Bits and pieces...

Has anyone tried the sweet potato soft cream/soft serve ice cream at the convenience store, The Mini Stop? I have had it twice. It's actually pretty delicious and the flavor is...like a freshly roasted sweet potato. The flavor is so on point and it's actually perfect for this time of year and season! I am not sure how long they will be selling this seasonal flavor. But, I'm actually glad I tried this. I had been mentioning to Noboru, how good this looked. And last week as we were driving past one, he stopped and he said let's try one each. So, we did and we both actually really liked it. The kids were also curious about it. And since they were not in the car with us, that day, on another day...I made sure to buy them one too. : ) 

I love these Korean foot mask things. Where you let your feet soak in their presoaked foot plastic booties for 90 minutes and then wash your feet after wards. My feet start peeling after about 5 days and are now nice and smooth and like a baby's foot. : ) Hence the name Baby Foot. : ) I use these in winter and definitely in the summer too...summer especially because I wear flip flops and my feet need to up their game. : ) I use them in the winter too sometimes, because my feet just feel dry and this helps. : ) 

I happened to be in the small city nearest us. And I saw these running socks on sale. With the marathon coming up (it has now passed and is over with) but at the time...I thought...holy cow too cheap to pass up! This was originally 980 yen and now reduced to 280 yen. Super deal! And yes with the marathon approaching at that time...I jumped on this deal! 

Size was right. Price was superly right. : )

I love getting good deals. And Adidas nonetheless!

Though Noah is now wearing thicker longer socks for the colder weather. These were perfect for the marathon and will be perfect in Spring or for gym class. : )

I buy a box of adult sized masks every Fall and Winter, for Noboru, Bran and myself. And a box of kids sized masks for Fall and Winter for Noah. These are sold everywhere in Japan. And are like 400 yen for a box of 50. So they're super cheap. And just because my family and kids get their flu shots every October! Doesn't mean everyone else does! Also...the stomach flu has been going all over our town for months. In Japan it's called the noro virus. And it is so bad! Like vomiting for days diarrhea for days, sorry TMI. Lucky for us. My kids have not gotten it, knock on wood. And our flu shot doesn't cover the noro virus I am sure. Just influenza A and B or A or B. So...what's a mom to do? Not much you can do. Except for...hope your kids don't catch whatever is going around. I also have my kids wear masks... every time they leave the house. And it helps. My kids have not been sick this year or last year and I think the year before that too. I think they caught the noro virus though 4 years ago? And it was so nasty and horrible. And to top it off, they gave it to me after they had it. @_@ So...needless to say. I have been hearing from everywhere/everyone. The cashier at the town grocery store, the pharmacist who likes chit chatting with Noboru and I every time we're there at the local drugstore for...well we were buying bath powder. But he likes us...and he comes to talk whenever we're in there. He did say...so many kids are coming in with prescriptions for noro virus meds, so he told us to...be careful and take precaution. Hahaha. : ) Kind nice guy! : ) So...it is going all over our town. And...given Branden is in his final year of JHS, he can't miss school... so the second he leaves our house he has a mask on his face. Same with Noah too. : ) And I have been giving them tons of mikan/mandarin oranges for vitamin C. : ) One of Noah's closest friends at school 2 days ago...he ran to the bathroom and vomited and they called his grandma to pick him up. And yep...sure enough Noro virus. @_@ Poor kid. : (  Noah has a handful of kids masks from the last box I bought. But, I will be buying another box of kids masks this coming week. Stay healthy everyone. : ) 

The January issue. 

