Happy Birthday Branden...

Branden turned age 17, October 26th! Considering, I started blogging in the year 2005! You all have virtually watched Bran grow up, since age 4!!! And ya'll have seen Noah grow up his *entire* life, since he was born in 2005! It's no wonder that for many of you. You feel that we're family or a close friend that you get to keep an eye on virtually. You've seen all our ups and all our downs. And all the bumps in between. But seriously, can you guys believe B is 17 years old? Sincerely, thank you for always reading and caring about us. Branden needed more sweatshirts with the cooler weather coming. And so, I drove Bran to Marshalls and also to the shopping mall and he picked out stuff in his style and stuff he liked.  

Bran picked up this Japanese style sweatshirt at Marshalls. I think it was $14. He loved it. At the mall, we hit Old Navy and he went straight for these super warm fleece men's cardigans. They were around $35 bucks each, but on sale, I think originally $40. They look... sorta like a "grandpa sweater", dykwim? But it's updated...and this is modern now...I have seen many stylish young dudes wearing this style now days and plus they're not like itchy wool, that means hand washing and stuff. It's fleece, so super easy toss in the washing machine. So a modern update for this men's cardi. He picked navy and gray. So 3 new sweatshirts for his birthday. 

Plus, please consider he got a huge birthday gift of getting to go to driving school and considering driving school costs $400. Yeah that price tag shocked us, as parents. But, he was super happy about getting to be in driving school. Apparently mostly every state now days makes you... take drivers ed. Granted back in my day? You could take drivers ed at school. But it was optional. It gave you a cheaper insurance rate for your car. But drivers ed was not mandatory. And you could pay $5 bucks to get a drivers permit in Colorado back in the day, if you passed the written test and then 6 month's later, pass the drivers test and pay a small fee of $20 dollars for a drivers license. So considering it was *so* cheap in my day...this $400 stuff, shocks me. But maybe that's just how it's done now days. Also, we purchased Bran's homecoming outfit too. Which was a shocking $165 dollars. I went to homecoming all 4 years back in the day, myself. I bought a dress for $60 dollars, maybe some accessories and that was basically it. Homecoming is supposed to be cheaper than prom. I never realized sons/boys have such expensive stuff to buy. Bow tie was $40!!! Plus dress shoes, dress socks. Vest. Dress pants, dress shirt. OMG! Thank goodness Noboru was here for that, to help us shop for teen guy stuff. Let's just say, October, with homecoming, plus a birthday, plus driving school. Holy crap! Glad October is done. Let's put it nicely like that. 

Noboru told Bran, he could pick any restaurant for his birthday. That we could go and eat as a family of 4, before Noboru went back to Japan. B picked the Red Lobster. Noboru and I were secretly hoping he'd pick The Outback Steakhouse. But he picked The Red Lobster. Which is fine. It's his birthday. 

The 3 of us picked the Endless Shrimp. Noah.... disliking seafood completely had the chicken strip meal. 

Our server was amazing, he was a high school boy/guy and so funny. He had us all laughing. He kept bring out more and more endless cheddar bay biscuits. We all enjoyed our salads. Our sodas, which he refilled them so many times.

The first plate of shrimp wiped me out. I was done. I enjoyed my baked potato and shrimp (fried and scampi). Noah finished his meal and we both munched cheddar garlic biscuits. While we watched Noboru and Branden get refills of more shrimp. They both have such hearty appetites. It was actually funny to watch.

You can pick different types of shrimp, after you finish your original choices you picked. Bran picked the shrimp fettuccine and the panko shrimp as his refill picks. Noboru had the same as his first plate. It was a wonderful birthday dinner, best enjoyed together, as our family of 4. 

October 26th landed on a Friday, this year. Branden had expected dinner at home. Since he had a Drivers Ed driving lesson at 6:30pm that night. And since he knew we celebrated and went out to eat... when his dad was here. But, I had something up my sleeve. You know me. : ) Friday's the kids get out early. And our plan was to go pick up a birthday cake from Walmart and to buy our movie tickets for the next day. I had asked B, where do you want your birthday cake from? Baskin Robbins? DQ? Safeway? Where? We looked all month. The DQ cakes don't have actual sponge cake, just crumbles. So, Bran wanted the cake from Walmart. And I agreed, it looked best. But, before we went to get movie tickets or cake, I made a detour to DQ and we 3 had a quick meal of the $5 buck combo. It was just a little thing, but they were both pleasantly surprised. Which made me happy. They came with free sundaes too. So we were stuffed. Then we went to get the movie tickets, for the next day. And then we went to get his birthday cake. Many different flavors and choices and he picked the one he wanted.

Two layers of actual cake. And it was fresh and soft sponge cake...not...it's been in the freezer for centuries. It was super fresh. The frosting was really delicious light whipped cream. 

