We went strawberry picking....yum!

The trip was sponsored by the company that brings in the Korean produce to our commissary on base.  The whole trip was free and paid for by this company, and we were just along for the ride.  Everywhere we went we were escorted by these business guys in suits and ties, wondering if we were having a good time. 

I find it a fascinating business practice.  It's so generous and thoughtful.  Somehow I can't really picture any execs from Del Monte taking two bus loads of Americans around to strawberry farms, and out to lunch for a day of fun.  But maybe it happens?  Whether it happens or not, I love these types of cultural experiences for the sake of the children.  These are the types of days that I hope they won't ever forget about living in Korea.  Henry even got interviewed by the local Korean news show while he was picking his strawberries.  They asked him if they "had these things" in America.  He said, "Yeah, I think so."  I think they were a little disappointed in that answer.  Then they wanted him to eat a strawberry on TV, but he hates strawberries, so he told them "no".  Then the interview was over.  I'm not sure if he made it on the evening news, but that's funny, all the same. 

Back on the bus after picking strawberries, to move on to lunch.  Between George and I, it felt like we ate an entire hot house worth of strawberries, so we weren't starving...

But since it was some of the best bulgogi we've had, we went ahead and made room for it! 

Sadly (?) no one made any room for these fellas. 

Back on the bus to a war memorial museum.  Which was actually one of the best museums I've seen here in Korea.  There were lots of hands on exhibits, and beautiful outdoor spaces as well.

But I couldn't help it, this was by far my favorite part of the museum:

Tell me you agree?!

After the museum, it was onto the actual strawberry festival.  Where I was too tired to take anymore pictures, and a substantial group of my kids cried over not getting cotton candy.  It had been a longer than expected day, so we were probably all a bit too tired for the strawberry festival.  But I won't soon forget the live entertainment of a guy dressed up like a lady singing really badly, and dancing all around, seemingly to the great delight of the huge crowd gathered around him, who appeared to be taking his act very seriously.

Oh Korea, how I will miss you so! 

Thanks Korea Produce Guys, for a fabulous first day of Spring Break!  We will totally buy your produce the next time we're at the commissary.  Your strawberries were literally the best strawberries I've eaten in my entire life.  I will never forget that about you!  (Even though I can't remember the name of their company!!)

Onto Mt. Seorak in the morning!! 

Hippity hoppity Easter, to you.

Easter came and went with barely a photo snapped.  Here's my excuse, I love to live the moments, and not photograph them.  Then when the moments are over, I'm mad because I've got no photographic evidence of the memory.  When will I learn my lesson?!  Here's what I did get pictures of over the Easter weekend...

George's last soccer game:

He totally took the game seriously this season, and emerged as a strong team goalie. 

Dear Spring Soccer-

You mostly felt like winter soccer, until the last game.  You were real cold. 

Love,

Annee

The girls modeling their new Easter outfits (in case you need more details about them, head on over to Made on Maple).  And yeah, it's not so easy to capture these two together anymore.  I thought this was supposed to get easier.  It's a little bit like having too many cooks in the kitchen.  Everyone has their own idea about how the picture should look:

 (Can you blame me for needing to throw in a vintage Easter shot?!  Please enjoy it, while singing the words to "Sunrise, Sunset" from "Fiddler on the Roof".  I'm serious.)



And here's a picture of my boys on Easter Sunday.  When all the festivities were over, they busted out the Stratomatic game in honor of opening day:

Don't ask me anything about what this is all about.  Something about rolling dice and pretending you're playing baseball on paper.  In my opinion, the baseball hats are the most exciting part about it.

What about Hank you ask?  What's new with him?  Well, he is too busy taunting his father with his love of the Lakers, and his pride over Duke's big win to appear in too many blog posts (really, it's a sensitive topic, maybe let's not talk to Darin about it). I've been startled more than once, to find Henry tucked away in my room, watching TV by himself.  And even more surprised to see that he's watching a basketball game, or a baseball game.  Like father, like son?!  Yeah, I think so. 

Happy Easter!

Hello April 1st.

