I have two girls today

My friend Christy has a grand daughter but she can call it in her own because she was taking care of her when she was a baby. I don't wanna know what is the reason but the most important thing is that. Mary had a little friend name Jasmine. She likes Mary as well. She kept saying "baby" which is really cute.

Christy drop her off this morning about 9AM and the nice thing was... Christy bought her new toy so she won't cry when leaves. This way, she is so excited to her new toy. Mary has a present too.... A barbie doll. To make this two busy. I took out Mary's toy and few of Benjamin's toy. They were so busy playing. At about 10AM. Jasmine was asking if she could eat and I said. Oh yeah... I guess we have our snacks. She and Mary were enjoying eating their snacks... they are just like buddies.

I told the two girls that I am going to cook lunch. I cook rice and chicken. When the food was cook, I told them that we will eat lunch early so we can go out in the playground and play. I put food on their plate and drinks on their sippy cup. I just could not believe it. Jasmine eat chicken. I am so happy then or else she will be starving. She was eating well and drink her apple juice. I offered water for her drink but Mary took it. She refuse.

When we were done eating, I asked them if they wanted to go out now and play. The two girls were so excited to go out... both of them said "OUT". It is really funny. But I asked them that I need to change their diaper or else they will get rushed. Both girls are good. They lie down and let me change their diaper. This two are so good and I am so happy then.

We were so excited to go out and we got busy putting on our shoes. I did not remember that I locked the door and I think Jasmine do. She is a good girl. We were so happy walking down the hill and I took lots of photos of the two. I have also photos of them playing at the slide and even running in the field. This two are great playmate. When you hear them laughing and giggling. You can tell that they were buddy in playing. I am so thankful to God that both girls are doing well.

Mary kept going to the side and find some ants/bees/bugs. She is enjoying watching the crawlers. Jasmine was enjoying too. When we were at the slide. A lady and her boy were there too playing. So aside from this two... they were playing with a Japanese little boy. They were running back and forth. You can tell on their photos how happy they were.

Mary was keeping stumbling.. I know she is tired. I asked Benjamin if we could go home and we can come back later. She did not resist but she followed what I say. I promised the two that we will go out again after their nap.

So when we got back. I let them drink liquid to hydrate them. And now both of them were taking a nap. I am busy typing and looking my watch that I won't missed Benjamin drop off at 1345 at the bus stop.

I will say... my day so far are doing well with the two girls. Jasmine never cry, she is doing good. Well, I give this two a quiet day with no screaming ad yelling. I hope Jasmine will be fine after her nap with no fuss. I will just make it sure that she is well feed and well hydrate to make her happy. I am looking forward for tonight that she will be doing good. I am so thankful to God that she is good.

Brian called me and let me know that it is time to pick up Ben at 1150 but I told him that I need to change my alarm.

I am logging off now and I will share their photos later... you can see how happy they were playing outside....

Two-day Disney Trip to Tokyo

Two-day Disney Trip to Tokyo

We went to Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea, we stayed there for two days. We leave here in the house almost 10AM Sunday April 6, 2008. Brian and I were looking with the printed information from Disney for our hotel reservation at Mira Costa Hotel in Disney Sea. We were looking for hours and it ended up that Brian left the sheet of paper at the entrance of our house.

We started our trip walking from the house to the train station at Nobi YRP for about 15 minutes and we stopped at Keikyu Kurihama station and transferred to JR Kurihama station for Tokyo. We walk about 4 minutes to get to JR station. It was a very nice day so we won't have any problem with our travel. We ride in a green car where we pay 700 yen extra from the regular fare. We have a little bit of advantage because the seat looks like a plane seats, well their seats has a little bit more room than the plane. We purchased our ticket at the ticket machine and then go inside the station. There was one train parked and we never think that this is the end line of the JR station. The Japanese guy was cleaning and he is kind of let us leave the train but then we did not leave. He was cleaning it but we did not understand what he said. This is the big disadvantage if we cannot converse them. We don't have an idea of what they are saying.

The train leaves and we were so happy that we finally settled down. Brian and I never got a chance to take a nap on our trip. Benjamin was so busy playing in the playstation and Mary was a bit fussy because she was sleepy. But we kept looking where we at in every stop of the train. We found out that there is a big statue in Ofuna where we can see the statue when we pass by at the train station. Brian and I were thinking to visit Ofuna sometime in the future.

We got to Tokyo and then we get off on the train and followed the sign the Keiyo Line for Maihama station where the Disneyland station is. It was a quiet a walk, I just found out that we are walking at the subway. Tokyo is a small city in land area but lots of tall buildings that you can see. People are just everywhere. When you are walking at the subway. Boy! it is very crowded. I just could not live this kind of life everyday. Some people are wearing mask if they are sick or does not want to catch illness but some are not. At first, I feel that it is weird when they have mask on their face.