The cake was gorgeous. And the best part... it was only $14.99. A perfect price and we each had a slice Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I would definitely buy this cake again. Loved the freshness, loved the flavor, loved the price. When the time came, I zipped Bran to driving school for his lesson and he drove himself back home. It was a quiet birthday. Low key... which as you know, has always been our style. Stress-free birthday. But a nice one. Grandpa in Denver sent birthday money. And Noboru left him some birthday money before he left too. This kid feels loved, there's no doubt about that.

The next day, the 3 of us went to go and see Venom. This movie has been out in the United States for a full month already. I wanted to see it while Noboru was here. But Noboru was like.."it has horrible reviews" And so we didn't see it. As for me, I wanted to see it. Not every review on a movie, I agree with anyways. The kids wanted to see this too. How did we like this movie? We loved it! My kids were even still talking about it the next day. Granted, would I buy the DVD? Probably not. But, I'd see it again in the airplane. We had popcorn with extra butter and movie theater salt. We had large sodas and chocolate bars. We truly had a nice time at the movies. I would have taken them to the movie on his actual birthday but, B had a driving lesson. But yep, a great movie. And a perfect low key relaxing....super chill birthday. 

Bits and Pieces...

Americans love peanut butter! It's true, we do! And we have a love for peanut butter ice-cream. I am pretty sure... there are at least 3-5 different types of peanut butter ice cream in your average American grocery store, at any given time. And as you know, I even make my own here in Japan with those big tubs of Kirkland vanilla ice-cream as my base. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find this for sale in the little city nearest my town last week. Skippy brand peanut butter popsicles with a peanut butter soft inside/filling. So, for testing purposes, I had to buy some. Noboru happened to be with me the day I was in that store and asked him if he wanted one. He was like yikes...and no thanks. : ) Hahaha. So just picked up 3, for the kids and myself to taste test. What did we think? Branden said they were a 6 out of 10 for him. 10 being the best. Noah....said that he didn't care for these at all. And that to me, says a lot because he can usually find something nice to say about anything and everything. So for him to not like these. I was now curious to try for myself. I tried mine last and I have to say... I wasn't blown away by this. And would I repurchase this? Never! And this is coming from a peanut butter loving family....so that should tell you something. Let me explain in better detail. For starters peanut butter icecream is delicious and this was more so a peanut butter popsicle. No big deal...I knew that, when I bought it. But...the outside or regular part of the popsicle had a very bland flavor to it. Meaning if you didn't know it was *supposed* to be peanut butter flavored...you may never guess peanut butter. So the outside Popsicle main flavor was bland and didn't really taste like anything. The inside filling was weird. Granted it tasted a bit more like peanut butter, but it was just really unimpressive. 

Anyways...regular life still going on here daily. Of course. And on this day I made green chili enchiladas.

1 large chicken breast. Boiled. shredded and seasoned. Corn tortillas bought from Kaldi, slightly skillet fried beforehand and blotted with paper towel. Shredded my big hunk of cheese. And started to roll them.

Baked in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. This gave me time to make some Spanish rice. And get some ice out for our sodas.

Chicken cheese green chili enchiladas and a side of Spanish rice some chopped up lettuce on top of my enchiladas for a healthy little crunch. And a coke with ice. Yum! : ) My family love these!

Ordered 2 new pair of Vans for B. Because his feet keep growing. He keeps growing.

ABC Mart is an official retailer/seller of Vans here in Japan. 

Bran is now a size American men's 11 in shoes. And a size 29 cm. 

A preppy navy blue pair and a black and white checkered pair. 

Beats just came out with new ear phones/buds. 

Bran picked black.

Noah picked blue. The sound on these is absolutely incredible. Even better that the last model of Beats ear buds. 

Thanks Dr. Dre.

Cart pic from our Costco run last week. 2 rotisserie chickens. Dinner rolls. Big shrimp and bacon. That's it. Our total came to like $40 or $45. We can have shrimp 2 or 3 times in March now. And we had rotisserie chicken sandwiches last week with these rotisseries for supper that night. The kids also took some rotisserie chicken sandwiches to school the next day too in their packed lunches. 

Noboru and I went to Coco Ichiban Curry House last week for our once a week lunch date.

Anything new to add? My hair is done now...thanks to me going to the hair salon last Friday... and I am happy to have gotten it over with. My hair is as straight as a pin now and freshly colored and trimmed too. I was there from 9am until 1:20pm. A lot of sitting. And 2 hot coffees and 4 chocolates (for free) and an amazing shoulder neck and head massage too (for free too). Still an a-line lob. : )

Branden and I decluttered... the heck out of his room this past weekend too. We were relentless with it. We still have to do it 2 more times to call it done. But a step in the right direction.

