My dad's visit was fantastic! Here's a picture of my dad doing the trick of his finger being in 2 (obviously it's just a bent finger and really two fingers ; ) Branden knew that old trick already but Noah believed it and sat in absolute wonderment of what grandpa could do! ; )
My dad and the boys and I played the board game, Sorry! Noah and I were unfortunately the bottom 2 players. My dad and Branden battled it out for first place and in the end my dad won! It was so much fun! When we knock someones pawn out of the game with a Sorry! card, you have to say..... you're Sorry! And we said Sorry! Quite a few times, laughing and carrying on. We had a lot of fun playing board games while my dad was here!
Another day, while the kids were in school. I drove the hubby and my dad to Narita city. Which is a bit of a drive. I had to go there because I needed some graduation cards for some of my girlfriends kids' at the yochien that are graduating this year. I could have bought them at a place closer, but I was hoping to find the best selection for graduation cards/"soon to be ichinensei cards" for my friends so that's why I drove so far just to get graduation cards.
And on our way out. My dad had loved the coconut coffee so much he actually bought a few boxes, which is what he is carrying in the Aeon bag. He packed it away in his suitcase to bring home when he left. I was glad my dad liked the coconut coffee so much.
I needed 5 cards. And I looked and I looked and I thought these 2 were the cutest out of all the cards, I saw. I also picked up a fruit container (Pokemon) for Noah for when school resumes in April.
This card sorta pops out and I loved it.
This one was a pop out card too and the backpack flips up and has writing on it and I loved this one too. And yup, I realized the 5 cards were indeed to all girls. I didn't realize that until I saw the little boy graduation cards/"happy ichinensei cards" and realized, hmm, I need 5 for girls. ; ) I filled them all out during an afternoon last week. With a really cool silverish blue pen. And handed the most of them out on the day we went to Noah's olympic ceremony, last Thursday. The last 2, I handed out on Friday. Manner wise, I knew, giving the cards should be done. They're my good friends that I see every day, every week while at the yochien or when we go out to lunch as friends or to movies and whatnot, and their kids are graduating. Plus I love giving cards anyway. That's always a nice thing to receive. And plus it makes the kids happy. I remember Branden got a good amount of graduation cards/"happy ichinensei cards" from my yochien mom friends. So it was my turn to do the same. All the mom's were happy getting them and I was happy to give them. : )
What else? Oh yeah remember that shuji set all the parents had to order for the upcoming new 3rd graders? Well, and remember that school meeting for B's last observation day? Well, before I begin let me just say, if you've ever seen the beautiful Japanese calligraphy. And it honestly is gorgeous. But anyway that ink stains like nobodies business! Like would never ever ever come out type jet black ink!!!! @_@ Oh yeah! Okay so anyway, someone at the meeting asked the Yuka-sensei. "Is it okay for their kid to wear a smock for when they do the calligraphy? And the Yuka-sensei being her nice and practical self, said, I don't see why not. She has a kid the same age, he'll be a 3rd grader this year too. She knows how accidents happen with paints and whatnot. So she said why not. They also said the school knows how badly the ink stains, so the school decided to make it mandatory for all kids to wear their gym uniform during calligraphy time as to not ruin their regular clothes. And yup their gym shirt is white, yikes! At that point, another mother thankfully chimed in! But those gym uniforms are SO expensive! Boy is she right! She isn't whistling dixie about that!!!! Yes they are, I chimed in!!!! Everyone nodded. So someone said what about we send them with an old t-shirt. Good idea. Said someone. And then....so what was decided is the kids can bring either an old t-shirt or a smock or whatever you want. Okay so now you're up to date on that talk during the meeting. Anyway so when I was at the mall last week, buying graduation cards, I checked the price of smocks for bigger kids. And guess what I found? Well for starters most smocks only go up to a size 120cm. Great for yochien kids, but not going to do the 3rd graders a bit of good. Then I priced some fabric at the Aeon too. For what I needed, the cost would have been somewhat high. Plus would need elastic for the wrist area and whatnot. Plus the time to whip one up, hmm what to do, what to do. So, I decided to look on the web. So many places have for younger age kids, but finding for older kids proved nearly impossible, same thing I noticed when I was at the Narita mall. I found 1 place that had up to a size 140cm. And that one was 3,800 yen. Nearly $40 bucks, can you believe that or what! I searched high and low last week. Noboru jumped in and searched too and he found this. They go up to a size 170cm. So they have for the big kids even way older then Branden, which is rare. And the price was cheap. They have light blue, pink and denim. We ordered Branden the denim one in 150cm. It will be baggy yes, but it will last a whole year and he can wear it over his regular clothes and stuff.