When we find our station to get to Maihama we were so happy then. We were counting how many stop of the train station and then get off at Maihama. The subway is vey warm due to people's heat. It is very crowded. We walk to the Guest center in Disney. Brian was looking to the sheets but he could not find it. He was asking the reception if they can see our reservation on their system but they said we are not on the list of their hotel reservation. The nice thing the other lady came and helped us and viola! she found our reservation. We finally get our room and leave our bag to them. We went to the Disney Sea park and we had fun. I will upload photos to my online album.

The next day, we went to the Disneyland and of course Benjamin had fun. The weather was forecasted rainy. The rain started falling about noon. We bought a poncho/raincoat and umbrella. Even though it was rainy and wet. There were still lots of people walking around the park. Rain is not the hindrance of having fun at the park.

We got lost Benjamin twice in Toontown. Well, he is fine though but we were extremely scared where he went. The first time when I went to the baby center and nurse Mary. Brian was watching him and Ben asked his Dad to hold the thing when they were at the boat. Benjamin left and went to Mickey's house by himself. Brian was looking everywhere and he finally asked one of the cast member to help us finding him. He is pretty quick in everything. The second time was he was running off but we knew that he was there at chip and dale's tree house. This is kid is amazing. The next time, he got lost when we were on our way back to the hotel. We stop by at the shops and he was asking Brian to buy him an umbrella and Brian told him "no". He left at the store and went outside and kept entertaining himself at the wagon. This kid knew where the good stuff is. But it scared us when he is doing like that.

Brian and I were talking to stay or at the Disney Sea park but then we decided not to extend a day in our ticket. We better off not and relax the last day of our stay. We were glad that we did not extended our park ticket because early in the morning. The rains started pouring and it is quiet heavy. We leave at the hotel around 10AM and started on our way back home. The weather is getting bad. It is wet and windy and it is getting cold. Benjamin and Mary were doing fine though.

When we got to JR Kurihama station, we transferred to Keikyu station and ride the train going to YRP Nobi. The rain poured so hard. I was so hungry because we did not have an proper lunch. We had a little snack at the train station, t'was crepes. Mary was looking with the ice cream and she got one and even Benjamin tried to lick the ice cream cone standing outside the store. This kid is weird.

Brian was talking to get the car and pick us up at the train station but then the car battery went dead again. He called me and told me to get a cab. But I was stubborn and does not want to deal with the Japanese cab driver. I am afraid that he won't understand me. So Mary and I walk uphill. Mary was happy watching the water falling from the umbrella. She was wearing her raincoat and put umbrella on top of the stroller to protect our stuff not to get wet. We got there and Brian was a bit worried if I walk and he was right. He run to get us and help me some pushing of the stroller. Mary is getting cold. Poor little one. Brian was hoping that Mary won't get sick... We were home safely and tried to warm up ourselves.

The early bird

I was falling asleep last night and I did not even clean my kitchen. I woke up at 1am this morning and viola! Kitchen still dirty. I went to do my personal thing and I asked Benjamin to go potty or else his bed will be flooding. If I woke up early morning and go to the toilet. I kept bringing Benjamin or sometimes Brian do. He peed in his bed many times and I think he got embarassed. I am not sure if he did but I think he did.

Make new friends but keep the One

I have a new friends here in Japan name Rene, Christy, Gloria and Thess. Their husbands are Brian's co worker. They are nice ladies and planned to stick with them as my friends. For me, it is so hard to find good friends and we are just kind of planning to have a get together once a month and do some crafts like stamping and scrapbooking. Gloria is a crafty person and Christy and Rene are not as much but they are planning to pursue this kind of hobby. Of course, same feathers flocks together. I am not sure if Thess will come with us but I am so sure she will or else she will watching us making cards and pages for our album. It is nice to have something to do.

Offline for more than two weeks

I was being so silent for more than two weeks, it does not mean that I am not here anymore but I was offline. We don't have internet connections when we move in into our new home. The NTT monopolize our apartment complex. The Jcom cable company can give us service for cable TV but not for internet. I was not happy of the outcome but we don't have choice.

I am hoping to get my vonage phone connected to the cable modem. Oh boy! Brian learned that they only allow us wireless router but it is approve NTT router. That's stinks! I will try to contact the NTT and tell them that we don't want to spend more money or else they will give us free router. It seemed that we don't have the power to choose our own stuff...boy! this is not gonna be fun.

