Waking up in a good mood.
Visiting a new coffee shop.
Mercedes and Strider time.
Coloring time.
Dancing time.
Going for a walk.
Busy Sunday
Busy Saturday
Getting ready.
Checking out a construction site near our house.
Visiting the park.
Fruit sandwich snack time!
Mercedes time.
“Washing” the car.
Great start, terrible finish
I’m doing very well getting ready for school in the morning. Daddy lays out my clothes, but I get dressed pretty much by myself.
I even fold my pajamas.
We found more dandelions on the way to school today!
Daddy made sure to get off work early today so that we could all go out to dinner for Daddy and Mommy’s monthiversary.
I wanted to hit the game center before dinner, so we stopped by hoping to win another Tomica car from the crane game. So we gave it a shot, but the crane game had changed a bit and it looked much more difficult to get prizes. We made a cost versus return assessment and thought it would be cheaper just to buy a Tomica. So we stopped by a toy store and I used the Easter money that I got from Nana and Papa to buy a new car!
Then we had a great yakiniku dinner! The food was great, as always. I ate a lot, as always! Everyone was happy!
On the way home, I wanted to ride a cute shopping cart, so we found one and I got to ride it from one end of the shopping center to the other. Then we headed home.
When we got home, things started to fall apart. I had agreed that since it was late that I would have to take a bath right away and get ready for bed, but when we got home I insisted on playing. Mommy and Daddy said that I could play after I took a bath and got ready for bed, but I was very rebellious and refused. Maybe it was the sugar from the dessert or just the fact that I thought things were going my way so I tried to push it further. Even though I got a new Tomica car, and ate yakiniku which I requested, and rode a shopping cart, I was throwing a tantrum. Mommy and Daddy were quite upset with me for not keeping my end of the bargain and also for being so selfish and unappreciative.
I got so wound up in my tantrum that I just couldn’t calm down. I refused timeouts, I refused to let Mommy and Daddy give me some time to work things out, and I just kept pushing and pushing and being mean.
I would not let up. In the end Daddy had to practically drag me into the bath. I wouldn’t take my clothes off so I got a shower fully clothed. Eventually he got my clothes off and got me all cleaned up, but I still wouldn’t stop my tantrum. It took a long time, but in the end I just ran out of steam and calmed down. There were some tired apologies and I got to bed. Needless to say, I did not get the play time that I originally set out to get. Maybe I was tired or just riding the high of having such a nice evening, but I really had no excuse to be so mean after I broke our deal. Hopefully, a new day will bring out a better mood from me.
Mommy date, Daddy walk
When Mommy picked me up from school today I expressed that I wanted to go out to eat. So Mommy took me to one of my favorite restaurants, where I ate my entire meal and also some of Mommy’s. Thank you for the delicious dinner, Mommy!
We were just finishing up dinner when we received word that Daddy was heading home from work so we met him at the subway station. Then we had a fun walk home.
Morning dandelions
When walking to school this morning we spotted a dandelion. I’m sure you know what happened next. It’s like a rule, right?
Pink & Bluey
I was walking home after school with Mommy and we saw some pretty pink flowers. I just had to take a picture with them! They were so pretty and pink is my favorite color!
After a good dinner, it is nice to unwind with some Bluey.
Then a bit of silliness before bathtime.
Good exercise, good mood
Warming up for the day with my morning exercises.
The morning exercise really put me in a good mood.
Oh, by the way, next month I’m going to turn 4. Can you believe it? Four!
I had a good day at school and was still in a good mood when I got home. I was helpful and helped Mommy put away her umbrella.
Yummy dessert is such nice finish to a good day.
Comfy
It was such a nice day that Daddy and I wanted to take a minute and just enjoy the beautiful weather before we headed off to work/school.
Time for bed. But not before a big Daddy hug!
Why does Daddy not look rested?
Why does Daddy not look rested in the morning?
Because this is how he sleeps.
Exciting TV
Blippi, parfait, and articulated bus
Sunday morning means I get to watch TV with breakfast, so I really take advantage of it. Today I watched Blippi.
We played a lot, chatted with Nana and Papa, and got an Easter card because it is Easter Sunday! But we are not going to have our Easter Egg hunt today. We have different plans. We are going to a parfait restaurant!
Mommy found this restaurant that had all-you-can-eat parfaits and we just had to go! We ate a lot! The parfaits were really delicious, and luckily they had half-sizes so that you could enjoy a variety of parfaits, which I did!
Then I got full, and had some screen time while Mommy finished up as many parfaits as she could within the time allowed.
Outside we saw that there were some connected (articulated) buses passing by. I am fascinated by them! I get really excited when I see them and have always wanted to ride them. I rode a mini version of a connected bus at the airport, but it was a shuttle and did not feel authentic. So Daddy suggested that we take a ride. Even though we came by car, we hopped on a bus.
