November 15th, is Shichi-go-san for those of us living in Japan. If you'd like to read more about it, here's a link. I explained it when Branden went here and, I think last year as well. Also, quite a few yochien's throughout Japan have little ceremonies at their kindergarten's for the children as well. Our yochien has one too. But ours as you know is a little bit different...with a twist, since it's a Catholic yochien. From left to right, we have our extremely Catholic encho sensei. In the pink cardi is the lovely Yayoi sensei. And on the far right is Noah obviously and 3 of his classmates. After the ceremony was finished the younger classes left back to class and the oldest class remained in the church with us Sakura-gumi parents. This was our last opportunity to take pics of our kids for the 7-5-3 at our yochien. So to make sure everyone got a good pic they took the kids in groups of four. Noah was in the first group. The priest is lovely, I feel like I've known him forever. I'm really going to miss these people when Noah graduates. I really will. Anyway...here's how it began/started...
Knowing this was the last 7 5 3 Noah would have at the yochien we came early. It was to start at 10am and last until 10:30am. But we arrived at 9:30am. The church was open and the priest was already inside. So we went inside. Like 2 seconds after we sat down, someones grandpa and grandma came in and sat down. And then more people shuffled in. Noboru wanted to come and see this since this was Noah's very last one. I understood. We took separate cars since I was heading to Mei-chan's house along with the Jogo-san for our shaon kai meeting afterwards. Anyway....so, us mom's chit chatted before the ceremony started. The mom who sits behind me, cracks me up to no end. She lives in the small city Noah goes to yochien in. However she was born and raised from the tiny town we live in and call home. She loves this town. She gives me more info on this town then I ever knew. : ) She said, did you see our town on TV? I did not, I said...what was it about. Then she told me....did you try the town butcher yet? (she told me about it 2 weeks ago while at swim club) Yes I did, last week in fact! : ) See, she also has a daughter who swims the same day Noah does. And so we chit chat there too. Anyway, she told me 2 weeks ago, that our town has a very good butcher. And to try their miso pork, since I mentioned liking miso pork. She also rec'd their chicken wings. LOL. Anyway, at the church she now told me to try the town bakery. Bakery? I said, I had no idea we even had a bakery in our town!!!! @_@ Are you sure, I asked? She laughed. Where is it at, I asked. Near the clinic she said. Oh...I am going there this week for our influenza shots, I told her. Then Sera's mom came in and sat next to Noboru and I. Before you know it we were all talking up a storm....the kids were at the back of the church by now so we stopped our chatter and began the ceremony. We had a talk about this years flu shot, it seems things are different this year and it was good to get a heads up with talking to my girlfriends about it.
The treat bags that hold the Chitose Ame. Chestnuts with faces on the bags on the right.
See the tiny seats in the front? Those are for the oldest class. They get to sit in the front front. Noah you finally made it to the front row seats baby!!!!
There were no actual pictures allowed during the ceremony this year. Which sort of made me a little bit angry because I would have loved to take pics of the actual ceremony and also the kids sang a lovely shichi go san song. It was so cute. I would have loved to keep that as a family memory. But... the bright side is at least I have these pictures. So that is good enough.
All the kids who took pictures all patiently waited while kids in sets of 4, took their picture with the sensei and the priest. Noah patiently waited. : )
This picture was taken for the yearbook. So, I quickly snapped a picture too.
Wow, you kids got so big! : )After this, Noboru left and I waved him off. And in the MPV he went. Meanwhile us Sakura-class/blue badge mom's, once again started chatting in the parking lot (about graduation stuff). Then, Mei-chan's mom and the Jogo-san and I all hopped into Mei-chan's mini van, I meanwhile parked my car towards the back of the yochien parking lot and folded my mirrors that way my car wouldn't be in the way, so my tiny red car stood at the yochien all day. So the 3 of us left together the rest knew we were starting the cards that day so they all waved us off...first went to a bakery to get some lunch. A new bakery to me. They bought 3 things each and so I bought 3 things too. I picked, a curry pan, first time I ever saw a curry pan not deep fried, it was good and way healthier, I prefer it not deep fried. And I picked an egg salad. This had great bread but the egg salad wasn't as good as my regular bakery makes it. And I picked one sweet thing, I picked a cream pan. The Jogo-san and I both picked these cream pans. The name said, special original type of cream pan, it looked very different. I loved this. We all took our baked goods to Mei-chan's mom's house. We enjoyed our lunch with plenty of good conversation. And then after we were done with lunch we got right down to business. We got started in on making the invitations. We worked and worked and worked until the yochein was about to let out. So, we all cleaned up and we all hopped into Mei-chan's mom's car and she drove us all to the school. Also, they loved the wrapping paper I brought and we are using it! Which makes me happy I could help. : )
We will be going back to Mei-chan's house on November 22nd to work on the invitation cards again. Hopefully we can finish them. We'd like to get them done before we break for Christmas, for the Winter holidays. Also, they knew Thanksgiving was the 24th, because I mentioned it when we were talking days we were not available. And yep right before we left we all 3 whipped out our calendar/date books and picked the date best that matched us. That date matched the 3 of us best. We will either be bringing obento or we'll buy lunch for ourselves from the bakery that day again. And then get right into our work. It's fun, it's social for me and I have a ball spending time with my friends, the ladies from the yochien.