Brian is trying to figure out and hoping his Dad will help us in figuring it or else we will call vonage for their technical support.

Today is Thursday

2/21/2008
Today is Thursday.

It is our very first day of our new home and we were figuring out of what we need. I just found out that we have lots of glass dooors and windows and it needs curtains so people in the outside could not see us through. Brian and I feel like that we are in a big fish tank and we are trying to hide ourselves when we need to do our private stuff. It is being hard though.

Brian went to work and asked if he could leave early. We woke up without heat because the Tokyo Gas guy did not give us a proper instructin on but there was an instruction on the drawer at the kitchen. I decided to stay in the house with the kids instead of going somewhere. Brian called Miko our agent and asked help for us. We need heat. I bundle up the kids, but it was not bad as in the outside though. This place is windy and I just could not believe it. The wind is so chilly and cold.

There was a guy from Tokyo Gas company came and give me an instruction if our heat stop. Just look on the meter LOL. Oh boy! I forgot to look our gas meter. So, we had heat and I cook breakfast. Brian was quiet happy that we are warmth and comfy. But we still have problems. The floor is so cold because it is wood floor. Brian and I does not like wood floor but there is an advantage though. You can see the mess that needs to be swept. I am sweeping three times most of the day because when I see some dirt it made me sneeze. That is why I discourage to bring shoes inside. Shoes should be put at the shoe rack at the entrance way. I wonder Japanese people wear slipper because they love wood floors. They spend thousands of dollars and maybe millions of yens in having wood flooor. It is their custom. We never encounter a house that has carpet but a friend of ours Rene and Phil told us that there was when they did their house hunting. They said the carpet was in the old side and it needs to be replaced.

So what I did today? I arrange the DVDs and books and put it away on their storage cabinets. I was carrying the cabinet at the tatami room and put all the DVDs we have. Brian's book were not many and we don't have a place for it. I was planning for the kids book to be on the two shelves on the bottom at the bookcase but then they made a mess so I was planning to put it in a small bookcase we have and put it in Ben's bedroom. I was planning to get a small bookcase for Mary so she has a books to flip when she will be in her room.

I spent my evening washing the pots and dishes. I feel it is not clean because I think the people who packed it back in WA. I think they have colds. Brian was claiming that the virus is already dead but I don't believe it. Bacteria and virus are always there so better I clean it and washed with a hot water. It is being hard to do all this while the kids are here bugging me. We don't have TV yet, I am afraid to plug it on the wall outlet.

Visit to Brian's boss' boss' Mr Tom Murphy

We were invited to come in his house. He is a nice guy and even his wife was so nice. They have two kids with them Ian and Dylan. They are kind of shy type kids, never talk to us but it seemed they are good kid. This kids love to play video games and even on their computer. They are nice though. I am hoping and praying that they are always our friends and treated us family here. The PSNS Command is pretty new here. I love to make friends with them and even to the other guys that come at the get together. Brian and I are planning to invite them in our house warming thing. I am thinking two weeks after we move. I knew we are settld in about two weeks.


They have a nice Japanese house that they rented. The place is big but the hallway is a little bit narrow than the place we are going to rent. Oh well, what do you expect in here. They have a little land to spend here in Japan and they could not afford to leveled their land and build more homes. Tom's wife Christy, she loves flowers and even foliage plants and I think we have in common with that. She definitely loves plants. She has potted plants in the outside and more in the inside too. That is what Brian want me to do. A little bit of everything because the place that we have is not that big space for roses. I will plant roses and I am thinking two in a pots.

A call from Brian's boss Mr Phil Aldrigdge

Mr Phil, Brian's boss called us about 11AM in our room and told us if we wanted to go with them at MWR with them. He said, we don't need it but then we are going to meet at 1:15PM outside the Main gate. Oh boy! We were late for 5 minutes and I am so thankful that it is okey with them. They are a nice family

Excited to be there in our new place we called it new home

We will be moving to our new place on Wednesday and I am so excited to arrange all our furnitures and all other stuff. I am so excited to make a Japanese living room which is really cool. I will try to make friends to any Japanese people and ask opinions and ideas for Japanese living room and I am so sure they will be pleased with it. I know how proud they are in their culture and customs.

Happy Valentines

Valentines is here and some people will greet me happy hearts day. I think I better say Happy hearts day. It is pretty cool.

Since we are living now in the rising sun, we are 16 hours ahead to my friends back there in the US and I will greet them Happy Hearts day. Is your loveone take you to dinner tonight? or have dinner at home? I just have dinner at home. I just cook food and Brian was so happy to eat the food I cook. He loves it where he always love my food or else what! LOL.

