Eldest recently channeled Jackie O. in her simple everyday ensemble and over-sized glasses.
It was a really good reminder that simplicity is completely underrated. In a time where everything seems to be big, fussy, and flashy, sometimes it's good to take a step back enjoy the understated and toned-down. Here's to embracing the simple things!
Cheers!
My apologies for taking so long to get this post to you all. I was having a little trouble getting the pictures from Husband's iPhone to open. They weren't converting properly or something like that.
Maybe I'm not the most tech savvy gal out there, but after about two weeks I did figure it out.
Since I have, we can move on to more important things-the decision y'all have been waiting for...
And I will get to it if you can bear with me for just a bit longer.
The search for the right school for eldest has been a long, rigorous, and at times extremely frustrating task. Perhaps this is what's made the final decision such a sweet and rewarding one.
We applied to three schools that were all highly recommended. All three were could proudly boast about their top-notch educations, both within Japan and across the globe.
They were: Nishimachi, The International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH), and The American School In Japan (ASIJ).
The whole process was much like applying for college: besides filling out application forms, there were recommendations needed from teachers both past and present. Test scores were required, there were entrance tests to be taken, and all of this was before we were contacted for interviews.
We knew eldest would find a place at a great school, we just didn't know which one it would be. The waiting game was not fun. Unlike the schools in the US, and again, much like college, applicants aren't guaranteed a spot in the schools they apply to.
Husband deepened my concerns when he said that the children of partners in the firm had been turned away. They had pull, right? And weren't we told in some cases that it was who you knew? This totally stuck in my craw. I was really, really, really bothered by the idea that politics could affect where my daughter could go to school.
I realized the Japanese school environments were much more competitive than most in the US, but I wasn't prepared for the emotional response the entire process elicited from myself and Husband. You would have thought we were the one's applying.
Eldest didn't seem to mind it. She loved the interviews and reading her recommendations. For her it was a walk in the park. She thought it was so cool!
The entire process was a positive learning experience for her and for that, we couldn't be happier.
This was about her, after all, and if she was fine, I could be fine.
We could be fine.
Prayer helped to ease my mind, so did knowing who we were talking about.
This was our daughter.
Why were we worried? We knew that any of those schools would be fortunate to have her. Not only did she have a good head on her shoulders and terrific grades, but she's unique. Her personality shines, her smile is contagious. She has a good heart as well as a good mind.
She's something pretty special...
And apparently all of the schools she applied to agreed.
She was accepted to each and every one!!
*Cue a joyous dance*
To say we were relieved that the process of being accepted was over would be an understatement. But more than that, we were elated for our daughter. Eldest's hard work over the past few years had paid of big time. Most importantly, she was happy. So very, very happy.
We did have one last hurtle, though.
Now that eldest had been accepted to all three schools we had to decide which one she would attend.
Enter the long dramatic sigh, and pause.
This part wasn't difficult, just a little time consuming. It meant waiting until we were in Tokyo so we could tour the schools. We wanted to walk the campuses with eldest, allowing her to get a feel for the schools. It was very important that we had her thoughts as we weighed our decisions.
I'll spare you all the rigmarole of our various tours~it took another month to fit all 3 schools in, and by the end it came down to Nishimachi and ASIJ. This may shock some of you. I was really pulling hard for Sacred Heart.
It was my school for 15 years in New Orleans. I knew the quality education eldest would receive, I knew that her Faith would be integrated into her everyday lessons. She'd learn and begin to appreciate the bonds of sisterhood, leaving ISSH a more prepared young lady.
Still...a few things really rubbed me the wrong way. It was specific to this particular school and is in no way a reflection of my experiences at Sacred Heart or the other Rosaries around the world. I won't go into it beyond that.
In any case, we debated, we discussed, we hemmed and hawed. What it ultimately came down to though~and all 3 of us agreed on this~was where eldest would receive not only a great education, but the most well-rounded one. An education that would value the importance of core-curriculum, as well as athletics and the arts.
