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The Filthiest of All

I was up a little late last night talking with a very good old friend, which is something I need to do more. Often I put it off because I'm tired, but since I'm always tired that's not a good reason to put off something that gives me energy.

So I was the last one up this morning. Again. The boys came in and jumped on the bed and woke me up and announced they had already had breakfast and that mine was ready too.


Eri always knows what I need, even and especially when I don't know it myself. I skip a lot of meals, or just have a few bites standing in the kitchen while trying to multitask helping the boys finish their meals and getting the bath ready or prepping them for school or brushing their teeth. I have really been trying to stay focused on the fact that I don't need to eat that much. I eat when I'm hungry and I drink when I'm dry. 

This morning, however, Eri's wisdom won. I sat and ate a beautiful Sunday morning pancake breakfast.

And then it was back on the roller coaster.

The boys and I headed over to Nanakita Park, one of our all time favorite places to play. It's just a fifteen-minute drive from our house. 


We would've taken the bus but they wanted to take their balls to kick around and I figured we'd head somewhere for lunch afterward anyway, both to maximize Eri's quiet time at home and also because going out for lunch with the boys on the weekend is special. It's also still relatively cheap since they eat off the kids menu and I happened to have a coupon for our favorite family restaurant Marumatsu.

Kenzo actually agreed to take a photo where he's not making a crazy face. On the sixth try.

The boys played for three straight hours while I held down the fort on our Thomas the Tank Engine picnic mat drinking my coffee from my thermos and doing some writing. When we set up our spot I had Osamu and Kenzo line up and look at me and I read the the rules: 
  • This is where papa will be. 
  • It's right in the middle of the park area where we are. 
  • You can play and run and be crazy but don't wander off where I can't see you. 
  • If you can't see me then I can't see you. 
  • Come check with me when you pass by. 
  • Come get a swig from your water bottle when you get thirsty. 
  • I've got a bunch of snacks so come get those too. 
Now off you go!

Ohhhh boy they were off.

Our neighbor Ito-san was there, too, and we talked a while. Their son is one year older than Kenzo and they love catching bugs together. They are excited to pass on the revolving neighborhood association duties to us in the springtime. They were actually a little too excited to talk about that with me. Next year should be interesting, and busy, and tiring. I'm just looking forward to having more chances to interact with more people in our neighborhood. Eri told me later in the evening that she's skeptical I'll be able to maintain that optimism throughout our year-long tenure. I think we'll be fine.

On the way home in the car I told the boys that when we get back you gotta change clothes because you guys are filthy. They really were. Autumn leaves, dust and dirt, smears of cookie chocolate and boogers and unidentifiable detritus. 

Kenzo announced from the back seat, "I'm not filthy!"

Osamu then seconded, "Yeah, I'm not filthy either!"

I retorted, "Osamu, you are the most filthy of all!"

He looked down at his clothes and over at Kenzo and Kenzo laughed because it was true and Osamu calmly agreed, "Yeah, papa. Getting dirty is fun. I'm so tired. Let's go to Marumatsu."

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