Weechan Birthweek 2009

Well the week of the 6th year has come and gone. The birthdays in our family are seemingly neverending, aren't they! In years past, there has been a rather large gathering at home for the Weechan's birthday, but this year, we've already had a few gatherings lately, and, more importantly, February's birthday just happened to coincide with the arrival at the cinemas here in Japan of one "High School Musical 3", which happens to be the very raisond'etre of the birthday girl at the moment.
So.. ever the nutters, Mummy and Y-chan's Mummy, decided to invite all my friends to go with us to see the movie, and then on to Haagen Dazs for ice cream.

There were 32 of us! 20 kids and 12 adults.

From the youngest...

to the oldest (!)...

and from all over the world...

we all seemed to enjoy the movie!
Go Wildcats!

The quietest moment was when we all had our ice cream.

The blonde table.

The girls at the back.

And the die hards made it to the park and played until it was almost dark.

Thanks to everyone who came and thank you so much for all your wonderful gifts. Weechan is the luckiest girl I know!
So the movie was last Saturday, a week before the big day itself, but the fun kept coming all week, courtesy of the Japan Post Office. Thanks to all who sent gifts from afar. We are always particularly happy when we get these tickets through the door if we are not in when they try to deliver.
The Japanese to the left of the word "SENDER" is "sashidashinin" which means, you guessed it, sender.
We're always glad to know in advance that the parcel came from the sender!

And finally, yesterday, she really was 6!!

Not a bad haul really! Thanks everyone!

After much much much deliberation, Mummy and Daddy decided on roller skates, which seems to have been a popular decision, thank goodness.

"Look Mummy! They flash" Thanks Granny!

And with this gorgeous dress from Finn, the birthday outfit was complete! Thanks Frasers!

The cake. In keeping with this year's theme.

So we had the neighbours over for a small birthday afternoon tea.

More presents! Thanks guys!

Well the cake is too much for just 3 people.

Then it was off out to Weechan's favourite Italian for dinner with Ba-chan and Ji-chan.
Photos by Weechan!

And the present of all presents, from Ba-chan and Ji-chan: RAINBOW ART!!!! Thank you!!

A very welcome surprise arrival from Yuta!
I love the box too!

Thanks Yuta!!!!
What a great birthday!

Valentines Day

Some people get roses.Some people get chocolates.
This year I got Wii Fit.
This is the degree of romance in a marriage with a Japanese man...
Get into shape, woman!
Still, I'm not moaning.
I have gotten nothing in the past.
And, to be fair, most Japanese women get nothing at all, so it has taken me 16 years of training to get to this pinnacle of the romantic gesture.
And actually, I did want it.
In fact he's not that bad really...
Oh God, I'm in danger of getting mushy, I'll stop while my image as a cynical old cow is still in tact!
And I did give him Superman pants.
I suppose we were both sending messages of hope with our love.

So the family spent the morning getting in shape.

And then it was once more onto the rink for Weechan's school family skating night.

There were ups and downs.

But all in all Mairi was giving it laldy, as we say in Fife, for most of the night.

Even Mummy managed to let go of the side.

But it was never far away....

Sleepover

The other day 3 of my friends came for a sleepover. Mummy was too tired after work to cook, so we all went to Mosburger for dinner.

Despite not geting to sleep till about 11 o'clock (surprise surprise!), me Y and L got up early to make the most of the time before the Mums arrived to get us.

A got up in her own good time, but everyone enjoyed heart breakfast. we were laughing because my Mummy gave us rice and nori for breakfast, and my friends said they never have that, they usually have toast, even though ll their Mummies are Japanese!!

We even tried out the sushi maker we got so that me and Mummy can make better sushi for Daddy the next time we try. We didn't have any sushi rice, or stuff to put in the middle though, so it was more like rice balls, but whatever, it was fun.

We all had a great time, but Mummy said Y-chan was the star of the show because she helped to wash the dishes. I hope I don't have to do that from now on....
(Don't worry Mairi, you're much too clumsy to get to wash my good plates!!)

Yufuin Minibreak

We managed to steal Daddy from the hospital for a couple of days the other week, and went off to Yufuin for the first time in ages. As always good food was in abundance. We tried the "Yufuin Burger", which went down a treat .

Then went to the outdoor skating rink at Kijima Kogen. Weechan's first time, so we maxed out on the safety gear.

But she proved to be a tenacious challenger, and kept going for 2 hours, with a determination to skate in the middle of the rink, which belied her actual skills to the point that Mummy had to not watch.

Of course Mairi ended up better than Mummy, who was attached to the side-bar by the hand for the entire time. A plus side of this was that Mummy, unlike Mairi, didn't have to buy an entire new outfit before getting in the car. It was an unseasonal 17 degrees when we were there, so the rink was more like a paddling pool really, and I don't know why it never occurred to me to take a change of clothes.

Fun on the park followed, with a lovely meal at my favorite restaurant, Artegio, during which M did us the honour of falling asleep on the bench, so we actually felt like we were on a date for a change.

But despite all that, Ba-chan's hot spring bath is always the highlight of the trip.