Anyong Haseyo Seoul (1)

(Part 1)
So... Katy go the call on a Monday morning, and by Monday afternoon we had our flights booked for that Thursday evening. Crazy! Seoul, Korea here we come! We took an overnight flight in hopes to sleep some, (we both got a couple of hours of zzzzzz's). We arrived in Seoul at 4:30am on Saturday (they are 18 hours ahead). Then we took a bus to our hotel (Sommerset Palace) and arrived at our hotel at 7 am. Little did we know that we weren't going to be able to check in until 3pm! So we had 8 hours to kill! The hotel was very kind in trying to accommodate us in any way they could but, there was literally no extra room for us to have. So we left our luggage and decided to hit the town greasy, tired, and cranky. Seoul is an incredible city filled with much to see so, there was no shortage of things to do. Before we did anything we needed to lift our "spirits" a little bit so... we went to Starbucks. We have never been so happy to be at Starbucks:)

Katy being our "navigator" and then we hit the town.

Our first stop was nearby it was the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built at the begining of the Chosun Dynasty when the Yi Dynasty moved the capital to Seoul, this palace remained the main seat of power for Korea kings throughout much of the time to the present. Anything that is painted in these pictures is hand painted. This palace was massive! It was so massive that my feet ached like we were at Disneyland.

Posing with a traditional Korean soilder

The entrance gate







We finally did get into our hotel, and it was was only 2pm. So... after 6 hours or so we were happy to be in our room.



Our hotel



Our room. We were happy that they put an extra bed in for me because, Katy is a cover stealer, and I am a kicker :)



Our view from our room. That happens to be the palace in the background.

We did end up doing more sightseeing that day and the following day. We had to keep busy because Monday was Katy's day to meet Gracyn and the nerves were getting to us. Between the nerves, the jet lag, the climate change (it was hot and sticky, plus would rain and the drops would be the size of baseballs all day long), and the emotions and stress of what was happening and going to happen we did need to stay occupied. In our hotel there also happened to be many other families that were also adopting so, that made for quick connections and conversations as well as company throughout our week. It was such a gift for especially Katy, to be in constant conversation with other families going through the exact same thing as her and Matt. And we did meet some amazing families who adopted precious kids. Here are just a few more pictures of our sightseeing throughout our trip that week. They are in no order.

School Kids



A local market place









These are dumplings that are each the size of an apple.



Dumpling soup before it's cooked.
And it was super yummy. Our best meal there :)

Part 2- is all about Gracyn
I will post hopefully tomm.

The summer ended for us August 12th, that is when Jac started kindergarten. We tried to prepare her as much as we could but, she still felt quite a bit of anxiety. She is not one for change, and transitions tend to be hard on her. I was feeling quite anxious myself because she was so anxious. Once the first week was down all of us were quite relieved. She has now been in school for about a month and still doesn't love it. She says that they have to do too much work, and not enough play time. It has been quite a shock compared to preschool. She has on average 45 min of homework at night, and its KINDERGARTEN! So all to say this has been a big transition for her and us, but know that it will be a great year, we just need to give it time :)

She looks so little



So... my parents were in town for a couple of weeks and it was perfect timing in so many ways. They got to be there for Jac's first day of school, for one of their favorite Volleyball tournaments that Megs plays in, and Megs and Jared also had a 4d ultrasound done to find out what they are having. Both of their families were there, and it was such a special moment to be apart of.







Hooray! A boy, finally! My sister was shocked, and Jared was relieved :)

Then... Buggie started school. She couldn't have been more ready. She is quite the opposite of Jac in almost every way. She couldn't sleep because she was so excited, the night before she had her outfit picked out down to her shoes and socks. We took her to school, and she just waved goodbye and wanted us to leave. It was pretty cute.
So now twice a week for 3 hours I have time all to myself! It is an amazing feeling :)





Then... the waiting began. The waiting for what you may ask? Waiting to get the phone call from my dear friend Katy. Her and her husband have been in the process of adopting a baby girl from Korea, and she asked me to go with her to Korea since her hubbie, Matt needed to stay behind and watch their boys. We new it would most likely be late August early September so, we were preparing as much as we could to "be ready" for the call.



This is a paper crane mobile I made for Gracyn's room. Each origami has a prayer/blessing written in the inside by one of Katy's friends for Gracyn.





This is Katy's oldest Hudson, (Jac's best friend and "prince")





Buggie sometimes wants to give Hudson a kiss too. I love Hudson's face in this picture.

And... we got the call! That will be my next post :)

So this weekend was so much fun. It was one of those weekends where there wasn't much planned but, ended up being packed with spontaneous fun. It started on Thurs. with a trip to Sea World (picture above). I will be honest I am not a fan of zoo's, I just feel bad for the animals and I fight that same battle at Sea World. I know many of the animals are in rehabilitation, and then will go back to the wild but, I just go back and forth on the whole thing. At least there pools or aquariums could be bigger, right? Anyways... all that to say we did have a really nice time just being together as a family, and enjoying the nice ocean breeze. It was a good 40 degrees cooler there than in Redlands.

