The yochien bazaar and bake sale at Noah's school and Branden's observation day! : )

Well that was weird. Hmm. I posted my Thanksgiving post yesterday around 10:15am yesterday and this morning when I woke up, it said PM? I didn't do that and I do not ever bump my posts, not ever. Unless I got the date wrong in the first place...such as I saved it from Monday and didn't publish until Wednesday type thing. Hmm, anyway very odd. I did put it back to AM. Let's see if it stays that way. So where was I? Oh yes I still have 2 posts to get up, the Noah's bake sale post and Branden's observation day one. But since I am a bit behind, I'm just going to lump the both of them together. Last Friday was the yochien bazaar and bake sale. It had been mentioned that they'd like me to bake the same cupcakes I baked for when Branden was in yochien. And last year I was set to bake them too, but we all came down with the swine flu. So this year it was. Friday morning, I woke up very early and baked the cupcake part. Let them cool while I made the kids some breakfast. And then after sending Branden to school, I started frosting them.

I originally bought the bags on the left. But Noboru told me, I had bought the wrong bags? That I needed the stiffer and more crunchy type bags. @_@ So, while last week I was busy with Thanksgiving prep. I was also on a bag hunt, ribbon buy and paper plate buy. No wonder my blog didn't make a peep last week. ; )

I bought 2 spools of ribbon because I recalled running out last time and I was glad I bought a backup then too. That ribbon on top... the plain pink one was sort of a cheat because it looked like it had tons of ribbon on it, but it had barely any. Good thing I bought the one with the hearts too. Or I would have run out.

I made 7 bags of cupcakes total.

Decorated with silver little ball type decorations but on the pink they look more like pearls. Very pretty.

Heart ribbons.

Plain pink ribbon ones. I dressed Noah, meanwhile I slapped on some clothes, no makeup. And we drove to the school, every one's stuff was due at 9-9:30am last Friday. So, I arrived at 9:10am-ish. Got Noah into class. I also gave a smaller bag, a bag of 2 cupcakes to Noah's teacher and she loved getting them! : ) My dad and I walked upstairs, we each carried a tray up the stairs...gently...gently. : ) Everyone ohhhed and ahhed. And I blushed and left. My dad and I came home. I did laundry. We relaxed. Watched CNN. And since the bazaar started last Friday at 1pm. We headed over there around 12:10pm. Parked the car. A bunch of people also were waiting. We waited in the car until about 12:35 or so. And then we slowly walked into the school and up the stairs. There was a line forming. And we were about 7th in line or around there. Noboru also showed up around 1pm on his motorcycle. He wanted to check things out. Before heading off to work. He bought a new mini handheld vacuum, sort of like a Dustbuster type a thing for 300 yen, he says he'll use it to vacuum out our cars. And some packaged instant noodles and a few other things.

As you can see by the price sticker....250 yen for the cupcakes. Seven total I brought. The 8th one for Noah's teacher I did not count. When I got upstairs when it started at 1pm....there were only 5 of my cupcake bags. 2 people reserved them before the bake sale. I know the Jogo-san reserved and wanted one, she told me. But the other one, I don't know. Within about 8 minutes of the bake sale opening up, this was the last pack left. And it was sold too. Right after I took the picture. So they did not last very long. But...it was for a good cause. And I'm glad I participated. : )I bought many baked goods the other mothers baked too. And so many of the other mother's stuff sold out just as quickly. In fact...I think all the bake sale stuff sold out within 20 minutes total. Just the ...bazaar and craft stuff was still selling by the time we left. And that beautiful cookie tree to the right, my good friend Namiki-san made that. I think she did a really amazing job. : )

Lots of people. Noboru is standing to the left of the clock in the back.

My dad bought the baked goods on the left. And I bought some handmade sewing things that I thought were really pretty and some baked things too.

Homemade melon pan. These ladies can really cook! : ) The tulip tissue case, I loved and at 50yen, such a good buy. And the handmade yochien obento set, 500 yen! Very awesome deals, we found.

Friday, after the bake sale ended it was time to bring home Noah. So, my dad, Noah and I drove home happily. We had done a lot last week and managed to get all the Thanksgiving cooking done. Celebrate Thanksgiving. Bake the cupcakes, done and done. And then it was the weekend. We were like yay! Last Friday anyway. : ) Branden still had observation day the next day. But we knew we just had to stand basically and watch. That's the easy part. : ) We picked up B, Friday after school and we all sorta just enjoyed.

Last Saturday...Branden's observation day. Everyone had been making handmade clay magnets. They've been working on them for a week. Branden has been giving me mini updates about them so it was finally nice to see them. Branden said...I made a ring for you! So, that is a ring on the left bottom. ; ) He also made a carrot, a grape soda with ice. And a pokemon ball thing.

This classes shuji has really gotten better this year. Improved quite a bit since the beginning of the school year. Branden's is the far right bottom.

