A Holiday Meme! : )

I was tagged by the ever fabulous and kind Marianne, so here goes! : )

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?Hot chocolate. With lot's of whipped cream! Yumm!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?He definitely wraps them! : )

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White on the house and non blinking for the outside of the house. And as for the tree, it doesn't matter, colored or white is fine. Twinkling or not, doesn't matter for the tree.Trees look beautiful no matter what! But outside of the house has to be white.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope

5. When do you put your decorations up? You know how we have Thanksgiving Thursday in America? Then we have Black Friday for all the shopping? Well, that Saturday is the day we always start with the decorations! The Saturday that follows American Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Well for my family, Christmas dinner always meant, a homemade Italian dinner. A real feast! A large platter of sausages, another large platter of meatballs, stuffed shells (2 extremely large platters of those, homemade sauce, homemade everything. Loafs and loafs of garlic bread. Salad's. Pizzelle's which in case you may not know, it's a gorgeous Italian cookie (looks like a beautiful fragile snowflake), we all make stacks and stacks of these a day or two before, all the women and girls in my family with our pizzelle irons. We also made fudge and traditional cookies as well. And chocolate covered pretzels, lol and my aunts make cheesecake and pies as well! So long story short? Stuffed shell's hands down is my favorite Christmas dish! We've never had a turkey or ham for Christmas, not ever! : )

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:Midnight mass as a child with my mom and dad and my extended family sitting behind us and my cousins (one in particular) gently pulling/tugging my hair, because they were sitting behind us! It wasn't hard or to be mean, it actually made me laugh! Kids being silly, just having fun!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes, just one.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
We don't have a theme or anything for ours. We just have colored lights on our tree. All sorts of different ornaments and silver tinsel. LOL.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Ummm, I grew up with having snowy Christmases. Shoveling the snow? Sucks! Freezing in the car until it warms up, sucks! It's totally beautiful yes. But, after freezing my butt off for over 27 years of having snowy Christmases, I sorta don't mind going to tropical places for Christmas either. So either way, but I sorta am leaning on the tropical side! : )

12. Can you ice skate? Oh yeah, I can totally ice skate! I grew up in the Rocky Mountains for crying out loud, sledding, snowball making and ice-skating are a given! Ha ha ha : )

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? *Totally* has to be my Betty Crocker Easy Bake Oven, man I made some awesome cakes with that oven and the little light bulb! Ha ha ha!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? My family is my #1!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pizzelles, best thing on earth! As an Italian American, these immediately make me think of *Christmas* hands down! However my husband hates them! You can't pay this guy to eat one! Cracks me up, because they are just the best!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?Man I got so many! My family is so big on tradition, they are like tradition freaks! Ha ha ha! Well, midnight mass is a given! I will be attending in Hawaii no doubt! Baking Christmas cookies is another tradition, I will never lose. And also decorating the house is something I will never stop....not ever!

17. What tops your tree? A golden star!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Honestly? Both! But I hate wrapping, I'm the world's worst wrapper! I'm like a freak with the tape and folding those corners, I'm a total maniac with my corners! Ha ha ha!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Judy Garland's " Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" always stops me in my tracks and makes me reflect and miss my family or appreciate my immediate family for sure! For Christmas time happiness and silliness? The Chipmunks singing their Christmas Song is a good one! I love when that one chipmunk says he wants a hoola hoop! Ha : )

Friday! : )

The lunch I made for Branden this morning! Rice with a little bit of butter and shoyu! Mini chicken katsu with the cheese inside (these are the Co-op ones and really yummy), like 3 fries, ha ha ha, sorry only 3, but the obento box is just too small. 2 small steamed and buttered and salted and peppered broccoli's, a plastic carrot with some tonkatsu sauce. Some diced up apple and as usual 2 jellies!


The few Cars things that I ordered arrived this morning. And the metal winter obento box should be here Sunday or Monday. These will be wrapped and be stocking stuffers inside Branden's Christmas stocking! Oh he is going to get such a kick out of them! : )

As for Noah's stocking stuffer's I know what I will get him inside his and I will be picking them up at either Kmart or Walmart when we get to Hawaii on the 22nd. I'll probably get a few more stocking stuffers for Branden as well. Who knows, Ill have to swing by the Disney store at Ala Moana and see what they have as well. Hmmm (thinking)


Branden had a half of day today at school. Also today is the last day of regular classes at his Catholic school. However, he has to attend the Christmas recital on Monday and Tuesday and then on Wednesday is the candle light mass, that all mom's and their kids have to go to, so we will be going to that and then that is the end of yochien until January 10th! Woohoo!!! So if you count regular/normal type classes, today was the last day of those!

So, since he got off school at like 11:45 am today. We hung out at home this afternoon and then Branden and Noah and I headed off to swimming school. Noboru was home and just resting. He likes going to watch Branden because he is a terrific dad and all. But today I asked him to stay home! I wanted to hang with my girlfriends. He understood totally. Because while we do like doing stuff together a lot, we also like spending time with our friends once in a while as well and that's okay. So I had a good time with the girls this afternoon. Nothing major just happy girlie chatter, ha ha ha! Some married mommy told us how she has a crush on one of her coworkers, ha ha ha! And that is why she was all dolled up today...trying to look her best! The rest of the girls, joked with her about it! I was laughing and it was sorta hilarious!