It was April 1st today!  The boys tried to trick Ruby all morning long, until I got my lazy bones out of bed, and told them to quit tricking her.  I never had big brothers.  It seems like a real drag.  They told her it was her birthday.  That confused her.  They told her Jane was bleeding.  That freaked her out.  None of their tricks were very tricky.  At 7:45am I kicked the boys out of the house and sent them off to school for a day of learning, structure, and socialization.  I stayed home with the ladies and had a completely trick-free day, until the brothers came home again.  Oh brothers.

My Aunt has challenged us to these "10 on Tuesday" lists.  Sometimes I find ready answers.  Sometimes I stew about the list until the next list is already due.  I think I'll still tackle this past Tuesday list:

 

"10 Things I love about (THIS) Spring"

(I like to personalize my lists by making them time specific.  I hope you don't mind.) 

1.  One season closer to moving on with our next adventure.  Korea has been awesome, and I will miss it.  But I love a good adventure.  I love moving on.  Hello, spring, I'm about to move on!  (In about 59 days!)

2.  I am done running in lycra tights, fleece half-zip hoodies, gloves, and ear muffs.  Bring on the running skirts, tank tops and a light long sleeve layer.  I LOVE spring for that!

3.  Next Friday I'm taking the kids to a strawberry festival!  You can't do that in winter.

  

4.  The Monday after that Friday, the Major is taking us all to Mt. Seoraksan for a few days and a couple nights.  Did you know the whole time we've lived in Korea we've lived in a building called Seoraksan Tower?!  Ever since I learned Seoraksan was a real mountain, and not just the name of my tower, I've wanted to see if for myself.  So that's awesome that we're going to go see it! 

5.  The Saturday after I get back from Mt. Seoraksan, I'm kissing the Major good bye, I'm sqeezing each one of the off-spring, then I'm getting on an airplane and flying to China with a bunch of other ladies who are leaving the families behind!  Really, do I need to elaborate any further?! Except to say The Great Wall of China has been on my to-do list for the past 20 years.  It feels so good to get things crossed off those lists. 

6.  Ditching the socks.  I hate socks so much it hurts.  I might like them if I didn't have four kids.  But since I do have four kids, I hate socks.  Darin loves them.  He only puts his on his own feet, and that's usually all he has to do with socks.  In fact, he collects them.  I spend most of winter dreaming of throwing every sock in my house into the trash can.  Hello spring, you need to come save the socks!

7.  Skirts.  I just made myself one today, and I made one for the ladies last week.  Spring doesn't only liberate the feet from socks, but it liberates the legs from jeans (and tights)!  

8.  The release of "Handmade Beginnings", the newest Anna Maria Horner sewing book.  The anticipation is palpable.  I sure hope I won't be disappointed.  

9.  The release of the new Oliver & S sewing patterns.  I'm going to jump on that band wagon and never look back!  

10.  FLOWERS.  Nothing cheers the soul, or draws my thoughts closer to Heaven than do the springing forth of brand new flowers.   

Please be here Spring, we need you.

Patrick's Day.

That's what the girls kept calling it all day long.  The boys kept getting frustrated and wanting to correct them, but then I convinced them to just "let it go".  It made the day way more entertaining, in my opinion.  They had a "Green Party" at school today.  Don't they look festive?!

By the way, I can totally see their resemblance in this picture.  Sometimes I get frustrated that people can't tell them apart.  To me, they look so different.  But this picture makes me a bit more sympathetic.

Here was the view out my window on "Patrick's Day".  This was just the beginning of a long afternoon of snow.  Awesome.  I feel like we should get a refund or something.  Where is spring?!

Green pancakes with chocolate chips, to match his shirt, for dinner tonight.  I couldn't help myself. 

And I even thought it was funny that my pesto crusted tilapia with generous side of broccoli, was so green tonight too, that I had to take a picture. 

On a side note, you should have Pesto Crusted Tilapia for dinner really soon.  It's so delicious.  And if you have an authentic Italian neighbor who drops off a jar of homemade pesto sauce, it makes it the easiest dinner you'll ever make!  Hmmm, delicious.  (but even if you don't have an authentic Italian neighbor, like I do, you should still make it.  The pesto sauce in the recipe is really good too.)

Happy Patrick's Day!!

10 On Tuesday--What I Love About My Life.

My Aunt Jan has been sending us "10 on Tuesday" prompts.  I'm finally organized enough to participate.  It's Tuesday night here in Korea.  Here's my list of what I love about my life (and I'll add, RIGHT NOW.)

