Branden's undokai 2011 and Noah's official debut at the local elementary school

With our spot saved from the day before. There was no real reason to rush on down there undokai morning. It started at 9am. Though we dropped off Branden at 7:20am like he was supposed to be. The rules changed this year. Not sure if you can see the chalk line near the tarps front right leg? They said, no tarps in front of the chalk line this year. This was not such a smart rule because then, we had no choice but to save the spot up front plus the spot for the tarp area, so in a way we saved 3 spots versus just 1 spot. And believe you me...everyone had to do the same. And there were still people behind us but now much much farther behind us. The people on the left did the same most people did. But the people on the right of us. You won't believe it. See the two leisure sheets on the right? 2 different family's!!! So one put a leisure sheet down and left didn't think of possible tarp that needed to be behind the chalk line for the next day. Then the next people put their leisure sheet. So, the day of undokai. Both family's showed up trying to place their tarp frame down and both wanted the same exact spot behind the chalk line! Needless to say the 2 family's on the right of us...will never be friends after that episode. They virtually ignored each other the whole time, it was quite awkward and quite uncomfortable to watch. So, yeah hard to explain but the whole tarps behind the line thing...not such a hot idea at all. Anyway we got there around 8:30am. The structure we had up from the night before. But the green tarp itself, Noboru put on that morning. Noah meanwhile sat in one of the chairs.
The start up exercises. Population of the entire school? All grades? Way under 300.
Branden is a white hat. But for undokai they switched the whole schools color. So for that day Branden was a red hat, the whole school switched like I said. Why they did that? You sure got me. : )
About to start a match!

Go Branden! And go girl who wrote Branden that lovely love letter running next to him! : )
Go kids go!
First place! Yay Branden!
Branden squatting down on the left with red hat.
Branden on the far left. Branden had a growth spurt recently. : )
Branden takes off in his red hat!
Putting on big funky wig! Outfits were supposed to be from "One Piece"
One of the town and school photographer's/parent picked taking a pic of Branden running.
Another person taking a pic of Branden! Branden jumping in mid air!
Then they made the announcement over the loudspeaker. All future first graders for next year, please go and sign in if you will be participating this year. We went and before we signed in or said his name, they said..."last name Noah-san" is here. @_@ The whole town knows who he is. To be fair he does stand out though. And also, he's at the elementary school quite often for observation days. So, it's understandable everyone knows who he is, there are only 3 half western kids in our entire town, Branden, Noah and Kenny (his dad is American too and works for the same company as Noboru). The hoikuen kids meanwhile were doing a dance number. And this was the area for all kids, the yochien kids were mostly under here since the hoikuen kids were dancing. Anyway as you know, the hoikuen kids for the most part ruled the school until they could blend in and know the rest of the kids. Kids adjust quickly so maybe a month or so. But many of us have had nerves for this day. There were so many surprises and stories I need to share with you about this event.

Story # 1 is...it pays to be nice. See that lady with the hat underneath the sign? Well, I met her at one of those mass cattle call kids health check ups. When Noah was 18month's old, is when her and I first spoke. Then I saw her one more time, the last time when Noah was age 3. She struck up a conversation with me. Just feeling the waters. And I was really friendly. She told me she was an English teacher. We chatted and spoke. And she really liked me. So much so, we exchanged keitei numbers, but I've since changed my number since then. But she was really nice. It has been 3 long years since I saw her. And when I first saw her face...I was wondering is that her? I didn't want to approach her if it was NOT her. OMG! Can you imagine for a moment, if it was not her? I would make a fool of myself. Forget that. Anyway I was thinking...what should I do? Is it her or not? Should I say something or not? As fate would have this and you will seriously not believe this. She lifted her thermos to take a drink and on the bottom of her thermos in ENGLISH said....Megumi last name! Holy crap! What are the odds of that happening? Huge happy sigh!!! What a relief, I now know 1 more person which is what I need. So, I approached her...I said..."hi excuse me, by any chance is your name, Megumi last name" She smiled and said yes. Hey I needed something to start the conversation. : ) Then I said...By any chance do you remember me? She smiled and get this... she said..."of course, you're Branden and Noah's mom". Can I tell you how completely happy and relieved I was. Also, her daughter goes to the local hoikuen and will be Noah's classmate next year. And she seemed to be one of the more established, well known and liked mom's. So, phew! Yeah it pays to be nice. If I would have snubbed her years ago, it would be her snubbing me now! And of course I'm not like that. So, yeah, boy am I glad I'm friendly. Phew, I am now not so worried about Noah starting so much now.


Story #2, the day before at the Shaon kai meeting, "same town as me mom" said she was going to bring her son to the debut race. Her son's name is Sera. So from our yochien, it will be Noah and Sera. Anyway, when we saw them and when they saw us. Boy were we happy. Sera was not in uniform. And I can tell by his mom's face she was wishing he would have been because the other 3 from the other yochien all wore their gym uniforms. And all the hoikuen kids dressed the same. I actually dressed Noah in regular clothes, Qoo shirt and jean shorts etc. And I brought his yochien gym uniform, just in case. I told Noboru if everyone is wearing theirs, then I'll switch Noah's. And sure enough when I saw everyone show up with uniforms, I switched Noah's right away and hoped Sera would show up with his.


Story #3 Two worlds collide. I've got yochien mom friends. And I have elementary school mom friends. The worlds up until now have never collided. Well Genki is different because we all switched schools together and I knew no elementary mom's prior that. Anyway....somehow Kouiki's mom (Branden's Kouiki classmate not Noah's) anyway Kouiki's mom has been under the impression, that only 1 student from our yochien was starting the local town elementary school meaning Noah. She never asked me point black. And I'm not gossipy so I never said...Sera is also coming too, so I never mentioned the fact either way. I know and have been aware that 3 from *their* yochien were to be in Noah's class next year because, when Noah comes to observation day dressed in our yochien's uniform, those 3 show up together in their uniform. So they have known about Noah and us them, vice versa. But no mention of Noah's classmate Sera at all. So, we were standing near the tarp and Kouiki's mom said to Sera's mom...."and what school is your little boy coming from? She was just trying to be friendly and she was curious because he had no uniform/gym PE outfit and wasn't with the hoikuen kids. She turned around and said...Such and such yochien. Kouiki's mom was definitely surprised. @_@ She said..I thought only Noah-kun was coming from such and such yochien. They are both now smiling at each other. Now Sera's mom is a little @_@ how did she know Sera's classmates name, you can see she was thinking that? I was just sitting watching this whole thing unfold. "Noah-kun, how do you know Noah-kun?" Again just being polite, this was not a grand Inquisition on either of their parts... just curiosity on both their parts. Kouiki's mom replies...My older son and Noah-kun's older brother are classmates, for the past 4 years. Then she added, we also happen to live in the same housing community together! Oh, I see. Sera's mom said. Again all very polite, but a lot of surprises and definitely a very interesting experience.

