School Bazaar and TAC breakie

Had a nice few days despite the weird weather from the typhoon. Went to TAC for breakie last day to use the free 2 week membership so was nice to scoff with Louise who brought along now 2 month old Sophie and see Sarah who bought along 2 week old Finn. Rieko tanuki had the day off work so came with us too. Of course she was late as expected but C was happy to have her tease her on the train ride to school. All of us are greedy piggies ordering the continental set plus egg dishes. Did feel mightily sick though the morning sickness or should I say ALL DAY SICKNESS is just as bad as it was with C. Jenny who is 5 months along was feeling sick too but didn't stop her eating through the pain barrier!!! It was a nice catch up. In the afternoon was supposed to go to jyugaoka shopping with Emma as we are NEXT members and we get 30% off right now but C would not wake up from her nap I tried to get her up at 2:30 but she rolled over cried and went back to sleep. I think its the new miffy feather quilt I bought her she loves it!!! Monkey didn't wake up till 4pm so I just called Jenny who walked up the hill with Jamie and came to play for a bit. Charlize was being very very bossy though wouldn't get out of the aeroplane Cliff had made out of a box and kept insisting "Do captain voice mommy now!!!" and kept trying to pinch my nose the bugger to make me sound like the captain!!! This went on for far too long until I lost it and said that the captain was tired and had gone to sleep in his hotel which shut her up for 5 mins. My daughter is the most bossy stubborn child I know bit worrying really have my work cut out..

Saturday today and Cliff took the monster to the park and I did some food shopping. Met up at obika the new mozzarella bar for an expensive but ok lunch. The mozzarella surprisoingly enough comes from Frosinone and Ceccano which is where our summer house is!!! C ate all the mozzarella of course she has expensive taste.. and Rieko joined us late as usual arrived as we were finishing! So Cliff took C back for her nap and I followed a bit later.

This afternoon it was the teacher talent show at school followed by charity bazaar. It was lots of fun Adrian has an AMAZING voice and the teachers went all out to put together some really funny skits. The Nepalese restaurant owners whose boy attends school provided lovely free Nepalese food and Emma, Takako and I helped to flog the cakes on the bake stall along with Takakos amazing flower arrangements that were snapped up quick sharp. Snapped up some chocolate brownies and scones and Michelles banana cake as I have tried her cakes before at her coffee morning they are super scrum. Should keep my cake monsters happy for a few days! but the thought of cake for me makes me wanna up chuck which is a good thing!
Had a massage and C got her face and fingernails painted and ran riot in the gym with Ellie and Sumire with dog ballons chasing each other and going generally nuts. cliff bought me a lovely cashmere black and white scarf and C a funky beanie. We didnt leave until around 6pm it was a fun afternoon. Its a long weekend with Monday a holiday so off to think how we will spend the next few days!

Typhoon Season

So far its been a lovely autumn but this week we have had nothing but rain with torrential gusts forecast for wednesday and thursday which sucks for being able to get out of the house. Staying in usually ends up with Charlize demanding to chain watch movies, her tele addict tendencies I am trying to nip in the bud. Today she was in school in the am and had class picture shoot. Whose bright idea was it to make the youngest Caterpillar class have the white Kokomo t shirt as their uniform!!! Went with Emma and Takako over to Michelle's massive house to talk about the charity that she is single handed running!!! Me I was in it to be nosey and have a free piece of cake and freshly prepped coffee!!! Nice watching the dynamics of the other keen mums trying to do stuff but being shot down by Michelle who had already decided the calender for the whole year at least somebody is organised! Good entertainment factor these mum get togethers. Went to book off and bought C some new books as she is bored of all hers we have read them all to death. Went home on subway with Takako in pouring rain and then had a nap while C slept. This afternoon had playdate over at Rachel's so walked there again in the pouring rain with Takako. Note to self-need new rainmac, mine is useless no longer waterproof in the slightest. Made Cliff pick up subway sandwich on his way home for his dinner as could not stomach smell or preparation of food. Got a second hand easyliving mag from book off so going to bed now leaving Cliff to watch Madagascar on the sofa what an excellent movie that is its the penguins "I like to move it move it" scene brilliant! ( Ok this blog is sad sad sad if I am writing about kids movies) need to GET A JOB AND MY LIFE BACK!!!!!

