First week back to school for Branden and Noah. Getting in the swing of things and finding our groove with it

 How has every one's first week back to school (for your kids) and for some of you back into the work routine. For us here, it was tough getting back into the swing of things, meaning, Branden and Noah's school schedule, plus Kumon and on top of that Noah's swimming school schedule. Especially when the past 16 or so days before was just rest rest, watch TV. With a pre new year's oosoji mixed in there, but yeah it felt great to just take a break from the same ol same ol routine stuff.  ; ) They only had Kumon a few times during Winter break but it was closed a good while too. Same with swim school.  So Sunday, January 6th morning, I got started on the boys school washing. I washed their school gym uniforms/PE uniforms. red and white hats, some misc handkerchiefs and lunch mats and their seat covers.

Noah's green seat cover in green elephant print far left on the pole, Branden's zoo seat cover next to it. Shorts, pants in the middle pole and shirts.

Actual seat cushion/earthquake cover/safety cover. I set out in the sun for the entire morning and afternoon. This sat out longest. And I whacked it with the futon stick. And dust came out of it. Every hour on the hour I'd whack it again. Branden's blue seat cushion, when I whacked it at first looked like a giant dust cloud around it. @_@ Yikes! By the end of the day though, safe to say, it was dust free and fat from the sun. They're skinny and flat as pancakes in this picture.

Came back out to check. Hmm safety cover/cushion is getting pinch fatter in this pic.

I washed this, but yep it's scary lookin'! : ) This is Branden's shuji/calligraphy outfit. When he was in the 2nd grade and they started shuji. They said to bring an old pair of grungy old clothes that you wouldn't mind ruined. Since the boys share clothes, so I wouldn't want anything really ruined. We bought the cheapest pair of long shorts we could find. 980 yen or something like that. In a baggy size and then this denim smock for like 800 yen or so I forgot the price now but it was affordable. We also gave Branden one of Noboru's old plain black T shirts and so whenever the kids do shuji. Branden switches his clothes and if he gets that paint or whatever on this outfit we really don't care/mind. When Noah starts shuji in the 2nd grade, we'll be doing the same also. That ink is so freaking beyond permanent. It's like a nightmare to get out of clothes. And after talking to my Japanese mom friends they say there's a washable kind of ink but it turns green or something so it's not as nice after it dries so we all just use the jet black regular kind. But anyway this outfit? Still stains and stuff. But at least it smells freshly clean. : )

Gym clothes and lunch mats and handkerchiefs all gone. Only thing left standing was the seat cushion/safety cover and cover for the cushion and the shuji outfit. Sunday, made sure both the boys were all packed up. All Winter homework all packed away. Seat cushions ready to go. Pencils all sharpened. Just everything ready and done for the next day.

Still Sunday, January 6th the day before they started school. The boys and I baked a gingerbread cake together.

It smelled great while baking. We just sort of stayed home all Sunday. Made sure we were ready for school. Baked an easy dessert and had dinner.

With a little dollop of whip cream. Sunday was good.

There's a new show on the OWN channel. It's called the Golden Sisters. It's about 3 elderly in age sisters but they are so funny, hip and the way they talk, they shoot straight from the hip! They're sharp and hilarious these 3. The one pictured here with glasses, gets a bit bullied by 1 sister.

This is Mary, she's the oldest of the 3. She bullies the sister up above. The other 2 sisters are identical twin sisters. They shared pics of them when they were young, totally identical but they don't look at all alike now. Mary says it's because the sister up above got fatter then the other sister. : ( See what I mean about her bullying that one sister. 

Anyway it's very funny, I kept seeing the commercials for it. It's a new show. I was wondering if I'd like it. And I checked it out and my gosh. These ladies are a riot. They're so funny.

