I often get mailed Nissen catalogs (like probably most of you do ;) or if I have a spare minute I'll log onto their online shopping site. Anyway when I got the catalog in February, I liked these rain boots right away. In Japan we get an actual rainy season as you know and so rain boots actually do come in handy living here. I have a pair of light blue ones now with bright red cherries on them. But I'd been wanting a simple but feminine new pair. And when I saw these with the polka dots I liked them right away and the price was pretty fair. I can't wait for a rainy day now and will wear mine with a couple of jean mini skirts and khaki cargo mini skirts that I have, on those hot steamy rainy days. I'm going to look for a new umbrella this coming month and hopefully I can find a nice one with stripes or polka dots. : )
I didn't have a birthday type birthday celebration for myself this year as you know. Not that we ever really have huge massive parties or anything, we're more the quiet family type party. But given the earthquake and given the fact I was in Guam, it just seemed like...I don't know how to word it. But it just seemed to change things. However, Noboru did get me that portable dvd player from Target while we were in California. And he also bought me the 2 newer seasons of Everybody Hates Chris. I didn't have these seasons. And this is just one of the funniest shows out there. Now the show is over. But yeah a hilarious show. Anyway I got season 2 and 3. So, all through March and April, our family has been enjoying these. I would say season 2 wasn't nearly as funny as season 1 and 3. But they are so good. I will try and get the final season sometime this Summer.
Another thing I didn't have time to mention. Was see how flat Branden's seat cushion/earthquake cover is? Flat as a pancake! The light blue one. Considering a kid sits on them every single day for school, they keep getting flatter and flatter and flatter until they're practically paper thin. They only bring them home twice a year at the most. And sure I launder it and lay it in the sun. But it still was flat as a pancake. So, finally I said to myself. He needs another one. I mean he really REALLY does. Online I found them pretty cheap. And I liked the gingham pattern. So over Spring break, I made sure to switch Branden's seat cushion/earthquake cover. As you can see it's way fatter, fluffier and longer even.
So in the mail the covers came during Spring break.
Since Noah will be ichinensei next year and given we were paying shipping already for Branden's. We went ahead and got Noah his for next year as well. It is now sitting high up in his closet.
My dad got me a bunch of dvd's for my birthday as well.
I picked 4 older movies. Meet the Parents, Dragon The Bruce Lee Story, Sleeping With The Enemy and Not Without My Daughter. And I also picked 4 new ones. Though one was being shipped all by itself. Let Me In. Due Date (So hilarious a lot like Planes Trains and Automobiles) and The Switch. I loved the Switch.
As the box says. The best horror film in 20 years. I really liked this movie. But I think saying it's the best in 20 years was a bit of a stretch. This was actually a remake of a foreign film.
This was the 4th newer movie I picked. The name just gets me!
And though just because I haven't been sharing recent purchases. It doesn't mean we haven't been getting the boys ready for Spring and Summer. Because as usual we have been. And I've also been getting myself ready as well.
Noah's stuff.
Branden's stuff.
Branden got one polo top with rugby stripes and another rash guard.
Noah got this argyle polo top, a cool new hat and striped shirt and a plain white tee.
I picked two Summer dresses and a pair of comfy shorts in medium and a sweatshirt and a tee with the American flag on it.
These 2. And it's hard to see what they look like so below are the pics from online.
A black baby doll Summer dress. I really liked this, I want to wear this with either ballet flats or dressy flip flops, hair straight down or a high pony tail.
And this one, on looks so cute. I will wear this with my gray 3/4 sleeve Summer cardi and flip flops this Summer.
Just a pair of comfy house shorts, and old navy sweatshirt that says Old Navy on it. I can wear this on walks through out my neighborhood when I go for my walks. And a basic American flag tee and a basic black polo top.
While we were in Senbayashi in Osaka, we got Branden this thermos.
The tops I picked out for Mother's Day. I picked a yellow top and a bright pink short sleeve top and a navy top.
We also have still been getting both Branden and Noah ready at the same time.
Wind breakers. These were the cutest ones I've ever seen. With the turquoise polka dots and everything. Noah's was 990 yen and Branden's was 1,090 since he needed the bigger boy size.
120cm for Noah.
150cm for Branden.
And jean shorts, we got them identical ones. Since they're a pretty cheap price and good basic shorts.
150 for Branden.
And Mr. skinny butt and waist got 110cm and would you believe we still had to cinch the waist with the size strap inside the shorts. @_@.
I like how they're different shades of blue, so nobody thinks they're wearing the same ones 2 days in a row. ; )
And as you know I like Japanese tees for the boys. We had these shirts last year and wanted them again this year too.
Size 130cm for Noah. In my opinion these tees in particular run a tad small. So that's why we went with 130cm.
Love the kakigori ones the most.
We had this same exact shirt last year.
Different flavors of shave ice syrup.
This orange tee with the shave ice. So cute.
This one is very cheerful too. The price for 2, since they came in a set was a really good deal. ; )
The cutest windbreaker for a boy.
Also a store in Narita started carrying fresh pasta. We had this recently, oh man it's so good. I will be buying this again. And it was not a bad price at all.