This pic is of the boys before we hopped in the car. Branden has his swimming backpack on. All the kids have to bring them. And the Elmo bag used to be Branden's. Noah as usual, got it from his brother. It came from Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and Branden used to be into Elmo really big when he was 2 years old....so geeze this is about, what? Three years old? Oh well, a gently used, well loved piece from his older brother isn't so bad! It's been washed about a billion times. Even washed 2 days ago. It's fluffy and it's really a bag that holds all of Noah's toys, so he stays busy while at swim school! Branden being a good big brother, was carrying it in the car for Noah, like I asked him to (good kid!) : )


Noboru went to his end of the year work party this evening! I'm really happy he's there! Because he rarely goes out with the guys. He's just not into it at all! He's more so a homebody or a hanging with the family type guy. He has so many friends, he's just not into going out so much and he's not a drinker at all! I mean he will drink *maybe* 4 beers a year and that's it and that includes the "end of the year" party as well! Ha ha ha! So, I hope he has a good time tonight! : )

As for the boys and I, we went and rented 2 DVD's from Tsutaya right after swimming school. I went in there with 1 movie in mind. And ended up leaving with 2 totally different movies, why is that? I got 2 new releases. One is the new one with Drew Barrymore called Fever Pitch!!! I love anything that Drew Barrymore makes, I really like her as an actress a lot and she picks good movies to be in. So I'm hoping I'll like this one! I also got the new one that Sarah Jessica Parker is in called The Family Stone, now I saw the preview for this one last week and the jest of it, *I think* is that the guy she is about to be engaged with's family absolutely hates her!!! And prefers his ex!!! Ha ha ha, so I hope this makes me laugh tonight! Then after Tsutaya, Branden and Noah and I, headed to KFC and I bought us a family 6 piece meal, with biscuits and stuff and we even got some noodle gratin. And then the boy's and I headed home, we ate quickly. Then we all showered and bathed. And right now, even as I type this, we are all in our PJ's. I've got my hair up in a pony tail and I'm wearing a knee length cornflower blue colored fleece night gown with a small little snowman on it, lol! It's cuter then it sounds. It's not dowdy, it's sorta cool looking. But we are all just relaxing and as soon as I post this, I'm shutting the computer down and popping the popcorn and we will be starting our movies!

Have a wonderful night everyone, oyasumi nasai and stay warm! : )

An update of sorts! : )

Things have been rather hectic here at our house, we have a lot of things all going on at the same time right now.

The Christmas recital: Branden has his upcoming Christmas recital, next Monday and also again on Tuesday. Tuesday is for grandparents only! He has 2 speaking parts and I have been going over the parts like crazy with him for the past 8 days or so! Noboru wrote them down for me in western alphabet and so every chance I have, Branden and I say the lines. Noboru also has been going through the lines with him every day as well! Poor Branden must be feeling the pressure!

Line #1 Bokutachiwa Ko-oni da...meaning "we are the little goblins"

Line #2 Sonotane wa dou naruno desho-ka....meaning, "what's going to happen to this seed?"

I've said these lines so many times, I myself have them memorized! Branden has them memorized. But he sometimes mixes the phrases and he says.....Sonotane wa ko-oni da!!! Oh man, if he messes up, I won't be mad. Gosh, I'd never be mad about something so silly like this! But it is a pressure for me as well as for him. Because as a western mom, I know if he botches the line, people might think "yup his Japanese must not be up to snuff, because his mom speaks English to him" you know what I mean, that sorta thing! So, yeah, I will be a bit embarrassed if he messes up and I admit that, but I'd never tell him and I'd honestly always be proud of him no matter what, because as long as he tries his best it's more then I can ask for, but for now, I am working on it with him and I hope he does well! Gulp! Ha ha ha! : )

Grandma Mitsuko is coming next week. She is flying here on Monday evening! And she is going to attend Branden's Christmas recital on Tuesday and leave Tuesday night. But yes she will be sleeping here for 1 overnight. Thoughts? Totally appreciative! I was not thrilled and neither was Noboru or the rest of the yochien mom's when we all found out that they split the recital to 2 days. That Monday is just for mom's, dad's and siblings only! And Tuesday is for grandparents only! For us, it's tough because my mom is in California, so she can't make it otherwise she'd love to be here! My dad is in Guam enjoying his retirement from the US mainland and has his own Christmas plans with his lady friend and church friends, and when he found out, he actually considered flying here and I said, no. That it wasn't worth flying here for! Noboru's dad has been in the hospital for years and will probably never leave (sad because he's so nice) And his mom was our only option! She is the only grandparent we have actually in Japan, well unless you count bed ridden ji-ji in Osaka! However, she has her own restaurants and real estate stuff she does. And so it's hard for her to drop her business stuff. But she did it for Branden. Granted she might be an "iffy" mother-in law. Sometimes I really think I hate her! But as far as being a grandma? She's awesome! She comes through every single time! Do, I really wanna sit with her all Monday evening and stuff? Not really, but I have no right to complain, she is coming to help us out. So I will just be polite and in fact I plan to make her a yummy dinner on Monday night! Also, we also thought about nobody showing up for Branden on Tuesday. We thought...maybe other kids grandparents won't be showing up either? We asked around and it turns out, everyone's grandparents are showing up! And we started to feel badly, because it would be hard to let him go on Tuesday and to look out onto the crowd and not have anyone there for him at all! I even asked if I could come instead and they said no. So, anyway we are happy he will indeed have someone in the audience smiling and looking at him and cheering him on! Phew, it's a relief you know and when you are a parent you worry about stuff like this. It's heartbreaking thinking your kid might not have anyone in the audience for them! So yeah, she's helping us out. Man...I better cook her something really good while she's here! Ha ha ha! And, Noboru is paying for her ticket, yes she uses his benefits, but he is paying the taxes for it and all. We figure she shouldn't have to pay for any of the travelling since she is really helping us out.

Our trip to Hawaii, has been extended by 1 extra day. Why? Well, certainly not by choice. It's honestly because the flight going back the day we wanted is getting full. So, we will now be staying 1 extra night and day in Waikiki! I'm totally not complaining here, ha ha ha! So instead of us staying 6 night and 7 days, we will now stay 7 nights and 8 days! I'm looking forward to this, all of us are actually!

