Preparing for tomorrow's undokai and a few other bits and pieces mixed in

Last Friday, Branden brought home a really big list of yet more things we needed to buy for his sewing class. Felt, buttons, some basting thread? I'm not a sew type of person unfortunately so I had zero idea about that.... so we both had to google that one. And a few more things also, a piece of used towel? Towel yes, but a piece of a used towel? Hmmm. Anyway, we decided that last Saturday we'd all go and run to Besia/Cainz to pick up some more jasmine tea. And there is also a huge Daiso/100 yen shop near there too so we'd kill 2 birds with 1 stone. So Saturday first thing, we did after breakfast was head to Besia. It's a 30 minute drive there so not too close but not even close to being as far away as Costco Makuhari is. So we grabbed the huge cart at Besia and first things first we grabbed jasmine tea. We drink this daily most of all, since it has no sugar and it tastes really light and clean.  I was going to pick up 2 cases but Noboru said since the boys have been quite thirsty lately with undokai season underway we should get 3 cases versus 2. I agreed. So 3 cases went into the cart.  And fwiw, we only have 1 and a half case left. @_@ I think it's because of the heat plus with field day/sports day practice is also the reason. Every one's just thirsty lately. : )  Hmm what else did we get, not much.

Paper plates for undokai this coming Saturday and the town undokai October 7th or whenever that is. : ) And cups and chopsticks.

These I picked up at my regular grocery store I usually shop at much clsoer to home. So, I didn't get these at Besia. However, we are definitely gearing up for undokai this coming Saturday.  Also, Noah will be a red hat and Branden will be a white hat. They have asked which team dad and I will cheer for? I said, we will cheer for you Noah! And we will cheer for you Branden! And as far as which team wins, doesn't matter...just have fun! : )  Last year we just cheered for the white hats. Ha ha ha. : ) This year with both boys in the same school and different colored hats we must now cheer for both! Ha ha ha.

Not sure if you can read this...antibacterial foaming soap with moisturizer. It's a freakishly huge amount 1000 ml. And it lasts forever and is around 480 yen it's a really good deal and it smells so good. Sort of like shampoo...sorry horrible description but it smells really good and is super cheap. I love the price. And it's enough to fill the kitchen pump twice and the upstairs pump twice. And a little extra even. So it is a good price for the amount I get.  Moving right along....; )

Wasn't it last year around Christmas or New years when I went into a drug store and they had Downy Bold for like 135 yen a box or something like that?  You know...every once in a while something like that will happen. So last Saturday we were at Cainz and detergent was 143yen a box? 148 yen a box. No more then that though it was seriously shockingly cheap. Noboru gives me monthly shopping money for groceries and the house but he stood there looking at the price and he said....I'll give you a 1000 yen to add to your grocery wallet but get a case of this. The deals too good to pass up. So we just grabbed a case of laundry detergent. 8 in total.

Front of the box and it smells really good.

Should last us quite a long while! : )  Anyway so we left Besia loaded up the MPV with heavy cases of jasmine tea, a case of laundry detergent and huge carton of hand soap refill for the pumps we already have at home. Some utensils and plates for undokai and then headed to the Daiso.

These are what Branden needed by this past Monday.

The list said buttons, I was looking for just regular big plastic buttons but they just had these. Which is fine they're cute they'll work. : )  Shirt buttons, green and yellow cloth buttons, and blue and white checkered/plaid type buttons.

The list also said felt different colors? @_@ Holy cow. So we found a blue pack with different shades of washable felt.

Then the note said he needed some material for practice sewing.

The note also said bobbins. My thought was....wasn't there a bobbin in his sewing kit he got a few months back? @_@ Anyway more bobbins. Oh yes the note also said sewing machine thread in black and white. A very specific list, right?....ha ha ha. : )

This basting thread was the one we were both like...what? But the note said he needed this and it was even highlighted. So check and check.