Then from Sea World we traveled up to Temecula, where our good friend Mick and DeAnna Wilson live. Their family happens to own and run Wilson Creek Winery. We always enjoy catching up with them, and value the time we get to spend together. They are an amazing couple with a sweet little girl named, Sara. She and Jac are good friends. This picture below is the girls that night at the winery.

Then Friday, I woke up super early to go and "nanny" for one of my friends. I now have a part time job watching these twin girls, Kendall and Ella. They are 2 and a half, and have quite alot of energy. It can be an exhausting day because I watch 4 kids (2 of my own), in a house that's not mine all day! But, feel very grateful and blessed for the extra income.



After I watched them all day, one of my "besties" Leah, came and picked up my girls. She wanted to have the girls over for a sleep over and spend time with one of their "besties" Jeremiah, Leah's son. So that meant that Jon and I had a night away from the kiddos and were able to be in our house without the girls, and enjoy a clean house for a whole 24hrs because their were no curious little hands around. It was nice and well needed.

Then Saturday evening we met up with Leah and her hubbie Aaron, their son Jeremiah, and our girls at the Irwindale Toyota Speedway. Aaron, Miah, and Buggie all love cars so it was especially fun for those three. Although, the rest of us I think had just as much fun. Here are some pics from that night. Look at Buggies face she is so excited!

And Sunday, was a rest day. In fact the girls didn't wake up until 10:30 that morning! That has never ever happened, ever! It was a nice weekend filled with fun and new memories. And such a blessing to have amazing friends :)

So... this past week was a busy one. It was filled with watching a set of twins (as well as my own), hosting dinner at our house a couple of evenings, sewing and making fun things for my friend Katy's daughter Gracyn, making yummy sugar cookies for Katy's baby shower, and then spending the weekend in the South Bay with the family.

I made Gracyn this strand of banner flags for her room. I think I might start selling these on my Etsy site.





Then I made these sugar cookies, and well got really full from "taste testing". I am just a sucker for any kind of cookie dough.

Spent some time at the beach with the fam. Here is my sister teaching Jac v-ball.

Here is a picture of me "trying" to play V-ball with my sister
and well, I think this picture says it all :)

Uncle and the girls digging for sand crabs

Uncle and Jac playing in the water. Jared didn't bring his board that evening but, next time Jac wants him to start to teach her how to surf. She just adores Uncle.

And I just love this picture. Jac was so proud of herself, and Jared had a blast.

And after all the swimming and swallowing gallons of salt water Jac needed her Aunties comfort. It was a great day!

The week of the 4th

First off I am so excited I got a new camera. I got a Cannon Rebel EOS XSI (like Darby, for those that follow her blog. Love her). Photography is always something I have loved, and finally am able to challenge myself and get great pictures. Yeah!

Ok so... every year the last week of June entering July Jon's family goes on vacation to Palm Desert. There is lot's of golf, yummy food, swimming, and heat involved. I'd say it was a cool 114 degrees most days :)The girls love spending days time with their cousins and captured some fun pictures of our week.

Then we came back just in time to have a 4th of July party at our house with our church. Usually we are down in the South Bay (Redondo Beach) but, this year it happened to fall on a Sunday so instead of having our usual church service that evening we had a party :) It was really fun to be home, and celebrate at our house and the University of Redlands (3 doors down from our house). The girls were so excited to see the fireworks and stay up late, and I was just happy to be home and with wonderful friends and my family.

These pics are from Palm Desert

Jac and Buggie with their cousin Ellie



Jac making a pretend pizza at the Children's Museum



My pretty girl, love her.



Buggie pretending to be a Doctor at the Children's Museum



Playing with the kids

These are pics from the 4th

Our little Ham

So as a parent your kids are constantly saying things that make you crack up. Here are some of those funny quotes from the girls lately.

Buggie "Mom when we die and go to heaven to get new bodies, will our skin be the same color"?


Jac was pretend with Jon today and said "Dad let's pretend we are baby brontosaurus that can only speak Spanish"

Randomly one day Buggie tugged on my leg and wanted me to bend down to her level, she grabbed my face and said "don't worry Mommy your not old, your the most beautifulest"

We went to see Toy Story this week with Jon's family and Jac didn't like it at all. She has quite the imagination and loves, loves, loves her stuffed animals. And in the movie Andy (the boy) grows up, and gives his toys to a little girl. She was so upset (she was literally crying) that the toys got separated from him. So... as we walked out of the movie Jac says "Mom now I know what separated means. It is the worst feeling in the whole world".

A couple of weeks ago the girls were in their beds attempting to go to sleep and we overheard them screaming and yelling at each other. So Jon went in to see what was going on and said "Buggie, what is going on why are you crying"? She replied " Jac says when were bad God takes all our snacks away". And Jac immedieately replied with "no I didn't I said that when we are bad God takes all of our sins away"! It was pretty funny.