Bought our weekly jasmine tea at Hanamasa.
And then at Cainz, I got some of weekly breakfast things. Yogurts, bananas lots of pancake cereal. We also have lots of eggs for breakfasts in the mornings. Not me, the kids. : ) I prefer yogurt. Though the kids love yogurt a lot as well.
Strawberry bread, this is so good. Toasted with a little butter in the mornings.Our family is going to Uniqlo this week. I want to get a pair of jean shorts for Branden. That adorable orange Qoo tee for Noah, I saw online and I want that polo dress for myself and those roomwear shorts, the black ones with white polka dots are so cute and at the price they are, they're a good buy. Noboru also wants to get some jean shorts for himself and a few tees. And I also have a pretty big order from Old Navy and the Gap coming our way right now as well. Think we're pretty much nearly set for the warmer weather. As soon as we get ourselvs to Uniqlo, we should be all set.
Anyway haven't done an update for getting ready for Spring yet and thought it was time. : )
Given the on again and off again problems with blogger this past week.: ( Remember that trouble I also had with getting my last Osaka post up as well. Well, no wonder I'm a bit behind. A full 7 days behind with this Mother's Day post. But, better late then never, as they say. : ) Oh and the posting seems to be back to normal, knock on wood it stays that way. But what I get from Blogger is the comments are still being worked on, meaning the ones they temporarily took off. I know blogger is working very hard trying to get things back to working normally. So until then. I will temporarily suspend my own comments and I really don't like doing that. *But* the only reason I am doing it, is because if another one of you took the time and commented and consider they're still working out the kinks and so if another bunch of comments disappeared that would be just terrible.: ( So, just until they get the comments back up. From the GW bits and pieces post..hopefully they can and if not...and I wait a few days. Then I'll just allow comments back when they get it all working back to normal. But until then I would feel really bad if any ones comments just disappeared all over again. Hopefully they get all the problems worked out shortly. So anyway moving on...so I don't get too behind. These are the things Noah made for me at yochien for Mother's Day. A picture frame and a picture he drew of mom, me. : )
I think he really did a great job! I also like that Noah always seems to make my hair a nice shade of brown. Poor Noah, while most of his classmates must be running out of black crayons they use on their mom's hair for their pictures. Noah is definitely running out of his brown crayon. Always every year that's always the first crayon to go.: ( Ha ha ha. : )
I also love the paper flower he made as well. I told Noah, I love the background color. And Noah says, his favorite color is yellow, so he wanted me to think of him. And I said, I definitely will. I am going to buy a frame for this, this coming week. He also made the "me" in the picture wear a yellow dress as well, so cute! : )
A special Mother's Day message for me, behind the picture frame Noah made for me. And signed. And dated. And I'm sorry to say it, but it is true.These are the things I will treasure the most.
Meanwhile, I sent my own mother a really nice card and sent her a really nice basket of flowers thank goodness for online ordering. And I also made sure my mother in law also got a little something. I picked out this card to be sent with the flower arrangement. I liked this one the best.
And they had a pink and red only arrangement that was nice, but not really us. And then I found this arrangement with lovely orange and yellow flowers mixed with soft pinks and bright greens. I thought the yellow and orange would make her think instantly of our family. So, that's why I picked this for her. And after speaking with her, she totally loved it. That made me really happy to hear that she liked them so much. It feels really good to pick something out, that you know they'll really like. : ) Anyway...; )
These little cuties are the koi nobori (carp streamers) that Noah made at yochien this year. : )
Over the Golden Week holiday, one day while Noboru was at work, the boys and I went to Chiba New Town/Inzai. I have blogged about that place many times before. They have the closest Gap to us (haven't been into it in a long time though ; ). And they also have a great big homecenter and the Japan Meat (name of store) is really nice there. So, I wanted to get some ricotta at the Japan Meat store. They have a huge cheese selection.
The store was so packed. You know, you go in there for 1 item, meaning the ricotta cheese and I ended up getting marinated miso pork we had for dinner that night. And I also picked up some chicken leg quarters for teriyaki chicken also. And the cheese too. Didn't do huge amounts of shopping in there just ended up with about 4 things. Three things more then I planned though. : )
The drive was longer then expected because the main way to get there was detoured. So knowing we'd have an even longer drive back home, I let the boys get 100 yen shakes at McD's on the way back. Yep, the lady gave us this huge giant bag for 2 tiny choco shakes. Go figure. If I were in the McD's myself, I would have politely declined and said... we don't need the bag etc. But as I was only looking through the glass and guarding the shopping cart with items while the boys ran into the Mc Donald's. We ended up with the huge honkin' bag. Aw well. : )
And at a red light trying to get us on our way home. Listening to music, the boys happily sucking their shakes.
On a totally different day, it rained buckets. That's the kind of weather we've had lately...real nice almost Summery type days and then...real rainy sort of semi chilly type days. ; ) Definite Spring weather.
The rice fields are so filled with water.
Miso pork, potato salad. Made some rice and some chopped up stir fry veg, I made real quick and dinner was fast that night.