We don't have a square used piece of towel just hanging around so we figured a chisai towel would be sufficient. : ) It'll work we all agreed and threw it in the cart.  Branden has since started sewing and he is making something to hang on the wall. I can't wait to see what he came up with. : )  And the important thing is he loves his sewing class almost as  much as he loves his cooking class. Hopefully all these sewing things will last a month or two. : )

The thermoses came Wednesday. Branden and Noah took them to school Thursday for the first time. What have we been doing? Just school, Kumon and Noah's swimming. However this evening we will be saving a spot at the school along with a bunch of others, I'm sure. Noboru will be off work Friday, Staurday and Sunday, so he is going with me and that will help me a lot because the last 4 years it's been all me. Walking up the hill with huge leisure sheets with kids in tow. It was hard for me to carry up the folding table and leisure sheet and stuff alone. But this year I'll have help. So that helps me a lot. Tonight I will be prepping for the undokai meal on Saturday, like marinating the karaage tonight. setting the rice cooker and timer on that. Today, I will be going to 2 local-ish grocery stores just last minutes tuff in the city Noah's yochien was in. Branden and Noah are off school next/this coming Monday and Tuesday which makes me happy! After all this extra work they've all been doing it will be nice for them to get to unwind and us as parents too.  So Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be a day to relax. This coming Saturday we should be at the undokai from around 8am until around 3pm. And Noboru has a Father's club meeting get together after the undokai. There's usually a 2 hour delay for his get together so it's enough time for him to come home with us, we all get unpacked for the undokai we cna all eat and then he leaves.

Alrighty, I better end this post, Noboru wants to head to Trial right now since it's 24 hours open (it's a store here... think half grocery store half Walmart type store. : ) Today we will be running running running all over prepping for tomorrow.  We have to get the cooler box out, chairs out, tent/sunshade out, camping type table out. Hope it's not too melting hot tomorrow. : )  Alright, I better motor.

TV Talk, Oprah's interview with Rihanna. Glee's graduation episode and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and a few extras

I know a lot of you reading are in the US. So what has everyone been watching this Summer and recently? Lots of good Fall TV shows and new TV seasons coming up or are already up.  Anyway I haven't talked about what I have been watching over here in a good while so I better update a bit. : )The Rihanna,  interview with Oprah back in August on the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) channel had been airing commercials for it. And I like Rihanna's music and I remember the whole Chris Brown thing that happened a few years back. I know they're friends again but seeing so many commercials for that particular interview, I couldn't wait to see it. My thoughts? I'm so glad I caught this interview. She loves her family a lot! She actually bought her mother a house and gave her a key at the end of the interview. Oprah helped her surprise her mom. She had a ton of love for her grandmother who sadly passed away not too long ago. She loves the island where she came from. She's just really a laid back person. Then Oprah asked her about Chris Brown. I was sort of expecting she'd ask. Rihanna spoke about how she didn't like how the whole world came down on him. How she made peace with what happened and him. How she said in 1 night she lost her best friend. Hearing her say that got me. : (  Then Oprah asked her, do you do still him? Her answer was yes. And that she will always have love for him but he has a girlfriend and she is single. But anyway....it was a really good interview and I'm glad I watched it.

For those of you in Japan who might not want to read a spoiler don't read the Glee parts ahead. But for those of you in the US. Wasn't last weeks episode great! Most of them graduated. The seniors. Santana graduated. Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Mercedes. Etc etc. It was just a really great episode, one I was looking forward to a lot.

Finn reading his university acceptance letter. Did he get in...did he not?

Finn and Kurt didn't get in. The 3 of them were to each read their letters together. Rachel read hers last and she got in. However she said she'd stay until next year and then the 3 of them could all go together.

Next day or whatever and she gets in Finn's car ready to go someplace else when he tells her. I'm taking you to the train station. And your dad's are waiting for you in New York and you just have to go okay?! It was pretty sad.

They were all waiting at the train station to say good bye to Rachel. A tearjerker of an episode for sure. : (   This weeks episode looks like a good one also.

I like reality TV. I think it's no big surprise. And I know a lot of Americans do too, otherwise these shows wouldn't keep multiplying. Anyway a new show started this Summer called "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" She's a little girl. Her real name is Alana. The whole family has real names and also nick names.  Her dad's nickname is "Sugar Bear" and so on. I didn't quite know what to make of this family at first when I saw the commercials for this. But I admit I was curious because I've never seen a family like that in real life.  See this picture they're all showing us, their fat. : ) Or belly's. I think it was Sugar Bear who said frankly...."we're rednecks" and then one of the other daughters said..."no we're not, because we still have our teeth" @_@ But seriously they are funny and refreshing.  They do not put on airs. And they're really likable. Folks are talking about them online, they're on Anderson Cooper, I mean they're what's current right now.