1.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It makes me who I am.

2.  These guys.

They also make me who I am.  I love the ages of the kids right now.  They are all still kids, but they are definitely growing up.  I love the added mental challenge that that "growing up" part brings to my job.  And the grown up guy there, I love our marriage.  We've almost been married 12 years, and I continue to be impressed that each year was more enjoyable than the previous year.  I hope we can keep making it that way.



3.  The Running Machine came back to life today!  Although my previous post was all about how it died, today it was alive.  And I have to say that I think I am much better suited to a slow death.  If yesterday's death was an indication that I must begin to prepare for the inevitable fate of my 10 year-old treadmill, then I appreciate the heads up, and I will begin now to prepare for the day when we are no longer partners.  But today I LOVED getting to run, even though I was at home, and even though my girls were home with me. 

4.  The Happy Quilt (the Korean warehouse that is 5.5 miles from my house where I get amazing designer fabrics for a ridiculously low price).  I love it more than I have words to express.  I say without joking to the Major that my life in Korea would not have been the same without Happy Quilt.  He knows it's true too.  That place represents happiness and excitement to me.  And the language barrier between me and the staff that I visit there weekly (or bi-weekly, don't judge!) is an unending source of entertainment as well.  Happy Quilt, I LOVE you. 

5.  That I get to sew almost daily.  I have found sewing to be my creative outlet.  And as it turns out, having a creative outlet is really, really important to me.  Love sewing.  Love it!!

6.  That I am in a state of perpetual motion all day long.  Apparently, I do not enjoy sitting down for very long.  So what a perfect fit my current job is for my need to always be moving and doing. 

7.  That I live on a little tiny Air Force Base.  For right now, I love it.  Nothing I NEED is further than a mile away (with the exception of designer fabric).  I rarely spend more than 10 minutes in my car per day.  I think I will miss that when I no longer live on a little tiny Air Force Base.

8.  That my "going out to eat" options are so very limited (Mostly because of food preferences.  If you loved Asian food, perhaps you think my location is paradise).  It has made us eat at home with so much regularity.  I think it's been good for all of us.

9.  That I get hand delivered, hand drawn love notes all day long.  With the exception of the fact that we are single-handedly killing the equivalent of a small forest weekly at our house, I wouldn't change a thing about it.  Their creativity.  Their happiness.  Their expression of the two together.  It's priceless.  I love it.  ( I will do my best to replant 1000s of trees in the future to make up for our waste from this time in our lives.)

10.  That my boys are learning how to play the piano.  It is not easy to have your kids learn to play the piano.  As many times as the say, "I want to quit".  I secretly think, I want the same thing, just to be spared the practicing and the whining.  But we persist.  And they are learning.  And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is a life lesson that if I stick with it, they will thank me for it through the ages.  So, I'm sticking with it.  I will not give up.  They are learning the piano.  And I know they LOVE it too. 

There you go, a few things I Love About My Life Right Now.

The Running Machine.

I've heard people name their treadmills.  I never did that.  If I thought hard about what I called my treadmill, the only name that comes to mind is, "The Running Machine".  I started using it when the boys were little.  The word "treadmill" meant nothing to them, but the term "running machine" was clear and to the point.  And so, the name stuck, two little sisters have been added, and many years later, and still all the kids refer to the treadmill as, "The Running Machine".  The room where the treadmill is located, is called, "The Running Machine" room.



Sometimes, throughout the years I've wanted to nix the nick name and transition everyone over to calling it the treadmill.  It's so many fewer syllables!  But change is hard on kids, so I get soft with them sometimes.  Besides, I like thinking that I am a "running machine", and that I share that in common with my treadmill.  So it is a bit endearing, as far as names go. 

In 2002 we moved from Germany to Syracuse Utah, so that Darin could be stationed at Hill AFB.  Shortly after arriving, I decided I was going to train for my first marathon.  But shortly after we arrived, Darin got deployed to a war, and I got left home with two little toddlers, and a big dream about a marathon.  Thinking I would shelf the dream for another few years, I was talking to my mother-in-law about how I'd wait to run my marathon when life was "easier".  When she suddenly said, "We have a treadmill, it's sitting in our storage unit.  It's brand new, no one uses it.  Let me bring it to you."

