"Mommy Nai, I can't find my school showt."

We hear this every morning.

"Elma, it's time we get a wardrobe for the kids."

"I agree with that."

Later in the week:

Elma parks the car she rented in the underground parking lot. We get out.

Haru: "Woah there's so many caws. I like the Mazda."

Me: "Your knowledge of cars is better than mine."

Elma: "This is the first time I'm going to IKEA. I'm so excited!"

At the entrance of the store, we see a big sign that read "It's okay if you change your mind."

Me: "Woahh! This looks like an American store.

Elma: "Look at all those squeegies. We can finally wash our windows well."

Haru picks up one. "Shqueeze shqueeze"

Elma: "I'll squeeze your cheeks." She playfully does this.

An associate approaches me and hands me a flyer for a sale on the cribs because he notices the twins with us.

Me: "Ooh look at those artificial plants. So pretty."

Elma: "The twins will dismantle them."

We explore the large store which has everything you could name for your home.

Elma: "These pillows are soo soft."

Haru: "Can I have one?"

Me: "Sure baby."

Elma: "He already has pillows. You spoil him too much."

Me: "Fine. I'll buy you one if you get 5 gold stars this term."

Elma: "Bribing your children is not the way to go."

Me: "I see it as a reward for his good performance."

Haru: "Stop fighting. I don't want it."

Elma smiles. "We weren't fighting."

Me: "These table lamps are good when Haru's doing his homework in the night."

I put it in the shopping cart.

Elma: "Uwoo these giant lamps are so fancy. We don't have space in the apartment for it."

I smirk. "We probably don't have that budget either."

Haru jumps on the water bed.

"Yay!!! These feel so good."

I test out some of the mattresses.

"They're so comfortable. I want to take a nap here."

Elma: "Would you two stop being childish and let's find a closet already."

Me: "Elma, I forgot to mention this place has a food court."

Elma: "In- in that case, I guess we could stay a little longer."

"Look at this sofa. I like it."

"Nai, you like everything in this store. We don't need it."

In the wardrobe section, my eyes catch a white closet for kids.

"This is the one, Elma."

Her: "Hmm? Maybe this one. It has more space to fit more items.."

Me: "But this one is the perfect size and it will match the colour scheme of their room."

Haru: "I like both."

Elma and I debate this for over half an hour until we settle for a totally different one.

Haru's stomach growls.

Me: "You're hungry from all that walking, buddy. Let's get you something to eat."

We pay and make arrangements for installation. Then, we all head for the food court.

"Wow there are carts to put your tray!" I comment.

Elma and I take one cart each. We order salmon, potato salad, cheese cake, and mapo tofu.

Elma: "This food is so tasty."

Haru: "Yep. I never wanna leave."

Elma and I laugh.

Ryouma starts bawling. He gets fussy when he's around a lot of people and noise.

Meanwhile, Yuka's quietly eating the potato salad Elma feeds her.

We had to put the food in boxes and leave but we had a good time.