This is one of the cute Japanese songs the kids like singing, which is very simple enough for me to sing, too.
It goes to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?” and the words are something like this…
guu choki pare, guu choki pare ぐうちょき ぱあれ ぐうちょき ぱあれ (rock, scissor, paper. rock, scissor, paper) – while singing this part the kids do the appropriate hand signs for rock, scissors and paper
nani tsukuttaroo? nani tsukuttaroo? なに つくったろう？ なに つくったろう？ (What shall we make? What shall we make?) – while singing this they usually sway their head and open palms left to right
hidari te wa GU migi te wa PARE ひだりて は ぐう みぎ (left hand is “rock.” right hand is “paper.”) – while singing this part, make the rock hand symbol with the left hand, and the paper with the right
herikoptaa herikoptaa ヘリコプター ヘリコプター (helicopter) – while singing this, place right hand (paper) over left hand (rock) and turn hands to gesture a moving a helicopter
Then you can repeat the song, but changing the ending with either Gu, Choki or Pare with right and left hands. The other possible combination endings can go:
hidari te wa GU migi te wa GU…..yukidaruma yukidaruma (snowman)
hidari te wa CHOKI migi te was GU….katatsumuri katatsumuri (snail)
hidari te wa GU migi te wa CHOKI….usagi usagi (rabbit)
So I guess this is officially the first Japanese kids song I can sing in its entirety without messing up the words. Or so I think…..
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Daily Life.
According to WebMD: The medical term for sleep talking is somniloquy. Half of all kids between the ages of 3 and 10 years old carry on conversations while asleep, and a small number of adults — about 5% — keep chit-chatting after they go to bed. The utterances can take place occasionally or every night. A 2004 poll showed that more than 1 in 10 young children converse in their sleep more than a few nights a week. Overall, it’s says it’s a harmless sleep disorder. But it could be linked to nightmares or night terrors.
The kids have been talking in their sleep lately, not at the same time of course. When it happens, they both usually sound like they are remembering an earlier squabble. I thought maybe it’s stress from being in nursery school, or watching certain tv shows. They seem fine when they wake up but I wonder still if there is something to prevent it or if they will naturally stop as they get older.
Posted in: Daily Life.
We didn’t get to go to the Museum of Modern Art this time around, but it’s one of the places I hope to take the kids on the next visit. I’m all for encouraging kids’ boundless imagination and creativity. We’d go when Keiji when he was just about 1 1 /2 years old and it was always very enjoyable for everyone.
Posted in: NY, Places.
FAO Schwarz, NYC
I’m very grateful that Auntie Jackie and Grandma insisted we take the kids to the 5th Avenue FAO Schwarz. The last time I went there was when the store was going through some financial difficulties so the store was scaled down and seemed sparse, from how I remember it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the store is still quite magical and things are so delightfully displayed.
Ever watch the movie Big? If you did, then I’m sure you can recall the scene where Tom Hanks and his friend play the giant piano on the floor inside FAO Schwarz. The piano is still there. And there are many newer things: apart from the blocks, trains, specialty stuffed animals like life-size dragons and dinosaurs, there are other novelties like a place where you can build your own Jim Hensons muppet of your own, a studio where you can choose from a selection of clay items to paint and have it glazed and baked in a kiln, a doll section of all makes and sizes and dream houses, a lovely princess section where bright and sparkly tulle and tiaras line the walls and areas dedicated to the long-loved brands like Barbie, Lego, Hot Wheels. The kids were literally all over the place for hours.
To get there by subway, take the N or R to the 5th Avenue station. If you have a stroller, you’ll need to be prepared to walk up quite a few steps.
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Keiji's Favorites, NY, Places.
Until April 19th, there is a cute little carousel and replica SL train for kids (and adults) to ride at Akasaka Sacas. Apart from this event, the Akasaka Sacas complex itself doesn’t have as much space for kids to run around and explore as say Tokyo Midtown or Roppongi Hills. If you are in the area though, it’s worth stopping by to eat or grab a snack or to check out some event, like free performances. It is also right in front of the TBS station building. There isn’t much to do in that building, but if you have a little Ultraman fan, he might want to pose next to the giant figure.
Chiyoda line to Akasaka station will leave you right in front of Akasaka Sacas.
Posted in: Events, Places.
April 12 was Easter Sunday. To try and keep some of the holiday spirit alive in the household, the kids dyed some Easter eggs on Saturday.
We brought back some egg dye kits from NY since this year they are both old enough to try it together without making too much of a crazy mess.
Here are the colorful eggs and the making of…
Unlike Christmas, Halloween and Valentine’s Day, Easter is not one of the holidays fully celebrated (marketed) here. I’ve only really seen Easter egg chocolates and bunnies at the Sony Plaza stores, which always has cute accessories and treats for any holiday. Many people ask me what exactly is Easter about and why the eggs and bunnies. So I usually explain that it is the day Christ came back to life and that the eggs and the bunnies are symbols of fertility and Spring. Next year I think more kids are looking forward to dying Easter eggs…maybe we’ll even do our own little egg hunt.
Posted in: Western traditions.
Okay I admit it – one of the things I miss about NYC is the abundance of delivery menu options! How I took it for granted when I was just too tired (or lazy) to cook dinner, knowing I could look through the pile of menus or go to the good old reliable Chinese take-out. Then piping hot food is brought to your door within half an hour. We indulged in food delivery quite a bit while we were there- it was our vacation after all. Uncle Pete got Keiji hooked on buffalo wings.
I won’t even get started about the pizza…anyone who knows me must be sick of hearing me talk about NY pizza. I’ve ordered pizza in Japan and although delivery is getting more popular here and the menu photos look delicious with all the crazy assortment of toppings, I don’t like spending $50 for two medium sized pizzas from Dominoes or Pizza Hut. My mother-in-law introduced me to Costco Japan’s “regular-sized” slices of pizza at the “normal” price…so we may need to get Costco membership just for that.
But in Japan, the availability of prepared foods at supermarkets and “bento” take-out boxes is really good. I suppose this is why most people here don’t really need to do delivery- one can easily go to a supermarket or convenience store and get katsudon, karage, curry rice, yakitori, sushi and many other kinds of dishes. Not too bad at all.
Posted in: Food, NY.
Fifth Avenue is always appealing to shoppers visiting NYC since all the designer shops can be found on this long avenue that runs Uptown to Downtown. Fortunately for shoppers with children, there are lots of appealing places for the younger ones too. In the 57th street area you can find the Central Park Zoo, FAO Schwarz and the Apple store (fun for all ages!) a few blocks south, and the Disney Store a few more blocks south from there. Here’s Keiji in front of the Apple store, taking a little break from afternoon affairs.
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Keiji's Favorites, NY, Places.
It snowed twice in February. The kids and I enjoyed it since we were indoors and didn’t have to trek out anywhere. I can’t remember the last time I shoveled snow so doing that was actually quite a novelty again, too. Though I’m grateful I don’t need to do that multiple times every winter!
Posted in: Daily Life, NY, Places.
We didn’t make it to Chidorigafuchi or Naka Meguro this year to see cherry blossoms there. From reports I heard, it was very beautiful but also crowded, as expected. We’ll try to make it there one year. We did make it to Yasukuni, but it was too early and the cherry blossoms weren’t in full bloom. So instead, the kids rode their bikes along the Tama River to view the cherry blossoms.
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Daily Life, Keiji's Favorites.