From VBS to Doritos

Hi, everyone!  I have a quick blogpost for you guys this week.  We just completed our 21st week in Korea .  The majority of the week was spent taking the kids to vacation bible school on Camp Casey.  Mitchell and Darci had such a wonderful time and have already talked about next summer. The VBS volunteers did such a wonderful job and took lots of great pictures so I have included those for you to see.

Our weekend was spent relaxing at home and enjoying family time.  On Friday night, we went to see a movie at the pool.  On Saturday morning, we all got up at 5am to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, which was quite strange trying to watch it on Korean TV.  We then spent the rest of the day playing games including a new made-up game that I am going to call "giggle factory".  I know I have said this before but I HAVE to say it again.  Dave is one of the BEST dads EVER because he really takes time to entertain the children.  They are so lucky!.

the "Giggle Factory"

an added plus...they buff the floor while they play

We did try one thing Korean this week....... Doritos!  I was a little skeptical after the whole Cheeto debacle, but I knew that I had to try them.  I took pics of the bags for you guys because it is just funny to me to see things we are used to, BUT are just NOT what we are used to.  All I can say about them is.......I will be buying my Doritos at the commissary from now on! 

they do have a cheesy taste BUT NOT what you would think

these are supposed to be "RIB" flavored!

 So, there you have it.  I know its a short one, but it was fun.  Hope to see you all again next week.  Anyeonghi Geyseyo.

A Convoy, A Cow, and Some Cameras!

Welcome back, everyone.  Our family has just completed our 20th week living in South Korea.  We have had many adventures and I know that we have many more things to experience and are trying to take things slow for now.  This week was spent at home in Dongducheon, once again.  Dave has been extremely busy at work.  The kids and I even paid him a visit one evening when he was working late. We also spent some time completing homeschool activities and spending time with new and old friends, as well.  Korea has been a blessing in that.  Being stationed here, we have gotten to know many more people than at Fort Hood because it is such a small community.  I never leave the house without running in to someone I know.  I really like that part of living here. 

impersonating Daddy at work

yet another impersonator

he looks like he is getting much more accomplished

and they thought he just doodled all day...LOL

the kids got to see the army in action

Both of the kiddos started piano again this week, with our neighbor Choi.  I am so grateful to her because she has really reignited an interest in the piano for both of them.  Not to mention, that Darci loves her and is always asking to go to Mrs. Choi's.  The kids also spent time CREATING this week.  As usual, Mitchell was constantly working on his next LEGO creation and Darci discovered that the hot glue gun can melt crayons! (Thank you, PINTEREST.....even my children are a little addicted to it)

piano lesson time

a Lego clubhouse

YES, it is very messy!

The sun finally came out on Saturday (after missing for almost 2 weeks).  The rainy season has begun and we don't see it very often.  It has also been more humid here than anything I have experienced in my entire life, including Texas and South Georgia!  The other day the kids and I came home from the PX to find that the elevator was not working, so we had to climb the stairs to our 12th floor apartment.  Not that this would have normally been a problem, EXCEPT for the humidity.  I felt like I was going to suffocate because the air was so thick.  Then we got all the way up to our apartment to find that the elevator had begun working again... GO FIGURE! 

Anyhoo.... back to Saturday.  A friend of mine and I decided to start walking together and we got up early on Saturday morning and headed out.  I took my camera because I just had to show you guys a few things that we see all the time. 

this is the trash area at our complex

Koreans recycle EVERYTHING....even food

a lot of restaurants have cartoon characters on their signs

at least I can tell what they serve ☺

 

I wonder what kind of spice

who wants to eat some cow after seeing this frisky fellow?

not sure if he is selling food or not

wonder what this restaurant is serving???  children??

oh!  a real cow!

paranoid, are we?

can you say CREEPY!

I think they may be for sale....

these are always sitting on the sidewalk

watchdogs guarding the sinks!

We also spent some much needed time at the pool on Saturday and Darci got to have her first sleepover here in Korea, complete with movies and karaoke.

note the bears and dolls watching, as well

reminds me of sleepovers when I was a kid



Ok, that's about it for this week.  I hope it all makes sense.  I usually have Dave proofread the blog, but he is not here this evening and I want to get it published tonight.  Hopefully, you enjoy it.  See you next week......Annyeonghi Geyseyo!
   

From "Monkey Man" to Make-up!

Thank you for stopping by to check on us.  We are doing well and hope the same for all of you.  We have had fun week hanging out at home.  Quality family time was what it was about this week.  From Dave playing on the playground with the kids to family "makeovers" by Darci. (Well, except for Mithcell! ☺)  I don't have very much to show you this week, but I hope you get a kick out of these.

all of the kids ask for "Monkey Man" now!

 

gimmie your bike!

like I said before....he is the BIGGEST kid of all

wanting Dave to chase them so bad!