Meanwhile, Noah continues to have play dates with yochien friends. Next Wednesday, his best friend Hikaru and him will be staying late and do kagai until 3pm because they can play at school together for an extra hour together. And a few of their friends are also doing the same. H's mom, told me last week about it. She said, can Noah do kagai in 2 weeks. Because the swim school is closed this week. So we had to skip a week. I said, for sure! She said, perfect! That way, H, and Noah and R-kun and S-chan can all play at the school run around like maniacs if they want to. And then at 3pm, they will all go to swim club together. So, next/this coming Wednesday play date. The day before Thanksgiving.
Here's the treat bag the sakura class/blue badges received this their final year for 7-5-3.
Noah's. : ) This says Noah. Awww, the last one he will get for 7-5-3 from the school.
And this lovely necklace, they receive these every year and I have all Noah's saved and tucked away and Branden's too.
Close up, so pretty!
These are small, so I will save all these things for Noah in his yochien memory box.
The treat bag also had velcro. Just probably used velcro tape but these details were cute that they added this anyway. : )
Each student received chitose ame (thousand year candy) and Noah gave one to his brother and I thought that was thoughtful. Noah ate the other one.Anyway this is Noah's final 7-5-3 at the yochien! We love you Noah!!! : )
On 11/11/11, Branden, Noah and myself flew to Guam. We flew out of Narita around 9:20am. And arrived in the afternoon. This is what we ate while going there. Stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes with some green veg mixed in. Salad with dressing of your choice, I picked goma dressing. Dinner roll, pistachio cake with toasted hazel nuts on top. Shrimp salad.
This is sort of weird (good weird though)/unusual but I have to tell you this. As I was in the immigration show your passport area of the airport. The American US citizen lanes are to the left and empty. Always empty or very few people in line. The tourists lane however bursting at the seams. I glanced at the other line and in the middle of the line was my student, what are the odds of us both being in Guam and in that area at the same time, come on, at least a little unsuual. He's from one of the private hoikuens I teach at. It was nosy and he was way in the middle, and I was also in a bit of a rush, I wondered should I go say hi? Or would that be awkward/weird. Me being a bit shy, opted not to go over there. Anyway when I see him next time, I'll ask him. Anyway, my dad picked us up and to his condo we went. Changed clothes, dropped off luggage and right to the 2 Cost U less stores we went. Picked up some stuffing for Thanksgiving.
Both Branden and Noah were both so good. Just helping me put things in the cart. They both really helped. First day, I went to the 2 Cost U less stores and 1 Payless. Plan for the following day, head to the 2 other Payless stores that I like too. And also I'd make my quick dash into Game Stop for a Christmas present for each of the boys and also hit Kmart if I have time. And that would be it, we'd be done. And the rest bit would be free time.
After the 3 shops on Friday we went to Pizza Hut. Had a nice dinner. Chatted.
If you see outside behind Noah it was still daylight. We were done. We had finished. The rest of Friday, we just enjoyed. Went back to my dad's condo and relaxed, took showers and watched TV.
The marinara dipping sauce was for the bread sticks and the other was garlic butter to dip the pan crust in.
Self rising flour. I didn't need any, but it's nice knowing it is there, if that ever changes. : )
Next morning, we went to Wendy's for breakfast. And you know...every time we come to Guam we get the boys their own breakfast, they NEVER finish this, we always either end up eating the extra or throwing it in the trash which wasting it drives me crazy. This time, I had them share the breakfast. It was enough. In fact Branden didn't even eat half the egg or rice. @_@ I was glad we had them share breakfast this time. They each had their own lunch. But yeah....the breakfast was smarter getting this way, they are just not so hungry in the mornings while away from home. Noah had milk as usual. And Branden had berry tea.