The bus had a circular route so we could ride the bus in a complete circle and come back to where our car was parked. So that is exactly what we did.
I had a great time! The bus was huge! We had great seats where I could see everything in the city and even see the front of the bus. I chatted the whole time we rode the bus, pointing out things that I saw, asking questions, and just having a grand time.
That was not a planned detour, but I really enjoyed it!
Snack, park, play, cheese
I am really expanding my snack world. There was a time when most of my snacks were fruits or somewhat healthy things, but now I like to eat candy! Of course, I still love my fruits, and will often supplement my candy snack with a banana or apple to help fill my tummy.
We went to the park, and as always I ride in style on my Mercedes. I am a very good driver and parker. I am also very safety conscious and place my wheel chocks when parking.
After the park we played at home. We played with cars and cards.
While Daddy was making dinner he gave Mommy a glass of wine and some cheese as an appetizer. I didn’t get any wine, but I did help myself to the cheese. And then went on to eat a full dinner.
Dancing and Chilling to music
Pick ups and drop offs
It has been a couple of weeks since I started at my new school and we have got into a nice rhythm and routine.
Mommy does the pick ups.
Daddy gets me ready in the morning and takes care of drop offs.
More and more, I kind of self manage and do what I have to do on my own. I like school and am learning a lot. But I still can’t wait for the weekend.
Peppa Pig fan
I like to watch TV, but I pretty much went through all my favorite shows several times through. I know every Paw Patrol episode available on Netflix and every Tayo the Little Bus episode as well. I think I saw every Curious George and Shawn the Sheep too. So I try to branch out and watch new shows. Peppa Pig is pretty funny. It is not as good as Bluey, but for a quick fun show, it will do. Yes, that’ll do pig, that’ll do.
Mornings
I’ve already gotten used to my new school. There are a lot of things that are different, but nothing that is bad. I am part of a class of 20, and I kind of like it. We are given a lot of responsibility and also freedom. The nice part is that also creates structure, which I like a lot. My previous school was much smaller and we had a lot more one-on-one time with the teachers, which was great for me when I was younger, but now I think I need more space to work things out on my own and with the support of my teachers after I process some things first.
Since the school is much closer, there is not as much of a rush to get to school in the morning, and since Daddy has a flexible schedule, we don’t have to worry about him missing a train or anything. I quite like our mornings now.
Some days I wake up with a lot of energy and just feel like laughing and moving.
Some days it takes me a little longer to fully wake up and get ready, but I still do what I have to do…eventually.
I walk all the way to school on my own two feet, chatting with Mommy and Daddy on the way. When we get to school I change my shoes, put away my things, and then join the other kids in class. There are some kids who are crying and calling for their Mommy. Some kids cling to their parents. Some kids waste time to get a few extra seconds before their parents leave. I don’t do any of those things. I get big hugs from Mommy and Daddy, loving words of encouragement, then I eagerly join the rest of the kids in class. Even though I may be slow to get started some mornings, I pretty much always walk into school with a smile on my face and looking forward to the day ahead.
Nighttime pedicure
Car wash
Recently I have been wanting to go to a car wash. One of my favorite shows is Carl’s Car Wash, but we haven’t been able to find a car wash like that here in Japan. In Carl’s Car Wash the vehicles go on a conveyor belt and go through the car wash. In Japan, you stay still and the car wash goes around you. Since we couldn’t find a big car wash like my show, we just settle for the normal Japanese one. It was pretty cool and I’m glad we tried it. But, a bit anti-climactic compared to my show where there are helicopter brushes, sponge arms, and fans that are so powerful that your car floats. I liked the car wash, but said we don’t have to go again.
New Play Area
Today we went to a new play area near Costco. Before we went, I had to get warmed up a bit with some morning exercises.
We got to the Costco area and I had one of my favorite lunches: omurice. Naturally I ate everything up. I had a full belly and I was in a good mood.
Then it was off to the play area. Even on the way there I was still in a good mood. I was talking about wanting to eat the clouds because they looked like cotton candy.
The old play area that we used to go to got expanded and is much bigger now. We hadn’t been there in a while because in the past I would get upset and throw tantrums when other kids wanted to play with what I was playing with or just play near me or do anything that did not go exactly the way I expected it to go. Yeah, you can see why we were hesitant to go back, even though the play area got upgraded. But I’ve been doing better at playing with others and dealing with different situations, and Mommy and Daddy talked to me about what could happen at the play area and their expectations of me. So we took a chance and went.
I was getting pretty sweaty so we took a water break and I changed into some fresh clothes. Then it was right back into it.
I had a ton of fun at the play area and did not have any tantrums or any trouble at all. I guess I’m growing up!