Mommy took me to a Tomica Festival today! It was very exclusive and hard to get tickets and it was for one day only. Daddy had already made plans to take the car in for its safety check so he couldn’t come. Obachan joined us at the festival.
There were so many Tomica to see. I was in heaven! I even got to pick out some parts and make my very own Tomica.
I loved the dioramas and displays!
There was so much to see. I had a great time! And Obachan bought me some new Tomica too!
We often have fun on our walk to school. Today Daddy was holding my hand and accidentally ripped my hand off! Oh, wait, no, it was just my glove.
We visited the prefectural office today and enjoyed the view.
I’m still having a ball playing memory. But we changed the rules a bit and just flip the cards open and get to keep and matches that we make. It makes it a bit easier for my old folks with their aging memories.
Walking all the way to school instead of being carried. Growing up a bit.
It was a rainy day so we played indoors today.
We also played karuta, where you try to be the first to find the card that was called out. Today we played with country flags.
And at home more card games.
We never miss book time.
We had gymnastics class today and worked up quite a sweat.
We also had a birthday party for one of our classmates.
Daddy’s friend gave me my very own omiyage from Korea. It was so yummy!
Tomorrow is a holiday, so it was a short school week. I’ll be back in school again on Friday.
Today was a Costco day. We needed to get gas and a lot of fruits and vegetables. But first we had to eat lunch. I had a omurice and ate very heartily!
Then we did our shopping. I was happy to have a lot food samples. I think I ate every single sample they served today.
After we finished shopping Mommy and I got to have an ice cream snack because we were both well behaved.
We picked up some dinner from Costco as well and I supplemented what Mommy and Daddy chose with a pizza. Because I’m always hungry for pizza!
I helped Daddy go grocery shopping today, and but before that I needed to get more underpants. I currently have a bunch of Tomica vehicle and train decorated underpants. There were more vehicles underpants at the store, but I chose some awesome pink ones instead! Cute and cool!
Today was my nursery school graduation day. I was quite excited and nervous about it.
I usually don’t do very well with public events and crowds, so it was a toss up on how I would do. Well, at least I would look good doing it.
It was a rainy day so I had to be careful to stay dry on our way to school. My raingear kept me dry.
We got there and I was ushered to a waiting room with my graduating classmates to await our moment. There were some nerves, but my classmates and I have been preparing for this day for quite a while.
There were a lot of decorations in the school that Mommy and Daddy enjoyed looking at.
Then it was time for our entrance. Despite all the preparation, I was not feeling particularly happy about the moment. I was in a bit of a mood and although I did what I was supposed to do, I did not do it very willingly or very well. I was obviously not in a great mood when we made our entrance.
Then after sitting down I was distracted by something with my socks the whole time. I can’t say for sure what it was, I just wasn’t feeling it.
Even during our opening graduation song, I was distracted by my socks. It is a shame. I had been practicing the song for weeks and I had gotten really good at it. My teachers had been raving about how well I sang to Mommy and Daddy. It’s too bad that I wasn’t able to show them.
When it was time for diplomas I was still very distracted by my socks. Yeah, I realize it is a bit rude, but I just wasn’t feeling it today.
Even when it was my own time to get my diploma, I was still distracted.
Near the end of the graduation ceremony Mommy and Daddy finally caught my eye and I was able show a bit of a smile.
Before I knew it the ceremony was over. It was weird though. Even though we were now graduated, we would still be back at school on Monday until the end of the month. So it wasn’t necessarily goodbye.
I was a in a much better mood once the ceremony finished. I was just happy to be back with Mommy and Daddy.
After the graduation ceremony we were taking a bunch of pictures, and I was okay when it was just me, Mommy and Daddy, but I started to get in a mood when my friends started to ask to take pictures. I guess I am still not good in large crowds. It was okay for a bit but then I started to be mean and not only refuse to take pictures with my friends but I started to be nasty to them. It was definitely time to leave.
While we headed home I was acting very selfish and wanted to be carried, but Daddy was very upset with the way I treated my friends and didn’t want me to continue to be selfish. I wouldn’t listen. So he pulled me to the side of the sidewalk and had to talk to me about my behavior. I was very resistant at first and cried and talked back a lot, but I eventually started to really think about my actions. I finally started listening to what Daddy was saying and in tears promised to be better. We walked the rest of the way home in near silence. It was not the ideal end to a less than ideal graduation day.
The rest of the day was okay, but not necessarily great. I still had a lot to think about. My actions today were not the best. But I was still able to have some fun playing with Daddy and we kind of made up as time passed.
By the way, I stayed in my graduation outfit all day by choice. I really liked how dapper I looked.
It is starting to feel like spring! The weather is getting warmer and we are seeing more growth from plants. There is actually a lot of growth and energy all around!
