Updates...

I went to Costco yesterday morning in Chiba New Town/Inzai. This was my cart pic yesterday however I also bought a 3 pack of Vaseline body lotion too. What's in this cart? Just basics. You can see a 2 pack of laundry detergent underneath my cart. Inside my cart, I have some stuff for Christmas dinner. Such as a huge box of potatoes for gratin potatoes for Christmas dinner. The shredded cheese is also for the gratin potatoes too, but we will have tons of cheese left and will definitely use it for other things. : ) A 2 pack of milk. Because with Christmas upon us and holiday baking, I need the milk for stuff like gratin potatoes. And other dishes. Plus cereals and things too. So milk definitely comes in handy. : ) A pack of 8 chicken breasts, again for regular meals. Our spiral ham, that will be for our Christmas dinner. I also purchased ingredients at Besia for my honey pineapple glaze. And a huge honkin nearly 4 liters of ice-cream, it's 1 gallon for us Americans. : ) So a regular standard American size. : ) But, the ice cream is for New Year's not for Christmas. And I am turning the entire gallon of ice-cream, they're in 1/2 gallon containers and 2 of those. But, I'm turning those into peanut butter (with Reese's peanut butter cups) icecream. So that is tucked away for New Year's. : )

Is your skin dry in the winter? OMG! My skin is so freaking dry in winter too, it's crazy! : ) They have been selling this 3 pack at Costco in Japan for ages. It's 2 huge bottles with a pump and a convenient still big... but...something you could pack for trips or something and it has a flip cap. If you needed to travel this could be the one. Every time I go to Costco, I keep thinking...I should get that...but next time. And every next time...I say...next time. : ) This time...I said to myself. Just get it. My legs are dry, my elbows are dry, my hands are dry, my knee caps are dry.  Hahaha. So hopefully this will help. : )

So any new update...what's up. Remember how Bran got the "good call" last Friday. About the Principal's recommendation letter? So anyways, Monday morning. The teacher addresses the class and says. Whoever received a "Principal's recommendation" over the weekend, do not say who you are. Do not tell anyone if you got one. Many of you got them, but many of you didn't get one. And so...December 27th, whoever received a "principal recommendation letter" please come to the school and pick up your letter, it will be printed out and stamped and signed and it will be ready to be picked up over Christmas break on December 27th. Reason is... because we don't want whoever did NOT get one, to see who did get one. This just saves every one's feelings. The entire class just said...hai, we understand. And that was that. So...Branden will be going to the JHS on the 27th to pick up his recommendation letter, I will drive him. Meanwhile...we have already registered Branden to take the entrance exam for the high school. The test is at the actual school of course, but registering for it can be done online now, if you live in Chiba. This is the first year Chiba prefecture is doing online registering. I guess last year and years prior... you would have to go all the way to the school to apply to take the exam in person. From this year if you live in Chiba prefecture you can fill out the entrance exam forms online, from home. So that's awesome. And we did that for Branden already this weekend. Entrance exams cost money 14,000 yen to take the test or 15,000 yen. About $150 US. Just for the test. And then once you get the Principal's recommendation letter etc. You have to mail the forms. With a self addressed envelope folded inside to yourself... so they can mail something back to your house. And there is a specific polite way to write the envelope to the school. A certain specific part... has to be "off set" to show respect and politeness, which we did that to the envelope already and we printed it out already too. : ) So as soon as we receive the  recommendation letter. We will mail it off immediately on December 27th. I will drive Bran to the school on the 27th and I guess that is the day we all see who else received the recommendation too, we will be going straight to the post office afterwards too, to mail it off. But again it must be kept super quiet because the ones who didn't get one...are under enough stress. So, I am glad these are given to the kids over the break. I do think that's a good idea. That way nobody feels awkward or uncomfortable. Does that make sense. And to be blunt about it. America may have gun crime and violence but Japan does have stabbing knife violence. And you often hear in the news that some whacko stabs 20 people randomly. Or last month some student stabbed their classmates. And again...you don't want 1 kid with tons of stress and worry about not getting a recommendation letter to go and stab your kid and the other kids who got one, do you? I don't! So...honestly. I do understand why the JHS wants the kids who received a recommendation letter to pick them up over the winter break. That way it's just safer that way for the kids who received the letter. And at the same time... it also saves the other kids feelings and honestly it just makes me feel better. And that's another reason why I will be driving Branden to the school that day on the 27th. Granted I doubt anyone would hurt anyone. Because I do believe the folks in our town are good and kind. But honestly though...it's just better to be safe than sorry.

