sea water tea company

Fashionista

2012-02-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

She's cute. She got those Minnie Mouse ears at a birthday party.

Speaking of birthday parties, we went to one at Burger King the other day. We let the kids order sliced apples and milk. I'm pretty sure it was 1% and they've only ever had whole milk before. A and J scrunched up their faces and said "This milk tastes cheap." They're cute too. And spoiled.

I'm off to take a stats test. Wish me luck!

Go Team

2012-02-07T19:13:00.000-08:00

Spent last Saturday cheerin' on our girls! First up, Jensie's early-mornin' swim meet-

Left her team cap and goggles in the taxi, but I'm a big fan of swimmers in Pippi braids.

Action shot! One of Jensie's biggest accomplishments this season has been to figure out rotary breathing. Tricky stuff!

Army Warming Tents: quite possibly the coolest part of a winter swim (she made that face).

Next up came Nat's last basketball game of the season. I wish I could think of some clever word play here, cheering for the cheerleader, but alas...

We weren't the only ones

I don't know what this is called, but "high kick" sounds good, right? She does it well.

Flying!

All of the school's senior athletes were recognized during half time, so I got to escort Nat across the gym. I see three things here: 1.) I am a giant. 2.) I look like my mom. Like, a lot. 3.) I need to grow my hair back out. (Ch-ch-ch-chia!)

Let's take a minute to recognize this senior:

Nat is a compassionate friend and very sweet aunt.

Her free babysitting can't be beat.

4.0 GPA, yeah baby!

Made All-American cheer

Voted "Best Dressed" (haha, Senior Superlatives). Obviously.

Has the best legs on the planet

Oh yeah, did I mention she drives a motorcycle?

Is moving back to the states to go to college this Fall. WAH WAH WAH!

Frankie dressed herself.

Go Team!

Faux Snow

2012-02-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

This year's first snow, was more like the idea of snow. But everyone knows "mud angels" are just as much fun.

We've had some real powder since then, but I don't think I took any pictures. Well that's it for today I'm off to school.

PS. I'm back in school! Taking psychology and statistics this semester. Woot woot!

War Eagles

2012-02-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Eagle Tattoo by Aunt Nat

My brother reads my blog. Who knew? He's deploying to Afghanistan next month and asked me to post more regularly. Boohoo! Nothing pulls at my heartstrings like a lonely soldier. So here we are, just for you, Trace. We love you!

Overheard: Early Bird Gets the Pecs

2012-01-23T14:02:00.001-08:00

Jensie got a new alarm clock and asked Nate to help her set it for 3 am. This morning at breakfast...

Nate: Did your alarm go off?
Jensie: Yeah
Nate: What'd you do, did you get up and read?
Jensie: Nah, I just did a few push-ups and went back to sleep.

Pictures for Penny

2012-01-22T04:42:00.000-08:00

F&A were whining about having to sit still, or go to primary, or something churchy. I don't remember what. Anyway, I made a bargain with this narcissistic duo. iPhotos in exchange for compliance. They bit, with one caveat. These pictures are just for Baby Penny.

Eloise

2012-01-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

I've given up on taking anything but grainy cell phone pics.

Frankie: I wish I looked like Eloise.
Me: Well you do!
Frankie: No, her hair's only blond. My hair is golden.

Sonny Turned Six

2011-12-18T06:11:00.000-08:00

We celebrated with a Star Wars-Lego-Costume party! That's where you put Star Wars guys on your cake, and only play Legos, and everyone wears their Halloween costumes. It's the best.

This cake was the real deal. Made exactly to Asher's specifications, (and I quote), "Mom, I want a cake the color of Tatooine with C-3 and R2 facing away from each other like when they part in the desert and a 6 candle in the middle." He insisted on sprinkling the "sand" on himself and placed his action figures just so.

These are all the pictures I took. And I used my phone. I'm that lame. Let's talk about someone cooler than me. Like, Asher. Or Ash, Asher-man, Sonny, Son as he's known around these parts (Son is saved for when he's in trouble).

I think when your only boy turns six you're supposed to stop saying (thinking) things like He's the cutiest cutey doll-faced sweetie baby. But I can't seem to help myself. That kid, bless his heart.

Asher's friends gave him the boyiest boy toys I have ever seen. (I know I just followed up cutiest with boyiest. It's the latiest.) Remote-control cars, Nerf guns, Ninjago...it was wild. The star of the show was the Pirates of the Caribbean White Cap Bay Lego set. With approximately 12 million pieces and two hideous mermaids, it was apparently designed to tug at the heart strings, or the I HAVE TO HAVE THAT OR I'LL DIE strings, of every 6 year old boy on the planet. Upon its unveiling, two boys spontaneously burst into tears.

"I'll never have one of these" one cried. His brother, a Lego master, kept his composure long enough to ask "Asher, do you even know how to put that together by yourself?" When Asher admitted that No, his dad would help him, the sorrowful brother actually ran out the front door, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth. It took Nate 20 mins to hunt him down.

Is there anything worse than seeing someone else get exactly what you want, knowing that they won't appreciate it like you would? No. There is not. Which is why Nate and I are still chuckling in empathy to this day.

Asher was so wrapped up in the assembly of Cap'n Jack Sparrow's canoe, I don't think he even noticed when his friends were dragged from the party by their embarrassed mother. Happy 6th Birthday, Asher. Greedy little sweetheart.

Grandmother, Why Do you Cry?

2011-12-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

Jensie was in a play at school. She had 2 lines. In Korean. (Today's title is the rough translation of one of them). She nailed them. I posted a video of her talking about it on Facebook. Go watch it!

I think yesterday was the first day she had any fun and the first day I've felt any optimism about enrolling her in Korean school. Last night I read this article and was filled with so much hope. This is going to be good. This is going to be good.

Asher can not wait to start Korean school in March. I'm homeschooling him until then. He loves it. I love it. Next time I consider putting my kids back in public school someone better punch me in the stomach (three more times).

This morning we spent hours putting together a new Pirates of the Caribbean Lego set Asher got for his birthday. Legos are pretty great- patience, math and counting skills, following directions, and hand-eye coordination all rolled into one.

Anyway, that is it. Everything is going according to plan. Which is just the way I like it.

Overheard: Frankie and Friend

2011-12-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Got this text from our neighbor yesterday

Ellena just informed Frankie that Santa is dead. Frankie thought for a moment and said, "No, it was Jesus that died for us."

Frankie is Four!

2011-12-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

Four Things about Frankie-

1. She loves Eloise, bananas, bike rides, and writing her name. 2. Little Miss can run all the way from the metro station to our front gate (about 1/2 mile). 3. All of her toys are named Elizabeth with the exception of one black baby doll named Richard. 4. She always gets her way by wiping her nose on any toy her siblings won't share.

iPhotos

2011-11-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Our First Visitor

2011-11-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

Kung flew in from Taiwan for the weekend. She only wanted to do one thing here. "Eat." We were happy to oblige.

We tried a little of everything- the good, the bad, and the totally bizarre.