580 yen for members and 840 yen for non members. An unbelievable price. I was quite thrilled to have found it. I'm gonna make about 3 copies/print outs of what I found and info share with a couple of the elementary school mom's that I'm friends with just in case. I mean if they can use the info great, if they can't no worries from me either. Either way. Glad I tracked them down. And again slowly getting the kids ready to transition to their new classes and grades for April.
Also, my dad went and watched Noah swim. I think that was last Tuesday.
Noah getting some instruction from one of the coaches.
Go Noah, go!!! : )
Also during last week, my dad played with his grandchildren in the backyard. Here's a pic of Noah chasing grandpa.
Still playing kori-oni. Here Noah was the oni and my dad was using B as a shield. Ha ha ha. Just in fun and boy they played like crazy out there.
And taking a kori-oni break!
Then they switched to soccer. Noah is getting quite good with Branden's help. Meanwhile my dad was standing in the back just soaking in the view. Hmmm, everyone that ever comes here likes to stand in that same similar spot. ; ) Remember my MIL in December? She stood there too. And Jun last Summer. I think that's just the soaking in the view, spot. Ha ha ha.
OMG! Noah, grandpa's got the soccer ball, he's gonna play dodgeball with you now......run kiddo! Run!
You're out! ; )
Run!
Who is Branden going to hit with the ball now that it's his turn! Run, Noah, run dad! ; )
And taking a time out, grandpa checking for a rock in Branden's shoe. And then all okay.
Branden smiling and just playing around with grandpa still.
Noah brought these home last week or the week before but I keep forgetting to put them up.Hinamatsuri dolls. He made them. And I must point out the girl doll has great big western eye balls. And the boy doll has a more of an Asian or Japanese eye. Is it because he thinks, mommy's are western and daddy's are Japanese? ; ) In any case.... I thought it was cute. And I have already saved this in Noah's big plastic box of yochien things I am saving for him.
The rental dvd's came last week. The Time Traveler's Wife and Orphan (in Japan Orphan is called Esther though ; ) We watched Orphan while my dad was here. Noboru, my dad and I, after the kids went to sleep. Scary! But a good movie. The other DVD we will watch maybe tonight. We still haven't had a chance to see it.
My dad went with me to drop off B every morning at school. And he went with me to drop off Noah every morning last week as well. And he even walked Noah to his classroom, Monday-Thursday. He is a very proud grandpa. ; )
Thursday, the day Noah had the "olympic ceremony" at the yochien and the night my dad was leaving. : ( Here is Noah, they called each child up by name and when they called his name he walked up and collected his medal, said thank you and when the red badges in the yurigumi class all collected theirs, they all bowed. We all clapped! Noah was beaming ear to ear! He was so proud you guys. ; )
And Noah coming down from the stage with medal around his neck.
I love the way they gave out the medals. The difference between gold and silver was so small the kids didn't even realize. But they told us all the day of. See the water coming from atop the whale? See, how Noah's water is gold? Because he got the gold medal. The ones who only were able to get silver, had silver water. And I'm glad they did it this way because we don't ever want any of the kids to feel bad. The difference was so small all the kids were happy. I thought that was a very nice and classy way they did that. Very considerate to all the kids!
Yup, Noah completed all 8 tasks! Way to go you little sportster, you! They're both really athletic boys! ; )
And at the end, the encho sensei/principal received a giant cookie medal. She wore it around her head/neck. And the gym teacher also was gifted a medal and the sensei's too. These are our school's sensei's. My favorite favorite sensei is on the far left. The tender hearted sensei that was Noah's sensei when he was a yellow badge. And his 2 current sensei's are the 2 on the right. They both wore pink sweaters. Those are his current teacher's and they are so nice too. Those are all edible real cookies around their necks. And behind is backed with cardboard. It was a nice way to say thank you for teaching our kids this year!!! Whoever thought of that was brilliant!
