Vacation days were approved, so everything’s set now for July. A little Old Navy shopping, a good deed and a relaxing night at a yakiniku restaurant with my family...

How is everybody doing? I have some pretty great news. Noboru *did* get his vacation days off, in July as requested. So it is official, we are going away, on a family vacation. We will be gone from July 17th, to July 28th is when we will be returning back to Japan. Again though depending on which flight, it could be a day early or even 1 day later. But those are the dates.  I want you all to keep things, on the down low for now. And, frankly speaking, I wasn't going to mention dates at all, and usually I will NOT mention dates. But yep, it will be a very nice long vacation. We are looking daily now... on which flight looks best for us, to get to California. Haneda or Narita. Narita for us is best, because we live so close, all the Delta folks know Noboru at Narita so that helps. But if we go to Haneda, we don't know any of those folks and frankly Haneda is very far from our house and Haneda people are sticklers with the weight of their plane, and cargo. So often they bump folks, even if seats are available. Second resort would be... for us to fly Narita to Seattle. That flight is wide open and then us transfer via Delta to LAX (Los Angeles) Again we'd get there, the same day as if we flew directly to LAX. So flying via Seattle wouldn't be bad either. Also, I half heartedly wrote a shopping list. Because frankly we weren't 100% sure... if we could get there... if he didn't get his days off or not. But now that we know, it's 100% set. Now, I am spending a lot of time...again watching YouTube videos. Seeing what's new in America. Checking Sephora and Target online. Going through my food pantry, what do I need to stock up on? So...if my blog does go a bit quiet as time draws near....July comes and rolls on...you who read this...will know. Yep, I know why, Gina's blog is quiet. : ) Quite a few of his coworkers did not get their vacation days off. And they wondered why Noboru did. However...Noboru didn't take a vacation day off. Not even for a observation day. He would tell his manager, this week is my kids observation day and I am not going because I am saving my time for July. And then Noah had another observation day and he again made it clear...again it's my son's observation day and I am not attending because...I am hopeful for July. He went to work sick once and said, I am not taking off because I am hopeful for July. Since January he has not requested a thing off. And they knew it. And so when the time came...they had to be fair. The other guys requested days off each month but not Noboru. we found out last Wednesday or Thursday...Noboru called me at work and said...guess what? I got my days off and we are GOING! I screamed from excitement! Ahhh. The boys both know now.  Anyway hopeful for California and we think we'll get there. But as usual...our last last resort is.. we go to Honolulu for vacation, which would still be amazeballs. However though...we really want to take the boys to Universal Studios. So anyways...enough talk about that, for now. I better hurry up with this post, I have a ton to do today. : ) Friday, I made the homemade pizza dough. And after picking up the boys, we had homemade pizza from scratch and sodas and we just relaxed for the night. Saturday was spent relaxed and low key too, we had a family movie night at home. 

Sunday we four, went to the Aeon mall in Tsukuba, Ibaraki. This mall is *huge* ya'll. Plus they have Old Navy. 

Not sure if you can see the sign in the window at Old Navy 100 yen flip flops for the family.They had huge 50% off sales, 20% off sales and 30% off sales too. Men's swimwear was 900 yen. Not all of it but, most of it was. Bran got 2 new pair of shorts around Golden Week. And so Sunday Noboru bought Bran 2 extra pair of shorts. So now Bran has 4 new shorts this year, plus 1 pair from last year from Uniqlo that still fit. So 5 pair of shorts for Bran. Shorts wise, he is done! Also, important to note, while Branden was in a dressing room and Noboru was also in another dressing room. Noah was with Branden in his dressing room. I was sitting in the center in a chair waiting on Bran or Noboru I glanced at the open dressing room next to Bran's dressing room and someone left a shopping bag with wallet left in the bag. I was like OMG! So, I ran it outside to this Japanese man pictured here. He's my favorite worker at this Old Navy, he's worked here... since it first opened, he speaks English fluently, used to live in America, he's gay (sorry TMI, but we have talked through all our times shopping there, but it's just the back of his head so his identity/privacy is safe) but he's wonderful. I told him right away...I found this wallet, he said...OMG thank you and he ran it inside and put it behind the counter and instructed the 3 check out people...who were crazy busy with a long line of customers, which is why I didn't give it to them first. He told them...if anyone claims a wallet have them describe it and then he popped back outside. I believe he is the manager for that store. After that... we went upstairs and went to Sports Authority and bought Bran's rashguard. By the way...this is the 2nd time I have found a wallet here in Japan and I have blogged about it both times. I am a firm believer in return things to their rightful owner...because it's just good karma! It really is. 

