At the start of March, it was either first week of March or last week of February, Branden brought home a huge stack of these order forms. At the time, I was busy with Noah's graduation so did not have the time to post this then, but luckily I have the time to now. I recall Branden brought them home on a Thursday and they were due the following Wednesday. That evening, Branden and I looked at them together. What are they? Sewing kits. At our particular school here in Japan, kids start sewing at the start of 5th grade and go all the way through the end of 6th grade. As you can see there are so many to choose from. I see Elmo on this top pic. And a dragon one also.
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| This T&C Surf is the one Branden wanted. And I agreed. But, we did go through every page and looked at each one carefully together. This one was big and I liked it had the non slip parts to open it or hold it on the sides. I also liked what came inside this particular model, so yeah he made a good choice. |
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| They all come with basically the same thing inside, but this is what came inside Branden's. |
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| They also have baseball sewing kits of your favorite team if that's more your style. |
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| From the Mr. Man show. They also had Spongebob. |
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| Soccer team. Basically not to worry, whatever you like, I am sure you could find a sewing kit that you liked best. So much to choose from. So we wrote the info in the ordering form, placed the money inside and Branden took that to school. The last week of the 4th grade was when Branden brought his surf one home. |
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| Start of March found me, not only labelling things for Noah and his soon to be ichinensei stuff. I also found myself in the kitchen in between coloring elephants and penguins. : ) Labelling Branden's sewing kit. We ordered this bag for Branden so he can carry his sewing kit it this, this was also available on a school order form, this bag was 300 yen, so it was afforadble. His sewing box fits in here perfectly. So when the kids go from their classroom to the sewing room, he can just carry it in here. Like a messenger type bag. And his name is on this. |
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| Everyone had to order this. Because they will practice on these first. |
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| Branden's sewing kit. |
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| Nice scissors and all things inside. |
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| Close up. |
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| See the circle (do it this way) and the x (don't do it this way ; ) |
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| Where they will sew the buttons. |
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| Learning to sew different types of buttons on! Go kids go! : ) |
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| Remember the muffins Branden's 4th grade class baked last November? They have a very thorough "Home EC" at our local elementary school. They start cooking pretty young at our shogakko. By 4th grade they were all cooking and baking up a storm. Though Branden and Noah have been cooking at home with me since they were young toddlers (starting simple of course). I think it's really good for them to be also getting this at elementary school too. |
Branden's class also made their own miso. I found this to be impressive. And 2 weeks ago, they made stir fried veggies. 3 weeks ago, they made salad dressing. Every week they are either whipping something up in the huge kitchen classroom that their school has or they're getting their sewing on! : )
Also, yesterday, Branden's class planted the schools rice, in the huge big rice field plots near the school. He brought home a note last Friday, saying, he needed a spare pair of clothes, with underwear also (in case someone were to fall in the field and need a full change). Sandals or Crocs, to walk to the fields from school and they all planted the rice barefoot. They also needed a chisai towel. I made sure I had it all packed up. And yesterday when I picked up Branden. He was so happy. He said how much he loved planting the rice. And that they will now care for this rice and they will eat this rice at their school when it's harvested next Fall. Just like they are eating the rice the class planted last year.The younger grades like Noah's class, are taking care of the schools vegetable garden etc. They all take turns. I really like the elementary school Branden and Noah go to....here in the Japanese countryside, they learn a lot and not just from inside a classroom either. Lots of hands on stuff! Good school, good school. ; )
Branden's class started with shuji last week. This is the first one he brought home. It says...1. ; )
Made tostadas last week.
Man, they were good. Americans sure do love Mexican food. If we had a Taco Bell here, we'd be thrilled. ; )
Could not send Noah to school with tostadas the next day, so defrosted one of the frozen chicken breasts in the freezer.
Skillet fried it and made chicken teriyaki out of it, last Thursday.
White rice with sprinkles, chicken teriyaki, veggie and peaches and 2 jelly's.
