyways. The cut and straightening... I will continue to get there. I guess. : )  So slight bump in the road about my hair...with my hair stylist going to be gone for a year. But...I'll pull through. And stick around or switch salons? I don't know. To be continued. It'll be a hair adventure this next year, I guess. Positive vibes though on the hair. And I do think it's even harder for me...as a foreigner/western woman. Because some salons treat you *so* super weird, ykwim. And to be fair not all do. But...to finally have a place. You're comfortable and they all know you. Sigh. : ) Anyways...

Anything else to add? Yes...I placed my first Sephora order today. I think...I mentioned 2 years ago that Sephora USA ships to Japan. Orders 10,000 yen or over...the shipping is just 1500 yen. I go to America every single summer. Either Honolulu or Denver, so I usually just do one huge haul every summer. But I have been on such an eyebrow kick lately. Remember? I have mentioned that before. Anyway, I ordered 3 things from Anastasia Beverly Hills (the Dipbrow Pomade in medium brown, the brow Wiz in medium brown and the brow pencil in medium brown.) Three guesses if you can figure out what color my hair is! LOL! I like these colors because of the tone... they're more cool and ashy brown than warm and reddish brown. My hair is a cooler ashy brown. And the 2 brow mascaras I bought in Japan are too warm. Like I mentioned before. I do like my Rimmel medium brown brow mascara and I do like my Anastasia brow mascara in the color brunette, but...I'd like to try these 3 brow products. I also bought an Anastasia brow brush. Oh and fwiw, it seems Sephora in Singapore does not carry this brand. : ( Oh and this is so funny and it just figures...so my order total this morning was 9500 yen and I was short 500 yen to get the cheaper 1500 yen shipping. And so... they were going to charge me 2500 yen in shipping. So...I smartly added a $5 pack of peppermint blotting papers to take my total...equaling and/or a few cents passed... the amount of ichiman yen and they only charged me 1500 yen on shipping. So...smartly adding those blotting papers by Boscia saved me money in shipping. I think the order said in 5-7 days. So by next Thursday my stuff should be here at my house. Right on. Anyways...sorry it's such a long post. I guess I just had a whole lot to say this time. : ) 

Branden's celebration dinner...