1. Kung samples the soup, 2. Prawns, 3. Daegi Bulgogi, 4. Roasted Chestnuts, 5. Korea's infamous Seafood pancake, 6. Live octopus, 7. Mussel Soup- the very worst, 8. Tentacle omelet, 9. Frogs

"This soup tastes like if you had a fish tank but all the fish died and then you heated up the water and drank it." --Natalie

Night Market in Myeondong. A veritable smorgasbord with oysters on ice.

Your guess is as good as mine!

We also managed to squeeze in a hike to Seoul Tower and a quick trip to Gyeonbokgung Palace.

Who knew there'd be a Cold Stone at the top? (My kids.)

She came bearing gifts!

Thanks Kung, come back soon!

Overheard: Caillou's a Dud

2011-11-10T01:41:00.000-08:00

While playing computer games this afternoon (pbskids.org, check it out) after Frankie had advanced a level the computer Caillou said "Good job! Now let's try something more challenging so you don't get bored."

"Ugh!" Frankie groaned, "Why does he keep saying that?"

"Because he knows he's boring." Asher replied.

서울보광초등학교

2011-11-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

Jensie's new playground. It doesn't look like much, but there were a few games of soccer, dodgeball, jump rope, tag, and tug-of-war going on when I snapped this pic. I like it. In a city as cramped and crowded as Seoul some open space to run and laugh is exactly what every kid needs.

We pulled Jensie out of the American school on post and enrolled her in a local Korean public school. She was not happy, not one bit. We knew she wouldn't be, but we did it anyway. Why? Because it's good for her and mother knows best. That, and an angel did not appear in my bedroom to stop me the morning I went to transfer her.

Here's the thing, I believe in prayers and I like to think God answers them. For months we've been talking about, thinking about, and praying about where our children should attend school while we're here. Usually I think that if an idea keeps coming back to you it's because it's a good one. But along with the idea came a lot of anxiety which made me think maybe it was exactly what we weren't supposed to do.

I couldn't decide whether I was worried because it was a terrible idea, or because good things can be hard and my decision was going to seriously stress poor Jensie to the max. On my way out the door I actually knelt down and said a prayer that went something like this:

Dear Lord, I am sorry if these anxious feelings have been a sign from you. I'm too dense to read them clearly. I'm about to do something big, Lord, so if you want to stop me, could you send a sign a little more obvious? Like have a big booming voice yell "STOP" right now? Thanks.

I've never asked for a favor like that so I sat around to give the angels a few minutes. Since you already know Jensie's in Korean school I guess you know what happened next. Hint: nothing. Maybe God just doesn't work that way, but whatevs. What's done is done.

Jensie started yesterday--so far so good. When I picked her up and asked her how her day was she said "Fine!" and then, remembering she'd promised to hate it, added "I mean, terrible."

Here are a few lucky things:

She already has lots of friends. They stare at each other and say "annyeong" a lot.

Kids are allowed to fold origami at their desks while the teacher is talking. I think that is a brilliant way to keep little hands busy during quiet time. Weeks ago, when this transfer was just a nervous thought in the back of my mind, Jensie got an urge to learn origami and has practiced for hours an hours. She knew how to fold dogs and her friends knew how to fold baskets and they traded their shapes and now they're even better stare-at-each-other-because-we-don't-speak-the-same-languate-but-there's-always-origami friends! Isn't that great? Maybe that is my sign.

School is only four hours long and ends right after lunch. Korean kids go to Hogwans, private lessons/tutoring/sports, for a few hours every afternoon. Jensie will go to Korean lessons but right now the teacher is on vacation so she gets a couple of weeks of half-days.

Here are some unlucky things:

Jensie hates kimchi and has a hard time with those slick Korean chopsticks (Chinese chopsticks are no problemo). Kids aren't allowed to bring lunches from home though--Koreans are big on uniformity, so she will have to suck it up and either learn to like kimchi or just eat lots and lots of rice. Not to mention, learn to use the darn chopsticks. We picked some up at the dollar store today so she can practice.

Koreans go to school on Saturdays.

No American holidays means she can kiss Christmas vacation goodbye!

When I walked Jensie to her class yesterday she was brushing away tears as we stepped through the door. I gave her a hug and told her to be brave. I promised her two things:

1- It is going to be hard
2- You are going to live through it

Isn't that just the way it always goes? Nate says she'll appreciate it when she's 25. I think it's gonna be a lot sooner than that. And those icky apprehensive feelings? Gone, I tell you. Vanished. Asher and Frankie are soon to follow suit.

Three cheers for making good scary choices.

Hip hip hurray!

Hip hip hurray!

Hip hip HURRAY!

PS. I can read the title of this post!

Nat's Around

2011-11-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

and I love this picture

Halloween Spirits and a Little Christmas Cheer

2011-10-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

We bought a Christmas tree a few days ago because we heard once they're in stock here they sell out quick. The kids asked if we could set it up right away, but I said no. And then since I couldn't think of any real reason not to, I changed my mind and said yes. They did all the decorating themselves, it doesn't even have lights yet. When Natalie came home from school she was like "You do know it's October right?" I wanted to take a picture of everyone in their Halloween costumes and Jensie suggested they pose in front of the Christmas tree. Of course. It kind of cracks me up, so I made a Halloween "Christmas" card. Get it? Get it?

Yongin Forest

2011-10-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

We had our first successful camping trip over Columbus Day weekend. As in, all three kids slept through the night. Whoo! We'll be spending many many more weekends there. Another first? We brought home bags full of fresh fallen chestnuts and roasted them for FHE. Just like the olden days.

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

Asher hit a tree with his face.

She doesn't want her picture taken, but she sooooooo wants her picture taken.

Cool mountain morning, Candyland hike

Nothing beats my camping bangs.

Planting a "Lollipop Tree"

First Day of Kindergarten (Sept. 6)

2011-10-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Sonny off to school each day is truly bitter-sweet. He loves it. I miss him.

A Picture Emily's Never Seen Before

2011-10-26T02:31:00.001-07:00

Gyeongbokgung Palace

2011-10-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

(and getting a little lost on the way home.)

Metro

2011-10-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

They play muted K-Pop videos at all the train stations. This one's my favorite. Laughed out loud when I found it on YouTube this morning and actually heard the words. "I'm not your girlfriend, I'm your boyfriend." Duh, get it right! Gotta get Nate a tight white jacket.

Kimchi-ed Crab Bodies

2011-10-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

I did not have the guts to try them but Nate says they're weird. Like spicy not-quite-rotten crab jelly. Yum!

Bangs on a Train

2011-10-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

Why Every Kid Needs an iPhone

2011-10-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

Gather Them Close

2011-10-18T06:18:00.000-07:00

Today we skipped school to have an adventure.

First stop beef bowls at "The Triangle Place" a favorite little restaurant just out the back gate. Frankie's a chopsticks wiz-kid and the other two got jealous. This morning everyone finally got it. Yes! (School, who needs it?)

Next up was "Toy Alley" and home again to paint new paper masks, then on to Hapkido, naps in the taxi, Kebabs in Itaewon, and enough time for stories before bed.

Bonus: Found a "Magic Flower" candle tucked away in a dusty little shop. Can't wait to see it in action at Frankie's birthday next month.