What else. Today is Wednesday here. Today is Noah's last full day at elementary school. Tomorrow is his closing ceremony thing. So Noah gets off at 11am tomorrow and then Noah will be officially on Winter break! Branden on the other hand being a 9th grader, final JHS year student. The 9th graders will be staying at school after the closing ceremony and have a regular study day. To prepare for their entrance exams. So after their JHS closing ceremony and the 7th and 8th graders leave and go home. The 9th graders will stay and have a full day of school. Plus tomorrow according to my weather forecast 90% chance of rain tomorrow? Will it happen? Maybe. But either way Bran will be having a lot to lug back from school... so he will be getting a ride. And Noah meanwhile has lugged everything home already. : ) Except his seat cushion, he will bring home tomorrow. : ) So...last day of school for both the boys tomorrow. And then it will be Christmas break for our house. Phew. we all are looking forward to some quiet and relax time here at home. : )

Also first week of January. Not on New Year's but a few days afterwards. Our family will be going to Hakone. We have a hotel reservation and our family is quietly just looking forward to this little over night get away at the hot springs town. We have all been so busy this year. Branden especially with school. Noah with school too. Plus we will be starting our... before New Year's cleaning... after Christmas too. I also have a hair color appointment booked on December 28th. It shouldn't take me too long, maybe just an hour. And heck...that's just maintenance. Basic taking care of myself type stuff. : )

Anything else to add? Umm, Our Christmas ice cream cake is arriving December 23rd. Can't wait! We're having a delicious hearty pork curry here at home tonight. Japanese curry. The kids will be having curry spaghetti and Noboru will have curry and rice. And I'm not sure which way I'll be having mine. : )  OMG, I bought so much meat yesterday at Besia you guys. Just enough to last the week, a full 7 days. Tomorrow night we will be having baked teriyaki chicken leg quarters. With rice and veggies and stuff. It will be so good. Anyways, I want to hurry and post this so I can finish cleaning the house and I also want to bake something for dessert tonight too. Happy holidays everyone. : )

Bits from our weekend. And all about Branden receiving his "principal's recommendation letter" from his JHS for high school...

 Did everyone have a nice weekend? We had an amazing weekend here! On Friday evening, as you know, we went to the movies to see Rogue One. On Saturday, we had a family movie night here at home. And I made these 2 pizzas from scratch! We also had salads, really amazing salads with The Olive Garden salad dressing. And we had sodas with ice with dinner.

I forget the night we had karaage. But as you can see, ginger infused really well marinated karaage, this is flat out amazing, crispy on the outside and so juicy inside. Rice, macaroni salad and also broccoli too. 

We always have a nice leisurely breakfast over the weekend. 1 day it's pancakes or french toast and the other day is always eggs and bacon. Cheesy scrambled eggs too. Very yum.: )

Amazing cornbread fresh and hot right out of the oven and buttered nicely on top. Went nicely with the chili last night.

Chili beans. There were many toppings to add. If you wanted lean ground beef to add we had it. We had sour cream, diced onions. This was so good and what is currently in their thermos at school today. The boys each took a thermos full of chili beans. A quesadilla each and 1 and a half mikans each... that I peeled and put into a  plastic container. Their soup thermoses stay boiling hot for like 15 hours straight, so they're as hot as the second I pack them. Japanese technology at it's finest! : ) 

Yesterday was a Star Wars marathon on my American cable. It showed them in order and me and the kids actually watched them all yesterday. It was awesome! But also...this week. Was it Wednesday? I forget the day. But on the ID channel (Investigative Discovery channel.) That has nothing but crime shows 24/7, I love this channel. 

Anyway the ID channel has been showing something called, People Magazine Investigates. Cases that were huge in the headlines years ago. People Magazine has been going back and making updates or delving further into the case. I have seen all of these so far. But the one last week. Was a case I remembered immediately. I am sure you do too. : (

It was called, "Mystery in Texas. In The Name of Love"

Recognize her? Does the name Diane Zamora ring a bell? 