Playground

I was really happy that Benjamin settle down and looking forward to play in the playground. I am so thankful for Rene, she is my new friend here in Japan. She is older than me but I like her. I just remembered Brian's Aunt when I look at her and I think that is why I like her. She is very nice lady and mind you! she loves to talk where I love to talk.

I called her about 9:35 and asked if she could take us to the playground that she was talking about. She offered us to take us there and I was so glad. We left here at about 10:22 where we catch the bus so there is no need for us to ride a cab which we pay for it. Bus is free. I love free stuff LOL.

Benjamin was enjoying to play in the playground, he was playing with Japanese kids and I am not sure how old are those kids. I bet they are 5 or 6 years old. Benjamin was playing with them eventhough they talk Japanese. I am not sure if Ben understand it. Benjamin was really happy that he finally play with other kids. He loves the ball and the next time we will be going there, we will bring a ball. So I will share photos here on my next post. I need to upload my pictures to my computer. CIAO!

Wallet lost

Brian called me this morning that his wallet was totally lost. He reported it last night and then he is hoping that one of his co-worker found it. But it never it never. He was asking me last night if I could do all the phone calls for cancelling our credit cards, debits, savings cards. Oh boy! we gonna be poor this time. He lost his government card too. I just could not believe it.

Found a place to live

Brian and I were so busy looking with the perfect place to live for three years here in Japan. We were considering to get a typical Japanese house but then we could not afford the stairs climbing up and down. It is very steep and it is dangerous for Mary. I love the second house that we saw because there is 3 rooms that is tatami mats. It is really Japanese.

The place we found is the apartment complex which is Japanese WEstern style place. There is no stairs and no worries for Mary that she fell down. It is three bedroom and has a tatami room for entertaining and of course with the kitchen, dining and has extra living room where we could put our sofa. The tatami room is where we are going to entertain our guests and the extra room where we put our computers for Brian, Ben and Mine. We put a space also for Mary. We can see the water in one corner and I just love it.

This place they called them Nobi and it is 20 minutes away from Brian's work by train. We are planning to get a car as soon as we are settle down. We are near at the market, the train station I think it is about 5 minutes walk and the public bus. Mostly Japanese walk and ride in a train or a public bus. Their gas is very expensive compared to American price. We were advised to get a gas inside the base or else we are paying a lot.

There are a lot of things that I see when I observing how the Japanese people live. I am very curious to know. This is where we started our Japan tours. I will post photos here. Thanks for coming and read my blog.

House Hunting

Brian and I were started looking for different houses here in Japan last Thursday afternoon. We first went to the house which is the road is so narrow and it is scary to drive. Japan is a nice country, the people are nice too. Oh boy! the house that we first saw was really nice but the road is not ok with me to drive the car. It is very narrow and I don't like to walk in a very hilly road. That was our first choice with regards to the distance to the work of Brian but then I dislike the road. The agent was so nice but then she brought us this place which is scary road to drive lol. She brought us to the next one which is really Japanese style of home. I really like it but then our queen size bed does not fit to go upstairs. I just love that house but we are also considering the furnitures that we brought. We wished we did not bring our furniture. I just want to have a Japanese living room for entertainment our guest. I just love to have one. I know that Japanese people will appreciate my effort to make it. The tatami mats really impressed me how cool to have one in my own home in WA. The third house that we saw is nice, it was built 1987. It has a big kitchen but the hallway is so narrow and our sofas does not fit on it because it is kind of fat lol.. I just love the second house, it has 3 rooms that has tatami mats but I dislike the kitchen- it is on the old side. The sink is kind of dirty look and I am very particular with the kitchen look.There is another agent that brought us to their vacant apartments. I just like it, there is one tatami mats in a living room, and the rest are wood floors. Brian hate wood floor but we were talking of putting an area rug. Wood floors are cold during winter. Tomorrow Sunday, We are going to have another agent to meet but I am committed to this place. We brought Benjamin's power wheels so he can run his car going to the park. I just love the location because it is on the ground floor and there is no stairs. When we were looking to that 3 previous houses, Brian and I think right away that it is really dangerous for Mary that she gonna fell down on the stairs. That was our big concern. I just love this place anyways. It is a combination of a western and Japanese type of complex.

I was glad when Brian check our bank online, our cash advance is already there and we are going to use for the deposti, one month advance rent, agent fee and owner's fee. Oh boy! I think it will be totalled to more than 8 thou $. I am hoping that we don'thave any problem with the pay for our rent. It is hard for us this time because we still paying our 2 cars eventhough it is on consignment right now.. got to go.. CIAO

Dinner at Amelia Lytle's house

Amelia is my very good friend of mine, my neighbor and a second mother to my two kids, Ben and Mary. She is their Godmother. I was so glad to have a friend like her and I could not asked for more. She is always be there when I need help. She is a big help with our move to Japan.