Monday night we went to Capricciosa for dinner with our family of 4 and Jun and his wife and daughter, so 7 of us total. It was a nice dinner. nice seeing them again. My niece starts the first grade this April. And they bought her randoseru already. And they of course saw Noah's outfit and randoseru via the New year's card we sent them so we spoke a lot about elementary school prep. How it went for Noah last year. She's in the midst of shaon kai stuff, my sil right now. I've been there before myself twice, so we could talk about that stuff and laugh. It was a nice meal. And a nice catch up with them. Tuesday, we had chicken teriyaki bowls. Though I didn't technically use teriyaki, this time so. I used yakitori sauce this time since it's a a tad sweeter (the one we buy) and it's so delicious. We use fresh mushrooms in here too and some steamed broccoli and a side. So yakitori bowl maybe, hmm.  This is always my "go to" meal when I'm tired or whatever.  And Monday left us all a bit tired with having to wake up so early, plus Kumon after and dinner and the drive to Narita City we were exhausted by the time we got home but we did have a great time with the family. Tuesday also. I felt pretty tired all day. Even though I did manage to vacuum upstairs and downstairs and do laundry and swoosh toilets. Other then that I just rested.  So this was a good choice for Tuesday. Easy for me to make and the family loves this bowl type meal.

Wednesday was still a tad hard for me to wake up in the morning. And I still didn't feel 100% back to my routine. I did however go to the grocery store. Plus the cheap meat store. Picked up a beef roast and pork roast and chicken and nabe stuff.  We had nabe Wednesday. And Noah also swam Wednesday after school also.

I am still working out. I am treadmilling 4 times a week. And doing a few tummy crunches here and there. I'm currently ranked 4th place for the team I'm on. My minutes are actually closer to 500 now.

Thursday afternoon, I made a batch of Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies with pecans. I didn't bake them, I kept the cookie dough mixture in a bowl with plastic wrap on it. And after the boys came back from school and Kumon and after we ate supper. We baked 2 trays of them. We still have over half the cookie mixture in the fridge and we will bake the rest Saturday afternoon.  That way they will be freshly baked Saturday the last half batch.

First batch Thursday. 

I have been lusting after that polka dot swimsuit from Modcloth for the past year. The black and white polka dot one and also the red and white polka dot one. The only reason I haven't taken the plunge is because someone said the red one in the comments when you see the swimsuit online there are comments below the suit from people who purchased it...anyway they said "something Minnie Mouse". And I am not sure why but that comment someone made is what has been holding me off so far. And the black and white one on Modcloth I love, a few people said it's light beige instead of white dots. And that sort of is holding me off too. Because I really want black and straight bright white. Plus the price is also a little high for a swimsuit for buying online when I am not sure if this company usually runs small or large with compared to ON/Gap etc etc, those types of concerns, I'd basically what I'm saying is...I'd hate to buy a swimsuit that ran 2 sizes too big or two sizes too small iykwim. Those types of worries/concerns are a bit of a deterrent for me too. Don't get me wrong I could most certainly order it if I wanted it badly enough, it's just the beige versus white comment. Etc. Anyway I had been so flippy floppy on that Modcloth swimsuit. Like forever flippy floppy and I know it. And I do still love those. Anyway to cut a long story short. I saw this one. This is a lot more conservative, smaller dots. It's still in that Marilyn Monroe-esque old style glam style of suit. You know what I mean, I hope. And it's pure black and white not beige or cream. Plus the dots are small so more conservative, like I already said. Plus the price is like half. And on top of that...the fact I order from Old Navy and Gap all the time and know my size without even trying on or batting an eyelash. And it's easy to know why, I picked this suit. A pair of black flip flops on the beach or pools.... here I come. : ) I also would like to buy another swimsuit this year maybe I'll get that red white one from Modcloth or maybe if Gap/ON comes out with another new style in a month I'll grab another style. I'd also like to buy myself a tankini if I can find a super cute one. I can't wait for Summer or playing at the pools.

I also picked up this cover up because for example when we go from hotel room to swimming pool we take the elevators and walk right through the lobby in swimsuit and that's it, is fine for kiddos but not for an adult lady. : ) So, a stylish cover up is very much appreciated. That way I can zip through the lobby and still feel covered. I have 3 here at the house, a white one, a bright blue one and a black and white stripe one. I like this red one. My other ones are 3-6 years old so could use a replacing. : )

What was for dinner tonight? Buffalo wings with ranch on the side. Cheesy baked potatoes, and broccoli. I also made 2 cups of rice in case Noboru prefers rice. : ) He's at work still. But Branden and Noah and I didn't have any rice because the potatoes were plenty. Anyway, so how was the first week back to school? For me it was pretty hard. Easier on the kids actually. I had gotten used to staying up much too late during the winter holidays. I think I was staying up to midnight most nights. Sleeping in also. So it was a shock to my system at first to start hearing my alarm at 5:30am. Even though I'd whack the alarm and snooze it until 6:20am Monday through Wednesday this week. I think Thursday I started getting out of bed at 6am and Friday/this morning I actually got out of bed at 5:50am. That's as early as I care to go and I appreciate the 20 minutes of hitting the snooze button, gives me time to actually wake up fully before stepping out of bed. So a step in the right direction. All today, I kept thinking to myself. TGIF! I can't believe I made it. : ) I will stay up this weekend and enjoy it still, but not past 11pm.