We've already asked our 3 neighbors to watch our house for us. My neighbor lady on the left is the best house watcher, this lady doesn't miss a thing and her 2 dogs are like Cugo and Cugette! Ha ha ha! And the old man across the street, and Ayumi-chan's mom and dad are also on the case! The day we leave, I will be giving all 3 of them a mini 4 pack of Hagaan Daz ice-cream. A small present for them to keep an eye on our house. Ha ha ha! : )

PS, I wanted to inform you, that I have been having trouble leaving comments on people's blogs who have the new blogger beta. And I don't know why that is! It started 2 days ago. I have original or the old blogger. I have been resisting changing to the new "beta" only because 3 different friends have told me they have had problems with it! So, I'm not crazy about switching right now. I can comment on ton's of people's blogs still. People with regular blogger. And maybe a few with the beta? I'm not sure. I can comment at Illahee's for some reason and Marianne's, but I am not able to comment at Midori's. I'm really bummed because I've tried to post a comment on Midori's blog 3 times! Different times a day and everything! So anyway, if you have blogger beta and I have suddenly stopped commenting on your site and if I usually do comment. Just know...I am *trying* it's just blogger beta isn't letting me! : (

Thursday : )

Thursday morning, I woke up. Got my coffee and started to making Branden's obento right away. Didn't turn on the TV at all either. This morning, I listened to Godeigo (very old Japanese music, that my husband just loves and it's from the 70's lol) A very plain and simple lunch, I know. But I had planned to zip to the store to buy a week's worth of groceries at the farther store today and it's about 30 minutes away each way. So to be back in enough time to pick up Branden and run him to swim school, I knew I had to hurry!

I made a simple chicken cutlet sandwich and a small handful of fries. And a mikan and 2 jellies. Got him all dressed and ran him to the bus stop. When I got back, I quickly threw my face on. Slipped on a pair of jeans, and a turtle neck and a zip up fleece. Threw on Noah's clothes and we were off and on the road to the grocery store before I knew it!

I got to Chiba New Town and parked the car at the giant grocery store. Put Noah into the cart and checked my shopping list and started walking each aisle. Oh and if anyone needs to know, they have about 12 Jennie-O turkey's here and they are all 1980 yen, no matter what size you get!!! So anyway just wanted to share that bit of info!

I got beef, 2 pork roasts, thin sliced pork chops, about 5 kg's of chicken breast. Plus 2 whole chicken's, that I plan to roast later this week. 2 packs of gyoza's and a pack of egg roll's (a big pack) and much more, I bought so much! I left the store around 11:30 am. And got home and unpacked all the groceries. Changed Noah's diaper. Got him a few snacks for swim school (Branden can't eat before swim school or he'd get a tummy ache). I ran and peed real quick. And Noboru wanted to come with us, to swim school and I said sure. So then he joined us in the car and we were off to go pick up Branden.

Said hello to a bunch of the mom's at the Catholic school. And we left! I changed Branden's clothes, into his swimming stuff and we all filed upstairs.

I was chatting with my good friend Rie-chan and we were talking about movies, (the rest of the mom's come on Fridays which we go on Friday's as well). We started talking about scary movies. We were laughing about how scared we all were, when we watched the Japanese horror flick, The Juon. And I brought up how the lady walked down the stairs like a spider! And she said...oh yeah, yeah, yeah, her name was "Sadako"!!!! And I was like, oh yeah, Sadako! So, as we were all "ewwwing" about how truly scary she was! Even another lady who doesn't even go to the same school, she jumped into our conversation and added how scary and creepy her hair was! Ha ha ha! Soon, the entire upstairs was talking about the Juon! Meanwhile all our children are downstairs swimming!

Noah meanwhile was eating some really stinky shrimp cracker's. God these things stink to high hell, the smell is just so strong. practically can peel the wallpaper off the swim school! But he loves them, so we buy them and Noboru likes him to eat them because he says they have ton's of calcium. Noah, played with another baby! An 11 month old boy and a 14 month old girl! His fellow toddler guy friend's weren't there today. They were all cruising around and the cute little 11 month old boy, kept hanging by my seat and I kept saying..."konichiwa"

We came home and I got an email from Rie-chan, she said she had a lot of fun with me at swim school this afternoon! Ha ha ha, how nice! I emailed her back and then I started dinner! Didn't feel like taking pics but it was a cute dinner! We showered and bathed right after dinner. And the boys and I watched TV on the couch. Noah fell asleep by 9:30 pm. And Branden fell asleep around 10:30 pm-10:45 pm. I laid down and watched the program on Fox called, "So you think you can dance", I'm really liking this show and so I have been watching it every week! Ha ha ha! A lazy night I know, just me in my nightgown, watching the dancing show. Meanwhile I was munching on some grapes.



Noah munching on a shrimp cracker!


Playing with his friends! He's not shy, that is for darned sure! He goes and smiles and says, "hi" to everyone! The little girl and Noah kept walking back and forth and playing with each other, the little boy who was walking early was trying to keep up, but he was doing a great job! I like it because he plays so much, he naps afterwards! Ha ha ha! : )




He had to come back for a drink every once in a while and then he was off back playing with his friends again! : )


I found this at the grocery store this afternoon. I love Starbucks caramel machiatto's so much, and so I thought it was worth a shot to buy these and see if they were okay to drink when I am home! I tried one tonight and yummm! I like them a lot!

I of course bought some bread and croissants for this weekend but I also bought 2 packs of raisin English muffins because I know all four of us like them, and I figured we can munch on these this weekend, whenever we want, all toasted with some butter! : )

Here's Branden after school this afternoon, wearing his winter uniform! : )

Here's Branden this afternoon after school! In Japan, the school's have "winter uniform's" and also they have "summer uniform's", this is obviously the winter uniform. Branden also wears a tailored type navy blue blazer as well as part of his winter uniform.