The memory of it all can still get me choked up.  And I will never forget the image of Darin's mom and her sister, lugging this ginormous treadmill down the steep stairs of our first home in Utah after Darin had been deployed, just so that I wouldn't have to give up on my dream.

Tell me you're getting a little chocked up too.  I have a sweet, sweet mother in law, who has always believed in my potential.

I wish I knew how many miles I've logged on The Running Machine.  It has to be many.  George is 8, and I've had it since he was 1.  That running machine has turned me back into a runner more times than I can count.  As I have staged my come back training from pregnancy, twin deliveries, nursing babies, deployments, moves, marathons etc.  That running machine helped me invent my motto, "it's never too late to run."  And saw me log miles starting at 11pm on some crazy days of my life with little kids. 




I got on the treadmill today after the girls went to school.  It was raining, and I'm spared having to go to the public gym (I have germ issues, so being spared that outing is priceless!!), because I can just run in the comfort of my own home (I'm comfortable with the germs that live here with me).

I had a new TV show downloaded to my ipod, hooked up to my flat screen TV hanging on the wall.  I had the window open.  It was Monday, so I was feeling sluggish and tired, but knew the run was going to be my cure-all.  I had just passed the three mile mark, when I decided I was going to walk a minute before increasing my pace.  I was walking, and then suddenly I was jerked to a stop.  The belt stopped moving.  At first I thought the fues had been popped, that's happened lots of times here in Korea.  But, the TV was on.  I got down on my knees to flip the power switch and see what was going on, when I felt the heat radiating up from the motor and smelled a bit of a burning smell.

The power never came back on.

The Running Machine stopped.

It might be dead.

It's most likely dead.

I might not be ready to talk about it yet.

R.I.P. Running Machine 

You have no idea how much you will be missed. 

And should the power on The Running Machine choose to never come back on, it's memory will live on with me indefinitely.



That was a really sad way to start off my Monday.  And now I'm a bit at a loss as to my Tuesday.  My Tuesday consists of waking up, getting the boys off to school. Having breakfast with my ladies.  Getting them situated with some sort of activity or distraction, while I get on "The Running Machine".  It's our routine, we have it down, and we all love it.  Tuesday might be harder than Monday.

They say that time heals all wounds.  And I'll find a new way to live out my motto "it's never too late for a run", but it's not exactly the challenge I was looking forward to in my remaining 84 days left in Korea!

Besides, did you know that they took away Jamoca Almond Fudge from our Baskin Robbins??  If the universe is trying to send me a signal that it's time to bit Adieu to Korea, let me just say, "I hear you loud and clear!" 

No treadmill and no Jamoca Almond Fudge?  Seriously?!  I think my fabric budget just got increased exponentially for the duration of our stay here.  I have some wounds I'm trying to heal! 


I'll leave you with some happier images for your Monday morning.  Spring soccer, and George: 

Could he look any more studly?

An action shot.  He's been a very aggressive goalie so far this season. 

And finally, I like to call this one, "George and the ladies".  Because let's be honest, I think I'm going to have lots of pictures in his lifetime called, "George and the ladies".

Ballerinas.

They had their first dance class today, and these pictures are cracking me up.  They each selected their outfit (actually Jane picked Ruby's for her.  She told me it was too itchy for her, so Ruby could wear it.  She's really sweet like that.)

They each told me how they wanted their hair to be fashioned. 

They each told me about all the ballet moves they already knew.

I told them not to tell their teacher about what they already know, and just to listen.  "Please girls, just listen".  I think I said, maybe 100 times. 

But their excitement was contagious.  It made Tuesday lots of fun. 

Knowing.

WE’RE GOING TO NORTH CAROLINA!!!!

Acceptance letter in hand.

I have never felt such happiness.

Darin tells me I have, but I have forgotten all previous moments of happiness, and have replaced them with this one.

North Carolina is going to be awesome.

Moving on.

Just when I thought there might not be anymore improving on THE chocolate chip cookie recipe, I got a call from my cousin.  Not only did she explain to me that there need not be any reason for a dessert, you can just have it, but she also informed me that there was another chocolate chip cookie recipe worth trying.  And this one was designed to carry inside of it two scoops of your favorite ice cream! 

