busy,busy,busy

It's been really busy here the past couple of weeks.  Some days it feels like non stop doing things. Christopher and Hannah are back at school.  Hannah is in the last year of elementary school and so excited.  That's good.  Christopher not so excited, he has a lot of work to do this coming year.  David has started his psychology course, so far good.  I get a lot of explanations of things.   With the kids back at school I am back to the early morning madness, up 5am to get breakfast and make a lunch box for Christopher.  Tough but no choice, makes the days VERY LONG!
Just before Hannah went back we did a bit of shopping.  That was fun.  April 1st was the day that the consumption tax increased, from 5% to 8%.  For weeks before this increase the news programmes were running so many doom and gloom stories, how people weren't go to be shopping as before but i didn't see that.  People were shopping as usual.  I got Hannah a couple of nice T shirts for the summer, a new pencil case and a few other bits and pieces!

Hannah's T shirts and pencil case.

We also got a nice surprise!   I got a letter from the education department saying that some book tokens had been sent for Hannah  from one the local businesses, Hisamitsu!  I applied for these book tokens last year, they are given to single parents in this area.  I forgot all about them but I figured that we would get maybe 2000 yen!  When I picked up the gift cards the total was 30,000 yen (about 300 dollars).  I am so happy, all the kids love to read and these will come in handy during the summer holidays.  When Hannah and Christopher start with "I'm bored"  business we can go and buy a couple of books!!

the book tokens
 

We are still cleaning out the house.  Half way there, but slow going.  The garden is still a disaster but we need to spend more time on it. One problem is that the best time is Sunday, everybody is free but it seems to rain on Sunday!!!!  Good excuse!   Last Sunday it was pouring down all day.  I took Christopher and Hannah to the local recycle shop.  Christopher got a load of T shirts and Hannah got a couple of skirts,  she likes her skirts to be below the knee so it's difficult to find nice skirts for her.  The one she really likes is no good for school as it is too long and would be dangerous on the stairs but she looks so cute in it!

Hannah looking cute in her new skirt and hat

I think that is all for now!!