So is everyone in the Christmas swing of things? Christmas spirit and cheer and all that good stuff? ; ) We sure are here. We love Christmas! Did anyone in the US get a chance to get any good deals from Black Friday? We didn't since we live here in Japan. However, we sure took advantage of the great deals on Cyber Monday and Noboru bought me a good sized order from Amazon as part of my Christmas gift. I thought it would be fun today to share what our family is getting and/or hoping/wishing for this Christmas 2010. What I asked for this year, was for a new pair of black ballet flats, as mine are a starting to look a bit ratty since I wear them often. I found the pair I really loved, loved the top of them so cute and eye catching. I also liked the velvety look and feel, very perfect for Winter. So, Noboru bought me those. And I also asked for a pair of Winter Crocs. The Winter Mammoth ones not the Blitzen. Because the Mammoth have holes all over and the Blitzens just look like clogs and have only 3 holes. Anyway, personal preference I guess and so, Noboru ordered a pair same style and color as me (he's such a copy cat, lol) but a bigger size for himself too.
They came about 10 days ago. Yippy.
Can't wait for Christmas so I can unwrap these babies and wear them! ; )
From my memory, I picked from Amazon.com.
Twilight Saga Eclipse...I *love* Twilight, all of them. Twilight is to me, what Harry Potter is to many people.
Vampires Suck (spoof movie on Twilight)
Paradise Road
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (have this one VHS and need this on DVD)
Keeping Up With the Kardashian's season 1 (it was so cheap way way under 10 bucks and a whole seasons worth, so I thought it was a great deal) Can't wait to watch them.
Keeping Up with the Kardashian's season 2
Everybody Hates Chris - The First season (love Chris Rock, I find him so funny and to get a whole seasons worth for the low deals we got on Cyber Monday, too good to pass up)
George Lopez the first and second season. I also love this guy, he's so hilarious. I'm so glad I have 2 seasons worth coming. I will be in dvd heaven when all the movies finally get here.
I also ordered another dvd as part of my Christmas gift but it hasn't been shipped yet. It's called the Hotel Kids in Orange County about homeless kids in the US, it was an HBO special made by Nancy Pelosi's daughter. It is apparently a very good in depth documentary and I would love to see it.
Here is Noah's letter to Santa this year. By the way the last few years he just did scribbles and barely legible. But this year, he asked Branden for help and he worked hard on it. He really wanted Santa to read it and understand what he is wishing for this year. I think he did a pretty fantastic job! ; )
Branden, reads and writes at 3rd grade level for an American kid anyway. So I didn't need to help him, tell him what to say or anything. He just sat down and got started on it. I also told Noboru later..."gee he has better handwriting then I do. ; )
Kids are kids for such a short time. To have that child-like innocence and wonderment is truly amazing to watch as a parent. I may sit Branden down next year and tell him the truth..... or I may not. We're playing it by ear. But, I do want my kids to enjoy their childhood. With every fiber in their bodies. And if believing in a little magic now and again is in order, so be it. ; )
Noah's old Thomas bike used to belong to Branden. Branden was in love with Thomas. Noah never really was a fan of Thomas go figure. Anyway, he confessed he has been wishing and wishing for a new bike. A bike all his and only his. We agreed with that. But of course we didn't say anything. We just said...well write to Santa and we'll see. ; ) Little did he know....we looked and looked online. Debated many bikes Then finally had the 2 front contenders. And we finally decided on this Muji one. It's a happy peppy color and fits his personality to a T. We ordered online and had it shipped last Monday while the boys were at school.
One huge box with a bright yellow bike inside. : )
We opened the box to peek, wouldn't wanna unwrap Christmas day to see they got the color wrong. That would be a nightmare. So, we checked and taped the box back up. Noah's Christmas wish and dream is coming true this year! It has been hiding in the attic ever since last week. ; )
Tracking down the beyblades Branden was hoping for was hard and proving a bit difficult. Because these are the new beyblades, recently released ones. These are sold out nearly everywhere. Even a lot of places online said sold out. And for the galaxy pegasus if they did have them in stock, because they're so hot right now...many places said, LIMIT 1 per customer! What the???!!! We have 2 boy's and need 2. We finally found a place that would sell us 2 in 1 order and also had the other hard to find beyblade. Branden asked us to look online. Sneaky Noboru went to the site that is sold out....and showed Branden (see all sold out shucks). Branden is so crushed at the moment. He thinks he has absolutely no hope! No hope to get this at all. : ( So he wrote to Santa....asking for this for Christmas. Hmmm. I think we will have 2 happy thrilled boys this coming Christmas morning. And also Branden is getting other gifts from us too. So he is fairing quite well is the present category. : )
I also got a really cool black turtle neck with bright colored stripes. Very flirty with a pair of jeans or a miniskirt and some plain black tights.
