Our last weekend of Summer, back to school prep and surviving the first week back

With Summer homework done for Noah since the last weekend of July. And Branden's done since first week of August. It was nice to get that knocked out of the way and be done. However Branden had a science project to do and they did it the week before we went to Bangkok. However during the flight home they were talking about making a stand for their experiment and they both basically agreed it would add some cool and wow factor. : )  So with the Costco trip done also we knew how we'd wind down our last weekend of the Summer, the same exact way we started Summer, with a BBQ. However that early afternoon before the bbq was started... Noboru and Branden went outside and they made a stand for his science experiment. Branden had his first lesson of learning power tools with Noboru's supervision of course and they made it together the 2 of them. Noah and I meanwhile watched TV in the coolness of the house. But I did come outside for a picture or two for Branden's scrapbook.

Note a clear day, a sunny-ish typical normal day, not really a cloud in the sky. The leftover wood from the science project stand was added to the charcoal grill.  Just a quiet weekend for us here at home with yet another simple bbq. And boy, it smelled fantastic!  And then....as luck would have it, clouds started rolling in. : (   Oh well ...rain or shine...this bbq will continue. : )

Onion rings and fries to go with the very simple basic chargrilled cheeseburger dinner we were to have.

See, rain! Ha ha ha. But the bright side is. We didn't let that dampen our spirits at all. I could see the farmers had also started to plow the rice fields here and there not on this particular day of course but it had begun where we live. But not our immediate fields behind our house yet.... as of when the picture was taken.

Just toppings on little plates/dishes and you can top with pickles lettuce, mustard, ketchup you name it. : ) We had plenty of burgers in the silver dish.

Growing up in America hamburger buns and hot dogs buns were cheap as chips and easy to find anywhere. However with living in the country side in Japan now, they are almost impossible to find. My closest Cainz/Besia store used to carry them and I only go there once a month now but they don't carry them there anymore either. Which is fine....you adjust. And bread really is totally fine for our burgers, the boys use dinner rolls though which are perfect. Buns would be nice to have but, wouldn't necessarily make or break the bbq if we couldn't find them. ; )

The weekend before September 3rd. Was this September 1st or 2nd, I forget now. But it was nice to just enjoy this last bbq before school started. However we will probably bbq a few more times after this anyway. : )

Preparing for the 2nd semester back to school.  Noah gets 2 notebooks for every subject provided for free by the shogakko/elementary school. So Noah has not needed any notebooks that we needed to buy as of yet. However Branden needed many replaced. Which also meant we went into his room and made sure he threw away all his old notebooks. We replaced the ones needed replacing. And he also needed a new black marker which is pictured. Noah and Branden each needed a new mask for serving food/lunch. So they each got a new one 98 yen for two, so not too terribly bad. And pencils, each of them needed some new ones. So, I took them to the local Yacs drugstore type of store and let them pick out their own pencils they'd like. Which is cool because kids like cool and also fun pencils.  And they were pretty cheap in price also.

A Coca cola pencil for each of them, a Natchan pencil each (this is an orange drink here in Japan)  strawberry chocolate pencils 1 each and a garigari popsicle pencil each. I know they loved to pick theirs out and these types of pencils are popular at our local school. Branden needed a red and blue pencil and they had a Garigari red and blue pencil. Cider type popsicle on one side and coke popsicle on the other side. So, since the boys needed new pencils I am glad they got the ones they wanted. : )  I made sure all these pencils were sharpened and name labels went onto Noah's with Noah's name on them and Branden's had name labels with Branden's name on his. Branden also needed a new white color in his paint kit, so I made sure to get him a new white paint. They have school paint tubes replacements for those. I bought 2 white squeeze tubes of school paint he needed from the Daiso for 100 yen for 2 white paint tubes (think mini toothpaste type tube they use those at our local school). So, just little tidbits of getting the boys ready to go back to school. I made sure they were ready.

A new semester means new white inside shoes for the boys. Also, in elementary schools in Japan they need rags for helping clean the school at the end of the day. So, I bought a great big 10 pack from Besia/Cainz for super cheap. Said, 5 are for Noah, put his name on those and 5 for Branden put his name on those also. At our particular school they are to come with 2 new ones each semester. So, I sent Noah with 2 new ones and folded nicley his 3 extra and put them in his bigger drawer in his desk in his room. And sent Branden with 2 new wash rags and packed up his 3 in his desk in his room. That way all semester if they need replacing they can replace them as needed, the names are already on them and they are ready and rarin' to go!

With undokai coming up *really* soon. Branden needed a new hat. Which means I had to sew his name on this new one and make that little hanging loop at the back of his hat also. Noah's hat meanwhile is still pretty new so his doesn't need replacing. Also he doesn't wear a regular red and white hat Noah. Noah wears the kind with the flap at the neck area. I let Noah wear a normal red and white hat in yochien because they weren't outside too overly much... I mean they were outside but not to the point where I would worry. However he is outside a lot more now that he's at shogakko and so I switched him to a flappy hat that protects his neck. Plus another kid in his class also wears one too. Plus I know how easy Noah burns, so yeah he needs to wear the hat with the flappy neck guard/cover.