Kimchi, It's What's for Lunch.

2011-09-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

Korean food is really a) delicious, b) healthy, c) inexpensive. We eat it everyday.

She likes it, she likes it!

Top row (left to right): Spinach kimchi, rice noodles, cabbage kimchi, sea weed, fish-flavored tofu.

Middle row: Bulgogi (marinated beef and peppers), fried eggs, more kimchi, something hella spicy--I think it's red pepper kimchi.

Bottom row: rice and two spicy potato soups.

Surprise! There's a fish in your cabbage.

Seaweed "chips" for dessert.

Blogging Can Be Fun!

2011-09-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

I was real sick and tired of this blog. So tired in fact that I decided to shut 'er down, just as soon as I'd bound it all up in a blog book. Then a funny thing happened. I was sorting through old posts to decide what should make the cut and remembered blogging can be fun! I think I'll keep at it. At least a little longer.

If you're waiting for new pictures. Stop. I haven't taken them. Or, I have but I've already posted them on Facebook. Either way, you won't find them here. Maybe we should be FB friends!

Actually, I do have one.

Super Girl has a new house

Our new house is rad. 4 beds/3 baths and the biggest kitchen in Seoul. Ok. It's just the biggest kitchen until you get our next door neighbor's identical kitchen. Still.

I love this place. And by that I mean Seoul, but let's just talk about our apartment for now. It is totally Asian--wood trim, weird light fixtures, and pink tile everywhere. Not to mention the fanciest ugliest green couch around. More on the couch to come, I'm sure.

We got lucky enough to be on the light side of the building so things are sunny all the time--just the way I like it. The walls are white-washed cement and nearly impossible to keep clean. The Bigler Wall of Fame is coming back full force. I think I might go ahead and cover every square inch of this place with photos. I'd like that.

We're right in the heart of Hannam and only minutes away from the Han. Google it.

Nate and I have been running every morning. So far as I can tell Koreans aren't really big on early morning exercise so usually it's just me, my man, and a great big shiny river with pink clouds on the horizon. One morning someone was flying a red kite about a million miles high. I was on top of the world.

I know about ten words in Korean. Here they are (spelled phoenetically by me):
*Annyeong Haseyo- Hi there!
*Kamsamnida- Thank you
*Juseyo- Please
*Mul- Water
*Duc- Rice
*Samjang- Red bean paste
*So- Cow
*Yumso- Goat
*Ori- Duck
*Neh- Yes
*Aniyo- No
*Oma- Mama
*Appa- Daddy
*Ajima- Granny
*Erin Im Nee Da- My name is Erin

I just asked Nate "What words do we know in Korean?"

He said "....im nee da."

I said "I already put that."

He said "that's about it."

It's not going to be nearly as easy to learn Korean here as we'd hoped. It's not that we thought Korean would be easy. We just thought we'd be fully immersed in it. We were wrong. Living in military housing means that we enjoy our own mini-America. So we will just have to work a little harder to get to know the real Seoul. We're up for it.

Now let me tell you about how great everything else is!

Nate loves his job. Loves it. Isn't that the best?

Natalie is about to turn 18 and got a motorcyle for her birthday. She can take her Korean driver's license test in about 2 weeks but we got her bike a little early so she could practice riding in the parking lot. Good things come to those who babysit!

Jensie's class only has 9 students. N-I-N-E, can you believe it? She is a third grade champ. I'm pretty sure she is the world's best writer, with the world's worst penmanship. Her teacher says she doesn't care about penmanship, so now, I don't care either.

Asher's Kindergarten teacher is an angel. Seriously. God sent her to Earth just to teach my son. Their first field trip is only a few weeks away (it's not like we're counting). They're going to a Korean sweet potato farm. Nate signed up to chaperone so he could learn a few tricks of the trade.

Frankie is a little girl trying to learn to be a big girl. She hates walking around this great big city. She asks everyday if we can buy another car. When we arrive at our destination, after thousands of tearful baby steps, she exclaims "Look! I love walking now." *Giggle, giggle. She forced us to enroll her in preschool and she never complains about getting up early to make it school on time. She goes to ballet and is very good at it. Her teacher, a strict Korean woman, dotes on her and bought her an ice cream once just because she's beautiful.

And me? Well you know. Same old, same old.

Halloween

2011-09-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

Costumes have been demanded. The kids will be...

Jensie: Po (red TeleTubby)

Asher: Indiana Jones

Frankie: a strawberry

Woot woot!

Exploring

2011-09-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

We bought a heaping plate of bulgogi for the family to share, but Asher claimed it all for himself. Nate bet him 20,000 won (about $20) that he couldn't finish it all, but Asher licked his bowl clean. Nate paid up, on the condition that Asher spend it all on new street foods while we're out in the city. His first purchase? This dried rice tortilla-looking thing. We all guessed it might be sweet or salty, some sort of snack. But no. It was just rock solid, break-your-teeth-off, unseasoned, white rice. Fail!

Jensie Lissette, 3rd Grader

2011-08-28T15:38:00.001-07:00

Wasatch

2011-08-24T00:17:00.000-07:00

Our family in the mountains

Photos by Ashley Thalman Photography

July 2011

Flashback Friday

2011-08-12T00:11:00.000-07:00

My mind is blown. KA-BOOM.

This was taken Jensie's first day of Kindergarten. Since when do they let little tiny babies go to school? Secondly, that pretty baby girl turns eight tomorrow. How in the world?

Public Service Announcement

2011-08-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Jensie and Asher have asked me to let you know they have updated their blogs and are waiting for comments.

Mud

2011-08-06T01:13:00.000-07:00

Yahoos. Orem, Utah. July

Today's the Day

2011-07-31T15:14:00.000-07:00

We are moving into our new apartment this morning. We walked through it on Friday and it's awesome. We're gonna fill it up with free government issued furniture and it's gonna be the best. Once we get our internet there the blog'll be up and running again!

Seoul Grand Park Zoo & New Friends

2011-07-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

Line 4 to Seoul Grand Park. We've got this subway thing down! Nevermind the fact that, as Nate says, "it's the easiest thing in the world."

Rowdy boys are a concern to the locals.

I don't know who the Sedowicks are, but their mural sure is lovely.

Baby turtle Asher. Awwwww.

Frankie's gotta keep her new scar out of the sun for 8 months. If you find a little hat that doesn't have a picture of Dora on it, send it my way would ya?

At the Dolphin & Sealion show ala Sea World. Ignore the fact that I neglected to photograph said dolphins. Or any zoo animals for that matter.

We ventured to the zoo with some new friends we made at the hotel. Our first trip there was fun, but exhausting. The Seoul Grand Park is huge and the zoo is probably a mile or so into it. We didn't know a tram ran to and from the entrance so we hiked the kids in on the sunniest day we've had yet. We had time to see about four exhibits and the dolphin show, before the kids declared themselves exhausted and refused to walk any further.

We went back a couple days later with Nate and Nat (yes, I sometimes get their names confused, and yes, they hate it), and this time we did everything right. We rode the tram to the entrance. Bought tickets to the sky-lift and were air lifted to the top of the zoo where we worked our way down through the animals.

