Haruka's Christmas Play

Haruka's Christmas Play was held at Alios Iwaki Performing Arts Center last weekend and was a huge success and the kids performance was spectacular! It was a first for Haruka to be on the stage and was kind-a nervous but when she started to play her role, she was great! Wakaba was beside me and almost memorized all the lines and some of the songs coz she had performed the same twice. Her first was here and her second was here on her kindergarten days. If you're a reader of Kizuna, you might have read and seen her performance on my post ^_^
Well anyway, before starting each scene, the Principal/Director of the school explained the background of the story about celebrating the birth of Jesus for some Japanese audiences aren't Christian and so that everyone will have an introduction of every scene is all about. What I love about Christmas plays is that everyone gets a part--full scene by the manger, three kings, star, sheperds attending to their sheeps, the herald angel, inn keepers, the kids singing Christmas carols with handbells and some cutie lil Santa Claus costume. Nevertheless, the children were fabulous and we had so much fun! During the the Finale, yours trully and some of the Japanese mums were on stage,too and sung Christmas songs together with the kids. DVD will be given from the school and hope to share them to you one of these days. Here's some of the photos and videos to share, hope you'll enjoy watching ^_^
The kids in their class uniform
Haruka playing the " Star "Singing a Christmas Carol
Handbell ringing
Mommies joined the Finale song
Awesome kids! They did a great job!

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Food Trip Friday--Gyudon (Beef Bowl)

Gyudon with Potato Salad and Mugicha ( roasted barley tea) for lunch

Another Japanese dish in a donburi style called Gyudon, served with a bowl of rice and topped with beef and onion. I usually cook them during lunch at home coz it's very easy, quick to prepare and it cooks up so fast. Japanese loves to add raw eggs to their gyudon but I love mine just the way it is and lots of beni shonga ( red ginger ) for topping. It adds a punch to the flavor. If you don'tlike to add raw eggs to your gyudon, you can use poached egg for topping if you like. Today, I'm gonna share my simple gyudon recipe for you to try at home, too^_^

Gyudon ( Beef Bowl )

Ingredients:( good for 4 people )

Beef-- thinly sliced, 240g
Ito Konyaku( shirataki noodles )--160g
Onion--1 pc

A:

Dashi soup--200 ml ( 200ml water + 1 tablespoon of dashi powder)

Sugar--2 tablespoon

Soysauce--4 tablespoon

Mirin--2 tablespoon

Preparation:
1: Boil shirataki noodles ( if you don't have in hand, it's okay ), set aside.

2: Cut onion thinly

3: Put A into pan and put to a boil then add #1 and #2, simmer for a few minutes in a medium heat then add beef. Simmer for a few minutes more in a low heat until done.

4: Serve hot plain rice into a bowl individually and put the beef toppings over the rice add some boiled green peas, add beni shonga on top and you're done.

An entry for Food Trip Friday. Chibugan na!!\(^0^)/

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PBW--NASU Animal Kingdom

---NASU Animal Kingdom-- Nasu, Tochigi----

During my kids summer vacation at school, we wanted our kids to have fun memories and great adventures inspite that my husband is busy and crazy over his work but taking our kids out is also our sort of relaxation and we wanted the kids to get excited so all of the summer plans is a secret to them. We didn't tell them where we're going, only hints: not at the circuit, not at Disneyland nor Disney Sea, and not at Sanrio Puroland ( not this year and if we are, we always planned of a 2 days fun so staying at a hotel is another plus to be planned for.

This time we went to NASU Animal Kingdom at Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture ( 3 hours drive from our place ) where my kids had a blast with all kinds of animals ( 500 and more ) from aqua to zoo and they had a close contact with dogs, rabbits, etc and we spent almost a day there coz the park is soo spacious--it is 10 times larger than Tokyo Dome and they have a free bus transportation to go over where you wanted to explore at the animal kingdom. Wakaba enjoyed her first ride at a camel ( the truth is I wanted to ride too but it says that the camel ride is limited for people who weights 50 kilos only lol ) and Haruka also enjoyed the horse ride with me at the back ( gosh, bumalik ako sa pagkabata! ). We also enjoyed the New Zealand Farmshow performing the scenes of sheep farming-- the dogs did a very good job of controlling the sheeps and of course with the help of a sheep raiser from New Zealand. They also have a bird performance show and some events which family will love to enjoy.

