So is everyone in the Christmas swing of things? Christmas spirit and cheer and all that good stuff? ; ) We sure are here. We love Christmas! Did anyone in the US get a chance to get any good deals from Black Friday? We didn't since we live here in Japan. However, we sure took advantage of the great deals on Cyber Monday and Noboru bought me a good sized order from Amazon as part of my Christmas gift. I thought it would be fun today to share what our family is getting and/or hoping/wishing for this Christmas 2010. What I asked for this year, was for a new pair of black ballet flats, as mine are a starting to look a bit ratty since I wear them often. I found the pair I really loved, loved the top of them so cute and eye catching. I also liked the velvety look and feel, very perfect for Winter. So, Noboru bought me those. And I also asked for a pair of Winter Crocs. The Winter Mammoth ones not the Blitzen. Because the Mammoth have holes all over and the Blitzens just look like clogs and have only 3 holes. Anyway, personal preference I guess and so, Noboru ordered a pair same style and color as me (he's such a copy cat, lol) but a bigger size for himself too.
They came about 10 days ago. Yippy.
Can't wait for Christmas so I can unwrap these babies and wear them! ; )
From my memory, I picked from Amazon.com.
Twilight Saga Eclipse...I *love* Twilight, all of them. Twilight is to me, what Harry Potter is to many people.
Vampires Suck (spoof movie on Twilight)
Paradise Road
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (have this one VHS and need this on DVD)
Keeping Up With the Kardashian's season 1 (it was so cheap way way under 10 bucks and a whole seasons worth, so I thought it was a great deal) Can't wait to watch them.
Keeping Up with the Kardashian's season 2
Everybody Hates Chris - The First season (love Chris Rock, I find him so funny and to get a whole seasons worth for the low deals we got on Cyber Monday, too good to pass up)
George Lopez the first and second season. I also love this guy, he's so hilarious. I'm so glad I have 2 seasons worth coming. I will be in dvd heaven when all the movies finally get here.
I also ordered another dvd as part of my Christmas gift but it hasn't been shipped yet. It's called the Hotel Kids in Orange County about homeless kids in the US, it was an HBO special made by Nancy Pelosi's daughter. It is apparently a very good in depth documentary and I would love to see it.
Here is Noah's letter to Santa this year. By the way the last few years he just did scribbles and barely legible. But this year, he asked Branden for help and he worked hard on it. He really wanted Santa to read it and understand what he is wishing for this year. I think he did a pretty fantastic job! ; )
Branden, reads and writes at 3rd grade level for an American kid anyway. So I didn't need to help him, tell him what to say or anything. He just sat down and got started on it. I also told Noboru later..."gee he has better handwriting then I do. ; )
Kids are kids for such a short time. To have that child-like innocence and wonderment is truly amazing to watch as a parent. I may sit Branden down next year and tell him the truth..... or I may not. We're playing it by ear. But, I do want my kids to enjoy their childhood. With every fiber in their bodies. And if believing in a little magic now and again is in order, so be it. ; )
Noah's old Thomas bike used to belong to Branden. Branden was in love with Thomas. Noah never really was a fan of Thomas go figure. Anyway, he confessed he has been wishing and wishing for a new bike. A bike all his and only his. We agreed with that. But of course we didn't say anything. We just said...well write to Santa and we'll see. ; ) Little did he know....we looked and looked online. Debated many bikes Then finally had the 2 front contenders. And we finally decided on this Muji one. It's a happy peppy color and fits his personality to a T. We ordered online and had it shipped last Monday while the boys were at school.
One huge box with a bright yellow bike inside. : )
We opened the box to peek, wouldn't wanna unwrap Christmas day to see they got the color wrong. That would be a nightmare. So, we checked and taped the box back up. Noah's Christmas wish and dream is coming true this year! It has been hiding in the attic ever since last week. ; )
Tracking down the beyblades Branden was hoping for was hard and proving a bit difficult. Because these are the new beyblades, recently released ones. These are sold out nearly everywhere. Even a lot of places online said sold out. And for the galaxy pegasus if they did have them in stock, because they're so hot right now...many places said, LIMIT 1 per customer! What the???!!! We have 2 boy's and need 2. We finally found a place that would sell us 2 in 1 order and also had the other hard to find beyblade. Branden asked us to look online. Sneaky Noboru went to the site that is sold out....and showed Branden (see all sold out shucks). Branden is so crushed at the moment. He thinks he has absolutely no hope! No hope to get this at all. : ( So he wrote to Santa....asking for this for Christmas. Hmmm. I think we will have 2 happy thrilled boys this coming Christmas morning. And also Branden is getting other gifts from us too. So he is fairing quite well is the present category. : )
I also got a really cool black turtle neck with bright colored stripes. Very flirty with a pair of jeans or a miniskirt and some plain black tights.