I had an island breakfast with coffee.
We went to check out the movie schedule. Harold and Kumar 3 is out now. This looks so good! I'll buy the DVD, when it comes on dvd. We meanwhile took them to see Puss in Boots later that day. But I have seen the previews to this and it looks hilarious.
A run to Kmart and snapped this pic of a nice family of Japanese tourists walking to Kmart. Many do walk from the hotel area to here the wlak isn't too long. Or take the shuttles. Kmart has many great things, the malls do too.
At Micronesia Mall, Gap Kids is coming soon. They will take up 2 of the former shop spaces. So it's going to be HUGE! And no taxes! So, yeah I'll be shopping here for sure.
And right across from Gap Kids, will be an equally huge Gap for adults. Guam is growing. It's getting more American things all the time. You know, when I first went to Guam about 10 years ago, it was not as great as it is now. Many of their stores had things all over the place. Like anarchy, things in parts and sections of the stores they weren't even supposed to be in. That's not the case anymore. Nine West is there now has been for years. Macy's. Famous Footwear. Cold Stone, 2 of them. Ross is not all crazy like it used to be it even expanded. The malls are getting better and better stuff and shops. Amazing book stores, 2 that I really enjoy.Better restaurants. TGI Fridays. Chilis. Cinnabon. Nathan's hotdogs. Many many grocery stores, like 20 at least all over the island. At least. Many bakeries. Guam is thriving like it or not. And with the US military being there, it's now growing and thriving even more so. Gap will be there this coming January. And could be Old Navy next. Since they're sister companies. Could be Target after that. It's going to snowball, we can see it.
Anyway Saturday afternoon, I had a 6 inch veggie and cheese Subway sandwich, chips and Sprite.
Branden had an Italian BMT and chips and drink. Noah had a meatball sub and chips.
We went to the movies. Because it was now barely noon and all the shopping was done and finished. Time to enjoy ourselves. And just take it easy. Branden, Noah, my dad and I enjoyed Puss in Boots.
We picked 2D. Anyone think it's been like a 3D madness these past 2 years or so? Everything seems to be in 3 D now days. : ) We prefer 2D.
After the movie we headed to a nice sit down dinner and we went to Tony Roma's. We ate on the patio and enjoyed the quiet.
I had the baby back ribs extra spicy, I think they're called red hots. And 2 baked potatoes as both my sides.
The boys had ice cream complimentary with their dessert.
All of the Thanksgiving stuff was 30% off. 30% off a $5 place mat, means a good deal. Especially considering the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Thanksgiving ceramic salt and pepper shakers, Thanksgiving cups. Thanksgiving everything.
Christmas stuff was not on sale, but I was glad to get some anyway.
Branden and Noah, enjoying their kids movies. Nick cartoons. And many Disney Pixar and Dreamworks movies to choose from for them. Legs all propped up, just relaxing.
Me on the other hand, right next to them. Bad teacher, was available but.....I saw it in Hawaii this Summer. But I was "dying" to see Bridesmaids!!!!! So hilarious! I'd like to have this on DVD. Melissa McCarthy was excellent in this as the sister of the groom! The rest of the cast was great but to me, she stole the whole show! She was THAT funny in this!
Friends with Benefits, Green Lantern.
The Hangover 2. I wish I had more time to see this.
Harry Potter and Horrible Bosses. I actually started watching Horrible Bosses after I finished Bridesmaids. So funny (those bosses were horrendous), I want to finish watching this. : )
Jim Carey's Popper's Penguins. And Monte Carlo.
The new Pirates and that excellent Planet of the Apes we saw this Summer. Honestly there are so many movies to pick from...these aren't even half of them.
The Smurfs. We saw this too though this Summer.
The meal coming back to Narita, Indian cuisine this time. Tandoori chicken, veggies, rice. And the chocolate dipped cheesecake, etc.
Me eating my inflight meal and watching Bridesmaids. The boys and I landed in Narita at 1:20pm or so Sunday afternoon. Quickly went through immigration and customs. Noboru was waiting. Happy to see us. He tells me, how lonely it is without us. : ) Okay that makes me sort of happy hearing that. : ) Came home quickly put things away. And just vegged out Sunday. Washed the boys uniforms and gym things to make sure they were ready for school the following day. Today Monday, I went and did my weekly shopping. Made sure the boys went to school. Kumon. And now we're back to our regular routine.
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