With the upcoming Fall weather and also the upcoming undokai I knew they needed new socks pronto! : ) I went to Nishimatsuya, they had a huge fantastic set for girls in running/sneaker socks. However my store had diddly for boys. So, I went to another shop and picked these. 9 pair for Branden and 9 pair for Noah.  Branden got Mizuno, Bobson and a cheaper brand but cute ones. And Noah got 3 unknown brands but they were cheap and so cute. Anyway yeah. I was happy to get their socks bought and crossed off my list.

These are Noah's! I think they're really cute and the price I loved. Okay so that is the prep I did for getting both Branden and Noah ready for the 2nd semester of school. I think I did a-okay regarding getting the boys ready for the Fall semester.

Now for the "surviving" my first week back into our regular schedule. You know, the boys were pretty great last week. They woke up when they were supposed to. They brought all their stuff back to school from home. They got right into the swing of things really well. They came home really hungry each day I know, so I either made them a snack as soon as they came home or we had dinner early. They did homework quickly but I noticed Noah for example would crash on the couch and be dead asleep after his shower. One night he was dead asleep on the couch at 7:45pm. All in his PJ's and stuff of course but the week was an adjustment. Branden, I would find him snoring in his room as I would go in there and turn off his lamp on his night stand and kiss him one more time while he slept and he rarely snores at all so I know he was also tired last week.

I think the one last week was hardest on.... was me. I was dragging all last week. I need to be awake by 6am. However I know me, and I know how the first week back is always hard on me, so I set my alarm at 5:30am. Of course I snoozed it until 5:53am and got out of bed at 5:55am. Went downstairs. The morning hit me hard. I had a cup of coffee, woke up the boys, they watched cartoons like zombies while I made breakfast. Turn the TV off around 6:30am. And they go to the kitchen they eat, then they unload the dishwasher, Noah does the cutlery and plastic bowls. Branden does the rest which isn't much it's definitely 50/50. I meanwhile load the breakfast dishes while the boys go upstairs and brush teeth, fix hair and get dressed. I fill thermoses downstairs. Since it's undokai practice and they need drinks daily. Drive them to school. About 2-3 times a week Noboru will drive them versus me. Which helps me *a lot*. I meanwhile hang the laundry. Vacuum the downstairs. Wipe down the kitchen. Dust the kitchen blinds. Dust the living room. Swoosh the toilet downstairs. Then take a 10 minute break. Watching TV or checking email. I fill refreshed that 10 minutes recharges me. Then I go upstairs vacuum, swoosh one more toilet. Tidy any rooms need tidying. And I am done. usually I'll do a lot more. But an hour a day was my limit last week. It was the first week back and that was hard on me. Plus the fact I was about to start my period. I started last Wednesday btw. So yeah Monday and Tuesday found me dragging. I am happy I did an hour of cleaning Monday and Tuesday. I also prepped dinner, made rice and chopped everything just ready to go. But after that, about 2 hours total (1 hour of cleaning 1 hour of prepping dinner and folding dry laundry). I found myself resting on the couch Monday and Tuesday. Oh yeah Monday the boys got off at 11am. So when I brought them home, I made them lunch. Then they went outside to play and I laid down. I was just like I said, tired last week. First weeks back are always hard for me. Wednesday I did the same morning routine and I had a headache to top it off, which is rare for me (I only get like 1-2 headaches a year). I felt like I would be starting my TOM soon. I took an Advil. And sure enough by 10:30am same day, I started. I still managed 1 hour of cleaning, But after that. I laid down on the couch in my comfy house shorts tee shirt and a pony tail. I had a nice hot cup of tea. And just laid down on the couch for an hour and a half  until the Advil kicked in.Around 12;30, I started prepping dinner. I felt better with the Advil. And I just laid back down. I did the basics each day. Granted I didn't kick butt each day regarding the house cleaning *however* I did enough to not get behind so that's saying a lot also. And I made sure dinner was prepped and laundry was always done. Thursday I felt a lot better and I got my cleaning routine back to pretty much back to normal.


I remember sending my dad an email Thursday. "If I can just make it to Friday. Then I made it and I survived my first week back into my normal routine." So when Friday morning rolled around, I knew it was in the bag! The boys got back into the swing of things way better and faster then I did. : ) I didn't do fantastic granted, but I wasn't the worst either last week.


Now that Branden is in the 5th grade. Apparently 5th and 6th graders must stay late at our local school to prepare for undokai until 5pm! 5 days a week for 2 weeks in a row all last week and all this week. However a note was brought home saying if your child has any extra curricular activities they may go home early. Just call the school or send a note. Noboru wrote a note for Branden saying he goes to Kumon Monday and Thursday which yes he really does. : ) And he needs to get home at 3:45pm his regular time. So last Tuesday and Thursday he did that. I know Saya-chan has Kumon so she gets home early. The Jinbei boy does piano and juku so he's not staying after but like 1 day a week. Noboru said to me, why can't they do the practice during school time versus making the kids stay so late afterwards. I said I know, because I agree. : ) Oh well.  And Noah has to stay late every day also but his late means 3pm. Versus his usual 2:45pm. So not too much different since he's a first grader.