Each of the red badges.... about to become pink badges received these last week. Bags for art work.
Very nice.
What a nice school.
And Noah also brought home this last week as well. On the last day that he had obento at school.
It says, basically thank you for making obento! They do this every year and every semester and I think it's a very thoughtful thing to do. The teachers get gifts and even cookie medals. So they feel appreciated as well. And the sensei's equally have the kids make thank you cards for us mom's who make obento. It's a very good atsmosphere this school.
Noah's last obento as a red badge. Ginger pork that I sliced up in bite size pieces. steamed veggie, rice and sprinkles. a string cheese for extra calcium and some peaches and 2 jelly's. : )
Another obento Noah took last week. Pizza toast, steamed veggie, a few fries, a string cheese and fruit and jelly's.
My dad asked me a month ago, he said. The boys will need a gift for the girls for white day. I said yes. And I mentioned I'd probably bake cookies for them or whatnot. He said they had a whole bunch of Valentine' stuff and he'll get 4 for the boys. Noah needed one, B needed 3. Anyway 2 weeks ago, my dad emailed me and said, they had 1 box that was semi broke. Well not really broke but a piece of the red box was torn off. My dad already got the 4 perfect boxes for the girls. But he said this non perfect box was on sale and should he get it....but for who I asked. He said we can just eat it while I'm there. I said, sure. So, here you have it. 4 perfect boxes of chocolates and 1 non perfect box of chocolates for which we happily devoured last week. ; ) And Russell Stovers makes some pretty fantastic chocolates and Noah loved giving this huge box to Chi-chan last Friday and B brought the other 3 and gave them to Saya-chan, Nozomi-chan and the other girl who I forget her name. Those girls LOVED getting those chocolates last Friday. When I gave it to Noah last Friday to give to Chi-chan, his mom and another yochien mom said, wow that's so big. They were pleasantly surprised. Branden said his classmates were surprised too.
Movie theater extreme butter. We watch a lot of movies as a family at our house and so we eat a lot fo popcorn around here too. I was happy dad brought us some.
String cheese (besides the boys drinking about 2 glasses of milk a day anyway, they eat a lot of cheese) so they were happy to get some string cheese. Dad brought the boys, some fruit loops type cereal. And a big container of Country Time lemonade.
136 servings, this is indeed the big one. And with the warmer weather coming, this will come in handy. Thanks dad.
Easter stuff for Branden and Noah. And plus I'm thinking about having another Easter party.
Some magazines and some pineapple cake. Oh my goodness that pineapple cake was amazing!Anything to add?: American Idol is still pretty amazing. I also am caught up now on The Hills because I caught the new season online. That is a good thing. Every weekend, I seem to be watching the Sopranos marathon, the past 2 weekends (they show about 6 hours worth of season 5). And I'm eagerly waiting for the series finale/ season 6 to get here. I think it starts today for us in Japan. I know it's long over in the US. But I'll be happy when season 6 starts for us here. Like I said, we saw Orphan, but haven't seen the Time Traveler's Wife yet. Noboru is off work today and tomorrow, so probably we'll watch it tonight.
Noah: His last day of school was today. He got out at 11:20am this afternoon. And we hit the grocery store, to do the weekly shopping after that. Then ran home unloaded the groceries. Noboru being off today went and picked up B and he's at Kumon with Branden right now. I'm so thrilled Noah is on break. Handling 1 kid at school is way easier for me to do then 2 kids at 2 different schools. So now that Noah's off, I feel complete relief.