Bits and pieces...

This morning around 9am, I got a phone call from Noah's teacher directly and also an automated email from the school sent to all grades, but it was just regarding the 6th graders, there's only 1 class of 6th graders. Noah's class has been closed from this morning... until further notice because 10 kids are out sick... half with the flu and half of the 10 with the norovirus. @_@ Double yikes!!! Noah is as healthy as a horse. Well skinny thin teeny tiny horse would better describe Noah. Perhaps as healthy as a pony? Ha! So Noah is fine. Last Friday... the one and only 5th grade class closed. This Tuesday, the 4th grade class closed in the morning and an email later in the afternoon said the 2nd grade class was closing as well. As of yesterday only 8 kids in Noah's class were down for the count/meaning sick. And today 2 more called in with either the flu or the norovirus. And since 10 were now sick, they decided it was best for the 6th graders to be sent home in case more kids were infected. So the healthy were sent home. The sick are already home. And that's that. Who is still standing grade-wise at our local elementary school? The 1 and only class of 1st graders and the 1 and only class of 3rd graders are still standing. And school is still running, but now... only for the 1st grade and the 3rd grade. All other grades and classes are closed. Noah has no school today or tomorrow that has already been decided. And not sure about Friday. I imagine Friday will be closed too. They usually will close a class for a 5 day school week...type week. So that's that. They did give the kids a boat load of homework. Tons of math and Japanese. Noah had page 13-18 in his math workbook (like 50 questions each page) and 4 kanji pages. I told Noah to pick a subject? He loves math, so said math. And I said work until 12 noon. And so he just completed page 13 all the way to finishing page 17. Tomorrow all he has to do is 1 page of math and 4 short pages of kanji. Noah's now resting on the couch. Watching TV. I'm not a total slave driver. I do want him to enjoy some relax time too. And because he worked fast. He now has the rest of the day to just chill, he's been chilling since 12 noon. So Noah...no school for today and tomorrow. And quite possibly Friday too. As for Bran. He's healthy and fine. But 8 of his classmates are also out with the flu. @_@ So...not sure if Branden's class will remain open or what. Hmmm. Oh this pic I snapped today. The email said to just pick up your child. Noah told his sensei. "I hope my mom reads the school email" Of course I would, but he's a worry wart afterall. : ) Being rural Japan and everyone knowing everybody else. The sensei asked Noah..."would you like me to call your mom, just in case?" Noah said, "oh yes please." I had a funny feeling it was Noah's school. Knowing yesterday how 8 were already out sick. I answered right away and he said,  "hi can you come down at the front of the school. All kids will be waiting for their parents to pick them up." I said, absolutely and I'm on my way! Not sure how I managed to drive to the school first. I quickly got there. I looked like complete crap, I might add. To be fair today is big house cleaning day for me. I just swooshed toilets with bleach before the call. I didn't comb my hair. Sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I was planning to jump in the shower as soon as I finished cleaning my house. So yep...totally taken off guard? Yes. Completely caught by surprise? Yep. I did wash my face this morning. And I did brush my teeth obviously. So it wasn't completely a disaster. But gee whiz. I waited for Noah to hop in my car. Always...the second he sees me... he gets this great big smile on his face and I get one too. As he jumped in my back seat. He said..."you're always the first mom to get here" I said...really? I did not know that. Not intentional at all. Anyways... 

Going on husband and wife dates. We have always gone on one every single week as you all know. One day our kids will be grown up and gone. And it'll be just us. We have never lost...the love of us being a couple. He's still my very best friend in the entire universe. And man...can we talk for days!!! This day...we had ramen. 

I baked a cinnamon crumb cake.

January 31st? Is when I took this pic. Pasta sauce. Tortillas. 2 hunks of cheese and a rotisserie chicken that I turned into taquitos. And Noboru went to a different check out lane and bought me my favorite chocolates for Valentine's Day. They have been in the pantry ever since.

Underwear for B.

5 pair. 2 pair reminded me kinda sorta of a bandana type design and the others are just stripey. I liked the lavender stripe with navy pair most. It's easier for me to buy Bran underwear in the weekday in the daytime. Versus us all get in the car on a weekend and let him pick his own. That would be a waste of a restful weekend. And since I am in the city anyways...in Inzai shopping for food. I can zip to Uniqlo. I zipped in the store picked the underwear and was back in my car in about 10 minutes. 

Aha, making use of that rotisserie chicken. Taquito night with sour cream lettuce and cheese. And a side of rice and beans. All homemade of course. 

Every time I see something new when I am out and about shopping, I will buy it for my kids. Within reason of course. Like a Peach Coke. Or these Mentos. Choco caramel Mentos. The kids loved these. 