The mama, June is not married to Sugar Bear. And the other girls have a different father, only Honey Boo Boo is Sugar Bear's biological child.

This caption says it all! The things Honey Boo Boo says. Seriously crack me up.  In the picture below, Honey Boo Boo was given a pot belly pig named Glitzy....read the caption below!

She's got phrases that are quite popular right now and even some ringtones, lol. Instead of recognize. She says..."you better redneckonize" Get it redneck and recognize. lol.  Anyway they are a great little family to watch. They do have a lot of love for each other. And they are so funny.They are very real, honest. A breath of fresh air. And like I said no wonder this show is catching on. It's nice after a busy day for me...of Kumon drop offs taking Noah to swim class. Dinner and homework all getting done. To just sit down after everyone takes their shower and get to watch 30 minutes of this.

What else have I been watching? Still enjoying the new season of the Duggar's. Breaking Amish is also a new one, it's about 5 or so Amish boys and girls, they're all young adults anyway they want to just go out and see the world. However their family's warned if you go, you won't be allowed to come back, you'll be shunned and we won't ever be able to sit down and eat with you ever again. This was sad to me. But they went. I caught the first episode last week. I am also really liking the new reality show that just started called "Married to Jonas" I admit I was expecting to not like this reality show.....Married to Jonas. But I kept an opened mind and one night, I watched it and you know what? I really liked it. It's about Kevin Jonas and he's married to an Italian American girl/lady named Danielle but everyone calls her Dani. I immediately liked Dani and I swear it's not because she's Italian American. : ) I like her because again she's really down to earth.  I didn't know this until I started watching but Kevin's mom is umm, what's the polite way to say this. She's very opinionated, she's very vocal. She has no real boundaries even when it comes to Dani. Dani on the other hand I can relate to because she's a pinch on the shy side,  and out of her 2 other sisters she's the quiet one. She openly admitted saying she was nervous and afraid her in laws were coming to visit them in New Jersey. His family lives in Texas. She told her mom and 2 sisters. her mom and sisters told her...speak up. She asked them to help her cook the meal. And they did. So they helped her cook a beautiful Italian meal. And then her mom and sisters left. Dani was so nervous. And then his parents came. His mom starts taking over Dani's kitchen right away. Saying something about you better put that in the oven or else you will give us salmonella or something along those lines. Dani just does it. I think Kevin's mom doesn't believe Dani cooked it all herself because she says something along the lines of..."wow you look so good and yet you cooked all this by yourself too." @_@  Another episode they went to Texas to visit. And not only did Kevin's mom bring up when she thinks *they* meaning Kevin and Dani, should have a baby in front of about 20 other family members and poor Dani just stood there. But while still in Texas, Kevin's mom said to him and thank goodness Dani wasn't present to hear this. Anyway his mom made, some horrible snarky remark about when they were in NJ and Dani didn't use real cloth napkins she used paper napkins. Insert eye roll here. @_@ Personally I also, like Dani.... use paper napkins, I personally get that completely. Less laundry. See, I get that totally! Sure for Christmas or a special occasion I don't mind pulling out the cloth table mats or cloth napkins, but for everyday use we use plastic easy to wipe down dinner mats and paper napkins! Our dinner time is about sitting down and enjoying the meal as a family unit and enjoying my son's stories and husband's story of the day and them hearing mine. A time of day where we all sort of reconnect and catch up. And growing up in a family very similar to Dani's we had huge Sunday dinners at my grandma's house every Sunday after we'd all get together for church and go back to our houses to change clothes, but yeah every Sunday evening we'd all meet and have dinner together and we also used paper napkins, ever single Sunday! Nice napkins but paper nonetheless. Holidays my grams would whip out the cloth stuff but for regular family meals she used paper.  And besides why all the harsh judgement for, from his mom? I will never and I do mean never pick apart Branden and Noah's future wives. Obviously Kevin will side with Dani and stay even farther away from his mother if she keeps this up. I mean it's just a no brainer. Anyway it's hard not to get pulled into the Married to Jonas show. And like I said, I was fully expecting not to like the show, boy was I wrong. I'm glad I watched it anyway though and kept an open mind. And again, Kevin loves his family, Dani loves her family. They are a great couple together. But when Dani is around her mother in law you can almost see the claws come out from Kevin's mom. You can see it with her behavior, her faces she makes/pulls, her expressions or little backhanded compliments and/or comments. Anyway....