Usually they have very good issues, but this time, Biteki fell a little flat for me. Hopefully February will be better, than the January issue was. : ) 

The one thing though that I love is that this magazine always gives a gift. This time they gave 2. 1 is a mirror so you can check your hair, while on the go. @_@ Do we need that now days? Gee whiz! : ) And the other gift is a face mask. I'll use the face mask but I doubt I'll use the mirror. :)

I haven't gotten a new pair of reading glasses in 3 years. It was time for a new eye exam and a new pair. Styles change and 3 years is too long to be wearing the same old pair. Branden also got new lenses for his frame. We really wanted Branden to get a new frame too, but he looked all over the eye glass shop and didn't find a pair he loves, as much as the pair he has. So, he got new lenses. His eye vision had a slight change since April 2016 and plus he had a few slight scratches on his lenses so he got new lenses. And these in this picture are my new frames. They are way more stylish and current versus my pair from 3 years ago. Girls...females in Japan are wearing plastic frame glasses and their frames are larger and bigger then they were 3 years ago. I really like the bigger frame. And I am a brunette so I got a pair that matches my hair color. I like this eye glass shop because they sell super affordable frames and lenses for 5900, 7900 and 9900 yen. Something like that. They only have 3 prices. And it takes... only an hour to get your new glasses. I also think Japan always has the most stylish glasses. Mine cost only 7900 yen. So about US $75. Which is a fantastic deal considering, I got an eye exam, plus lenses and frame. Everything is included for that price... including the case. 

I don't need glasses for regular life. I am lucky in that I can see in normal life, so no regular walking around town glasses for me. But, I do read a lot. A lot... a lot. And I think all that heavy reading is why I do need reading glasses. Which is fine. At least if I do need to pull mine out, mine are super stylish and I'm not embarrassed by them at all. My new ones are the larger cooler squares on the left and my old pair are the too small rectangle ones on the right. I am really loving my new pair. And my prescription isn't heavy or anything like.. coke bottle glasses or anything, it's light. And I just really dig my trendy new reading glasses. : )

Aww, okay back to the roasted sweet potato flavor soft cream at Mini Stop. So, I mentioned to the boys. I tried it, I liked it. If you'd like to try, I can drive ya'll down to the local Mini Stop and buy you each one. They both said sure. So, we came home with 3. 1 each. : ) 

Enchiladas happened last week. A whole tray of them. Yum. Chicken enchiladas. 

We always eat a variety of different foods. I don't want to just make Japanese all the time or just American all the time. Or just 1 certain type of food. I want them to like... all sorts of different variety of foods. And they love everything they eat at home! : )

Brownies happened last week. Last week we had 2 desserts, the cookies on Friday and at the beginning of the week, I baked the family brownies with walnuts. Yum. : ) 

As soon as the kids walked through the door after school, they said..."I smell cake, did you bake us a cake?"...I said..."close! I baked you all brownies!" : ) Anyway, TGIF everyone. It's Friday. The weekend starts for us...as soon as the kids get home from school. You all know we have tickets to see Star Wars Rogue One this evening. We can't wait! : )  Have an awesome weekend everyone. : )

Wreath switch, Fall to Christmas! Brownie baking and rice krispie treat making! Branden's school marathon, Harry Potter movie and more! : )

Last week on Monday, with both Branden and Noah at school. Noboru and I started in on the Christmas decorations for the front of the house, getting all the lights on, etc. A pic is coming shortly, they're done and they look beautiful. That was quite a bit of work. And meanwhile I pulled out the winter, Christmas wreath for our front door, the same one that hangs every single year. And meanwhile packed away the....

Fall wreath got nicely packed away until next year also, caught a glimpse of the Spring and Summery warmer weather wreath the hydrangea one that we use every year too. I swear...I must be known as, wreath lady....in my neighborhood. ; )

What else....my MIL sent a care package to us. Well technically to me. It said....to Gina X. : ) From Mitsuko X. Same last name. : ) She sent the potato salad in a food bag too, same how she sent the chicken, but I spooned it into my own container, which is pictured. I thought that was so nice of her and thoughtful. That not only did I call her and thank her. But I also turned on my oven and....

I baked her some brownies with walnuts. Ziplocked them, packed them really well and ran myself to the post office and sent her a care package right back. She called me back when she received them and was pleasantly surprised too. She's coming to Chiba for Noah's Christmas recital soon.

What else....Noah needed some new long sleeve shirts. I went through Branden's old uniforms and found 2, in 120cm. I already sewed Noah's name on those. And I also went and ran and picked Noah a new long sleeve and a new red/white hat. And I also picked up Branden a new red/white hat for his marathon he had. I wanted him to have a brand new bright one for that....so I was glad I picked up a new one for B before his marathon.