And some very cool argyle tights. Very girly and very flirty as well.
They came in a 3 pack. Really cute. To wear with jean miniskirts and cord miniskirts this year. And a pair of ballet flats.
And I also got the black argyle cardi pictured here and I also got the gray argyle cardi as well. I love these argyle cardis so much. And last but not least, hubby also got me an amazing peacoat. I have a Gap and also an ON peacoat already but I had been hoping to get a new one and I found one and got it. I love it. I heart peacoats very much. : ) And my other 2 are quite a few years old, so it was nice to get a new one this year. Can't wait for Christmas this coming year. And if you wondering what Noboru's getting. He hasn't decided yet. He said he's going to get a new pair of swim trunks. And something electronic. Either speaker set for his ipod or something else. He always decides at the last minute but always ends up with something amazing.
We've got other people on the list too, but as they read my blog, I can't share what they're getting. Also our main gift is an "experience gift" that is our trip to Guam. So we can go there as a family for a few days, swim, do a bit more shopping and hang out along the beach and enjoy some relaxing time as a family. And my brother in law, Jun and family are also heading to Guam same day, same flight as us. And staying at the same hotel as us too. ; ) Except Jun doesn't drive in Guam, I don't think...he'll probably be taking the trolley and we are renting a car. We're leaving this coming weekend. I've got the suitcases out already. Though have yet to pack.
I also know what my dad got the boys this year as well. Noah got the gorgeous bright yellow rain coat (fully lined) from Gap (in size 6-7 ) and Branden got this very cool bright green and blue winter coat in size 10-12 to wear for next year. My dad loved the detailing on the arms and so did I (my dad was in Guam on skype with me and looking at the ON/Gap website and I was here in Japan also looking at the same website, lol). We both think B will get a kick out of this.
Anyway I hope everyone is in good spirits this time of year. And enjoying this Christmas holiday season with your loved ones. : )
A week late, gomen gomen. But bright side is better late then never. ; ) Here is Noah and the rest of the yurigumi's singing a Christmas song. Noah's back row 3rd from the left and his very best friend H is back row all the way to the left. : )
Some dinged the triangle and some jingled bells. ; ) Noah and H, did the triangle. : ) They both did a very good job!
This was the blue badge (oldest class) and they did the Wizard of Oz. You can see Dorothy. Toto is far right, and next to Toto is/was, the scarecrow and the tinman who wore a band with tin color pieces on it. ; ) And as you can see, they just met the cowardly lion and Dorothy just pretend slapped him for trying to bully Toto. I hope Noah's class does this next year. I enjoyed this play *so* much!
The people of Oz to the left...and see Oz? Yes it was just a kid holding an Oz poster the kids made...but this is just kindergarten. So I think they actually did a wonderful job! : )
The Wicked Witch and flying monkeys. And they did throw some bucket with fake water on her and she did not die. Nope no death at our yochien. LOL. She ran away, lol. : )
Noah's class also did Hansel and Gretel. See the gingerbread house? ; )
3 little boys were forest fairies. Noah was one of them. : )
Noah danced, he shook his little leaves and his caboose too! He did very good you guys. : )
Go Noah go! Go little forest guys go! ; )
Hansel and Gretel also ended on a very happy note. ; ). Which is nice because of the kids age. But man...I could have sworn in the real story Gretel outsmarted the witch and ended up pushing her in the oven. So no baked or toasted witch ending here. ; )
Such a beautiful little boy!
The closing bit of Hansel and Gretel.
The blue badge class (the oldest class) does the story of Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus every year and I am so glad they tell this story every year too.
After the Christmas recital, Noboru and I took Noah out to lunch to celebrate what a wonderful job he did. We went to Coco's. Had the drink bar and some lunch. We knew grandma Mitsuko would be arriving that night to attend a 2nd showing of the Christmas recital the next day. Which is a grandparents only showing.