Depending on the yochien you go to, the uniform varies quite a bit! The last yochien we went to, the uniform was very laid back and you could wear your own sneakers. And the uniform was pull on navy blue cheap polyester pants and a sweatshirt. Very comfy and very nice and basic and easy for us mom's to wash! Ha ha ha, I really liked the uniform at the last school! Now this school he's going to now and by the uniform, I'm showing to you in the pics above. Obviously you can tell by the strict dress code (plain *only*white socks allowed and no characters on the sock etc) and the styling of this uniform and very hard to wash fibers grrr, and the school approved navy blue slip on shoes that the kids *must* wear to and from school (roll's eyes with all these rules, ha ha ha) The very simple navy blue colors, plus the style of uniform is a real give away that Branden is going to more of a prep school type yochien. Sigh! Yup, it's definitely a shi shi poo poo type school. But we chose it because it's Catholic and not at all because of the shi shi poo poo factor at all. In fact my husband and I hate stuff like that...lol. We actually didn't even really know the reputation of the school, until after we enrolled him! In the small town we live, when we go and do after school errands many people point at my son in his uniform. We hear them muttering...blah blah yochien! It's unfortunately a bad rap that is not deserved at all! Because most of the mom's and kids at this school are so normal and very nice!And the fact that they bus to where we live and the fact that he gets along famously with all his teacher's and has tons of friends, is why we like this school. I am used to washing his uniform by now and it's easy now (even with the harder to wash fibers like the jacket and vest and whatnot) And even his obento problem has been solved, so all in all, it's okay! : ) So anyway, not very exciting I know, but I just thought many of you, not living in Japan might like to see what a Japanese winter yochien uniform looks like! Ha ha ha! : )

Oh yes and because many of you don't live in Japan or have kids in yochien *yet* how much does all this stuff cost? Well again it depends, the last school the more "normal" yochien , ha ha ha! The uniforms in total that we bought at the yochien itself cost us about $250.00. Yes and that's for 2 of everything basically, and yes you really need 2! Well except you don't need 2 hats or 2 backpacks or 2 smocks, you know what I mean. But you do need 2 pairs of pants because yes there will be times when they jump into the mud or get a food stain and the clothes need to be washed by the next day. I have a dryer, but most people don't and trust me, you need an extra pair of pants or an extra shirt. Because sometimes you're busy and can't get to the machine in enough time! 2 winter shirts, 2 summer shirts and etc. Now that was the last school.

The price for outfits at this school? The prep school, type school, he's going to now. Uniforms both winter and summer cost us about 56,000 yen! Yup about $560.00 US! Ridiculous or what? And ummm how long will this uniform last? Ha ha ha, depends on how fast your kid grows! If your kid jumps 2 or 3 sizes a year....I feel for you! Ha ha ha! I bought 2 of everything well except backpacks and hats and tailored jacket, he only needs one of those. But like 2 summer shorts and 2 winter shorts and 2 long sleeved shirts and 2 short sleeve shirts. Oh and this school also requires a *special* (roll's eyes again) gym outfit, oh yeah and you need long sleeve and short sleeve..ouch! I bought his shirts and tops and tailored blazer a size/pinch bigger. That way, hoping it would last a whole year! So anyhoo, just some insight for when, any of you living in Japan send your kids off to yochien!

Plus let's not forget all the yochien obento stuff! And the yochien bags you will surely have to make as well! But, I'll save that stuff for another post! Ha ha ha!

Also, when you enroll your kid in a yochien, you have to give money to the school. Every school requires it. Not sure if it's a gift money type thing like how when you move into a place in Japan or what. But the price is like a thousand dollars, I think. Let me ask Noboru the price and get back to you about it! But yes, the cost of yochien is definitely a lot more expensive then most people think!

Also, as I commented on another post somewhere down below, I forget where. But, Branden's Christmas recital is coming up soon. All of us were notified by the school that no one is allowed to bring their video cameras or digital cameras. That no taping by parents is allowed. Why? Because the school is going to start selling DVD's of the Christmas recital for 5,000 yen! This sorta pissed me off, because again, it's another hidden cost! Hidden costs are everywhere in yochien's! Noboru heard something, from a coworker that I remembered and I will tell you all. He said, aside from university, yochien is the most expensive time in your child's life in Japan! And frankly? I don't believe it....I know it! I know it to be true!

Also one more thing...each of parents of the yochien pay an additional 5,000 yen in winter to help pay their heating bill! Wtf? yup, I was shocked when I heard that! 5,000 yen/$50.00 US per kid in addition to our monthly fee of a couple hundred dollars! Absolutely ridiculous! Again, hidden costs are everywhere! Anyway, just thought this yochien stuff might be interesting for some of you! : )

Oyasumi nasai everyone! : )

Homemade Italian pasta sauce recipe (For you Midori : )

So here it is, my families recipe for Sunday Gravy. And yes, pasta sauces with meat in them are usually called "gravy", because the meat drippings are the base of the sauces. This is what gives a yummy tomato sauce it's best tasting flavor, you know! And the term is just Italian-American slang, to call it Sunday Gravy, because after Sunday's mass, it's typical to enjoy a big Sunday dinner with aunties and uncles and grandma and grandpa and cousins, and mom and dad and the entire family....every Sunday! Ha ha ha : )

1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage
1 small pork roast
1 pound and a half of meatballs
1 medium sized onion
1/2 cup of olive oil
2 garlic cloves diced and chopped
red pepper flakes (the kind I used in the pasta soup I blogged about last week) you can get that at Costco in Japan for cheap!
basil, just a pinch
1 (six ounce) can of tomato paste
1 (28 ounce) can peeled and crushed tomatoes
1 (28) ounce can of water...just use the same tin as the tomatoes came in
salt and pepper to taste

Fry up your meats in 1/4 of the olive oil in frying pan. Now you can use any meat you have handy, there are no set rules. In Japan Italian sausage is hard to come by, so I usually just use pork and also add the meatballs as well. You can fry up a tiny pork roast or if you don't have the pork roast, you could use 3 or 4 pork chops instead. But and I do say *but*....adding pork to the gravy is what I suggest! Strongly suggest because while it does make it a pinch oily it makes the best flavored sauce ever! Secrets in the fried pork drippings really. So what I do is, and this is what I do since I live in Japan and can't get sausage, I fry up a small pork roast and my meatballs and get my meatballs all browned and a bit crusty on the outside. I would have liked to add sausage as well, but can't since I can't get them in Japan, sigh but at least I use the pork and meatballs though.

When the meats are all browned and cooked, transfer the meat to a plate or platter or something like that.Add the other half of the 1/4 cup of olive oil to the meat drippings in the pan and when the oil and drippings are hot, add your onion and garlic and seasonings until limp.

