Today starts our mini vacation. As soon as Cheyenne gets home from work we're heading to the New Sanno. Since Cheyenne has been at work for 30 hours, he and Riley are gonna hang out in our room while Ainsley and I hit Disney Sea...again. But this time it's just us girls! And we'll stay out as late as we want! (Or until the cold brings causes us to surrender. The high is 45 with a low around 28) Tomorrow we'll hit Tokyo, we're thinking maybe the Toto toilet and kitchen showroom. Cheyenne wants to hit Akihabara. In the evening we're heading out with AESA to the Hard Rock. The best part of our mini/pre vacation? One night at the New Sanno is paid for by AESA.

We'll head home on Sunday and Cheyenne has Monday off. Then two days of work and Thursday his leave starts. We're hoping to catch the Patriot Express out of Yokota and be in Texas by Saturday! Cross your fingers folks. I need to get home. I need Target and Tex Mex stat!

I wasn't very precise in my last post about home school. I really don't want to home school. I really don't think that public school is that big of a failure. What I can't figure out and what I'd like to hear from you is who is pushing for this in schools? Who is it that is for the things happening in schools right now? And if no one is for it, why are we letting it happen and how do we stop it? How do we make schools more like when we attended? How do we take back recess, center time, and lesson plans that don't teach to standardized tests. Before I home school, I'll be at PTO meetings trying to take them back. Of course, I've got time before I have to start that.

So, I just read this post . (via Free Range) It makes me want to home school. Then I remembered I don't want to home school. School has been slowly taking "free time" from children for years. I spent four years in college learning that children need play to learn. They need free time! My professors would howl and whine about how awful the public system was becoming. But they had no choice but to send us on our way knowing that we'd be expected to lesson plan the whole day out, even in kindergarten. Now there are places banning tag during recess. It makes me want to home school and then I remember that my kid seems to learn things better from someone who isn't me. (trust me, I've got a long list: swimming, writing her name, counting past 10) Ainsley also thrives on structure. She is her father's daughter. She needs the structure more than the average kid. But you can have structure without making it overly academic. (remember centers in kindergarten?)

To my friends who are teachers, or trained to be, what do you think? To those who home school, why do you do it?

I had the wittiest blog all mapped out in my mind. It was so good. Seriously. But it's been 9 hours since my shower, so you get this instead. It's not my birthday or anything, but there's been a lot about kids lately, so here's some about me.

1) I kinda hate shaving my legs. If you see me in my fancy whore boots (that's what Cheyenne calls them but they are not even close to whore boots) on Sunday, it's pretty likely that I didn't shave.

2) I love board games but not all board games. We've been playing with Denise and Jeremy a lot lately. They've gotten us hooked on Blokus, Ruckus, even Ticket to Ride. I draw the line at Settlers. Guys, it's just boring. Jeremy was mad that I played while reading a magazine, but I think he just wanted to play so he could win. I still have no idea what the point was and why I really want to build a city or a road. (Enlighten me Brandi)

3) I've always known that I loved TV, but recently I came to the conclusion that the best thing for me to do when I grow up is something with TV. Any suggestions? I'm not talking about acting or even writing, but if anyone can turn my obsession into money, just drop me a line. Kthnxbai.

4) Speaking of TV when the frak is the finale of Dollhouse on? I watched the last two eps and I am totally freaking out! Guys! GUYS! BOYD?!

5) I still haven't lost the baby weight. I joke about it all the time, but it's starting to get me down. So if anyone could please watch my kids 6 times a week and keep me from baking, that'd be great. 

6) Maybe I could get my mom to do it since I'll be heading to Texas in less than three weeks! I think the time is going slow, but Cheyenne wants it to go slow. He says "one more month closer to me being deployed is not fun." So while I'm planning all the places I can shop and speak English, and get pedicures with massagy chairs he's thinking about how he'll have to leave us soon. Now's a good time for that frown/smile thing that TAMN is always doing.

6a) My trash cans are on my table and my house is not ready for me to go on vacay. More frown/smiles.

7) Okay Harmony, we finally got some family photos taken. Look for your valentine's day card in the mail in the next few weeks.