With the undokai practice and everyone staying late. The boys have been having a problem with running out of drinks. I pack them a thermos every morning with ice jasmine tea (no sugar) and Noah has been telling me "I run out before lunch." I said before lunch?@_@ I asked Branden when do you run out? He said, "before lunch!" Drink the water at school then, I said, practical me.; ) No it tastes gross, said Branden. @_@ "Oh geeze! Jiminey crickets!" I thought to myself! : ) Not to worry I assured them, mama will think of something. So, all last week I was packing 3 thermoses. 2 Mario Thermoses and 1 big silver metal thermos and they were then filling their Mario thermos with the drink from the bigger thermos. It seemed to be working okay-ish. However they were having another small problem because Branden couldn't run down to Noah's class for a refill when he needed one.... because there often wasn't time, when your class all marches off outside you can't just say "hold on a second let me go grab a refill I'll be right back" it doesn't really work that way. And same for Noah when he's doing the ichinensei practice for undokai it's hard for him to just run 2 flights of stairs while he needs to be outside walking in straight little rows and dancing to the Mickey Mouse theme. So yeah I could understand how refilling their drinks was a pain and time problem also. So I finally just said to myself, they just have to get 2 bigger thermoses and that's that! There just was no other way. Because more then likely they'll have the same problem next year also. So this problem needed to be nipped in the bud right now. Also if you have any idea how hot Japan has been it's been scorching hot. Like people getting overheated...heat exhaustion.....heat stroke you know what I mean. And with their extended times they are now outside for long lengths of time and I don't want them keeling right over either or becoming ill because of dehydration either. So the bigger thermos thing had to happen for our family, it just had to. : ) So, I thought back and remembered.... didn't I see a huge thermos for kids sports in the Nissen catalog? So, I went and looked sure enough it was in the Summer catalog.

Found this holds 1.8 liters. Liked the Mizuno one. However hated the price 2,480 yen. and for 2? That would be near 5,000 yen! I'm sorry that's just way too much for a thermos! So, I went to a few shops. I checked Besia, Trial. I checked all over. I liked this jug style also but again not for that price. Absolutely out of the question!  I ended up finding a Coleman one for 980 yen each! It's the same size as the Mizuno one exactly! And Coleman is famous for their cooler boxes and keeping things cold. Plus the Coleman one has a strap for carrying around where the Mizuno one does not! We could get 2 thermoses for cheaper then 1 of the Mizuno ones!

True, it might not be as flashy as the Mizuno tri color thermos. @_@ But it's not exactly brand x either. And it's the same size. And Coleman really is a nice brand and I like the gray countouring on the side they made for this, for kids to easily hold. For you Americans this is a half gallon size. So it is more then enough. And if this helps.... it also holds 1.8 liters. Technically 1.89L so even an extra sip to boot! ; )  Now I just hope it gets here from Amazon.co.jp in enough time for this coming Saturday's undokai. And it's a flip up and down drinking spout same as the Mizuno one 

Now it is Monday and this is the start of my 2nd week back into our school routine/schedule. Things are going great today so far. I did 2 loads of laundry and they're inside already and put away already. I cleaned the house pretty well today. And as soon as I post this I'm running to the store for some fresh veggies. Sara udon/chicken chow mein tonight. : ) Alrighty time to motor! : )

The busiest week I've had in a long time (work, observation day, undokai rehearsal, a Costco run) Randoseru bought, and a new level in Kumon