My breakfasts and lunches really don't change at all. For breakfast I will eat the same exact thing. Of course unless the kids are here or it's a weekend. But for breakfast Monday through Friday I will typically have yogurt, 1 banana and 1 slice of toast. For lunch I will have either a sandwich (egg salad, ham, grilled cheese, ykwim) and maybe some celery sticks with peanut butter as my side. Or I'll have a salad. I love to add half a container of the crunky chicken from Mini Stop. My husband will usually have the other half of the container of the crunky chicken. It's a filling salad and I won't eat until dinner.  

I baked my family peanut butter cookies.

Yum. My kids loves homemade peanut butter cookies.

Branden and Noah and I played, Sorry! Sorry, as you can see it always comes with an exclamation mark. Anyway, we played 2 rounds of this. I lost both times...OMG! Hahaha. : )

It was a good hour spent with my kiddos on a Saturday. 

Friday night, ice cream run! I love the seasonal flavors of ice cream they sell at Mini Stop. Right now they're selling...green apple soft serve ice cream. Or a cup/sundae called...apple pie. I had planned to take the kids to get an ice cream after supper and dishes clean up. And so after everything was done. I told the kids, hop in mom's car and let's go and get that delicious looking apple pie sundae thing. : ) 

Noboru was at work so he couldn't have one unfortunately. However we loved these! The flavor was delicious. Like a cinnamon apple pie filling on top and some cookie that reminded us of pie crust. This was pretty good. I just...always want the kids to enjoy the little simple things like this. Like a little seasonal ice cream. Or you know what I mean. I want us to have fun though. 

Another weekly lunch date with my husband. We went and had curry at Coco Ichiban Curry House.

And last week we went to Komeda Coffee. If you buy a coffee you get a free half slice of toast with egg salad on the side. Their coffee is delicious and their hot butter toast was insanely good. I think our total was 900 yen or so for both of our coffees. Quite pricey. And we weren't full at all. We enjoyed our time there... but decided next time we'll go and have a regular lunch. 

This is a pretty big bag of cookies.

These cookies half dipped in chocolate. These are a household favorite of course. My kids absolutely love these. This bag was so cheap last week at Costco. I bought it for the family. 

Rice also at Costco. Sorry I forgot to take a cart pic. Carts pics are so much easier than taking a pic one by one. 

Also bought the family a variety pack of chips at Costco too. Again sorry no cart pic...in 1 fell swoop. This 1 by 1 each item way... drives me nuts. Sorry about that.

I bought a rotisserie chicken last week too. But this time we just had simple sandwiches. And potato salad on the side.

From Fukushima! I needed some flat lettuce (sanchu) last weekend because we were having a backyard BBQ. First BBQ for 2018. 

The farmers in Fukushima could really use our help and support. It's important to note that the banned areas, are not selling vegetables obviously so, please remember that. There are so many areas and parts of Fukushima that didn't get affected. That was largely farming areas. However now... not many will buy the safe veggies from the unaffected areas. These farmers are just trying to make a living...yet folks aren't buying their produce from them, because they came from Fukushima (the safe areas).  Which is so sad and so unfair. These poor farmers, they just can't catch a break you guys...and I think that sucks. So...because I know...obviously these veggies are not coming from the banned areas. These are coming from safe areas. I'm buying veggies from Fukushima every chance I get. I know just 1 family like mine... may not make a change or a difference. But I'm trying to help. Sincerely, ganbatte Fukushima!!! Be strong, and know my family is cheering for you! : )

I really wanted yakiniku but with chicken breast and veggies wrapped in sanchu (flat lettuce) Bran wanted steaks and the 2 N's....meaning Noboru and Noah wanted pork ribs. : )

We all ate different things at the BBQ. But it was a nice way to spend last Saturday. How was the weather during the BBQ? It was super cold. Brrr.

Anything new to add? I have a hair appointment next week. Next Friday February 23rd. I'm going to be there so long. My butt will be as flat as a pancake by the time I leave. @_@ I need the works.  This means my hair looks like crap, right now. Next week...I'm getting a hair cut, Japanese thermal hair straightening thing and a hair color. I have been going to this 1 amazing lady since Noah was in yochien. Same salon. But she went on maternity leave last year and I noticed when I was booking this appointment that her profile pic is gone on their website. So I assume she's not a hair stylist there anymore? OMG! How sad. Because she was amazing. I dug her personality so much, she made me feel so relaxed. And I felt so pampered and like I had a mini vacation every time I left the salon. But now...I guess I am stuck with the guy who has been filling in for her for the past year. He's more experienced than my fave lady...granted. She was a hair stylist and he's a master hair stylist. Does that matter? Not to me. But... Just food for thought. He's great...don't get me wrong. But he's not her. Does that make sense?  Anyways...I better go for now.