As a tv lover I would like to vent about this Leno/Conan situation. (Not to be confused with "The Situation" of Jersey Shore) I like both Leno and Conan. I think the media is attacking Leno unfairly. Let's face it, networks are all about ratings and advertising dollars. Conan wasn't making them. It's not Conan's fault and it's not Leno's fault. NBC is a crap network. The only thing they had a number one slot in was late night. It's obvious why they are doing what they're doing. It's not right. But the people that claim that they'll never watch NBC "except for The Office and 30 Rock" are absurd. Follow Conan to whatever network you like, but those of us with the experience of having our favorite show canceled know that no amount of boycotting, petitions, or mars bars will help unless you've got a Nielsen's box.

Now...I'm gonna go pack for our little Board Game Extravaganza at Tama Hills. I leave you with some photos of the kids.

I thought once the holidays were over I'd be less stressed. Instead I've got AESA stuff, Riley's social security number stuff, planning for our vacay home in February, and the ever fun laundry, dishes, and floors. I'm missing something...oh, those pesky kids are taxing my time as well. Hope everyone's Christmas was fun. Hope your New Years is safe.


Riley wishes you a Merry Christmas.



Ainsley "helped" open his presents.



Ainsley's new kitchen

I don't let Ainsley watch Glee, but she watches the musical numbers and loves all the dancing around and singing. Sometimes I have to pull up the entire ep on hulu so she can watch whatever musical number. Sometimes she catches the "previously on glee." One time she caught "Quinn's pregnant..." and she was shocked. This was months ago. Then two days ago in the car we had this conversation:

Ainsley: Mom, Quinn's a kid, right?
Me: yes.
Ainsley: So why is she preg-a-nant?
Me: (blindsided by question and trying to not crash in Japanese traffic) Uh, uh, because she was naughty.
Ainsley: Okay.


Surely, this is gonna backfire on me. Some day I'm going to accuse Ainsley of being naughty and she's going to cry about being pregnant. I just know it.

It's time to admit defeat. You'll all be getting lovely Valentine's Day cards. I haven't been able to get the sun, the children, or the husband to cooperate so you'll just have to wait until Vday to see the photos. I kept thinking it might happen, "maybe today?" Maybe never. Ugh. I feel like such a busy failure. At least all the Christmas shopping is done.


On the plus side? Mine will be the only family on your fridge by February. Right?

Or should I say a pointless movie with hot Indians? Let me be honest, I didn't want to go to this movie. It was midnight on Thanksgiving and by 1030 I kept thinking how it was a bad idea. But I went. And I was bored. Really. This was the book I didn't hate because I do love Jacob and I feel like Bella and Jacob actually have a leg to stand on in terms of relationship. (Edward/Bella love each other because they like the other's smell. That's just weird.) I found the movie to be boring, too long, and they tried too hard to cram more Edward in a very Edward-light story.

Highlights: Hot Indians, hot underage Mexican posing as Indian, Charlie and HS friends.

Lowlights: Bella, KStew as Bella and her two faces, the fact that the Jacob storyline was severely neutered, the kissingasms.

Did you know that people are taking their young children to this? I don't see too much wrong with this except is was a BORING movie! There wasn't much violence or sex, but it was BORING. NOTHING HAPPENED.

If you liked, why? Tell me! Because I just don't buy it. Too much of the book takes place in Bella's head that it really shouldn't be made into a movie. NOTHING HAPPENS IN THESE BOOKS! NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS MOVIE!

First item of business: Cheyenne is home!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're happy to be a family again. I'm happy to put my house together finally. (and ya know, all that other stuff that a husband is good for)

Moving on to less mushy stuff, Christmas shopping is almost completely done. I do have a few issues. I'm looking for a sweater with pointless buttons. You know what I mean, don't you? The ones with buttons that serve no purpose except to be totally cute. Ya know, like on the side of the collar, or on the sleeves that don't actually unbutton? LOVE THEM. But can't find one. It's absolutely something I NEED. If you know where I can get one that will fit me (ladies size L) let me know. Link me. Pretty please.

