these are people that have become more than just friends.. we are a team!!! they are in our hearts!!!!! they have made being in japan SO SWEET.. costco runs, loving on ozzy, trying to get AT to get a box as big as our bathroom.. just really taking us under their wings:)

not only was I the only one in the whole room with a child.. I was on the front row.. good think you were enjoying the lady singing loca motion in english.. rather then knock that the song is SOOOOO old.. and she sounds like a man singing it.. I will TOTALLY give props that SHE KNOWS another language!!!!!!
was that a back handed complement.. never the less. I believe I have proved my love to my sweet japan over and over.

should I say what made me laugh on the floor while hanging out in s and s room.. wishing I could spend the night. I didn't want to leave mom and dad!!!!
heres a nice monavie view:)

AT has had a CRAZY NARLY sinus infection for at least 2 months.. IT still is lingering.. he went to the doctors office AGAIN.. to get more WEAK meds.. that are still just NOT cutting it.. he took the medicine and was told that needing to use the restroom might be a side affect.. DUUUUUUDDDDDDDEEEEEE make me laugh so hard.. then sue reminding me to take it easy and be nice.. as we might be cleaning the floors if I don't let up:)
but can you imagine.. I mean really transportation can be a pain in the buns if you are needing to be close to a restroom.. I was laughing SOOOOO hard. I know rude to laugh at others pain!!!!! but I wish I could have caught a pix of your dads face going up the escalators.. plus you know your besties if you can bust out the truth!!!

first field trip!!! heres the email I got of everything you should do and BRING.. DETAILS!!!!!!


There will be OWAKARE (Goodbye) ENSOKU (Field Trip) this Thursday (25th).
It is a day walk to a park nearby, both younger and older classes
together, to make memories together!

The details are as follows:

DATE: Feb 25 (Thu)
PLACE: TAMAGAWA NOGE PARK
SCHEDULE:
9:00 come to school as usual; roll call; prepare for departure
9:30 leave school and walk to park
10:10 arrive at park
10:30 play
11:30 eat lunch (if the weather condition is not good, they may eat
back at school)
12:30 leave park
13:15 reach school
14:00 leave school as usual

- IN CASE OF RAIN, the trip is called off.

THINGS TO BRING: backpack, bento lunch, handkerchief or small towel,
tissue papers, drink bottle, wet towel to wipe hands before eating,
sheet (mat) to sit on to eat lunch on (preferable size 24" X 36")
- lunch time is SHORT, so pls bring something easy to eat like onigiri
(rice ball) etc., plus don't bring too much.

WEAR: kindergarten smock over regular clothing (dress warm), sneakers,
color hat (kids will bring home the day before)
- be sure to DRESS WARM, as kids will not wear coats and jacket to the
park. If you MUST wear a jacket (because of health condition etc.)
then bring something light, that may be put away in their backpack.

OTHERS:
- be sure to come by 9:10 (as usual)
- if absent, pls call the kindergarten by 8:50.
- if sick, pls do not force your kids to participate. it will be
outside the whole time.
- kids will get some "ramune" snack (sugar candies) from the
kindergarten. do not bring any sweets.
- the kids will walk all the way to the park (may take close to 30 min)
- there are only Japanese style toilets (=squatting) at the park
- if rain, we will not go to the park, but we will have "pretend field
trip" at the school, so bring all your field trip gears.


if any questions, call me!

do you want to know what a GOOD full japanese guy looks like:) to me he carries himself so well that he pulls off cool.. bigger and better that even sasaki and ichiro combined!!!!!!
POSITIVE energy just permeates out of him!!!!!!