So yummy. My family's came out lighter, and I like mine really really super well done, so mine were slightly darker then every one else's. We really enjoyed dinner that night. We love miso pork.
The next day in Golden Week, Noboru cooked me dinner. I loved that. He made Indian style curry.
Carrots and onions are blended up in the food processor.
I meanwhile finally got around to using the apple crisp from Knott's Berry Farm. I cut lots of apples, sprinkled with cinnamon. And then melted some margarine and mixed with the crumble/crisp part and baked in the oven while Noboru continued making us curry.
It was so good. And we all enjoyed the naan.
The apple crisp was really good. I am not even counting how many apple crisps we've eaten these past few months. : )
Another night we had buffalo wings.
Buffalo wings, the last bit of the potato salad we got at Joyful Honda in Chiba Newtown. A salad with carrots since we were having the ranch for dipping anyway. ; ) It was a really good dinner.
The flowers we ordered 2 weeks ago got here (we wanted them to arrive after we got back from Osaka). We were so happy.
And we ordered new hanging baskets for the front porch as well.
The plastic liners with holes.
Noboru and I each worked on the hanging baskets. My job was to pull off all the flowers. So they grow bushier and fuller.
I felt badly pulling them all off, but after doing this for a few years I know it works. Noboru meanwhile placing coconut liner little pieces at the bottom for extra soaking up of water.
The boys playing soccer like crazy. And both Branden and Noah's comforters hanging outside.
Sheets and any extra blankets also hung out.
Another day, thinking about school starting shortly I washed all the boys sneakers. See that stuff on the grass, Noboru has been working hard on the grass. he has been throwing all sorts of things on it.
Towels all drying up. Gym uniforms. And I think you can sort of make out...my bright pink short sleeve top for the hotter months/weather and periwinkle blue night tee. Many chisai towels (from using at the sento the night before) and handkerchiefs and undies drying for the boys. If the weathers good the clothes are out there. If it's crappy weather, then they're in the dryer.
Everything jeans for the boys, pants and shorts. And 2 summer dresses of mine on there, navy and the other black (have had them for ages). Noah meanwhile riding on the terrace.
Lasagna night. The reason I made the drive earlier in the week for Golden Week in the first place. : )
This was so good. Seriously, Noboru said, can you make this again. Okay.... So, I'm going to be making that drive back to Chiba New Town again soon to get more cheese. LOL.
Man dinner was good that night. This was the night we went to the sento by the way.
After a very good dinner. Noboru said..you know what, let's do something! I was sorta feeling a little tired. Ready to take a shower upstairs and relax on the couch for the night. But I'm game for anything... so I said..like what? He said, let's go to the sento. This happened because we had mentioned to Branden while we were in Osaka..we used to go to Senbayashi a lot and go to the sento there. Branden loves sentos and onsens of any kind. So he really wanted to go to the sento in Senbayashi in Osaka. And we even briefly thought about going until we realized we had no towels or shampoo etc to go. So we nixed that idea while in Osaka. Anyway Branden really has been wanting to go. So I think that's why it was in Noboru's mind. So, I said yes, the kids were really happy. I went upstairs and got everyone a chisai towel (which is why there were a ton hanging on the laundry outside in the pic up above) packed both Branden and Noah some clean underwear and fresh pj's. My own fresh undies and a pair of comfy shorts and a tee. Some deodorant for me and off we went.
Yep, if you have a tattoo you cannot come into the sento.
The koi nobori hanging nicely in the sento. Branden and Noboru went into the guys. And Noah went in with me. I told Noah this is the last year I'll let him go with me. : ) But we went in and enjoyed ourselves. He washed himself next to me, where I washed myself. I washed his back and went over his hair a bit before he rinsed himself. I threw my hair in a pony tail and we started going from bath to bath. We went into a bright purple one. It smelled of lavender. There was 1 little girl and 4 other little boys. 3 of the boys were around Noah's age and 1 of them was older. After the purple bath Noah wanted to head outside, so we went to the 5 different baths they had outside. One even had a big hanging flat screen TV. I recalled reading on a lovely bloggers blog last year how in Japan TV's are everywhere. And I chuckled when I saw one hanging at the rotenburo. I thought....yep she was so right. ; ) We went to all the different baths. And we had agreed to meet in the lobby at 8:30pm. So at 8:10pm, Noah and I headed to the dressing room. He got into his pj's and I got dressed as well and we met up in the lobby.
One of the best parts of the sento is getting a snack afterwards. Noah had a vanila icecream in a waffle cone. Branden had a Pino brand icecream from the machine that he really wanted. And I chose the lemon shave ice. And Noboru picked this big Pepsi. However...everyone wanted some shave ice, so they all ended up sharing my shave ice. : ) Which was totally fine. So anyway there you have it...for Golden Week 2011, we went to Osaka. Went to the sento (public bath), we mostly stayed home, the boys played tons. And we planted flowers in the hanging baskets. Noboru worked on the grass to get it ready for the Summer months. I did heaps of laundry (because it really is just absolutely endless isn't it : ) We had many warm nice days and 1 rainy GW day. 
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