Tonight, she invited us for a dinner in her house. She was preparing lots of food and I did not bother to bring any food because I know she cook a lot. She can feed the whole town. She invited Tessie, Tom and Zack and so with Ate Fely and her husband Greg. Mary Angel, her daughter was there too and we had a little chat about blogging. She is a great kid and I am praying for her success in life. She deserves to be praise!

Brian and I were three minutes late LOL, we got there late because we took care some paperworks for our renters. This is an overwhelming situation. The last thing that we gonna do is to clean the car and put it at the consignment auto sales here in Belfair. Tom-Tessie's hubby was interested to buy Brian's car and Amelia was talking about that her mother-in-law might be buying my car. I hope this may works well... Lord you will be the one knows how this things going on tomorrow.

Well, we had a wonderful dinner with them. Oh I forgot, Tessie's nephew was there too Randy. We were having lots of fun laughing and talking. Brian enjoyed and so do I. Benjamin were enjoying playing with Zack and to Mary Angel. Mary Angel even read a book to my Mary C. It is really cute that Mary C. sitting on Mary A's lap. Benjamin never done like that to anyone when he was on her age.

I saw Mary A that she was preparing herself to leave and asked her who will take her to the ferry terminal. Amelia's was gonna take Mary but when I look up the time it was 8pm and I think it is time for us to go. I asked Brian to take Mary A to the ferry terminal and let Amelia rest. We need to give Amelia and John a place of solitaire before they went to bed. So we need to get out LOL.

Thanks Amelia for your hospitality and your friendship. We love you!

Better Feeling

Its been three weeks now that I did not had any good sleep and rest. Brian and I were too tired to deal with those old stuff that needs to go.

Yesterday, we were talking of doing some stuff at home but when we got there. Melissa and Mike and their friends and family came and brought their stuff. I got upset a bit because they are on our way. I was just wanna clean windows and bring to the dumpster our old stuff that needs to throw. I never thought that they move in their stuff that day. It was Saturday and I just don't wanna... I will let them know that I am not happy that they move in on the Sabbath Day. I was looking forward to see them at church and have fellowship but they were not there. They are working on Saturday. Well, it is my fault maybe because I did not warned them not to move in on Sabbath. I wished I did tell them.

Well, since they are on our way. Melissa agreed to finish the cleaning that I started. Mike promised to gather all the stuff at the backyard and throw it in the garbage. Well, Barb- their parent said. It is okey because we rented them cheap. How could you get a 3-bedroom house with a big backyard for 600 dollars? You can't! Even renting in an apartment is about 750$ oh well.. this is a kind of helping them and they won't stay their long anyways..

Movers came

Two guys came yesterday and they started pack our stuff for storing here in Bremerton. I asked them where they are going to store our stuff but it is in Bremerton. I just love the people came because they are so nice people. Well it is their bread and butter LOL.

Brian and I were extremely tired this few days, we were busy sorting stuff that going to storage and thrown into the garbage. I think this move is a blessing for us. We just had time to get away with this house and look for our stuff that needs to go. Why should we hang on on those stuff which we won't use it anymore. It is really cool feeling that our stuff is getting smaller... oh boy! the junks LOL.

My NikonD40X photo outcome

I just love my new camera..here is my cutie daughter photo... I love this:

Gotta excited

Hubby called before he comes home and asked if I need anything from the store. I am so excited that he will be home soon. I just don't know why but I just did. Mary was quiet upset at Ben because he put her down on the floor. She was enjoying eating cupcake but then Benjamin does not want her to have a bite from his cupcake. Sometimes Benjamin treating roughly to Mary but when I said that we will be leaving Mary in my friend's house. He won't let me. He is upset and I know that he loves his sister. And now he kept saying Mary! and grabbed her to keep her away from his toys. What a kid?

Got sick yesterday and feel better today

I just could not imagine that I got sick. I have bad headache yesterday and I did not even got a chance to do my blogging. I have lots of things to post but then I felt rotten. I kept drinking lots of water to keep me dehydrated while Mary was not doing well also. She let me nurse her a lot yesterday.
For the last couple of days, since the moving company came and pack our stuff. Their marker has a strong smell and it trigger with my sense of smelling. My nose got irritated with the smell. I suspected that I am gonna get sick with this smell.. I never thought about it..but HEY! I got sick.