It's all about the celebration...

No tears were shed this year about the two finest boys I know entering the very distinguished grades of 2nd and 4th. Never have two boys had such a long and full summer vacation. Never have two boys gotten to play so many video games, watch so much TV, and lull about in a general summer vacation stopper, as these two gentlemen have, for the past 14 weeks, uninterrupted! So when the school bell rang at 7:50AM, Monday, August 30th, 2009, this is what these boys were wearing, and I was the mom with the party hat on!!



So far, so wonderful. They got great teachers. They go to school everyday without incident. And the house has never felt so wonderfully empty and quiet. It's okay, they come home at 2:45pm, so we still have plenty of waking hours to spend all snuggled up together.



In celebration of the first week of school and the quiet house, a back to school pillow was made. It's been on the dream list all summer long. Ever since I purchased the "Stitch" magazine back in June, during family beach week number 1.



That's a long time to dream of a project. Other than the ugly couch it has to rest upon, I am quite satisfied with the new infusion of color into my life in Korea. As we have now fully rounded the corner on lap two of "life in Korea", we are all about the infusions of color. It's nearly time to celebrate. We have less than ten months to go!!



Before I get ahead of myself, Lori and Kim are nearly on their way! It's a celebratory year in Lori's life, and it was time she had an international experience all of her own. Lucky for me she chose Korea, and the two of them are landing on Sunday evening, right here in KOREA.

See you at the airport ladies! Travel safely. I'll be the semi-blond girl still wearing the back-to-school party hat. I don't think you'll be able to miss me.

Korea or Bust!

She's getting so old, in a good way...

My little baby sister is 22 today, and that requires me to pause and reflect for a moment. Not only do I have to marvel at the passing of time with my own little offspring, now I am forced to confront the passage of time with my youngest sister...


..who in my minds eye is mostly still two and living at home, with mom and dad.



But in reality, she's all grown up, and is as completely beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Who I love with a unique mixture of motherly love, and sibling love. Because when she was born, I was nearly 10 and certainly all grown up in my opinion. I've barely forgiven my mother for the fact that on the first Sunday we got to bring her to church, she let my sister Sarah walk around holding her, before she let me, because I was quite certain she belonged to me. I was quite certain that no ones heart loved her quite as much as I did. And I would have stayed home from school holding her all day long, if my mom would have let me.


But she has grown up. And now she is my little sister who will do anything for me. And be anywhere that I need her to be. She was the first one to sign up for the detour trip through Zion this summer. Just to help me with the kids, was her reasoning.



And who was likewise there for our second day at Disneyland last summer, just because she could be, and wanted to be.

I usually miss her birthdays. But we'll always remember her 8th birthday, when my parents surprised her by flying me and Sarah home from college so that we could be at her baptism. We had only been gone a month, but you only turn 8 once, and get baptized once, and we were all going to be there for her then.

Lucky for me, I have another version of her that walks around my house now. Ruby gets called Christine half of the time. There is something about her that reminds me so much of my little sister Christine. The blond unruly hair, her love of animals, and the melt-your-heart smile are only a few of the resemblances.

And you know what? I'm grateful. I love having a constant reminder of the little girl that I once was, and of the last little sister I ever got.




We're all grown up indeed. Happy Birthday Christine. Make it special.

Love,
Annee

We're just here.

Everyday I think of my blog, mostly because I want to see what my sisters (sister-in-laws are interchangeable, so are best friends) are doing, so I check their blogs. Sadly, more often than not, all is silent on the blog front. Then I look at my own blog, just as silent, and I think, "yeah, but I've got nothing", and think that is a good enough excuse. But you know what sisters, it is not a good enough excuse. Because even your nothing, I wish I could see it. So here is a bit of our nothing...

First of all, in response to Rachel's discovery of the one roof top pool in Boston, I just wanted to let her know that we have a rooftop pool here in Korea too. Perhaps with that bit of knowledge, you want to come for a visit?



We did not venture a swim on the rooftop, but we endured the stares of every Korean who was doing just such an activity, admired the view, and glowed in the glowing light of dusk.





Apparently I have quit cooking. So tonight's dinner was at Happy Teriyaki. On our way, we passed our favorite realty office here in Osan. As you can see, it's a fairly new operation. I hope it is weathering the economic downturn well. They sure have great signage. That ought to help get them through for a bit...


Onto dinner...

The boys LOVE this place.

Ruby hates it, but smiled anyway.

Jane did not think a smile was necessary during dinner.

And George was practicing his chop stick skills, working on the two-handed method for tonight.

Everyday is a better day if there is sewing involved, is what I like to say. These orange pillows have been on the to-do list for a while. They were to practice two skills that I wanted to learn. One was the art of hand sewing. I do not call my attempt "art", but you have to start somewhere.