Stir in the tomato paste.Next add the tomatoes. Add your 28 ounces of water. You can adjust the water depending on how thick or thin you want the sauce. So you don't necessarily need 28 ounces, but no more then 28 ounces.Let the sauce boil and then add your seasonings. Put the meat into the sauce, lower the heat, to a low to slight medium heat. Cover it with a lid and let it boil for at least 1 hour. Obviously stir it every once in a while though.

Serve over pasta. I wish it was homemade pasta like how I grew up, but in Japan, I usually just buy premade noodles, sigh, ha ha ha. Enjoy! : )

Ordered another metal obento box online this afternoon : )

Well since even though I personally prefer the plastic obento boxes regardless of the time of year it is. But since it's the rule here at our school. Then I will follow it. The only main issue of the metal obento that has been driving me nuts is the tiny size. So, I went online this afternoon before Branden got home and while Noah was napping. And had a look on Yahoo.jp auctions. Because they have some amazing stuff. Btw, our DVD player totally died 2 weeks ago, I forgot to mention it because we just went on Yahoo.jp auctions and bought a brand new one for like 3,000 yen (US $30.00) and it's a region free model, so we were happy and it got here within 2 days, so I guess that's why I never mentioned it...it was just so easy I barely remembered, ha ha ha and the price was affordable too.

So anyway back to the obento saga. If I drive clear out to the nearest Toy R us, which for me living in the country side, the closest one is like a 50 minute drive each way, totally sucks basically. And if they were out of stock or something, It would be a total waste, know what I mean? So a lot of time for me, it's easier, no gas money is spent and I can browse from store to store on yahoo auctions and find it the cheapest and buy it. Also, I don't have to get in a bidding war, either because they have the ..."buy me now price", that's how I got my DVD player with that "buy me now" price as well.

So I originally wanted a metal Spongebob ovbento box. And clearly they don't have them this season. maybe next year, because Spongebob is getting more popular all the time in Japan....we can only hope! However they had Disney Cars metal obento box and Branden likes that movie a lot. So I bought that. Get this...it's a 280 ml. Yup, a pinch smaller, I know. But since they seem to make them this tiny and there's no way in changing that. I will just send him off to school with 2. Ha ha ha! It'll work. Well, unless they complain, but then I'll have to think of another plan. But until then, I think this will work!

So, today I bought online at Yahoo.jp...
1 Disney "Cars" plastic cup for taking to school for drinking his ocha

1 "Cars" cup bag, and this comes with a toothbrush and toothbrush pocket as well, this is perfect because they brush their teeth after lunch

1 "Cars" luncheon mat...err that's what they are called in Japanese, they are like big cotton handkerchiefs they eat on.

1 "Cars", fork, spoon and ohashi set

1 "Cars" metal tiny obento box

The total was 2500 yen about $25.00 US. So not terribly bad and everything is brand *brand* new and still in the packages of course and actually cheaper then if I would have ran to Toys R Us! Just by a few bucks, but still, a saving is a saving! And seriously 5 obento things for just 2500 yen isn't really so bad, you know! : ) And the boys in his class are really into "Cars" right now. I know because Sio-kun (this is a kid who goes to the same Catholic school and swim school as Branden and in western, alphabet this boys Japanese names spells out a name that sounds like Sean, he's Japanese but his mom liked the name that looked readable to westerners, ha ha ha) anyway Sio/Sean has Cars stickers on his swimming folder and everyone was coveting his stickers, Branden included, ha ha ha! Meanwhile Branden has "Cars" undies and the other boys liked his Cars undies, lol (kids) when they all got changed in the dressing room at swim school and the other mom's and I were all laughing about it! So I imagine his cars winter obento utensils will be coming in handy and be very popular. And we should be getting them by next Monday. So anyway...hopefully the obento size problem will get itself all worked out soon, now that we will have a total of 2 metal ones. : )

Tuesday's obento (cream stew : )

Okay I obeyed all rules today regarding his metal obento. Check, check! Gotcha! Ha ha ha! I made cream stew last night for dinner, because the weather in Chiba, has just been absolutely miserable, it's been raining off and on all weekend and it's even raining today as well.

I put white rice on the bottom with cream stew sauce and mixed it good, so that it got soaked now and then added heaps more on top so it wouldn't get all soaked and dried up, if you know what I mean. So stirring with the sauce at home was pretty important then adding more on top. Darn this metal obento stays burning hot! I'm actually burning the palm of my hand while preparing these! Tomorrow, I better use my oven mitt! I also made a grilled cheese sandwich and cut it in 3 small pieces (Noah ate the leftovers from the sandwich, he's our poor little leftover eater and hand me down wearing Noah, ha ha ha), and some apple and 2 jellies. : )

Banana nut bread recipe for Tigermama : )

Banana bread recipe : )

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs,beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 over ripe bananas
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Cream margarine/butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.
mix flour, baking soda and salt and add to margarine mixture,
stir well. Add bananas and mix. Bake in one 9 inch or two 8 inch greased
loaf pans in a 350 F oven for about an hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean!
Enjoy! : )

A taco obento! : )

These tacos can't fit into the tiny 300 ml metal obento box. And believe me, I know it's a rule! And I hate breaking rules, I really do! But what can I do? If it won't fit, it simply won't fit! This Spongebob one in the pic I'm using, is 600 ml and at first, I laid tin foil down underneath it and it didn't fit like that so I had to remove the tin foil! And sorry but sending him to lunch with a half of a croissant sandwich, is one thing, but sending my son off to school with a half a taco? I simply won't do that and I draw the line! Ha ha ha, no half taco! Ha ha ha! I hope the teacher's don't go all berserk and burst a blood vessel about it! Hopefully they will understand it wouldn't fit. Yet I know the metal obento box rule is in effect as well. Sigh, what to do, what to do.