My dad has never been inside a real Japanese elementary school before. And so it was very nice for him to get to see, Branden's class art projects (clay magnets) they all did. To see their shuji. And this here...are pics printed out on paper of their last ensoku/field trip. My dad said...they do basically the same stuff they do in an American school, just slightly different. And I agreed, yep...pretty much the same stuff. Branden went to a sake factory and shoyu factory with his class. And when I was growing up in the US, my class went to the Keebler (cookie and cracker) factory. : ) And for the record we didn't see an elf in sight. : )

My dad saw all the pictures like this one of Branden smiling with his class.

Or when they were eating.

And then the bell rang and it was time for us parents to go inside the classroom. That's Branden's teacher at the board. I really really like this teacher. I think she is a fantastic teacher. She doesn't put up with any crap in her class. And she shouldn't have to. As long as you're a good student and do your work, you'll get along famously with her. Branden and her get along really well. I actually prefer her over the Yuka-sensei. And we really liked the Yuka-sensei too.

Branden doing his worksheet. Today's class was talking about morals. What is the right thing to do in such and such situation and the wrong thing. I listened and then whispered what was happening to my dad a few times so he wasn't totally just left out of the loop. My dad left the school thinking wow....what a really cool school Branden goes to. I'm really glad my dad got a chance to go.

We went home, the observation day ended around 11am. We all had lunch. Turkey sandwiches yet again. : ) And chips. And the last of the pie. We all talked and chatted and I prepped for turkey noodle casserole, that's we'd be eating for later that night. the boys were out front with their friends playing. And around 3:30pm we headed to the airport. My dad's flight was at 7pm. We wanted him to get checked in and settled near his gate. That's my dad checking in. A bit blurry.

And not on zoom. I was standing way over here.

He hugged and cuddled Noah goodbye. And Noah giggled and laughed. And hugged him tightly.

He said...Branden...you are growing so big but I will always try to carry you. So, my dad stood there trying his best to pick up B. Branden feeling the love, so he laughed and smiled.
By the way....my dad used to hold Branden in the mirror in our living room in Denver, when he was really little like under 1 year of age. And my dad would say....who is that boy?....who is that boy? And Branden would laugh and laugh and then my dad would say....is it Branden? And Branden would squeal with laughter and delight and then my dad would do it again. Or my dad would sing...the flying trapeze song and pick him up. He flies through the air...with the greatest of ease.....and now B is so big. And my dad still tries to carry him! Bless his heart!

And then he checked in and went through the screening. Both Branden and Noah shouted....I love you grandpa!!!! My dad waved. And Noboru and I waved.

And now making our way out of Narita airport and to our MPV and home to our turkey noodle casserole. @_@ By this time...we were just about tired of turkey. Not yet, but almost there. : )Anyway that was my dad's visit we had. And the bake sale and the observation we had. : ) Have a great weekend everyone. : )

The school bazaar! : )

If you recall, I was asked to bake some cupcakes for the school bazaar. They asked because they know I bake and they've been to a few of my parties at my home, where I made the cupcakes. Like the Easter party last year, remember? I said sure. One good thing about me is that I will always jump right in and help, whenever I am asked. Also, I always want my son to be proud of me. I would be embarrassed for my son, if they said or thought, "geeze everybody's mom helped out or did their share for the bazaar but Branden-kun's mom didn't help." He'd be embarrassed, I'd be embarrassed and I'd *never* do that, so I will always help with the school like this and so does Noboru. Also, I want to bake something my son would be proud about. That he'd say, "wow mommy, you made something really cool" or "gosh mommy everyone liked what you brought", so long story short, yes I love to help for various different reasons. So first thing Friday morning as soon as I got the obento made and Branden sent to the bus stop. I raced back home. Preheated my oven. And got cracking on those cupcakes. I didn't procrastinate, I wanted them fresh, that's why I made them first thing this morning.

Good thing, I bought the bags and plates, etc, the week before. Also my girlfriend, Noriko-san reminded me to make sure they were pretty and packaged nicely too. She said, "mom's wanna buy pretty stuff." And I agree with her, she's right. And I kept that in mind a whole lot. : )

Here's a close up picture of the cupcakes I made. Obviously I made more then 3 packs. However this just shows a bit more detail. I put 4 cupcakes per pack. They were yellow cake, for the cupcakes. And the frosting was a delicious cream cheese based frosting, so not all overly sickly type sweet. I decorated 2 with the silver ball sprinkles, the ones that look like pearls, if you remember I made Noboru these same type of cupcakes with the silver balls last Valentine's day. And the other 2 cupcakes, I put on pastel little colorful candy pieces on them. I placed them in a nice sized clear bag. Tied a pink and red ribbon on them, because I knew I was making pink cupcakes, hence the pink based ribbon. And I even added a bow on each of them. They came out really really cute, if I don't say so myself. : )

I got a lose recommendation to bring 20 cupcakes, however I brought 24 to be safe. So 6 little beautifully wrapped packages of cream cheese frosted cupcakes. Meanwhile I ran upstairs, jumped in the shower, threw on my face, put my hair in hot rollers. Slapped on a pair of jeans and a black sweater and threw some clothes on Noah and before you know it, I was driving down the street with Noah and the cupcakes. I was on a roll now. The Go-go's, "we got the beat' playing in the car while I drove. Quickly parked the car. I was ahead of time, for once. Bazaar started from 1:00 pm -2:00 pm. Yet I arrived at 12:30 pm. Which gave the PTA ladies upstairs time, to decide a price and get them ready for sale. Noboru would be getting there by motorcycle later to stop by to have a look.

