最後の３日間.../Last Three Days...

まず水曜日に行った所は来た時から約束していたターゲットとビージェイズ...マディソンが良い子にしていてくれたからゆっくり買い物ができました！特にあすかはお土産用いろいろ山のように買ってたよ：）買い物の後はデイブの学校へ...あすかは前に来た事があると思うけどお母さんには初めてのデイブの職場体験、一緒に働いている先生/友達に会える事ができました。あとあすかの彼氏候補の体育の先生ジェイにも...；）
As I promised them from day 1, we drove to Target and BJs in College Point on Wednesday to finish up shopping to take back to families and friends in Japan. Madison was happy in her car seat the entire time so her G-ma and Aunt had plenty of time to go around Target and BJs:-) Thank you Madison! Then we went to pick up Dave at his school/to show my Mom where he works. We got there just when the school was getting out so they got to meet our close teacher-friends... We were hoping something romantic might spark between my sister and a certain gym teacher but I think we are going to have to wait to see that;-)

木曜日：明日は起きて空港に向かうだけになっちゃうから木曜日の今日が最後の自由に出歩ける日。やっとあすかが買いたかった万年筆を買いに行く事に...どこにでもあるかと思っていたら結構見つけるのが難しくて少しびっくりだったけどやっと売っているお店にたどり着く事ができました。クロスって言うメーカーなんだけど外国のメーカーで良いのが見つけられてあすかは満足そう！万年筆を買う前に寄ったお店はディーゼルと言う杏奈の好きなお店...そこでお母さんとあすかがデイブに何か買いたいって言ってたからすっごーい高い時計を選びました。杏奈はすこーし安めのを見てたんだけどあすかがどうしてもって、でもそれにして良かったーすごいかっこいいもん！あと３人姉妹でお揃いでお母さんがベレー帽も買ってくれました。可愛いでしょ？家に帰った後マディソンに前に買っておいたベレー帽をかぶせて写真を一枚：）最初は何もいらないって言ってたんだけど最後の最後にお母さんに押され負けて自分にも何か買ってもらう事に...マディソンを抱っこして出かける時に使えそうな可愛いリュックを買ってもらおうと思ったら自分だけが使える物じゃなきゃだめって...結局はティファニーでネックレスを買ってもらう事に：）やったー!!欲しかったのあったんだけど何か特別な事がなきゃ買えないなーと思ってたのです。１時間ぐらいうろうろして悩んだ結果前から欲しかったのプラス、ハートのチャーム付きのを買ってもらう事に決めちゃいました！ありがとう！お母さん、お父さん!!　大事にするからね：）

Since we knew we wouldn't get to do much besides going to the airport today, yesterday was the actual last day for them to do stuff so Asuka was finally able to purchase a fountain pen that she needed for her work. She wanted a non-Japanese brand so we found a retailer that carries CROSS brand pens. Asuka got to even try out the pen she wanted(which was a no, no at a certain store in Boston) so we were very satisfied with their service:-) and she was really happy to finally get it! Our first stop was at Diesel which is one of my favorite stores... My Mom and Asuka insisted that they buy something special for him so I suggested a watch from Diesel. I had my eyes on one that is on the cheaper side(it's Diesel so still not too cheap!) but their eyes were on something else... and I agreed, they wanted something special for him and I wanted him to have a really cool watch so we went with that. Mom also got us(3 daughters) matching Berets so that reminded Asuka and I of Xmas traditions. I don't want to take up too much blog space telling this story here but my Mom and Dad always got us something matching for us to use or wear for Xmas and they usually came in different colors so we don't mistake or fight over each others. Then we would get one big gift that we would have to share, Xmas is not huge in Japan so that's all we got, but we loved it and that's why I'm not a big 'bunch of gifts' person:-) Anyways, so my mom wanted to get me a very special gift today even though I said I didn't need any. I told her "Okay, maybe you can get me a backpack that I can use when I go out with Madison in a Baby Bjorn." Then she told me that's not personal enough that only I should use what ever she will be getting for me so I said "Okay, I've asked Dave for a matching necklace that I can have with Madison, do you want to get that for me?" Then she said no that's something Dave should get for you and Madison so then I said "Okay, I have a necklace that I've been wanting from Tiffany's... Can we go look?" Then she said sure so we went and after an hour of looking/trying on I was able to get rid of my guilty feeling and let her buy me a super cute necklace. I went back and forth between the cheaper one(again still expensive) but it had such a weak looking chain and I was thinking about Madison and how she will be grabbing onto everything she can get her hands on so I am 120% happy with our final decision:-)

今日はいつも使っていた地下鉄の代わりにバスに乗って行く事に。渋滞のせいで１０分で着くはずが一時間かかってしまったけど町中を通りながらいろいろ見れてかえって良かったみたい。
We decided to take a bus into Manhattan which ended up taking us an hour instead of 10mins on a subway but they enjoyed going through the streets at slower pace...





ここに書くのも辛い出発の日がとうとう来てしまいました。空港に向かう前にお母さんとあすかが気に入ってるパネラブレッドで日本に持ち帰るパンをどっさり買ってしょうがなくJFKへ向けて出発。思ったり道路は混んでなく楽々到着、荷物を預けてお昼を食べてとうとうお別れの時間が...マディソンが眠れなくってちょっとぐずってたから涙が出ないように頑張っていた私の気がまぎれて良かったけど、最後の最後で出て来ちゃいました...でも、２週間本当に楽しかったなー。マディソンにもやっと会えてもらって一緒に遊んでもらったり、抱っこしてもらったり本当に良かった：）来年返って来れるように絶対頑張るからね！

It's too painful to write about today...
Before we headed out to the airport we stopped by Panera Bread(Mom and Asuka loved this place) to buy a bunch of pastries to take back home. Grand Central Parkway wasn't as crowded as I expected so we made good time and were able to check in and get rid of the luggage right away. We had lunch together and as I tried not to cry the whole time sleepy/fussy Madison was very helpful to get my mind off of good bye moment to come... and it finally came, the dreadful moment to say bye... I've done it so many times but it never gets easier and I suppose it never will. It's a lot harder this time because we had such a great time together and they got to meet Madison. It was so precious to see them playing together. I was so glad Asuka got to come along since she has such a crazy schedule being a Detective over there I did not think she could take any time out so it was really special that she was able to come too.