The only picture I managed to take while grandma Mitsuko was here last week for Noah's Christmas recital. We dropped Noah and grandma Mitsuko off around 9am and swung around and picked them up around 12:30pm. And then went and had lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant.
Noboru, Noah, grandma Mitsuko and I enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch and then we headed back to our house where uncle Jun and my niece Mia met us because they were going to spend an hour with grandma Mitsuko too before she flew back to Osaka. So uncle Jun and my niece came inside the house for about 5-10 minutes (a bit of a time crunch with grandma's flight and all). My niece was wearing Disney princess sneakers. So she and I, in the genkan, named the princesses on her shoes together (all four or five of them that were on there), which she loved doing that. I also felt it my duty as auntie to inform her that auntie Gina's favorite was Belle. ; ) Then Noah said...would you like to go upstairs in my room and play? : ) And she said yes! So Noah and Mia went upstairs in Noah's room to play toys and then it was sadly time to leave (so quick...too quick, they were right in the middle of playing grocery store because I could hear the toy scanner beeping food and the toy cash register ringing things up, lol)...but like I said, sadly there was a time crunch and so Jun, Mia and my mil drove away. Mia did not want to leave our house. She was quite upset at having to leave, I take this as a good sign because that means she likes us if she doesn't want to leave. Jun was trying to convince her they had to go. And I meanwhile told her....I will see you in a few short days...in the airplane okay? And I might have something for you. That did the trick and so she left happily and waved us all goodbye. That was last Thursday. After they left I hopped in the car went and picked up B from elementary school. Then dropped of the kids at Kumon. Ran home prepped dinner then swung back and did a kid pick up. It was a busy few days last week. Plus I had cookies to bake...luggage and carry-ons to pack. Yada yada. Plus the next day was the candle service at Noah's yochien.
And this pic is of last Friday's candle service last week at Noah's yochien. I was sorta running on fumes by the time last Friday got here, but I kept thinking....just last until Friday after school...just make it that long.
The candle service began. The candles were all lit. One person lights a candle and they turn to the next person and they in turn light the following persons candle...all the way down the rows of seats of us mother's. Sorta like dominoes if that makes sense. It's very quiet and very beautiful. All the kids come in...sit down on their seat. The kids don't touch the candles. Each class sings a song. Us mother's sang a few Christmas songs.
My candle, it was quite hard taking a picture of my candle without (a) burning myself and (b) dropping my camera...so not the best picture in the earth but the best I could do considering the circumstances. ; )
2 people from each class were given the honor of giving the baby Jesus gifts. Noah and his classmate Yukina-chan were chosen from the yurigumi class. which is pictured here...sorta blurry or grainy and the lighting is nil. But you get the idea. : ) Anyway that was Noah's yochien Christmas recital for 2010. Can't believe next year will be his last one. Sniff sniff. It will be bitter sweet for me next year, you guys. ; )
The whipped cream frosting I order from the FBC finally got here. I was happy to get it, especially since I used my last little plastic tub of whipped cream frosting for the cupcakes at Noah's yochien bazaar. But now I have a few, I will be ready for when and if the yochien asks me to bake something again. I'll be ready. : )
The Amazon movies came all except for 2 so far. Eclipse got here first and all by itself which was weird. Anyway...doesn't matter just glad it's here. Noboru will be wrapping movies for Christmas to place under the tree.
What I packed into the carry-on. 3 packs of cookies that 2 went to different people. And 1 pack of snacks for both Branden and Noah for the airplane there.