And Sunday nights dinner. Yakiniku! We wanted to celebrate Branden being finished with all his tests for this semester. Now we can all sorta take a load off and relax. And during this picture we already knew we were indeed going to California. So...we had even more reason to celebrate. And we also wanted to celebrate Noah too. Because we don't want Noah to feel...left out. So we said this is for Branden finishing up on his tests and this is also for you too Noah...for doing so well in swimming this week! : ) Which made him smile. Both boys were happy. Wow...funny what a difference a week makes right? Last week at that time...Bran was in hardcore study mode. And so were we. Now 7 days later we're all...like Julie Andrews singing...the Sound of Music on a mountain top...type ecstatic! : ) Yep what a difference a week makes. : ) We also ordered a veggie platter and some flat leaf lettuce to wrap our meat with, but it didn't come out...before this pic. 

Happy smiles from Noah.

Happiness and *relief* from Branny B. You also know the movie "Nanny McPhee"? I also call B...Branny Mc B, a lot of times. Branden...B, Bran...Branny...Branny B...and finally Branny Mc B! I love it! : ) I tell you. Bran has about 5-6 things I call him...and he loves all the names, that I call him. I'm playful with my kids, like that! We ate and stuffed ourselves silly and then we came home. And we all took turns showering and then we all just relaxed and enjoyed the rest of our Sunday.

That's right...after yakiniku we went to the grocery store... so I could pick up some fresh cut pineapple, yogurts and fresh bread for the next morning. But, while there, we saw these newest flavors of Gari Gari...watermelon, yumm. : )

I love word play. Love it! And instead of high fashion...it's hi, fashion! Hahaha. 

Bran's waist size is a 30 American size. With a pinch of room for comfort and breath-ability..meaning you don't want your tumtum strangled to death. However these are slim fit....so he needs a size bigger for comfort. If you are in an airplane for 12 hours, do you want to be wearing skin tight pants or shorts or comfy ones with a pinch of room in your waist and tummy area. Yep, you'd pick the comfy ones. So, we're the same way... so we had him get this size since they're slim fit. 

These were 20% off of 1990 yen. So a really good deal. 

A bit blurry, but also 20% off. 

These are California shorts with spots/areas in California written all over. 

I think these are so cute and perfect for Bran! 

Rashguards are supposed to be skin tight and the medium fit skin tight. But Noboru asked B to try on the men's large. See it says men's large in the pic. And it fit better, still slim fit, but a pinch of room. UPF 50+...so great sun protection. And even though B is much tanner coloring wise, than Noah is...I still worry about skin cancer for Bran too, because I know any color/shade can get skin cancer. 

Branden has a very nice brand rashguard. OP, is a nice brand. And a men's large. This will match beautifully with Branden's navy blue turtle swim trunks from Costco. And by the way my Costco, sold out...of all men's swim trunks, they're all sold out and gone. So glad, we snapped up Branden's swim trunks, when we did. So Bran is all set now swimming wise. : ) 

This has a rubber piece at the bottom for when you boogie board, your rash guard won't slip up. A nice feature.

This will be at the back near his neck area. : ) 

Meanwhile Noboru bought himself 3 pair of shorts. This is a big deal because Noboru hates buying clothes for himself. I swear he has tee shirts, older than Branden! Hahaha. : ) He picked navy with navy sailboats. 

These were 50% off. 