You ever have a week that's so busy, that it seems everyday you have a million things to do, that need to get done. And you frankly wonder, "will I survive this week?" That pretty much describes the week I just had last week. : ) On Monday, last Monday, after sending both Branden and Noah to school, one with an obento. I came home, hung laundry, cleaned the house for an hour. Then I went over my 2 lessons that I'd be teaching the next day. I went over them and over them saying them in the kitchen. After that, I had prepped dinner, set the timer on the rice, etc. And then went and did my afternoon pick ups. Dropped of both the boys at Kumon. Ran home started dinner, when my cell rang, it was the boys, they were done. I said, I'd be there in 5 minutes, they know not to leave the building until they see my tiny red car. Which is what they did. Ran back home, they got unpacked and I served dinner. After dinner Branden started in on his school homework. I meanwhile opened my lessons for the next day again. Went through them one more time. I sent the boys to shower, and pj's. And then they rested and watched TV. Noah has been watching TV upside down lately. : ) Noboru came home. Ate. Showered. Tuesday, I woke up, got dressed, put my makeup on. Flat ironed my hair. And put my work clothes on. Fixed breakfast, made obento. Noboru was to drop the both of them off, he was more then willing to. In fact he wanted to make Noah's obento, but Noah was worried about daddy's obento. : ) Poor Noboru. I did dress Noah in his gym uniform and packed him an extra shirt since it's undokai practice. And I left. I drove 1 hour to the hoikuen I teach at. Met my teaching partner in the parking lot, we went over the lesson. This particular school, we leave out the role play. Good morning-ed everyone as we walked in. The kids saw me...Gina sensei....Gina sensei! I waved and got all smiley. Went upstairs and we waited for the kids. They came in. Taught the younger class first. I pretty much rocked it! Went through vocabulary. Sang songs. Went through, the ol' "may I have your name please" which city do you live in?....do you have any brothers..do you have any sisters. Just the little things I go through which each kid, so they are comfortable answering and stuff. They left, I high fived everyone as they left the gymnasium where we teach at. Good bye..bye..see you...buh bye...bye, see you. I must say that 100 times a day at least. : ) Got ready for the next class. This went so well too. They're the older class, they're all very similiar to Noah's age. Half this class is 5 years old and half this class are 6 years old, so same as Noah's age. About 50 kids again. Went through the whole thing. At 11:15, it was over, high fived everyone all over again. Went downstairs, chit chatted with the principal as we usually do, my teaching partner and I. This particular principal. He LOVES America. I mean like really. He says he has tons of books on American culture you name it. And if it's American he has a book on it. He always wears an English T-shirt and this time his shirt read...Converse an American original. He loves the fact that he has an American teacher teaching there. This time, he wanted to talk about....the musical Wicked. We then spoke about the Wizard of OZ. Then the subject turned to Halloween. To Star Wars @_@ not sure how we ended up on that. Then to vampires. I have to be a jack of all trades chit chatting with the principals. Especially this guy. Last time he wanted to chat about...because of obon about to happen that time, he asked about how often I visit my family grave in the US. @_@ When I lived in Denver, how often did I visit. This guy is so interesting to talk to. Around 11:50am we left. I took off my sneakers slipped on my ballet shoes, waved to the principal. My teaching partner and I left, we walked to our cars. She drives a Prius. I hopped into my tiny red car and left. Went to the store. I picked up the miso pork. 60% of the time, I make my own miso pork, but if I'm busy like I was that day, I don't mind buying the kind at the store already marinated. Just makes my life easier. : ) Which I did. Picked up Noah. Noah, myself and the miso pork went into the house. I put the pork into the fridge. No laundry hung that day, so I did 1 load and used the dryer. Switched clothes. Put my hair into a pony tail. Vacuumed and that was it for that day. For dinner, we had miso pork, rice, veggie and the boys had miso soup. Noboru had a swing shift so he couldn't eat with us.
Every evening on the Foodies channel. How it's called here. Not to be confused with the Food Network in the US. Anyway, every night I have been watching.."Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Or something like that. They go all over the US. Find comfort food. Not fancy restaurants but good simple American home cooking type places. I love this show. And Mon-Fri, I always check at 8:30pm to see if it's on. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not. This was Rosie O'Donnell. She was eating there the morning this show was taping there.
The turkey, mashed potato and stuffing dinner.
They said, they roast 2 turkeys every day at this particular place. Yumm. The seasoning on the turkey looked so good.
Another restaurant, American style southern fried chicken. Yumm.
All the country side dishes. Homemade mac and cheese.
Wednesday, was the day we would run to Costco and do a few other errands in the Makuhari area. I was on a time crunch since I had to pick up both Branden and Noah. So, first thing that morning, I quickly made onigiri for Noah since it was onigiri day. Our Catholic yochien has onigiri day every other Wednesday, the lemon tea coin bank collects money and gives it to the less fortunate. They really do send money to different countries because they send letters to our yochien. I read the letters because they're in English and they do post them in the genkan at the school.
Ran to all the spots we had to beforehand. And at 12:30pm, we arrived at Costco. Noah gets out of school at 2pm. Thank goodness, we signed him up for Kagai that day. And he had a set play date to play with his best friend. So, he would play there until 3pm with his best friend. Noah does kagai about once every other week and plays with his buddy's. We still knew we had barely zero time to be at Costco. So, we looked ridiculous because we basically ran into the store, ran through the upstairs, took the escalator with huge cart downstairs and ran all over down in the basement level at Costco. Within 30 minutes or way less we left. Felt like in 5 minutes. : ) 1 Halloween pumpkin. The pumpkins never really look all that fresh to me. I know it's the best they can do, they are brought all the way from America. But many at the store had moldy tops. I usually buy 2, but the looks of these, I bought just 1.
1 box of waffles.
Pasta sauce and dinner rolls.
Popcorn.
And a pizza for dinner.
We picked up Noah at 3pm. Barely barely made it. We just live too far and that's even with the highway and the expensive toll fee. Branden got out at 3:45pm, so we went directly from yochien to the Plaza with food still in the car. It was raining buckets. After all that running around we were exhausted. However Noah had swimming. We quickly put everything away. And after swimming we came home whacked this pizza in the big oven and had dinner. Quick dinner that night. After showers. I let the boys take the first bath of the Fall season. They soaked and I heard them playing upstairs in the tub, singing and splashing. I meanwhile was going through all the things I had to do the following day. I was asleep by 10pm every night last week.
Also can't leave out Noah. Noah passed a test in English reading and writing at Kumon. He is now a level D. Which is quite high.
We work quite hard on their studies. I work on the English with them here at home all the time. I read to them nightly. They each have an English workbook. That is made by teachers and it's a full years curriculum. It does science in English, American history in English...math... verbs, adjectives. homophones. You name it, Branden's learned it. And Noah is learning it. Plus the English Kumon, and I love it because they get to study English and see others study it too. It's all self study so at each persons pace. But seeing others do English is positive for them. And just because I'm an American doesn't automatically mean they'll be English natives like me. But they are....they are 100% bilingual. Speaking, reading, writing. Little American accents the whole shebang. So, I must be doing something right. : )
And he didn't just pass, like barely. He passed 100% out of 100!!! Right on Noah, and yes we are proud of you! Rightfully so!
These are the bath powders I picked. From different famous onsens. The boys enjoyed the hot bath Wednesday. But, I waited until after getting through Thursday. I knew Thursday would be my most busy day. So a hotbath here at home was my reward to myself for Thursday.
Thursday morning. Made breakfast times 2. Made obento for one. Got myself ready. Flat ironed my hair, makeup, got dressed. And ready for working/helping out at Noah's yochien. The oldest class is the sakura-gumi/class. Then we have bara and yuri-gumi.
The kids giving speeches to start off the undokai this year. 1 red hat/1 white hat from the oldest class this year and Noah was picked!!! : ) He's been practicing his speech for 2 weeks now. Bless his heart. I was so proud.
He's also the one leading the entire school in the taiso/exercise. One white hat, that's Noah and 1 red hat will lead the entire school. Yes, Noah is really in the undokai a lot this year as a lead role! Which means he is definitely a good kid! Again, I was so proud.
I saw the entire undokai rehearsal. @_@ I saw the teeny tiny class do their dance number and clapped. Saw the middle class do theirs, clapped cheered. Saw the oldest class, the Sakura class do theirs and I also cheered and clapped. I talked to many mothers.
Then the final race of the year. The one everyone looks forward to all year long!!!! The entire school relay. From youngest to gradually the oldest class. Who is closing this year? Well, if you see the white sash Noah is wearing you'll know he is the anchor for the entire school's white team. Yeah talk about pressure right? Wink wink. : ) At 11:05am, the undokai rehearsal was finished, but they were lingering talking. They all knew I had to get to my town for Branden's observation day. So, I threw on my necklace name tag for our town. Ran to Noah, he knew beforehand though...I said, "mommy has to go to Branden's school now" told a few mom's good bye. And I hopped in my car and quickly got myself to my tiny town. I keep a pair of slippers in my car at all times. So, I grabbed my slippers, with name badge around my neck, parked my car, ran up the hill to Branden's elementary school. Signed my name and ran up 2 flights of stairs.
The boy next door in the red long sleeve top. And Branden in the navy top in front. Branden's favorite subject is math, so he asked me to show up for that particular class.
I watched the math class for the entire class from start to when the bell rang. Branden smiled at me twice, I smiled at the boy next door, a fast wave at Daisuke, and A-chan. I was there. I made it! I went to work that week. I ran to Costco that week. I took the kids to Kumon, Noah to swim club. I managed to make obento daily. Make breakfast daily, and dinner every evening. I showed up for the undokai rehearsal, and I even showed up for Branden's observation day. I did everything I was supposed to do last week. Granted I did not clean the house as much as I usually do during a usual week. I also didn't work out but twice last week either. : ( *But*...I survived the week and that's the silver lining. I did not let anyone down, not my kids, not the yochien, nor my kids I teach. Seriously, I should have high fived myself. : ) After leaving Branden's school. I went home, prepped for dinner. Then swung back to the city to pick up Noah, then went all the way back to pick up Branden. Back and forth, back and forth. : ) Then dropped the both of them off at Kumon. At this point, I was beat/tired, flat out pooped. Brought them home. emailed my dad....I said, "I survived...I have seriously bloodshot eyes, but I made it. : ) Now I am going to make dinner." I made dinner. They ate, Branden did homework. They showered. And you know while they sat watching TV relaxing. I went upstairs. Tied my hair up. Quickly showed, washed my makeup off, soaped my body and rinsed. I then set the bath. The thing I had been longing for. Looking forward to. A long hot soak with some bath powder. Bliss.


