Happy 4th Birthday Leyton!

We have had an incredibly busy last couple of weeks.  Between school commitments and Halloween celebrations, we are exhausted.  But enough of that, first we must celebrate Leyton Lee turning 4 years old!  Her birthday was a school day and it was also the day her school celebrated all the October birthdays.  Parents were invited to a little program in the 'hall', followed by lunch with the kids.  But first, I had to drop Ellis off at the sitter, which is an hour drive away.  So we had to leave the house at 7am to get back in time for Leyton to be at school at 9.  It was stressful, but we made it.  The birthday kids went on-stage in front of the entire school and parents.  They each gave a speech, and Leyton's blew me away.  She said her name, her birthday, and that she hoped to be a princess when she grows up.  All in Japanese.  She had been coached very well by her teacher and performed better than any other American kid and better than half the Japanese kids (pardon my bragging, but it's true).  I posted a video on Facebook, but I can't get it to load onto here.  If you are really interested, let me know and I will happily email it to you.

Front row, fourth kid over.  Each kid made a hand-print necklace and after their speech, the mother's came on-stage and the children presented the gift to their mom.  Then the mom's had to give a brief speech about how we chose our child's name.  I had a translator.

The school also gave each student a cute plate, handmade card by the child's teacher, and a crown.

Thank you to everyone for all the amazing gifts to help Leyton celebrate.  We didn't have a party for her, but we will celebrate with a special trip over Thanksgiving, when Daddy is home.

Ellis did great with all the early wake-ups and getting dropped off at the sitter and the CDC. 

Next was Halloween week, and again we kept busy.  I have recently started teaching English to two Japanese girls.  They are 10 years old, very sweet, and their English is impressive.  One of the girl's mother is also an English teacher, but she is Japanese and teachers younger children.  She asked if I would come to her house on two evenings and help her with a Halloween party for her students.  My job was basically to speak English to the kids.  She had me ask the children's name and then shake their hand.  The first night, I brought both girls and they had a blast.  The Japanese children were adorable in their costumes.  The Japanese do not traditionally celebrate Halloween, but it is growing more and more popular.  Misa San, the teacher, had 5 of her neighbors let the children come and trick-or-treat for candy.  The second night, I left Ellis with a sitter.  We had to leave right after school, which meant no nap, and then drive an hour, and it was too much for her (and me) two nights in a row.

The first night Ellis was Aurora and Leyton was Hello Kitty

  

CUTE

This is the third year Leyton has worn that same outfit.  For the most part, it still fits.

She was all about the face paint.

Trick or Treat!

This is a funny random picture I took of Ellis while we were doing laundry on base.  She is talking on the TV remote.

For actual Halloween, we invited some of Leyton's school friends and my students to the nearby base for some all-American Trick-or-Treating.  It was crazy.  Another looong day with no nap, eating junk, and I lost one or both kids several times in all the madness.  But I got them both back unharmed, so all is well.

Ellis was Aurora again and Leyton went for Cinderella.  She wore those glasses all night, even in the dark.  That's her friend Hiro, admiring her coolness.

Even though Ellis didn't even carry a trick-or-treating bag, we still have tons of candy.  And we are all sick with colds, thanks to the stress/lack of sleep/baby-sitter-germs.  In fact, there is a lot more that I am leaving out of this blog, but I am just too tired and it's already too overdue, so I am going to make like Elsa and 'let it go'.

Otanjobi Leyton!  And Happy Halloween!

Double Trouble

The girls and I are doing well here in Japan.  Waiting and waiting for Daddy to get home.  Here's what we have been up to lately.

The curls hide how long her hair really is.  She wanted me to braid it and then take a picture so she could see her 'Elsa hair.'

The nights are nice and cool now, so we had to bust out the warm jammies.  Unfortunately, Ellis' were cramping her toes, so they were only double trouble for two nights.

Mad about something.  This kid has a serious attitude problem.