it felt good to be american for the last fews days.. FUNNY and good.. as even while on the train. we WERE SO LOUD. I was trying to talk softly but its hard to remind or explain why we have to sSSSSSHHHHHHH or why its just respectful.. so when company is in.. rather then correct.. I think we just roll with it.. but I COULD NOT help but be nervous a few times.. to think 1 out of a 100,000 thousand japanese person.. might have the guts to softly say "shut the hell up" why would I be nervous or worrisome over this?? as the laughing and talking was so therapeutic to me to say the LEAST.. but still on my mind!!! does jaime even know how to truly be respectful?? many would say OR know I have fought that for as long as I have been breathing:)

went to yokohama.. and was simply SHHHHHHOOOOOOOOCCCCCCKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEDDDDDD to see trash in the tracks!!!! sorry but I can NOT HELP but KNOW that is MUST be foreigners.. I just can NOT imagine a japanese person pulling this off..

I wanted s and S to have a really awesome japanese experience!!!!! what better place to make that happen then the bath house!!!
again.. I consider our relationship to be" HADAKA NO TSUKIAI"
up most respect to people that are so willing to think and be outside the box.. as I didn't realize that I DO understand this culture.. I know just enough to get me barely skimming by.. but more importantly LOVE for my japanese people.. ( LOVE ) that takes you far.. which is why s and s can jump into this.. also.. as I was telling mika to tell some americans visitors to jump on the bath house.. mika explained that would be TOO overwhelming.. as I thought about it.. she was right.. you would have to have a buddy to explain things or culture thinking OR A BEST FRIEND.. as I guess this is why you don't see many tours that say "yo, yo yo YO come to the bath house up in here..
BUT THIS DAY WAS AWESOME and even got to end with a traditional eating sitting lunch..
I am not in the bath house close.. cause while they were all getting massages.. I was running truly home to hand her off to sophie, then running her over to the school to show her where she would need to pick up the boys.. then catching a cab back..
I FELT like a busy bee being able to buzz around and get back in time to HEAR THE BEST STORY of why I will be returning to get a korean scrub.. which I have had a couple of friends here say I MUST check that out.. I didn't know they did it at my favorite bath house.. I HEARD it is CRAZY good but CRAZY!!!!!

they came in and scooped up my kids.. LOVED on them.. bought them doughnuts at mimis bakery.. now this picture looks liking she is crying cause he is holding her.. but trues you loves scott and me broke your little feelers when he was on the computer working and snorded at you.. you burst into tears.. but he scooped you up and gave you some gum.. you were good

we got to PLAY with scott and sue.. OF COURSE my favorite most lifting part of it all is LAUGHING HARD..
on event that did not DISAPPOINT is spending the day at the bathhouse.. first off I LOVE that given their age.. they are up for just about ANYTHING.. have open minds.. and aaaahhhhhh just so them!!!!! THIS is why people flock to them!!!

ok but back to the part that made me realize.. I am getting becoming infused by the japanese ways.. I do understand how to rolls..

as we got on the FREE bus to head back to another area with about 16 other people.. scott asked.. "hey did you tell the driver we wanted to go to the bike shop.. did you say bike shop" I literally did my belly laugh.. its a laugh I have that when it is SOOOOO funny to me.. I can hardly breathe.. as AT and I were like yeah.. scott was like what??? sue then step in to say scott only taxi's take you directly somewhere.. WE LAUGHED about this all weekend. WELL more so me.. as scott even stood his ground with HIS japanese people.. saying dude if we asked him HE would.. now japanese people ARE completely over the top helpful, kind and respectful.. but what will ALWAYS over RULE anything and everything is the DEEP DOWN core in themselves TO FOLLOW THE RULES.. NO way.. would mr. bus driver and deviated from the course on hand..