Our favorites were the enormous Stellar Sealions, a pacing Siberian Tiger, the baby animal nursery, and the goofy Orangutans. I've got a feeling the zoo will become a favorite Saturday afternoon destination. We love Korea!

Oooooh Barracuda

2011-07-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Jensie made the swim team! She's a Yongsan Barracuda.

Practice starts at 5:30 am. Everyday.
Her first morning she said "When it swims it feels like I'm flying!"

then she said "and I pretend I'm really playing Quidditch."

which explains why she kept bumping into the lane dividers and forgot about her kick-board.
This Saturday is her first meet. She's swimming the 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke. Hurray!

Out and About

2011-07-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Street food- cheap and delicious (and hopefully, maybe, gluten-free).

Nothing like a refreshing bottle of "sweat" on a hot day. We thought it was water but it's really Gatorade. Like, old school style. Sick.

Too-spicy-to-eat rice noodles, sweet bean dumplings, more dumplings, and dumplings.

Live snail face cream. Yes! Emily Keele and I invented this in the 5th grade, but I can't remember what we called it. I wanna say Jeempa-Ju but that's not right. Jeempa-Ju is oatmeal with chopped up spaghetti noodles. Anyway, we were robbed!

I don't know what this is, but you can buy it in the subway.

Sitting on the floor at little teeny tables. Hurray!

Our first day here someone told us "Korean food is great if you eat a lot of meat. Are you big meat eaters?" My response? "We are now!"


Meat. Its' what's for dinner.

A friend took us to this awesome restaurant the other night. We walked there in the pouring rain and arrived in time for the dinner rush. When it was our turn to be seated I was a little disgusted to have to take off my shoes and go inside. Everything seemed wet and germy. Don't worry, I got over myself. We sat on the floor and piled our grills high with a little bit of almost everything. The family sitting next to us was grilling long chords of intestine. We're working our way up to that. It was delicious! Bean paste might be my new favorite food.

Everything else about Korea is just as cool. Folks here are enamored with our kids. Asher learned to say "hello" in Korean and has perfected his bow. He's darling on the subway and people flock to him. He bows to everyone and they all touch his face and bow and laugh. The subways are easy to navigate and a great way to get around. We sold our cars before we came and plan to use public transportation to get around. Nate occasionally gets called into work at odd hours though, so we may buy a little "hoopdi" to have on hand for emergencies.

School doesn't start until the end of August so we still have lots of time to explore. Seoul is so big we could probably see something new every weekend and still not see it all.

Yesterday we found out we'll be living in Army housing about 20 mins away from main post (Yongsan). We'll probably move in sometime around August 1. They don't have any empty apartments to show right now though so we don't know what our new place will look like. We walked around the neighborhood and there are two nice playgrounds and a great pool. We can walk out the front gate right into a busy shopping district and there's a shuttle that will run us to Yongsan anytime we need. It's gonna be a blast.

I can't think of much else to say so here a few random facts about Korea so far.

Watermelons cost as much as $20! They're on sale at the commissary for $16. Whoo!
Crocs are taking over the world--seriously about 1 of every 5 people are wearing Crocs. Not just ugly ones either. Peep toe crocs, crocs heels, crocs boots. I want some.
Red foods are hot, white foods are not. Pretty easy, except there's no way to to tell how hot something red will be...
There are over 2,000 different kinds of Kim-Chi. So far my favorites are radish and cucumber.
They eat raw octopus. We've been warned several times to eat it carefully because the suckers on their squirmy tentacles can stick to your throat when you swallow and choke you.
Um, I already ran out of facts.

Three Little Monkeys Jumpin' on the [Hotel] Bed

2011-07-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

One fell off and . . .

We got a lot done today. Picked up our ration cards, checked out the commissary (they don't sell gluten-free bread, boo), and rushed the baby to the ER. Good thing we'd picked up new cell phones too. iPhones are about worth their weight in gold. Frankie played Scoops 'til she could be seen and YouTube distracted her while the doc stitched her up.

She's one tough cookie. Didn't cry a bit. Just got a little squinty when they turned on the overhead light.

She's pretty proud of the blood on her shirt.

Three stitches later + a pack of princess stickers = good as new!

Jetlag: The Next Chapter

2011-07-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Our bright-eyed monsters were up at 4 am ready for a snack. Frankie shouted happily "I can't believe we get to eat in the middle of the night!" They're watching Disney channel in Korean and eating popcorn in bed. Nate's in the background singing "Party in the U.S.A." Just thought you'd like to know.

Annyeonghaseyo/Hello!

2011-07-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

View of Yongsan from our hotel room

We made it! I'm so tired. Jetlaaaaaaaaaag. The flight was uneventful. I watched five movies on the way to Japan. "The Adjustment Bureau" was a total let down. Whatevs. I felt irritated not being able to understand anything the woman was announcing over the airport intercom. Then I remembered a) I'd better get used to it and b) I need to learn her language. Ha!

We're staying in an enormous Army hotel called the Dragon Hill Lodge. This place is like a small city. There are at least three restaurants, several fast food joints--Pizza Hut, Subway, two huge playgrounds, a bank, a couple of pools, and a small grocery store. The rooms aren't bad, just typical hotel rooms. Cable TV and bedspreads that give me the heebee-jeebees. We'll be here anywhere from 10-60 days while we wait for permanent housing to open up.

It's the middle of "Monsoon Season" and it's gray and rainy out but the weather's nice and warm. My hair is getting bigger by the minute. Frankie's curls are awesome. People exaggerated Seoul's "lack of nature." There are trees everywhere. From what I've seen, which is very little I know, it's quite pretty and looks a lot like Taiwan.

Nate started briefings and in-processing stuff this morning. He'll be done in about an hour and then we are going to get on the bus that runs on post and explore a bit. I guess there is a black-market here for American goods sold at the commissary (I think mostly things like cigarettes and vodka) so we can't go grocery shopping without ration cards and new IDs. Ration cards are first on the agenda so we can stock up on gluten-free stuff. Until then the kids will have to live on ice-cream and French fries. I'm sure they're really upset about it.

It's so weird that we live here!

You Still Reading This?

2011-07-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

We don't have a computer to use regularly here and I can't figure out how to upload any pictures. We're off to Korea in THREE short days. In the meantime it's family, hiking, swimming, sleeping in, and drinking up that cool mountain air. Thanks for stickin' around. See you in Seoul! !! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! (That sentence can not have too many exclamation points.)

He Makes Me Laugh

2011-07-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

::ashley thalman photography::

Winner!

2011-06-21T21:17:00.001-07:00

Lucky #7...who just happens to be... Emily!

Now the whole thing seems rigged. Thanks for playing!

The Role of a Father by (my sister!) Emily Packard

2011-06-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

You're in for a real treat today, friends. My sister's blog is all pictures and no words. Why? 'Cause "words take too long so pictures are all you get." This morning however, she wrote this to share with the congregation of her church for Father's Day. I loved it so much I asked her to let me post it here. Enjoy!

My husband works all the time. He's never home, and when he is home he manages to find something work related that just has to be done, or he's off riling up the baby who I've been trying to put down for a nap all day.