Preparing for Branden's high school entrance exam. That already happened and he got in, but I think for those of you with younger kiddos than Branden, this information could be useful. In Japan kids are only guaranteed an education until the end of middle school. High school is much like university or college in the US, in the fact you must apply and the schools decides if they want to accept you or not. This is an *extremely* stressful time for JHS kids in Japan. I once read one time... on a blog by a foreign mom that she thought Japanese JHS was "soul sucking" You know meaning...sucks the life right out of you. And I would have to say, I agree with that statement 100%. Also know there are private high schools and public high schools. Also in Japan high schools are ranked. There are actual websites for Chiba prefecture at least... that show, this school is the #1 ranked best high school with the smartest kids and test scores. All the way down to the worst high school with the worst test scores in all of Chiba prefecture. I am sure other prefectures have such an online list too. So public school or private school really depends on...is it a good school? Are there goods kids going there or bad kids? Horrible test scores? Best test scores? There are also high schools that steer your kid a certain way. Meaning there is a baking high school in Chiba because my friends daughter went there. The "Professor" for example is going to a science type of high school that will be focusing on science and that is because he wants to be a doctor and most super smart kids... hoping to be doctors in the future who live in Chiba will want or aim for that school. It really just depends on your kid. Your kids test scores. We're lucky in the fact that we live bordering Chiba and Ibaraki. And because Bran has a...what in Japan considers a "special skill" meaning his English is good enough to be in the English program. So he can go to a school....even out of his prefecture. So his choices were between 2 prefectures. And from there... we just researched which high school focusing on English was the best. Nicest teachers. Seems fun. High test scores. Meaning good kids. We don't want Bran in a school of thugs, iykwim. So we found a very nice ranked school. And it met all our requirements. Also another factor is cost. Public high schools are free for the most part and private school costs. And it can be a bargain cheaper private school... all the way to a fancy private school. So cost is also a factor too. And like I said... there are study books for each school. We bought ours.. for the school Bran was aiming for... from Amazon.jp. But they're also at local bookstores too. For example...if your kid is hoping to get into John F Kennedy high school...just for example. There will be an actual JFK high school book with all the entrance exam test questions for the last 5-6 years. That is SUPER helpful because it helped Branden know...and us know...the school seems to always ask math questions like THIS. Or this school seems to always ask English questions like THAT. This helps you prepare! You could see some sort of pattern after a while. And Branden would go through that booklet and test himself and Noboru would mix up year 26 and 27 (Japanese years) and Branden would answer them. And if Branden got 1 wrong Noboru would go through it with Branden. So while I am not an advice giver usually. I would say...buy the study book for whatever school your kid hopes to get into. Also interview...everyone gets an interview. Even with a principal recommendation they still had an interview. The positive is...there are also interview books to buy specially for JHS kids about to take their entrance into high school. This was so helpful. Noboru told Branden...those poor interviewers are probably so sick of the same...robotic answers! Word for word... from these interview books. So he said...study the books be prepared for the question yes *but*...give an original answer! Be an original. Give an answer they haven't heard for that day 9 thousand times already! And I agreed. So Branden went and knew every question...possible question and he knew his own original answer... for every question. Also last year 1 girl from our JHS took the test for Bran's high school and she got in, she will be an 11th grader when Bran starts. Our JHS had her write down all the questions she got during her interview. And they also photo copied her test questions from last year (they did block out her name for her privacy). Our JHS gave a photo copy to Branden since he was trying for the same school except 1 year after. And they did the same for Bran too. They had Bran bring his year 2017 test questions in for the entrance exam, which they photo copied and they had Branden write down his 3 questions that this specific high school asked of him. And then whoever...in the future tries for this high school they will be getting Branden's photo copy of test questions. And interview questions. It's just our JHS tries to help this way, which is so nice. The high school before the entrance exam day...sent us and everyone a letter... it said what to bring. It said...bring a few HB pencils. Same for us in America they won't let us take exams without a #2 pencil because the machines won't read them otherwise. And the note said to bring an eraser and pencil sharpener and a watch. The note also said to bring your own obento/lunch. There would be none offered and the drink machines would be turned off... so to bring your own drink too. I bought the HB pencils from Yacs drugstore. And the rest of the things came from the Daiso. Because Branden uses mechanical pencils... for regular school life. We also dry cleaned his JHS uniform during winter break. And I also bought a lint brush for 100 yen from the Daiso. So he could de-lint the morning of test day.  

He has his regular Mono eraser, this brand is so popular for kids in Japan. But, I also bought some mini Mono erasers too before his big test. I guess I kept thinking, what if he lost one on test day? Also, our JHS said to not have name stickers on anything during the entrance exam because they (the test guards/officials) could wonder what the sticker says and even if they went to look and it's nothing it could look bad. So our particular JHS urged no name stickers on entrance exam test day. So, I made sure to send Bran with these 3 pencils, I also threw in an extra of Noah's pencils (a Qoo one)...so Bran took 4 HB pencils. 3 Mono erasers. I put pencil caps on the pencils and the pencils were sharpened by our big sharpener at home. But he did take the mini one in case the lead broke. Branden has a GAP watch. Noah has a cool orange watch. And I would have been happy to lend him my Rolex. He's mine son so of course I would lend it to him. But...I figured for the test...it's best to send him with a plain black Daiso cheapie. Therefore nobody has to wonder...if the GAP logo is some sort of hidden math formula or anything... plus his GAP watch has a beetle design and it could make someone come and look and I didn't want that, so plain was best. Yes he'll probably never use the plain black test watch again... but it suited the day of the test and that's all what matters. 

JHS belts are best to buy at Pasceos. They are usually 980 yen. I bought Branden a new belt from there... every April, start of the new school year. However...his belt looked like it could use a replacing...and given the entrance exam was such a huge day. I went back to Pasceos right after New year's and was shocked to see it... THIS cheap. 980 yen. Yep, a fair cheap price for a school belt. But 499 yen? Holy smokes what a great deal. The belts and the whole store was on a huge New year's sale. And I was happy to score such a fantastic bargain. 