Three father's club members have new kids entering. Noah being one. And Kouki's little brother Kaito will also be Noah's classmate. Yet one more person we will know for next year. Another relief. Thank goodness we know Kouiki's family.


Story #4 Unasked for, unwanted attention. So many people staring at Noah. The whole holding area a buzz. You could see pointing and hear whispers. One mom missed a large part of her child's entire hoikuen dance number and just grinned at Noah the entire time. Grandparents of future students pointing and smiling, one person even waving at Noah @_@. New future classmates equally staring. The principal, yes principal actually had told him...what a gorgeous little boy you are. The pointing and enormous smiles and such were really weird to be honest. Yes it happens on a daily/weekly basis pretty much for Noah especially since we live in the countryside, (and yes just when you think everyone knows you..he goes and switches to elementary school and this starts all over again sigh). But there was so much buzz about one particular future classmate and that buzz was about Noah. It's impossible to pretend it didn't happen, it did.


So they said, everyone pair off. All the hoikuen kids held hands and luckily Noah and Sera held hands and walked off. We stood behind to get ready. They announced no big full circle lap like we saw last year. But a short race.
Nyuzengi seki/ future first graders/preentering age kids, is what that sign means. The dance number the hoikuen kids did.
5 hoikuen kids up first. The boys had blue and white shirts the girls had pink and white shirts.
Noah's turn. Noah raced with 4 hoikuen kids. Noah in his bright white and yellow yochien gym outfit, showing pride for our yochien! Go Noah!!!! You could still hear a buzz from people about Noah when he stood there about to race. Branden said, he and all his classmates were screaming for Noah...cheering him on!!!! All the kids Noah plays with in the neighborhood. Branden's friends!

Noah did so well. He came in 2nd place. I think he was just nervous because he usually comes in first place. But we love him no matter what he places.
My beautiful boy!
This part makes me sad. Sera in the green shirt trying to join the hoikuen boys They aren't paying him any mind, they have their back to him. So he's sitting farther away then the rest. Noah, he doesn't care yochien...or hoikuen, he is a relaxed soul/personality, so he just joined the cluster he actually talked with the boy sitting diagonal to him from hoikuen while they sat there. The boy sitting behind the girl. And they all got those presents, notebooks to be used in the first grade. I think with Noah's personality he will be okay. He interacts with people at swim club and he interacts with people at yochien, he's used to meeting people and making friends.
Noah's now joined those 2 hoikuen boys and Sera left out just sitting there. It (don't laugh at me) it broke my heart. Some kids will adjust really well, I think Noah will be one of those. This same thing happened with Branden and Genki. Branden and Genki only had each other. For a while until they made other friends. Noah is really REALLY out going though. And he just always jumps right in. He does speak fluent Japanese and English. So he can talk, chat.. play and argue and even stick up for himself....all in Japanese. He knows all the Japanese popular characters...Pokemon, Inazuma 11, etc. He's not socially awkward meaning he knows how to play kori oni, kids in elememtary school love playing dodgeball and soccer, he's great at both and in Summer the kids love to swim at the elementary, and Noah's an amazing swimmer, so he will be okay. He'll be fine. His personality is so, that I don't worry so much. Plus big brother Branden and all his tons of friends will always be around just in case. : ) I have asked Branden to please keep an eye out for Sera if he could. We will need lots of good vibes next April. For Noah and Sera, you guys. The stats as of undokai day last Saturday. 35 new coming first graders are enrolled as of now! If they get 2 more they will split in 2 classes, but as is, 1 class for Noah next year. And 2 from our private Catholic yochien, Noah and Sera. 3 from the public yochien that is Kaito (Kouki's brother) and 2 other kids from that yochien. And 1 lone child from the other private yochien.: ( There are only 3 yochien's in the city Noah's yochien is in. 1 regular private yochien. 1 public yochien and then ours...the private Catholic yochien. No yochien in our actual town. And the rest of the kids...all 29 of them, are coming from the hoikuen. So only 6 kids coming from the different yochiens.
It could be a rough month or two next April but things will work out, that's the peace of mind I have going through this with Branden and Genki. Has me much more relaxed for Noah's turn. A year from now...you will all be friends, you all will be blended and no one will give 2 hoots who came from what school...yochien or hoikuen. It's just getting to THAT point...and then we will be good. Next year these kids will all be wearing the SAME uniform! Ne~
The debut now done. So much going on, it was now nearly noon. Had been awake since 5am! And that debut thing and all the this person meeting this person. Or this person not knowing Sera was from the same yochien as Noah goes to. Just all of it. I was so ready for lunch. : ) I think we all could use a break! Noah sitting on one of our leisure sheets.
Time for lunch! What a beautiful obento! karaage that I had marinating all night, it was so good. onigiri, potato salad, tamagoyaki, meatballs, shumai, typical stuff that should be found in an undokai obento if you ask my husband! : ) A fresh salad with goma dressing. We had Jasmine tea and also lemonade (to quench our thirst) and grape soda for lunch for a special treat. I also baked homemade Tollhouse chocolate chip walnut cookies from scratch the night before! I want our obento to be something they completely look forward to all day! I really put a lot of effort, thought and care into it. It has to be visually pleasing as well as tasty. Red and green very important colors for an obento! : )
Homemade cookies from scratch!
Just finished lunch, now having a few cookies to enjoy before he started back in with the undokai.
Noah ate so much, he was now taking a rest on the leisure sheet.
The, I just had a huge delicious lunch look!
The musical number. Branden had a blue bandana in this pic.