Anyway, I hope everything works out. So, without further ado here's what's in his lunch today! 2 ground beef tacos and cheese only. Lettuce and tomato would surely spoil in the obento warmer. So it has to be this simple. 1 peeled mikan and 2 tiny jellies. that's it. Very simple and all. Just used what was leftover. So it's cheaper for us and also easier for me as well! : )

PS, edited to add. Yes, the teachers did mention to me this afternoon that I needed to send him to school with a metal lunch box! Duh, what a shocker, like I didn't know that! I wanted to ask them, why is there no metal obento box available larger then a puny little 300 ml? I mean trying to pack an entire lunch for my child in the size of an obento box, that's the size of a pack of ciggies is getting to drive me a bit bonkers here! The 300 ml is just too small to pack a lunch. Branden gets home starved, no wonder, I'd be hungry too, if I was as active as a 5 year old and yet ate only the size lunch of a pack of ciggies! Should I just buy an adults metal one? Geeze, could I even find an adults metal one? Do they have warmers for obento's at Japanese companies for adults like they keep at yochiens? So would I have a better chance looking for an adults metal obento box? And if I did locate an adults metal box, would it be *approved* by our school? So many questions. But sadly lacking the Japanese speaking skill to really dive into questions like this, so to even ask such questions is clearly outta my league. They mentioned I needed to send him with a metal obento box. (like no duh) and I just gomen nasai-ed them! Sigh! I really would like to enroll myself in a Japanese class as soon as Noah starts yochien. I really would love to learn to speak better Japanese. I'm going to have Noboru talk to them about the few questions that I'm having! : )

Tacos tonight, yummm! : )

After a week of eating nothing but rice for dinner. Meaning something and rice, next night, rice again and the next night and again and again! Ahhhh! Sometimes a person can definitely get riced out! So tonight after just making the banana nut bread. I started preparing for tonight's dinner!

I made my usual chicken and also a pan of beef taco filling as well. Again probably not very authentic tasting, but with no Taco Bell around and with clearly being riced out! This totally hit the spot! And of course to go with tacos, we also had to have some Coco Cola as well! Great dinner indeed! : )



Branden ate 3 tacos and that's a lot for a little kid! Ha ha ha! Noboru had 6. Okay he probably would not like me telling you all that, ha ha ha! But he was stuffed that's for sure! I had 4, heck I eat a lot for a chick, I know! : )

Noah had 3 spoonfuls of ground beef and 1 spoonful of the chicken. A handful of the cheese, he picked and ate it himself on his high chair, he likes eating that way. And he also ate an entire toasted taco shell, that we made extra crispy in our toaster oven. He also had a yogurt and a slice of (some very short, ha ha ha) banana nut bread.

We all showered and cleaned up and then we all watched TV and just had a really quiet night. Nibbling buttered banana nut bread all night long. : )

I'm so gosh darn mad at myself about this banana nut bread! Grrr!

I wish I could say staying home this weekend was bad, horrible or whatnot. But honestly, us staying home and just relaxing and kicking back all weekend was awesome! Especially with the weather being so totally yuck here in Chiba!

This afternoon, I thought would be a great day to bake my loaf of banana nut bread, like I've been planning. I have let my banana's get all spotty and giraffe-like. Because as everyone already knows, the older the banana the sweeter the loaf of bread will be. The newer the banana and the less sweet and less banana flavor it will have. So, I let Branden peel the bananas and mash them because he likes helping.: )


I got my butter and sugar and mixed that together really good.


Here we have the mashed up banana, boy they look ugly don't they? Ha ha ha, but they taste great! And the vanilla is in the egg, which is why the funky color is added onto the egg, ha ha.


I chopped up my walnuts. And here....is where I realized I had no freaking loaf pan! OMG! is that, not totally nuts or what? I grabbed my Crisco and went into my pan pantry and couldn't find it. Hmm. Don't I have it? Sure I do (I thought), I looked around all over and nothing! Then it hit me.....duh! I never did buy my loaf pan. I *thought* about it. And even threw it into my cart, *twice*! Once at Ikea, once at Kmart! But nope I don't have one! Okay, now what? I got chopped nuts on the cutting board and my homemade banana nut mix, all mixed! Do I just toss it all into the trash can? Hell no! Think, think! Okay I got muffin pans, and a bundt pan! Muffin pans are fine and normal, many people like banana nut muffins, me included! However....I really wanted to slice my banana nut bread and butter it and whatnot! So a muffin was out! Not knowing what else to do...but really what could I do. This is Japan and the country side to boot. I got to make do here! Ha ha ha! So I threw it into my bundt pan and hoped for the best, on this chilly Sunday afternoon! : )

In the end what do I think? Well, it came out okay. Yes, just okay! Not fabulous by any means! My recipe is old and a good one. It was the bundt pan that killed it. It was too thin of a bread. I shoulda made banana nut muffins instead! Well....what are ya gonna do! Sometimes you make the right choice and sometimes.....sigh. You make the wrong choice!

Oh well, it was still good! I tell ya what though...I will be getting myself a loaf pan, when I go to Hawaii that's for darned sure! Ha ha ha! I never want this to happen to me again! : )

Oh well, as long as I can still laugh at myself, it's okay! It's just bananna nut bread for crying out loud...not the end of the world, I guess. but yup, I messed it up alrighty! But it sure did taste good though! : )

Weekly grocery shopping, the never ending cold and rain, and donuts for tonight's movie! : )

This picture was taken at like 5:30 pm. Yet it's pitch black outside. It was a freezing cold, dark and gloomy day here in Chiba. The rain was relentless. We all headed to the grocery store. Got our weekly shopping done. And then we headed home in total darkness. It was really good to get home and start dinner and just relax and get out of the rain! : )


We bought a baker's dozen of donuts from Mister Donut, and a small pack of Jelly Belly jelly beans from the little international market. We downloaded a movie last night and we plan to watch it tonight.



After coming home so late, and I knew I had chicken defrosted in the fridge. Quickest thing I could make was chicken cutlet. By the time we got home around 5:45 pm, we were all starving, cold and trying to warm ourselves in the nice warm house and change our clothes into our sweatpants and comfy clothes. Pony tail for me, so I could start cooking.