The navy with navy sailboats to the left with 30% off and the pair to the right were 50% off. 

Noboru picked the same shorts Branden did too. He said he didn't want them at first knowing Bran picked them already/first..."I don't want Branden to think I copied him" I said ..."he's not going to mind, we're family"....so, I asked Branden..."is it okay if daddy gets the same pair of shorts as you?" "it's fine..I don't mind dad" Noboru was like...okay as long as you're sure. : ) Of course they won't wear them, on the same day or anything. : ) 

I washed these Monday/yesterday. And they dried up nicely outside. Now they're all ready for the guys to wear! And Noah's tinier pair on the far right. That he wore to yakiniku. And Bran's navy pair with pink flamingos that he wore, next to Noah's orange pair, that he wore to yakiniku. : ) 

Hi Noboru's shorts! : ) Hi countryside...rural Japan. : )

Anything else to add? I went and did the weekly grocery shopping yesterday, as soon as I hung up the laundry/shorts outside. I bought a weeks worth of food. Monday/last night, homemade karaage (Japanese fried chicken, so good), broccoli, rice and the hubby and kids had miso soup with theirs. Tues/tonight, we will be having curry with lots of fresh veggies and skinless chopped of chicken breast. Wednesday we will be having curry spaghetti. Again this just helps because I can double the amount of curry tonight with extra veg and meat and tomorrow will be an easy peasy meal of delicious and filling curry spaghetti, with garlic toast on the side. Thursday night we will be having niku jaga (a nice hearty meat, onions potatoes and green beans), in a shoyu, mirin and sugar base really delicious and we'll have that with rice. Friday, chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice. And Saturday will be American Independence day....so we will be having a Costco rotisserie chicken ,mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies and probably a Costco salad. Delicious but super easy too. Was going to BBQ July 4th, but Noboru's working (which is fine and with the vacation days off...nicely in the bag now, I REALLY don't mind haha)..So, Saturday, of course, I still want to celebrate the 4th as a special day with the boys. : ) Which means...I will be heading to Costco...to get big hunk of cheese (for the enchiladas) and salad and rotisserie chicken at the end of the week. But everything else...I have every ingredient for, until Friday.

Noah has observation day this Thursday, Noboru and I are both going to that (the guy who makes the schedule who is a very good friend of Noboru's said.."I gave you a very late shift, so you can go and see your kid on observation day!" What a great friend, Noboru has. He knows Noboru has not got to go to Noah's school since December. So that was very nice of him to do that. So that's how Noboru can go and see Noah now.. Noah's excited, daddy gets to come this time. : ) And I guess...that's about it for now, you guys. : ) 

I think, Seattle will be our destination! Though don't quote me on it yet. : )

Friday's obento. Pepperoni pizza. I made this pizza out of bread. In Japan it's called pizza toast. The pepperoni, I bring back every time I go to Guam or Hawaii, or the US mainland. I actually have a bag that is 3/4 full still. I will still be bringing back more pepperoni with me this time though. And a bit of the leftovers from the night we had hamburg. Not last night, but the night before that. Sorry, last night we had tacos. And I usually make taco obento. But today, when I woke up, I just decided, I am making pizza for his obento. Ha ha ha. Not sure why, must have just sounded better to me this morning, for some odd reason. So no taco obento for B today. Ha ha ha. Oh well, we will have tacos for leftovers for dinner tonight then. So where was I? Oh yeah, okay what's in his lunch! Pepperoni pizza, leftover oven roasted potatoes, green beans and a mixed fruit cup of fresh fruit. 3 different colors of grapes, dark purple, green and a wine color. 2 pieces of fresh pineapple, 1 piece of mikan and 1 slice of kiwi. We love eating kiwi at our house. And 1 peach jelly. Yup, I bought a new bag of jellys yesterday at the store. That's it, a very fast obento to prepare. The pizza was done as soon as the toaster oven worked it's magic, ha ha ha. : )