The Father's Club tug of war! Noboru being in the Father's Club. He was 3rd from the left in this pic. They worked a lot of the events they also did patrolling during this too. So they are very active. They also have meeting's/get together's a few times a year.
Go guys. Then they switched positions/sides.
They have a red versus white. Pump up! A few times during undokai. It's quite amazing to watch and experience. Red red red!!! They jump, cheer. Pound drums. Then the white team goes and screams and hollars...white white white and they equally pound their drums. Then...the red goes again and they banter like this twice during the undokai. Really gets the crowd all pumped up!
Our score board! And the Japanese flag proudly waving!
The tug of war...1st graders to the 4th graders! This was a big one!
Noboru working this event. Along with the other "Father's Club" dad's.
Yochien undokai lasts like 3 hours tops. So it's short and simple. However elementary school undokai on the other hand, lasts an entire day. Noah poor kid was definitely getting ready for it to be over. By now it was 2:45pm-ish. I admit, I was a bit ready for this thing to be over with too. Good thing I made the crust/dough that morning, because I was in no mood to start dinner making. Physically, I was tired and the sitting outside in the heat all that time. Wow. So glad dinner was easy for that night.
And yet another event Noboru helped at. Branden was done event wise by now. And we were just waiting for it to be over. The weather that day? Melting hot. Super hot, a real scorcher. Hottest weather we've ever had for Branden's undokai in all the 4 years he's been at elementary school.
We all picked our own shave ice on the way out. I picked half lemon and half peach. OMG! Peach is so good! Noah had green apple and grape. And Branden had peach, green apple and grape. Noboru had lemon and strawberry. He always picks strawberry! : ) The quick fold tarp was so quick, so much so....I was surprised it took that short of time to unfold. I think it was faster then our UV umbrella we used last year and the years before for elementary school undokai's, hmm. We were in the car in no time. I also had a few seconds to chit chat some with Kenny's dad before heading into the car.
Many sweat stains on this hat. Branden got 1st place for 1 event and 2nd place for 2 events (this says for 2nd place..sorry all his other stickers he sweated right off). So not too bad. I was so busy juggling 2 boys picture taking last Saturday for undokai that I am wondering how I will manage next year when both Branden and Noah are at undokai together.


A red vs. white face off! : ) This really gets everyone pumped!


The start of the half time performance. All grades did so wonderful!


Go Father's Club! Tug of war! : )

Last Friday's shaon kai meeting and saving our spot for the undokai

Typhoon blurb from us here that happened 2 days ago. Since I worked that day and then since I made it back to my area with more then enough time...I went and picked up Branden with Noah after I got home from work. By then I could tell the typhoon was definitely heading our way. Almost like fate would have it, as weird as that sounds. As soon as we got home, with Branden...and we all got home. Is when it got very VERY dark gray overcast. And is when the winds started to pick up. The winds actually howled and it rained like crazy all evening and all night. We brought the hanging plants down and laid them on the porch floor, the wreath that hangs on the front door we took down and into the genkan. Noboru went and stood on the front porch and he said come out for a minute. We 4 did, we stood on the front porch and wow! It was so loud outside (with all flights being cancelled Noboru stayed home), the tall weeds next door in the empty lot/land brushing and moving back and forth wildly. Noboru told me...he has never seen anything like this, meaning quite as big or severe! It was a big one. We also had 2 power outages in our neighborhood the evening of the typhoon, but they came back on, within 5 minutes. Then went off again but again only for 5 minutes. And that was it. We turned the computer off though that night around 5pm and kept it off. After dinner and showers and homework was done. We all watched TV. No damage all all whatsoever at our house. And all our neighbors houses look fine too.

Anyway I am trying to play catch up here and get all the things from last weekend up today. I'd like and hope to get all 3 posts up today, but today is a holiday here in Japan and the boys are off school and Noboru is off work, but they are fishing down the road together (some father and son time the three of them) So, we'll see how far I can get before they get home. : )

Last Friday, Noah and I went to the yochien. I dropped him off at his class. Greeted the teacher and then went upstairs for the shaon kai meeting. 6 people showed, if you count me, 7 total. The Jogo-san. Kouki-kun's mom (yep, Noah has one in his class and Branden has one in his class too: ) Then my other friend who lived in New Zealand for a while as an exchange student. Then same town mom as me, mom. And short and cute smiley mom (she really likes me a lot: ). And not to leave out super tall mom, she was also there. Sorry I don't know all their names, they all know my name. And I know all their faces and like them all it's just I know 85% the class mom's name by heart but a few I don't know by heart. We started the meeting right away. And the other room upstairs were having the yearbook meeting.

From 9:30am to 11:35am last Friday. This was yet another very long meeting. We talked about, another gift to give to the kids. A mini little notebook with their names written on it, one mom brought a sample so we could see and vote on. The place to eat has been decided and booked. Some mom was nice enough to go to the restaurant and take a pic of the kids meal and the standard adults meal. We were impressed and it is within our class budget. The kids meal will cost the PTA, for our graduating class 500 yen each kids meal. And yes we go through cost per each kid, parent etc. How much money is left over to spend on flowers, etc etc. It was/is very long and very hard work, it's definitely no walk in the park. But it is for our kids so it's okay. The budget being tight this year has got a lot of us very worried about how good of a party we can have for the shaon kai. The kids meal will have omelet rice, karaage, custard etc. Our next meeting is October 6th. One mom already has been decided to MC for the shaon kai because she is excellent at doing so, and Kouiki's mom will do that. Also, some mother's who can sew well will use their talents and since we are on a budget for the presents. We decided that because the sensei's eat lunch at school daily, so a few mom's will be sewing all the sensei's lunch mats. And another mom who is quite talented with sewing is going to sew tote bags for the teachers too. I am going to set up for the shaon kai, which is going to be such a huge job and I also will be helping with making the place cards and all things like that. We all have many smaller jobs that need to be done before graduation next March. When Branden graduated and at the shaon kai, we presented each sensei with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. However again since our class budget is so tight this year, we will have each child give 2-3 roses to the teachers we hope that will look more heart felt and special and again because of the budget. I can only tell you how hard we have been working on this. An act of love....it really is. : ) We also will pay for all 13 teachers meals (that includes the bus driver, etc etc, gym teacher that also comes from the graduating classes budget.

