going crazy the night before.. LIVE it up now.. as we are going to be expecting some seriously sitting here pretty quick..
and once more.. CUPS coming there for us:)

so its 2.. ozzy/trues down for a nap.. I think well lets go get your locks trimmed up.. CONSTANTLY getting SUPER LITTLE trims.. as to avoid AT going all scissors on us and CUTTING your locks..
well its an hour wait, so we head back home.. I am thinking we could go back to the apt?? try and have you both be still while the babies get some needed rest.. ORRRRRR right then a cab goes by ever slowly.. so I hail the cab.. LETS go hit boo foo woo in jiyugaka ONE last time..the sweet funky kids store I found 3 months ago.. I kept thinking as the week slipped away.. I should go..
but with the heat/humidity its would be too much to ask you all to hike it to the train station with the ride then be still and let me look..
BUT with only half a brood with me.. its CAKE!!
so much fun to just be buzzing around the area we have come to know and LOVE so well.. the ease of rambling off the location.. the ease of getting/understanding how to get back home..
really this here japan will forever be tender to our family.. a time I will forever more look back and pull from..
more than just being there.. the relations I even made back home from the support.. just sweet.. to the SWEETNESS!!!

the last day.. we kept having to run to 7-11 for fresh cold milk.. seaweed and the rice ball:)
and EVERY TIME I saw a person I had seen daily for the last 9 months.. I would be like.. PLEASE picture( of course in my best japanese:)
lady from mimi bakery..
had to make one last stop at my good earth of japan.. THEY have been so kind.. and found so many things for me.. was it my cracking bran?? not so much.. but it fueled me just the same:)

now THIS was a SWEET treat.. I have NEVER once seen this lady from india besides in the early mornings while running.. she most times kept her head down... and walked behind her husband.. some days I would get a warm smile.. as I ALWAYS tired to make eye contact to say hello.. ( so WERID to think of it now.. I really think I came to japan thinking..I would be SO out going make friends spread some love.. WHAT THE HECK.. I have mary and jill here that have made fun of me for years saying when I run.. i don't even make eye contact.. I am all business trying to get the run in!!:)
but this particular women.. I always wanted to know.. what her culture was like.. how she liked living in japan.. but never dared to befriend her while husband in tow, while HE always flashed a smile.. I just got this feeling.. he was in charge of who she talked or looked at..
WELLLLLLLLLLLLL I spot her on the street.. as I THOUGHT I would take my camera running in the morning.. but much too much trouble..
so I run up to her.. as she is all alone.. I tell her.. LOOK ITS ME.. you see me running in the morning.. she quickly took ozzy out of my arms and started kissing and loving on him.. of course TAD!! you keep asking her why WHY WHY WHY do you have a sparkle hole in your nose.. I kept trying to SHHHHHHHHHH you... but ME.. being your mother should KNOW.. that is NOT going to be happening.. if you have a question or something to say.. OH ITS GETTING SAID!!!
I took some pictures then hugged her.. explaining we were going back HOME!! she walked us back to our apt..
SO WARM.. SO KIND!! i so loved that she scooped up my sweet baby and loved on him.. I have learned.. with the fourth.. with YOU.. so special and WILLING to flash your happiness.. that the bring people together.. and break all sorts of barriers.. again it has taken me until you to realize this.. and STILL its hard to share you..

