Monday's are usually my least favorite day of the week. But this Monday wasn't so bad. Painless actually. ; ) If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know that if, it's February and rice and some veggie is being sent to my child's yochien then that means they're getting ready for the "good-bye to the blue badges" curry lunch. Last week we were sent a note home and all this week, anyday this week rather. To send your child with 1 cup of rice and depending on which class determines which veggie. Noah's a red badge so onion it was. I sent Noah off to school Monday with obento and then also the rice in a ziploc first and onion (wrapped the rice and onion in a grocery bag) made sure to put his name on it, just in case. Wouldn't want anyone to think he didn't bring his. And that was that. ; ) When is the good-bye curry lunch? February 23rd.
Branden brought home another Valentine's gift on Monday. A day late but thoughtful nonetheless.
These were chocolate with caramel inside.
Because the new school year starts in April. The 2nd graders are getting ready to become 3rd graders. The class last month were given an envelop for 2,000 yen or something like that to purchase our kids a "recorder" instrument. And now they were given this. Apparently all 3rd graders need a shuji set. Which is basically a Japanese calligraphy set. The set had to come from this school approved paper/flier the school sent home. So we chose from there. We ordered him the black set with the yellow writing "Mizuno", since that's the one Branden wanted. Sent the money back in the envelop and Branden took that to school with him today. 3500 yen or something like that.
The ink and whatnot to choose from the back. Anyway glad we got that all ordered and done with. ; )
Noah went to swim school on Monday after yochien and he was tested and passed. He is now a red tulip! Congratulations baby, well done!
For dinner Monday night, we had gratin. It was really good. We had some crusty French bread with butter to go with. The weather meanwhile was rain, rain and more rain all Monday. Did I mention how *over* this cold weather we are? lol. : ) Branden meanwhile did Kumon Monday evening. He passed to another Japanese level back in December and I should have taken a pic of his progress but we were so busy in December, that I got side tracked. But he's doing really great and his English reading and writing are doing fantastic as well.
After dinner and showers and baths. And homework. The boys played beyblades upstairs and I watched one of my favorite shows on the Foodies channel. Everyday food. It's a cooking show that's put on or sponsored by Martha Stewart because I see her name in the credits at the end of every show (doesn't say produced by or anything but she is somehow connected to this program) and it's a good show. About 4 or 5 different people (the same people) cook every night. Simple everyday food, hence the title Everyday Food. Simple easy cooking is right up my alley so I watch.
One of the ladies cooking away. Meanwhile I sat on the couch in night gown and snuggling in my thick fuzzy blanket. Enjoying the end of my day.
And then another lady came out and cooked. Then another and then the guy came out and made a coconut tart. Which now has me wishing I could eat a coconut cream pie or something along those lines. ; ) Then at 8pm Spaceballs started. The kids watched 30 minutes of it before having to go to sleep at their 8:30pm bed time. All in all it was a pretty fantastic Monday. And what's today's plan? Well, I cleaned for an hour already. So the house is good. I plan to go into Noah's closet and clean out his closet for about 45 minutes in a bit. And other then that. I plan to just relax and watch TV. Maybe do a little treadmill. Or place one last order at the Gap before that sale goes off Feb 18th. Either way I'll be enjoying my day. What's for dinner tonight? Gyoza and rice. Bought 6 dozen frozen gyoza from our favorite Chinese restaurant the other day (sorry said 3 dozen this morning, but bought 2 bags and each bag has 36 in each so that's 6 dozen total clearly didn't have enough coffee this morning to wake up the ol' thinking cap ; ) my bad). And so we'll have that tonight. Just a really simple dinner for us tonight. Anyway the couch is calling my name so I better post this. Have a great day everyone and stay warm! : )
Both Branden and Noah received something for Valentine's Day from a female friend/classmate this year. Branden received his from Nozomi-chan, she's in his class, goes to Kumon with B and to swim school the same days Branden does. She is Saya-chan's best friend a good friend of B's. Meanwhile Noah received his Valentine's gift from Chi-chan. One of his greatest and best pals in yochien. Both of the boys were happy to get them and I plan to get these girls something cute in return for White day March 14th.