Not a lot but a few and they didn't even eat half of them...so they used the other half for the flight back to Japan. ; )
Christmas cookies for my niece Mia. She is so cute and I know she looks forward to auntie Gina's cookies around Christmas time so..... was very happy to give them to her. : ) I gave them to her after they sat down in their seats. They were only sitting 2 rows in front of us, so before take off I went over there and said to my niece, here sweetie pie. And my sil and bil were happily surprised and said thank you and stuff. Both Branden and Noah played DS or watched their mini dvd player the whole flight, so they were silent and quiet the whole flight as usual. My niece stood up and kept looking back at me and waving. I thought that was quite cute. Not sure if the people sandwiched between our rows thought it was as cute, lol. But I made faces at her and she made them back at me. I blew kisses at her and she blew kisses back at me. In between all that I watched the in-flight movie. It was so freaking hilarious...called Grown-Ups with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, etc. Noboru told me after the flight....I did not realize it at the time because I had my headphones on. He said you laughed sort of loud a few times and a few people turned around when you laughed. @_@ I said...really? Just a few times you did he said. Whoops. I told him...come on honey...it's better for my bil and sil to think...wow Gina laughed so hard in the plane, what a happy auntie she is. That's way better then saying...wow she bitched and yelled and complained in the plane...right? Right? Laughing isn't really all so bad really in the grand scheme of things. Happy girl is way better then nightmare complaining girl anyday, right? Okay so if a movie is sorta hilarious I laugh semi loudly not freakishly loud but a nice honest laugh. Guilty. : ) He said I only chuckled really hard about 3-4 times. So, I think that's okay really. ; )
I love to bake Christmas cookies every year. I like to bake them so I can give them to other people and make them happy. This big sized ziplock of Christmas cookies went to my dad, the other went to my niece. The 3rd ziplock went to the boys and they munched them on the airplane. The flight attendant loved the cookies she said...to the boys...you brought Christmas cookies...yumm they look so good. And when Noboru walked the boys to the back of the plane to go to the restroom, Noboru mentioned she again mentioned to the boys about the cookies. She asked them...did you boys eat all your Christmas cookies? Ha ha ha. : ) Very nice lady.
My Sil Kaori (the one who lives in Osaka with my MIL, not Satoe Jun's wife, though she is just as lovely though) gave the boys a Christmas card and she put their New Year's otoshidama in it for them. That was very nice and very thoughtful of her.
To Noah and to Branden. Left envelop to right envelop. : ) Okay you guys....Christmas is in 2 short days (omg is that right?). And I have about 3 posts to get up yet. The Noah's Christmas recital post has to go first since that happened before Guam. And then I have the 2 Guam posts to get up after that. Both kids are now on Christmas break and my online time is limited. So, bare with me. I am trying my best. I'll try to get the recital one up today if I can. But I might also be running to the grocery store today too. So, I'll just wait and see how pinched for time I actually am first and see if I can get it up.
Friday morning, we had a plan the hubby and I. As soon as we sent both Branden and Noah to school, we'd head to Costco Makuhari and then on the way home we'd stop off at Hanamasa (meat shop) and then to the drive thru at Starbucks and head directly to Noah's yochien by 1:40pm and then straight to get B who got off early at 2:20pm. So, as planned, we sent the boys to school and drove straight to Costco. Man what a very long drive. Especially since we drove the normal roads and not the highway. But on the way back we took the highway though.
I'm not sure why or what but it was so crowded. We went on a weekday hoping for a dead/uncrowded store. The parking on all levels were totally full. We parked on the roof and even still had to drive around and around until a space opened up. Once inside it was so crowded. I've never been in there with THAT many people before. Was it on TV the night before or something? I mean, you could barely push a cart through there. And there are usually a few foreigners in there like myself. But this time...none but me. How very unusual. So, through crowds and crowds galore, I felt like a fish going against stream. I tried so hard to make my way to the Kirkland premoistened cleaning clothes for the house. People everywhere. Carts left in the middle of the aisles. It was crazy. We quickly shopped made it downstairs. The check out lanes were even longer. We waited and waited and finally checked out. We ordered a pizza for Saturday night. And Noboru meanwhile got 2 hot dogs for his lunch for Friday. And I got a quick slice of pizza for mine. We ate outside quickly and with no real time to spare, we hopped in the car and left. We got to Hanamasa around noon. I was now worrying greatly about our timing. So, I ran into Hanamasa and grabbed the things I was looking for and quickly checked out. Luckily for me, Hanamasa was deader then a door nail.
A quick drive through the drive- thru Starbucks and both of us grabbed a Christmas latte of our choice and back onto the highway we went. To Noah's school as fast as lightning. Would Noah fit into my tiny red car with all the meats and Costco stuff? Hmm, we'd see. And more importantly would Branden fit in the car afterwards too. Yes they did. A tight squeeze but it worked.