Thursday after the boys went to school, I went to a DIY to look for some flowers for our hanging baskets on the front porch. If you can see it was indeed raining last Thursday. I was looking for,
After leaving the gardening shop, last Thursday I headed to swim club. I had the paperwork ready to be switched and so, as of May 7th or 8th. After Golden week, let's put it that way. Noah will be switched to the B course. So, he will have a few more swims in the A course until after Golden Week. I also signed Branden up for the Golden Week compressed course for swimming. I showed him the flier, and he said he'd like to do it. For Spring break, they also had a compressed course and I showed B the flier from then and he said..."nah he wasn't interested for Springbreak" And I said, okie dokie. I showed him the flier this time around and he said..."he wanted to do it" So, it's always Branden's choice. And he wanted to do it, so I signed him up.
This is the compressed course Branden will be lucky enough to take part in for Golden Week. He's gonna love it. Noah and I will be taking him there all that week.
Last Friday's obento for Noah. Pizza toast, a couple fries and veggie, peaches and jelly's.
While the boys were at school last Friday I zipped to the grocery store. Bought our weekly groceries and headed home. Hmm. I tell you..everyday, I am here or there. I'm always doing something.
Branden needed more of those cleaning clothes. Apparently they use them for shuji as well as cleaning the school. Hmm. Another umbrella for B.
And then I packed up both the boys swimming bags for last Friday. And headed out. First stop? Pick up Noah from yochien.
Popcorn, in a ziplock. I always bring snacks because being as active as they are at swimming school they need them.
Noah went downstairs for exercise warm ups. And I read a magazine, while I was waiting for the kids to come out to swim. Noboru brought B to swim club and that saved me a trip.
Oh yeah, so Friday Branden tells me..."mommy, I need an obento for school tomorrow" Whhhhat???" I thought holy batman! Noboru confirmed I needed to send him with an obento. The sensei did not tell the kids until the day before, Branden quickly wrote that down in his renrakucho Friday.Talk about being a bit taken off guard. If I had known earlier, I would have bought something special at the grocery store that day. We reread every letter he brought home and nowhere did it state.."needs an obento." I knew ahead of time obviously he had class Saturday, I knew us parents would attend observation day Saturday. But nowhere did it state obento. Bless that last frozen chicken breast in the freezer I save for emergency obentos. Because it was indeed a surprise. ; ) I thawed it Friday night, And Saturday morning, I made Branden some yakitori, rice, veggie, a couple fries. A banana, some jellys, a Snickers mini and a Milky Way mini. And a thermos with drink and ice.
Saturday morning dropped of Branden at school after making his lunch and stuff. And in the afternoon. Around 1:30pm, we headed to the shogako. Noboru, Noah and myself. We waited in the hall until the bell rang. Aha, this was the 3rd graders class. The shuji hanging in the hall, was a dead giveaway. : )
The entire class had to stand up and give a speech. Branden's turn came up and here he is. Love the new flat screen TV's our school just got. Three cheers for the revenue we get from Narita airport. They also have a state of the art computer room. Branden and his class used the computers last week for the first time. Granted he uses our home PC at home sometimes when he's searching for a Beyblade or pokemon. Or emailing grandpa. But first time at school. Looks like the 3rd grade is going to be a good year.
Well done kiddo!!! Oh yeah about the teacher. Her pic is above. She's the short lady on the left. ; ) Branden's description was old and short. Here's my thoughts. I personally didn't find her all that old. I was half expecting to see the "crypt keeper" by the description. Granted she is not as youthful as the Yuka-sensei. I think the Yuka-sensei, was a year older then Noboru and I. And the Yuka-sensei had tons of energy. So while she is definitely quite a lot older then the Yuka-sensei. To be fair this new teacher is not like 108 years old or anything. ; ) But short was very accurate and that's okay. : ) 
After coming home from the Observation day this Saturday. We all relaxed. And around 4pm Noah took himself a nap. Meanwhile I had Branden roll out the pizza dough. I had made it in the AM and let it sit all day.
Pepperoni for the kids and pepperoni and veggie for me. Hubby had to work Saturday evening so it was just us for dinner.
The boys and I enjoyed homemade pizza Saturday night. Some tropical punch with ice. We watched TV and just hung out.
Sunday, the rice farmers came to plant the rice.
See the close up? They sure did a lot of work on that Sunday. They work so hard!
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