The two lovebirds. 

His name was/is David Graham.

This case was all over the news. It was big time.. in the news at the time. They were high school sweethearts. In love. She had given her virginity to him, yeah that was a little tmi for me hearing that too last week. And he later told his girlfriend Diane. That he had cheated on her with a girl in his cross country team. Diane was so upset and angry that she told David. To make their love pure again. @_@ They would have to get the girl he slept with and murder her! And he agreed. And so...they did just that. Diane bashed her in the head. She tried to run but because she was bashed in the head and badly injured. David caught her and shot her in the head twice! 2 gun shots to the head. This was huge news all over the USA, why? Because it actually horrified us all. #1, Diane should have broke up with David. Yes sure...she would have been sad. But...life would have went on. And over time... she would have healed and moved on. Or David should have broke up with her after hearing her murderous request!!! The other things that shocked everyone was that...these weren't just... loser kids or bad kids! They were brilliant smart kids, good kids. 3 kids who would have had amazing careers and lives. David and Diane were both going to have military careers. One was in the air force. They were both cadets. One was in Colorado and one was in another state. So they were intelligent kids. Kids who would have had fantastic careers. And good lives. And they could have been contributing people of this earth. However Diane's jealousy got the better of her. And she would not rest until the other girl was lying dead in a morgue. To me that is so sad. I feel saddest for the actual victim. But, I also feel sad for all 3 too. Why? Because, it's obvious...they ruined their own lives! They had a choice not to kill her. Yet they still went through with it. And for what...teenage puppy love?  

This is Diane Zamora now. Sorry but... prison has clearly not been kind to her. I was a tad surprised when I first saw her. I was like...is that REALLY her? @_@ She didn't look anything like she did in her pictures when she was younger. Anyways...I was interested to hear what she had to say in 2016! Was she sorry? Was she remorseful? I guess what I'm saying is.... that I was hoping to hear. "I'm so sorry, every day of my life, I regret what I did. I regret what we did. And every day I think of Adrienne and am so sorry." However...that was not the case at all. She didn't really seem sorry at all. That was the most shocking to me. She said..."I'm sorry for Adrienne however SHE shouldn't have made me mad!!!"...yep that's basically what her thoughts on the matter are as of 2016. And honestly I was really disappointed. Because she doesn't seem remorseful or sorry about it at all. Not really. How sad.

And the actual real victim in all this. Granted should she have slept with another chick's man? Guy? No she should not have done that. However...did she deserve death for it? Absolutely NOT. Her parents never get to hear her voice again. She will never have a wedding day. Never have children. Never get to live up to her full potential. She will never be able to spend another birthday or Christmas with her family. Everybody lost in this! Adrienne lost the most. At least David and Diane's family get to visit them in prison. Or receive letters. Adrienne's family doesn't get to visit with her. The whole thing is just sad. So sad. And what's saddest? Was there was no real remorse...or I'm so sorry. I regret doing what we did. Nothing like that. : (