Anything else to add? We have a 3 day weekend, this weekend, Monday is a holiday. Yay! ; ) Anything else to say? We're booking our Hakone trip for February this evening after Noboru gets home. We will just be staying 1 night.  But we'll enjoy it to the fullest. Wine onsen, green tea and coffee onsen, etc, plus hotel onsen and rotenburo here we come. Plus we have those free night stay coupons and that's a smart and affordable way for us to go. Hmm, I wonder if my new swimsuit will get here in enough time. I hope so. : )  Alrighty, have a nice weekend everyone. Time for me to take a shower and jump in the tub.  That goodness for the weekends.

Monkeying around!

Literally. : )

Our family lives in Chiba, Japan. However I will often say I live literally on the border of Chiba. And I really honestly mean it. The 2 movie theaters we go to. In Ibaraki. Remember the Saturday meat specials at the cheap meat store? Yep it takes place in Ibaraki. When I was teaching English last year? Yep again, not happening in Chiba, happening in Ibaraki. When Branden went to the movies first time with friends a while back. But we dropped them off. Yep Ibaraki too. My nearest Saizeriya? Yep you guessed it, Ibaraki. : ) If I walk out my front door and head 5 minutes facing right, blammo...I hit Ibaraki! I’m literally teeter tottering Chiba and Ibaraki. I see that sign....”welcome to Chiba” “welcome to Ibaraki” so many times, between going to the supermarket or cheap meat store, that I really barely notice the signs anymore. Nearest Sanki? Yep, Ibaraki again. ; )

Anyway I live in the countryside/inaka. When I drop the boys off to Kumon we pass a huge area where the cows are behind a fence. Black and white cows. Rice fields are plentiful around here. Life is simple around here and nice. I’ve heard lots of talk from folks around here that there are wild boar around here. But thank goodness I’ve yet to see one. ; )

However if you would have asked me 6 months ago, “do we have any monkeys in our area” I would have said “no, we don’t.” : ) I just don’t think of my town as having monkeys in it. Hahaha. Boy was I wrong. : )

It all started at the first week of November. Noboru went to the “Father’s Club” meeting one evening. And the dad’s and male teachers and principal were talking and the subject of monkeys came up. A father who lives about 2 minutes from us, told Noboru. “You live on the last row of houses like we do, do you ever see monkeys?” Noboru was a little surprised. @_@ “No, we haven’t” Noboru said. “We have seen them twice, my wife and I”, he went on and said. Also, do you ever hear the dogs barking outside and if you look outside and then you won’t see anything, that’s probably them” Noboru was still surprised but also happy to at least get the information. However just as our neighbor up the road was ending his sentence. Noah's male teacher chimes in (Noah has 2 sensei’s though) “oh yes that’s true, working at the school we get called in with monkey sightings at least twice a month.” @_@ They did end that topic though by all agreeing....”just be careful because those monkeys are strong they can actually over power one of us they said.” “Yes” another said, “they’re very strong, be careful and they run in groups sometimes.” Okay...so Noboru came home and told me the monkey warning and story. Holy goodness, I just couldn’t believe it.

I sort of filed it away in my head. I’m not going to go out looking for one, granted but if I see one, at least the bright side is, I won’t be as surprised now, because at least I’ve been fairly warned.

And then nearing Thanksgiving in November. It was Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving and the day before my dad would arrive for Thanksgiving. Anyway, we got a message that all the kids would get off at 2pm because there was a threat in the area. @_@ OMG, what is this threat I thought? My mind starts to race, thinking and worrying. Then I got the answer of the threat/danger.....I hear the lady on the town loud speaker and that lovely echo...echo...thing she seems to always have. ; ) Still a serious enough threat for us country folks to cut school early that day....a monkey gang spotted *right* near the shogakko/elementary school. Right at the back of the school grounds of the field/track in the brush apparently just hanging around.@_@ Actually technically only 2 monkeys found running wild and running amok near the school. And yes considering how strong those monkeys are and that these are just grade school kids, they all let out of school at 2pm that day for safety precautions. The whole time my dad was here we were on high monkey alert. Yes, seriously. : ) Thursday actual Thanksgiving the kids all got out early also because of the monkey danger and also Thanksgiving Thursday the kids were not allowed to play outside at all during school that day. Schools decision for that day.

