Sono's Visit

 

Years ago (I'm guessing around 2004ish), my mom and sister both housed foreign exchange students. Mom's student Sono was from Japan, and she lived with Mom & Jamie for the entire school year. On Saturday, September 17, Sono came back to visit for a week, staying again with Mom (in her new house this time).

On Monday afternoon, after Joshua's doctor and picture appointments, they stopped in to visit. This was Sono's first time meeting our boys. Her sister recently had a baby who is a month younger than Ryan, if I'm remembering correctly.

She came bearing gifts for each one of us. I should have remembered that gift giving and receiving is very important in Japanese culture. I couldn't believe all the nice and thoughtful things she had for the kids and us adults. The boys LOVED these little remote control "Cars" cars (a Mater one for Joshua and a Lightning one for Caleb). Of course, I couldn't read the directions that were in Japanese so she explained how to charge them and make them work. The kids thought these were really cool and have enjoyed playing with them! She also got them a mat to play them on, which is a picture of Japan.

Then Joshua opened another gift that was a book and in it all the different train sounds. We can't read the Japanese words but the noises are really neat.

Even baby Ryan got little gifts from Sono, including a chocolate bar looking teether (so cute!), a froggy bath wash clothe and a bib.

Here's Sono helping Joshua with his gifts:

She also had candy and treats for the kiddos, which they have enjoyed. I received several nice gifts as well, and she even had a present for Shawn.
The boys wanted to teach Sono & Mamaw how to play "Trouble" so we played a round while they were here.

Joshua & Caleb also showed her some of their Toy Story toys, since she likes Toy Story. And Caleb tried on his new sweater that Mamaw made him.

Soon enough it was time for them to head to Jen's house.

but we saw Sono again on Friday night, September 23, when Mom had a little 'farewell' family party for her. We all went over for dinner and to play. We ate pizza, wings, fruit and snacks; and we checked out Ken's new "Keurig" coffee maker, which makes excellent Chai! The kids had a blast playing together in the basement (as you can see from the picture of Joshua & Emma). Shawn stopped in to say hello and farewell and then headed to our nephew Grant's birthday party. When he left, he took my minivan keys with him - DOH! (We had driven separately, knowing he would need to leave). So, after I had packed up all the kids and realized that I didn't have my keys, I called him and he headed back over.

In the meantime, we had looked at a book Sono had brought Mom on the devastation from the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. We had made little "thank you" cards that morning for her (the boys made them as a craft when they woke up early that morning) and I had put on them "Made in the USA" since she won't buy anything made in China. I had also bought her a shirt and some candy to say thank you for the gifts she had brought in keeping with her customs.

Farewell, Sono! We hope you had a nice visit and that we'll see you again sometime!