The tooth fairy

Carole lost her first tooth & I told her about the tooth fairy but she said she didn't believe that the tooth fairy exists. I told her if she didn't believe in the tooth fairy, she wouldn't get any money so she said "well how much will she give me?" I told her maybe 100 yen but she said she would like the fairy to give 500 yen.
She wrapped her tooth & put it under her pillow. She was so happy that the tooth fairy traded the tooth for 100 yen. She said maybe there really is a tooth fairy & she couldn't understand how the tooth fairy got the tooth out of the taped up tissue & put the coin inside without ripping the tape & tissue. --Pretty clever fairy!!

Visit to Carole's school

Today was Open School Day where parents come to school & observe all the classes. Would've been better if I didn't have to try & keep the little ones quiet. They kept wanting to talk to Carole & join in but we were just supposed to stand in the corner of the room & "observe". I can't believe the teacher had to point out to me to keep the kids away from Carole. I was upset. Bet he never had a child in his life.
We stayed as long as we could from 8 to 12 & then left to have lunch & rest. Carole does well in PE & is a good little student. The local police chief gave a talk about safety & they showed safety videos to the kids & parents about what to do if a stranger tries to take you away, etc. The kids got to act out senarios & they had fun doing that.

NEW CMs & Work Related.

New Commercials are:
Yamazaki Pan - Lunch Pack
Kao - Humming

I got my 4th royalty payment since my single release http://www.30th.co.jp/j_aimee.html
& this time it was more than expected. My song was on WOMAN 7 & it sold 56,000 copies, also the other Sony Music compilation CDs my song was on sold well.

Meeting with Carole's teacher

Today I had our first one on one parent/teacher meeting about Carole. He said she is doing well & has no problem speaking, understanding & learning Japanese. She is writing sentences & is keeping up with the other kids which is great considering she only started learning Japanese a year & a half ago.
He said she is also very good at art & math.
Good for Carole!!!

JAPAN VS. AUSTRALIA

JAPAN LOST!!!! I could tell everyone was all bummed out today in the supermarkets & around the kids schools. Even Carole's teacher mentioned he was disappointed.

Better luck next time.

Leila's 3rd Birthday

We went to Azabujuban to see Mana. She just got back from the Philipines. We ate lunch & the kids played at the park for hours while Mana & I talked. Mana gave Leila a Disney Princess baithing suit & some barbie DVD's. We came home & had a little party with our new desert cups, cake & ice-cream. Daddy wasn't here so we'll have to do something all together later.
Watched American Idol while the kids fell asleep from all that playing today.

April 30th

Sang at weddings today. My throat is not doing well, so I sucked! (Yes, blame it on the throat.)
Went home & cooked for the kids & Mac let me go out to Jess' house to see the new baby.
The baby is soo kyute!! Almost want to have another one. Toki & Sachi were talking about babies the whole time in Japanese so I had to be idiots with the guys in the corner listening to music. I think I get along well with guys.
Babies are cute but I'm kind of enjoying that my kids are growing up & starting school, Leila is still kind of babyish anyway, so I might have to enjoy being around friends babies for now.
Tomorrow Mac will go away for 5 days doing sound at 9 steps seminar http://www.jamesskinner.com. What should the kids & I do with ourselves? I want to diet during those 5 days but something tells me I will just eat & watch TV. hehehe!

I'm a ray of sunshine!!

Shadow -----I really hate my job!! I hate the way all those girls smoke. Don't they realize how gross & un-ladylike it is to be a chimney? I really am going to die if I continue working there but it's my only steady job & weddings have been totally sucking.
I bought all this expensive face care products but my face is not looking any less like the moon. (Full of craters)
I lost 3 work possibilities & I hate it when that happens. I feel like I am not handling my disappointments very well. I'm very tired & do not want to work tonight. I am so bored of singing the same songs all the time but I'm not about to buy more because they already broke their promise to pay for our music by saying they can't do that now & they also reduced our pay.

Carole Starts Elementary School

April 6th was the opening ceremony. --Another formal event.
It was long & boring for the little guys but frightening for me. How will I cope with being a school mom when everything is in Japanese & I still can't read it?
Carole loved her first day of school, but I've been running around like a CWIHCO for the last few weeks because I have to drop the girls off & pick them up at two different places & different times.
I am glad because Leila has finally showed interest in playing by herself with the doll house. This is perfect timing because she doesn't have her sisters around in the mornings to play with & I have to clean the house.
Carole loves her school lunches & it has been established that the food there tastes better than mom's cooking. --Kids have such tact!

Spring break & D&M's visit.

And now I have the lovely task of backtracking:

Dad & Mom were able to visit after all from March 23rd to April 5th. The kids had spring break, so no stress there with school in the mornings. It was a slow, sweet visit. Mom brought lots of nice clothes from the US. (Carole grew out of all her old clothes) When they first arrived I was all worried because D was supposed to call at the airport to let me know they arrived safely, but D was so worried they'd miss their bus into town so they called when they already were ready to be picked up. (Later D found out that the bus leaves every ten minutes. Hehehe)

We went to a few restaurants, had a sakura pick-nick, did some shopping, etc. But for the last few days of the visit mom & the kiddos got bad coughs. I think it was kind of cold for D & M, & mom's health is not that good these days. I went solo shopping when everyone was sick & got some presents for them to bring to J, S & A and the soon coming babies. We spent the last few days at home eating & spending time together. The kids enjoyed playing with grandpa & gave him a nick name "grandpa buddy". (Don't ask me why.)