Hi, my name is Emily and that was me 8 years ago. I was newly married, I didn't have a baby yet but if I did I totally would have sounded like that, and I was filling the role of discontent wife really well. When Seth was working I was upset that he didn't spend enough time with me. When he came home from work I was upset that he didn't make me dinner after I'd been working all day too. Eventually Seth told me I was kinda mean and no fun at all to live with, which was completely true, so I worked really hard to be better. And I got much better.

Until about a year ago when I had Penny and then I fell right back into the discontent wife/mother role. Why? I asked myself, and I'm sure Seth was dying to know. Why, when I knew that homemaker and mother and wife were the roles I wanted to be playing, was I so snarky and dissatisfied? Especially with Seth--the father of my child and the man who made it possible for me to be a stay-at-home wife and mother? The answer is because while I was fairly confident about the role I played in the family, I was a little confused about Seth's.

I was raised in the aftermath of the feminist movement. I'm familiar with equal rights. In fact, my parents lived that mantra quite well. Growing up my mom cooked often, but my dad had been a chef in his youth and I remember him cooking as much or more than my mom. My dad sewed my sister's prom dress and reupholstered our furniture. But he still went to work full-time to provide for our family and threatened my dates with a shotgun. You know, normal dad stuff. My mom would curl my hair and paint my toenails, and eventually she went back to school and got her Master's degree and a full-time-job. Not because we needed the money, but so her 5 daughters would know that women are able to provide for themselves and their families as well. I thought it was the ideal marriage, spouses sharing their roles so equally, but 2 weeks before I got married my parents finalized their divorce. Role-sharing did not work for my parents and it wasn't working for me and Seth. So, I asked myself, what is the role of a father when more and more mother's are working outside the home? Where does a man fit in this day and age of equal rights?

President Gordon B. Hinckley said in The Family: A Proclamation to the World that "by divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protect....their families." So men are to teach, protect, and provide. But maybe President Hinckley didn't know that I am very capable of providing for myself, thank you very much. I have a degree in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. I taught preschool for 2 years and elementary for one, and while teacher's salaries aren't so hot, I was bringing in more than half of our family's income. And I was terribly unhappy most of the time I was doing it.

But why? I loved my students and I think teaching is a very worthwhile profession. I truly believe that women are just as capable as men in certain regards, especially in the workplace. But I also believe what President Boyd K. Packer said. He said that some roles are better suited to the masculine nature and other to the feminine nature. Both the scriptures and the patterns of nature place man as the protector, the provider. Doctrine & Covenants 75:28 says, "...every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide..." Now maybe I'm reading that scripture from my cranky-wife perspective, but I think it's very interesting that is says LET him. There will always be situations where it's necessary for a woman to provide for the family, but for me it's not. I was unhappy with the roles in my marriage and family because I wasn't letting Seth provide. For me that meant stepping down from my work, even though I'm perfectly able. But more importantly, now it means biting my tongue when I'm about to make a snide remark about the way he's doing something and instead being grateful for the way he chooses to provide, even if it's not the way I pictured it.

Because as it turns out, Seth actually likes it when I let him provide, when I'm supportive and aware of the work he does for our family. He finds purpose in providing. It's part of his nature. And not just his earthly nature, but his divine nature. The Family: A Proclamation to the World says that "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Before Seth, and all fathers, were born and after they die, part of who they are will be wrapped up in providing for their families.

Protecting their families is another aspect of a father's role. When my youngest sister was baptized I was asked to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. I was already married at the time and in my talk I said that I hated being home alone at night because Seth wasn't there to protect me, but that during those scary times I could pray to have the Holy Ghost come and comfort me.

After my talk a woman approached me, and I thought she was coming to compliment my fantastic talk, but instead she said, "It's sad that you feel like you need Seth to protect you. I would've hoped your mother would've taught you how to take care of yourself."

I was shocked by her bluntness, but not offended. Well, I was a little offended she didn't like my talk, but her bluntness got me thinking. I didn't feel at all ashamed that I wanted Seth to protect me. Again, this wasn't a matter of being capable. It was a matter of divine nature.

Man was created after the image of God and Psalms 145:20 says, "The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked He will destroy." Our fathers and our husbands are the same way; they will preserve and protect our families. A couple of days after Penny was born I was feeling quite vulnerable. I felt like there was no way I could take care of myself and a little baby, and I suddenly felt very dependent on Seth for mine and Penny's survival. But in my vulnerability came a moment of clarity. More than men and women being created equally, we were created fairly. By fairly I mean that we're created with or given what we need to be happy.

It makes men happy to know that they can protect their families. Women like a big strong man, or a little strong man, or a little man with a baseball bat and 2 cans of pepper spray, to protect them. I'm pretty sure I could swing the bat at some crazy intruder, but it would be kinda difficult with a baby in my other arm, and really I'd be much happier huddling with Penny in the corner while Seth did the dirty work. Maybe that's why marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. Our Heavenly Father knew that those complementing differences would bring us the most happiness. I could stand up and protect my family if I needed to. But trust me, I would be much happier hiding away with my babies, just like I know Seth would be much happier preserving those who love him.

Physical protection isn't the only protection that falls under the role of a father. A father is to preside over his family in love and righteousness. Preside means lead, and I think good leaders teach. By teaching his family in love and righteousness, a father is giving them mental, emotional, and spiritual protection. The summer between my junior and senior years in high school my 2 best friends dumped me. We were friends again by the time school started, because that's just how girls work, but for that summer I was left to fend for myself.

I started hanging out with a new group of kids. They were very nice and completely accepting, but they had very different values than what I had been taught. It was while hanging out with them one evening that I was offered alcohol for the first time in my life. I kinda froze. I knew what I needed to say, but I was so afraid to say it. My old friends, while maybe a little hormonal, were raised just like I was. They had never presented a situation like this before. But they weren't talking to me and these new friends were. I didn't want to be alone...

Now all this inner turmoil probably took like 3 seconds. It felt way longer. But at about two-and-a-half seconds, right before I was about to answer, the last thing that popped into my mind, more powerful even than teenage peer pressure and social abandonment, was my father. My dad, who had taught me from the time I was little that my body was worth taking care of, and that the spirit it housed was just as valuable. My dad, who taught me that friends come and go, but that families are forever and that he would forever be there for me when I needed him. My dad would not leave my mind for that half second, and it bugged me, because what he had taught me was about to make me a high school outcast.

"No," I said to my only friends. "I think you should take me home."

"Okay," they said, without any added pressure or condescending remarks.

Oh my goodness, I thought. That was easy. I still have friends and I didn't have to drink alcohol. I was so relieved. When I got home that night I went straight to bed. I didn't give my dad a hug or thank him for teaching me how to make good choices. In fact, I don't think I've even told my dad that story. But on that night, because he presided over my family with love and righteousness, my dad helped protect my spirit. And now, 10 years later, I'm trying to figure out how I can help my husband preside over our family.

A couple of weeks ago I was trying to teach Penny how to "use her words" instead of whining to get what she wanted, and she was doing pretty well for me considering she's one and has no words. But I noticed that when Seth was around she would start whining again, and Seth would help her or give her what she wanted.