Anyway so now for some good news. Branden received a principal recommendation. If you live in Japan and have a 9th grader. And your 9th grader will be going to high school in Japan. Your wish and hope is to get a principal recommendation. To get a principal recommendation is like amazing and it's *the* goal. How do you get one? You have to have very good grades. Amazing grades. Outstanding grades. JHS in Japan goes like this... you need points. The highest score you can get for example in English is a 5. And same for math, it's 5 points. And all other subjects. The highest you can get is 25 points for all 5 subjects combined for Chiba prefecture. And then it depends on the school you wish to go to too. Some schools will not even allow you to get a principal recommendation unless you have 20 points, some schools want more. And in many cases if you you have a special skill that will help. Now knowing this. This explains why kids in JHS study their brains out. Because they want their points to stay high. We have really teeter tottered about...should Bran go to high school in the Unites States. Which means I will live with the kids in the US for a few years. Which would be hard being apart. But...we'd do it for our kids. Then we found a few high schools that have strong English departments and programs, Bran  will do university in the United States though 100%. This high school though...they require you to have extremely high English skills. And we have since checked this particular high school out 3 times. Bluntly speaking. My kids are native speakers and they want Branden. There are many native teachers there. The main native teacher actually asked us...if we are returnees (clearly I'm western but he thought we were living in my home country beforehand) because of our kids English abilities. Which was nice/kind to hear. But no...we have lived in Japan their whole school lives. He could not believe my kids have never studied in America and this was coming from a white/western man who has been a high school teacher here for ages and has seen the English skill of returnees vs, hafu, vs never lived over seas at all. And he has a kid Noah's age. So that says a lot, that he assumed my kids were schooled in America. Then.... the actual head teacher and high school principal who is Japanese...the final time we were there... could not believe Branden's Eiken 1. He had *never* seen that before...never ever seen that before...from a 9th grader... that he actually in front of all the other kids and parents and teachers...told everyone and actually asked if he could go make a Xerox copy of it. Yes it was a bit embarrassing that he went on and on and on about his passing the entire Eiken.... regarding Bran... in front of everyone...but understandable too. To have that in your hand is a bit unusual. He was that flat out shocked. So special skill has been proven. And grades are on point. So...our JHS head teacher for the 9th grade and our actual principal went to Branden's future high school and they had a meeting last Friday. Our JHS 2 heads and the high school heads met up at the high school.... and when 2 schools agreed, which they agreed. And they love his grades and agree he has a special skill. So the high school gave the JHS the go ahead to...give Branden his principal recommendation. And so that is why we were in the best mood going to the movies on Friday. Branden's actual teacher phoned our house during dinner. Friday evening saying..."you got it kid!" She spoke to Noboru first. Then spoke to Branden, then spoke to Noboru again. We were quiet while on the phone but we were high five-ing each other in the kitchen. Noah and I were doing a jig! Then Noboru and when Bran got off the phone he passed it back to his dad and Bran Noah and I were dancing in the kitchen. Like Whoop whoop! LOL. Just super happy ya'll.  : ) So anyways...that's that....Branden has 1 final test to take...his entrance exam for high school and he has been studying his brains out. If he gets into this school, which everybody basically thinks it's in the bag. He's going to be having a blast. He will be in the English department. Their school trip in 10th grade is some place English speaking, I know where... but I can't say, I'm sorry guys. And their 11th grade trip is to America. He's basically going to have a blast and best years of his school life. With lots of like minded people just like him. There are many hafu and foreign nationals going to this high school and also returnees (Japanese who lived overseas). I am so happy for my son, you guys. His high school life will be a blast! This school is a good school. It looks like all the hard work of JHS was worth it for Branden.  So anyway, very happy news for Bran. And he's so...almost done with JHS! I love you kid and am so proud of you Branden! : )

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Opening Day...

A quick picture of Branden and Noah outside the movie theater in Ibaraki Japan last night. Our nearest movie theater in the little city nearest us. It was freezing cold outside. Noah and I were bundled in our winter coats and Branden and his dad didn't wear coats since we went from house to car to movies and all those places are heated. However just the walk from car to movies was reason enough for Noah and I to need our coats. But Bran had on a long sleeve top and one of his Gap sweatshirts though. And we went right into the warm building as soon as we snapped this pic! We were so nicely stuffed from the cheeseburgers and fries I made for us all at home beforehand.  

We had 2 large popcorn's. 4 sodas, a soda for everyone. And snacks inside my bag for everyone.

Chocolate covered almonds for me. That was my movie snack that I picked. Noah and Branden picked chocolate covered almonds too, but picked a different type and they also picked and shared a pack of grape Hi-Chew, that you can see in this pic between Noah's sweatshirt and coat. And Noboru picked Pretz. : ) We had the best seats. Nobody sat near us. The movie theater had people in it of course... but honestly maybe about 25 people at most including us were in the movie. And that's awesome...so glad we live in the boonies!!! And Noboru even left a space between he and Bran. He said because they could spread out and they put the movie posters there and popcorn too in the empty seat. The Rogue One posters, we got 4 of them.... for going on opening day! Branden also received some *very* good news from the JHS regarding high school yesterday too! So needless to say...we were in the best BEST mood last night! 

Our present for going on opening day in Japan!