so we divide and conquer.. I go out to get the bike.. AT goes to get the carseats... so funny at the time.. I thought HOW was this not done before.. but really sitting here.. on my laptop.. with me NOW being able to order things right to my door.. such ease.. as I can READ and google search anything.. but in japan my research had to be done by FOOT.. with my sweet priceless gifts right along with me.. MAN that really made the process so much longer..
AT and I knew of a few bike shops with in walking distance.. but we kept holding out.. thinking we could find more of what I had actually seen at parks.. but time had run out.. I would have to grab the one that was at the shop by the station:)
what was SO awesome and sort of sad for me.. is hearing tad go OFF.. you really have been busting out ALL your japanese.. to ANYONE that will converse with you.. as you are ONLY 5.. and this bike shop lady seriously kept answering any question you could think of which I think a lot of them were " what is this " as you pointed to EVERY little thing on the bike.. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.. seriously you have just been such a BEAM of light.. a bouncing spirit that is hard to knock down.. you might be down for .1 second.. as you can quickly jump right back into happiness!! positive energy that KNOWS how to LOVE BIG!! put yourself out there.. you fear no rejection.. and WHY should you?? you ARE just you!! PERFECTLY YOU!!! thank you for your continuing example.. especially when I have NEEDED it MOST!!!
also the last few days were REALLY starting to turn up the humid to the HUMID.. we were leaving JUST in time for the REAL HARD weather started to hit.. close one.. could we have done it?? I have no doubt.. but again..I would have been tapping out saying YO YO TO THE AT.. we's needs a car:)

spencer and AT get home from sapparo late.. spencer is off tomorrow and we leave the following day.. spencer wanting me to see this bag he wanted at futako.. AT telling me if I want the bike I will have to run down and get it.. its go time.. last minutes things.. as its really here.. we will NEVER be back like this..
I cant even lie.. a part of me really thought coming back to the US would solve all problems.. you ( mostly jonah) would be able to be free... roam, have space, be able to go on the tramp and THINK IMAGINE:)

with micro wave still here and a pot.. and lets not forget the sweet mini dvd player and saved us from the beginning.
we are able to have MOIVE NIGHT!!!
don't act like you don't have it ALL

all along I thought we had just what we needed.. the apt always felt a bit bare. but was definitely home and fully functional for what we needed.. with every piece of furniture that left the apt.. I realized even more we had really made this our home!!
it FOR SURE GOT trickier and tricker to keep you all entertained.. AT even called to try and tell me he would be out the WHOLE day before we left.. I very nicely said.. UUMMMMMMMMM ya right.. it will be hard to look at the white walls any longer.. me's needs some help..
of course.. AT came thru:)

we had to dash out!! as AT was calling saying those guys are still waiting back at the house to pick up the fridge!! better to not have too much of a long goodbye..

i just want to squish you.. so easy.. just roll with everything!!!! you are constantly bringing this sweet peace to this here home..

loving the water.. had to watch you super close to make sure you didn't loose your balance.. also remember it sticking out to me.. that of course truly was the one just jumping all around very familiar with the water.. where all the others.. were careful.. was awesome as ozzy was safe.. no one really checking you:)

this was fun.. i remember thinking better late than NEVER.. as what a perfect outing for all of you.. I just remember thinking komazawa park is SO big.. although I had walked thru it.. I never saw this.. walking right past it.. the trees.. they are so thick and well preserved that they hide the treasures:)

my kyoko and my ozzy..

two days before we leave.. with just about NOTHING in left in the apt.. we head out to meet friends at komozawa park.. I couldn't even get enough of kyoko.. I emailed her the night before.. "hey chiharu set up a time for friends to come play.. "
she responded with a FUN.. I will be there.. so crazy to me.. that its her neighborhood and this was the first time she had been to the water area.. which is MUST in the tokyo summers WATER, a way to cool down.. the night before.. or did I go early that morning?? I grabbed water guns that they were selling at plaza to use then in turn leave them with her as a gift!!
they were such a hit.. I remember her sending an email.. " the boys are in the bath tub playing stars wars with their guns"
I remember being VERY overwhelmed. not REALLY knowing how I should act.. or how to even begin to express feeling of gratitude towards the acquaintance that showed up.. I was SO much more focused on the kindness of kyoko. over and over again.. she was helping me.. in the humid heat.. holding the ozzy.. while I attended to a truly.. or went looking for the boys..
even as we had to HURRY and gather up to leave.. as AT was calling me.. saying the people that were coming to get the fridge and TV FINALLY SHOWED UP.. and were calling him to say.. we are here.. no one is answering the door.. him and spencer were still in route from Sapporo..
kyoko was right there toweling off the boys.. shaking all the water out of their hair.. just this feeling of sending me on my way.. SO KIND.. i miss her!!