And, she promised I could just make it on any random day of the week, for no reason!  It was liberating.  But, she did fail to mention that when children eat such a ginormous cookie ice cream sandwhich, that it's best to have that ice cream be vanilla, not chocolate, unless you want to do lots of stain removing.  So, let me add that advice on to her advice about this dessert.  Go ahead, Lisa says it's okay, just make them, and eat them, you know you want to.  Here's her recipe:

Ginormous Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Alternately named, "Lisa's Cookies":

2 c. + 2 TBS flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt


1 1/2 sticks of butter melted, and then cooled for a few minutes
1 c. dark or light brown sugare
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 egg yoke
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks

The method is basically the same as mixing your standard batch of cookies.  But these cook bake in an oven set at 325 degrees.  This recipe makes 18- 1/4 cup size cookies.  Measure out 1/4 scoops of dough onto two cookies sheets.  Put both cookie sheets into your preheated oven, at the same time, on two different racks.  Cook for 15-18 minutes.  But halfway through, rotate your cookie sheets, and switch them from one oven rack to the other.  Make sense?!

Let them cool for a bit.  Then fill with scoops of ice cream and serve.   Your family will love you forever for them.  Just like I'll love my cousin forever.

George asked me if this was a top secret, family recipe?

I don't believe too many things should be top secret, but I would guess the Major disagrees with me on that topic.

Ruby told me that when she grows up and has her own little kids, she's going to bake them these cookies for dessert too, that's how good they are.

 

But really, I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?  Our blog is stuck back on February 20th which was Ruby and Jane's 5th birthday.  Their actual birthday, not their birthday party.  

Our morning was filled with our typical early morning birthday party, full of surprises and presents from each of us.  Pink two wheeled scooters were obviously at the top of the list of exciting surprises!  These cute matching aprons came from Grandma Lark in Oregon.  The girls were thrilled to get them!  Darin does such a good job of photographing the birthday morning party.  The kids are going to treasure his photography and the moments that he captures.  Too many to post here.

Their party was followed up by our Ward's Primary talent show.  Of course the girls had to wear their birthday outfits again, and what talent might they be demonstrating?  Well, that would be ribbon dancing, of course.  They had learned it the day before, so it had indeed become a talent in those shorts 24 hours.  Lovely!

The boys worked long and hard on their Lego Star Wars stop motion movie.  They were a huge hit with the male 10-and under crowd.  All the other boys wanted to know how they did it.  I wish I knew how to post it here!

The talent show was followed up by dinner at Chili's, where Ruby mostly sat like this, convinced that the Chili's waitressing staff had forgotten that it was her birthday.  What a diva.

In the end, it wasn't really about the singing, it was mostly about the chocolate shake.  That makes a bit more sense, right?

The next day it was Dear Old Dad's birthday.  He turned 35.  What a guy.  Too bad I'm the photographer on this day, we have like three photos to show for it all.  He wanted a Kindle, so we got him a Kindle.  He wanted a traditional eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns and orange juice breakfast, so I made it for him.  He selected Chilaquiles Verdes for dinner.  So I made it for him!  And he honored his yearly tradition of the decadent Red Velvet cake, split down the middle with one half pecans, one half no pecans.  

George wanted to get him a scooter so that the whole family could scooter in the halls together.  And as if there wasn't anything the Major would rather do on his birthday, he scootered in the hallway with the children, until the neighbors asked them to please not scooter in the hallway anymore.

I love him so!  And the Chilaquiles Verdes recipe that he found, was seriously one of the most delicious meals ever to come out of our Korean kitchen.  Right down to the homemade corn tortilla chips that we fried ourselves.  Wileys, they tasted just like we were sitting together on your picnic blanket at the So. Pasadena Farmers market...if only we were.  Sigh.

Oh boy, now I think I can finally accept the fact that it is March 5th. 

P.S.  To my sisters, and my cousin, who is also my hair dresser, what the *&!@#$ has happened to my hair?!




It's like I can barely recognize myself.  I feel the need to introduce myself, "Hi, my name is Annee, I used to be blond, until I moved to Korea."

Oh, whatever, I'm over it.  Just had to vent for a moment.  Brunette is kind of cool too.