In other news. Noah's randoseru, has been bought. Randoseu are the Japanese backpacks that kids in elementary school use and carry. They are quite expensive. You can pick, leather or something that looks like leather. The one thing most people worry about is, the weight of the backpack. Real leather can be very heavy for kids especially when you also add the books. The ones that look like leather, always show how heavy the backpack is when you buy. Because the weight of it, is a concern. Also if you choose real leather you will have to take care of the leather, conditon the leather etc. Which if you don't mind. That's fine. The ones that look like leather are, waterproof and with living in a typhoon prone country and moldy country, we picked nonleather for Branden. It was handmade, just as pricy as real leather but we've loved it. Branden's we bought in October or November of his last year of yochien. When the school sent out the catalog. Now this time around, the yochien gave us 4 yochien backpack catalogs at the end of July. Took me off guard wasn't expecting the catalogs that soon. Noboru's coworkers, , 2 of his coworkers have kids Noah's age. They both said they bought their randoseu in August??? @_@ It was a cheaper time of year, they said. Yadayada. I did not buy in August. Noboru suggested we do. But I wondered would I buy last years model? Not that it matters but.... Hmm. I held out. Though I was looking. I knew the particular color I wanted for Noah. And the style. I looked for month's. I found 3. 1 was real leather. Noboru said, please don't pick real leather it's going to be a real pain if we get that, you'll see. I sort of agree. So, that one was out. I kept debating the last 2. And finally we picked. We picked Noah's randoseru mid September, it is the 2012 model, the new ones came out in September. It is SO cute! It is handmade, being made in Osaka. Will be shipped here to our home at the end of October. We've been getting weekly emails from the company making it. On the progress of Noah's backpack.

