Everyday in May!!

May is going to be huge.  First of all, Liz is here.  Hers was a trip a long time in the making.  And with only one last day together, Darin has commented more than once that our house is a little like a sweatshop right now.  I'm fine with that.  One only has their best friend, and best sewing friend, in town for a very limited time.  We are trying to optimize every minute.  But, we will pause to run a half-marathon tomorrow, so that's kind of funny.

Secondly, May is going to be our last whole month in Korea, we're leaving June 1st!  I have a lot to say about that.  

And thirdly, we will hit our 300th post during May, and I'm thinking of making that something special.  For all of those reasons, and so many more, I'm going to have a blog post a day, everyday in May, STARTING TODAY!  

It's going to be huge.  

Come back tomorrow.  

XO,

Annee

Spring Break was awesome, etc.

Here are a few things I learned on Spring Break 2010:

1.  Wear sunglasses in your pictures.  It's more likely you'll look like a movie star that way.  Who doesn't want to look more like a movie star?

 2.  Korea can be shockingly beautiful.

3.  I feel the same way about my kids sometimes:

4.  I really love sleeping in a bed.  Although, if you have to sleep on the floor, heating them is an excellent idea.

 Master Bedroom at the hotel.

Living room.

Kitchen.

5.  Traveling with a huge group of fun friends is an excellent idea, especially when your hotel is sparse. 

6.  Just accept the fact that if you try to hike a mountain on a really cold day in April, you will likely have to give in to the tantrum over the fury animal hat.  Don't think less of yourself, or your strength, or your powers as a parent if you do.  Just focus on the fact that you took that frown and turned it upside down.  Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for that moment of weakness.  

7.  Fish markets are simultaneously disgusting and fascinating.  Mostly disgusting.

8.  I should always travel with Darin.  He takes great pictures.  Next up is my report about my girls-only trip to China.  I promise to include all five of the photos that I took while I was there.  

That's it!  That's all I learned during Spring Break 2010. 

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.