Secondly, I wanted to learn how to put zippers in my pillows. While my hand sewing skills are beginner-ish, accomplishing zipper insertion has me declaring the project as a whole, "magnifique"!

Here's a link to the tutorial I used, in case you feel putting a zipper in a pillow is a skill you desire as well.

Everyday Ruby wants to make a book. I love to see her being creative, I believe in it almost as much as I believe in exercise. And when I paused for a moment today to evaluate where everyone was, I was tickled to see Ruby's position at the table working on her book. She proceeded to read it to me about 100 times. That's okay. 99 would have been sufficient, but 100 is good.


And now onto, my final observation of the day. Both ladies requested an outline of a castle to be colored in at their will. I obliged with the outline, and these pictures are my ladies in a nutshell. I could barely put it into words better.



Jane's picture is on the left, Ruby's on the right (complete with a flying squirrel and a quotation cloud). The thing is, if Jane ever finished hers it would be spectacular. But she rarely gets that far. Her standards are set so high that she almost never lives up to her own expectations. These girls are so different. So very, very, different. And sometimes I worry about this.

But then it occurred to me, if you asked Darin and I to color in pictures of castles, it is very likely that ours would be quite similar to this. His would be perfect (and take him forever to finish), and mine would be whimsical and "good enough". And while I have an opinion about which way is "better", the point is, there is no one else in this world with whom I am so compatible.

So in fact, while on the surface I would feel at ease if their pictures were identical because I would think it would mean they were going to be BFFs for life. Perhaps it is the fact that they are so very different that will actually ensure their eternal bond of friendship.

What do you think? Please tell me you agree with me....

And there you go, that's the nothing that we've been up to. How about you?

A whole lot of nothing...

So we got into Photo Booth with fake mustaches. That was a good time.

Then the girls tried.

But what they really wanted was to look like they were on a roller coaster with their arms up. Because that is real fun. Not just fake fun, like fake mustaches.

But as it turns out in this, the second to last week of summer vacation, we have spent three out of five days at home in our PJs until it was dinner time, and then we would get dressed and walk out to dinner somewhere. We've seen Darin a total of about five hours this week. We miss him. We'll see him maybe over the weekend, but then not really again until August 28th. So that's life here in Osan. Oh yeah, and while we haven't been getting dressed, I've made a few things...

Meet Kitty. I wanted it to be love at first sight. Sadly, and mysteriously I wasn't in love right away. But she has grown on my over these past few days.

And then when I made her her very own quilt that matched, I knew I really loved her. Enough to give her away!

And here is Jane with Kitty when she heard that she didn't belong to us. I now have two little girls waiting for the morning when they wake up to find new kitties for them. But I'm not making any promises! I love Jane's face. And I love teaching the joy of giving! It makes the making that much more fun.

Au revoir Kitty! We love you so.

Mission Accopmlished!

I finsihed them all last night, and laid them out on the floor in the family room, so that they would see them when they woke up. One by one they came into my room (where I was still sleeping because of the late night sewing), to thank me for finishing their pajamas! The appreciation makes it all worth it. Being done working with their crazy fabric selections also makes it all worth it. Incidentally, I did finish Henry's as well. As it turns out, he it not a kids size XL. He needed the adult size small, so it looks like George just got TWO pair, and I am back to the drawing board for Henry. I'll be honest, that's a little bit painful. I felt a wee bit like a girl working in a sweat shop last night. Cranking out pajama bottoms after pajama bottoms.

Time to move on!

Three things.

1. The book is called "Weekend Sewing" by Heather Ross. It's delightful. And so is sewing on the weekend. Which is exactly what I'm doing, thanks to the Major taking the children away, even just for a moment. I love him so!



2. You know you're an Earnest when...you are four years old and want your mother to teach you how to iron. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm nothing if not obliging. Ironing lessons complete.




3. It's monsoon season. Do you have monsoon season? I didn't think so. It means you randomly have three days in a row of solid rain. Followed by a few days of solid sunshine, humidity and heat. It's charming.

When you are at the end of your summer vacation rope, and it's monsoon season, there is only one thing to do. Take the children on an outing, in the rain. Everyone grabbed an umbrella and marched over to Dr. Fish for a little dead skin removal. They were delighted. I even smiled during the ordeal.









Back to sewing. Four pair of pajama bottoms or bust!


P.S. On our date last night, we stopped in front of the magazine stand. I can't remember which magazine it was, but it had compiled a list of the Top 20 US cities to live in. Are you guessing already which city was rated number 1?! COLORADO SPRINGS, of course.