As this is our first Christmas with our darling baby boy I'm excited to get him stuff. Not a lot of stuff, he's at the age he just wants to eat the wrapping paper. But I'm looking for those cars that are all foamy on top. I've searched amazon and just can't find the ones I want. Again, linky to me! Because I live in Japan and it's not like I can just run to wally world. Found em' guys! Thanks!

And since we're talking about Christmas, if you want a Christmas card, please leave your address. I'll screen the comments so it's private. :) Thanks folks.

If I don't blog before Thanksgiving, enjoy your turkey day American friends. And my foreign friends? Enjoy your regular ol' Thursday! XD

Dear friends who post anonymously on my journal...tell me who you are please. Love getting comments, love even more when I know who's giving them. :D

I'm ready for my husband to be home. I have been watching too much tv (even for me!) and it's caused unheathly crushes on some folks...

1) Rabbit (Cliff Curtis) from Trauma





Sure, at first glance there's not much too him. But this guy is totally messed up! PTSD from a helicopter crash, womanizer, playing the older brother type to his pilot, and crazy enough to do whatever it takes to save some patient on his helicopter. Let's not even get into his effed up relationship with Nancy. Nancy/Rabbit FTW!!!




I know what you're thinking from this photo, but no, they didn't have sex. They didn't cuddle. They have this whole "no one knows what we used to be and we can just lay in bed next to each other because we had a bad shift" thing going on. I <3 them. Sadly, I'll never know what kind of a history they had because NBC didn't order the back nine. :(

2) Puck (Mark Salling) from Glee



I seriously cannot make up my mind. Should he be with Quinn, the baby momma, or should he be with Rachel to make "two good lookin' Jews?" He's crass, yet layered and seriously, could he be any hotter? Wait...




Looky there...he can be. Yum. Don't forget to catch him singing Sweet Caroline. I know I have. Over and over again.

3) Seely Booth(David Boreanez) from Bones




I've always been a Spike gal, but if we're watching Bones, I'm all about Booth. He's totally in love with Brennan and he's sad because they aren't together. Don't you just want to smoosh him?

4) Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson, aka Pacey!!!) from Fringe.




Fox, you're on my hit list. You canceled Dollhouse, but Glee is still on. If you kill Fringe, we just might have to part ways. (But in the divorce, I get custody Mark Salling) I LOVE that JJ is back on tv and totally hotter than back in those Pacey's Puddle days. He's smart, he's flirty, and he kinda loves his dad now. Seriously Fox, don't mess with me.

5) The cast of Modern Family




I love my family very much, but if I HAD to pick another family, I'd probably pick this one. They really do put the fun in dysfunctional. But they kinda aren't. They love each other. They talk about things they wouldn't normally (thanks Cam) and they let us laugh along with them. Watch it. It's on ABC Wednesday at 8/7C. Watch it. You won't be sorry.

Point being? I need my husband to come home so we can watch these shows together.

here's what I'm watching on tv...err, my hulu queue: modern family (do you mitchell, do you?!), GLEEEEEE, Dollhouse (may you RIP and may your actors like Fran Kranz and Enver Gjorjak find promising pilots to attach themselves to.), Castle, Bones, Fringe, Trauma (I have an unnatural crush on Rabbit...can you tell my husband really needs to come home?), Mercy ('cause there was nothing else on!), and Flash Forward (I'm not sure I'm digging it right now.)

I should post more about all my loves and hates, but well, I've got to get the kids ready for church.



I'm still rearranging my furniture because I'm still not sure how I want it all. Bleck to new house without husband.

QOTD
Ainsley and I were listening to the Glee soundtrack.
"mom, can we listen to Gold Tigger?"

First I'd like to introduce my herd of elephants. Adorable, right? Ainsley had her heart set on being a Ninja Turtle. Grandma sent the Ninja Turtle costume, along with various other costumes she'd found in her stash. (the TMNT costume is circa 1988, the original turtle power!) I'd already bought Riley an elephant costume but when the box had another elephant costume, Ainsley decided that next year she'd be a Turtle and this year, she'd be hip and be an elephant.






Riley was not really into the whole thing because he was ready for bed. But he fell asleep in the stroller and wasn't too bad. Ainsley had a great time. She made sure to tell me she thanked everyone and that if she ate too much candy, she'd get sick. (Thank you Yo Gabba Gabba!)Also, random fact, I didn't wear a jacket. It wasn't even cold. I think it might have been 65 so that was awesome.

