Wednesday, April 27, 2011

2 Years

In celebration of Lincoln's birthday, we went on a hike to Dworshak Reservoir near Orifino, Idaho. It was an hour or so drive. Matt and I had visions of beautiful vistas and fresh air. Unfortunately, the "trail" looked like the below picture. Essentially impassible with kids on your back. Lincoln and Bennett ended up with a few scratches. Matt and I had a bunch of thorns stuck in our pants, and our shoes were soaked even though we only made it MAYBE and 8th of a mile in. Without the kids, we would have pushed through, but the pace of life changes when you've got kids. 


I had to wear a sweatshirt around my neck for modesty reasons. The Baby Bjorn is NOT meant to be worn  this way. I think Bennett needs some bigger socks. I'm surprised his foot didn't fall off.

The "beautiful" (drained) reservoir.

2 of the 3 boys.

The drive there and back along Highway 12 (which borders Clearwater River) was beautiful. I know these car shots are terrible. I would have rolled my window down to get a better shot but the kids were sleeping as seen below.


Love these moments

Isn't is just so amazingly green???



After the drive, there were showers and naps. Then it was party time!!! Here's Lincoln on his birthday. I cut his hair a few days previous. I always hate doing that. He's just not himself without the curls. 

"Ah, Mom, pictures AGAIN!!??? You know I hate that!"

"I'm just gonna avoid eye contact until you give it up."

"Woman!!! You are relentless!!"

"Seriously, Mom, this is getting ridiculous. I told you I wasn't gonna smile."

"Hey Dad!! Mom's a bore, buy you're pretty funny!"

"Happy Birthday Burger Bun to me!"

"Maybe I'll just eat the cheese."

"I get to have a cake..."

"...and eat it too??? Yes!!"

So, I tried to write down every word Lincoln legitimately says on his own without prompting, and was actually quite surprised. You're probably not interested in the list, so you can just skip over the paragraph.

Daddy, Mommy, Bennett (Bebe), Grandpa (Bapa), Grandma (Bama), Laura (Yaya), Julia (Juya), Bobby, Nick (Ni), Megan (Meh-un), Marissa (Issa), Steve (Tee), Kiley (Ki-ey), Drew (Doo), Lucy, Mousey (Mossy), Giraffe (Jiya), Birdy (Birby), Zebra (Diba), Elephant (Ehfie), Dog (Dah), Sheep (Shee), Duck (Guck), Horsey (Hosie), Cow, Pig, Donkey (Gahkey), Chicken (Chiche), Caw-ca-doodle-doo (Caw-caw-coo), Turtle (Turle), Frogy (Foggy), Fishy, Snake (Nake), Butterfly (Buhfwye), Cat, Monkey (Ucky), Bunny (Buhie), Cheese (Chi), Cereal, Cookie, Hot Dog (Ha Da), Spoon (Poon), Drink (Diggy and Dink), Candy (Khaki), Yogurt (Goguh), Tortilla (Tilla), Bread (Beh), Juice (Joo), Water (Ah-oo), Banana (Nana), Cheerio (Chiyo), Pretzel, (Pepull) Pizza (Pitah), Egg (Ay), Cracker (Kaker), Ice cream (Icy), Hungry (Uhie), Food (Foo), Elmo (Melmo), Big Bird (Bi Ba), Ernie (Uhie), Burt (Buh), Grover (Goga), Cookie Monster (Cookie), Video (Beeyo), Movie (Mooie), TV (TT), Phone (Foe), iPod (Piepaw), iPad (Piepa(d)), Music (Juju), Mimi (a video he likes), Mama (a video he likes), Shapes (Shay), Circle (Dicle), Triangle (Tietaytuh), Oval (Obal), Square (Care), Rectangle (Tehtaytuh), Star (Sta), Green (Ghee), Feet (Fee), Eye Ears (Eee), Mouth (Mao), Nose (No), Hair (Heh), Knees, Toes (Toe), Bellybutton (Beep Beep), Teeth (Tee), Head (Heh), Hand (Han), Hat (Ha), Shoe (Shyoo), Sock (Sya), Pants, Shirt On (Shir Ah), Coat On (Coka), Two, Three (Tee), Five (Fie), Six (Si), Eight (Ay), Ten (Teh), Car (Caw), Broom broom!, Airplane (Pehpay), Shoom!!, Train (Tray), Choochoo, Boat (Bow), Toot toot, Tractor (Tratuh), Hay, Wheel (ooie), Truck (Tuh), What did you do? (Wa di di do?), Where are you? (Are you?), Yes (Say), No, Tickle (Ticka), Kiss, Please (Pee), Thank you (De do), Clean up (Be bup), Help Me (Hell Me), Go, go, go!!, Again (Gee), Hello (Ah-O), Bye, Night Night (Nai Nai), Yucky (ucky), Uh-Oh, Get Down (Di Da), Up (Uh), Ah-choo (For sneezing and snoring), Wee!!!, Wahoo! (Ah-hoo!!), Dance (Dan), Jump (Juh), Good Boy (Goo Boy), All Done (Ah Duh), Ah Gone (All Gah), More (Mo), Jesus  (Jiji), Joseph (Jojo),  Emma, Heavenly Father (Hafifafoo), Pray (Pay), Christ (Kai), Amen (AB), Thankful (Tayfoo), Baby, People, Boy, Girl (Guh), Sun,(Syuh), Moon (Moo), Flower (Ahfoo), Tree (Tee), House (How), Book (Boo), Ball (Ba), Basketball (Baball), Shoot (Shoo), Puzzle (Puhple), Door, Box (Bah), Toy, Bubble, Bath (Bah), Soap (So), Potty (Pa-ee), Poo Poo, Pee Pee, Hot (Ha),Color (Cuhker), Light (I), Chair (Che), Bed (Beh), Key, Guitar (Tatar), Piano (Pepo), Earring (Ehie), Kite (Kai).   