Chicken cutlet, white rice and a simple salad, with lettuce and cucumbers. I woulda used my tomatoes, but I am needing my tomatoes for Sunday night's dinner. Oh well, not bad for a quickly put together meal! And we have sure been eating tons of salad all week, haven't we? ha ha ha, I must be stuck in a salad mood, who knows! : )

The movie we watched tonight, "Flag's of Our Father's" was really good! Not as good as I thought it was going to be, but it was pretty good. I wouldn't buy the DVD, but again, I'm glad I saw it! This is a movie about world war 2. And it's 2 different movies, this one is the US side of the movie. And there is another side, the Japanese side. And we plan to watch the Japanese side on Sunday. : )

Pssst, thanks Illahee! : )

Ever since you mentioned on your blog about these warm chocolate buns, I have been buying about 1 a week! Oh man, you were not kidding that these were good! They're great! They have a super hot/beyond warm chocolate pudding or fudge pudding in the center of these! Truly delicious! Reminded me a bit of the bundt cakes from the 70's and 80's with the pudding centers. But these choco buns are actually a billion times better then that! Anyway, just wanted to say thanks! You have given me a few happy mornings, that I have run down to the Mini Stop after I sent Branden to school and picked one of these up, headed home and ate it and drank my hot cup of coffee, while surfing the net or watching TV, in pure bliss! Yummm and thanks! : )

Fridays steak dinner! : )

Since we were at Apita and just finished with the their haircuts. We knew we were having a stay at home type weekend. Mainly because we are just trying to stay home until we leave for vacation. So we thought why not make a wonderful night of staying in! So we went into the bakery and bought 2 loafs of gorgeous tasting bread! And seriously this bread is so airy and so buttery, it tastes like a croissant. Seriously, not kidding, this was amazing bread! Good to splurge on this, for a lazy weekend at home! : )


We picked up some gorgeous looking steaks! I was really thinking steak and Noboru was as well!


The veggie was a tough choice, Noboru suggested broccoli. But I'm broccoli-ed out! And I suggested corn on the cob but they had none. So we settled for spinach. Branden's not crazy about spinach but I give him the ol' you will be strong like Popeye, speech my mom and dad used to give me. It works because we get Popeye on satellite here and he watches it, so he knows what I'm talking about, but he's still isn't crazy about eating it! Ha! But I do have him eat 2 bites of it at least. Poor Branden! : )



I tenderized the steaks with the fork in the picture. And used the Japanese steak seasoning and fried them up! Noboru likes his steak medium, so I cooked it that way. The boys and I had well done. Man this, steak was so good! : )

Our dinner consisted of, seasoned steaks we also dunked in A-1. And rice, and spinach that I stir-fried in some butter and salt and pepper. I made a simple salad whith lettuce and tomato and cucumber and we had goma dressing with that. We also had 3 croissants left over from the ones I made out of Branden's obento from this morning. So, I slightly toasted them in my toaster oven and then buttered the top of them! Dinner was fantastic! We all stayed in all night and showered and then we all watched TV until we couldn't stay awake anymore! : )

Noah's hair cut!

This evening right after we took Branden swimming, Noboru wanted to run to Apita to get himself one of those 1000 yen cheapie haircuts. They cut his hair pretty well, he has no complaints about them ever. So as we were driving there from the swimming school. I was really thinking if I, should get Noah's haircut there, or not? Hmmm, what to do, what to do! I asked Noboru and he said, I do great haircuts and having someone else cut his hair, would most likely result in, they'd screw his hair cut up. Noboru's biggest worry about Noah's hair is the bang area, being cut way too ridiculously short or super straight bangs like Moe from the Three Stooges or as I call those bangs, Dumb and Dumber hair, you know from the movie? Ha ha ha! And I did that once to Noah about 6 month's ago and we had to end up buying thinning sheers to give it more of a shaggy edge versus the straight across Moe type bangs. So we were chatting away like crazy in the car about it! I brought up, he hated my last hair cut I gave Noah, as well and said I botched the area around his ears.

The reason Noah's haircuts are such a pain for us, is because his hair is very fine and very thin. He has typical western fine hair and his hair takes forever to grow back if it gets messed up. Where as Branden's hair is very thick and grows back in a weeks time! ha ha ha! Lucky Branden! : )

I finally decided to just go for it and if they screw it up, we won't ever do it again. So, Noah went first. Also Noboru was worried Noah would cry or throw a fit. And he did cry, I won't lie....however it lasted about 1 mere minute. He was afraid and he quickly got over it and sat quietly on my lap until it finished.

The guy who came out to cut his hair, is the stylist, we have been seeing there since we moved here and I really think he owns this shop actually. Because there were 2 other stylists out there cutting people's hair and he came out when he saw us. He cut my dad's hair once when he was in Japan. The stylists used to live in Seattle. He also has a 2 year old son himself, so he knows kids, which made me happy knowing he'd know what to expect when cutting little kids hair with the moving their heads and whatnot. So Noboru told him to cut the back, "but not too short." Ha ha ha! And to trim the sides, "but not too short". And to *barely* trim the bang area, but we wanted them still long and very shaggy bangs. Not like a bowl cut/ Beetles bangs at all. Then after he finished telling him. I told him in Japanese myself the same exact thing. I told him give Noah just a typical longish little Japanese boys type haircut. Angled side burns and the likes. Mostly long, and shaggy. And when he started cutting the bangs, I said, very little please...chotto chotto chotto (yes I know my Japanese sucks but at least I can communicate the main message and I do try, ha ha ha) So as I chanted chotto, chotto and shaggy shaggy, lol how hilarious now that I think of it. There were other people in the hair cutting place but you know what? I don't even recall them at all, while I was in the seat, perhaps I was too distracted. I was distracted and worried because I knew what Noboru said in the car.....that they'd surely screw it up! I really wanted to prove him wrong and get Noah a good haircut.