One nice new black belt. And he was ready. 

The day before Bran's exam his teacher gave the kids testing first.... some "good luck on your entrance exams" Kit Kats. I am quite fond of Branden's JHS teacher. I think she is amazing! Best teacher ever ever ever!!! But this...just made Branden so happy and me too. I thought...what a kind gesture. And she did that.. too for the larger group testing later in the week too. She is very thoughtful. Anyways....being American and having only ever gone to school in America, my experiences are American experiences. However having 2 kids in Japan. I can say...I find Japanese yochien very fun for kids and for me too. I enjoyed meeting "mom friends" and I have them as friends even to this day. Best nicest ladies ever. I find Japanese elementary school really nice too. My kids loved Japanese elementary school. Our elementary school in particular is so fun. They cook. They sew. They go on many field trips. They go hunting crawdads/crayfish. They collect pine cones in winter and make Christmas trees out of them and paint and decorate them. They decorate Christmas cake. And do all sorts of fun stuff. In fact Noah is on a class field trip right now as I type this. I found Japanese JHS on the other hand...*extremely* stressful for my son. He studied every second of his life while being in JHS. And that final 9th grade year. He studied more his 9th grade year... then he studied in the 7th and 8th grade combined. And that says a lot... because he studied tons in 7th and 8th grade too. And I hear this high school we picked is FUN. The 12th graders right now...50% of the current 12th graders are...either hafu, total foreigners, returnees (Japanese who lived in an English speaking country longer than 3 years)...Branden is going to enjoy going to this high school because he will be going to a good school with such an open minded diverse bunch of kids. So Branden's high school years are going to be fun. He's so lucky. 

How do you know if you made it? It seems the norm for all the different high schools Bran's classmates applied for...you will find out in 2 days. And how you will know... depends on the school. The "Professor's" school he applied for..he could find out via online. And our school. Bran applied for, they would mail the acceptance letter to our house and they would also mail something to the Junior high school too. However, Branden knew before I did. The high school Bran will be going to...called Bran's JHS and told them...he got in... when Bran was in 2nd period. They called Bran out of class and told him. But they said not to tell anyone. But he was beaming all day. I didn't know until the letter reached my house. And I did make this sign. Yes...meaning... yes you got in! I had it in my car. I was so excited. 

I was trying to read a magazine but I was too excited...so I kept reading the same crazy sentence again and again. Until I just put my magazine away. 

If other kids would have been walking, I would have kept the sign on the seat as to keep it on the down low...and not show other folks. But as luck would have it...Branden came out about 10 minutes earlier than the rest...he and the professor but the professor goes another route and wasn't near where I was parked and...nobody else was walking at all. So, I placed it in my front window. And he already knew but he smiled. And he said..."I knew since this morning." He also said..."thanks for the sign." : ) Awww. Love you kid! To the moon and back! : ) So proud of you! Phew...now Branden honestly doesn't have anything to do from now until graduation the first week of March. And as soon as he graduates first week of March... he won't have a thing to do again until high school starts in April. So from now...until graduation he is basically free. He has no homework or anything to do. He's just going to school and having fun now. He's free. : ) 

We took Branden out to dinner to celebrate of course! Getting into high school in Japan is such a major big deal! It's huge! So going out to dinner was totally in order! : ) We took Branden out to Caprcciosa for his celebration dinner in Narita City. Great big rice croquette with cheese inside. 

Their pizza is spectacular! Especially drizzled with that amazing chili oil. 

Bran eating some rice croquette. When you find out your child just got into high school in Japan! Needless to say...we had the happiest dinner of our lives! Hahaha. : ) Like all the stress completely gone! All the worry disappeared! Studying your brains out... totally done and over with! Like this huge weight just lifted. 