We had a wonderful time, walking around and staying there for a day really worth the money we spent and the food is delicious and the whole area is clean and lots of greens to cherish! I thought that my kids will get tired feet but no, they're active in walking and I love 'em for that!

And again, another fun summer memories for all of us ^_^ ---Close encounter with dogs---

---Kawaii neko chan!!---

---Cats world---

---My kids had a lot of fun feeding the rabbits with carrot---

---Humboldt Penguin---

---Aqua Zone---

--- Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bird Town----

---Wakaba enjoying a camel ride---

---While me and Haruka enjoys the horse ride--- ---Watching the show with Daddy---

---New Zealand Farm Show---

---Yakiniku lunch, good for big eaters like our family---

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PBW---NASU Flower World

Nasu is located at Tochigi Preferecture and is well-known for it's beautiful scenery and mountain resorts and is famous of being one of the tourist spots here in Japan. We went to NASU Flower World and was amazed by the beautiful landscape that delight us with blooms! I've been into flower gardens before but it's a first to experience such a wonderful view to enjoy. With an excellent weather, colourful sights to cherish, having great laughs while eating some frappes--we had an enjoyable day! I hate to say this but spending time with my family outdoor and the beautiful weather draws me away from blogosphere to take a lil short break till my kids are off from school. I'm taking FULL advantage of our summer together and am sure I'll be missing them again when class resumes.

---I don't have any idea of the flower's name but these beauty caught my attention---
---Having some walks around the flower garden---
---The landscape is impressive and pleasing to the eyes------Gorgeous blooms was waiting for us to see, touch and smell---
---Thank you for a very nice weather and the beauty of nature---
---Haruka chan is now 4, she's grown big already---
---They make my life the happiest and colourful---
---Enjoying frappes to beat the summer heat---
---The love of a family is life's greatest blessing---

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Have a nice day to everyone!!^_^

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Food Trip Friday--Bibimbap Donburi

I was craving of a bibimbap and I thought of making some at home during lunch time using as donburi. A one meal bowl over rice and toppings on top. During lunch time at home, I prefer making donburi meals coz it's easy to prepare and my family loves it. I can make varieties of donburi meals and these bibimbap donburi is one of their favorite, not spicy but tasty coz my kids won't eat spicy ( so it's without the kimchii ) and I have to match with the toppings that they love like sansai ( wild veggies ) although some mix bean sprouts and or spinach over it. And oh, they also love the runny egg yolks and mix one gooey delicious meal ^_^

An entry for Food Trip Friday. Chibugan na!!\(^0^)/

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PBW--Kindergarten Summer Festival

---Wakaba and Haruka, enjoying their summer vacation---

We went to a Natsu Matsuri ( mini-summer festival )at Haruka's school at kindergarten last weekend and had a load of fun just like of the last year . It was more fun for Wakaba coz she have met again her former classmates in kindergarten ( same school ) and stayed with them til the event was all over. It's hard to take photos of them coz they would ran away from me lol! Although it wasn't that crowded ( only invited people can join the event ) the atmosphere felt like a big festival coz there were tradition games like yo-yo tsukui ( water baloons ), wa nage, etc to be played by the kids and some booths, too. Last year, Haruka was afraid of the horror booth that we have to accompany her but now she went alone lol! My little girl is growing up fast, she's even wearing her big sissies summer yukata now that I thought 'twas big to her and that we bought a new one for Wakaba to wear this year. Gees, anybody help me for not letting them grow up that soon???
---Haruka, waiting in line to join for a game---
---Wakaba wearing her new summer yukata, love the color combination of black and pink flower and rabbit design------Mama, onechan wa? ( where's Ate? ), Haruka wanted to play together with her big sissy but Wakaba was busy goofing around with her former classmates------I prefer the 'yo-yo tsuri ' ( where you can catch balloons with paper and hook ) rather than 'kingyo tsukui' ( where you catch goldfish with paper nets ) coz the poor fishes will die in a couple of days---
--- Got her water balloon!!------Wakaba, listening to the guest performing with drums------Mom should have at least one photo ( again lol ) while hubby doesn't like to being photographed ( ibo-broadcast ko lang daw kasi dito lol)---
---Fireworks as one of the highlights of the event------Wakaba and her former classmates---
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