Anyway after the shaon kai meeting. I had reminded them that Noah would not be at the rehearsal Saturday because of Branden's undokai. They asked me, will you make obento? I said..yes of course... waking up at 5am! : ) They said...wow, we will do the same next week. So, turns out their undokai is this coming Saturday. So after we talked and talked. We finally stopped the meeting. We all walked down the stairs together, all peeked into the container where the school turtle lives. And all parted ways...I told them I was off to the store to get some last minute undokai things for the next day and waved them good bye.

Ran home. Brought the laundry in. Prepped for dinner last Friday night. Buta kimchee. Set the rice timer. Then went round and picked up Noah. Chatted with my yochien mom friends again. And left. Went home and we waited. Noboru was home, and he went and bought 2 folding camping type chairs earlier while I was out running errands, you know for undokai. Branden got off at 4pm last Friday. We had the stuff in the car to save our spot. And so did about 30 other mothers/father's and even 2 grandma's!!!! Yeah, when Branden was in the 1st grade maybe about 6-7 mother's saved spots. When he was in the 2nd grade....about 15 saved spots. This year it was a little crazy! All the mom's had leisure sheets in hands and tables, we were surprised so many mothers were saving spots this year. We got such a wicked spot though! First front row, same as usual! It was very right on, we got such a great spot. After the spot was saved...we were so relieved. We slowly went home. And had supper.

I went to bed by 10pm, because I knew how early I'd wake up the next morning.
I mentioned on an earlier post that I ran to Nishimatsuya after Tuesday's super long meeting, which is not to be confused with Friday's equally super long meeting. @_@ : ) Anyway this is what I bought. 1 pack of yochien socks for Noah. 1 two in a pack of Pokemon undershirts for Noah. His classmates wear those types and he wants to too, so I let him. : ) Undokai socks for Branden and thicker and longer type socks for the Fall/Winter weather.
Same packs just different sizes. : )
Multi color packs.
See these, they were on sale, just a few hundred yen. And Noah was SO happy getting these. So much so, I threw them in the washer and dryer that very night so he could wear one last Wednesday. : )
Non skid sports socks for Branden for undokai.
You can better see the Fall/Winter socks with this pic. Very preppy and I like the color on the bottom so it won't show wear as much. They're not knee high length yet not sneaker length type short. They cover the ankle and a bit higher so I like the length for the boys for the upcoming weather. The sneaker socks on the right. Branden wore one pair to undokai and I also packed him 1 other spare pair and a spare gym uniform top and bottom just in case, he sweat too much or fell or something. He didn't need it, but he had it anyway, which was nice to know. Peace of mind. : )
And Noah's. 6 pair of preppy socks, looks like something I'd get from ON or Gap..so I really liked this purchase and why I bought a pack for each of the boys....not a bad start for the upcoming colder weather. Stocking up little by little. I think next month, October, I'll run back down to Nishimatsuya and get 1 last 6 pack of socks for the boys for the colder weather and then they'll be done. Sock wise.

Okay, Noboru, Branden and Noah just got home, just now. So, I'll get the undokai post up tomorrow. But I have already got the pics on my blog and they're on the "saved/draft" area already. So tomorrow when I wake up, I should be able to get it done hopefully. Sorry, it's taken me so long to get it up. Anyway our dvd rentals arrived here yesterday, so we'll be watching 1 tonight and I have had the dough rising all day. So we'll have pizza for dinner tonight. Just a simple quiet night here at home. The other dvd, we will save for tomorrow night. Pizza and family movie night tonight. Have a great night everyone. : )

The calling tree this morning (updated)

Around 6:25am our home phone rang this morning. It was the mother in front of our name on the order of the calling tree. The message today? No school...yochien canceled today because of the typhoon expected today. Thank you for calling. Hung up and called the next person on the calling tree. The Jogo-san is right behind me, and it's not in alphabetical order at our school. Anyway, we're great friends, in fact we went to our favorite Indian restaurant yesterday afternoon from 11:30am until the yochien let out. The Jogo-san and Noriko and myself. So, anyway....yeah called the Jogo-san this morning. Gave her the message of school being canceled today. Went upstairs told Noah, no school today kiddo! Boy is he happy. : ) He's now downstairs watching the Cartoon Network with Branden eating breakfast. They're both eating egg croissants that I made for them this morning. Store bought croissants and omelet with cheese and veggies inside the croissant. And a yogurt on the side. : )

However the elementary school hasn't called us, or emailed us. So, I guess the elementary kids still have school today. Hmm.

I'm meanwhile working at one of the two hoikuen's today.... my 1 day for September today. Figures I'd be working the day a typhoon hits. : ) I went over my 2 lessons, 2 days ago. Went over them last night as well. I'm ready. I'm sitting here drinking my 1 cup of coffee with Irish cream flavored creamer. And looking out the big patio window in the living room. It seems to be lightly drizzling but not so bad. If it does get bad later, I hope I'm at least home first. : ) Noboru starts work today at 4pm, and I work from 9:20am to 11:30am. So I should be home by 12:30pm. Maybe Noboru and Noah will play the Wii, while I'm gone this morning. : )

UPDATE: Just got an email from Branden's school just now. Anyway it said...because of the typhoon all the kids will get out of school early today, immediately after lunch. So to pick up Branden at 1pm today! Either Noboru and Noah will go pick up Branden in the MPV or unless I can get myself back to my town in enough time, from work in my tiny red car...I'll pick up Branden. Either way. Geeze, how bad is this typhoon going to be? I hope I'll be okay driving the distance I have to this morning.