If you were to judge my mothering by the words he knows, you might think that we eat pizza, ice cream and candy every day while watching Sesame Street episodes on the iPad. You might be right.  

In addition to his words, he can say all the letters in the alphabet and all the colors and numbers 1 though 10 very clearly, but has yet to produce the majority of these on his own. He'll get it, right? He definitely had me worried by not saying a word for quite some time. And of course he says ALL the noises the animals make. My favorites are "Hee-haw" and "Caw-caw-coo!!!".            


He's shown a lot of interest lately in actually SAYING the family prayer. In fact, even when it's not his turn, he'll talk over you while you're praying. He's always sure to say we're thankful for Bobby, and Kiley. He also rarely misses Drew in his prayers. It's pretty cute. I say "we're thankful for..." and he fills in the blanks and ends it when he's ready.


It's a good thing he knows how to pray cause he'll need a few to make it through to Birthday Number 3. He is a handful and screams all the time and says "No" in the brattiest way possible at least 100 times a day. He spends a good bit of time in time out, as do I since I have to pin him in a corner so he'll stay there. He's usually there for climbing on the table or counter top like I always tell him not to, making Bennett cry or pinching Lucy. But, at the end of the day, when he's so snuggly and sweet, I remember that I love him and I can foresee continuing on with this motherhood thing a little longer. Sure love that little guy. I love him most when out of no where while I'm playing with him, he'll come over, put his hands on the sides of my face and kiss me on the lips while saying "Mmmwah". Here's to Two Years!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Country Living

Once upon a time, when I heard the phrase "Country Living", this would come to mind:


Now, my thoughts on country living are a little heavier on the shabby, and a little lighter on the chic. What is it about REAL country living and the yard "art" (which includes a wide range of things: discarded vehicles, gnomes, fake butterflies, windsocks, antique ovens, old school buses and fire engines... the list goes on. I think I'm going to do a whole post on the yard "art" here). Despite the yard art and abundant RVs, ATVs, and BMXs, there is a lot of beauty to behold here. We live just one block outside of Lewiston proper which has its pluses and minuses. The pluses include a view like this outside our living room window.