Spicy garlic tomato pasta. We ordered 2 large sizes of the pasta and we ordered 2 pizzas. We live a happy and good life around here. We enjoy going to restaurants twice a month or on birthdays or on celebration days like...your kid just got accepted to high school. You know...events like that. You know...like most normal people do! : ) A definite reason to celebrate. : ) 

The 2nd pizza they brought out. This one was beautiful and had basil nicely all around this one. Very pretty. 

So how are things right now? The school year for us in Japan is starting to wind down. It ends in March. Umm. Bran is just enjoying some down time..first time in 3 long years. So, I think he's earned it. : ) I think he said that he will start hitting the books in March to prepare for high school though. : )  We will be buying and ordering his high school uniform soon. As for Noah, he has another what...month and a half of being a 5th grader. He's doing so well in school. He plays with friends on his free time or over the weekend. : ) The weather here has been windy and bitterly cold. We did get snow the other day, but it only snowed for about 30 minutes before turning into the coldest chunky rain...followed by just regular rain after that. So we've just been staying home all nice and warm and toasty in the house. Today, Noah is on a class field trip. The bus will drop the kids who live in our housing community off first....and then make 2 extra pit stops along the way, until reaching the school. So if you live at one those places/drop off main spots....then you will be getting dropped off there, otherwise you can just get dropped off at school. Noah will arrive at our housing community at 5pm. And Bran meanwhile gets home at 4pm today and I will swing around and pick him up. I have a delicious hearty pork curry bubbling away on the stove as I type. I am making curry rice and also will make a side of pasta. The kids aren't too crazy about curry rice. But *love* curry spaghetti. Noboru loves curry rice. And so....I just make a huge pot of curry and rice and pasta on the side so whoever wants what...can have either way. Alright so....my treadmill is calling me, so I better end this post here. : ) 

OMG, he's in! Branden got accepted into the high school he tested for this week!

Okay, so I was working on the last/final Hakone post this morning. But most importantly, I was waiting for an acceptance letter to the high school Branden tested for this week! And it just got here. Like literally 5 minutes ago! Branden does not even know yet you guys, because he's in school right now! OMG, I am so happy, I can barely type or contain myself!!!

For Chiba prefecture JHS kids are testing all this week. Different schools throughout Chiba all this week. Branden and the professor (nickname, because he is such a smart polite kiddo) were the 2 first kids from our local JHS that went to take entrance exams. Same day, but they tested for different schools.

Branden applied for the English program. There are like I said earlier... many hafu, many returnees. And a few foreign exchange from America going here too. So this school is a melting pot. There are about 5 western teachers that will be Branden's teachers. And he worked and studied his brains out for his entrance exam.. you guys know how hard he studied and he was so nervous you guys. But he did it!

There are study books for each school. That give and list the past questions and answers for the past 5 years prior. There is always an interview. And yes...there are books available to help your child be prepared for what sort of questions they might be asked.

They usually ask 3 questions per kid... according to the interview books and yes Branden was asked 3 questions. #1 "why did you pick this school?" Branden was prepared and ready for that one. #2, Where do you see yourself after high school? You know like will you attend university? Etc. The final question was, she said the interviewer asked and said...I know you are half American, but where is your mom from in America? Branden said my mom is from Denver, Colorado. Side note most folks don't have a clue. However...as weird as it sounds...the interviewer got very happy and said she has a friend who lives in Colorado. And that she has been many times and loves the Colorado Rocky Mountains very much and how they are beautiful and since Branden was just there this summer...they bonded over....odd to say.... but they bonded over...my being from Denver, Colorado! @_@ Unusual? Yes...but you seriously just can't make this stuff up! Hahaha. Finally...someone who appreciates...my Denver-ness! LOL. Anyway...so I am physically shaking right now you guys. Umm, clearly I will not be doing a TBT or my final Hakone post today. Such as real life...sometimes something just comes up. Like this. Amazing fantastic best news ever!

I feel like...running through my neighborhood screaming...."yes yes yes Branden got into high school" And then dancing the cabbage patch! However...my neighbors would probably think I have gone bonkers. So, I better not. I will just say it here...and tell ya'll.