This was for B. Awww. : )
This was Noah's.
And the chocolate shaped hearts are what I bought for my sons for Valentine's this year. As for the hubby, I offered him some store bought yummy chocolate goodness or to make him some homemade cookies and he chose the cookies. So that's what he got. For those of you not in Japan, in Japan, Valentine's Day is for women to give chocolate to guys. And the woman usually get nothing @_@ : ( ha ha ha, but get something instead for White day 30 days later. A bit different then how we celebrate it in the US, where it's all done both girl/lady and guy on the same day. Interesting though, right? ; )
Noah got homemade chocolates. And these really made him smile.
Branden got a homemade chocolate and the cookies we think were store bought but she decorated them nicely and it was the thought that counted. And he was stoked getting these.
The most adorable note Chi-chan wrote to Noah. It basically says, that for the "pretend" shopping day, she bought the item Noah made. Isn't that so precious? To buy the thing he made. We thought that was so adorable.
The cookies I baked for Noboru. He got well over 3 dozen chocolate toffee and pecan cookies.
Sunday morning actual Valentine' day it was unbelievably foggy outside. Looked so cold outside. And if you're an American you'll know the 31 degree F temps for outside are indeed freezing since freezing is 32 degrees F. So it was actually freezing cold outside. And honestly it's been freezing cold in our parts of Chiba all week. And the week before that as well. Needless to say, we are so ready for Spring!
Look at this thick freezing cold fog. And the time of day? Nope it wasn't like 6am it was actually after 10am.
More thick fog. Hurry up warmer weather, we're so totally over this cold weather! Feeling about the winter weather....ummm quite cute and cozy for Oct, November and December. Sorta getting over it in January and am done with it by February! Please hurry up Spring.
Noboru had bought me some jewelry for Valentine's day this year. 
A really beautiful bracelet and nice pair of earrings. I was pretty happy to get these for Valentine's Day from the hubby. He also made the boys and I pancakes for our Valentine's breakfast. And the night before he gave me an amazing foot massage with lotion and the whole bit. And on Friday I mentioned liking something in the Nissen catalog so he bought them for me.... a pair of jean capris, a black belt and a black short sleeve top, as part of my Valentine's gift, though it hasn't got here yet but it's on it's way. All in all, I felt quite spoiled for Valentine's day. Anyway just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. : )
American Idol started for us in Japan last weekend. A bit behind the US, I know, but better late then never. Love this show and it didn't disappoint. Posh/Victoria Beckham was a guest judge and she was absolutely lovely. She's really a kind person and I really enjoyed her as a guest judge. 
This guy trying to ham it up a bit!
Simon.
Victoria Beckham.
Last Friday, Branden brought home this stuff for me to use Monday morning. I did this last year too so I am assuming this is going to be a once a year thing at our school? I did this last year and was supposed to do this for his 2nd grade year as well. Perhaps there's not a lot of people at this school and that's why we have to do it more often, I don't know. I was a bit caught off guard, sure last year, I recall hearing I would have to do this Feb 2010 sometime but that was a whole year away andI didn't write it down. A whole year later and it was for this past Monday. From 7am to 7:30 am Monday morning. Doesn't matter, if I had obento to make and another younger child to get sent off to yochien and the mother's luncheon to get ready for (same day) isn't that always how it goes though?! ; ) So I did it all this past Monday morning. Busy as all heck, but I did it. Monday morning, got B sent to school, went and stood along the road down the hill someplace and wore my bright yellow sash and greeted all the kids "good morning" in Japanese. Waves the yellow flag. The weather was indeed freezing. Keita-kun's mom and I stood there chatting for 30 minutes in between our greetings to the kids. And at 7:30am, I was gone lickety split. Ran home. Noboru had made Noah his breakfast already, my awesome hubby. I quickly made his obento, ran him upstairs and got him dressed and since I had no chance to get ready yet since I was standing out along the street greeting kids all morning. Noboru drove Noah to yochien, meanwhile I had a chance to have