Later that night I let Seth have it. "We need to be presenting a united front! I'm trying to teach her how to be an independent individual so that by the time she leaves our home she'll know how to take care of herself and you're just doing everything for her. That doesn't teach her anything!"

I thought there were no errors in my statement, that it left no room for discussion. I was just waiting for Seth to agree with me when he said, "Before you say I'm not teaching her anything, think if there's anything I actually could be teaching her."

"Nothing," I said. "Except how to be a big baby."

But Seth is an excellent teacher, and he teaches how the Doctrine & Covenants advises--only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness and pure knowledge.

Seth said, "I'm trying to teach her that she has a mother and a father who love her and who will always be there for her. That whenever she's afraid, or doing something hard, or would just like a little extra help that she can ask her mom and dad. We're united because she'll see that her mom teaches her skills she needs to be a competent human being and her dad teaches her skills to be a loving human being. She'll see that together her parents are using their strengths to teach her how to be an independent individual who can take care of herself."

That, to me, was an error-proof statement, that left no room for discussion. Not because Seth wanted his statement to end the discussion, but because it was kind and gentle and riddled with pure knowledge. I had never thought of it that way before, but it made perfect sense. Penny doesn't need 2 people to teach her how to read. I'm an Early Childhood Educator, remember? I can handle reading on my own. What she needs are 2 parents who will use their complementing differences together. A mother who will teach what she knows, and a father who will teach things the mother never thought about. And vice versa.

I'm starting to find that the more I fulfill my role as wife and mother and let Seth fulfill his role as husband and father, that the closer we stick to our traditional responsibilities instead of trying to share them all equally, the happier we are in our marriage and family. As husband and wife, we are obligated to help one another as equal partners, but equality to me means each of us using our divine nature--both of us using all we have--to strengthen our family. It's time for me to give up my role as discontent wife. I can still use my lines of "my husband works all the time or he's off riling up the baby," but this time I can say them knowing that Seth's doing exactly what a father should be doing.

Bluesy

2011-06-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today, on Father's Day, I'm missing the best dad I know. Best man I know if you want to get technical. I sure am lucky. Love you Natey. Really, really.

"Mr. Mac" Barwick you come in a close second. I watch you with your kids, Matt, and am proud to know you. Happy Father's Day.

-------------------------------------------

My kids and their cousins are piled into a mini-winnie on their way to Oregon to spend a week with Grandi and Papa. I couldn't fall asleep last night I was so lonely. Jensie gave me extra hugs and kisses before they left. I noticed again how beautiful she is. She'll break a lot of hearts with those big brown eyes.

Night before last Frankie tried every trick in the book to avoid having to go to sleep. She was hungry, thirsty, lost her blankie, had to go potty, and just wasn't tired. I told her to "stay in bed" and shut the door. She started crying but I decided to ignore her. I heard Asher sneak out of the room and down the hallway, where he found me at the computer writing to Nate.

"Um, Mom?" he said. "I'm not trying to lie to you, but, um, Frankie just threw up all over her sleeping bag."

Good grief. I believe you son!

I found Frankie, cupped hands full of vomit, glaring as I knelt by her side. "You didn't bring me a bowl in time."

Oops. In my defense, she hadn't asked for one. Cross my heart.

Family dinners are a big deal around here. On a good night we seat 22. Sunday, when we'd all gathered around the table, an apprehensive Asher blurted "My mom is crazy! She stabbed Jensie with a needle over and over. Jensie was gonna pass out."

*Silence*

"Asher, do you mean the other day when I used a needle to get a splinter out of Jensie's toe?" I asked, nervously. "When I was very slow and calm and Jensie said it didn't hurt at all?"

"Yeah." he said, and began to cry.

Whew. We turned again to our plates and I did my best to comfort my Trypanophobic wee one. Later that night I needed to run outside to grab something I'd left in the car. Asher asked if he could come with me. When we stepped onto the porch, however, Asher seemed surprised by the chilly blast of cold mountain air--typical of June evenings in the high desert.

"It's too cold for me." he cried.

"Well run and get your sweatshirt," I advised.

"I don't want to." he said.

"Ok, then just be cold."

With a panicked look Asher turned to Bonnie and my step-brother who stood nearby. "She just told me to be cold." he shrieked. "I told you she was crazy. She makes terrible choices!"

Asher. Sweet, sensitive, anxious Asher. I will miss you and your sisters so.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...

2011-06-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Nate and our friend Stephen pose with the official Miss America car.

*Don't forget to enter our giveaway below.*

Give-Oh-Giveaway

2011-06-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Howdy friends. Thanks for stoppin' by. I like you and I like this little guitar. I think you oughtta have one.

Leave a comment (and tell your friends) for a chance to win an adorable children's guitar from the Land of Nod.

Yodelady, yodelody, yodee-yehaw, whoo.

My best cowgirl yodel--sounds so nice with a little guee-tar.

One lucky winner will be selected at random next Monday, June 20th.

Good luck!

Family Tree

2011-06-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes "cheesy" is the best!

Made It!

2011-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

All right folks we're here and now. Chillin' with the fam while Nate finishes up his course in San An Tone. Check out the pjs Gramma Bonnie made Asher.

Complete with scarf and hankie!
Freakin' rad.

From the Sticky South to the Wild West

2011-06-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City here we come!

City Market Fountains

2011-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hot and Hungry

My kids are always so pleasant in public!

Time to cool off!

Savannah Some More

2011-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Beach bummed.

A slow and lazy day with a trip to the ocean.

Crab Shack & Tybee Island

2011-06-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

Apparently I deleted a bunch of pictures of our first night in Savannah. Bummer. For dinner we jumped in the car and headed for the Crab Shack for some Low Country Boil-crawdads, shrimp, crab legs, corn, muscles, more crab, potatoes, and sausage. Yeah, it's as good as it sounds.

After ordering the meal we decided to check out the live alligators swimming in the Crab Shack pools. Nothin' like a little gator baitin' before dinner. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Mom, take a picture of me holding my menu like this!

He's alive! Not.

Jensie and Elle

I handed Frankie the camera to keep her occupied while we waited for our meal. Not too shabby, eh? Usually her vantage point leads to shots of my nostrils.

Muscles as castanets.

What, you don't pose with giant reptiles to hula after dinner? Weird.

Just practicing

Jensie-Jense and Mr. Matt

The famous Tybee Island Lighthouse (and the wedding we crashed).

Back Blog

2011-06-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Get it? Back b-log. Like back log with a b? I don't know how I do it. These things just come to me.

Time to play a little catch up around here. Let's start off with a bunch of pictures of our trip to Savannah and work our way up to today (someday), okay? Okay!

Road Trip!

2011-05-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Tybee Island

First stop- Savannah

Frankie wants to be a "surf board" when she grows up.

More when we get back.

Wrapping it Up

2011-05-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Our Toyota is for sale. If you know someone looking for a great family car, please give them my e-mail: biglerfamily-at-gmail-dot-com.

We saw fireflies for the first time tonight. Nothing is more beautiful than a summer night in Georgia. I'm glad we were here to welcome another summer.

