Getting Ready for Preschool

So, I have Gabe all signed up for preschool and he is so excited! Today we went to Joyful Honda (that store with all the dogs I mentioned earlier), and bought some key supplies. One of which serves a rather serious purpose but I'm sure will strike a question when you see it. The question is (of course asked politely just for clarification), "The pillow will protect their heads from falling objects? " The answer, you get with a smile is, "We would of course prefer a helmet but there isn't space to store a helmet for each child." When you see the facilities, with everything put in its place and space used to the max, this line of reasoning makes perfect sense. There indeed wouldn't be space for helmets. So, we purchased our bo zai zu kin today for Gabe, and he loved it. (Bo Zai Zu Kin: translation - a soft pillow covering used for head protection during an earthquake) I figure it will add some protection, noise muffling, and of course, the hope that it will only be needed for practice drills; especially listening to people remissness about Tomodachi as the one year anniversary approaches of the devastating 9.0 earthquake last year. He also got his thermos with a strap so each student can carry their own easily on walks to parks, and his lunch case with a fork, spoon, and chopsticks. He'll get to experience Japanese cuisine three times a week and take his lunch (equally fun) two days a week. I am excited to hear what he thinks about the food and see if he develops a taste for it. I think he will, it will just take some time.

In other news, I put Genna's hair up in her first pony tail, much to her dismay. This is Aunt Lauri's new favorite picture of her. However she came around to it (as shown in picture number two) and was very pleased at the comments she received. She totally understood what people where saying when they complimented her hair. And for those who might think this is totally cruel I guess it might seem so, but her hair is so fly away long that I thought she might like it out of her face, which I think she did once she forgot about it being there. I only use soft bands so there's no hair pulling, and I only put up what I can get in one quick motion, trying very hard not to pull any little hairs. Walter still claims her hair is the source of her powers and let it just be wild! I agree . . . but . . . a mom has to try, right?

The rain has come to stay for a bit it seems. It hasn't stopped since yesterday. The good news is we should start seeing cherry blossoms and plum blossoms beginning to bloom as the we near the end of March. Accompanying this should be festivals in Fussa, right out the gates, which means we can walk to them. I am really excited about that. I remember the festivals fondly, especially when the blossoms are blooming. Plus, I should hopefully have my camera by then! Yeah!!! Looooong story . . . don't ask.

Ok . . . so there's my update for now. Next thing on my personal list is to visit an onsen. Friends have said I can take Genna and the doctors say its fine so I'm going to do that. I hope it's as nice as I remember . . . and that I will not have some funny story to share after going! :-)

Sayonara friends and family!

Miss you all!