Went to pick up Noah. Had a little time to spare. So dropped off Noboru and the tiramisu. And with Pizza and the rest still in the car...off I went to the elementary school. Kirkland wipes, tortilla chips. 2 packs of plain dinner rolls. And 1 large cheese pizza.
And 1 very large tiramisu.
From Hanamasa, 5 packs of very lean 100% ground beef. 2 packs will be hamburg, 2 packs will be cheeseburger night and 1 pack will be meatballs for pasta night. 1 big pack of thick pork chops for fried pork chop night. And the 2 whole chickens for the super cheap price of 1080 yen. I am planning to cut them into pieces for homemade fried chicken for Christmas dinner. Don't laugh but we're simply sick of turkey. We love turkey but the nearly 20 pounder we had for Thanksgiving was enough for us for a while. We were then thinking...buy a spiral ham. And then I got to thinking. All my Japanese friends order KFC family party meals for Christmas. It's sort of a tradition for Japanese to do this at Christmas. Seriously. So, I guess I started thinking....you know, I could make an even better fried chicken. I have an excellent southern cookbook. And it has an amazing recipe for some seriously delicious fried chicken. I can make mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, we can have biscuits, the whole shebang. Heck, I can even make homemade baked in the oven macaroni and cheese. The real kind. So...yeah I started getting excited about the idea. Mentioned it to Noboru and he *loved* the idea so much! Probably because he hears from his coworkers how they all also eat KFC for the Christmas holiday. And so yeah....and plus this is even cheaper then the colonel. I bought 2 whole chickens, and will fry up the both of them. So, like 4 breasts, 4 wings, 4 drumsticks. And so on. It's gonna be really good. The dessert I'm still deciding on, maybe an all American apple pie or maybe a pumpkin pie, who knows. Anyway...so while we were there, perfect time for us to pick up the Christmas chickens and they are now frozen in the freezer as well as the rest of the meats. We are really looking forward to Christmas dinner this year. : )
All the dinner rolls, placed in freezer bags. One bag will be used for Christmas dinner. The rest for obento's or just plain munching. Putting them in the microwave toasting a bit in the toaster oven, rubbing some butter on top and yumm.
Someone donated to our yochien a huge Christmas house, like a gingerbread house but not made out of gingerbread. ; ) All the kids got to eat some Friday and also bring some of it home. That's what's picture on the left here. The parts of the house Noah took off. He shared with Branden. And that on the right is a Santa bell Noah made.
It's got the date on it and everything and after Christmas is over I'm going to hide it away in Noah's yochien keepsake box.
Our most recent movies we ordered/rented. A Christmas Carol. The new one with Jim Carey. And Extraordinary Measures. We haven't seen them yet. A Christmas carol, the kids and I'll see tonight. And Extraordinary Measures Noboru and I'll see tomorrow.
These are our Christmas movies. We watch them every year with the boys. Usually 1 or 2 movies each night tops. Polar Express is my least favorite movie in the bunch. The kids favorite is Elf. Noboru's favorite is Christmas Vacation and my favorite is A Charlie Brown Christmas or A Christmas Story. Tonight Noboru has his year end party. Noboru doesn't really go out very often. Actually unless it's fishing with his fishing buddy's. He's more a homebody type guy. He does however go out with his coworkers once a year for this end of year party. It's going to be just the guys....a bunch of married men. And even 1 child. ; ) One of the guys wife is a flight attendant and he needs to watch his son (1 year younger then Branden), so he's bringing him along tonight since she's working. Their plan? Go to the public bath. And then to a karaoke dinner place. And then home. None of the guys smoke except 1. LOL. Noboru quit 2 years ago. As did the rest of the guys. So, one very family oriented end of year party for them. ; ) Also, Noboru doesn't drink. So, anyways, while Noboru's at the end of year party tonight (which I'm glad he's going and I hope he has a lot of fun : ). Branden and Noah and myself will be throwing our own little party here at the house, just us 3. We'll throw the pizza in the oven. Warming it up. Having some grape soda with ice. Some tiramisu for dessert and after I send the boys to the showers and into jammies they go. I'll jump in afterwards and take a fast shower and we'll start movie night. A big bowl of popcorn and also chips and salsa. The boys chose Elf already. So we'll be watching...a Christmas Carol tonight and Elf afterwards. Noboru said he'll be home before 11pm. Because half the guys need to make sure they can catch the last train. ; ) 
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