We wanted her to have the best of all three worlds and only one school offered it up in spades.
So are you ready for the big decision?
That's right! To the shock of quite a few, we all agreed that the American School in Japan was going to be the best fit for eldest. Feel free to check out this magnificent school for yourself. It's right here.
That she's still talking about it weeks after our visit only confirms that this decision was the right one.
Eldest loves the school and we were very pleased by all it had to offer. That it's ranked as one of the best international schools in the world doesn't hurt either. Husband and I agree that the pains we endured during this process were completely worth it. Looking at eldest's delighted face when we mention ASIJ, knowing she'll be happy there, makes it all worth it.
So what's next?
Orientation, learning the right bus stop for eldest, getting her iPhone, purchasing school supplies, and so much more I'm sure I'm forgetting.
Before we know it, the first day of school will be here!
Can I get an "Amen" that at least we now know which school eldest will be attending?
Amen, Amen, Amen!
And with that friends, I'm off to eat something sugary and sweet (and no, it's not the wee one!).
Good night all, and thanks for your patience. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and to all the teachers who had a hand in helping our sweet girl along this path, many heartfelt thanks for giving of yourself and your time.
It really made all the difference!
If you know Yo Gabba Gabba! you'll completely understand this post. If not, you'll still have to admit it's both adorble and hilarious.
My son, the scallywag, works hard at perfecting his many talents.
His most recent accomplishment: the spoon trick.
First, he was diligent as he studied a peer, carefully watching as he managed to balance the spoon over his mouth not once-but twice!-without the use of his hands.
The wee one wandered with his spoon. He thought long and hard, wondering if he was up to the task.
Deciding his was, he began his many attempts in the art of spoon balancing.
First there was the two-handed approach...
then the one-handed attempt.
And suddenly his hard work paid off!
TA-DA!
He was so pleased, he showed off his new COOL, COOL, COOL TRICK to DJ Lance and the rest of the Gabba gang-
And his sister, and his Daddy, and yours truly until we were completely out of usable spoons. Yes, he did use a new and clean spoon every time he practiced.
Le sigh.
The sweetness and his obvious pride made up for it. It was totally worth the handwashing I had to do later.
And the scallywag...
has since moved onto other things.
Time to make room for a toddler biker!
Welcome! We're preparing for this evening's dinner party and I thought it would cool to share in the fun.
Grab a glass of wine and join me, will you?
I love an excuse to have a gathering in our home. Small or large, we enjoy preparing the meal, setting our table, and selecting the music. We enjoy the company.
For me the adult interaction is also very important. As a stay at home mother, I spend most of my waking hours in the company of my children. They're terrific companions and I love all the moments we share together. But it's also nice to have slightly more adult conversations that don't revolve around crayons, children's shows, and summer assignments.
What parent can't relate?
Tonight we'll be playing host to a few of Husband's co-workers, who also happen to be good friends. I've never met them, neither has eldest, and two of the girls are new to the Tokyo office. I think we can all sympathize, and we'll enjoy sharing stories of our moves and adjustments.
I thought since it's our first real gathering, I'd invite you along as we prepared.
We'll have some lovely flowers for our vase, welcoming our guests,
and serve our meal on simple white dishes. Ikea kind of rocks, no?
Come and take a look at tonight's menu: asparagus and parmesan risotto stuffed peppers, mustard and thyme chicken, green beans with goat cheese, tomatoes, and almonds.
What do you think? Should we capture the memory of this meal with pictures?
Yes? I think so, too!
When we bring our plates to the table to eat we'll set them down on some lovely, and warm orange linen place mats.
Go ahead and set your glass down. Sit with me for a moment.
A burst of summer sun orange adds the perfect punch of color for our simple table arrangement. Thank goodness we already had this on hand. I like using what we have, even if what we have is still little.
Can I tell you how excited I am that our sea shipment should arrive in the next few weeks?
I'm almost as excited as relaxing in our chairs after dinner with coffee and a few sweet treats from Mont~Thabor.