How did we like Rogue One? How did we feel about the movie? We freaking loved it!!! It was way better than the one last December, The Force Awakens! This one had it all. Number 1...this was written so well. From the second this movie started...you are immediately learning Jyn Erso's story. You are drawn and sucked right into this movie and story. So it's not like a slow start. No no no. It starts right away. Draws you right in. I felt so sorry for Jyn seeing how everything went down when she was a little girl. I really felt for her. So great story! All of the characters were amazing. Not just 1 or 2 characters, but honestly they were all fantastic. That droid named K2 was hilarious. So funny. You will love him! This movie basically ties the older ones from the 70's together to this one. You won't understand what I am saying now. Because I'm not going to say and spoil it. And I am not going to say who from the old ones... are in this one either. But...you will totally understand after you see the movie. Love love loved Rogue One. Would I buy this on DVD? Honestly? Yes, I would. And I wouldn't have bought the one that came out last year, The Force Awakens. Don't get me wrong... the one that came out last year was good, but it wasn't great. And I felt at times, The one from last year The Force Awakens was slow. And it didn't draw me in like Rogue One did. This movie gets 2 thumbs up from us. This movie has no slow parts or laggy zzzz parts to it. This was flat out bomb dot com! If you're into the Star Wars movies at all You will love this! Anyway, we really liked this movie a whole lot! : ) 

Bits and pieces...

Has anyone tried the sweet potato soft cream/soft serve ice cream at the convenience store, The Mini Stop? I have had it twice. It's actually pretty delicious and the flavor is...like a freshly roasted sweet potato. The flavor is so on point and it's actually perfect for this time of year and season! I am not sure how long they will be selling this seasonal flavor. But, I'm actually glad I tried this. I had been mentioning to Noboru, how good this looked. And last week as we were driving past one, he stopped and he said let's try one each. So, we did and we both actually really liked it. The kids were also curious about it. And since they were not in the car with us, that day, on another day...I made sure to buy them one too. : ) 

I love these Korean foot mask things. Where you let your feet soak in their presoaked foot plastic booties for 90 minutes and then wash your feet after wards. My feet start peeling after about 5 days and are now nice and smooth and like a baby's foot. : ) Hence the name Baby Foot. : ) I use these in winter and definitely in the summer too...summer especially because I wear flip flops and my feet need to up their game. : ) I use them in the winter too sometimes, because my feet just feel dry and this helps. : ) 

I happened to be in the small city nearest us. And I saw these running socks on sale. With the marathon coming up (it has now passed and is over with) but at the time...I thought...holy cow too cheap to pass up! This was originally 980 yen and now reduced to 280 yen. Super deal! And yes with the marathon approaching at that time...I jumped on this deal! 

Size was right. Price was superly right. : )

I love getting good deals. And Adidas nonetheless!

Though Noah is now wearing thicker longer socks for the colder weather. These were perfect for the marathon and will be perfect in Spring or for gym class. : )

I buy a box of adult sized masks every Fall and Winter, for Noboru, Bran and myself. And a box of kids sized masks for Fall and Winter for Noah. These are sold everywhere in Japan. And are like 400 yen for a box of 50. So they're super cheap. And just because my family and kids get their flu shots every October! Doesn't mean everyone else does! Also...the stomach flu has been going all over our town for months. In Japan it's called the noro virus. And it is so bad! Like vomiting for days diarrhea for days, sorry TMI. Lucky for us. My kids have not gotten it, knock on wood. And our flu shot doesn't cover the noro virus I am sure. Just influenza A and B or A or B. So...what's a mom to do? Not much you can do. Except for...hope your kids don't catch whatever is going around. I also have my kids wear masks... every time they leave the house. And it helps. My kids have not been sick this year or last year and I think the year before that too. I think they caught the noro virus though 4 years ago? And it was so nasty and horrible. And to top it off, they gave it to me after they had it. @_@ So...needless to say. I have been hearing from everywhere/everyone. The cashier at the town grocery store, the pharmacist who likes chit chatting with Noboru and I every time we're there at the local drugstore for...well we were buying bath powder. But he likes us...and he comes to talk whenever we're in there. He did say...so many kids are coming in with prescriptions for noro virus meds, so he told us to...be careful and take precaution. Hahaha. : ) Kind nice guy! : ) So...it is going all over our town. And...given Branden is in his final year of JHS, he can't miss school... so the second he leaves our house he has a mask on his face. Same with Noah too. : ) And I have been giving them tons of mikan/mandarin oranges for vitamin C. : ) One of Noah's closest friends at school 2 days ago...he ran to the bathroom and vomited and they called his grandma to pick him up. And yep...sure enough Noro virus. @_@ Poor kid. : (  Noah has a handful of kids masks from the last box I bought. But, I will be buying another box of kids masks this coming week. Stay healthy everyone. : ) 

The January issue. 