So, all in all, we've just been so busy. Especially all of last week. Superly busy. The mini hot bath at home, was so appreciated by me last Thursday night. : ) Another thing that kept me going, was the thought of our trip to Hakone. And the Disneyland trip. Work hard... play equally hard, right? I kept thinking...you'll pull through and next week you can soak and not have a care in the world. That very thought kept me going strong. : )

Last week. Branden's observation day and swimming school. Noah's undokai rehearsal and dashi pull!

I'm getting a touch behind blogging and I don't want it to snowball. So, this post is everything from last week. Last Monday late night we got back from Guam. And this pic is from Tuesday. After the kids got home from school Tuesday. And Noah got back from swim school. Yep, he's been switched now to Tuesdays. Anyway we bbq'ed after swim school. While we barbecued, the boys played soccer.

As you can see, this was a 2 ball soccer match, they had going! ; ) Oh the games they come up with!

Some country style baked beans.

And done. We had 4 slabs total. 1 rack per person. Baked potatoes and baked beans. A simple meal Tuesday. Tuesday was nice, not too busy.

This was my serving but everyone else had the same. Noah devoured his slab. As did Branden and the hubby as well.

Wednesday morning. I hung out a whole load of wash as usual, this time everything orange. The day before I did another full load of everything green. I usually don't do laundry in colors like that. But we had enough for a full load just one color. And I wanted all the Fall/Winter stuff washed up and placed in the boys closets. Branden's gym uniform on the right. And Noah's uniforms, behind B's. Last Wednesday, productive, not stressful though. Itw as a great day.

Wednesday evening after school the boys friends came over. Man these kids are popular! They hung out in the back for a while. Then they hung out in the front for a while and then they all went playing at the park in our housing community. A 1 minute walk along the walk/pathways. Meanwhile I made dinner.

Thursday, looked somewhat busy, by the looks of my calendar. But I had no idea how absolutely exhausted I'd feel by the night. I started with making obento for Noah that morning. Our yochien you can have school lunch and bring home obento twice a week only. Or you can bring homemade obento every.single.day. With Branden, I had only 1 school aged kiddo, Noah was still a babe. So, making Branden obento everyday was doable. When it was Noah's time to start yochien. Noboru suggested I let Noah have school lunch for the most of the week to relieve me of making it daily. However, Noah watches everything and sees everything and remembers when his brother was in yochien. Noah's first semester as a yellow badge, he had school lunch and also home obento twice a week. Noah often told me, I wish I could bring home lunch everyday. And I'd listen and say yes, yes I know honey. And then....this was last year by the way. Noah said to me in the kitchen in a very sad voice. "How come, you could make Branden a homemade obento everyday when he was in yochien and you don't do that for me?" OMG! I was stunned and left speechless. And I didn't really realize how it had hurt my son. And though I could not change it until the end of that semester. I did switch it. And so, when Noah was a yellow badge for the first semester he had school lunch/home lunch combo. And since then, red badge and now as a pink badge. I do make Noah's obento every.single day. Now matter how busy I am. Because I don't ever want him to feel short changed for being youngest. @_@ So yes, I do make obento everyday. And no, it's not because I'm supermom. ; ) And it's not because our yochien doesn't have the option of a school lunch. It's because it matters to my son and if it matters to Noah, then it matters to me. : ) So anyway..... where was I?