Homemade apple crisp

Well, as you know this past weekend was quite busy for us. It was wonderful though and I have a ton to say about it. I'll blog all about that when I get a little extra free time (give me a day or two). But for now, I have a few posts that were waiting since last week. And since I have yet to get the pics up from the undokai day and also the respect for the aged day. I'll get these posts up first. The Saturday before this last Saturday (undokai day), I made our first apple crisp of the season.
Peeled and diced many many apples. Cinnamon sprinkled through the apples. Covered with the homemade oatmeal crisp topping I made. And put into the big oven for 45-50 minutes. The entire house smelled lovely.
And out and cooling on 2 thick square pot holders.
I had the meat now frying in the pan. I made yakisoba 2 Saturday's ago for dinner. With lots of fresh veggies.
My serving.
Again the movies we saw that weekend, they were sent back to the rental place a long time ago. But yep, that's what we had 2 Saturday's ago. : )

Bits from my busy week and gearing up for a busy weekend

This week, has been really busy for me. On Tuesday this week, you would not believe all the things I had going on.

After sending both kids to school. And of course making breakfasts for them both and obento for Noah. I ran home, hung the laundry and then started getting myself ready to head back to the yochien. Meet up time. 10:30am. We had a "parent teacher meeting" basically all parents showed up and first the priest came out and gave us all a talk. How we could strive to be better Catholics...and also how to be better people in general. He spoke about volunteer work etc. It was quite a lengthy talk. After that the encho-sensei came out and gave an equally lengthy speech. "do's and don'ts" for undokai. I think this little diddy of information was more so... for the new mother's, kids that entered in April. Because most of us mom's with older kids have done this once or twice before. So we just listened and listened. Then after that. More then likely a full hour of speeches between the priest and encho sensei combined. They followed with the "folk dance" practice. Just us mom's.

All us mom's had to hold hands with a fellow mom. I partnered off with my friend. And we folk danced. I feel so lame folk dancing but I know it's a dance with our kids. So, I'm happy to do it. We were laughing and carrying on a bit, while we practiced dancing. We have to knee clap, then clap hands with a fellow mother...and some of us got it wrong. It was funny. Then after the folk dance practice. Which we will have 1 more folk dance practice in a few more weeks. Anyway after that, we all stood upstairs but separated in groups by class. You know...Nencho, nenchu type separation.

Once we were separated in little circles we all talked about, which roles would you like to do. What job you'd like to do at the undokai. That had to be decided this past Tuesday. Like...do you want to be the one who takes all the kids to the bathroom during the undokai? That is a hard job. I didn't raise my hand for that. I am going to help during the games. It's fun for me, it's hands on. So, I raised my hand for that. All our names were written down. And that was that. So Tuesday at the yochien started with a meeting, then folk dancing, then followed by another meeting.@_@

By now it was noon. So, I headed to Nishimatsuya to get some yochien socks for Noah. But then, while there I ended up getting a 3 pack of running socks for Branden for his upcoming undokai this Saturday. And then since they were having a sale on socks. I picked up 1 (6pair/in a pack) of winter socks for Branden, and 1 of the same exact pack but in a smaller size for Noah too. Part of my slowly getting the boys Fall/Winter ready bit by bit. : )

After that, I cruised on home. The laundry was dry and I brought it in the house and folded it. Then, looking at the clock, I had a teeny tiny bit of time, and I washed some rice, set the timer on that. And chopped my veggies. Ran out of time, so I would have to save the chopping the chicken for later. Washed my hands. And went back to the yochien. Chatted with a few of my mom friends. Grabbed Noah and we hit the road back home. Branden was to get out at 3:45pm. And it was now 2:05 or so. Noah had time to unpack his obento, put it into the dishwasher himself. Run upstairs put his yochien clothes in the dirty clothes baskets and napkin that wrapped his lunch and socks too. He switched clothes, threw on a hat and went and played outside in the backyard. I meanwhile chopped the chicken. Got started in on dinner. And by 3:15pm it was finished. Turned the stove off.

Had 15 minutes of free time. I checked my email read it briefly, replied back to my dad. Thought of a few more replies to a few others. And then sat on the couch for the remaining 10 minutes or so. And then since I leave at 3:30pm to pick him up and with enough time to spare even. We left at 3:30pm Noah and I. He had a chance to decompress from yochien. And I had a bit of time to relax my brain as well.

Branden home, he had to unpack himself same as Noah does. Put his chopsticks away in the dishwasher. Go upstairs and switch clothes. Pull out his homework. And he got cracking on it right away poor kid. He finished it up. Quickly. And then he came downstairs had 2 yogurts. And went outside to play in the backyard. He needs that time, I think. The Jinbei boy and Keita came around. They went and played soccer somewhere for a while and Noah tagged along with them. They didn't play too long. They came back at 5pm, as always. I meanwhile heated dinner. And we all ate.

This coming Friday, I have a meeting for the shaon kai, at the yochien yet again. Graduation party for the teachers next year when the kids graduate. Yep, these things are planned by us, well in advance. And also this Friday, I must run to Branden's school around 4pm to save our spot for the undokai the next day.@_@ So, we will be setting up the leisure sheet and the covering we just got at Aeon, this Friday evening. Noboru is actually not working that day. Which is nice because he can come and help me get set up. Usually I am the lone person setting up with both boys in tow and to be honest it gets hard on me doing the set up. So, I will be happy this Friday Noboru will be there.

This Saturday, undokai day for Branden.... all kids have to be at the school at 7:20am or so. And the actual undokai starts at 9am? Or around there. It ends at...the time to pick up the kids is 3:30pm at their classroom or wherever. So, it will be an all day event. Noah as you know will be running round for 1 lap or half lap. To express to the school..I will be here...next year. Not to mention the obento that I will be waking up to make at 5am Saturday morning to prepare. @_@. Needless to say, Saturday evening...we will be pretty tired after undokai. But, I know how hard the elementary kids are working on the undokai. How much time and effort they are working on this. So, I am really looking forward to seeing this undokai. To enjoying this undokai. : ) Noboru has a "father's club" party an hour after undokai is over. So, he will come home shower and get ready for that. I am making pizza Saturday night. Meaning make the crust in the morning forget it and roll it at night. Just because I know how exhausted I will be after the undokai.

Also this Saturday is the "respect for the aged" rehearsal that the yochien kids are doing this coming Sunday. But last year Noah could not go to the rehearsal and about 90% of the kids did not show up for the rehearsal because most elementary schools (not just ours) around here are having undokai this Saturday and most yochien kids have older siblings. The few that don't have older siblings showed up. But Noah will attend the "respect for the aged" day singing concert this coming Sunday. But he can't show up for the rehearsal because Branden is also having undokai that day. Most of my yochien mom friends aren't showing up for the rehearsal either so it's okay. Everyone knows we have older kids, and knows undokai for most of us is this weekend. Basically scheduling conflict for us all.