We are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate! Meanwhile...30 of Branden's classmates are testing today for a few different schools. Ganbatte other kids testing today!!! So Bran's 9th grade class only has like 20 kids in it and that's both classes today. Branden and all 9th graders get out at 1pm this week. Because of the testing! OMG you guys. I can't even think straight right now... I am so happy.

I have a huge piece of flat cardboard and I think I better end this post now. And I will instead make Branden a huge sign... simply saying....YES!!!! And he will know exactly what it means! He gets out of school at 1pm, like I said. And we knew the results would come today good or bad. Noah today gets out at 3pm. Okay...I am officially not even making sense anymore. Sorry. Sometimes a person just gets *such* good news they go temporarily cuckoo kachoo! Gomen gomen/sorry! : )

But yes Branden did get accepted into the high school of his dreams. OMG, you guys he will be having such a blast at this school when April comes and he starts high school! I am so happy for him! Anyway. Bye for now. : )

Updates...

I went to Costco yesterday morning in Chiba New Town/Inzai. This was my cart pic yesterday however I also bought a 3 pack of Vaseline body lotion too. What's in this cart? Just basics. You can see a 2 pack of laundry detergent underneath my cart. Inside my cart, I have some stuff for Christmas dinner. Such as a huge box of potatoes for gratin potatoes for Christmas dinner. The shredded cheese is also for the gratin potatoes too, but we will have tons of cheese left and will definitely use it for other things. : ) A 2 pack of milk. Because with Christmas upon us and holiday baking, I need the milk for stuff like gratin potatoes. And other dishes. Plus cereals and things too. So milk definitely comes in handy. : ) A pack of 8 chicken breasts, again for regular meals. Our spiral ham, that will be for our Christmas dinner. I also purchased ingredients at Besia for my honey pineapple glaze. And a huge honkin nearly 4 liters of ice-cream, it's 1 gallon for us Americans. : ) So a regular standard American size. : ) But, the ice cream is for New Year's not for Christmas. And I am turning the entire gallon of ice-cream, they're in 1/2 gallon containers and 2 of those. But, I'm turning those into peanut butter (with Reese's peanut butter cups) icecream. So that is tucked away for New Year's. : )

Is your skin dry in the winter? OMG! My skin is so freaking dry in winter too, it's crazy! : ) They have been selling this 3 pack at Costco in Japan for ages. It's 2 huge bottles with a pump and a convenient still big... but...something you could pack for trips or something and it has a flip cap. If you needed to travel this could be the one. Every time I go to Costco, I keep thinking...I should get that...but next time. And every next time...I say...next time. : ) This time...I said to myself. Just get it. My legs are dry, my elbows are dry, my hands are dry, my knee caps are dry.  Hahaha. So hopefully this will help. : )