And some very cool argyle tights. Very girly and very flirty as well.
They came in a 3 pack. Really cute. To wear with jean miniskirts and cord miniskirts this year. And a pair of ballet flats.
And I also got the black argyle cardi pictured here and I also got the gray argyle cardi as well. I love these argyle cardis so much. And last but not least, hubby also got me an amazing peacoat. I have a Gap and also an ON peacoat already but I had been hoping to get a new one and I found one and got it. I love it. I heart peacoats very much. : ) And my other 2 are quite a few years old, so it was nice to get a new one this year. Can't wait for Christmas this coming year. And if you wondering what Noboru's getting. He hasn't decided yet. He said he's going to get a new pair of swim trunks. And something electronic. Either speaker set for his ipod or something else. He always decides at the last minute but always ends up with something amazing.
We've got other people on the list too, but as they read my blog, I can't share what they're getting. Also our main gift is an "experience gift" that is our trip to Guam. So we can go there as a family for a few days, swim, do a bit more shopping and hang out along the beach and enjoy some relaxing time as a family. And my brother in law, Jun and family are also heading to Guam same day, same flight as us. And staying at the same hotel as us too. ; ) Except Jun doesn't drive in Guam, I don't think...he'll probably be taking the trolley and we are renting a car. We're leaving this coming weekend. I've got the suitcases out already. Though have yet to pack.
I also know what my dad got the boys this year as well. Noah got the gorgeous bright yellow rain coat (fully lined) from Gap (in size 6-7 ) and Branden got this very cool bright green and blue winter coat in size 10-12 to wear for next year. My dad loved the detailing on the arms and so did I (my dad was in Guam on skype with me and looking at the ON/Gap website and I was here in Japan also looking at the same website, lol). We both think B will get a kick out of this.
Anyway I hope everyone is in good spirits this time of year. And enjoying this Christmas holiday season with your loved ones. : )
What we brought back this time. If you're curious... if not no worries...the Guam vacation part of this trip post is coming up this evening.
A huge family or party sized lasagna. Think I'll use it for January 1st as of right now. Also, 6 pounds of stuffed shells with ricotta. Italian bread crumbs for chicken parmesan and some sauce for nights I'm running on fumes and needing a quick meal helper.
Rice krispie treat stuff. I had checked Kmart and they did not have generic rice krispies cereal. Bummer. And neither did the Payless at the mall. So, I bought name brand krispies. $9.00 for the bulk size box. Bummer and then...the day we left as luck would have it....I was in another Payless and checked anyway and saw they carried generic rice krispies for only like $3.50 a pack almost the same size too. I made a mental note of it and will be buying the cheaper versions from now on. I usually buy the cheaper versions of other cereals, just always have. But will be doing the same for Rice krispies from now on. Because they taste the same and if I can get twice the amount for cheaper, why the heck not. Kwim? ; )
975 grams for the name brand, so a bit bigger. But at 9 bucks?! Hmmm.
A pich smaller and at $3.50 US. Versus the 907 grams but...over half cheaper...I'll be buying these cheaper ones again next time.
Cinnabon flavored candy canes and chocolate mint flavored ones too. Holy goodness these are good. As a matter of fact, Branden, Noah and Genki are each munching a cinnabon one out in the backyard this very second as I type.
I plan to make blueberry muffins Christmas morning right away so they can be baking while the kids unwrap their presents. Also love pumpkin or holiday flavored coffees, found this creamer. They also had gingerbread too. I only bought 1, so we bought the pumpkin pie one...we've been enjoying pumpkin coffees ever since we came back.