The movers will be here tomorrow. As soon as I publish this post, I'm going to disconnect the computer and add it to the mountain of stuff being shipped to Korea.

Korea, Korea, Korea. It's all I think about these days.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

2011-05-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

Everyone was eager to help dad check the oil before he left for Texas this morning. Well, except maybe Frankie. She was just itchy.

Sometimes I get a little spooked by this whole big internet world, and think I shouldn't tell you when Nate's away. But these comings and goings are our way of life, and not mentioning them might literally mean going years without having anything to say. So, he's gone. But he'll be back.

Busy Busy

2011-05-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Dudes. We are so busy right now. I can hardly keep up. Life is changing (again) and the kids are wiggin' out (again). It's already summer though so we can't fix everything by bumping bedtime up an hour. It's just so sun-shiny bright outside!

We've been...

packing for Korea

cleaning for new renters

playing at the creek

showing Trace the ropes

I forgot to...

schedule dentist appointments

contact the housing office in Yongsan

take my fish oil and then I cried for three days straight

Frankie...

learned "Bloody Mary" and is totally obsessed. When Natalie tries to nap after school, Frankie uses her creepy Bride of Chucky voice to tell her "Bloody Mary's gonna get you Natalie."

Asher...

is in full Ninja mode. He will attack without provocation. He leaves bruises. You've been warned.

Jensie...

shaved her eyebrows. She "didn't mean to."

Mi Hermanita

2011-05-15T13:38:00.001-07:00

Who speaks Spanish and is also muy bonita.

Painkiller 6

2011-05-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Receiving the Army Commendation Medal and "pinning" the new 1SG.

Nate changed command Wednesday morning. Company command is a tough job--14 hr. work days, weekends, and 3 am phone calls. I know he feels a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders, but the soldiers he's lived and worked with for the last year and half will truly be missed. I don't know what he'll do without his battle-buddy and right-hand-woman 1SG Tina Irvin.

I thought I'd share a bit of his farewell speech--especially the parts where he said such nice things about me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"First of all I have to thank Erin, my wife of 9 years, without whose support I wouldn't be here today. This assignment has somehow been one of the most challenging jobs I have ever had. Erin, you have supported me ever since that fateful day in 2004* when I surprised you with the news that I'd enlisted in the Army. I can't thank you enough for supporting me, especially during the past five years and the 33 months you've been a single mother while I've been away. Jensie, Asher, and Frances forgive me for being the "webcam guy" for the last few years while you've grown up without me. You are wonderful children and I enjoy every second I get to spend with you.

I appreciate being entrusted with command of C Co during a difficult deployment; thank you to LTC Marks for seeing some potential in me. I love the Painkiller's mission. I'm extremely proud of the dedicated leaders and Soldiers I have had the privilege of serving with with for the past year or so. We had some great times playing Rock Band at company birthday parties and some bad times as the DFAC [dining facility] burned or while we worked to save patients seriously injured by one of the numerous IDF [indirect fire] attacks.

If I have been successful it is because of leaders like 1SG Tina Irvin, the most dedicated and intelligent NCO that I have met, and her husband Michael who has served the Army in many different capacities for 27 years, most recently as my FRG [family readiness group] leader and friend.

I hope that I have improved my foxhole, as they say; and that I have left behind a memory of my dedication to this Brigade and my love for the Painkiller Soldiers.

Rock of the Marne. Sledgehammer. Support and Defend."

My Kids + a Neighbor

2011-05-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I just posted the same picture seven times. Frankie's crackin' me up. Nate's mom made these swimsuits for the kids, can you believe it? No, there isn't anything she can't do.

You Want Pictures? I Got Your Pictures

2011-04-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

The Barwicks came for Easter! It was messy, and loud, and someone was always either crying or puking. In other words, it was faaaaan-tastic. Seriously, I loved every minute of it.

I took like five pictures they whole time they were here. Mostly of Frankie. I don't know why, probably just because she's the only one who ever holds still long enough to say "cheese."

Frankie had the flu...

but it was nothing a little Smooze couldn't fix.

Heather said all kinds of nice things about these pictures...here.

We decided to tell the kids the truth about the Easter Bunny (and the rest of those sneaky magic gift-givers) this year. Nate got the conversation off to a rolling start by yelling "Hey kids, there's no Santa!" while we were all driving home from the grocery store.

Jensie didn't believe it so when we got home I pulled out my secret little box of her baby teeth--proving that not only am I Santa, but the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and St. Patrick's Leprechaun too. Frankie had a really hard time not spilling the beans to Josh and Ezra. She cracks me up. Rabbit or no rabbit, they still took in a pretty good haul:

In other news, Jensie learned to sew! While we were in Oregon last year Nate's mom helped her make a pair of pajama pants. She's been waiting for me to help her with several other projects but I never seem to have the time.

Yesterday she decided to take matters into her own hands. She spent all day stitching little gifts for the family--Nat, Nate, and I all got cell phone covers, Frankie got a "treasure pocket" and Asher got a "neck blanket." She saved the best for herself though. Who wouldn't? Check out this awesome purse.

She's sew cool.

Hey, Mom!

2011-04-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

"Can we try to catch a bird in this bowl?"

"Sure, if you want to."

Because it's actually impossible to catch a wild bird in a little bowl right?

What's tall and white and sore all over?

2011-04-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

.

Give up?

Me!

Errin invited me to join her in a 12 week fitness challenge, Live Strong. Live Strong and I are kicking each other's butts. It only started Monday but I've exercised like a motha everyday since, literally. Last night I made the kids run stairs with me yesterday. They cried the whole time. It was the best!

My favorite part of the challenge is working toward overcoming an addiction. I've kicked sugar to curb. It was really my BFF Heather that got me to swear off the sweet stuff, but this video/article sealed the deal. I haven't had sugar for a couple of weeks and feel better and better each day. I love getting to give myself two points at the end of every day for sticking to it (Or NOT sticking to it...get it? Get it?) (That was awful).

The person with the most points at the end of the challenge, wins. I never get points for eating six servings of vegetables (but I don't eat six servings of anything else either), and I've only once gotten points for not eating after 8 pm. I'm a night snacker. Last night I ate an entire head of lettuce (fresh from the farmer's market) with some cranberries and sunflower seeds. Hard to feel guilty about that!

One thing I want to be better about is "engaging my core" like the guy in P90X is always trying to get you to do--I want to call him Tony. What's his name again? I'm trying not to slouch while I sit and type this, but my abs are too sore to do this with much success. Wanna know how they (my abs) got that way? Of course you do. Push-ups! Isn't that weird? I can do exactly TWO full man push-ups before I reach muscle failure. My toothpick arms really can't handle me so my abs have to do all the grunt work. So impressive, I know. Don't be jeal.

I should post some pictures huh. I don't have any new ones so we'll use these: Me, in Capitol Reef, right after Nate's first deployment. I'm trail running so that's relevant right? Plus, I have nice legs.

If you want to know what else is going on around here, you'll have to check out the kids' blogs. I'd better warn you though, Asher's blog is pretty graphic. He doesn't hold back like I do.

(That's a joke.)

Peace out.