So any new update...what's up. Remember how Bran got the "good call" last Friday. About the Principal's recommendation letter? So anyways, Monday morning. The teacher addresses the class and says. Whoever received a "Principal's recommendation" over the weekend, do not say who you are. Do not tell anyone if you got one. Many of you got them, but many of you didn't get one. And so...December 27th, whoever received a "principal recommendation letter" please come to the school and pick up your letter, it will be printed out and stamped and signed and it will be ready to be picked up over Christmas break on December 27th. Reason is... because we don't want whoever did NOT get one, to see who did get one. This just saves every one's feelings. The entire class just said...hai, we understand. And that was that. So...Branden will be going to the JHS on the 27th to pick up his recommendation letter, I will drive him. Meanwhile...we have already registered Branden to take the entrance exam for the high school. The test is at the actual school of course, but registering for it can be done online now, if you live in Chiba. This is the first year Chiba prefecture is doing online registering. I guess last year and years prior... you would have to go all the way to the school to apply to take the exam in person. From this year if you live in Chiba prefecture you can fill out the entrance exam forms online, from home. So that's awesome. And we did that for Branden already this weekend. Entrance exams cost money 14,000 yen to take the test or 15,000 yen. About $150 US. Just for the test. And then once you get the Principal's recommendation letter etc. You have to mail the forms. With a self addressed envelope folded inside to yourself... so they can mail something back to your house. And there is a specific polite way to write the envelope to the school. A certain specific part... has to be "off set" to show respect and politeness, which we did that to the envelope already and we printed it out already too. : ) So as soon as we receive the  recommendation letter. We will mail it off immediately on December 27th. I will drive Bran to the school on the 27th and I guess that is the day we all see who else received the recommendation too, we will be going straight to the post office afterwards too, to mail it off. But again it must be kept super quiet because the ones who didn't get one...are under enough stress. So, I am glad these are given to the kids over the break. I do think that's a good idea. That way nobody feels awkward or uncomfortable. Does that make sense. And to be blunt about it. America may have gun crime and violence but Japan does have stabbing knife violence. And you often hear in the news that some whacko stabs 20 people randomly. Or last month some student stabbed their classmates. And again...you don't want 1 kid with tons of stress and worry about not getting a recommendation letter to go and stab your kid and the other kids who got one, do you? I don't! So...honestly. I do understand why the JHS wants the kids who received a recommendation letter to pick them up over the winter break. That way it's just safer that way for the kids who received the letter. And at the same time... it also saves the other kids feelings and honestly it just makes me feel better. And that's another reason why I will be driving Branden to the school that day on the 27th. Granted I doubt anyone would hurt anyone. Because I do believe the folks in our town are good and kind. But honestly though...it's just better to be safe than sorry.

What else. Today is Wednesday here. Today is Noah's last full day at elementary school. Tomorrow is his closing ceremony thing. So Noah gets off at 11am tomorrow and then Noah will be officially on Winter break! Branden on the other hand being a 9th grader, final JHS year student. The 9th graders will be staying at school after the closing ceremony and have a regular study day. To prepare for their entrance exams. So after their JHS closing ceremony and the 7th and 8th graders leave and go home. The 9th graders will stay and have a full day of school. Plus tomorrow according to my weather forecast 90% chance of rain tomorrow? Will it happen? Maybe. But either way Bran will be having a lot to lug back from school... so he will be getting a ride. And Noah meanwhile has lugged everything home already. : ) Except his seat cushion, he will bring home tomorrow. : ) So...last day of school for both the boys tomorrow. And then it will be Christmas break for our house. Phew. we all are looking forward to some quiet and relax time here at home. : )

Also first week of January. Not on New Year's but a few days afterwards. Our family will be going to Hakone. We have a hotel reservation and our family is quietly just looking forward to this little over night get away at the hot springs town. We have all been so busy this year. Branden especially with school. Noah with school too. Plus we will be starting our... before New Year's cleaning... after Christmas too. I also have a hair color appointment booked on December 28th. It shouldn't take me too long, maybe just an hour. And heck...that's just maintenance. Basic taking care of myself type stuff. : )

Anything else to add? Umm, Our Christmas ice cream cake is arriving December 23rd. Can't wait! We're having a delicious hearty pork curry here at home tonight. Japanese curry. The kids will be having curry spaghetti and Noboru will have curry and rice. And I'm not sure which way I'll be having mine. : )  OMG, I bought so much meat yesterday at Besia you guys. Just enough to last the week, a full 7 days. Tomorrow night we will be having baked teriyaki chicken leg quarters. With rice and veggies and stuff. It will be so good. Anyways, I want to hurry and post this so I can finish cleaning the house and I also want to bake something for dessert tonight too. Happy holidays everyone. : )

Bits from our weekend. And all about Branden receiving his "principal's recommendation letter" from his JHS for high school...

 Did everyone have a nice weekend? We had an amazing weekend here! On Friday evening, as you know, we went to the movies to see Rogue One. On Saturday, we had a family movie night here at home. And I made these 2 pizzas from scratch! We also had salads, really amazing salads with The Olive Garden salad dressing. And we had sodas with ice with dinner.

I forget the night we had karaage. But as you can see, ginger infused really well marinated karaage, this is flat out amazing, crispy on the outside and so juicy inside. Rice, macaroni salad and also broccoli too. 