Usually they have very good issues, but this time, Biteki fell a little flat for me. Hopefully February will be better, than the January issue was. : ) 

The one thing though that I love is that this magazine always gives a gift. This time they gave 2. 1 is a mirror so you can check your hair, while on the go. @_@ Do we need that now days? Gee whiz! : ) And the other gift is a face mask. I'll use the face mask but I doubt I'll use the mirror. :)

I haven't gotten a new pair of reading glasses in 3 years. It was time for a new eye exam and a new pair. Styles change and 3 years is too long to be wearing the same old pair. Branden also got new lenses for his frame. We really wanted Branden to get a new frame too, but he looked all over the eye glass shop and didn't find a pair he loves, as much as the pair he has. So, he got new lenses. His eye vision had a slight change since April 2016 and plus he had a few slight scratches on his lenses so he got new lenses. And these in this picture are my new frames. They are way more stylish and current versus my pair from 3 years ago. Girls...females in Japan are wearing plastic frame glasses and their frames are larger and bigger then they were 3 years ago. I really like the bigger frame. And I am a brunette so I got a pair that matches my hair color. I like this eye glass shop because they sell super affordable frames and lenses for 5900, 7900 and 9900 yen. Something like that. They only have 3 prices. And it takes... only an hour to get your new glasses. I also think Japan always has the most stylish glasses. Mine cost only 7900 yen. So about US $75. Which is a fantastic deal considering, I got an eye exam, plus lenses and frame. Everything is included for that price... including the case. 

I don't need glasses for regular life. I am lucky in that I can see in normal life, so no regular walking around town glasses for me. But, I do read a lot. A lot... a lot. And I think all that heavy reading is why I do need reading glasses. Which is fine. At least if I do need to pull mine out, mine are super stylish and I'm not embarrassed by them at all. My new ones are the larger cooler squares on the left and my old pair are the too small rectangle ones on the right. I am really loving my new pair. And my prescription isn't heavy or anything like.. coke bottle glasses or anything, it's light. And I just really dig my trendy new reading glasses. : )

Aww, okay back to the roasted sweet potato flavor soft cream at Mini Stop. So, I mentioned to the boys. I tried it, I liked it. If you'd like to try, I can drive ya'll down to the local Mini Stop and buy you each one. They both said sure. So, we came home with 3. 1 each. : ) 

Enchiladas happened last week. A whole tray of them. Yum. Chicken enchiladas. 

We always eat a variety of different foods. I don't want to just make Japanese all the time or just American all the time. Or just 1 certain type of food. I want them to like... all sorts of different variety of foods. And they love everything they eat at home! : )

Brownies happened last week. Last week we had 2 desserts, the cookies on Friday and at the beginning of the week, I baked the family brownies with walnuts. Yum. : ) 

As soon as the kids walked through the door after school, they said..."I smell cake, did you bake us a cake?"...I said..."close! I baked you all brownies!" : ) Anyway, TGIF everyone. It's Friday. The weekend starts for us...as soon as the kids get home from school. You all know we have tickets to see Star Wars Rogue One this evening. We can't wait! : )  Have an awesome weekend everyone. : )

Throwback Thursday. Noah's Christmas recital at age 3 and Branden's Christmas recital at age 6...

Branden's final Christmas play/recital at our Catholic yochien both of the boys attended. Branden was a happy green bird during this performance and he danced around the stage with an adorable blue mouse and a cutie patootie duck, quack quack! : )

After many fun short plays. Was the final last play and that was the story of the baby Jesus being born in a manger. These 2 pics of Branden were taken in December 2007, and he was only 6 years old.