Oh yes, it was last Thursday morning. I had just made Noah's quick obento that morning. And I also had the pork in the crock pot for niku jaga that night. Got Branden sent to school that morning... came back and got Noah dressed. And then while he watched Tom and Jerry and the Pink Panther on the Cartoon Network, I got myself dressed. I had to be at Noah's yochien for a sports day rehearsal that morning. Meanwhile Noboru was meeting Branden at school for his first and second class. Branden had observation day (and yes I would be showing up later in the day too). And Noah had undokai rehearsal, SAME DAY! Too bad there isn't 2 of me. ; ) I am lucky that Noboru could be there for Branden's first 2 classes. Noboru watched Branden's math class and PE/gym class. Meanwhile Noah and I arrived to the yochien by 9am. I made sure he got into his class with his little obento that morning. And right away us mother's were busy. First of all, field day in the US and how it's done here is really different. So let me try to explain. 2 weeks ago, we were all given a note, "can you help at the yochien sports day?" For the most part the only ones who say no are the ones who have younger kids and no extended family there to help watch the young ones. So no one expects them to help, it's very understandable. Now for the rest, it's pretty much expected/hoped to help. Even if every mom takes just 1 event, you can pretty much enjoy the rest. And they try to get you an event your child isn't in, so that helps. Such as the red badges mom's will do the pink badge races and vice versa. That way we can all enjoy the events our kids are actually in. Last year for example, I helped in the grandma/grandpa ball toss. And the blue badges ball toss. That was perfect because I wasn't missing anything. Noriko-san arranged that last year and she did a beautiful job how she arranged that. This year it seems every thing's all messed up. For starters last Thursday, they had all the mother's who are actually helping stand to the right. And all the mom's not helping stand way on the left. And no it wasn't to front them off or anything like that, lol. We were having a meeting is why. And had thick papers of the order of events to deal with etc. Anyway it seems like 20 or so mom's aren't helping this year (and this bunch didn't have any younger siblings or baby brothers or sisters nor did they have full time jobs, those would have been good valid reasons of course). So, the ones of us actually helping are now having to work 2 and 3 freaking events. And for many of us, first time ever.... we are now going to miss events our kids are in. I am working 3 events this year, thank you very much! And I will now be missing my own child do the ball toss! I am also going to be helping hand out the medals this year at the end. Therefore I will also miss seeing my son get that sweet medal placed around his neck! Honestly? To be frank about it.....I think this sucks! If more mothers lent a hand, we wouldn't be having this problem. And now because of this.....I doubt I will agree to help next year for undokai. What a cycle, I know, but hey I'm human. I may change my mind in 12 month's time. But I tell you. fair is fair and unfair is unfair. And yes I am steamed. And yes I want to see my sweet lovely Noah run and also get his medal etc. So as of right now...I will not be signing the yes box for next year. I also do not think I am the only one feeling steamed either. Because we were given a revision sheet of all the events because some mom wanted a change. Smart mom, whoever she is! So, anyway, us helping mom's, did the rehearsal. The non helping mom's watched and looked on. Watching their kids last Thursday. Jogo-san and I are doing all 3 events together basically. So, she is working just as hard as me and will be missing her daughter's events too. Anyway, last Thursday, we worked our butts off. We ran through the whole undokai. The blue badge class is doing a cool, 50's type rock and roll number! I saw Noah's dance as well, he is wearing an orange color. His best friend H is wearing green. They all did really good. 1 helping mother could not be there for the practice last Thursday, which is more then fine, hey at least she's helping.... so they needed a stand in and so I stood in for her, which was fine. And so, I stood crouched down as the blue badges raced. By the time we were done last Thursday, I was physically exhausted. Up down, up down, crouch crouch. The red balls go out of the white circle swoop them up, and I was moving all over like a dork collecting the red balls throwing them back inside the white lines. 11:45am is when we were done. We finished, they gave us a green tea for helping in a can. And I drove home. Arrived home around 12:10pm. Noboru was just about to leave but he told me about Branden's gym class etc. I meanwhile told Noboru an earful about the sports practice. Meanwhile I was chopping up the onion. The 2 pork loins were now fall apart tender since they were in the crock pot since the night before. I added the onion, potatoes. Set the rice cooker. Then I left and went to go pick up Noah from school. With Kumon bags and swim bags in hand. Picked up Noah, and we immediately drove to Branden's school. By now it's 2pm. I ran into the school. With pink badge safety pin....that says Noah such and such.... pinned to my khaki shorts (all helpers at the yochien needed to wear their child's name badge so we know who's who) and I didn't have time to take it off during the busy day, so I had a pink badge on my shorts and a name badge around my neck for B's school. I parked the car, Noah and I ran into the school. The secretary at Branden's school always speaks to me in English, I'm not sure why, but that's fine. She said, all the kids are in the gymnasium. I thanked her and ran down the hall getting to the gym. And sure enough the whole school was in there. It had just started so we quietly sat down Noah and I.

There was a clown performance for the final class. Not a whole bunch of kids by the picture but this is the whole school, all 6 grades. One little girl sitting near Branden spotted Noah and I, and she said..."hey your mom's here" and so Branden turned around and looked at me. And he knew I was there. ; )

I made it.....I was there for both kids, both schools, 1 day. It was a bit busy last Thursday, I was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, a few times that day. But at least my boys know.... I will always be there, no matter what. I personally enjoyed the clown performance. I found them quite funny and entertaining. Granted I was a bit tired, and if I would have closed my eyes I might have fallen asleep, but the clowns did keep me awake. ; ) Noah completely enjoyed this.

The clowns, walked on stilts, the girl clown, rode a unicycle and jump roped at the same time. The guy in the pic up above, stuffed himself inside a big yellow balloon. That was sorta wild and weird. It definitely kept me awake. ; ) And then school was over. And from school to Kumon. I meanwhile raced home. Got the tender pork, and onions and potatoes from the crock pot and transferred the stuff from crock pot to pan on the stove. Added some frozen green beans on top. The green beans steamed right away, since everything else was hot. And I covered it with a lid. Picked up the kids and we left swimming. Noah rested and played with his friend upstairs. Branden chatted with Kei-chan in the pool. And I chatted with some of my yochien mom friends. Both from B's era of yochien and the ones from Noah's time of yochien. A mother that was there at the sports rehearsal, "otskara-sama-ed me. And I did the same. I chatted briefly with Reiko-san and Taito-kun's mama. These are my mom friends from Branden's era of yochien. They said...wow did Noah get big!!! And it was nice catching up again.