Branden: B has a normal week of school this week. And then next Monday and Tuesday he has half days. And then he is officially on Spring break. So next week, I'm done for real. But for now my load has been cut in half. And I tell ya what.... I'm about ready to do my happy dance right now!!!! ; )
We are having a backyard BBQ tomorrow evening to celebrate, Noah going on Spring break, we were going to wait until next week for both kids to begin Spring break and asked Branden but he loves BBQ so much he said....let's do it this week. So rain or shine, no matter what, we will be BBQing some yakiniku tomorrow for dinner! I tell ya, Spring breaks are just as much for us parents as they are for our kids. Yes, us parents....we need breaks too sometimes. ; ) Can you tell I'm over the moon right now or what? ; )
What else...I got a heap more things to add. How the movies went last Friday with my friends. How the majority of my Amazon birthday order got here already. And a few other tidbits. But for now, I'm just too happy to sit in front of the computer. I'm gonna go spend some time with Noah since B's at Kumon. Get dinner ready and get ready for movie night tonight. I'll try and get my other post up tomorrow. ; )
This week, while at the yochien picking up Noah. As we were walking in the parking lot and heading to my car about to leave. A yochien mother came parking her minivan and had a huge box of spinach. She stopped me and asked me if I'd like some. Our whole family loves spinach actually. So, I said, while yes...and thank you. : ) And she stuffed this plastic bag with as much spinach as she could possibly stuff into it and I thanked her again and waved and got Noah buckled into his car seat and we hopped in the car and went and picked up Branden. That was very nice of her. And we really enjoyed that yummy spinach.
See this picture from our security camera. I took this of the kids playing out in the front. They were playing beyblades. Branden is there on the far left. Genki is on the far right and 2 other boys. Kouiki came by a little later and joined and Noah also decided to join them later as well.
I think you can see Noah sitting down on the grass in an orange sweatshirt. He battled with his own beyblades as well. The older boys all like Noah very much and it's good they all know him because in 2 years time when he switches to elementary school, all the big kids will be his friend already. They eventually all went to our backyard and played kori-oni.
The night they played with the kids in the neighborhood, is the night we had cream stew. The day after, is when "the boy next door" and Branden played together after school.
Thursday, the day B played at the boys next door's house" is the night I made crispy teriyaki chicken wings. I did not put the glaze on yet in this pic. We had teriyaki wings, rice, veggie and salad.
Noah had teriyaki wings on Friday for obento, rice and veggie and peaches. He also took sprinkles/furikake for his rice.
Friday, I finished cleaning the house. Vacuumed, dusted, windexed the patio windows that seem to get tiny finger prints on them as fast as I clean them, grrr. ; ) Trying to get the house cleaned up to start the weekend yes. But also because we will have grandpa come this coming Sunday.
Mopped the kitchen floor. Rinsed it twice. Let it dry.
And all done. The trash cans got a wipe down with the Kirkland antibacterial wipes. We are ready for my dad to get here. The kids can't wait to see grandpa.
I think you can see the dish towels hanging on the fence and a few other things. And by looking at the pic, wasn't Friday a beautiful looking day here. Can't believe the weather did a 180 today and returned to gray and cloudy and rain yet again.
Today, Saturday, Branden and I took Noah swimming. The weather today? Raining cats and dogs!
Our favorite *favorite* coach, the Goto coach.
Noah is on some new swimming stroke. And he's maxed out level wise at the moment. Meaning. He is a red tulip. He can't get any other flower because that is the highest level to achieve for an A course. Meanwhile he cannot change to the B course because only kids age 5-6 are allowed. And he's only 4! @_@ So, not until July 7th can he switch to the B course. Somewhat frustrating because it's like he's just on pause until he can turn 5. Only 1 other of his classmates/same yochien meaning a red badge is in a similar situation he is a red badge but he will turn 5 in May, so his wait isn't so long. And the other kids who swim and are also red badges seem to be quite a few swim levels behind them. Which is fine and normal. Maybe Noah and the other kid were just oddly fast or whatnot. I don't know. In the meantime, the Goto coach has been working with Noah on techniques and strokes he hasn't learned yet so they are being kept busy and stuff and still learning, just no more badges to get for my little guy until July 7th or after until he can make that switch to the B course. When he switches to the B course he will be on the #'s. And no longer be on flowers.
His swimming is amazing though. 