Turns out, the guy who used to live in Seattle, gave Noah a perfect haircut. He gave him a little Japanese boy hair cut, long and shaggy still. He gave him V shaped side burns exactly like I asked for. I was really pleased. Even still, I wish his bang area was a bit longer. Noboru wishes too. But his haircut looks pretty darned good and the bangs are still long enough and so we are both pretty happy. However, I think I will still give him home hair cuts though. But, I might go and get his hair cut there every other time though, who knows. But Noah's hair grows, so slowly anyway, he probably won't need another hair cut for the next 2 month's, ha ha ha!

I also offered Branden to get himself a hair cut as well. Being that daddy and Noah got one, I thought he should get one too, as to not feel left out. He said, no way! He did not want one at all. Ha ha ha.


A typical Japanese little boy's hair cut. Long shaggy bangs still, phew! Long sides with a V shaped side burn (exactly what I asked for.) And a medium length back but it's greatly cleaned up to how it was and it has a much cleaner style then how it looked before. The back was way too long before, like mullet hair in the back, blech! But now it's all normal and short (but not too short) and clean looking!


Looks so much better now! : )










My oldest cutie, who successfully avoided getting a hair cut. But then with him being at school all day long and then swimming school. He must have been totally exhausted! : )

Today at swimming school! : )

Noah and I again picked up Branden from school this afternoon. And then we quickly headed to the swimming school which is pretty close with just about 5-8 minutes away. All the other kids from our same Catholic school and their mom's and siblings started arriving in their cars in the parking lot as well. We all walked to the little boys changing area (well those of us who have sons that is, ha ha) and then we all changed our older kids from their Catholic uniform to their swimming suit, goggles and swimming cap. And they left. Meanwhile us mom's and our younger children all filed upstairs. And unzipped our bags and rolled out the snacks!

Here's Noah today wearing Branden's school hat. Don't ask me why, but he is greatly attracted to this hat! He loves putting it on and wearing it! Ha ha ha! On the bright side, I kinda know what he will look like when he enters yochien in a few years! Ha ha ha! : )

Bacon egg and cheese croissant for Branden's lunch today! : )

I really like making Branden a breakfast croissant in his lunch for school, ever once in a while! Because, in the US, breakfast isn't really just for mornings. Breakfast is good anytime! Whether you make an omelet for dinner, if your hubs is working late, or whatever the case. It's good, tasty and filling and Branden loves American breakfast stuff, so I know he won't go hungry at school. This morning right away I cranked up the music. Today I listened to my new homemade CD of Japanese stuff that I burned. I have the new Mr. Children song on there, man I love this song so much! The new Bennie K and the new Kick the Can Crew remake of that christmas song! So as I was rocking away in the kitchen and frying bacon in the pan. I managed to get lunch made rather quickly this morning!

He had an over easy egg on top of a croissant with cheese and crispy American bacon and toped it off with the top of the croissant. Man, it honestly looked so good, I was wishing I could have eaten it! ha ha ha! I shoulda made an extra, but I usually only stick to his obento making and have my own breakfast while he's at school. Drats! : )


As I sat looking at the size of the small obento box and then looked at the sandwich itself and back again. I knew this sandwich would clearly not fit. I guess I coulda crammed and smashed it in there, but then where would I put the fries? Hmmm, you know I might have to go looking for a larger sized metal obento box because I'm just not sure I can squeeze or stuff it all in a 300 ml size at all! : )

Half a breakfast sandwich. And a small amount of fries. And a mikan and 1 jellie. Where did the other half of the sandwich go? Nope I wasn't lucky enough to eat it. Ha ha ha! I asked Branden if he wanted it for breakfast, as well. He said no, he wanted Frosted Flakes instead. So, Noah ate it happily in his high chair! : )

A new "Cook-Do"...chicken chili : )

I *love* the Cook-do's in Japan. I love almost all of them. This is a new one and it's chicken chili. Now, I love ebi chili. Ebi chili is a pretty common meal in Japan. I figured, if I love chicken, and I love ebi chili. Why not try chicken chili. So that's what I did! : )


I fried some chicken breasts in some olive oil.



Now the veggies they said to use on the box is green onion, oh man I love onions of any kind! But Noboru and Branden both hate onion, so I had to leave the onions out. The only other thing they suggested was to use carrots. Somehow *only* chicken and carrots sounded too blah. So I added more veggies on my own.


After everything stir fried. I added the sauce and it said boil until it gets "sticky", so when it was about to that consistency, is when I knew it was time to eat. I was wondering how we'd all like it. Noboru and I loved it. It was a bit spicy for Branden. And much too hot for Noah. Noah had to have some instant egg drop soup with rice and Branden had a bowl of that as well, after he ate about half of the chicken chili. Would I make this again? Absolutely yes! Next time, I will make the kids a separate, better meal and next time I'll know! : )

On our way to pick up Branden from Catholic school and off to swimming school!

Here's Noah on the way to go and pick up Branden at school today!


The back of his hair is getting a bit too long. Hmmm. I might either cut it myself or go to a barber. I totally prefer home hair-cuts, but last time Noboru complained about a part on Noah's hair that he said I messed up a bit. It irked me, because cutting your kids hair is hard and they move and sometimes it comes out better then other times. So, who knows.


Here's Noah while he socializes with all the other little boys and girl's upstairs. These are all the siblings of the kids Branden goes to school with. There's about 4 or 5 little boys all around the same age and about 2 little girl's.


There's Branden doing lap after lap back and forth. You know, I was telling Noboru, I think if we got ship wrecked, I think Branden swims good enough where he could grab a paddle or anything and cruise back to shore! I mean knock on wood anything like that would ever happen, but you know what I mean! Ha ha ha, : )

Branden's class is busy getting instructions by one of the coaches. Meanwhile I glanced in the background and remembered when Branden was back in the class in the back (the easier class and a whole lot more fun, lol) Wow kids change so fast, don't they? Kids really amaze me! They grow in a blink of an eye and before you know it, they are all grown up and it's over! So for now...I'm trying to enjoy it! : )

Well at least until Noah drives me bonkers again, and then I'm wishing for him to get older, ha ha ha! Ahhh, the ying and yang of motherhood! I love it! But yes, Branden is at such an easy cool age right now...really cool age actually! And Noah, isn't doing too bad either really. Knock on wood! : )