American Idol started for us in Japan last weekend. A bit behind the US, I know, but better late then never. Love this show and it didn't disappoint. Posh/Victoria Beckham was a guest judge and she was absolutely lovely. She's really a kind person and I really enjoyed her as a guest judge. 
This guy trying to ham it up a bit!
Simon.
Victoria Beckham.
Last Friday, Branden brought home this stuff for me to use Monday morning. I did this last year too so I am assuming this is going to be a once a year thing at our school? I did this last year and was supposed to do this for his 2nd grade year as well. Perhaps there's not a lot of people at this school and that's why we have to do it more often, I don't know. I was a bit caught off guard, sure last year, I recall hearing I would have to do this Feb 2010 sometime but that was a whole year away andI didn't write it down. A whole year later and it was for this past Monday. From 7am to 7:30 am Monday morning. Doesn't matter, if I had obento to make and another younger child to get sent off to yochien and the mother's luncheon to get ready for (same day) isn't that always how it goes though?! ; ) So I did it all this past Monday morning. Busy as all heck, but I did it. Monday morning, got B sent to school, went and stood along the road down the hill someplace and wore my bright yellow sash and greeted all the kids "good morning" in Japanese. Waves the yellow flag. The weather was indeed freezing. Keita-kun's mom and I stood there chatting for 30 minutes in between our greetings to the kids. And at 7:30am, I was gone lickety split. Ran home. Noboru had made Noah his breakfast already, my awesome hubby. I quickly made his obento, ran him upstairs and got him dressed and since I had no chance to get ready yet since I was standing out along the street greeting kids all morning. Noboru drove Noah to yochien, meanwhile I had a chance to have a cup of hot coffee, and do my hair, put my makeup on. Get dressed. I wore a black shift dress and a bright pink cardigan and black tights and black ballet flats. And before I knew it, I was leaving to the mother's luncheon. The restaurant was Japanese and it was really pretty and somewhat fancy. Definitely a nice place to have lunch. There were 21 mother's total, I think. And the whole, "each person having to get up and say something part" that I was worried about. Didn't happen. Well it almost happened. And then it didn't. See it started at the opposite table I was in. I was sorta just wanting to get it over with otherwise the build up to it would be almost unbearable. So anyway it started on the table opposite of me. The first lady stood up introduced herself. As expected I could hear my own heart beat in my own ears. Boomboom, boomboom boomboom. And then as luck would have it. One mother was MIA. Yup she was missing. An empty plate.... a message found from the missing mother to someones cell. Had actually stopped the "mother's intro" Oh dear god, thank you thank you I thought. I thought maybe it was karma or what have you. And didn't wanna question it. We ate comfortably and everyone chatted. These mother's are very kind, very very kind. And I'm really lucky I have them as friends. When the dessert finally came round, I wondered if the mother's introduction would start up again but it oddly didn't. For whatever reason I totally lucked out. So the mother's luncheon was just a nice way to meet the entire red badge class and sit and eat with them. Monday all in all was a good one. I was a bit busy in the morning with the whole standing along the road and greeting kids in the AM, But that actually was sorta cool. I was a bit busy getting Noah ready for yochien but Noboru totally jumped in and lent a hand. I was a bit worried about the mother's intro but that didn't happen. It was a busy Monday, but a very cool Monday at that. I also got to watch some of the first quarter of the Superbowl too before I left to the mother's luncheon. Noboru watched the entire Superbowl, lucky! ; )
Getting to enjoy the first quarter of the Super bowl Monday morning. Superbowl Sunday was actually early Monday morning for us in Japan.
The small order for Branden arrived from Gap/Old Navy.
Two pairs of shorts for Branden.
We are huge Denver Bronco fans at our house. I grew up watching football. Noboru has been a fan since he was an exchange student in Denver at age 16. Our kids love watching football games. When I saw Old Navy sells football stuff, I bought the boys the Broncos long sleeve tops.
Two shirts for B. Just like I said, we buy a little here and a little there and by the time Summer or late Spring rolls around we're ready. ; )
Have been waiting with anticipation for the Hills season 5 to start in Japan. And it did and I've been happy as a clam since American Idol and the Hills new seasons started.
I like Lauren on the show and to watch their friendship somewhat end was pretty sad.
What else did we do this week? We made some truly wicked tostadas. They were so seriously yumm! Bean and beef.
On Wednesday, the kids had a mock or pretend shopping day. All the "pretend things" were made by the students or the teachers. Hamburg set.
Tendon and norimaki
So creative!
So creative! 
You know it's funny, but I recall when B went here and had the same "pretend" shopping day too.