We always have a nice leisurely breakfast over the weekend. 1 day it's pancakes or french toast and the other day is always eggs and bacon. Cheesy scrambled eggs too. Very yum.: )

Amazing cornbread fresh and hot right out of the oven and buttered nicely on top. Went nicely with the chili last night.

Chili beans. There were many toppings to add. If you wanted lean ground beef to add we had it. We had sour cream, diced onions. This was so good and what is currently in their thermos at school today. The boys each took a thermos full of chili beans. A quesadilla each and 1 and a half mikans each... that I peeled and put into a  plastic container. Their soup thermoses stay boiling hot for like 15 hours straight, so they're as hot as the second I pack them. Japanese technology at it's finest! : ) 

Yesterday was a Star Wars marathon on my American cable. It showed them in order and me and the kids actually watched them all yesterday. It was awesome! But also...this week. Was it Wednesday? I forget the day. But on the ID channel (Investigative Discovery channel.) That has nothing but crime shows 24/7, I love this channel. 

Anyway the ID channel has been showing something called, People Magazine Investigates. Cases that were huge in the headlines years ago. People Magazine has been going back and making updates or delving further into the case. I have seen all of these so far. But the one last week. Was a case I remembered immediately. I am sure you do too. : (

It was called, "Mystery in Texas. In The Name of Love"

Recognize her? Does the name Diane Zamora ring a bell? 

The two lovebirds. 

His name was/is David Graham.

This case was all over the news. It was big time.. in the news at the time. They were high school sweethearts. In love. She had given her virginity to him, yeah that was a little tmi for me hearing that too last week. And he later told his girlfriend Diane. That he had cheated on her with a girl in his cross country team. Diane was so upset and angry that she told David. To make their love pure again. @_@ They would have to get the girl he slept with and murder her! And he agreed. And so...they did just that. Diane bashed her in the head. She tried to run but because she was bashed in the head and badly injured. David caught her and shot her in the head twice! 2 gun shots to the head. This was huge news all over the USA, why? Because it actually horrified us all. #1, Diane should have broke up with David. Yes sure...she would have been sad. But...life would have went on. And over time... she would have healed and moved on. Or David should have broke up with her after hearing her murderous request!!! The other things that shocked everyone was that...these weren't just... loser kids or bad kids! They were brilliant smart kids, good kids. 3 kids who would have had amazing careers and lives. David and Diane were both going to have military careers. One was in the air force. They were both cadets. One was in Colorado and one was in another state. So they were intelligent kids. Kids who would have had fantastic careers. And good lives. And they could have been contributing people of this earth. However Diane's jealousy got the better of her. And she would not rest until the other girl was lying dead in a morgue. To me that is so sad. I feel saddest for the actual victim. But, I also feel sad for all 3 too. Why? Because, it's obvious...they ruined their own lives! They had a choice not to kill her. Yet they still went through with it. And for what...teenage puppy love?  

This is Diane Zamora now. Sorry but... prison has clearly not been kind to her. I was a tad surprised when I first saw her. I was like...is that REALLY her? @_@ She didn't look anything like she did in her pictures when she was younger. Anyways...I was interested to hear what she had to say in 2016! Was she sorry? Was she remorseful? I guess what I'm saying is.... that I was hoping to hear. "I'm so sorry, every day of my life, I regret what I did. I regret what we did. And every day I think of Adrienne and am so sorry." However...that was not the case at all. She didn't really seem sorry at all. That was the most shocking to me. She said..."I'm sorry for Adrienne however SHE shouldn't have made me mad!!!"...yep that's basically what her thoughts on the matter are as of 2016. And honestly I was really disappointed. Because she doesn't seem remorseful or sorry about it at all. Not really. How sad.

