Nostalgia-- Hoshi

I'd like to share my daughter Wakaba's performance on stage playing the Hoshi ( Star ) at the schools Christmas show during her kindergarten days . You can find my post about her Christmas show at school here and here. Haruka will be performing the same part this weekend at her school and her big sister is teaching her songs during their bath time at the warm ofuro. Sometimes I would hear echoes of them from the kitchen performing all the characters played by the two of them lol! I dunno why but they don't want us see them rehearsing. And maybe you're wondering why I'm in and out of blogosphere again, it's because mums will be on stage too and was busy practicing songs to be sang on Saturday. So wish us luck! ^_^

Isn't it so much fun to go back and just yank them all out and just sit there and reminisce? ^_^

*Nostalgia is a weekly Thursday meme hosted by Ate Rose--please play with us by clicking the linky badge.*

---Wakaba's Graduation Day was held inside the chapel at school---

The Japanese school year ends in March and Wakaba graduated from Kindergarten last March 20, 2010. Graduation Ceremony is one of the most important events at kindergarten and we are a proud parents of Wakaba!! The Graduation Ceremony wasn't too long because they only have small class size ( only 13 graduates )---the Graduates sang songs and lil speech and a speech coming from the teachers, too. I almost cried when the main part of the ceremony comes in and Wakaba went to receive the graduation certificate from the school principal/Director. I know, it's only kindergarten but I can't help it. My heart is bursting with gladness! What a delight to see Wakaba and her classmates receiving the symbols of their achievement!

---Wakaba, before the ceremony starts---
---speech coming from the Kindergarten Graduates to their loving Parents, Teachers, Principal, and Friends---
---classmates and Mariko sensei---
---soon-to-be-classmates-at-kinder and soon-to-be-classmates-at-gradeschool---
---Together with Wakaba's bestfriend, Reano chan--
---A face of a happy Mom!---
---Proud Parents of Wakaba with Haruka---

We went out to to celebrate and went ahead to my PIL's place coz the whole family want to spend the momentous event with us.^_^

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Wakaba's Christmas Stage Play

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Wakaba had their Christmas Stage Play at their school before Christmas Day--forgive me but the mother in me have this feeling of proudness as I watched my daughter Wakaba performing on stage. She have done her role perfectly without freezing although she was a lil bit nervous as she told me before she went on stage. I could still remember that she went home very sad one day--poor Wakaba wanted the role of Mary but she lost only one point of the vote of her classmates. She practiced her roles very well that even her sister Haruka have memorized the lines and songs. She played the role of the narrator, the angel and a "yadoyasan"( a lady role in which Mary and Joseph asking for shelter and went to door to door but always get refused )and has a lot of exposure during the play. And since Japan isn't a Christian country, not all Japanese knows the story in Bethlehem. The school Principal/Director tells the story ( of the birth of Jesus ) so that everyone will have an introduction of every scene is all about . The children played their part very well and it is very enjoyable musical production and their costumes is simple and yet cute. They sang Christmas carols and of course, in Japanese! Acting out the Christmas story in a musical form is a wonderful way to instill the love and joy of Christmas! ^_^

Pixel Bug Weekend--Digging Sweet Potatoes

A common activity in kindergarten here in Japan is to harvest sweet potatoes ( oimo hori ).The kids have planted on the garden at their school and when the harvest day has come, they digged it up and then eat them at school. I' m glad Wakaba and Haruka experienced digging up sweet potatoes and never mind how much dirt they would get and proud that they were able to get a bigger sweet potato. It was roasted and it tastes heaven!!

In the Philippines, it is comon to hear " Tahooo " on our fave magtataho, it is also common here in Japan to hear " YAKI IMO, ISHIYAKI IMO "( a sweet potato, baked over a stone) recorded tune where you can purchase it from a yaki imo truck vendor who makes rounds at the neighborhood. Whenever I hear the shouts, it means more cold weather is coming because ishiyaki imo is only sold during that time. Bbbrrrrrr!!!
Kinder students digging for some sweet potatoes
Wakaba got one!!
And another one!!
No matter what the size is, what matters most is the expression of her face-- joyous smile!!
Look at those sweet potatoes!!
Haruka did her part at Pre-school after Wakaba' s batch
Dig it up, Haruka!!
It was a surprise to dig a bigger one!!

The sweet potatoes were wrapped in a foil and roasted
Introducing the school' s Director/ Principal

The PTA also did their part of cutting and serving sweet potatoes to the students and Moms who participated at the oimo hori.

Ittadakimasu!!

Yours trully also have a share of the sweet potato and sit with Haruka's classmates and Moms who participated that day.
Haruka on her second piece lol!!

Happy Monday and enjoy your week ahead!! For more Pixel Bug Weekenders, head up here

Pixel Bug Weekend--Undokai at Kindergarten

Last Saturday was Wakaba' s undokai event held at their school. My Mother-In-Law was with us to cheer up and give a boost to Wakaba. What I love about Japan' s Undokai ( Sports Day ) is the idea for the kids to work together as a team and supporting each other. The concept of team work and camaraderie is encouraged of the competition during the sports event. You' ll hear them saying ' Gambatte!!( do your best! )' It is fun to see kids to putting their efforts into something most especially Wakaba ( she really feel bad when she or her team is not #1 lol! ).My fave part at the undokai is the oyako undokai ( it is where parents can also participate in some of the games ). My husband and I participated the game and yes Wakaba and Haruka had smiles on their faces and so are we ^_^. It is also the time wherein I can make all their favorite foods together in a pack lunch box that is called obento here. I guess you have seen some of my homemade lunch pack that I made for my family for family outings and picnics. You can see last years undokai HERE

Homemade Obento
Wakaba at the parade
The Button Relay
Wakaba looks so responsible whatever she does! She had grown up so fast, too soon!!
The Tug-Of-War
Wakaba and her Daddy' s tandem
Haruka showing up her medal after their dance with Dad
Button Relay part 2
Wakaba dancing her heart out!!
Mother-In-Law and yours trully
Bubble fun
They had a bubble fun after the closing ceremony
On our way to our home

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On- Going Projects and Field Trip

story telling time

How are you guys?? I hope you' re all in good spirits and in pink of health.^_^ I' ve been working for some projects at Wakaba' s school together with other Japanese Mums for bazaar event at school wherein in we' re going to have to sell some food, put on games, flea markets, to raise some funds and donate them to their school just like the other year. We' ve been starting an on- going project and that is doing some handmade crafts to be sold on the bazaar event. It' s been hard for me to do some handmade crafts because I' m not used at it but with the help of some other Mums ( they' re too friendly and willing to help a beginner ) and in every projects made, I' m willing to take a challenge and now I' m starting to like it. The bazaar will be on November --too early to work on it but we have some schedules to move and some are to be made at home. We made some Christmas wreath, decorated with beads last year. Hopefully, I will post the finished product here ( if it' s done beautifully lol! ) soon! ^_^　本当に　にがて　なんだから！！

Last week was Wakaba' s field trip at school together with the Parents--- the kids had a lot of fun exploring nature and playing outdoors. Here are some of the photos-- enjoy!

Lunch box request of my kids for picnic
At the flower garden

Picnic time!! \(^0^)/
Wakaba loves onigiri ( rice ball )
Haruka loves tomato!!
Mom should have at least one photo ( lol )
I miss this flower in the PI

Wakaba and her classmates

These are the reasons why I' ve been in and out here in blogosphere-- how I wish I could have so much time in visiting you. If I don' t update my site here for sometimes, don' t worry I will be reading yours if I have the chance. Have a nice day to everybody!! God bless!! ^_^