Now it’s January and thankfully the talk of monkeys have cooled off some now. And the kids are allowed to play at school again.

But you know somedays, when I’m here in the house in the afternoon, prepping for dinner in the kitchen and I hear those 2 smart dogs next door barking and alerting me that someone’s near. I look outside the front and see nothing. And look outside the kitchen patio and again see nothing. I can’t help but think and remember what Noboru said the neighbor said at that “Father’s Club” meeting back at the start of November. Could it be.....they’re out behind our house in the brush behind our house or along the side of our house in the brush.... having a wild rip roaring good time back there? Gee, I hope not. ; )

Now when the boys go and play outside with friends from the neighborhood. I always tell them of course, “don’t talk to strangers” but I also have been adding since November....and “please be aware of the monkeys.” And if you see one, just come straight home, because from what I hear, they’re quite scrappy, so just please be aware!” ; )

Oh and get this, Noboru went behind our house after all the monkey talk during November when everyone was on high monkey alert code red. And he said he saw poop that he believes could have come from a monkey. @_@ Now between you and me, what would monkey poop even look like? Yikes. I haven’t the foggiest idea. ; ) Husbands though, right, how funny.  Actually looking for signs of monkeys. lol.  Anyway, just wanted to share our monkey story. : ) 

Road trip! Visiting family in Osaka for the New Year holidays

January 2nd at 3am, I woke up. Noboru said he wanted us to leave between 4-5am.  Good thing, I had prepped the obento stuff the night before. I woke up, made our obento. Packed it all up. Threw the frozen drinks in the cooler. Placed all that stuff in the genkan and went upstairs, washed my face, brushed my teeth, brushed my hair and threw on a long sleeve top, yoga pants (think  sort of like sweatpants but boot cut type of style), and a fleece zip up. Zero makeup. My carry-on suitcase was packed with flat iron, make up bag, pjs and a spare outfit, spare undies. Went into Branden's room and then to Noah's room, woke them up. They brushed their teeth, went to the restroom and put on sweatpants, long sleeve top and sweatshirt. I had Branden run the black fleece blanket with white flowers from Sanki and blue with pink polka dot , also from Sanki and 1 extra blanket and 3 pillows into the last/3rd row of seats. The boys went and put their backpacks into the MPV. Packed, with pjs, extra clothes, undies and winter coat, etc. And before you knew it, we were on the road. We left our home around 4:45am. The boys and I were in the car at 4:30am, but Noboru was walking around making sure the doors and patio doors were closed, just extra making sure stuff. The security motion sensor camera, we have for the front yard was taping and up and running. And all those last minute type things. And we left. In was pure and pitch black outside, not a dot or smidgen or idea morning was coming anytime soon at all. How were the roads getting to the Osaka/Kyoto area from here in Chiba? Honestly? As you can see from this picture, after the sun had risen somewhat, honestly not bad at all. Roads weren't so crowded at all. I think us leaving when we did was a good idea.

We made only 3 stops along the way, so the boys could go to the restroom. Of course during one of those pit stops for the bathroom break, I also stopped at Starbucks.

Brownie mocha. The weather outside was superly cold. And did I mention, though everyone else went to bed at a reasonable time the night before. How smart they are/were! I however stayed up way too late for my own good. I stayed up until 11pm. So I only got sleep form 11pm-3am. Which is not so much sleep.

With seat belts on and snuggly blankets and pillows and movies to watch, the boys enjoyed the trip a lot. I enjoyed it too. Noboru and I listened to music in the front seats. Seeing and enjoying Japan along the way. When we drove through Shizuoka, Noboru told me they are famous for tea. Etc, you know that type of thing. Good drive, good drive.