So long story short, I have been enjoying the Oprah interviews and stuff on OWN. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is a light hearted show that will surely give you a chuckle and an excellent way to unwind.  Married to Jonas is such a good one. Am liking the new season of the Duggar's.  And I am eagerly waiting for the season finale of Dance Mom's it looks so good, this week maybe, I think is when it will air! And I am so happy Long Island Medium is back! Also The Locator on the WE channel is really very good also.

Shows I wish would hurry up and come back on the air are. All-American Muslim. I love this show and I love the families on this show! I am also waiting for the Jennifer Love Hewitt show to hurry up and comeback called....the Client List. But I think the Client List won't start until Jan 2013 (?) so I  have a long wait for that still. : )

So what are you all watching and enjoying lately?  I'm also still watching and enjoying Cold Case reruns. That show is always good. Anyway, that's what I've been watching lately. : )

Movies at the theater or DVD''s I'd like to watch. I'd like to take Branden and Noah to see the movie ParaNorman. If I lived in the US I would have taken the boys to see it by now. By the time we get to Guam it will be pulled from the movie theaters for sures. : ) lol. Oh well I'll get it for them on DVD maybe. What else, Hotel Transylvania looks good for the boys also and hopefully we can catch that.  If not dvd city for us. Two movies I'd like to get for myself on DVD are, The Hunger Games and I'd also like to get Ted. Have you seen any good movies lately or rented anything good lately?  Oh yeah, I am also eagerly waiting for the final Twilight to come out also.  The trailers that I've seen online look so good for this.

Our last weekend of Summer, back to school prep and surviving the first week back

With Summer homework done for Noah since the last weekend of July. And Branden's done since first week of August. It was nice to get that knocked out of the way and be done. However Branden had a science project to do and they did it the week before we went to Bangkok. However during the flight home they were talking about making a stand for their experiment and they both basically agreed it would add some cool and wow factor. : )  So with the Costco trip done also we knew how we'd wind down our last weekend of the Summer, the same exact way we started Summer, with a BBQ. However that early afternoon before the bbq was started... Noboru and Branden went outside and they made a stand for his science experiment. Branden had his first lesson of learning power tools with Noboru's supervision of course and they made it together the 2 of them. Noah and I meanwhile watched TV in the coolness of the house. But I did come outside for a picture or two for Branden's scrapbook.

Note a clear day, a sunny-ish typical normal day, not really a cloud in the sky. The leftover wood from the science project stand was added to the charcoal grill.  Just a quiet weekend for us here at home with yet another simple bbq. And boy, it smelled fantastic!  And then....as luck would have it, clouds started rolling in. : (   Oh well ...rain or shine...this bbq will continue. : )

Onion rings and fries to go with the very simple basic chargrilled cheeseburger dinner we were to have.

See, rain! Ha ha ha. But the bright side is. We didn't let that dampen our spirits at all. I could see the farmers had also started to plow the rice fields here and there not on this particular day of course but it had begun where we live. But not our immediate fields behind our house yet.... as of when the picture was taken.

Just toppings on little plates/dishes and you can top with pickles lettuce, mustard, ketchup you name it. : ) We had plenty of burgers in the silver dish.

Growing up in America hamburger buns and hot dogs buns were cheap as chips and easy to find anywhere. However with living in the country side in Japan now, they are almost impossible to find. My closest Cainz/Besia store used to carry them and I only go there once a month now but they don't carry them there anymore either. Which is fine....you adjust. And bread really is totally fine for our burgers, the boys use dinner rolls though which are perfect. Buns would be nice to have but, wouldn't necessarily make or break the bbq if we couldn't find them. ; )

The weekend before September 3rd. Was this September 1st or 2nd, I forget now. But it was nice to just enjoy this last bbq before school started. However we will probably bbq a few more times after this anyway. : )

Preparing for the 2nd semester back to school.  Noah gets 2 notebooks for every subject provided for free by the shogakko/elementary school. So Noah has not needed any notebooks that we needed to buy as of yet. However Branden needed many replaced. Which also meant we went into his room and made sure he threw away all his old notebooks. We replaced the ones needed replacing. And he also needed a new black marker which is pictured. Noah and Branden each needed a new mask for serving food/lunch. So they each got a new one 98 yen for two, so not too terribly bad. And pencils, each of them needed some new ones. So, I took them to the local Yacs drugstore type of store and let them pick out their own pencils they'd like. Which is cool because kids like cool and also fun pencils.  And they were pretty cheap in price also.

