November 2007- Thanksgiving and more

Well, we survived Thanksgiving here in Japan with Mark back in the States. He comes back Dec. 23rd!
We had a nice dinner with friends. My Swedish friend, Maria, her husband Chas and their 2 kids; Saga and Disa and then my Icelandic friend, Thodunn, and her son, Kristoffer, and myself and the boys! Somehow I've managed to never have to bake a Turkey yet in my entire life. I was in charge of a few side-dishes. We had a great dinner with all the fixins and I must say the Turkey was very good, Maria!
We got together with the same friends a few days late to make gingerbread men and had lots of fun too. We all laughed that it's never how you pictured it in your "mommy fantasies"; ie you're dressed in your apron, sipping hot cocoa, listening to Christmas music, with the kids sitting down, and patiently awaiting your instruction on the process. It's more like a free for all with kids grabbing everything, not sharing cookie cutters, someone screaming about some huge injustice ("he has my cup!!!!) all that lasts 10 minutes and then you decide "enough, we're going home for naps!" But we did enjoy a delicious cookie before we departed so it was worth it.
On another note...
Tyler takes a lunch to school each day which the Japanese call an "Obento". He has a special bag, in which he puts another bag, in which are his "obento boxes". I used to send him with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in one and a sliced apple in the other (his favorite lunch before- and the typical fare back home). He would come home talking about how good everyone else's lunch looked and begging me to send him with "Japanese food". In an effort to learn a little and let Tyler blend in a little more I've tried to expand my repertoire and learn to make a more Japanese obento. Now I pack some homemade rice balls- packed rice from my rice cooker- they have special shapes and devices to help you make, some meat- usually frozen meat balls or chicken- frozen is common say my Japanese friends unless you have leftovers, and something green like brocolli or edamame. He likes to use chopsticks to although he shows me how he "stabs/spears" his food with them most of the time rather than the usual technique. Oh well, at least he's interested!
I've borrowed a book from a friend that shows some of the obento that mom's make for kids. It's quite an elaborate affair and sometimes the source of much pride and competition among the moms. My 24 year old Japanese friend says that her mom still every day makes an obento for her 26 year old sister that also lives at home and works as a school nurse. I have arranged for a Japanese cooking lesson for a group of us on obento to learn some more so I'll keep you posted on what I learn!