Our hotel we booked was for a free night stay. Remember those 4 nights free per year we get from Delta. Anyway we used stay #2 of those.  We'll get 4 more in April. Anyway as we got off on the Kyoto exit huge traffic jam. Noboru was like, "In Japan many people pay their first visits to the shrine at the start of the year" Which I know of course. But Kyoto has many famous popular places like that and so we're talking traffic not moving really at all. From the time we got off the Kyoto exit to the time we got to our hotel it was like an hour had elapsed. When we got off the highway it was 2pm-ish by the time we got to the hotel it was now 3:20pm-ish. Considering we were meeting for dinner at 5pm. We were in a bit of a time crunch.

Look at the congestion just tyring to park and pull into the hotel!

Okay so now after waiting for what seemed like a million years. It's finally our turn to pull into the hotel. And the man says to us. "Are you guests here?" "yes we are." Okay, he says well we have barely no room for parking but possibly we can find a spot however you won't need the car tonight will you? Noboru politely says....Yes, we need the car tonight... we have dinner with family later, Oh well....ummm, the man says. I jumped in and told Noboru, "let's just take the train and leave the car here then", ykwim, if it's going to be trouble gettting the car back in here." Great, the man said and Noboru said. So we said yeah, go ahead and keep the car then.  Also, if we knew we'd be without our car or having a car would be such a hassle.... we would have just flown to Osaka then and saved ourselves the trouble (we didn't say that of course but yeah it's what we were thinking). No worries now worries, we smile and shake it off. Okay so we now get everything we need out of the car considering we won't see the car until check out the next day. And we go inside the hotel. "Hi our name is such and such....we have a reservation" And here it is. The man says...."oh your rooms aren't ready." Okay at this point we turn to each other and give each other a look like..."are they kidding us?" Are we secretly on some hidden camera TV show? He then tells us.... Can you wait 10-15 minutes. @_@ (keep in mind dinner starts at 5pm) Time crunch would be putting it mildly. Noboru politely says, "well we really need to check in as soon as possible, (then Noboru smartly made a point of saying) I thought check in was 2pm...as he glanced at the clock" I also added, "It's nearly 4pm", I said in Japanese. Alright though we're not ones to make trouble though...we said our peace and went to sit down. So we all sit down all 4 of us with each of us carrying a backpack or mini suitcase case type thing with coat in the other hand.. 20 minutes later and yeah it's definitely past 4pm at this point. The smile we tried to have on our faces had most definitely faded away. Feeling quite frustrated by now and wondering quite frankly if we'll miss dinner completely. Granted it's not the guy at the counters fault, we know that, but by the same token.... gee it isn't our fault either. We just want our rooms, that's all. No complaint...no trouble... just please give us our rooms! He can tell at this point we're not really pleased. And you know what....we weren't! He says...here are some drink coupons for the lounge if you'd like to wait there. Noboru says politely but firmly "thank you but, we don't need the drink coupons we'd really just like our rooms please"  By the way he keeps giving keys to other check in people. Which just adds to the frustration. And we still wait. He finally comes to us and says 1 room is ready here's the key we'll bring you the key to the room next door when it's ready! Okay that's fine. And we went to the 6th floor. I was somehow hoping to get a 1 hour nap if we would have arrived at 2pm. However, considering the holiday traffic, the room not being ready... by now it's clear we need to switch clothes as fast as humanly possible and leave. The boys switched clothes from sweatpants to jeans and brushed their teeth freshened up a bit. I meanwhile put my makeup on. Switched clothes. Ran my hair through the flat iron. I took no more then 7 minutes for everything. And about this time, the door knocks the other room is ready. You know, I just have to say we're pretty flexible people. We're pretty open minded and we understand how sometimes things happen. But you know what...when you expect folks to check out of rooms at 11am and the check in is at 2pm. Yet a person is waiting and it's 4pm and the room *still* isn't ready. Yeah, there is a slight problem. I could see a 30 minute delay with the room, that would be acceptable if we waited until about 2;30pm-ish. But not after 4pm, room should have been ready to go by 4pm...should have been ready at 2pm. But 2 hours after the rooms supposed to be ready and it's not? That's a little ridiculous. So anyway, 4:25pm we left. We walked out of the hotel to catch the train and wouldn't you just know it.... it's raining buckets. We have no umbrella, because we expected to take the car.

This is our room the other one was identical.