And Sunday, I will again be at the "respect for the aged" concert, with camcorder and digi cam in hand and watch Noah and the rest of his yochien sing. The other yochiens are also showing up too. How is my weekend going to go? What weekend? Ha ha ha. : ) *smiling*

It's okay honestly, I am a busy mother with yochien and school aged children and I may miss a weekend here and there. I'm okay. This again is why I am glad I enjoyed that day at the salon...a few weeks ago. : )

This coming Monday though is a holiday here in Japan and both Branden and Noah have no school that day. Thank goodness!!!! So, I will get one day to recuperate from the busy weekend we will be having. I will however have a ton of pictures and stories to share next week though.

Today however is my calm before the storm so to speak. My calm day before the busy weekend that will surely follow. : ) Fun busy days though... but busy nonetheless. : )

Next week is going to be great though. My good friends Noriko and the Jogo-san and I are getting together next week. For lunch or a movie. We're still deciding but we know it'll be next week on September 20th though. I also work September 21st in the day. So that's going to be fun to see the kids. Last time I saw them...I gobbled them all up when I played."What time is it Mrs. Wolf" : )

The weather here in Chiba. It's been hot in the daytime. In the US, we call it an..."Indian Summer" So, it's been hot during the days still. I'm still wearing shorts and dresses and skirts in the days when I leave the house. The nights are starting to cool off some though. But if you ask me, it still feels like Summer's hanging on. : )

Also, I keep forgetting to mention this. But both my exams were clean. I got 2 post cards sent to the house. One was for my breast exam and the other was for my pap test. Everything completely fine. So, phew! Glad I stay on top of my exams. Relief for another year. : )

Anyway, I want to clean out my closet today. So, I better get started on that.

What's for dinner tonight at our house? Chicken cutlet curry. Something our family enjoys every Fall/Winter. I breaded 4 cutlets already this morning after I got back from taking Noah to yochien this morning (they're now on a plate in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap). And will make the rice and chop the veggies and chicken for the curry before I get Noah this afternoon. Also both Branden and Noah have Kumon after school lets out as well. Noboru is off today and the next 3 days. 4 days in a row total. Where is he at right now? He's fishing. He has nothing to do, it's a cheap/nearly free hobby. So, he's off down the road right now. Happy as a clam. : ) Alrighty, I've chatted/posted long enough...and the closet really needs tending to. : )

Reservations already made

Do you remember when we went to Hakone last November? It was so lovely and nice to be in the mountains at a famous onsen area, stay the night at a nice hotel. And just onsen up, the whole trip. Going from various outdoor bath to bath. Well, we're doing the same this year as well. In fact Noboru already made our reservation to the hotel, booked the room. Luckily for us he did, because there were only 2 rooms left, so it is more then likely sold out for that night by now since we took/reserved 1 of the rooms. First part of October this year that's where we will be. Just a one night, over night trip (same as last year), but that's more then enough to enjoy it. These are the pics from last year of course. The outdoor wine onsen, complete with huge wine bottle, lol.

The green tea onsen (smelled so amazing).
The Dr. Ci Labo, pretty well known cream here in Japan, I see the infomercials/commercials to these sometimes, lol. It smelled heavenly soaking in here and our skin felt so soft afterwards. Anyway, they always have new baths out, I wonder which ones we'll try this time around. And for what it's worth, I've seen online pics of when they had a cup of noodle bath, looked crazy and fun! And they also had a chocolate one around Valentine's Day, they mix their baths and themes/scents up for the seasons. Anyway will be curious what they have this time around. I think the wine one will be there though since that seems to be one of their main ones. : ) Also October should be lovely to watch all the leaves falling around, Fall is the perfect season for going to Hakone for sure. We're also currently planning what day we will be heading to one of the Disney's for Halloween festivities as well (same as we do every year). But more on that later.

For now, the one main thing our family is sort of quietly waiting and looking forward to, is our trip to Hakone. : )
And the famous black eggs, yummm. Anyway just wanted to share one of the things our family, is looking forward to once Fall, starts to really get a little bit more under way this coming October.

Hot delicious homemade pizza

Last Friday night, with it being the start of the weekend and all. I thought what better way to start a weekend, then with homemade pizza. A recipe that's been passed down in my family. I made the crust during the day, covered the dough and left it to sit in a quiet place in the kitchen. Kneading a few times during the day but mostly let it be. By the time both Branden and Noah were home and switched into comfy clothes and homework was finished, I had started up the big oven.
Rolled out the "from scratch" dough!
I can roll these out in my sleep. It must be in the genes. : )
Some mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, bell peppers, mushrooms and onion.
I made our family's favorite, the half and half. Half pepperoni only and half pepperoni and veggies.
You know this is a sign of a real good pizza when you see a crust like this, look how crisp it is, not too overly crisp though mind you, but crisp enough that it lifts some above the pan around the edges. No limp heavy dough here. Tastes like something you'd get out of a homemade mom and pop pizza parlor from back home. And though I enjoy and love cooking many many different things and types of foods. Pizza is the one thing I know, I can make and make well.
Two of the movies we rented back in August. Morning Glory, didn't care for this one so much, sorry. We also rented Gulliver's Travels with Jack Black and this was very funny! The whole family enjoyed this one. The other 2 movies we rented for August...since there was nothing we wanted or we already rented, so we rented 2 kids movies. How to Train Your Dragon (again) and we rented, Despicable Me (again) the boys enjoyed watching those in August.
The first 2 movies for September got here at the start of the weekend. Just in time for movie and pizza night on Friday. We watched the King's Speech. This was so good. I watched half of this on the airplane. But during a flight and with flight attendants keep coming around, and the kids talking to me during the flight off and on... not that I mind but the movie gets lost in the shuffle for sure. Noboru telling me...watch this watch this. : ) I paused the movie so many times it was hard to follow with all the interruptions so I thought when it comes out, we'll watch it together. And you know what...the whole family enjoyed it Friday night. Noboru loved it. It was a great movie. Saturday night after the kids went to bed, Noboru and I watched Black Swan. I saw this in the airplane before too. But Noboru wanted to see this and he really disliked this movie. I think because the movies goes from reality...to her delusions to reality again to, a delusion yet again. So he disliked this movie. I on the other hand, sort of liked it. But ehhh wouldn't buy the DVD or anything.