 The minuses include terrible, terrible cell phone reception, and SLOW SLOW internet service. No cable company has ventured out this far, yet. So, I don't think that I'll have any videos in my posts for a while. We do have some great neighbors:

We went to see the cows the first evening we were here and now every time Lincoln wants to go outside, he'll stand by the door and say "Cow, cow, cow....".

The cows weren't any too interested in being close to the double jogger.

Here's Matt and Lucy across the street from the cows. Our house is the one on the far left.

The sign reads "KEEP HORSES OFF PEDESTRIAN PATH". People have not been keeping the rules as evidenced by the loads of horse poop on the walk which has found it's way into the double jogger tread. One  day on one of my runs, I was distracted by a tumble weed stuck under the stroller. While I was trying to figure out what the noise was, I hit a load. Luckily it was dry, but the kids almost flew out of the stroller. I just smiled to myself and hoped that no one flying by on the state highway saw what had just happened. 


This is our living room on Day 1. Lincoln and Lucy love looking at the horses. Lincoln will shout "Hosie, hosie!!", and Lucy will rush to the window and stare at them like this:


Anyway, we're having fun and are enjoying our big backyard and big living space. It is a very sharp contrast to our experience in Korea. Matt and I commented to each other about how we've had more culture shock coming here than we did going to Korea. I did go to school in Logan, Utah and there's plenty or rural space in the rest of Utah, I've just never lived in it before.

One last comment: I went to Home Depot the other day to get a sheet of plywood so I could make Lincoln a 2 story fort/playhouse deal. We bought a GMC Acadia (see below) while we were in Utah, and I was struggling to fit the plywood in the back because I had the kids in there. I got asked at least 5 times by farmer dudes if I needed help. I declined these offers cause I was sure I could get it in by tilting it somehow. A majority of those that asked if I needed help asked me if I'd be able to fit it in my "rig". I was laughing inside. Can a GMC Acadia really be classified as a "rig"? I'm not so sure. I always thought that meant a REALLY big truck, no? Turns out, I couldn't fit it in and ended up having to have a Home Depot guy help me tie it in. I did feel pretty cool though, haulin' stuff home in my rig.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Utah Catch-Up

I've been in Utah the last couple of weeks having too much fun to blog so I've copied some posts my sister did:


"melmo"

next to cookie monster, elmo is lincoln's favorite sesame street character. the other day charlotte and i went thrift shopping for baby clothes. we ended up in the toy section at one point and lincoln found this nasty elmo (melmo, as he calls him) toy. i have never seen his face light up so quickly as when he found that scraggly thing. charlotte was afraid she might have to buy it but was finally able to peel it from his grasp and put it back on the top shelf (not without a lot of shrieks out of lincoln). two seconds later he had found a second elmo doll in the mess of toys and was strolling around with that. how are kids so smart?



he also found this mini vanity. he loved it, as you can tell. i guess you can be a little vain when you're that cute.


bennett took it easy in the shopping cart. seriously the sweetest baby in the world (who has a hard time taking good pictures...just like auntie L). how i love this baby!
bug eyes!!

like i said...picture taking is not his strong suit.

and then there were these...why are dolls so scary? especially naked ones?

lincoln wasn't scared.
(elmo still in toe)
in other news...



the adseros are here!! matt and charlotte and their family are back in the USA! char and the boys are staying with my parents for a few weeks while matt travels up to lewiston, id to find a place for them to live for the 6 or so months they'll be there. he'll then head back to korea to wrap things up there. it has been so much fun to have them here and has certainly brought a swift reality check of what motherhood will entail in a few years for me. charlotte is BUSY!! nearly 2-year-olds can be tough little guys sometimes...but also the sweetest little guys as well. lincoln finally learned who "uncle bobby" was and says "bobby" non-stop when i'm around. doesn't look like auntie L is quite as good without her other half. that's ok, lincoln, i like him too. bennett is the smiliest little chub-o in the world. he is so sweet and makes me so excited to have a baby. it's also just been fun to go home and hang out with charlotte. she is one of my best friends. i really wished they were coming back to live in salt lake. 

the picture of this cute family is from a little hike we took on saturday. here are a few more shots from the afternoon.

bobby, jigs and lucy the pup pup. it has also been really fun to have a dog around again, besides the fact that her little nose can get a wee bit too friendly sometimes.

char and benny boy the snoozer.

matt and pink-cheeked lincoln. isn't he cute??