I was happy to be able to reuse a few of Branden's long sleeves. Now they all have new names on the sleeves now.

Last Wednesday, after dropping off all our kids. Noriko-san, Jogo-san and I met at the movie theater to see the newest Harry Potter. The one in English started at 11am. So, we went to Mister Donut first. We all had 2 donuts and coffee each. I think Jogo-san had iced tea though, if my memory serves me correctly. : ) And the Jogo-san bought a few donuts for later. And I also bought some for Branden and Noah and the hubster for later as well.

There was a lot of crying towards the end of Harry Potter. After the movie let out...I went straight away to the yochien to pick up Noah and then to pick up Branden after that. My family enjoyed the donuts that I brought back.

What's this? We got a letter at the yochien. About the upcoming Christmas play, all the kids needed to bring...gym uniforms shorts and tights. It's a big thing this Christmas play. All the kids are practicing tons. The teachers are working hard with this as well, trying to make sure things go well. And so, I packed the gym shorts and tights. Started wondering...does that include the gym top too? I packed it...but I asked Noah's teacher before leaving the bag. I asked her if they needed the top too and she said no. So, I just pulled the top out of the bag and brought the top back home. Kids have been practicing a lot. I hear the oldest class, the blue badges are doing the Wizard of Oz play!!! I love the Wizard of Oz. And know the whole thing by heart so, I will be looking forward to seeing that. : )

This might look easy peasy to sew but considering it's on a sleeve and sewing things on sleeves are hard for me anyways, but then add the fact it's also on a teeny tiny pocket. It is a logistical freaking nightmare for me to sew a name tag on these! And yet I do and I try my best. : )

Saturday...2 loads outside drying. One load of clothes hanging. And if you look close you can see the start of some towels along the fence. That's one of the boys swim towels right there.

Fleecey blankets washed was my second load with towels. And I also washed up Branden's sneekers like I do every week and Noah's yochien shoes. PS....will be overjoyed when Noboru fills in the parts of grass he cut out because, the week before, I could not see since I was holding the blankets up high and it was sort of blocking or impairing my view a bit and as you guessed it. I tripped but caught myself so I didn't fall, just stumbling across the yard. But I must have looked like a total dork, wobbling with a big load of blankets. Steam poured out my ears. And I told Noboru, honey I will be so happy when you fill in those patches because I just nearly killed myself out there. He apologized but he also laughed. @_@ Hmm. ; )

Rice Krispie making time. Saturday evening, I had told the boys we could make rice krispie treats after dinner. And true to my word. We made them.

While I was busy melting half that box of butter and then melting marshmallows. Noboru was playing with the boys in the kitchen. : ) Could he tell which boys hand it was with his eyes closed? And such and such game. He likes to play with the boys a lot.

Both the boys helped flatten them out.

Noah did very well.

Hi sweet pea! : )

And done. So easy.

These were leftover from the night before. We made a huge batch of rice krispie treats.

Sunday afternoon. The boys playing together and the blankets meanwhile drying. Branden's blanket on the right, Noboru's and mine on the left. Noah's was done a few days earlier.

Sunday's dark load of wash hanging. One Denver Broncos shirt, a few pairs of Levi's. Noah's yochien navy blue uniforms. His PE ones were done the day before.

Sunday nights dinner.

And after dinner Sunday night. I steamed a batch of sweet potatoes. I usually steam a batch every Sunday or every other Sunday depending on how sick or not we are of them in the winter here in Japan. ; ) Leftover dinner on the right plate. And the last bit of rice krispie treats Sunday evening.

Tuesday...this Tuesday. December 7th was the elementary school marathon. It was such a freezing cold morning. I think you can see steam or fog in the sky. It was even worse then pictured. It was such a cold day. Visibility...not so good. I could not believe out of all the nice sun shiny days, the weather craps out on the day they run their marathon. Coldest day in a long time. And it was marathon day. Anyway....I had already made obento and run Noah to school, raced back to our town by 9am with time to spare for the marathon.