Old but clean. And we stayed at this hotel before one time in May, 2 years ago and it was fine no waiting or anything. Perhaps it was because of the New Year's holidays or I don't know.  At this point, Noboru says, let's take the car. We're *so* late. We can always pay for parking if we can't get a parking at the hotel afterwards. But he said... "if we miss dinner then our coming here was for not." Know what I mean? I said sure. So we got our car and we left. Would you believe the traffic was even worse now. The roads were like parking lots. Meaning the cars were not moving. Luckily Noboru, checked for alternate ways to get out of Kyoto via his Nexus 7  via the maps he has on there and we found a way out of Kyoto on little side streets. Meet up time was at 5pm! We got there about 5:45pm!!!! At 4:55pm Noboru's cell rang, it's his sister, "big brother where are you?" "Are you almost here? We're all outside the restaurant waiting" she said."Go inside" Noboru said. We're still in Kyoto! @_@ Kyoto!!!, she said.  At this point, I said to Noboru, do you think the restaurant will have parking? Clearly Noboru, this Osaka native, has been living in the inaka for far too long. Of course he says what sort of restaurant has no parking. Hahaha famous last words! We get there no parking! It's on a huge busy street cars are going zooming past back and forth. And the restaurant has zero parking, not even pay parking. So we go round and round looking for some sort of parking. We must have made 5 laps around the block, I'm seriously not kidding. Noboru is meanwhile trying to phone his sister "where do we park" lol. But because the place is understably so loud she can't hear the phone. Finally on the 3rd call she answered. We did finally find parking, it was pay parking pay by the... every 20 minutes. But it was the only one that had parking available. We quickly parked and ran into the restaurant. I did by the way take an Advil along the way from Kyoto to Osaka. I think I was getting a mini headache because of my lack of sleep.

Yep that's a lot of people. All Noboru's family. All the way to the very back. This is an all you can eat. Not a buffet but an all you can eat for 2 hours. Considering we were an hour late. We got only 1 hour to eat. Which was hard considering we went to each table, bowed and visited and greeted everyone. It was awesome though. Because I absolutely love Noboru's extended family. They're all super cool, and so hilarious. They're not shy! Very very friendly family. My MIL closest to this camera in the maroon sweater. And my sister in law, K on the left with long hair. She's on the left of my MIL. My MIL Mitsuko's sister is facing the camera on the end of the table with the bears on her sweaters. All the way to the back back row of genki boys. All in their 20's.  We ate quickly. Chatting and talking and visiting. The boys were doted on so much. That back row of 20 something boys. Kept calling Branden to come over. Get over here little brother, they said to Branden!!!! And he did. They talked to him so much. Picked him up! Hugged him. Noah they picked up and talked to. Joking with them. In our house Branden is oldest. So he's just always been the responsible one. But at the dinner he was young. And all those boys treated Branden like a little brother. They teased him. Joked with him. Branden loved it! Branden was beaming. Noah was getting so many cuddles from everyone all the many aunties and cousins. The one wearing the bear sweater told me. Branden looks like hafu you and hafu Noboru. But Noah, he's a copy of you. She told me that 3 times. Everyone chimed in and agreed. lol. I hear it all the time so we know. But....it was just wonderful seeing all the love showered on the boys. Because they very rarely get to spend time with their family in Osaka. And usually the only one they get to spend time with and who gets to watch them grow is my dad. Which we're lucky for that. I'm so close to my dad. So yeah....not sure if you'll understand what I'm saying but, when you live far apart like this from family.... it really warms your heart to see your kiddos get that  little extra nurturing love and hugs and cuddles and talk and chat and even the playful teasing. It did the boys a world of good.  You know, it was so worth it for us to come just getting to watch the love they got from his family. Spending time with them is something we four really look forward to. One of Noboru's aunties talked my ear off and I loved every second of it. I talked her ear off in return, hahaha! I really did. : )  The boys got a great amount of otoshidama and we gave it also in return. However, it was the family time, what was the most important thing we got from our visit. Sorry if that sounds corny, but it's true.

My mil checking in on us making sure we had enough on our grill on our side.