AAAAAAHHHHHH thinking about it now makes me LOL again.. as AT and I kept teasing him.. like thats like getting on a yellow bus full of school kids.. saying HEY I need to go to the airport.. take me there.. of course just rassing our olden.. WHOM we owe SOOOO much to!!!!!!

seriously what makes your wheels turn????

you woke up this morning having stayed home with sophie and truly.. while mom, ozzy, jonah and dad were at the 1st year anniversary for monavie..
to tell me mom.. I helped you out a lot.. I did the dishes and took out the trash and vacuumed.. ah huh.. I love you..
do you tad..
as when I got home.. I wondered why their was no liner in the garbage and the vacuumed plugged in and out.. funny as when the light hit the floor and I saw the crazy crackers everywhere.. I thought awesome as it could have been WAY worse.. how really thoughtful of YOU!!!!!!

then I catch you dumping out all the packing in the kitchen floor( which literally takes up ALL the space in our awesome 2x2 kitchen ) from the raw box i just got, then you sitting in the box having a conversation with you bro..

noticing the japanese coming out!!!!
as last night we headed out to meet dad ( you needing a special night out all alone) it was raining so you needed to have your own umbrella and I needed you to backpack around some stuff for ozzy and I..
no matter if it was the train, the cab or the convention.. you grabbed that bag with out having to be reminded "hey get your bag"
you are learning to be responsible for your own stuff.. this is SOOOOOO freeing for me.. and I am sure empowering for you..
even when you wanted to add a drink to your load..you were all over it:)
you's a big boy!!

LISTENER!!!!!!!!

how was yoga??

I didn't get in..

but dad said.. just give it a try and sign up..

EVEN when I was trying to sign up.. jonah on the phone said..

mom have a nice stretching...

YOU are ALWAYS tuned in.. the trick is getting you to speak what is making those wheels turn in your HEAD:)

you's a cute to me!!!

this could NOT help but make me think of my dear sweet JEN H who TOTALLY gets my OCD.. clean, clean.clean.. then CLEAN some more.
while snapping some photos of ozzy turning over.. truly right there cheering him on, talking with him..
ozzy spits up..
truly oh crap..
then well the pictures speak for them selves.. MY KIDS have eyes.. my new song I try and sing all the time is
do as am doing.. follow follow me.. do as am doing follow follow me.. if I do it high or low.. if I do it fast or S L O W
to remind MOM.. to be better.. clean UP the language.. YOU ARE WATCHING!!!!!! OH CRAP IS RIGHT

I saw this patch of grass and it was like breathing a fresh breathe of air.. I suppose its been awhile since I have seen grass.. TRULY still enjoying HER day:)

alright how they do birthdays here...
its goes like this..
jan/feb birthdays combined.. we all meet in the hall and AT was told the day before the principle is coming and will ask you these two questions
whats your name and what is your favorite food
SOOOOOO AT and tad practiced ALL night long.. so you would understand what the question sounded like and when to respond..
you even wake up in the morning.. LIKE REALLY JUST OPEN your eyes.. I am getting ready to run.. and yOU FREAK.. tapping your head saying I FORGOT..my brain cant remember.. DAD who is usually checked out.. and blocks all crying out in the morning till he he ready to roll out of bed.. IS QUICK and asks the questions again.. YOU got it!! ( this being so cute to me.. we are all in your AT's heart.. we have all felt it at one time or another.. more so even over here:)
so its time to preform!!! the principle starts pulling the students up.. dad says CRAP he changed the question and he is asking whats your name a different way
its your turn..
he asks your name..
you have THIS big grin on your face.. you are forgetting.. you start to squirm he asks again.. more squirming... our video rolling..
I yell tado des.. I cant STAND to have you miss it.. the the heads turn.. I SOOOOO DONT care.. YOU didn't either.. as it clicked..I could see it in your eyes!!
then the next question he asks he "what do you like to do??" you say pizza des...

such a awesome day!!! as its been fun for you to be like its my birthday.. and you are waking up a lot of mornings saying YEAHHHHH its my birthday... even if you are pretending.. you LOVE to pretend!!!
us on the way home with your crown!!!! YOU ARE A KING!!