I hope the bike will be ok!

having such a good time

wanna play chicken?

Darci hamming it up with her friend

Darci is quite the make-up artist

blue really goes well with Dave's eyes

she made me look like a gypsie

we had to get her back

So, there you have it.....not much going on, but definetly FUN!  Dave is headed to the field this week, so I am not so sure how much opportunity we will have to get out and about, but I will endeavor to bring something interesting in our next installment.  Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  Annyeonghi Geyseyo!

The Pool, Miss Piggy, and Penneys?!?!?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you all have had a good week since we last spoke.  We had a wonderful week here in South Korea celebrating the 4th of July and visiting a new place.  I have a good bit to share with you so lets get started.

I have to say that celebrating the 4th of July in a foreign country is a bit strange.  It is very odd to know that it's the 4th, but not see any evidence of it.  Camp Casey did have a big celebration on post and we enjoyed an AMAZING fireworks show, but first we did do a very traditional thing..... SWIMMING (and we even got to hang out with some friends).

ok guys, let's jump in together

Darci....what HAPPENED?

let's try this again!.

she just wanted the camera all to herself!

pretty girl

the moms

Mitchell and Anthony

Dave is such a kid

Mitchell beat Joseph in that race

catching Jacob at the bottom

just hanging out

4th of July Celebration

complete with midway games

she WON

Mitchell wanted to give this one a try

he won too and gave it to me...☺

not so sure who he is supposed to be 

but we took pics anyway!

yet another classic... clowns making balloon animals

fireworks finale!

The Bodilys and the Goliczs

On Friday, Dave and I took the kids down to Osan Air Force Base for the weekend.  Osan is about an hour south of Seoul and the main base where everyone in the military enters the country.  We had a great time.  Just outside of the main gate is a shopping district that really caters to Americans and actually takes dollars.  Some of the shop names are very unique, as you will see.  I went into one of the purse shops and the owner wanted to show me some of his special deals.  He actually locked the door on the shop and took me to the basement to a secret room to show me all of the name brand purses.  It was a quite SCARY!  While in Osan, we also went bowling because it was SOOOO hot, and I took the kids to see Madagascar 3 while Dave attended a Warrant Officer event at the base.  The first night we were there, we stayed in the lodge on post.  However, due to a mix up with reservations, we ended up staying in a Korean hotel the second night, which was quite interesting.  Anyway, that's enough talk......on to the pics......

entrance to the Ville

walking in the Ville

I feel like the sign is missing something

he had some very nice guitars

not so sure how to take this one

the sign actually says....Grown Man Style

what if I only want 1 chicken?

Mitchell wanted to go here

I didn't realize they made model bikes 

the club scene looks scary

wonder what kind of food they serve here!?!?!?

I don't think everyone knows your name here

what's with the teddy bears

not just one, but......

DOS Mexican restaurants!

I's didn't go in! 

I think I'll send this one to Ellen!

 I wonder if they have Easter specials

wonder what people are doing here!

straight and to the point

Kitty GoGo Shoes

I didn't see Snoopy anywhere 

McDonald's Menu....what's missing?

Darci caught the mistake...can you?

McDonald's delivers....but....

I'm not so sure Big Mac is the one I'm looking for

well I guess its one roomy club

selling pets on the street....just like the states!

After all of those pics, we had to take a break indoors so we took a ride around the base and went to the bowling alley.

I thought the Dragon Lady truck was funny

I guess spelling isn't just an issue with the Army

I hear MiG and I automatically think TOP GUN

can you say STRIKE!

air hockey

Mitchell scores!

Our Korean hotel......

hhhmmmmmmm

HARD beds,  but at least we had a place to stay

chandeliers are very popular here

here's hoping we don't have an emergency

not sure what the deal is with this lamp

had to climb Mt. Everest to get into the tub

but it was worth it for the 7 headed shower

one MAJOR drawback....anyone entering the room

can see the person taking a shower

  

the kids didn't want to wake us up so 

they read behind the curtain

Well that ends the trip portion of the blog.  I did want to add a few pics of ODD Korea to this week's post however, because they are....well ODD.

yep, that's right...a PINK tow truck

Royal Hair Bi's ....????

getting the oil "changEE"....this is a typical mechanic shop

a bedding store .... at first glance I thought it said Nimpho

a dummy with a robotic arm....cautioning construction ahead

choo choo train crossing

ad on side of bus  ....guess what they were advertising!

probably not what you think

it looks like a rat

headed to the toll gate

Well that about wraps it up for week 18 in Korea.  I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and we will see you soon.  Oh and before I forget.... in case you didn't see it... the McDonald's menu was missing a number 4 combo, I hope the Navy and Marines have their DEFENSE ready, and you can "Feel the Climax" at one of Korea's water parks!

Until next week....Annyeonghi Geyseyo!