I wish I could have taken more or better pictures but time was so limited, I also had to eat dinner. And chat with the family. So this is it picture wise. I had the best time with his family. I didn't even feel sleepy or tired being at the restaurant and the Advil zapped my mini headache away right away. So I had an amazing night. The time went by much too quickly. Time moves by way too fast when you're having fun. Before we knew it, the wait staff said, "last call" so we all made our last orders. I ordered another miso chicken to grill and some rosu (lean beef) We were stuffed. We were all putting our shoes on, hugging everyone good bye.  And next thing you know we were driving back to Kyoto. And the traffic cleared up. Hahaha. We got back to the hotel safe and sound, we parked across the street at a pay parking spot. And went to our two rooms. It was about, 8pm-ish. everyone took showers and into pjs. No TV or anything. though they had satellite. We were all exhausted. I remember waking up the next morning. I got a great night sleep. Noboru was checking traffic reports for the highway and traffic on his Nexus and he said huge traffic congestion was already reported on the highways. So it was a worry. But we went to have breakfast first and to think some on the traffic and how we'd get home.

Krispy Kreme donuts in Kyoto which was quite close to the hotel, though we drove because we were checking out anyway. We paid for parking somewhere on the surface and went underground to find Krispy Kreme. Noboru and I each got the morning combo.

Hi Noah, Hi Branden!

Donuts galore! You know, I wish they'd open one of these up at Narita airport that would be perfect! And easy for me to get to.

We each had a donut and the boys shared a tea.

This was so hot and fresh. Noboru said he suggested we delay our getting on the highway until 11am-ish. Hoping the traffic would clear.

At the last Ohsho before leaving the Osaka/Kyoto area and starting the trip back home. We stopped for lunch. It was now about 11am-ish. Shrimp, karaage, fried rice gyoza.

Noah had ramen and a mini fried rice and some chicken and shrimp.  After we ate and filled our tummy's. We started back to Chiba. Noboru wanted us to drive the side roads versus getting on the highway. Because the highways were so congested. Traffic blocked up for miles.

So we took the side roads. It was longer on paper to to speak, but faster because zero traffic problems. See no traffic really. See that sky by the way.

Again still avoiding the main expressway. And again look at that sky. It was so bitter cold.

Snow! Well gee, it was just a matter of time really. ; )

Cold, here's the temp as we drove by.

Now it's kicking up a bit more.

And now the flakes are even bigger. And yep that was a man riding a convertible in the snow! @_@ Poor guy must have had quite the drive ne~ ; )

We made a bathroom break and a Starbucks break all in one. Along the way.

Starbucks drive thru's. They're just getting common now days here in Japan. We have a drive thru near the closest Hanamasa from our house that I go in about once a month.

Everyone emptied their bladder/restroom break, we all washed our hands and Noboru and I got a caramel machiatto and hit the road once more.

Not sure if you can make heads or tails of this but, see the red road? That's the expressway/highway. Totally red and full of people! Congested! Traffic blocked up for miles like I said. Which is why we purposely avoided jumping on the expressway. Since this was just faster. We were the triangle on the map and going along the same route and direction but just avoiding the expressway.  Just a whole lot faster for us.  We stopped for dinner in Hamamatsu Shizuoka at Saizeriya. We had salad, pasta and pizza and a drink bar. We all went to the restroom and washed our hands and Noboru checked his Nexus for the traffic and he felt it was okay to finally get on the Expressway, so we jumped on the highway in Hamamatsu.

We started our drive back home in daylight and ended our drive back home in the dead of night. We arrived home at 12:30am!!! After midnight! Noah fell asleep after Saizeriya. Branden meanwhile stood awake and Noboru walked him to a toilet break somewhere, I forget now where. And he was asleep after that and remained asleep until we got home. I put all the blankets and pillows onto the couch, Grabbed my carry-on and the boys backpacks and put them into the genkan. And woke the boys up. They went straight to bed. They managed to put jammies on. But they were dead tired. I however, took a shower, washed my face, washed my body, brushed my teeth and went to sleep.

The next morning we had donuts.

Yep we brought back a dozen to enjoy here at the house.

Otoshidama. Branden and Noah ended up with 25,000 yen each. So they didn't do too bad at all. And the most important thing like I said, was the quality family time we all had with all the aunties and uncles and tons and tons of cousins etc. Grandma M, Great grandma and everyone. Sure there was a bump in the road here and there like the traffic in Kyoto. But then that's to be expected around the New Year, it's actually sorta okay the other times of year. The delay checking in to the hotel was a huge bummer for us. But we didn't let it ruin the trip at all. So all in all, a pretty great trip. : )

Tonight we're meeting my bil Jun, sil S and my neice Mia for dinner in Narita City.