Yesterday was Branden's observation day! He just had one in January and I'd be darned if they didn't have another one yesterday as well. Hmm, I think his school really over does these observation days. ; ) Usually you can show up at anytime during the whole day.But yesterday it was at a set time. All parents had to show at 1:30 and stay for the hour. Noah gets out of yochien at 1:45pm. And since I can't be at 2 places at once. ; ) I let the sensei know in the morning that Noah would have to get out early, at 1pm. She said that was okay. And so at 1pm yesterday I went and picked up Noah and we zoomed to the elementary school. The parking lot was full. Packed to the gills would be more like it. I parked like the 2nd to last of the last rows. ; ) And we walked up the hill and made it to the elementary school. 10 minutes to spare. Us parents stood in the hall. All the pictures and stories the kids did since their birth were hanging in the hall. remember they wrote this in January, how they were at age 1, where were they born, how they were at age 2 and so on. Anyway the whole class had theirs hanging. I chatted with Genki-kun's mom and Saya-chan's mom. And then it was time to enter the classroom. So, Noah and I went in. They were doing or showcasing math for us parents. The teacher said, they had 200 yen of pretend money and they had to buy pretend stuff and it had to equal exactly 200 yen, no more no less. That is not the Yuka-sensei pictured, that's the math teacher. The Yuka-sensei was someplace else in the class when I snapped this picture. : ) The math teacher was pretending to be the shopkeeper hence the scarf on her head and cash register near her. ; )
Hmm, what did the kids buy. ; ) The kids changed/switched seats a few weeks ago. Branden is now sitting next to the "boy next door" I helped Branden with his. And I also helped the "boy next door"quite a bit too. His mom has 2 kids at the elementary school. An ichinensei little boy and a ninensei boy, "the boy next door". And she was in the class with "boy next door's" little brother and so "the boy next door" was sorta winging it alone. He's a very good sweet kid and so, I watched him add up and he had 186 yen and I counted with him and said he needed 14 yen worth of stuff left. I asked him to go see if he could find something that equalled 14 yen. And he did. And I gave him a big thumbs up. And he got all happy and he went and showed the math teacher. So, I helped both of the boys with their shopping math task yesterday. I felt pretty happy, I could help out. There was a whole school meeting after observation day and then a class meeting afterward that. With the end of the school year fast approaching. We had a lot of questions. The main #1 question that was on every one's mind including mine. Was who will be the 3rd grade teacher? You see, the Yuka-sensei was our teacher for the 1st and also the 2d grade. She knows our kids so well. She's so caring and kind to all our kids. Branden just loves her. She is an amazing special teacher. When we found out she would be our kids 2nd grade teacher last year I think we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. And this year, we sort of knew it would be a different teacher. Yesterday we all asked and the Yuka-sensei told us this in Japanese. "I know, I am not going to be teaching the 3rd grade class" (meaning she will not be their teacher this year, huge crushing bummer) Another mother said..."then who?" And the Yuka-sensei said, I don't know who it will be. Or if they'll mix you all up with the ninensei #1 class or what. Anyway, we really won't know who the new 3rd grade teacher will be. Or if Genki and "the boy next door" will still be in Branden's class this coming year or not. Hmmm. We'll just have to wait and see. : ) I left with Branden and Noah. We went home. B played in the neighborhood with friends after school. Noah played on the jungle gym after he changed his clothes and I started in on making dinner. Anyway that was yesterdays observation class for Branden. His last one for ninensei, I'm sure. : )
The weekend here was exactly what we needed. Family time and being cozy at home. Here's a picture from last Friday. The boys and I made pizza together. Branden put all the toppings on the big pizza, Noah put all the toppings on the smaller pizza that was for Noboru. He put all the ham and pepperoni and mushrooms on there for daddy. They both did a great job! I meanwhile put all the veggies and pepperoni on my little pizza. We cranked up the music in the kitchen as usual, when we're cooking and doing fun stuff in there!
And the boy's finished pizza straight from the oven last Friday. We ate, we talked, we drank our sodas. And watched "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" again since the kids love this movie. We all showered and bathed. After a bit hubby came home. Noah tried so hard to stay up for his daddy, but he fell asleep. Bless his little heart. ; ) B on the other hand managed to stay awake for a bit before going to sleep as well. We carried both the boys upstairs to each of their rooms. And they slept. Hubby and I watched Vegas Vacation. It was hilarious!