Anyway, as of yesterday, we were pretty much set that we were indeed going to Oregon, because of the flight info we were getting. This made me really happy. I did research this place the most, so far. I really had my heart set on Oregon. And after so much research we found the perfect hotel. After reading customer reviews for hours on end, from Expedia on hotels, yahoo, hotel reviews and so on. This hotel seemed perfect. The price was right. The location was prefect. They had rooms available. And get this. This hotel had free big breakfast every morning and I don't mean just the continental breakfast either ha ha ha, cereals galore, waffles, sausages, omelets etc, etc. So many customers remarked/reviewed how delicious their breakfast was. And then, get this. They also commented that every night they make a homemade soup and also baked homemade cookies every single night!!! Oh my gosh! And hotel guests can go downstairs and get some warm cookies and some soup and go back to their room! Oh man! I was so happy! Noboru was happy. We did not book the room because, with flying stand by, you gotta be a bit more sure. But we knew 1 thousand percent sure this was the hotel for us. I was imagining how I would walk down and get some cookies with the kids. Ahh, what bliss. And then, we got the wind knocked outta us and now we must change our city. Wahhhhh! : (

So, this morning. Friday morning. Noboru checked the employees private website. He checks every morning and every night before we leave on a trip because things can change in a blink of an eye if you fly non rev. Sigh. So, anyway he said. Looks like we won't be staying in Oregon now. However we will be flying to Oregon. Here's the skinny, the flight going to Oregon has many open available seats leaving from Narita. So, yes we will get back to the US mainland. The problem is when we leave back to Japan, the day we need to fly back to Japan is full from Oregon. So we can get to Oregon yes, but we can't leave Oregon to get back to Japan. So, for now. And remember things can change tomorrow, so take this with a grain of salt. So for now, and actually Noboru called me from work this afternoon. He told me, we will leave Japan and head to Oregon. However, we will be leaving Oregon and instead we will be heading to Washington state. Which Washington state seems really attractive to our family too, it seems really nice. So we were still pretty happy about our destination. He asked me to research everything under the sun on Seattle and the surrounding areas. From hotel's, shopping centers, outlet malls, restaurants, just everything I can get my hands on. The reason is, the flight to get back to Japan from Seattle is wide open the day we need to head back, like 100 seats type open. So, anyway it's not bad news, it's just a change in plans. We are really thrilled about Seattle too though. Like I said earlier, we like anywhere on the west coast. People are really nice. The landscaping is beautiful. So, anyhow. I guess I better hurry up and post this. I have to get taco stuff reheated. Yup, the boys and I are having leftovers tonight, meanwhile Noboru is eating dinner at work tonight. And after that, I will make sure everyone gets showered. And then I am going to spend my evening researching every hotel, everything I can about Seattle. So for now, we think this will be our ultimate destination. However, as the days grow closer, we will know 100% sure or not. But, we know how things can change so we do take things with a few grains of salt. So, I hate saying for sure unless we know for sure, if that makes sense at all. Anyway, I have plenty of Seattle research to do tonight. Like, where is the nearest outlet mall? Where is the nearest regular mall. Where is the nearest Target? Ha ha ha, just stuff like that. And a ton of hotel reviews to start reading through. Ha ha ha. Anyway, just wanted to say, have a wonderful weekend everyone! We are spending our weekend at home, relaxing and doing some Seattle research, ha ha ha. We will ultimately be leaving Tuesday. So, if I am really quiet in the blogosphere, I am still around. I'm just really super busy getting ready for our trip. So, anyway, again have a great weekend everyone! : )

Bits from Sunday and Monday! : )

Sunday evening, Noboru was working. He was working the swing shift. So he was unable to eat dinner with us, poor guy. I wanted something easy. Didn't really feel like cooking a great big ol' long drawn out meal. So, I pulled some chicken outta my freezer and we had yakitori. Easy, quick, and the kids love eating the meats from sticks, they think they're fun! : )

Cut all the fat hunks off the chicken breasts. Rinsed the chicken pretty good, diced it up to fit onto the small sized skewers. Put them in a cheapie plastic container.