A Coca cola pencil for each of them, a Natchan pencil each (this is an orange drink here in Japan)  strawberry chocolate pencils 1 each and a garigari popsicle pencil each. I know they loved to pick theirs out and these types of pencils are popular at our local school. Branden needed a red and blue pencil and they had a Garigari red and blue pencil. Cider type popsicle on one side and coke popsicle on the other side. So, since the boys needed new pencils I am glad they got the ones they wanted. : )  I made sure all these pencils were sharpened and name labels went onto Noah's with Noah's name on them and Branden's had name labels with Branden's name on his. Branden also needed a new white color in his paint kit, so I made sure to get him a new white paint. They have school paint tubes replacements for those. I bought 2 white squeeze tubes of school paint he needed from the Daiso for 100 yen for 2 white paint tubes (think mini toothpaste type tube they use those at our local school). So, just little tidbits of getting the boys ready to go back to school. I made sure they were ready.

A new semester means new white inside shoes for the boys. Also, in elementary schools in Japan they need rags for helping clean the school at the end of the day. So, I bought a great big 10 pack from Besia/Cainz for super cheap. Said, 5 are for Noah, put his name on those and 5 for Branden put his name on those also. At our particular school they are to come with 2 new ones each semester. So, I sent Noah with 2 new ones and folded nicley his 3 extra and put them in his bigger drawer in his desk in his room. And sent Branden with 2 new wash rags and packed up his 3 in his desk in his room. That way all semester if they need replacing they can replace them as needed, the names are already on them and they are ready and rarin' to go!

With undokai coming up *really* soon. Branden needed a new hat. Which means I had to sew his name on this new one and make that little hanging loop at the back of his hat also. Noah's hat meanwhile is still pretty new so his doesn't need replacing. Also he doesn't wear a regular red and white hat Noah. Noah wears the kind with the flap at the neck area. I let Noah wear a normal red and white hat in yochien because they weren't outside too overly much... I mean they were outside but not to the point where I would worry. However he is outside a lot more now that he's at shogakko and so I switched him to a flappy hat that protects his neck. Plus another kid in his class also wears one too. Plus I know how easy Noah burns, so yeah he needs to wear the hat with the flappy neck guard/cover.

With the upcoming Fall weather and also the upcoming undokai I knew they needed new socks pronto! : ) I went to Nishimatsuya, they had a huge fantastic set for girls in running/sneaker socks. However my store had diddly for boys. So, I went to another shop and picked these. 9 pair for Branden and 9 pair for Noah.  Branden got Mizuno, Bobson and a cheaper brand but cute ones. And Noah got 3 unknown brands but they were cheap and so cute. Anyway yeah. I was happy to get their socks bought and crossed off my list.

These are Noah's! I think they're really cute and the price I loved. Okay so that is the prep I did for getting both Branden and Noah ready for the 2nd semester of school. I think I did a-okay regarding getting the boys ready for the Fall semester.

Now for the "surviving" my first week back into our regular schedule. You know, the boys were pretty great last week. They woke up when they were supposed to. They brought all their stuff back to school from home. They got right into the swing of things really well. They came home really hungry each day I know, so I either made them a snack as soon as they came home or we had dinner early. They did homework quickly but I noticed Noah for example would crash on the couch and be dead asleep after his shower. One night he was dead asleep on the couch at 7:45pm. All in his PJ's and stuff of course but the week was an adjustment. Branden, I would find him snoring in his room as I would go in there and turn off his lamp on his night stand and kiss him one more time while he slept and he rarely snores at all so I know he was also tired last week.

