Korean Week

The first week of November was Korean Week at Seoul Foreign School. That meant that Garrett, Grant and Miya got to learn all about the Korean culture by playing Korean games, dressing in traditional clothing (hanbok), and trying lots of delicious Korean food. They also had a talent show where they displayed talents. It was a really neat week--here are a few pics of the festivities.

Miya sang with her Kindergarten class at the talent show a song in Korean, called "I Am Blue"

There was a pretty hilarious microphone take-over as the kindergarteners started making funny noises into them. It was very entertaining, but the Korean teacher did NOT look pleased. One kid even got whisked off of the stage in the middle of the performance. I love this age!

Making a Korean top

 Miya in the traditional Hanbok. They took an all-school picture with all of the kids dressed up. 

 Grant looked great in his Hanbok!

 Grant running around the gym playing the fun Korean games.

 Miya just wanted to pound rice into rice flour. 

 Garrett had fun with the arrow throwing. And the Korean see-saw. It was just a board laid over a rolled up carpet in the middle, and the kids would each stand on one end of the board, and alternate jumping and try and fling the other one way up in the air. Lots of fun and no one broke a bone. Success!

 We attended the Kimchi festival a few weeks ago. It was rainy and cold, but lots of fun to learn about the process.

 They set up a mini village backdrop and showed how to make kimchi. I'm still trying to acquire a taste for it. I try it every time it is offered, but usually end up with tears in my eyes and a runny nose. Maybe in a year I will like it...

 Kalia was freezing, but a good sport. She was not about to try any of the kimchi though, because it's spicy.

 They used to make the kimchi and then put it in these giant kimchi pots, bury them in the ground and then let it sit for 1 to 3 years.  Now they have special fridges that they put the kimchi in to age. 

After trying all of the different kimchi, the kids needed some good comfort food so we ate at Burger King for lunch. Not my favorite, but they thought it tasted like heaven.

It doesn't matter how big they get, I never tire of watching my kids sleep. They are so peaceful. And quiet. I just love it.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mom's visit, and Baby time!

We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving season with so much for which to be thankful.

We started the day out with a trip to the emergency room after the turkey bowl. Tyler tore a calf muscle and was in a lot of pain. After some crutches and ibuprofen, he was ready to carve the turkey. 

I forgot to take a picture of the big feast, so it looks like we just had water. I promise, we had a feast with all of the trimmings. Kristina had been in labor all morning, but made it for the feast, but couldn't stay for pie. Curt and Kris left in a hurry when Kris's water broke. We were excitedly awaiting the call to know when she would be born!

All of the kids had fun feasting and playing.

This is Garrett with his baby :) I assigned all of the kids a dish to prepare and Garrett chose the oreo pie. It is becoming his specialty as he made it last year too.

About 9:30 we took the kids and Grandma back over to the Magleby's for bed, and when we pulled into the parking garage we got the news that Emi Joy had been born. It was such a sweet moment to be there so soon after her birth and get to meet her for the first time. Such a sweet Thanksgiving baby!

Mom took family photos for us. We got through this session without anyone throwing up, or any major tantrums. It was one of our better years. And although Shayla and Garrett thought this was a great pose, it got nixed from the Christmas card. 

 Grandma time! Kalia was done with photos by this point.

Miya's birthday was the Monday after Thanksgiving, so we celebrated all weekend. We weren't quite awake yet, but delivered crepes for her breakfast in bed.

 I can't believe she is 6 already!

We did birthday dinner and presents on Sunday.

 Happy Birthday, Miya!

 This was our group shot at the party since we didn't get a picture on Thanksgiving Day.

 Miya making a wish over her Mint Oreo Pie.

 Ty warming up for his basketball game. He is having a great season and I'm proud of him. He initially got cut from the team at the last round, and he was pretty bummed. So he contacted the coach and asked for any suggestions of good drills to do so he could practice and make the team next year. It turned out that someone dropped out of the team, so the coach added Ty. I have to admit that I was kind of okay with Ty not making the team, for selfish reasons of having more time at home as a family, etc. But seeing how happy he is and how much he has progressed has made it all worth it. He is doing a great job of balancing early-morning seminary with school and homework and basketball. And it was fun for him to have Grandma at one of his games!

 Birthday festivities! Miya and Eva got to paint a piece of pottery at the arts and crafts center. They are such great partners in crime. They love all things artsy!

 Holding Baby Emi for the first time. Living so close has it's definite perks. 

 Holding Emi, trying to take turns. No one really wants to share though.

 More Emi love.

 Noraebang or Korean karaoke is AMAZING! This luxury noraebang had all you can eat ice cream and soda, while we sang our hearts out in our own private room. The kids loved it. It really brought out the superstar in all of them. Especially Kalia--she was strutting her stuff on the dance floor and really "Letting It Go" on the singing (which the kids sang 3 times while we were there).

Matching kitty cars at Emart 

 Neither of the girls wanted to be the prince, so Grandma volunteered.

Our dramatic Kiku and Kalia dressed up as princesses at the museum, and then both died. It was a sad day.

 Mom and I got to attend the temple together on our snowstorm day. I think the sun was especially bright reflecting off of the snow, which is why we can't open our eyes.

 My wonderful Mom in front of the temple.

 Poor Miya got sick with a fever the day before her Christmas concert. In typical Miya fashion she was disappointed, but unphased. "At least I get to walk through all of the snow. I love the sound it makes when I step on it" as she made tracks all over the yard.

 Eating delicious Korean BBQ! A favorite treat.

 Emi is such a good baby--she just slept in her pack through the whole meal. 

We took mom out to a show her last night in Korea. It is a cooking show without much talking, just a lot of food-chopping, dancing, percussion-type entertainment, with lots of humor and audience participation to entertain. Tyler was selected to help out on stage, and got to taste the soup they made and dress in some traditional Korean clothes. Such a fun night! 

And Miya and Kalia and I met Tyler at the embassy for lunch. When Miya saw the podium she just had to give a speech. She climbed up to the podium and recited the 2nd Article of Faith for the entire lunchroom. It was pretty sweet :)

Bugs, Asian bugs..

Okay, so there have been so many new things here in Korea, one of which is the variety of bugs and animals. Here are just a few...

 Cidadas were so loud when we arrived in August. I think they lasted through mid-September. Not the most attractive bug I've ever seen...

 Anyone want to identify the name of this lovely spider we found in our house? Eek!

 I think I heard someone call this a "thousand-leg" bug. It looks like two giant moving eyelashes with antennae. So creepy.

 Dragonflies are everywhere. This one was perched on Kristina's van antennae when I snapped this optical illusion. The dragon flies really are normal size, not the size of telephone poles like this photo makes it appear.

 We were walking down the street in Insadong when we saw a man carrying a baby bunny. The kids were fascinated with it, so he set it down so they could pet it. Such a cute bunny!

 Kalia loves dogs, and has overcome her fear of them (Bonbon, one of the guard dogs in the DR nipped at her and scared her to death). She has spent a lot of time with Annabelle, Kris and Curt's dog and isn't too scared anymore.

Too bad this is the most lively dog we are going to own. 

I couldn't get a good picture, so this is from the internet, but we do have beautiful pheasants that roam our neighborhood here on base.