Now we are anxiously awaiting the other 2 DVD rentals for September. : )

September 11th, ten years later

I'm sure everyone knows and remembers where they were when 9/11 happened. Here's my story, I've shared it once before on this blog but with it being the 10th anniversary and all. It feels right to write this again.

As you know Branden will be 10 years old this year he was born the year 9/11 happened. Here's our story.

For the whole year prior to 9/11 my grandma's health had been slowly failing. Noboru and I were living in Honolulu Hawaii at the time. I was expecting our first child. Had toured the hospital and had received all of my prenatal care, all 8 months up until that point of care at the Moana Lua Kaiser facility there. We even had planned and routed 2 ways to get ourselves to the hospital, in case of traffic. We were set. And on the last week of August, my grandma had been feeling worse and worse and it looked like she wouldn't be with us much longer. So, I made the huge decision to fly to Denver (back "home") to spend some very special time with my gran. Her and I had this special bond. We'd talk every single, yes literally every single day. I know you can't fly being 9 month's pregnant and I wasn't yet, but I also knew this would be more then likely my last chance to see her alive and it was. I was to fly back to Hawaii mid September and prepare for the birth of baby B on October 26th (yes he was born his actual due date)

Denver is about 2 hours (timewise) behind New York. So it was about 6:40-6:45 am where I was. It was semi dark morning-ish, the sun still not brightly shining in Denver, my dad was already gone and on his way to work already, he worked at Denver International Airport. The phone rings and I walk to the phone and answer it. It's Noboru. He sounds very serious, I can hear it in his voice. "Turn on your television!!! The United States was just bombed, they flew a plane right into the WTC." I grabbed for the remote didn't matter which channel, it was on every single channel, all the same horrific thing. And it was live. So much smoke coming out of the tower. The 2nd plane didn't hit yet. We just stood there on the phone in total shock and horror. About 3 minutes later I hung up. They knew a few planes were hijacked, trying to find out which ones and where. Airports were all on high alert. Would my dad be bombed, he worked at DIA afterall. My dad got to work at 7:15am, needless to say between 6:45am and 7:15am.... I called about 100 times from when I woke up until he actually answered it. He had heard already, was in shock and we spoke briefly. He was coming home, straight away and the airport was closing. Would feel much safer once dad is actually home and I could see him with my own eyes.

All of the airports for safety reasons immediately closed down. No flights in the US and no flights out! We saw on TV people stranded from all over. It was just absolutely surreal. So many questions, what..why...how? On the television, the coverage showed huge dust clouds when the towers finally collapsed, people jumping from the building, people down below running away, the coverage playing again and again. By that time our phones ringing off the hook from family, friends. Even my Mother in law phoned. By that time the plane had flown into the Pentagon. It was just an absolutely horrible day. The collapse showed again and again.

Colorado being sort of a target because:
We have the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. The 670 acre property is the largest concentration of federal agencies outside of Washington D.C. There is also a nuclear reactor on that site.

We also have Cheyenne Mountain.

NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

Mile High City's skyscrapers are also vulnerable targets. We were worried. if they want to blow up a target, Colorado could be on their sites. For a few of the reasons listed above.

Noises and sounds. For those of us actually living in the US at the time, might recall. In Denver, fighter jets patrolled the skies protecting us. You could hear them loudly all day and night the first day and make sweeps that week. It was loud though but necessary. I remember talking to my next door neighbor Julie about what happened in NYC in our front lawns, we were so saddened and the jets flew overhead. And we both looked up at the sky.

Also, because of the "all flights" stopped thing. A huge problem rose for me. How would I get myself back home to Honolulu? My Ob/gyn is there, my husband's there. Our condo is there. All our baby stuff is there. Car seat, first pack of diapers, first "come home" outfit was there. Seriously as a first time soon to be mom, I needed to be back in Honolulu as soon as possible. Seriously.

Noboru being well...Noboru. Called every airline, and called me and said, he found 1 flight that would leave in 3 days and they might suspend it afterwards even, but if I had any hope at all.... I had to be on that flight. I agreed. So, I made sure I was all packed up. At Denver International Airport, I waited at the gate. Being at the gate....omg! So absolutely surreal. I've flown a lot in my lifetime, but this was the most unusual and saddest flight I've ever taken.

There were about 6 of us boarding the plane from Denver to San Francisco. The flight was totally silent. The flight attendants totally silent. Us passengers totally silent. Would somebody take this plane too? Honestly you had to wonder. The immediate aftermath of what happened, every one was on absolute pins and needles.

I landed in San Francisco, the once bustling airport a total ghost town. I waited at my next gate, a whopping what...5 people on a plane to Honolulu. Unbelievable. No happy tourists, no people wearing leis and sun hats and sunglasses. Just quiet people in shock boarded this flight. Again the 6-7 hour flight was just absolute silence. They told us...sit wherever you want. I sat in economy and just looked out the window during take off and thought....what's happening here? My grandma might die. The whole country is all shook up and rightfully so. The thoughts of me giving labor terrified me to my inner core. I just sat with my thoughts during the flight. Flipping through the stupid magazine in front of me...not really "reading" it, but just flipping through it. I must have flipped through that magazine 30 times.

Once we landed, I must confess I was so relieved. Happy to be away from the mainland. I was afraid being there in the aftermath. And that's sad to admit since I am from the mainland and I love it there. But, I was just relieved to be back in Honolulu. Noboru met me at the airport. And we went home.

The other guys from Japan living at the same condo place as us, not same apartment but neighbors and stuff. They were also sent there from the airline too. They came out and asked me, how was the mainland? How was the flight? I told them all what I had encountered with great sadness. They told me, you should see Waikiki. It's totally dead. later that day we went to lunch there at our favorite ramen shop and sure enough Waikiki, the once bustling tourist attraction was a quiet ghost town. It was so surreal. Many flight were still cancelled and most airports weren't even running at like 5% of what they were used to. Amazing that I could get back to Honolulu. And from the mainland US, Truly amazing, I made it back.

