sayonara - part 2!

So in true Playgroup style, we had to eat more cake, drink more coffee and tea, have at least one happy birth announcement and one birthday party ............ and only then could we truly say SAYONARA Playgroup!

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to Rie Sakurai who finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy this morning. we are all waiting eagerly to hear his name and to see him out and about in Komaba with his Mum, who we miss too much.

Happy birthda to Sakura chan, one of our "oldest" playgroup kids who is now 3 yeasr old!

This morning at Fuse Court Ikejiri, our Playgroup Mammies went all out and had obviously been cooking and baking all night long as we had a veritable feast. Chicken, prawn salads, miso cake, chiffon cake to die for, as well as countless other long-sonce devoured treats.

I was handed over some real treasures - a Japanese song book and CD as well as other really special omiyages..... which I will always keep.

Thank you all so much for arranging this party, for cooking all night long and especially for all the precious memories.

Please keep the PLAYGROUP going in September.

Sayonara............. & see you in the park:)

SAYONARA PLAYGROUP....

Can it really be the end of such a fun era? This morning, on another rainy Monday, Komaba International Playgroup celebrated in style the end of our colourful and unique Playgroup.

Miso Sensei braved the weather and abandoned poor Gen kun who fell sick at the last moment, to bring us the much anticipated "Magical Miso" - which was devoured by all. Akiko whipped up a great soup snack for us all. Thank you:)

Our kids yet again, showed how it is actually possible to eat EVERYTHING on the table in less than 3 nanoseconds and then come back asking for more. Kimiko's multi-lingual cake didn't stand a chance with Etienne and Daniel there.

Thanks to everyone who brought such great stuff to the buffet. We were spoiled with onegiri, wafers, veggy sticks for the miso dipping, fruit a-plenty and of course, lots of cake and cookies.

I have some really funny pictures of the "Graduation ceremony". My favourite is with Kent sleeping soundly in his mother's arms. Have a look at them on picasa:)

It was with much sadness that I announced our imminent departure from Tokyo. We've been here for three and a half years. Etienne and Daniel were born here and know no other "home". Komaba has become our home. And our neighbours and Playgroup buddies have become our friends. We will really miss you all:(

Please keep in touch and if at all possible, I'd love to see the Playgroup continuing. It's such a great group of people it would be a shame to see it end just because I'm leaving. You have each other's addresses, you see each other in the park all the time and you even have the CD. No excuses!! Maybe you could rotate the group and take it in turns to host? This is usually what happens with Playgroups of this nature. Go on..... Jump Jump Jump...... Dingle Dangle till your heart's content and most importantly, EAT CAKE whenever possible:)

I hope to see you all in the park when the weatehr picks up, so for now, it's "mata ne"... not "sayonara" just yet:)

Sayonara, bye bye, au revoir, Auf Weidersein, Ciao......

Eating cake and managing the mayhem...

I had planned a great 3rd birthday party for Sakura chan this morning. I made my now-near-famous yoghurt cake and had surprises galore. Alas the birthday girl got a cold after planting rice all weekend in Chiba and couldn't make it to Komaba. Too bad..... we ate her cake with gusto and not a morsel was saved.

I hope nobody had intended to start this week by vowing to go on a diet. Our Playgroup "snacktime" just doesn't lend itself to such restrictions! This morning we were spoilt by Maria who brought slimming-plans to a crashing end with her delicious carrot cake. I think it lasted 5 seconds...... even the crumbs were devoured and the plate licked clean by our mob of hungry toddlers. Thank you!! (I'll try and weasel the recipe out of the chef and post it on the blog for next time!)

Alas today is Maria's last day of Playgroup. Andrew will start a mini-summer-camp next week and will thus be kicking up a storm in and around Tokyo Tower for a few weeks. Good luck and thanks for joining all the fun:)

A very big welcome to Saori and Kazuki, who came along with Yukako and Gen and Joe today.

And so that was our last "regular" Playgroup session. Etienne and Daniel were being truly monstrous - I do apologise for that. But who knows what gets into the minds of two-year olds, eh? They got up this morning and decided to try my patience. And boy did they succeed!

Next week is our "Sayonara" party in which we will hopefully get to taste the "mysterious magical miso" of our beloved "Miso-sensei". So carrot sticks and cucumber will replace the calorific menu of today. I might have to make another cake just in case the party menu becomes TOO healthy! See you then, same time, same place.