Our days at our school are limited. It is a small nursery school and only goes up to 3-year-old class. We will all be attending different schools in April. We went on a farewell field trip to the shrine to pray for our health and good fortune at our new schools.
After the other kids get picked up at school, I have some nice time to myself where I don’t have to fight over toys. It is usually when I do my most creative work. Today I made a car with lights, sirens, and wheel chocks.
Another day, another tantrum.
My graduation outfit arrived. Looking quite dapper!
On our walk we were lucky enough to see the Coca Cola truck come by and fill up a nearby vending machine. We were enthralled.
We had gymnastics class and it was so much fun. We were very active! Especially during our favorite game, potato harvest.
At home we have been playing card games a lot and Daddy keeps thinking up new ways to keep it interesting. We are now using dice to determine how many cards we can flip over when we play the memory game with my Tomica playing cards.
At the park we had fun running around and doing a kind of hopscotch.
Another emergency vehicle.
Oh, so many bubbles!
Tomorrow is our graduation ceremony so Mommy and Daddy had to pick me up early so that our teachers could get the school ready.
At dinner, Mommy and Daddy introduced me to some old Japanese songs. One very famous one was, Ue wo muite aruko, oddly known as Sukiyaki in English.
We kept rocking out with dessert too!
By the way, Mommy and I went to take a bath by “looking up while walking” which is the literal meaning of Ue wo muite aruko.
I woke up in the good mood and a hungry mood! Daddy made a big breakfast for me.
Then it was all about cars. A bunch of car crashes and repairs.
Daddy went out to work on the garden since it was a nice day and it is planting season. I was playing on my Mercedes but ended up helping Daddy in the garden.
After all that outside work we went in for some quiet time. I did some coloring before dinner.
I ate a hearty meal happily!
Then it was time for my long overdue haircut. I let Daddy put the cape on me this time so I wasn’t itchy at all. It was done in no time. Looking good if I do say so myself!
After grocery shopping we went out to dinner but the place we wanted to eat at was full. So at my request we went for ramen instead. It was very yummy!
We walked home which was really cool because I just got some new shoes today that light up. Pretty flashy, yeah?
On the way home we stopped by McDonald’s for some dessert. Yum!
Then it was flashy shoes time again.
After such an active time at the park we took it easy at home and had some nice quiet time play.
Monday
We learned about Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day). It was quite interesting. It was much better compared to last month’s traditional even which involved an oni. That was scary. This was cute.
It was rainy so we couldn’t go for our walk, but we still worked up a sweat dancing inside.
Tuesday
It was another rainy day so we had a lot of indoor activities. We did a red light green light dancing game where we had to stop when the music stopped. Somehow it turned into a train game where our train stopped when the music stopped. We also had to go to sleep when we heard certain sounds. After all that activity we had some quiet play and did some coloring. I’m getting really good at it, but I really limit my colors. I always use a lot of pink and sometimes a splash of blue, red, or purple.
Wednesday
We had gymnastics class today, but I opted out because I was hungry. My teachers were very accommodating and let me have an early lunch.
The early lunch worked out because Mommy had to pick me up early from school so I could go get a vaccination. I was not thrilled about getting a shot, but I handled it like a trooper. I cried a little bit but that is to be expected. I didn’t fuss or give Mommy and trouble. After, we went to get ice cream as a reward! We also stopped by the game center and I got a couple of new Tomica from the claw game. If this is how it works, then I’m really looking forward to my next vaccination.
Luckily there were no side-effects from the vaccination and I was in a very good mood.
I was watching TV when Daddy came home from work, so I read while he waited for my show to finish. I let him know when it finished and then we played with cars. As always, there was a huge traffic jam in town.
Thursday
We had English class today and we practiced a lot of pronunciation. We went through the entire alphabet. We started at A and went all the way to Z and pronounced all kinds of words that started with those letters. We also talked about our likes. And we did some dancing!
We went for a walk today too, so we were really hungry at lunch time. Itadakimasu!
I’m one of the last kids to get picked up, but that is fine with me. It gives me a lot of alone time with the toys that I want to play with. I don’t have to worry about taking turns or sharing. It really allows my creative juices to flow. Today I made a car carrier with the New Blocks, without instructions of course.
Friday
We went to the park today and had fun running around and playing peekaboo from behind a bench. There were also very pretty plum blossoms to look at.
Today’s New Block creation was a crane truck.
Daddy came home with a treat for me and Mommy. I took the big one.
Daddy made up a waki (armpit) song just as an excuse to tickle me. It is a variation of his number one hit, Kubi, Waki, Piko (Neck, Armpit, Bellybutton).
What a great week! I had so much fun and can’t wait for the next school week. But first, I’m excited about the weekend, so I need a good rest. (Whether Daddy can get a good rest with my feet in his face is up for debate)
Ojisan is visiting from Tokyo today. We have to tidy up the house in preparation. I made sure to do my part.