Yes I am a cheapskate. I know. ; ) Store brand chili beans and store brand raviolis. The cans are hard because they are cheap, so that's the plus side.... but they are so darn heavy makes bringing lots of them back not an option...so only a few. : ( And another box of popcorn for family movie night.
Goldfish crackers. Cherry tic tacs and 1 jello and 3 packs of sugar free gum.
Hmm not really why I am on a sugar free gum kick lately. Hmm.
Vaseline bath beads. kitchen towels. 3 body washes, 1 Dove deodorant, 1 dish soap for the kitchen sink. 1 house spray.
Winter collection...sugar plum fantasies. This smells amazing and I have been using this in the house since we got back. ; )
At Cost u less got a big pack of pudding for super cheap.
At Kmart we bought a Monopoly game. The regular old school kind. Just they didn't have the cardboard box it usually comes in. Which was fine...this collectors tin is sorta snazzy too. ; ) And 2 magazines.
The nannies tell all thing was a bit of a shocker. And Kelly Osbourne's bikini body is wow...amazing. She really did an awesome job getting fit like that.
Wrapping paper...we brought this on the plane. So it wouldn't be crushed.
A visit to the toy store for Noah.
We got him a radio controlled car. Our neighbor boy 2 doors down has a radio controlled army tank. He came over last week to play with Noah. And Noah was very into it and wanted to play with it. So, now he has his own. Noboru picked it out. Since he was into RC cars when he was little.
Tires that light up.
Noboru wanted one with the biggest battery. He said the difference between a RC car with a 6 volt battery and a 7.2 was a huge difference. One would have power and one would have not so much power. So, I just left it up to Noboru to find Noah a good one. Because regarding rc cars and stuff, I really have no clue.
And Noah picked out the pretend armor and warrior stuff. ; )
And then it was time for Branden's gift from us. We got him a Wii. Last year we were so so so close to buying one in Guam. Little did he know. And then we changed our minds at the last second. And then this year we finally decided...with Noah getting a bike this year. It would sorta be a bit more equal if we got him the Wii. And we knew with the game options and stuff we wanted the American model of Wii. So that's what we did.
2 games came with the Wii itself. Plus he got 2 games to start off with. Mario Kart and Super Mario Bros. From now on every time we go to the US, we can get him a few here and a few there. Sometimes new games and sometimes used ones depending on the deals offered for us. He'll build up a good sized collection in a few years time. Noboru meanwhile had been wanting the Juon/The Grudge game. And he was lucky to find it used. So Noboru got that for himself. They did not have that new. He was quite happy. I meanwhile have been wanting that new "You're Shape" game with Jenny McCarthy. So, we looked for it and one Gamestop did not have it but the other Game Stop location did. So I lucked out. I think this Wii, is going to be something all of us can enjoy. So we're all sort of really happy we got it. An extra remote. So.... so far we have 2 remotes, we know in the future we'll end up with 4 total. But for now...we're starting off slow with this. Also Noah needed a new DS Nerf armor. So he got that. And we have 2 steering wheel remote holder thingys.
It has a motion tracking camera.
Like it says it is focused just on you..well me. But you know what I mean. ; ) It also reads your body and puts up a little computer image of your body and shape of body so you can watch yourself exercise next to Jenny. Totally focuses on the person. And it tells you what you have to do...to reach your goal. It's like having a personal trainer with you. And I like that. I will like having a workout partner. And she has a calendar and tells you when to do your next workout and everything lol.
It corrects your movements and says... watch your arms! lol. Hope she doesn't bust my chops too much. ; )
Noboru can't wait. lol.
We got the new black one. They had the white, the red and black. Red was a no way. And we all sort of said black right away. Noboru said he thought/worried the white would look grungy after a while. Not sure if he's right (I mean we would clean it and stuff obviously).... but I also wanted the black too and so did Branden. So we got the black.
American heart association approved. ; )
Coconut M&M's, omg these are so good. The one on the front right, we munched on the plane back to Narita. And I also got a huge flower stretchy ring. Thinking about Spring and Summer. Though that's a long way off. But....
Did not bring back from Guam but we gotta put this picture someplace. : )
The dvd's Noboru has now wrapped for me and what he got me for Christmas. Anyway that's what we brought back for December 2010. Okay I'll try to get the actual vacation part of the trip up now. : ) I'll try to hurry. ; )
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