I think the one last week was hardest on.... was me. I was dragging all last week. I need to be awake by 6am. However I know me, and I know how the first week back is always hard on me, so I set my alarm at 5:30am. Of course I snoozed it until 5:53am and got out of bed at 5:55am. Went downstairs. The morning hit me hard. I had a cup of coffee, woke up the boys, they watched cartoons like zombies while I made breakfast. Turn the TV off around 6:30am. And they go to the kitchen they eat, then they unload the dishwasher, Noah does the cutlery and plastic bowls. Branden does the rest which isn't much it's definitely 50/50. I meanwhile load the breakfast dishes while the boys go upstairs and brush teeth, fix hair and get dressed. I fill thermoses downstairs. Since it's undokai practice and they need drinks daily. Drive them to school. About 2-3 times a week Noboru will drive them versus me. Which helps me *a lot*. I meanwhile hang the laundry. Vacuum the downstairs. Wipe down the kitchen. Dust the kitchen blinds. Dust the living room. Swoosh the toilet downstairs. Then take a 10 minute break. Watching TV or checking email. I fill refreshed that 10 minutes recharges me. Then I go upstairs vacuum, swoosh one more toilet. Tidy any rooms need tidying. And I am done. usually I'll do a lot more. But an hour a day was my limit last week. It was the first week back and that was hard on me. Plus the fact I was about to start my period. I started last Wednesday btw. So yeah Monday and Tuesday found me dragging. I am happy I did an hour of cleaning Monday and Tuesday. I also prepped dinner, made rice and chopped everything just ready to go. But after that, about 2 hours total (1 hour of cleaning 1 hour of prepping dinner and folding dry laundry). I found myself resting on the couch Monday and Tuesday. Oh yeah Monday the boys got off at 11am. So when I brought them home, I made them lunch. Then they went outside to play and I laid down. I was just like I said, tired last week. First weeks back are always hard for me. Wednesday I did the same morning routine and I had a headache to top it off, which is rare for me (I only get like 1-2 headaches a year). I felt like I would be starting my TOM soon. I took an Advil. And sure enough by 10:30am same day, I started. I still managed 1 hour of cleaning, But after that. I laid down on the couch in my comfy house shorts tee shirt and a pony tail. I had a nice hot cup of tea. And just laid down on the couch for an hour and a half  until the Advil kicked in.Around 12;30, I started prepping dinner. I felt better with the Advil. And I just laid back down. I did the basics each day. Granted I didn't kick butt each day regarding the house cleaning *however* I did enough to not get behind so that's saying a lot also. And I made sure dinner was prepped and laundry was always done. Thursday I felt a lot better and I got my cleaning routine back to pretty much back to normal.


I remember sending my dad an email Thursday. "If I can just make it to Friday. Then I made it and I survived my first week back into my normal routine." So when Friday morning rolled around, I knew it was in the bag! The boys got back into the swing of things way better and faster then I did. : ) I didn't do fantastic granted, but I wasn't the worst either last week.


Now that Branden is in the 5th grade. Apparently 5th and 6th graders must stay late at our local school to prepare for undokai until 5pm! 5 days a week for 2 weeks in a row all last week and all this week. However a note was brought home saying if your child has any extra curricular activities they may go home early. Just call the school or send a note. Noboru wrote a note for Branden saying he goes to Kumon Monday and Thursday which yes he really does. : ) And he needs to get home at 3:45pm his regular time. So last Tuesday and Thursday he did that. I know Saya-chan has Kumon so she gets home early. The Jinbei boy does piano and juku so he's not staying after but like 1 day a week. Noboru said to me, why can't they do the practice during school time versus making the kids stay so late afterwards. I said I know, because I agree. : ) Oh well.  And Noah has to stay late every day also but his late means 3pm. Versus his usual 2:45pm. So not too much different since he's a first grader.