The Things We Choose

I have long believed that happiness is a choice. I try to choose it 100% of the time. Believe it or not, I've found life to be happier that way. I don't always succeed, but at least I know what I'm aiming for. Somehow by Thursday of last week, I was nearly crying myself to sleep. I say nearly, because I didn't actually cry myself to sleep. I recovered, but I came close. And as I lay there feeling so, not happy, I was wondering what I had done wrong? Where had my formula failed me? I know how to be happy, I try to do all the things that make me happy, and yet there I was ready to let the tears fall heavy on my pillow. So, I had to review.

On Monday I took all the children to the Korean equivalent of Target. "Pick anything you want", I said. I was choosing happiness for everyone! Of course there were parameters, but ice cream was going to sweeten the deal at the exit, so all sadness would be swallowed away. Henry and George found some new Lego guys they didn't already own. Plus, Henry added a piggy bank that he would share with George. They are working to pay me back right now, but once the debt is done, they are already making plans for what is next. Big, BIG plans, that require a giant plastic piggy bank. Right now they are charging their sisters just to play with them. They only charge pennies, but I'm worried about the practice none the less.

Jane picked out a Barbie paper pop-up room, full of accessories. I should have known better before I let her pick it. She's a perfectionist. Paper pop-ups are riddled with imperfections. It was a dicey match for her all afternoon long. And when her face was tear stained and red from crying, she didn't care anymore that I had gotten her a scoop of ice cream on the way out. Why hadn't I protected her from her own choice, was the question she was really asking me.

Ruby picked a pink bridal veil. She came home and instantly transformed herself into a pink bride. She was happy! As soon as Darin walked through the front door, she told him she had been waiting all day long for him. Could he please be her prince?

He said, "Sure, what do you want me to do?"

"First," she told him, "...change your clothes. And then dance with me!"

He just danced with her immediately.



I was so grateful.

On Tuesday the boys had to get sports physicals. Henry chose to participate in basketball camp, and George is going to play soccer. Basketball camp had already started. It was so hard he came home achy and foul smelling each afternoon. Would I please come and watch one time, so I could see for myself what he was going through? I slipped in during the last fifteen minutes one day, just in time to see them get assigned 5 suicides across the gym floor. I watched his achy and sore body run those suicides with precision and dedications, and tremendously weary. I smiled despite his misery (and mine). When it was over I said, "Yeah, you are right, that basketball camp is really hard. But do you know what? I don't feel sorry for you. It's the kind of hard that is good for you. Just make sure you get a good night sleep so you can go back ready for more tomorrow."



But inside I was worried if it really was too hard.

At the sports physical the parent-doctor discussion was about puberty. I sat there remorseful, but listening. I know it's information that I'm going to be glad to have. But how had I gotten here? How about just measure their head circumference, beam about their chubby cheeks, and watch how that they can sit up all on their own. Remember?

On Wednesday after the girls went to their afternoon of summer camp, I stopped by to inquire about the upcoming preschool year. Would it be possible to sign them up for the three day a week class, as opposed to just two? I found out it would be, but the decision had to be made quickly. I didn't have time to think about it, or else we would lose the spots.

And the reality set in, this is their last year at home. I want it to be, and I'm ready for it to be, but it hurt all the same.

I still remember the email I wrote to one of my best friends a few years ago when things were REALLY hard, and babies surrounded me. I said something like, "someone telling me that time will go by quickly, and that they will be starting kindergarten before I know it, is like telling me to just wait one million years, and then life is going to be easier." I was bitter that things were so hard, with no end in sight.

How have one millions years nearly passed?

To find some joy I took everyone to Happy Quilt. I announced that everyone should search the tables and bring back one single packet of fabric. I was going to make pajama bottoms for the whole family. That was going to make me happy!

How is it possible at the very place where I find nothing but beautiful fabric, I was looking at four of the ugliest fabrics I'd ever seen?! Hadn't I raised more aesthetically aware children? But I was determined not to stand in the way of their choices. Each child defended their choice vehemently. But poor Ruby presented her choice last of all, when I was tired of looking at ugly fabric. I actually told her her choice was ugly. She walked back over to me a few minutes later and asked me one more time what I thought. I said, "Well Ruby, you like it, so it's going to be great." And she said, "It's too late. I heard you say you didn't like it. Why did you have to say that? It's too late to say it's pretty now."

I was so sorry.

It's okay that by Thursday night I was ready to cry. None of it was huge, or life altering. None of it was terrible or tragic, but it was not happy either. Life is a mixture. The goal is happiness. But sometimes we have to wade through a few small sorrows to know and appreciate the joy. I want every year to be better than the previous. I don't ever want to wish we were standing still and not forward looking. But it's okay sometimes to realize where we are and let the magnitude of the moment settle upon us and mourn, even if just for a moment the innocence that we necessarily lose along the way.

On Friday night as I was dropping off our angel of a babysitter Rebecca, we were talking about her upcoming birthday.