I think those first few weeks afterwards, the country was still in shock trying to figure out who the men were. Just sort of make some sense from this senseless act. First week of October, I got another phone call. It was my dad. "Your grandma passed away, Gina I'm so sorry" I am now in absolute tears. And I usually don't cry for anything. I'm in absolute tears. My dad's who cries even less then me, is in absolute tears. We talk, it is now obvious I can't fly back to Denver. One of the most important persons in my whole entire life and I can't fly back to attend her funeral. I am now 9 month's pregnant and should not be flying anyway. And with the flights still being a bit iffy/dodgy. I can't leave.

In less then a 1 month time frame this all happened. Noboru was talking to his mother on the phone, she told him, she has so much stress it can't be good for the baby. She was right. I was so stressed out. Just numb.

From the first week of October, to October 26th, we went to the beach every other day, not to have fun, he took me....just so we could sit and feel the sand and watch the ocean come in and out. We'd bring a picnic with us. Or even Mc D's. Or a Hawaiian plate lunch. I needed that 3 weeks to just start to feel like me again. The news showed, families putting up posters looking for lost/missing loved ones. The whole country was hurting, in pain, mourning. And so were we. I am still not over the death of my grandmother, not even now. Same as I'll not ever be over what happened September 11th.

When my son was born. I thought, this is a time for a new. A time for a rebirth. And for happiness. In November I flew back to Denver for a few weeks. And my dad and I needed that. he had just lost his mother. I had just lost my gran. And Branden gave us that focus. To put all of our energy and *hope* into that tiny little baby. And all the love we had to give.

You know...I have seen all week, this week, the stories for and about 9/11, the 10 years later stories. The women heroes. The families and victims of 9/11. What I wanted to say about this is.

America and Americans were greatly hurt by 9/11, we lost so much that day, we all did. But so many other nationals lost their lives that day too. I saw a story this week on CNN about families all over the world who were victims from 9/11. A Japanese national, and her husband and their small son. Her husband also a Japanese national was in one of the towers. She lost her loving husband that day. Her son lost his father that day. They moved back to Japan. And they have an alter for him. And she spoke and she cried. How 9/11 took her husband. Her son, now even way older then Branden spoke and he said he doesn't really remember his dad anymore. A Japanese family split apart, changed forever by 9/11.

A British woman, who worked in the towers. She was one of a few from her office that survived. She gave her story and she made a book or something of her coworkers and she cried a lot during the interview this week. She cried, has deep sorrow and pain, and you know watching her story this week made me incredibly sad, actually hearing her being there, what she went through, unbelievable. Now she is back in the UK, but her life forever changed by 9/11. The whole world was hurt by this. I enjoyed seeing a more detailed human side from that hour long show this week. But I will never forget that Japanese lady and son. Not ever! That story made me cry this week. Not sure why, it just struck a chord with me. She lost her husband, her best friend. I can't even fanthom losing my husband like that and raising our two son's alone. The simple thing of me putting myself in her shoes. I feel a hole inside just thinking of her pain and what she is going to go through for the rest of her life. She lost her life mate. Her soul mate that day. Honestly.

All of the NYC police men, the firemen. Just everyone. Amazing.

There's just an endless amount of stories, not one story or family more important then the next. So much lost that day.

The words that struck me the most in the aftermath all those years ago were. "Today we are all Americans" Somehow that was so comforting to me. I think because all countries knew how much we were hurting and also like I said, many other nationals were also victims. We all felt this pain and we all grieved this together.

During these past 10 years, the Discovery channel has showed reenactments from flight 93, the flight who fought back. Flight, 77, etc. They share the actual phone calls made during the time. One person called using the phones at the seats leaving a message to his wife. One of the flights, they knew they would die so they fought and they tried. I didn't realize how many people actually called their loved ones from the planes before seeing these shows/programs on the Discovery channel. All wanting to just say...good bye...and...I love you.

This week, I heard of a Subway/train conductor who was supposed to take off and close the doors after 1 minute yet he stood underneath 9/11 at the station for 10 minutes because he wanted to wait for whoever wanted to escape and evacuate so he stood there in his train. He's so affected that even today he's taken disability and is no longer working there poor man. Or this other man I saw yesterday morning on CNN....who was the guy who sends the messages to the pilots. He sent the message to all other planes...lock your doors. And then they said, 5 minutes later that one plane was taken hostage. he has such grief, he said he wishes he could turn back time and write key words like...hostage, terrorists. He wishes he would have a another chance and write/type something other then what he did. He shouldn't feel guilt, he should not.... but he does and he retired early and now spends his days haunted by 9/11.

So, all in all. I have no words of wisdom. No happy bow tie ending to this post. I just wanted to share our personal story of where we were during 9/11. And I also wanted to say...no matter what country you originate from or nationality you are, today we are all grieving. Grieving together.

I have my American flag hanging outside our home today. Though it was not 9/11 in the US this morning when I hung it. And I've also waited until it turned September 11th in the US to post this. And I will be hanging the flag all day tomorrow as well.

I'm closing comments to this post. Just doesn't seem like a comment is needed. You know...At Christmas time people can say Merry Christmas. Birthday's people can say happy birthday. Even the fourth of July people can say...happy 4th. What is there to be said for a day like today. You know what I mean. : (

Today my family and I are having a quiet day here at home. A day of keeping our family even closer then normal and a day of reflection and a little sorrow.

Flag poles should be half mast on a day like today, but I'm sure most Americans know that flag poles like the one I have, which is a very common one that we bought in the US. They don't really go half mast (the way the up and down metal flag poles do). The flags themselves are held up in the inside so they don't droop. But I did want to hang mine to show solidarity, unity, support and great love to my country and to show great respect to the ones who lost family members on this very sad day. Many families hang these outside their homes in the US on days like this. And we just "know" the flags can't go half mast. But we smile and say...at least they brought it out! That's the important thing. And so that is what I do every year. I saw the grandma next door and her daughter saw mine hanging today. I knew they knew why. No words necessary. We're all grieving this year. March 11th. Or the 10th anniversary of September 11th.