Wes eats rocks

Okay so they aren't really rocks, but Wes thinks they are. The Japanese have these really yummy dessert things called Beard Papas. I know weird name ya? They're this kind of dough ball that is light and crispy with vanilla pudding centers that have black specks from the vanilla beans and powdered sugar on top. They're a little sweet, but not too sweet and are just so delicious. We buy them whenever we go to shamoda mall. Wes calls them his rocks I think because they look a little rock like. Every time we go to pick some up the Japanese guy calls all the workers over to look at Wes as he makes his little happy feet of anticipation waiting for his rock. They always give Wesley a balloon and laugh when they hand him the bag and his little eyes light up while he yells "Tank you tank you. My rocks!" over and over. His little happy feet only get faster once he gets his box. Then he waves to all the workers and we go find a table so we can eat them.

I just realized my poor tiny buddies are in for some major culture shock. No more Qoo soda for them (we call it kitty juice because it has a cat on the bottle and Zach thought it was juice), no more melon green soda, no more rocks, no more pretz, no more of all these little things that they've grown up on. I seriously doubt we'll be able to get them stateside. There will probably be no more people touching their hair for good luck, although Wes seems to draw people to him so I'm sure he'll still get fawned over. I doubt he'll be given free food and toys just for being white and blond and male though like he gets now.

I'll have to say Good-bye to our favorite restaurants too. These people are just like a staple in our lives now. The Indian guy has been fawning over Wes since he was 4 months old. He always had a special treat made for him (at no cost although we tried to pay), always holding him and showing him off to the Japanese customers, always meeting us at car in the parking lot so he could take Wes from me. I don't think I'll find another restaurant like that in the states. It was my favorite place to go because I knew the Indian guy adore taking care of Wes and watching him and I could get a meal in peace. It'll be weird not having him there now. I don't know what Wes will think when all of these familiar faces are gone. The old guy from Mika's that always gives him a little cup of green soda and watches them from the corner of his eye. He tries to act like he isn't watching us, but I can tell from the little smirks he does when Wes or Zach is doing something funny that he has an eye on us. I'll miss the ladies at the cheese Roll Noodle too. They always fawn over both boys and touch their hair. I've never figured out what they're saying, but they're always chattering on and pointing to the boys, arguing over who gets to take our order and touching their hair. They laugh every time Zach says "Domo" for whatever treat they've taken over and they're always amazed at how much noodles Wes can pack away.

In some weird way they feel like family. I don't even know their names, but they've just always been there you know? I can only hope that we find restaurants with wonderful people like them in the states or I might have to cook more often. Going out to eat here really has been a treat. Rocks and all