"Don't worry" she said, "I'm going to come babysit on my birthday."

"Oh no you are not." I said. "This is a big birthday. You need to celebrate." (She's turning 20!)

And she said to me, "It's okay. I realized this year, just being here is the gift. Just having another year of healthy life ahead of me is really all I need. So I'll come and babysit that night."

And in that moment, I knew she really meant what she was saying.

So I said to her, "Well, thanks for saying that Rebecca. I think I really needed to hear that. See you next Friday."

On my run the next morning the lyrics of the songs were reminding me that beauty and pain often go hand and hand. And that's the point. Take a moment, feel the pain, and let it hurt. Then, open your eyes, look around and appreciate the new view of beauty.

Adapt. It can still be happy.

Love the header.

It makes me feel like there is a party here all the time! Sister-in-law Alyssa has set up a blog header shop, The Tip Top Shop. They are super cute and reasonably priced. There is no reason why everyone shouldn't enjoy a delightful blog header. Don't you think? Click on the button and shop away. I hear sister-in-law Chelsea will soon be in the shop as well, with headbands?! I'm just saying, the excitement is palpable at this point in time.

The Major and I went on a date on Friday night. We took the subway, just to get out of Songtan and have a change of scenery. We ate at a place called Puffin which was kind of hilarious because it's a Korean restaurant that is trying to mimic an American pub. But the food was outstanding. Darin got fajitas and I got snapper and it was the best American food we've ever had in Korea.

Sitting next to a crazy old Korean lady on the way home was memorable. No matter how many times I told her, "English, English?", she just kept rattling away in Korean, asking me questions! I started laughing really hard when the Major started talking back to her as if he could understand, making up answers to unknown questions. Imagine it with me, the old Korean lady would ask a question, Darin would say something totally unrelated back. Oh boy, I was laughing.

When we were getting ready to leave (on the date), Jane came in my room. I was ready to be off- duty, so I was kind of trying to shoo her out of the room. I asked her if she needed something, and she stood staring at my closet and said:

"I just wanted to see what clothes you were going to pick out mom."

With that answer she was instantly indeared to me and allowed to watch me get dressed. And that is exactly what I dreamed it would feel like to have a daughter.

Favorite image of the day...

Suddenly around 4pm when my boys were sliding into their favorite positions on the couch, right at the same moment that I was wondering how I was going to vacuum, do the dishes, and fold the laundry, all before 5pm, the thought occurred to me that they should be put to work.

While they will never be able to share the stories of vacuuming and scrubbing in their childhood the way the Original Earnests can (their stories of cleaning as children are akin to the, 'i walked five miles to school in the snow' type of stories. I have no way to verify their reality, nor will I ever be able to be the task force organizer that my amazing mother-in-law Lark was). But I have to say, as I walked out of the laundry room and caught sight of my sons busy with domestic duties, I had to snap a picture. After all, someday when they want to tell a tale about the hard labor they had to endure as children, I thought a little pictorial evidence would surely help their cause.


When I'm not busy with my boring domestic duties, the sewing room is getting slightly less dusty as I tried at long last a crazy nine patch quilt. It's nearly done and was thoroughly invigorating. I think there will be more crazy nine patches in my future. If you want to try one, go here, and here.

Here's an idea.

Put a picture of Michael Jackson at the top of your blog, and you are guaranteed to updated 100% sooner than you would, without a picture of Michael Jackson at the top of your blog.

Blogging advice is free of charge.

Here's another good idea, have a day where your kids aren't allowed to play video games, in the middle of summer vacation. I'm just saying, desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures. The video gaming hours were reaching an all time high.

In the midst of their boredom, George planned us a summer evening picnic, and Henry accomplished several requirements out of his Cub Scout handbook.

One of the requirements was to go grocery shopping with your mom. As if we don't do this three times a week, this time it was with a purpose. We were comparing prices, and I was sending the boys all over the store, with their own list and a basket. I'm not saying it was fun, but it did mean they were not playing video games.

And I got to pick up all the ingredients for a delicious and fresh Salade Nicoise, that I've been craving ever since Bastille Day.



Eating al fresco only made it all the more delicious. The evening ended with freeze tag, and meeting some new neighbors who had just moved into our building. Oh yeah, and eating brownies that Henry made, also part of his Scouting marathon day. I'll tell you what, with five more weeks of summer vacation looming, Henry is going to be a Bear before you know it!

(never mind the grumpy faces, I didn't say it was the most awesome day ever, I just said, we did a few good things)

P.S. Aunt Sarah, how are you doing? All day long yesterday Jane kept talking about you. One time she said, "Mom, is Jesus done making Sarah's baby yet? Is it ready to POP out of her?"

It got me thinking, maybe it is about to pop out of you...