So many baked goods for sale! I really liked the fact they sold a lot of baked goods at this school bazaar. In the US, at my Catholic school that I went to, we also sold baked goods to increase donations for the school. Homemade baked goods are always yummy! : ) When I walked in, the other mom's ohh'ed and ahh'ed at my cupcakes. They really genuinely liked them a whole bunch! It made me happy they approved! Phew! : ) I was equally impressed by all the things the moms/my friends, had baked. I was shocked actually. I saw, homemade brownies, homemade banana bread, homemade cream pan, seriously, how yummy is that? Homemade everything! Man these mom's can cook! They are fantastic with their baking, they really are! : ) I really love this school! And the mom's are awesome too!

The principal, she bakes the best cookies. Branden actually asked me to buy some of her cookies this morning. Which of course I did. Some of the baked goods were priced from 50 yen, then 100 yen and then a few were priced 200 yen. It varied in price. They also sold handmade sewing stuff, like yochien bags and obento sets. Old uniforms that kids outgrew, which I thought that was a smart idea!

I had wanted/wished to buy 1 of each kind of the baked goods. However there was just too many. I did however try to buy as many as I could. Everything just looked so delicious. Plus the money goes for a good cause. It goes to our Catholic school. And, with Noah entering this school next October, after undokai is over with, so this school is going to be a part of our lives for the next 3 years. So, I have absolutely no problem buying baked goods, especially if it helps out my 2 son's school at all.

They put my cupcakes in the 200 yen section. Man was I embarrassed, actually 100 yen woulda been fine with me. But since they are the ones who decided the prices and not me, I didn't mind, I guess. If you check this pic, there are no longer 6 bags of my cupcakes. Some are missing in this picture, right? And yet the bazaar didn't even open yet. Two of the mom's selling the goods at the baked good section bought some before the bazaar opened, ha ha ha. Made me smile and happy, someone picked them up even before the sale. : ) The bazaar opened at 1:00 pm. By the time it opened, there were only 4 packs of the cupcakes I made left. And, I can safely and honestly tell you, my cupcakes were completely gone/sold out by 1:13 pm. I swear to you, my cupcakes didn't even last the 13 minutes after opening. I knew Branden would be very proud of his ol' mom, when I told him, the cupcakes sold so quickly. Noboru was there at the bazaar and he told me, "hey honey your cupcakes are all gone, way to go honey", I told him..."ohh stop" and smiled. But he was proud. My husband is such a dork, ha ha ha! Meanwhile I had to hurry, because all of my friends stuff were selling so quickly too. I knew if I had any hope of buying any of their yummy stuff, I better hurry. So, I bought Kaya-san's banana bread right away. Her stuff sold out *really* quickly too. I bought some cookies that the Principal baked. And my friend Noriko'-san's brownies, her brownies just looked so yummy! And I cannot resist brownies! I bought a few things, quickly. Again I wished I could have bought more. Meanwhile Noboru wanted me to buy instant curry. He said he wants to eat them for a late night snack. : )

A lot of the mom's brought so many good things to donate to the bazaar. This little section or area was of house ware stuff or misc. stuff. I found that crazy/fun toy watch for B in this section.

I really liked this vegetable corner and food corner for some reason. Didn't buy any veggies, but I did appreciate that they sold them. The curry packs in the background are what the hubby bought.

Here are the baked goods, we bought. Well, my husband also bought a whole bunch of baked goods himself, but he took those to work, to have with some coffee when he's at work. But this is what I bought for the boys and I, to munch on Friday evening after dinner! What do we have here? Homemade brownies, Homemade banana bread, homemade cheese cake. Two packs of homemade cookies that the principal baked. And 1 bag of homemade Disney cookies, there was 1 Mickey cookie, one Minnie cookie, one Marie cookie and one other, but I forgot what character it was. The boys and I shared everything. We each had bites of everything. We had a few things after dinner. And then a few hours later, we had the rest and boy were all of these things delicious! A really good dessert that went perfectly with my coffee. All these woman are all such fantastic wonderful cooks and their baking was phenomenal! I can't wait until next year, to buy more of their baked goods and hopefully I will be asked to bake some cupcakes for next year's bazaar as well! I'd love to bake some and help out! : )

The instant curries the hubby wanted. And this crazy watch, we bought for Branden. Branden actually really likes it and he's been playing with it all weekend! Anyway, that's how the bazaar went at our school! And that's what we were up to on Friday in our little corner of Chiba! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! : )