Our Visit to Korea

We went to Seoul, Korea for 4 days, leaving Friday after school and coming back Tuesday. It was really fun, a great place. It has big mountains and is a really developed country, much more so than Beijing. We got there around 10:30 and were planning on taking an airport shuttle bus to our hotel, but the last one left at 10:20. The airport is about 1 hour away from any hotel, so taxis were not really an option. We finally decided to take a bus to another hotel and then a taxi from there. The kids were exhausted and we finally got to our room around 1:00 am and slept until 10 the next morning. We used the subway most of the time, went to the Seoul Tower, which is a big lookout tower. The kids bought the universal snack- cotton candy. At the top of this was a teddy bear museum which they liked. We went to some markets and Lauren bought a traditional Korean dress which she has wanted since her friends from Korea wore them for International Day at school. At the top of the tower is the place on The Amazing Race where they had a key to fit one of the thousands of locks (if you remember that episode). I put a picture up of it.

The next day we went to a different shopping area and got to see alot of familiar favorites- Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Build a Bear Workshop. We passed a Toys R Us, but weren't sure where it was so we kept telling the kids we would go if we found it. We took the kids skiing on Monday. We got up at 6:00am to take a subway to the place where the bus picks us up (we thought). It was supposed to come at 8:05, at 8:30, another bus pulled up for a different ski resort so we asked if they had room, and luckily they did. It was a great resort, about 2 1/2 hours away but worth it. They had a ski school, but it was too expensive to get it in English for the kids, so we tried our best. They did really good. Both went down the beginner hills, Lauren a little faster than Marshall who took a few face first falls. Lauren really had a good time. Then we went in for Hot Chocolate where Marshall had a group of about 8 Korean ladies around him talking to him and giving him hugs and kisses. They taught him how to say Hi in Korean. They also had a tube hill, where you could sled down, so the kids did that about 10 times and had a great time. They got their snow fix by making snow angels, throwing snowballs, and just playing around. Things got even better for them, when we found out the bus makes one of their drop off stops right by the ever elusive Toys r Us, so we made a visit there.
It was a very busy weekend. When we were on the bus to the airport again, Marshall made us laugh by saying "Where are we going now? Mexico?" The poor thing falls asleep on every plane, train, and bus and we always seem to be somewhere new when he wakes up.

We came home and made Christmas cookies tonight. Right now, the kids are watching Rudolph and tracking Santa on Norad, getting ready for bed.
Have a great Christmas everyone, we wish we were there with all of you!

The Whirlwind Weekend

Here are some pictures from the big shopping trip to Chicago. What a fun time. It was great to see friends and Target and be able to speak English again. Yes, I know I talked ALOT, sorry. It has been awhile since I laughed so hard (and had such good good, wine, and shopping). Thanks for all of the fun, can't wait until summer. (I still can't believe it, Annette!)
Anyway, got back and this week has been busy with the kids Christmas parties, unpacking and then packing again, and getting ready for Christmas.
I also put some pictures up from Marshall's swimming class at his school, and his school Holiday party. They were all so cute!
It has been pretty cold here. We are going to go to Korea for a few days and go to a skiing place that also has a sled riding hill. It should be fun, but I am packing some snacks to bring for the kids. Not sure what they will have there.
Hope everyone is doing well and is ready for Christmas. Wish we would be there with all of you. Well, I better go, it is almost 1:21.
We miss you!

A date night

Todd and I got to get dressed up and have a night out last Sat. We went to a Latin Charity Ball, it was alot of fun. They had dinner and drinks at one of the hotels here. Miss Geri came to babysit and the kids made 3 bags of popcorn (the first bag burned as we could smell when we got home) Yes, I know there are no pictures of the two of us, but when you have a 4 year old as your photographer, it doesn't always work out!
We are already decorated for Christmas. The cats have a new favorite place- under the Christmas tree. They hang out their all day. When we got the Christmas boxes out, I realized that most of our decorations are in storage, so we had to make a trip to the market to restock. I was surprised at the amount of Christmas things they have here. It looks like Wal mart, I think their factory is nearby.
Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We went to a neighbor's house for turkey. The kids had a great time and didn't want to leave. Their daughter had a ton of American girl toys and littlest pet shop things. She is in 5th grade so I told them if they were looking to sell things, let me know. They had school Thur and Fri, so Todd and I went out to lunch on Fri and then had massages together. It was really nice.
Lauren has been going to Brownie meetings and really liking it. They do really neat projects. She had to go back to the doctor (again) because she woke up Sat with another round of sores on her face from the impetigo. Her eye is starting to look a little better, but it sure is taking a while. I liked the doctor today, she was American and gave her a 10 day course of Augmentem. It just felt like what they would have done at home, so hopefully it works. Then she and I went to McDonald's for lunch.
On Monday, she has 1st communion class and tonight she gets to bring the snack, so she is excited about that, we are taking Chinese fruit snacks, oranges and pretzels. Lauren picked it out!
Not much else going on, Marshall is doing fine. They now love playing clubpenguin, which is an online game that one of Lauren's friends told her about.
I can't believe it is Dec already. One good thing here is that we don't have any commericals showing the latest toys, so the Christmas lists are short this year. I'm sure they will make up for it in the summers!
Take care everyone and we miss you!

Lauren got a haircut

We had the kids' pictures taken by a studio here. It was done at their school and it was so cold that day. They turned out really good, I think. Much cheaper than the US also. Lauren got a big haircut, and she really likes it. It does look very cute, I was afraid she would be sorry to have that much cut off, but she really likes it.
On another note, we are still having trouble with her eye. She has been to a pediatrician twice, and an eye doctor once. The eye doctor cleaned out her eye, and while she was doing it, the abcess opened and drained alot of pus. I was hoping that would be the end, but it is still red and swollen. It is better though, just taking along time to heal.
The cats were spayed/neutered and declawed. They seem to be doing fine. Lauren and Marshall are glad to have them back. So am I actually, I am starting to get used to having them around.
Marshall is doing just fine. Loves school. He always has been rather easy. Todd started his Chinese lessons yesterday. Mine are off until Jan 13th, when I will start the next level.
Not much else new. Hope everyone is doing well and have a Happy Thanksgiving. We don't have any plans here, the kids even have school so we will probably just watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and start decorating for Christmas!
Take care everyone!

Not much new

Well, not a whole lot has been going on. Lauren got her report card and got all 3's (exceeds) except for Chinese where she got a 2. She has informed me that she does not like Chinese, does not understand it, and is not going to learn it. I guess we'll see what happens. The teacher says not to worry about it, she is doing fine, but it is a mixed class, meaning she is in with all 2nd grade, some of which have had Chinese for 3 years in school already. I think she is just frustrated by it. I don't blame her, I have had 60 hours of lessons for it already and have a comprehensive test on Thur. We had a review today and it is hard.
Marshall is doing well. He still plays with Zach everyday after school and both kids like to carry the cats around all evening. I put in a picture of Marshall with Zach making smores, and one of Mia curled up with Lauren before bed. Marshall was very excited because he had his first PE class a couple of days ago. He feels like a big kid. His soccer ends on Sat, and their tennis lessons ended last Sunday. We had pictures taken of the kids by a photographer on Sat and it was SO cold. Unfortunately for them, we had most of them taken outside. I went to look at them and they turned out really well, I should have them soon. Lauren wore a red Chinese silk dress in them.
I took the cats today to get spayed/neutered and declawed. Lauren and Marshall are not going to be happy when they know this, because the cats have to stay in the clinic for 3 days.