Tuesday, 2/12....a pretty good day...

Part 1. Okay....so I'm in a bit of better frame of mind to deal with the whole Valentine's Day thing here in Japan. If you really want to read about the whole holiday and how it came to be and yadda yadda yadda....just Google "Valentine's Day in Japan" and a whole slew of things will come up for you....more than what you ever thought you wanted to know!!!
But....simply put....on February 14, women give men chocolates and presents. Or they lovingly make cakes/cookies/fudge-like chocolaty gooeyness. Or they really show their love by knitting a sweater or scarf. Men.....do nothing. No flowers. No candy. No presents. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
There are a few different kinds of "choco" you can give: 1. obligational chocolate for co-workers and/or "just friends". 2. "real" choco for your true love or the one you want to be your true love and 3. (this is a new one) "tomochoco"...."friend choco", something sweet for your friend who is also a girl. (This one started just a few years ago.)
Young ladies who work in offices will spend a bunch of yen on the "giri-choco" for the guys that they see everyday and probably make tea or coffee for.
Then.....on March 14, "White Day", the men will return the favor and buy, yes, something white for the girl (again chocolate, or other white candy...but mainly white chocolate!!). This 'holiday' was started by the chocolate companies here who were smart enough to see that they could make a bundle on both days!!!

In the Kuroiwa house, we celebrate both days. My husband does pretty good on White Day, so I can usually cut him some slack....his... is a cultural thing, not a man-thing.
Now...the boys are different.
I have designated certain days in which "Mom gets flowers". Since they don't really have a lot of their own money, on those days (Valentine's Day, Mother's day and my birthday) I give them 2,000 yen (about $20), take them to the flower shop, I let them go in
by themselves and buy me a present. I have taken them to the same shop for the past few years so the guys who work there know what's going on. They are very good in helping pick out the right flowers....but, both Issei and Koji know that though Mom likes most flowers....yellow roses, sterling roses, daisies, and callas are among her favorites!!!
I can't change a whole culture, but I can influence the little "men in training" that live with me!!!

Part 2. WHAT WE SEE IN THE MORNINGS by Koji and Mommy
This morning, in the car, I had my keitai (cell phone) out and Koji wanted me to take a picture. So I did. He then ordered directed me to take other pictures. So...here you go:








Have a great Tuesday, everyone!!!