Poured half of my bottle of yakitori sauce on my chicken skewers. Sprinkled a bit of salt and black pepper. Marinated in the fridge for a while. And done as soon as they fried on the stove in a pan. Very easy meal tonight. : )

I purposely left 3 yakitori aside and put the lid on and left them for tomorrow. Two were put aside for B's lunch at yochien for Monday. And the other one is for Noah's lunch at home tomorrow. Thank god for leftovers. They are the best help for mom's who make obento. Ha ha ha.

Here's what my meal looked like from Sunday evening. Just a very simple, chicken yakitori, over a bed of rice. And, I added the other half of sauce, in the pan just for a second before I pulled the chicken out. Just to warm up the sauce. A boiled/steamed corn with butter, salt and pepper. And a side of kimchee. Because I love kimchee, ha ha ha. The kids had half a corn on the cob each and yakitori and rice. The kids and I had a nice Sunday. Just relaxing. Very low key. : )

Monday morning, I was ready. I pulled the extra 2 yakitori outta the fridge, by now they were marinated just beautifully. Fried them in a skillet. And here is what B had for lunch on Monday. It's chicken yakitori over a bed of white rice. 2 steamed broccoli, with butter,salt and pepper. And some fresh big grapes that we picked on the Saturday grape picking thing. A very good, healthy lunch. And it was quick as heck, for me to make, since it was already prepped from the night before. : )

I've been wanting to make a pork roast in the oven. Hmm, must be the cooler weather we have been getting around here lately or what. So, on Monday morning, I fried up 2 medium sized pork roasts. I fried them in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and garlic. The seasonings on the pork smelled fantastic. The outter part of the pork got all crusty, sorta crisp and brown. I could see all the spices on there, yum! I fried it brown on all sides and then I wrapped them in tin foil and put them in my oven on a low heat all day long. As, I went to go pick up B from the bus stop in the afternoon, I could smell roasted pork from down the street. That smell was coming from our house, I thought, boy did it smell fantastic coming down the street though. I made baked potatoes, green beans. And we had some salad to go with it. A really good pork roast dinner was had on Monday! : )

PS, I mentioned it slightly before, but that was before, I knew any specifics, but yes, we are leaving back to the US mainland on September 25th, for about a week. It's hard to guess where. We are flying non rev, and not sure which plane will have the most seats until the time grows near. However yes we are going back to the mainland then. Most likely we will be heading to San Francisco or Oregon, or Seattle, Washington. We like the West coast, so that is where we are trying to go. We are personally hoping to go to Oregon. But that is sorta why we have been a bit busy. Right now we are trying to figure out the most information we possibly can about San Francisco, Oregon and Seattle. I have researched San Francisco a little, and we have both been to San Francisco a few times, just site seeing and whatnot, as well as flew through that airport a bunch to Hawaii from Denver back and forth many times. But from what we see they have the Tracy Outlets and Vacaville premium outlets, Targets and whatnot, seems like a nice place. We have researched hotels etc, for San Francisco as well. Meanwhile same for Oregon. I have found the Lloyd Center and the Columbia Gorge outlet in Oregon and they have many places our family would like to visit in Oregon, as well as, I also checked Target.com to find where the nearest Target is compared to where we might be in Oregon. Same with Seattle, we have been researching like crazy. Neither Noboru or I have ever been to Seattle, however we have both flown through the airport many times. But from what I could see from the airplane, the city looked really gorgeous. And one of my ex boyfriends, used to be from Spokane, lol, shhh about that please. : ) So anyway back to the 3 cities. Ha ha ha. So, not really sure where we are going, but yup we are going. But a lot of planning and searching is going on here, behind the scenes at our house. Car rentals, looking for the lowest price of those and whatnot. The actual week we are leaving, is when we will know for sure the city it will ultimately be. Then it will be easier and then we can put all our effort into researching that particular city better, and more whole heartedly. But for now, we are just researching each city, very lightly. But, still it can get time consuming. Anyway, that's what our family is up to these days! : )