On Saturday, the shipment of 3 dozen tortillas arrived at our home. You see, I like cooking and making foods from all sorts of different countries. And Mexican food just rocks in general anyway. But tortillas are not so easy to find in Japan if you live in the countryside like we do. Going to Costco and getting a few of those packs of Romero's tortillas was the norm for us for the past 6 years. And when we lapsed in time going to Costco because of the distance I'd order online from Flying Pig, or order these from a restaurant in Japan. The flavor of these are so yumm. However after hearing Costco no longer sells the Romero's brand, though they sell a different brand now. I just ordered these online since we were nearly out anyway.
They last a whole year before they expire, however doubt they';d last a year with us eating them up though. :P
I am still on Noah's closet. It takes me quite a while to get it done properly. I imagine it will take me a few weeks to actually be able to call it done. Take these 2 identical yellow Gap windbreakers that both used to belong to Branden. Noah was using the smaller one on the left, the 100cm one last year. And unpacked the 110cm one on the right. And now he can use that this year. Swapping sizes. Gulp, this has taken me forever it seems. And I'll be glad when it's done.
The last Gap/Old Navy order came. On a Sunday yet again. ; )
These are Noah's things.
He needed a new swimsuit, his last one was 4T and this one is a 5T, my kids swim A LOT and though he can use B's old swim stuff as a back up, I always buy the both of them new ones only because they use them quite a bit. A straw fedora hat and a plaid drivers cap!
B's stuff. 2 pair of shorts. 1 plain front khaki shorts and 1 cargo shorts. Both were on that sale that has since passed, 2 flippies for Branden and 2 packs of socks that were also on sale. So we're done. Thank goodness. Don't wanna think about the kids clothes situation until Fall now. Phew. ; ) Although I will go through Branden's closet and drawers in a week or two when I am finally done with Noah's. And recheck to see B has everything. Please let me be done with it though. It's definitely work going through their closets, packing up Branden's stuff he's outgrown yadayadayada. All of it is work indeed. 
While at the store Monday morning, I reached for my usual caramel machiatto coffee. Yup just instants but so good. Anyway I noticed they have coconut coffee now? I love coconut anything anyway. And when we lived in Hawaii years ago, I used to buy actual coconut flavored coffee and make it myself at home in the coffee pot. Anyway I hadn't thought of or drank coconut coffee in years. And when I saw this, I bought 2 to try. And sure enough, I love it! It's so good!
Picked up some fruit, same ol' same ol'. Some canned yellow peaches and some canned pineapple as well.
Picked up the whole chicken I ordered last week.
And there is a couple and they sell donuts in the Cainz Home once a month? Once every 2 month's maybe? Not often.... let's put it that way. Anyway, they were selling them, Monday morning when I was there. I bought 2 each so 8 total donuts. Went and loaded up my car and went home.
Oh yeah, on my way home from the grocery store, I stopped at the uniform shop and picked up a pair of yochien shoes for Noah and a new pair of gym shorts for him as well. In a week or two, I'll go back and get him another pair of gym shorts, the white inside shoes. And I think that's all that needs replacing. I tend to try and see what needs replacing around the end of the school year (March) and tend to rebuy before April, the start of the school year. I am going to replace Branden's crayons as well. And will have to check how he's doing on other school supplies too when he goes on Spring break and brings it all home is when I can go through B's. Monday was good, I felt productive because I did get things out of the way. Like my weekly shopping and started on Noah's replacements for his yochien stuff he needs. I cleaned the house for a good hour. Did 2 load of laundry and put them away. Swooshed and cleaned the toilet downstairs, Vacuumed. Roasted a gorgeous chicken in the oven. And managed to get B to Kumon. No swimming for Noah Monday. I'll take him during this week sometime though. The weather for Monday was chilly.
Noah's obento for Tuesday/yesterday. He had a chicken, rice and melty cheese wrap, a toasted hashbrown, steamed broccoli and 2 strawberries. And 2 jelly's. 
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