With the undokai practice and everyone staying late. The boys have been having a problem with running out of drinks. I pack them a thermos every morning with ice jasmine tea (no sugar) and Noah has been telling me "I run out before lunch." I said before lunch?@_@ I asked Branden when do you run out? He said, "before lunch!" Drink the water at school then, I said, practical me.; ) No it tastes gross, said Branden. @_@ "Oh geeze! Jiminey crickets!" I thought to myself! : ) Not to worry I assured them, mama will think of something. So, all last week I was packing 3 thermoses. 2 Mario Thermoses and 1 big silver metal thermos and they were then filling their Mario thermos with the drink from the bigger thermos. It seemed to be working okay-ish. However they were having another small problem because Branden couldn't run down to Noah's class for a refill when he needed one.... because there often wasn't time, when your class all marches off outside you can't just say "hold on a second let me go grab a refill I'll be right back" it doesn't really work that way. And same for Noah when he's doing the ichinensei practice for undokai it's hard for him to just run 2 flights of stairs while he needs to be outside walking in straight little rows and dancing to the Mickey Mouse theme. So yeah I could understand how refilling their drinks was a pain and time problem also. So I finally just said to myself, they just have to get 2 bigger thermoses and that's that! There just was no other way. Because more then likely they'll have the same problem next year also. So this problem needed to be nipped in the bud right now. Also if you have any idea how hot Japan has been it's been scorching hot. Like people getting overheated...heat exhaustion.....heat stroke you know what I mean. And with their extended times they are now outside for long lengths of time and I don't want them keeling right over either or becoming ill because of dehydration either. So the bigger thermos thing had to happen for our family, it just had to. : ) So, I thought back and remembered.... didn't I see a huge thermos for kids sports in the Nissen catalog? So, I went and looked sure enough it was in the Summer catalog.

Found this holds 1.8 liters. Liked the Mizuno one. However hated the price 2,480 yen. and for 2? That would be near 5,000 yen! I'm sorry that's just way too much for a thermos! So, I went to a few shops. I checked Besia, Trial. I checked all over. I liked this jug style also but again not for that price. Absolutely out of the question!  I ended up finding a Coleman one for 980 yen each! It's the same size as the Mizuno one exactly! And Coleman is famous for their cooler boxes and keeping things cold. Plus the Coleman one has a strap for carrying around where the Mizuno one does not! We could get 2 thermoses for cheaper then 1 of the Mizuno ones!

True, it might not be as flashy as the Mizuno tri color thermos. @_@ But it's not exactly brand x either. And it's the same size. And Coleman really is a nice brand and I like the gray countouring on the side they made for this, for kids to easily hold. For you Americans this is a half gallon size. So it is more then enough. And if this helps.... it also holds 1.8 liters. Technically 1.89L so even an extra sip to boot! ; )  Now I just hope it gets here from Amazon.co.jp in enough time for this coming Saturday's undokai. And it's a flip up and down drinking spout same as the Mizuno one 

Now it is Monday and this is the start of my 2nd week back into our school routine/schedule. Things are going great today so far. I did 2 loads of laundry and they're inside already and put away already. I cleaned the house pretty well today. And as soon as I post this I'm running to the store for some fresh veggies. Sara udon/chicken chow mein tonight. : ) Alrighty time to motor! : )

A Costco Makuhari run

The day after we arrived back to Japan from Bangkok, Thailand, we decided to make a trip to Costco in Makuhari. Because we do live quite a drive away it was the perfect time to go with the boys still being on summer break at the time.  We didn't take the toll ways there or back so it was a 2 hour drive there and a 2 hour drive back with the traffic that always seems to be on the roads. So a 4 hour trek to Costco for us. I know I said it before but I'll be so happy once Costco in Inzai/Chiba New Town opens. Phew! @_@ Ha ha ha. We arrived Costco Makuhari around 2pm-ish and it wasn't so busy. We lucked out. We shopped quickly because we knew of the far drive all the way home we had. And were out in no time flat.

Hello Noah! The chisai towel/small towel wrapped around his neck is such a common thing to do or see in the summer here in Japan. ; )

Branden enjoying a pineapple smoothie he shared with Noah for the ride home.

Noboru and our cart of stuff.

I wanted 1 pack of ground beef, Noboru suggested we buy 2 though since we rarely get to Costco. So we bought 2. Meatballs, cheeseburgers on the grill and hamburg a plenty in our future now.

Knowing by the time we'd get home, cooking dinner would be out of the question, so we picked up a cheese pizza to take home for supper that night.

The whole roasted chicken we had the following night.

Pasta sauce.

Popcorn for family movie night at home.

Noboru threw these baby's right in the cart. ; )  He was happy to get these.

Tortilla chips for chips and dip or chips and guacamole. And chips for when we have sandwiches.

4lbs of cheese @_@ We go through a lot of cheese at our house. Homemade mac and cheese baked in the oven, gratin potatoes, enchiladas, tostadas, I mean we use this for a ton of stuff.

Dinner rolls

Corn tortillas for said tostadas and enchiladas

Tiramisu and some delicious cookies that are long gone now.  Anyway that's what we bought last week when we went to Costco. : )