And the actual real victim in all this. Granted should she have slept with another chick's man? Guy? No she should not have done that. However...did she deserve death for it? Absolutely NOT. Her parents never get to hear her voice again. She will never have a wedding day. Never have children. Never get to live up to her full potential. She will never be able to spend another birthday or Christmas with her family. Everybody lost in this! Adrienne lost the most. At least David and Diane's family get to visit them in prison. Or receive letters. Adrienne's family doesn't get to visit with her. The whole thing is just sad. So sad. And what's saddest? Was there was no real remorse...or I'm so sorry. I regret doing what we did. Nothing like that. : (

Anyway so now for some good news. Branden received a principal recommendation. If you live in Japan and have a 9th grader. And your 9th grader will be going to high school in Japan. Your wish and hope is to get a principal recommendation. To get a principal recommendation is like amazing and it's *the* goal. How do you get one? You have to have very good grades. Amazing grades. Outstanding grades. JHS in Japan goes like this... you need points. The highest score you can get for example in English is a 5. And same for math, it's 5 points. And all other subjects. The highest you can get is 25 points for all 5 subjects combined for Chiba prefecture. And then it depends on the school you wish to go to too. Some schools will not even allow you to get a principal recommendation unless you have 20 points, some schools want more. And in many cases if you you have a special skill that will help. Now knowing this. This explains why kids in JHS study their brains out. Because they want their points to stay high. We have really teeter tottered about...should Bran go to high school in the Unites States. Which means I will live with the kids in the US for a few years. Which would be hard being apart. But...we'd do it for our kids. Then we found a few high schools that have strong English departments and programs, Bran  will do university in the United States though 100%. This high school though...they require you to have extremely high English skills. And we have since checked this particular high school out 3 times. Bluntly speaking. My kids are native speakers and they want Branden. There are many native teachers there. The main native teacher actually asked us...if we are returnees (clearly I'm western but he thought we were living in my home country beforehand) because of our kids English abilities. Which was nice/kind to hear. But no...we have lived in Japan their whole school lives. He could not believe my kids have never studied in America and this was coming from a white/western man who has been a high school teacher here for ages and has seen the English skill of returnees vs, hafu, vs never lived over seas at all. And he has a kid Noah's age. So that says a lot, that he assumed my kids were schooled in America. Then.... the actual head teacher and high school principal who is Japanese...the final time we were there... could not believe Branden's Eiken 1. He had *never* seen that before...never ever seen that before...from a 9th grader... that he actually in front of all the other kids and parents and teachers...told everyone and actually asked if he could go make a Xerox copy of it. Yes it was a bit embarrassing that he went on and on and on about his passing the entire Eiken.... regarding Bran... in front of everyone...but understandable too. To have that in your hand is a bit unusual. He was that flat out shocked. So special skill has been proven. And grades are on point. So...our JHS head teacher for the 9th grade and our actual principal went to Branden's future high school and they had a meeting last Friday. Our JHS 2 heads and the high school heads met up at the high school.... and when 2 schools agreed, which they agreed. And they love his grades and agree he has a special skill. So the high school gave the JHS the go ahead to...give Branden his principal recommendation. And so that is why we were in the best mood going to the movies on Friday. Branden's actual teacher phoned our house during dinner. Friday evening saying..."you got it kid!" She spoke to Noboru first. Then spoke to Branden, then spoke to Noboru again. We were quiet while on the phone but we were high five-ing each other in the kitchen. Noah and I were doing a jig! Then Noboru and when Bran got off the phone he passed it back to his dad and Bran Noah and I were dancing in the kitchen. Like Whoop whoop! LOL. Just super happy ya'll.  : ) So anyways...that's that....Branden has 1 final test to take...his entrance exam for high school and he has been studying his brains out. If he gets into this school, which everybody basically thinks it's in the bag. He's going to be having a blast. He will be in the English department. Their school trip in 10th grade is some place English speaking, I know where... but I can't say, I'm sorry guys. And their 11th grade trip is to America. He's basically going to have a blast and best years of his school life. With lots of like minded people just like him. There are many hafu and foreign nationals going to this high school and also returnees (Japanese who lived overseas). I am so happy for my son, you guys. His high school life will be a blast! This school is a good school. It looks like all the hard work of JHS was worth it for Branden.  So anyway, very happy news for Bran. And he's so...almost done with JHS! I love you kid and am so proud of you Branden! : )