So many cool things. Meanwhile Noah putting his things away in his little area.
Radios.
Cakes.
The big ticket items ; ) ; )
Man I love their uniforms for this yochien. So cute.
Noah and his best pal Chi-chan. They were playing kori-oni.
Hi kiddo!
Each child got pretend money and got to purchase whatever they wanted. Here's Noah's wallet with his name on it and the things he purchased. A guitar, the hamburg set, ramen and a few other things.
These are the boys portions for dinner one night this week. Branden's the big yellow and white plate now, yup his portions have increased big time. He's a growing boy. And Noah's portions are still good for his size. The salads they had with goma dressing, chicken cutlet, rice, veggie.
My portions, and boy was I starving this night. Hubby had tonkatsu. We all enjoyed dinner that night.
How have we been keeping busy? This past weekend, our family played the board game Sorry! And that was some family fun! And we've also been playing the car racing game as a family. We all take turns between us 4. It's fun and we all have a ball trying to race each other on the game. Hope everyone had a great weekend! : )
Last Saturday, after the boys played with their friends in our backyard. And long after we had dinner. I went into the attic and pulled out the 2 big boxes of 5T clothing I had stored away nicely in plastic boxes. The 6 and 7 year old stuff is up there and waiting already. Anyway I usually go through the boxes of clothes first and then order whatever is needed for Noah. Branden meanwhile being the oldest, we buy all his stuff since he has no older sibling obviously. However last year. Not quite sure if I was having a brain fart or what. But I did not go up into the attic first like I usually do. And I ordered things for Noah online at Gap and Old Navy etc. And then when I did finally go into the attic last Spring, I ended up with double or triple of the same thing and I was slightly annoyed with myself for not checking the attic like I usually do first. So, this year, I remembered to check the attic first and surely I did.
Cargo jean shorts in 5T and a yellow surf motif polo top from Gap. They are selling a polo with surf motif eerily similar to this one in the older boys section at Old Navy this year and I bought it for Branden. And the quality and condition of Noah's is like new. So they'll have similar shirts this year. So the style's still current and Noah's was free since it used to belong to B.
What we do between picture takes. Laugh! I make jokes and kid with the kids and they laugh. So while I am trying to see what fits and what doesn't, what he has and what I need to buy. We are having a ball while doing this.
Excellent condition and so cool Noah can get usage from this gorgeous shirt. And the cargo shorts a total score too.
Yay for this polo sweatshirt, very preppy Noah. ; )
Man, I remember buying this for B at the Colorado outlet.
Noah has a robe of his own already but this one is cool too.
Such finds. Pretty happy because these are still in style, in fact they're still selling shorts like this this year. And now Noah has them and they're still perfect condition.
Loved this tee so much when we picked this out for B a few years back. So glad Noah gets to use this and wear this. Basically kids just grow so darn fast that it just makes sense to share clothes between Branden and Noah.
So many overalls found.
All the shorts found in 5T. Jean shorts, khaki shorts, cargo shorts, overalls (found a 3rd pair in the 2nd box after I took this pic). Stripes shorts, patchwork shorts. Don't need to buy Noah a pair of shorts this year.
Size 110, still remember buying these at Chiba Newtown.
Swimming trunks. Nice to have a spare set.
House shorts/play shorts. Plus the orange pair and rugby pairs Noah already has upstairs already. So no need to buy any house shorts for him this year. Again of course we could buy him a whole new Spring/Summer set but why. Just doesn't make sense especially since Branden's are still like new and the styles are still current
I recall buying these at the Gap outlet in Denver, they were just a couple bucks each. Felt like I saved money buying them at the outlet for B, and feel really happy Noah gets to wear them now.
So many shirts. And this isn't even half of them.
This is the shirt Noah tried on with the patchwork shorts up above. Just a basic white Gap tee.
The Ralph Lauren stuff Noah, can still get plenty of usage from.
A nice winter coat for next year of course.
A few of the sweatshirts he has in the boxes.
A raincoat in size 6 and a white Gap windbreaker in size 5.
Pj's.
And because he's not a total hand me down kiddo. We do buy him new stuff here and there. Wish I wouldn't have pick up these overalls, as I found 3 pair. But oh well, I'm human. All in all, Noah is doing excellent in Spring and Summer stuff this year. Branden meanwhile, I have placed 2 orders for B at Gap/Old Navy so far. One got here already and one has just been shipped. I also bought myself a cute 3/4 length sleeve black cardigan from Gap online and a pair of black flip flop slippers from Old Navy for all the yochien meetings and shogako meetings I attend. Anyway getting ready in bits for the boys and myself for the warmer weather.
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