Relaxing Weekend

For me it was a relaxing weekend as Cliff both Saturday and Sunday took the monster out in the morning. Saturday they had a nice trip to the Shinagawa Aquarium although reported 2 weewee accidents but probably because of the excitement of seeing nemo and all those dolphins. Instead of putting feet up did a Nissen mega shop so I hope I don't have to go again for at least another 5 days the way cliff eats thru the fridge! Saturday afternoon Steph Ryohei and Roman popped over its been ages since we saw them as Steph has gone back to work at Waseda but she teaches 10 weeks intensively then has 3 months off so not too bad and gets day care for Roman. Roman and C played really nicely together and Cliff took them onto the balcony to "set nemo free" the balloon that I bought her this week and which we had promised to let fly back to his mama and dada in the ocean at the weekend. It was a big ceremony! Steph and Ryohei left around 5pm and then we took a cab to the Tokyo American club to meet Emma Stew and Ellie for dinner. I felt really sick though which is the norm pretty much the whole day these days just like with Charlize. Still looking on the bright side might help to keep the pork to a minimum! The good thing aout TAC is there is a play room right in front of the tables in the garden cafe restaurant so we can eat in peace while they play. Also they are mega kid friendly with highchairs an extensive kids menu and Thomas tank cups! We got back late around 7:45pm and c went straight to bed and so did Cliff and I!!! It was about 8:30pm and we slept until 7am the next day!!!!

Today Cliff gave me another morning off and took munster to Ueno Zoo. They came back at 12:45 charlize sporting a case full of penguins which she is now obsessed with. They give you the run down on what each penguin is its a whole tribe in a little plastic carry case and she took them to the bath tonight and made Cliff and I die. She had a wet flannel on one side of the bath for their bed where she would take each one and do the snoring noise and then suddenly she would go right up close to them and shout WAKE UP WAKE UP followed by MOVE IT!!!! No idea where she got the move it bit from but it was very funny to watch!

I cooked loads of food while they were out but couldn't bring myself to eat a bite of it so once they were back and fed and sleeping I wondered down to the Azabu square to the Japanese place on the corner for some fish, pickles white rice and miso. Rieko came and met up and we went for a green tea after but still felt sick so took a walk to Roppongi Hills by which time Cliff was up with monster and we met and walked to Hiroo park. Cliff wanted to have cake so went to the deli and Rieko departed for her personal training session as she has lost 4 kilos and is determined to loose a bit more. Picked up some lobster and bisque soup with whole grain rice from soup stock kitchen for C s dinner and headed home. When we got home gave a small present to C of a doctors set with stethoscope and all the bits which she insisted cliff and I be her test patients as she diligently took our temperature, listened to chest, examined stomach, minky (with some cream on it) gave multiple injections and then issued us prescriptions. We have been to the docs 5 times in 2 weeks so she really understand what its all about now!!
The roast lamb with rosemary is almost gone, made some nice roasty potatoes haven't had for long time. Its 9:15 so time for beddie byes.

TAC and Playdates

yesterday we had a mums coffee morning at School so they took Charlize for a couple of hours. First time to meet the other mums mostly Japanese with foreign husbands. Typically it was Emma and I doing most of the talking. Good that they are going to take C to the toilet with the Chrysalis group so that she is not held back with the potty training. Also asked for an afternoon ballet class as opposed to the one they run now from 12:30 to 1:30 right during nap time. Also its been a nightmare with the menu at school as the Japanese mums want Japanese food and the western mums more western and nobody can agree what should be served. I dont care, the food is actually really really good, very healthy no sugar and well balanced. If C doesnt eat it thats because she doesnt feel like it not because she doesnt like it. The kids are not even 2 yet so there will be days when they simply dont want it I think the mums are making a load of fuss over nothing. Still the school as its so expensive has to show it listens and acts on the feedback. So glad to have delegated the class leader role to Emma and Takako!!! They are moaning about it now though!!!

Emily and Alison popped over in the afternoon and C was grumpy I think she was still ill from the ear infection but after a poo (maybe constipation) she was soon playing dolls house with Emily again. They liked the box that Cliff had made in the morning into a pretend aeroplane!

Today C was in school again and I took Takako, Emma and her sister who is visiting from Korea to the American club where we had a lesuirely breakfast it was really nice. Shame its only gonna last 2 weeks until the trial is up as we cant rustle together 20,000 for the joining fee and another 800 a month ontop of that!!! It apparently has 10,000 members (has to all be corporate) as who the hell can afford that? The Japanese mums at my school probably who all own companies!!!

This afternoon had a playdate over at Silvia and Diegos in Azabu so just across the road. Silvia is expecting a boy in Februay and feeling really sick this time with the preganancy. Donna was there with baby Marianne so it was a mellow afternoon as the kids played ok Charlize is really play acting with toys and animals now so its a bit less intense although she ate all the cake and insisted she NEEDED more cake. When we got home she said she NEEDED cake for dinner too. I am afraid after Italy she is developing her dads sweet tooth. Still her fav foods are still brocolli carrots cheese and pineapple so I not too worries but think we need to have a break from the cake. C is in school again tommorow so off to the flower marlet with Sumire in the car as she has some students to teach over the weekend and I have never been so might be worth a nose around.

Caz sent a mail to say that baby Roman Bruce Townsend was born today but have not as yet had a pic. Also Sarah Maxs mum had Finnegan yesterday weighing in at a whopping 4998!!!

Feel a bit sick tonight probably overate a bit today. Need to watch diet carefully really dont want to gain too much pork. Right exhausted my new bed time these days is 9pm!!!