After D & M left it was a major rush to get all of Carole's things ready for starting first grade. It was the very next day & I realized I had been so in vacation mode, I hardly cleaned the house the whole time they were here. Anyway, cleaning up took my mind off of the rainy weather & the fact that M and D had left & who knows when the next time I'll see them will be.

Niki Leaves

I said goodbye to Niki before her big move to the US. We sang together at karaoke. (Can you believe it?) After singing, we ate a little. (Well, she ate a little, but I sorta pigged out!)
I hope she likes it there & adjusts quickly to her new "life". I know I went crazy for the first bit when we moved out of Kenny's place, our home of 8 years.
Hope you do well, Niki. Love you!

CAROLE'S GRADUATION

Today Carole graduated from Kindergarten. It is a big event & the parents & kids have to wear formal suits. The kids each took a turn to walk to the head teacher & get their diploma. Afterward the parents presented Carole's teacher with a big bouquet of flowers. Carole's teacher was crying during the ceremony today. She has always been very nice & Carole liked her a lot.
Afterward, everyone took photos together & the kids did a march to the gate. The younger classes (Kiki's) gave each of the graduating kids a carnation.
When it was all over since we were all dressed up, we went to a nice restaurant for lunch.

Dad's Phone Call & Other Happenings

Well, D called yesterday about Mom having cancer again. I can't believe this is happening now for many reasons & one is we don't know if they'll be able to make their trip. After looking so forward to it & buying tickets & thinking about all the fun things we'd like to do when they get here, it's pretty disappointing.
Then there is the main issue: how bad is it? Will she get better this time? I guess for now it's just the "waiting" that is so difficult. I'm kind of in denial because I don't even want to think about it.
Anyway, today I feel listless & faint & now I have to go out & work. I wish I could stay home with Mac & watch a movie & laz around. I miss him lately. Tomorrow is his birthday & we'll make him a special meal & get a cake because I probably won't have the energy (& skill) to bake.

Yesterday was the "Thank You" party for the teachers at Kindergarten because Carole will be graduating soon. We had lunch together (parents & teachers) & listened to a bunch of long speeches. Carole was in the bathroom for quite some time with tummy pains again.
The moms of the graduating children did our presentations that we had been practicing for.
Our group played our little songs & I sang "When You Wish Upon a Star", all dressed like a fairy.
Leila was naughty the whole time & wouldn't sit in the audience. Instead, she ran in circles all around me & the kids thought it was funny so she did it more. So everyone was there laughing at Leila instead of hearing my song which was fine with me because who wants to sing for all your kid's teachers & the whole kindergarten.

Wrapping things up at Kindergarten for Carole

Spent all day yesterday organizing the kids school closets. It's amazing how many papers from school accumulate.
It's been raining Cs&Ds until today --a bit sunnier-- so Mac & I went to B Kids to find some clothes for Carole because she is out growing all her clothes. Found some cute outfits!!
Carole had a very bad tummy ache today & was crying on the toilet for about a few hours on and off. --Poor thing. This month will be pretty busy at Kindergarten. We have many meetings, graduation ceremonies, & bye-bye parties scheduled. Some of the moms from K & I are practicing for the teachers "Thank YOU" party. We will be playing some kids songs on the kiddy instruments from school. I'm merely doing it for parents participation & so people don't think I'm a real loner. But I'm really hating dragging my ass to rehearsal especially when it involves "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

February

Feb 28th (last day of the month)
I am so pathetic writing a whole month's worth now!!!
Let's see what did I do?.................
Feb 1st:
Went to Jesse's lovely birthday party at his house. Carried Leila all the way there in the pouring rain. --The things we endure to be with friends.
Food was good, music, & everyone was so nice. Met the wives of Blair & Jess. I see why men have a thing for Japanese women. (Jeal, jeal!!)
Had too many glasses of red so the next day my throat was sore, AND I can't remember who I was flirting with. Ha!! --NOT!

Mom & Dad are coming on the 23rd of March & have already bought their tickets. We are looking forward to their visit.

Leila has been quite fussy lately & I am struggling to get her potty training over with because she is almost 3 & Mom will be coming soon & I don't want her to notice how slack a mom I am.

Valentines day:
Sang at Shadow with Dan. It was pretty fun & we did good for having no practice. We sang all the Duets we could think of. A whole New World.......
Ate chocolate with Mac (And now, two weeks later, my face is paying.) Made a cozy bed by the heater.............and the rest is none of your business!!!!

Feb 24th:
Jess & Toki had their baby boy!! J is such a proud father & is mailing photos to everyone everyday.

Feb 25th:
Blair Called & we got chatting about his new apartment & what to do about the decrease in my work schedule at the hotel. He also really hurt his back that day & hasn't mailed me since.
Mac got food poisoning after his gig with Intermezzo. Mac thinks it was from my cooking but I think it was from the restaurant they ate at because WE all didn't get sick from my food, thank you very much!