Thanks for helping me set up for the evening.
Now the important question: would you like to stay for dinner?
After much traveling,
and quite a bit of talking, we've come to a decision about eldest's school. Come back next week to see where eldest will be matriculating for the next few years! She's so excited, and we couldn't be happier for her.
I really wanted to have my observations from our first month in Tokyo up today, but it's not happening. I tried, friends, I did, but goodness am I tired!
It's another side to walking everywhere: once you're stationary and no longer in constant motion, all you want to do is curl up under your covers and take a long, luxurious nap.
Honestly, I've never slept better. I have absolutely no complaints~other than not being able to stick to a better blogging schedule. And by schedule, I mean it in the loosest sense of the word. Where's the fun in writing if you peg yourself into a specific time and day?
There's no enjoyment if you can't improvise or write when inspired.
If I blog two or three times in a week, that's fantastic. If not, it's still fantastic.
My family and I are having the best time exploring our exotic new home.
We've captured many exciting and beautiful moments on camera, and spending time talking about them has been infinitely rewarding. We're creating these amazing memories as a family. I don't want to miss out on a single moment.
I love blogging. You don't have to worry. This is not me writing to say I'm cutting back or stopping altogether. Heavens no! Blogging has introduced me to wonderful people, and challenged me to look at my life in different ways. Not to mention I have family who love to read and contribute.
I'm simply explaining what's going on with we busy Blossoms. We're living our lives, enjoying the new moments; creating new traditions, while holding fast to old, treasured ones.
We've loved sharing our new life in Tokyo with you all. We're tickled pink that you've come along with us for the ride.
We, and our shaggy-haired scallywag, thank you for sticking around!
For this, I'd like to give you a sneak peak of what I plan to touch upon in the future.
Enjoy and have a lovely weekend, all.
We're always hungry.
I don't mean "hungry" in the sense that the children and I are sometimes in need of small amounts of nourishment. I mean "hungry" in that "put us in front of a full course meal and after we're done we may ask for more" way.
We're thirsty all the time, too.
I swear it has to do with all the walking we do around the city. We've never had to walk to get to every place imaginable. It's a wonderful thing, don't misunderstand. Exercise is never bad. Neither is taking a slower route to get where you need to be. It really redefines stopping to smell the roses.
This significant increase in our appetites, however, have made us slaves to food.
Thankfully there's tons more walking to work off all of it. Ha!
During our daily outings the children and I explore the side streets of our neighborhood in Higashi Azabu. We've traveled by subway to locations much further out as well. More recently, we've begun branching out into the side streets of Roppongi and Roppongi Hills.
We've discovered a little bit of everything. Yes, this does include food. The Japanese have a fondness for the cuisine from other countries.
Last week we were caught in the middle of an impending rainstorm while playing near Roppongi Hills. It had all the makings of something very nasty: dark skies, fierce winds, threatening rain drops.
Making our way down a street filled with cafes, Starbucks, and smaller Japanese restaurants, I caught a whiff of a very recognizable scent.
Something that made me think of home. It was the unmistakable smell of fresh baked pastries.
French pastries and breads, to be exact.
We were welcomed into a warmly lit bakery that didn't quite look like a transplanted cafe from Paris, but the food was most definately authentic.
Eldest, the wee one, and I took in the delicious treats, inhaling their buttery, rich smells.
They had both savory and sweet treats. What did you expect us to do when faced with such a thing?
A tray and some tongs later, we left the boulangerie with a bag in hand, and the re-emergence of the sun.
Coincidence? Perhaps.
Our spirits were certainly lighter, and the food? Well, let's just say we ran back today in celebration of our first month in Tokyo.
And I do mean ran.
Mont-Thabor, you are a precious gem to us.
Not only are your foods simply decadent and scrumptious, you're super affordable.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for having this corner spot in Tokyo.
The children love you, and so do I.
You make walking to see you all the more sweet!
Now go and enjoy these sweet pictures, y'all.
Are you hungry yet?