Snacks at the park.  Unless we are having a typhoon, which is often, then the weather is sunny and 70s.  Just how we like it.  The awful mosquitoes are gone now too, so we spend hours outside.

The beautiful weather makes us all happy.

Happy and silly

A selfie to send to Daddy

Cute little stinkers

Leyton LOVES all decorations, so she was super pumped to discover some Halloween decorations on base

Leyton's school has transitioned back into the winter uniform that is so darling.  She has had a little trouble with the buttons.  They have caused more than one wardrobe meltdown.

E having her own little fit.  I wanted to take a picture to send to Daddy because she was so cute in her rain gear.    I clearly took the picture anyway, even though she had a fit and collapsed on the floor.

So that Sissy doesn't have ALL the fun, E and I took a field trip to a local farm with some friends.

We dug Japanese sweet potatoes and carrots

Clearly farming is in her blood

Japan grows giant carrots

She was extremely dirty but she had a blast

We brought home 5 giants carrots and 3 large sweet potatoes and several smaller ones.  Score!

So Ellis is a biter.  When she gets mad she is going to bite something or someone.  She bit a hole in this chair.  Everyone whom I have told this story to has laughed.  I guess I can see where it could be funny.  But I also see a hole in my chair.

Gotta love these adorable, vicious little monsters

Hosen Sports Day

Last Saturday was Leyton's kindergarten Sports Day.  Apparently, in Japan, nearly every school, from pre-school to college, has a Sports Day in the Fall.  It was lovely.  It was an entire school day long, from 9 to 2.  Most of the prizes and decorations were made by the children.  There were opening and closing ceremonies and lots of 'sports'.  When I think of 'sports day' I imagine my elementary school Field Day.  This was not like that at all.  For starters, the children had been practicing since they returned from summer break, so about 5 weeks.  The three-year-olds didn't have much to work on, just their individual races.  The 4- and 5-year-olds, however, did Tug-of-war, relays, and a choreographed gymnastics routine to 'Let It Go!' (no, I am not kidding).  Even I got to participate.  First with Ellis, as a 'future Hosen kid.'  I held her hand as she did a 10 meter dash.  She was rewarded with a new book (we have a nice collection of books that we can't read now), a gold star medal that one of the older kids made, origami paper, and some other goodies.  I also had to go and dance with Leyton.  She wore a bunny hat that she made, and I wore tissue-paper flowers on my wrist.  There were only 4 steps to the dance, and she executed them better than me.  Must have been all the practice.  I got a 5 minute heads-up that I had to do the dance and I got a friend to watch Ellis so I could go.  Speaking of Ellis, now is a good time to apologize for the less than stellar pictures of this event.  I was trying to entertain/corral a toddler who either wanted to be out on the field with the big kids or who wanted to go home.  Not to worry though, I ordered the DVD of the event.  It is certain to be entertaining.

Lining up for Opening Ceremonies.  Leyton is in Sakura class, with the light pink hats.

All those flags were colored by the school kids

In formation

Not happy

There are four 3-year-old classes.  This is the race that each kid did.  I tried to video Leyton but miss it because Ellis ran off.

Still not happy

I am always impressed how they get so many 3-year-olds to listen

Can you find Leyton?

I think this is tug-o-war

In another event, Grandparents came out and helped the kids toss balls into a basket.  It really was a family affair.

LC's bunny hat she made for the Bunny Dance.  Sorry I missed his ears.

On the field, the teachers are going over the dance steps

The Frozen Dance.  Complete with a three-kid high pyramid (again, not kidding).

Refueling

Silly Selfie

Random picture from the monthly Newsletter Leyton's school puts out.  I don't know exactly what it says, but another Mom told me the Mari Sensee was praising Leyton's progress with learning Japanese.

Taking a break

Texting.  It was a long day, but the weather was nice.  Not too hot and right before the typhoon rain moved in.  Hopefully next year I will have two kids to cheer for at Sports Day.  And a husband there to help :)