Noah, age 3 and the youngest grade at our Roman Catholic yochien (kindergarten) this was Noah's first Christmas recital, December 2009. And here he was... an adorable little dancing kitty or perhaps squirrel. LOL. Not sure what he was...but there were a few of them with the same ears and cartoon cut out. Whatever they were...they were having a ball and dancing all over the stage. : )

Aww! And this was the final play about the baby Jesus, same year 2009 and Noah was again, only 3 years old. And these were 3 sheep. See their delicious looking grass. : ) They were all age 3 and the youngest grade of yochien. They were told to sit still and not move! : ) And so 2 sat as still as statues, Noah always always *always* listens to his sensei and teachers hahaha, even now.  Hahaha. That being the girl to our left and Noah-chan! And that other little girl was just...being an adorable age 3 and waving at her mama! Bless her little heart! Again...this was quite hard for any kid age 3. And I do think these 3 tried their very best! Merry Christmas you sweet angels! : )

Noah's 5th grade class trip to the Nissan factory and Bandai museum in Tochigi prefecture. More homemade cookies from scratch. And a Jenga night...

Noah had a class field trip to a totally different prefecture. To Tochigi prefecture. Utsunomiya, Tochigi. It was a 2 hour limousine bus ride there and 2 hours back. That's pretty far away, for a field trip. : ) But the 5th graders were looking forward to it. They went to the Nissan factory. And yes that picture on the booklet is Olive's sister! Hahaha. : ) It is a Nissan Leaf, same car, as my car, except my car is black! Noah said the Nissan tour guide asked...does anyone own a Nissan Leaf? Noah's entire class including his sensei know what I drive, so they all looked at Noah. And a blushing Noah raised his hand and said, "yes my mom has one!" And the sensei and class chimed in and said, "yes she does!" And yes, I do, and heck...even ya'll can confirm that one! : ) Hahaha. Anyway Noah said the Nissan factory tour was very nice. And then they went to the Bandai Museum. They had lunch at the Bandai museum, somewhere inside the building. : ) I made sure to pack Noah a very nice and big lunch that day. 

This is what our kitchen/dining table looked like last Friday. I baked yet another batch of homemade chocolate chip with walnut cookies. And of course in Japan all Fall and Winter long we eat mikan. These ones are so sweet. And we have gone through 2 more bags of mikan since this picture was taken. : )

Noboru, Branden and Noah all read my blog. And after seeing the TBT last week, they all mentioned Friday at breakfast, "let's play Jenga tonight!" I said, "I'm down!" And everyone else was down too! So after a filling supper. Some chocolate chip cookies and showers last Friday, we whipped out the Jenga game and got down to business! We played 3 rounds! Noboru smiling! Branden taking a turn!

Noah smiling and Noboru flat out laughing! So...who won? Noah knocked them all down the first and 3rd time. Noboru knocked them down the 2nd round. And Branden and I managed to somehow...not lose this time. However....we were just lucky. : ) It was a whole lot of fun! What else did we do last weekend? We watched the DVD Home Alone! : )

This coming Friday as you know, we have Star Wars Rogue One... that we're going to watch. I already have the movie snacks. And our "family home weekend movie" will be Elf on Saturday night! : )  Japan's been super cold! So stay toasty warm everyone! And stay safe.

What's for dinner tonight? Well...Noboru is taking the boys to the barber as we speak. And I have had karaage marinating all day, since 12 noon. So it is so gingery and marinated, I am sure. We will be having, karaage tonight, with broccoli, macaroni salad and a side of rice. The boys will be taking the same thing inside their packed school lunch tomorrow along with a mikan each. And tomorrow night we will be having curry nabe, yum, I bought all the ingredients today. And on Friday, we will be having family cheeseburger night at home with fries. I figure a little fun meal before we go and watch Rogue One! And Saturday night will be...homemade pizza night when we have family movie night! And Sunday night will be Chili concarne (Wendy's type of chili, you know what I mean? Like a Texas style of chili beans) We will be having sour cream and shredded cheese and I have that bag of Fritos that my dad kindly brought us, so I am thinking it will be more along the lines of ...chili beans on top of Fritos. It's a dish in New Mexico. And we had that at school lunch in Denver too. I will have a side of lean ground beef...so if you want to add some ground beef fine and if not fine too. : )  So anyways...that's some of the meals we will be having for supper the next couple nights. Anyway...I am about to go and turn the TV on and see what's on. Noboru already knows to message me as soon as they leave the barber so I can start frying up the chicken before they even get home. : ) Have a good night everyone! : )