Goodbye Korea

It's not common to just up and move to Korea, so we thought we'd try to preserve some of the sights from our life there. So here are a few (too many):

Our "Starclass" Apartment

Panoramic (nearly 360 degree) view from the top of Starclass. Tried to piece some photos together. Not perfect but pretty good.

The terrible terrible sidewalks, but at least they have them unlike in Taiwan and Houston.

The cow out front of our neighborhood Bulgogi place.

Not a day would go by that I wouldn't see a pile of trash somewhere.

The trucks that are always parked in the neighborhood hospital parking lot. ???

A bus parked on our neighborhood alley.

The neighborhood shanty

The shanty garden

Galloper II!!!

Puke-green Matiz

The river walk

A daily sight

The AWESOME exercise equipment.

Matt learning to do the Hula Hoop

Showin' him how it's done.

A favorite Lincoln pastime

Trying his hand at the Hula Hoop

Benny Baby keeping the stroller warm

Work-outers at the river walk. Notice all the face masks.

Damas II... my ultimate favorite Korean vehicle.

Only 2 people wide.

Most Korean restaurants have pictures of what they serve on the outside of the restaurant. 

FLAT EMMA VISIT:

My second cousin, Emma, sent me her friend, Flat Emma, in the mail for a visit. We dressed Flat Emma up in Korean style, and took her on a little tour. First stop, the roof-top: 



Cart escalators at Homeplus... our favorite grocery store

Out of focus picture of all the rice cookers for sale

The Korean alternative to carseats

Koreans love their brightly colored hiking clothes

...and Spam.

mmmm..... dried fish.

and seaweed

CHURCH FRIENDS:


Lauren Kim w/ Flat Emma

Kang Kyeong Jin and Kim Jun Yeong w/ Flat Emma in the chapel

Outside the Church

Kim Jin Uk, Kim Hyeon Uk, Son Gang San, Yi Chamaenim, Park Je Yeol, Han Ji Yeong, Go Kyeong A, President Park, Yi Su Yong

Matt with Kang Hyeon O

Kyeong Jin, Elder Hansen, and Kim Jun Yeong

The kids having fun at the party. Lincoln is doing some damage on the plate full of cake.

Kang Kyeong Jin

Me, Go Gyeong Ah, Kim Jeong Heui, Mun Bok Lye, Yi Jin Lye, Yun Yeon Suk

Grandma Yi Mu Jeong

Yi Jin Lye, Grandma Son, Yi Yeong Hwa, Yi Chamaenim

Tiffany Son, Park Ye Rim, Yi Bo Mi

Elder Daniels, Elder Hansen, President Park, Matt

The Party


OUR APARTMENT:

Master Bedroom, Piano Room and Office all in one

Living Room View 1

Living Room View 2

Living Room View 3 and Dining Area

Living Room View 4

Kitchen View 1

Kitchen View 2

Lincoln's Bedroom View 1

Lincoln's Bedroom View 2

Hallway View 1

Hallway View 2

Front Entry and our Guard Dog

Guest Bath

Guest (and Bennett's) Bedroom View 1

Guest (and Bennett's) Bedroom View 2 (Lincoln loves getting in Bennett's bed.)

Paparazzi views from our apartment:

Notice the Kimchi pots





Chilsung Cider Distribution Center

We'd watch the Chilsung guys work all day, every day





THE LOCAL MARKET:








Notice the shop owner sleeping in the background





Love the flowered MC Hammer pants

Flat Emma with all the unrefrigerated brown eggs

My friend, Wynne, and some high school girls gawking at Lucy

Buying some leeks

These sales women freeze out there




Yet another fake construction guy directing traffic