From Shenanigans to Shiny Shoes!

Back to being late again, I suppose.  I hope you all are doing well.  We have had a pretty busy week.  Let's jump right in.

Unfortunately, Darci had to say goodbye to some wonderful friends.  So we had one last sleepover with Abby and a FUN filled evening at the Ann House in New City with Abby and Ava.  It was bittersweet.

glad that Ashlyn got to hang out with Darci and Abby too!

gotta love a restaurant where you can get into these kinds of shenanigans

I am proud to say that Mitchell taught me how to play chess this week.  He is really enjoying his new chess set.  He is a GREAT chess player.

On Tuesday, we started our homeschool elective class at Child and Youth Services on post.  I am so grateful to them for offering to teach classes to homeschool kids once a week.  We started in technology this week.  Mitchell and Darci had a great time and made some new friends, as well!

Even though we didn't do much exploring this week.  We did manage to find some fun!

gotta love the hardwood floors

I have also included a few random pics I took this week.  

some of the buildings in Korea are just plain strange

the "Stinky Foot Store"  - am afraid to ask what is sold here!

not the most glamorous Vegas club

well, isn't that sort of obvious?!?!?

So thank you again for reading.  Until next time....

Annyeonghi geyseyo!

From New Year's to Napkins

Wow!  I can't believe it is Monday and I am actually getting the blog done on time.  Yay ME!  As always, I am so grateful to all of you who return week after week to check on us.  I hope the New Year is treating you all well.

The week began with New Year's Eve.  Not much to share there!  We didn't have any major plans and brought 2013 in by watching Korea's broadcast, which I must say had to be the most humdrum New Year's celebration I have ever seen.  It was very strange to not see the typical partying, screaming, fireworks, exciting displays that we are used to.  I took a short video of the event for your viewing pleasure.

As for the rest of the week, one sentence about sums it up!    It was COLD and it SNOWED!  I am really starting to miss GA winters.  The kids and Dave spent some time playing in it once again.  I also included a few other pics I took to show off the snow.

 

this is Fahrenheit, by the way, and not coldest morning which was -1

 

I think the lights look so pretty in the snow

 the green glow is cool

Darci and Abby playing in the "fort"

 he is just one big kid

 always trying to outdo his dad

taken after he finished playing with the kiddos

On Saturday, I went with Darci and her friends down to the weekly craft class that the apartment complex hosts.  This week we decoupaged!  It was fun and a good change from the paper folding.  The flyer said it was the Art of Napkin ☺.  So now we have 2 napkin holders decorated with napkins!

she sure is going to miss these guys!

There you have it folks.  Not too exciting, but we made memories, none the less.  Hope you all are making memories too.  Until next week....

Annyeonghi geyseyo!

Santa, Skype, and Some Snowmen

Christmas Eve began our 43rd week in Korea.  We spent the day hanging out, playing games, and just enjoying being together as a family.  Of course, we made cookies for Santa.  It was fun for the kids to watch Santa's progress online and be one of the earliest stops that he made.  By the time he made it to Japan, the kids were rushing to bed ☺.

 

Daddy's little elf doesn't look too happy

I love it when Dave dons the apron

enjoying a family game

this is what they wanted to leave Santa and the reindeer

I am sure Santa was glad we only left 2 cookies

Christmas morning was exciting, of course.  It actually took us quite a while to open everything because we were able to Skype with everyone and open presents with them.  It wasn't the same as being home, but it was the next best thing.  Santa even left a little snow on the ground, as he made his way through Korea.  The rest of the day was spent cooking our BIG Christmas dinner, which is not an easy thing when you have an oven the size of an EASY BAKE.  If it weren't for my 3 crockpots ☺(thanks to Dave and the kids for the new one, and my good friend, Erin, who let me have her old one), we were able to have a wonderful meal that we got to share with two of Dave's coworkers.

BEFORE

Santa came

reading Santa's letter

I love his letterhead

love my guys

skyping with Nana

do you think they were excited?

they really do LOVE each other

my new pajamas that Darci got me

AFTER!!!! 

yummy!

glad we had plenty of transformers

must have a group shot

the boys enjoyed an afternoon of video games

On Saturday morning, we were able skype with my family and see my grandfather who was in the hospital.  It was his 92nd birthday and we sang Happy Birthday to him and watched him blow out his candles.  I really look forward to next year when we can be there in person.  The good news is that he came home from the hospital today ☺.

Happy 92nd Birthday, Granddaddy!

It really started snowing pretty hard on Saturday, as well.  It was GREAT!  It was a good snowball/snowman making kind of snow.  

thanks, Sarah Kauble, for the new hat

Dave had better watch out

me ☺

he hates getting his picture made, but he smiled anyway

Mitchell and Elliot

Darci and Ashlyn

getting started

looks like Sarah's hat has a new owner

he looks really good 

I like him the best, but here are a couple of others that people made

a family...complete with pets

some Korean girls made this one

he even has a bowtie

she wanted the biggest one 

so with help of Dave and Jay

and all the kids

she got the biggest one!

love this pic because it caught some of the big snowflakes

And that my friends was Christmas week.  Thank you all for coming to visit us once again.  I know I am behind on the blog posts, but I will get back on schedule now that the holidays are over.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and will have a very Happy New Year!

Annyeonghi geyseyo!