Thank goodness dinner was made with help of my crock pot.

And by now, I sat and sat. And as the time says it was indeed 6:15pm. Kids were fine. It was me that was run completely ragged. I sat there and we arrived home at 7pm!

Branden's meanwhile refreshed, chatting with Keita in the white cap in front of B. By now I have a splitting headache. And just thinking about how I was up from 5:30am that morning, obento, 1 kid here, 1 kid with me there. The sports rehearsal. Cooking here and there. Branden's observation. Kumon and swim club, it's no wonder I felt frazzled. And no usually not everything piles up like that. But makeup swimming days had to be pinched in there somewhere. And it just happened to all pile up for me, on 1 day. How I didn't drop dead of a heart attack last Thursday I'll never know. At the end of swimming, Kei-chan could not find his DS game! He was frantic. In the genkan of the school. The secretary called him over....what did you lose? He didn't run to her for help, he ran to me for help instead! No I'm not kidding. Perhaps he knows me more. Perhaps he's always at our house that could be why. Perhaps he hurt himself 2 years ago and knocked on my door for a hug? Yes I'm not kidding a hug, yeah it surprised me too at first. But hug I did. LOL. So, anyway while I am waiting for B to get changed. He's all frantic. I can't find my DS. I said..just calm down, where was it? It was in my bag he said. Okay, let's go through your bag, one by one to see if we can find it. If we don't find it by the end, then you can get freaked out..how's that? deal? : ) He said yes deal. So, as the secretary looked on and a few mom's looked on, K-chan and I went through his swim bag. And sure enough at the bottom of the bag, there it was! Relief! See? I said. Not to worry. Oh thank you he said. And off he went. He takes the swim bus. So, he went to catch the swim bus. ; ) Branden came out and we went home. Though he usually takes the swim bus now too.

Branden swimming on video, just a random day at swim school. But this kid swims back and forth... back and forth. 50 meters. For an hour and a half. He gets good exercise and gets to socialize with his friends. We went home after swim school. Branden unloaded all his bags at home, both the boys did. And I warmed up the nikujaga. I was exhausted, pooped, spent. Whatever you wanna call it. The boys and I ate. They went up to shower. Got in their jammies. And they watched some TV before bed. I went up and read them a bed time story. And after that, I put the dishes into the dishwasher. And I went upstairs, pinned up my hair. And I took a shower and then I soaked in the hot bath. Japanese baths can stay hot/warm at the same temperature. So, I had my bath set at real hot. And I soaked in there for like an hour. By now, Noboru came home. He ate the dinner I left for him. I told him all about my day. And he told me all about his. We talked and then he went into the shower. I meanwhile, sat on the couch. Just vegging out. Boy did I deserve it too. I just laid there. Surfing the channels. I think I went to bed around 10pm-ish. Man what a day, what a day. Every once in a while, a person gets a crazy busy day like that right? Mine was last Thursday.

Last Friday. Sent Branden to school. Breakfast beforehand of course. And Friday for Noah would be a half day. Because the Fall festival was starting that day. So the pink and blue badge classes got to pull the dashi/rope in the morning just for fun. Noah was a red badge last year so this was his first time.

This is the dashi.

My amazing husband, he was able to go along, his schedule just fit. And I didn't ask him to go, but he went. And I really appreciated it.

The kids sat in between dashi pulls a few times to take breaks : )

So now it was 11am or so. And Noboru suggested we go to the food court at the "farmer's market" so we did. This sign says, if you say..."trick or treat" they'll give you something good to eat. ; )

We ordered a pizza from there, and Noah went up there and said..."trick or treat" and got this treat. ; )

Noah and I shared this pizza for lunch.

Noboru had udon.

Noah eating his lunch.

After lunch last Friday, the 3 of us went to do the weekly shopping. Bags of veggies, meats, drinks and whatnot. And some green apple popsicles, garigari and some strawberry shortcake icecream cups. For desserts for the week.

Noah brought home a bag of treats for participating in the dashi pull. I was so thankful for last Friday. I kept thinking...TGIF! I was really looking forward to the weekend. I greatly needed to recharge my batteries after all that. My week last week. Not bad, Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday, pretty great actually. Thursday was for the birds. ; ) Granted it's over with and I'm not nearly as upset about how the undokai, will go down. Sure, I'll be working 3 events. Sure not as many mother's pitched in to help as they should have. But, I can't change other people and I know that. Thank gawd, I know that. All I can do is change the way I react in a given situation. Last Thursday I might have been steamed about it. But this week, I'm over it. It is...what it is. I want Noah to have one of the most fantastic and fun undokai's. And so he is completely unaware of all the stuff behind the scenes. And I'm glad for that. I will do the 3 events I am supposed to do, and with a smile. A sincere smile because..this is for my son, so that's why I'm doing this! Type smile. And I know my kids will be proud. Anyway the undokai is this coming Oct 17th, Sunday. And yes my MIL will be here for it. : ) I am still unsure if I will sign up to help for next years undokai mind you. We'll see how I feel next year. ; )