I was really happy to see Ojisan again, but I felt the need to play it cool and not let him know that. I was almost standoffish at times. But I think he knows me by now and gets that it is just how I am.
After picking him up from the airport we went straight to lunch. We ate quite a bit there. Then we headed home to hang out. Baaba came to visit to so I went with Daddy to pick her up.
We had fun just hanging out at home and before we knew it we only had a couple of hours before Ojisan had to go back to Tokyo. First I went with Daddy to drop Baaba off at the train station so that she could make it home in time to have dinner with Jiiji. I made sure to tell her to tell Jiiji that I missed him and wanted to see him soon.
Then we went back to the house and picked up Ojisan and Obachan and headed off to dinner. We picked a place near the airport.
It is always fun to socialize while eating, but I was taught at school not to talk with your mouth full so I was constantly stopping conversation until people were done chewing. I know that conversation is fun and important, but so is table manners.
It was a fun day with Ojisan. His visits are always interesting because I often react differently to him. We never know if I’m going to play it cool or welcome him warmly. That is just how our relationship is.
As usual I practiced driving because it was the weekend. This time I brought some passengers to help be learn about driver responsibility. Of course, safety is important so I made sure they buckled their seatbelts.
After driving practice, I rode my Mercedes a bit and also had a go on my Strider. I’m not necessarily super focused on learning to ride a bike, but I have included into my outside play routine.
But after so much outdoor activity, I need a break so we went inside and watched some TV.
It was such a nice day that we just had to go to the park after lunch. We had a ball! We ran around a lot, pretending to be trains on a train track. We rode the rockers a lot. I learned a little about physics when riding the seesaw with Daddy. Daddy has to be as close to the middle as possible and I have to be as far back as possible to have any chance of staying level. The fun thing is that when we do that and then Daddy moves backwards the seesaw becomes a slide and I slip toward the center.
No, this wasn’t my dinner. But I wanted bread and this was the only bread we had. Yay!
Nice to snuggle with a blanket on a cold morning. But I can’t stay here all day. I have to get ready for school…just a few more minutes.
We had our emergency preparedness drill today and listened very intently to all the safety instructions
At the park we ran around a lot and asked our teachers to draw train tracks in the dirt so that we could play trains.
And look at all the “jewels” that we found at the park. I made sure not to lose them and brought them all home. I have quite a growing collection.
At gym class we made sure we stretched properly before we started. We pretended to be crocodiles as we crawled across the mat. When it wasn’t our turn we cheered on our classmates.
Sometimes at morning drop-off there is a traffic jam, so we have to wait our turn. Luckily there is a comfy waiting room for that.
There is always so much to do at school. On our walk we visited a flower shop and took a look at all the spring flowers. I also like making vehicles with New Blocks. The is my delivery truck with its wheel chocks on to prevent it from rolling away. I am also coloring a lot at school these days. Look how good I’m getting!
Even though I’m tall enough to push the doorbell at a school without climbing up on the shoe box, I still like to climb up.
On our walks there are so many interesting things to see like a Hinamatsuri doll display at the Prefectural Office.
And a postal truck making deliveries.
What a great week! I had a lot of fun and am showing signs of real growth. No major tantrums this week and let’s hope that we can keep it going. I’m really growing up. Look how tall I am on the step stool now. I’m actually tall enough to reach the sink without it, but I still like to be thought of as a baby sometimes.
While waiting for a table at a restaurant for lunch, I ask Mommy to take a walk for me. We ended up frolicking quite a bit.
Lunch was really good! I got the kids’ hamburger steak meal. It was so good that I had to order another hamburger steak! (I heard Mommy and Daddy discussing just giving up on the kids’ meals and ordering regular adult meals for me already.)
After such a good lunch I was in such a good mood that when we got home I just had to dance with Mommy!
We went to the park where I played with my construction vehicles and we played catch with a ball. I really wanted to play with both Mommy and Daddy so I made Mommy put away her phone so that she could concentrate on catching the ball.
Then there was more fun and goofiness at home with stretching and close-up.
We finished off the day with a cute little omiyage for dessert! (Headlamp optional)
I am fascinated by anything and everything having to do with cars. One of my favorite toys is a Times parking lot that is part of my Tomica Town set. It has parking bumpers and lock plates in the parking spots. I like seeing them in real life too! First you park, then up it goes to keep you from leaving until you pay. No need for a gate or ticket to the parking lot.
Sometimes you eat a meal because you are hungry. Sometimes you eat a meal for nourishment. Sometimes you eat a meal because it is delicious. But sometimes, you eat a meal just so that you can get to the dessert. Today’s lunch was one of those meals. I wanted ice cream so I made sure to eat all of my lunch. And it was a really yummy lunch too.