a cup of hot coffee, and do my hair, put my makeup on. Get dressed. I wore a black shift dress and a bright pink cardigan and black tights and black ballet flats. And before I knew it, I was leaving to the mother's luncheon. The restaurant was Japanese and it was really pretty and somewhat fancy. Definitely a nice place to have lunch. There were 21 mother's total, I think. And the whole, "each person having to get up and say something part" that I was worried about. Didn't happen. Well it almost happened. And then it didn't. See it started at the opposite table I was in. I was sorta just wanting to get it over with otherwise the build up to it would be almost unbearable. So anyway it started on the table opposite of me. The first lady stood up introduced herself. As expected I could hear my own heart beat in my own ears. Boomboom, boomboom boomboom. And then as luck would have it. One mother was MIA. Yup she was missing. An empty plate.... a message found from the missing mother to someones cell. Had actually stopped the "mother's intro" Oh dear god, thank you thank you I thought. I thought maybe it was karma or what have you. And didn't wanna question it. We ate comfortably and everyone chatted. These mother's are very kind, very very kind. And I'm really lucky I have them as friends. When the dessert finally came round, I wondered if the mother's introduction would start up again but it oddly didn't. For whatever reason I totally lucked out. So the mother's luncheon was just a nice way to meet the entire red badge class and sit and eat with them. Monday all in all was a good one. I was a bit busy in the morning with the whole standing along the road and greeting kids in the AM, But that actually was sorta cool. I was a bit busy getting Noah ready for yochien but Noboru totally jumped in and lent a hand. I was a bit worried about the mother's intro but that didn't happen. It was a busy Monday, but a very cool Monday at that. I also got to watch some of the first quarter of the Superbowl too before I left to the mother's luncheon. Noboru watched the entire Superbowl, lucky! ; )
Getting to enjoy the first quarter of the Super bowl Monday morning. Superbowl Sunday was actually early Monday morning for us in Japan.
The small order for Branden arrived from Gap/Old Navy.
Two pairs of shorts for Branden.
We are huge Denver Bronco fans at our house. I grew up watching football. Noboru has been a fan since he was an exchange student in Denver at age 16. Our kids love watching football games. When I saw Old Navy sells football stuff, I bought the boys the Broncos long sleeve tops.
Two shirts for B. Just like I said, we buy a little here and a little there and by the time Summer or late Spring rolls around we're ready. ; )
Have been waiting with anticipation for the Hills season 5 to start in Japan. And it did and I've been happy as a clam since American Idol and the Hills new seasons started.
I like Lauren on the show and to watch their friendship somewhat end was pretty sad.
What else did we do this week? We made some truly wicked tostadas. They were so seriously yumm! Bean and beef.
On Wednesday, the kids had a mock or pretend shopping day. All the "pretend things" were made by the students or the teachers. Hamburg set.
So creative! 
You know it's funny, but I recall when B went here and had the same "pretend" shopping day too.
So many cool things. Meanwhile Noah putting his things away in his little area.
Radios.
Cakes.
The big ticket items ; ) ; )
Man I love their uniforms for this yochien. So cute.
Noah and his best pal Chi-chan. They were playing kori-oni.
Hi kiddo!
Each child got pretend money and got to purchase whatever they wanted. Here's Noah's wallet with his name on it and the things he purchased. A guitar, the hamburg set, ramen and a few other things.
These are the boys portions for dinner one night this week. Branden's the big yellow and white plate now, yup his portions have increased big time. He's a growing boy. And Noah's portions are still good for his size. The salads they had with goma dressing, chicken cutlet, rice, veggie.
My portions, and boy was I starving this night. Hubby had tonkatsu. We all enjoyed dinner that night.
How have we been keeping busy? This past weekend, our family played the board game Sorry! And that was some family fun! And we've also been playing the car racing game as a family. We all take turns between us 4. It's fun and we all have a ball trying to race each other on the game. Hope everyone had a great weekend! : )
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