Does the guy holding the finish line look familiar? Does it sort of look like my husband? ; ) Yeah it does doesn't it! LOL. Our favorite sensei. Branden's sensei. The tiny one standing near Noboru. Kindly asked him if he could hold it for her. Who in their right mind would say no. : ) Right? So, of course he said....sure! I'd love to!!!! And so he did. Meanwhile I was on the opposite side. And chatted with a mom friend of mine... one of Branden's classmates mom.

The 3rd and 4th graders ready to run. 3rd graders in the red hats and 4th graders in the white hats. Look at that sky. Behind the kids. I tell ya.....if snow would have started sprinkling from the sky, I would not have been surprised in the least. It didn't of course, but you know what I mean.

Another grade looked on towards the right.

All the kids took off running. and then, someone shouted....a kid is injured. I knew it was not Branden because I just saw him run past me. I could hear the crowd murmuring...do you know who that is? No, I don't said someone (the schools so small how could they not though, is what I thought ; ). I looked and looked and when I got a closer look, I thought.,,OMG! Holy goodness that's our dearest "boy next door"....I have grandma next door's number. But not her keitei. Just the house number. What should I do...as I stand surrounded by rice fields, contemplating what to do. I felt it a duty to...go and ask if he's okay. K....are you okay honey? Do you want me to get a hold of your grandma? "I'm okay" he said. Man, I wish I could think of how to contact his mom. As a mother myself, I'd want to know if my kid was hurt. But then again...it didn't seem like a life threatening injury. So, don't want to be all gung ho and overreact and cause a panic either. And it looked just like a skinned knee. I wanted to think some too don't want to overreact either. And he did say he was okay when I asked. Okay then I told him. I'll just be standing over here then, okay? And he sat and a teacher was with him.

Branden just about to pass the finish line. Boy next door still in the background. Poor little guy.

Later found out....boy next door's mom was holding a flag on the opposite side of the race track. And yes she did notice something a little odd. How come every kid she knew ran past her...including Branden. Branden told me she said...gambatte Branden-kun! Meanwhile she had wondered where her son was. : ( Little did she know he was off on our side of the track injured.

The bright side is, I jumped in to assist the "boy next door" I mean of course, he's our neighbor. And she meanwhile cheered on B on the other side of the track. Good neighbor. She is a good neighbor.

So after that marathon. We ran home. I said good bye to Noboru. I meanwhile ran to Cainz. Did our weekly shopping. Didn't have time to go home, so I went directly to the yochien to get Noah, then home, to unpack the food and detergent and weekly shopping things. And then from there I had Noah pack his swimming bag. And we left to pick up Branden. He got out at 3pm. Noah meanwhile started swimming at 3:15pm. I had to seriously make some tracks to get from Branden's school to the swim school. I stayed until 4;30pm. Found myself in the little boys dressing/locker room. Chatting with a pink badge mother from our yochien. About the upcoming Christmas play. She said Noah is doing really good. Meanwhile the kids came out. And we drove home. 5pm is when we finally got home. My gawd. I had been going full throttle since obento making, sending 2 kids to school, the marathon. The grocery store, picking up both kids and for what felt like an infinity of waiting at the swim school. I was very tired and very happy to be home. What was for dinner? Something simple. It had to be super duper simple. I was exhausted. I was tired. I turned on the oven and made 2 pepproni sandwiches (1 for B and 1 for me, this is too spicy for Noah) and 1 baked ham sandwich with mozzarella for Noah. Made some fries. Washed some lettuce for the sandwiches.

The kids ate. I ate. Noboru was eating at work. After dinner..threw the dishes in the dishwasher. And sent the boys to the shower. They came out. Put their pj's on. Branden luckily did his homework at the swim school waiting for Noah. So, the boys watched TV while I showered and soaked in the tub for a bit. I came out. We watched some TV together. Talked. And then I tucked them each in bed. After the kids went to sleep. I started the hot water pot. I had a nice hot cup of coffee and just sorta went ahhhh. I was now in relaxing mode. I emailed my dad good night. Channel surfed. And when Noboru came home, I was resting. We caught up with each other about our days. And he showered. Anyway that's a bit of what we've been up to lately! : )