Here in Japan trick or treating is not my favorite thing. It's not an open base event (where they open the gates and let anyone in) but people can sign on their English students and friends. The base allows one ID holder to sign up to 24 people in! I love the Japanese people, I do. But it's absurd to trick or treat here. I was out of candy in 45 minutes. I had between 15 and 20 bags. Seriously. People buy hundreds of dollars of candy and still run out. Last year we started an hour late and Ainsley only got to hit about 10 houses. Now, I'm not upset because of the candy. I hate it because she's three for pete's sake. All she wants to do is say "trick or treat" but she can't because there's 12 kids in front of her not standing in line, only occasionally saying the time honored phrase, and even less saying thank you. It's just sad for the little kids. Kinda like in the states when big kids come and take all your candy and you think "um, I'm pretty sure that when I had to shave my legs I quit trick or treating."

Okay, end rant. Hope you all enjoy your thrilling holiday. I know Ainsley did. She passed out on the floor before Casper even got out of the opening credits.

I'm alive. I'm mostly moved. (the fish tank is still in the apt, but it's gotta be out by Monday.) And I have reached the point where I'm done with boxes. I can cook, the kids can watch movies and everyone has access to their clothes and beds. I can be done now right?


I've also decided I'm crazy. I will never do this again. Seriously.

Guess who got a call about a 3 bedroom? ME! Thanks for all your prayers. I hung up the phone, did a happy dance, and then said a big fat prayer to thank Heavenly Father for helping us out.

So...how good is it? Well, we live in an 818 sq foot apt on the 5th floor. One bathroom people! Just one!



We're moving to a townhouse! Besides the obvious plus of three bedrooms we get a yard and three toilets! (You know the lure of multiple toilets if you've ever potty trained.)





WHOO frakkin' HOO! My stroller will no longer sit in my entry way, Ainsley's bike will be far more accessible (it sits on the balcony currently), and oh yeah, I'll get better sleep since my Oh, Oh, Oh, O Riley gets his own room!

Now...who wants to help me move?

One of these boys is 6 months old. The other left us for a thrilling jaunt in the pacific ocean on a large metal box.



Riley is a joy. Seriously. Except for the late night cryfests (he wants to play and I want to sleep, ergo the crying), the constant need for attention from anyone (thankfully, it can be Ainsley instead of me), and the drooling/teething that's been going on for months now. He really is fun. He's happy, he laughs, he eats real food. I don't put him on his tummy because he might start crawling and that's just not okay. He's learning to use a sippie cup and he's already had a french fry.

We went to BK and he sat in a high chair, yay! Anyways, I was so excited that I didn't have to hold him and eat my whopper jr at the same time that I didn't really notice him. Looked over and saw him gnawing on a fry. Um, where did he get that? "I'm such a good sharer mommy, I gave brother a french fry. He likes it!" This is where the second time mom thing comes in handy. My response? "You are a good sharer! But no ranch on his fries, k?"



partners in crime (notice Ainsley's fake smile?)

Fall is sorta here. If you mean that we have a typhoon and rain. Mostly it's just an excuse for us to wear our cute rain boots instead of sweaters.

We're moving up the 3 bedroom list and I can't wait. (see cryfests above) More than one bathroom and a room for a screaming baby seem surreal at this point. Every time the phone rings I pray it's the housing office. For my sanity, you all should be praying, too. (I'm even willing to move without my husband. Poor guy is afraid he'll come home and not know where we live.)

I've been scheduling modeling auditions all week. Here's hoping this doesn't turn out to suck.

Lots of other things have been happening, but I'm just too busy these days. I haven't even watched the new eps of dollhouse! I've been a neglectful tv addict. My house isn't clean! My kids are lucky to be fed, etc. If anyone has some kind of plan I can follow to get all of these things figured out, let me know.




Had to include this one of Ainsley and James. Those kids are whack.

Cheyenne loved Dollhouse ("once it got over that boring 5 episode hump") but he can't get past Dichen Lachman. He likes Sierra, but he swears the character looks like Lola. What do you think?