I also couldn't help but take a pix of this man that was taking a nap in his car?? don't know why he thought this was a good place to pull over for a snooze.. but what do I know?? I am a visitor

so today was a TOTAL truly day.. so after we attended tad birthday celebration.. I literally said "truly what do yo want to do??"
you said train station:) so thats where we went.. I thought we would hit dakaiyama.. as there is a cute kids store there:)
I let you out of the stroller and tell you to be moms helper.. you may be out if you help mom and hold me hand:)
an older man with the shakes.. is so polite and usually engaging while we are waiting for our train..
he see me packing ozzy and see the stroller and you.. he ask where we are from? plays with you a little asking how old you are.. tells you that you are cute!!
our train comes..
he grabs my stroller to help..
I am worried he does NOT have the power plus I only got two kids that i am entertaining today!! easy!!
so I reassure him.. I am OK
so we hop on.. the mother/baby section is almost full.. he tells me to sit.. I again tell him.. I am GOOD
he could have sit.. but this CUTE old man is totally taking us all under his wing
he ask a bunch of other questions. (mind you all in broken CUTE english.. BUT I AM A PRO at understanding this language.. and guess what!! props be to him.. FOR EVEN KNOWING another language:)
so finds out where I am going..
we get off at the transfer
he INSIST on taking my stroller to help..
then I go to say good bye..
but HE is not done..
I try doing my normal run, as I have done this MANY times.. but he stops me and SAYS NO ELEVATOR.. its right here..
so he pushes the button for me another person and son come as they are taking the elevator also.. as he waits to make sure we are good.. he tells this other person.. "hey this is where she is going MAKE sure she gets on that train:)
then waves good bye.. as this was his stop..
we get up stairs.. I KNOW the train to take but as all the other train come this lady COMES and makes sure I don't get on!!! then when mine come she give me a NOD.. as yes get on!!
two things CAN YOU BELIEVE this sweet caring old man!!!!!! what is his story?? what was he like as a husband, father???
can you believe the RESPECT OF this stranger that was asked by an OLDER stranger to do something.. and she softly and KINDLY did it. no questions
OH japan!! we are learning!!!
her are some pixs of truly on the way home!! you pushed all the buttons.. THIS was SUCH a good day for you.. as YOU were in charge NOT rushed!!! ALWAYS a good combo..

thumbs up to you!!!

you always do this face.. NOT this one.. as I tried to get it,but you were smiling too much.. BUT you always sincerely look at me.. take my face and softly rub my cheeks OR rub my shoulder to say
mom I wont leave you.. I don't want you to be ALONE
I stay with you
its this face of MOM I got your back..

this all happening while all 5 of us are in a space no bigger than a small bathroom.. SMALL japanese size restroom.. while AT is trying to find out all the info for moms hot yoga:)

tad can you even see how you are gimping it????? all the sudden you start walking on your heal saying your foot is hurts.. then I say WELLLLLLLLLLL if you would put on your socks and NOT skip that step.. your shoes WOULD NOT be rubbing up against your foot making it RAW!!!!!
it is very interesting to see what things you decide to cut out in life.. as to you it takes too much effort and time...
even tonight getting ready to head to kumon I took your face put my face RIGHT to your nose, looked you DEAD IN THE EYES and said put on your shoes and jacket DONT DO ANYTHING ELSE!!!!! do those two things FIRST.. what do you do?? put on one shoe, then start playing with ozzy
see stuff like this is why I finally started thinking FINE if you don't want to follow my NICE soft instructions then let the cards fall as they may..
but when you started gimping it.. AS I WOULD NOT LET YOU GET IN THE STROLLER for a good five minutes as I WANTED YOU TO REMEMBER to LISTEN to your mother and be responsible for your FEET
TAD even typing this right now makes me LAUGH out loud at how you were walking being like FINE I cant get in the stroller but this has gotten TOO hard to walk this much with out socks.......
you boys are BOYS.. you really just tune your mother out!!!! but I am going to find a way to turn up my volume and get into that head WITH OUT YELLING!!!!!! lets just see if I can fine tune that sucker:)