A Happy Find

2011-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Buried at the bottom of the Goodwill book bin was a rumpled little copy of A Hole Is To Dig A First Book of First Definitions by Ruth Krauss with pictures by Maurice Sendak. It is the most delightful thing I have ever stumbled across.

No one ever seems to care about stuff like this when I post it, but I don't mind. I gotta shout it from the rooftops . I love it so much that if (if haha) I were on a tight budget and had to choose between this book or food I would buy it with grocery money. Luckily, you can get it on Amazon for about the price of a bunch of bananas.

Inked

2011-04-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

My son is obsessed with human anatomy. This week's questions have lead to lengthy discussions on fallopian tubes and egg fertilization. In fact, he's avoiding baths right now to preserve the "awesome tattoo" he gave himself. It's three sperm trying to penetrate an egg. See it?

After extensive study of the female reproductive system, Asher asked the inevitable "But how does sperm get inside the female in the first place?" Dun dun dun...

Probably the only question I wasn't prepared to answer. I called Nate in a panic, "What do I tell him?"

"Tell him the truth." he said. Just like that. At the ripe old age of five my son is well versed in the birds and the bees. There's just one thing he can't get quite right--women have a few too many holes to keep track of. The pee hole, the egg hole, and the...what's the other one?

Yongsan

2011-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

We may actually be moving to Yongsan-gu, a province of Seoul, which is great because we'll have a little more elbow room. Kidding! I've never lived in a City city. I can't wait!

Bah, Time! Who Needs It?

2011-04-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Frankie took this picture too. I like it.

Homeschool. We took a lot of time off this year. Weeks off when Nate came home. Weeks off for Thanksgiving and the rest of the festivities. Weeks off because it was cloudy. Weeks off because the sun came out...We have officially hit 160 days of school. We have met the minimum requirement mandated by the state of Georgia. I'm still worried that I haven't done enough. I thought we'd continue through the summer. Then I thought Who am I kidding?

Sometimes I wonder how moms from "the olden days" taught their children. Like, how did women who had to darn socks and nurse fifteen babies find time to educate their little ones? Then I remember that most of the "olden day" kids were completely illiterate. So basically they are no help to me at all.

I think I kind of suck at time management. I was once penalized for using the word "suck" in an English paper. My tenth grade English teacher wrote in fat red pencil that vulgar language would not be tolerated in her class. I tried really hard just now to come up with a better word, but, well...it's still there isn't it.

Today I paid very close attention to my kids. I looked them in the eye. I laughed at their jokes. We played at the park and colored, for hours. I was feeling smug off success. Then I ignored my husband all evening to check my facebook. Boo.

Tomorrow though, we are going on an early morning bike ride. Mornings here are divine. Sweet and breezy, just perfect really. I will tell him I'm sorry and give him extra kisses before he leaves for work.

And I will try again to give them all the love and affection they really deserve. Is it just me, or does it seem like there really isn't enough time in the day?

Frankie's a Genius

2011-04-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

Frankie: Can I have some rubberbands?

Me: I don't know if we have any.

Frankie: Um, you have one in your ponytail.

Oh. Right.

And just like that, her horses all had gallant riders.

She took these too!

Welcome to the World Baby Zander

2011-04-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

My newest nephew, Zander Austin Cook. Maybe the cutest baby yet.

Mind-Bender

2011-04-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

Remember these bad boys?

Nate got a letter from an actual "Jedi" just this afternoon!

Names and places have been omitted to protect the identities of those involved.

Check it:

"Nathan,

Attached is the blueprint of what the [government]
has spent a shit load of money on my butt trying to figure out. It is very entertaining stuff.

We all witnessed/took part in the condemned building 'experiment' back
in the XXX course...stuffed to the tits with fun, that one.

But NOTHING compared to the 'surprise' event to support and confirm the
earlier findings that we all know of.

The [government] really does 'recon' well, three cell phone calls from the
orderly room in one week just prior to the 'event/mission' to verify my
home address.

Even more intriguing, a strange appearance of a dead bird on my back
lawn (which I left in place) which got spun around 180 degrees each
night over the course of three consecutive nights by XXXXXXXX pulling
recon on my residence. They left the back gate open the first night just
to let me know they had stopped by. The XXXXXXX rock band that I had
going was over late one of those nights (I had crashed) and heard them
advancing up the cliff my place sits on. Two of the guys in the band
were Scouts. I gave them heads up on the expected proceedings that
night.

A CPT XXXX from XXX XXXX XXX personally contacted me one afternoon
(again just prior to the upcoming event) and INSISTED that I show up at
his place to jam with him and another CPT on drums. This was totally out
of the blue...I had jammed with him once in XXXX on XXXXXX. It was truly
a 'one nighter' (good session) for neither CPT would take me up on any
further sessions. They had accomplished their mission. I had my 12
string HAMER bass in tow. That was the target.

I never would have expected what came next.

Being globally aware that this stuff (Ganzfeld) has some practical
application I submitted to a strong push/inwardly generated impression
and took my big ass HAMER out to the back yard, unplugged the mower and
plugged in the effects pedal from Sandy, Utah I got during the
course...put on some headphones, hit the drum machine and rocked out
some old Sabbath.

Then it happened...

The ground started to shake like an earthquake. Over the mountain my
place looks at from the back popped up a helicopter, the same one that
had been buzzing around the area for a few days (it's a civilian model
the [government] keeps here on XXXXX). It advanced a little toward me, stopped
and hovered. Moved around from there like they were filming me. That
lasted a couple of minutes and they flew off directly over my head. I
saluted, still jamming.

Two days later there was a change of Command ceremony. I lined up to
shake one of the outgoing [commander's] hands. He stood there, I mean racked
with silent laughter. I thought he was going to piss himself. He
couldn't even bring himself to make eye contact with me. Then he did,
and with a broad grin...all he said was "take care, brother". That was
added to by another outgoing field grade giving me the most serious
"CAPTAIN XXXXX" I have ever heard.

Do you have any idea what the [government] intends to do with this
shit?

- XXXX"

I suggest you read this immediately and take all necessary precautions.

Aggie

2011-04-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

I hated you, tolerated you, liked you, then loved you.

Now, I miss you.

I'm glad you've got a big new family. So long you sweet shaggy dumb dog. It's been real.

Up for Grabs- Locals Only (Sorry)

2011-04-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

I don't want to haul this stuff to Asia! Let me know if you want any, or all, of it. I'm gonna drop it off at Goodwill in the next couple of days.

~~Kitchen Aid Mixer~~- Works great. The kneading hook has a few small hairline cracks in the enamel, and one black knob broke off the side when we moved here.

~~Cuisinart Bread Maker~~- Makes beautiful 2 lb loaves or so they tell me. I've only used this twice. I bought it specifically to make gluten-free bread, but GF baked goods are a pain in the rear, so...I don't really bake bread anymore.

~~Anthropologie "Bowl of Cherries" Half-Apron~~- Great if you want to look like June Cleaver, dumb if you don't want your shirt to get stained. I never wear this thing.

and for you crafty types...

~~Pretty Glass Jars~~- to fill with Holiday knick-knacks.

~~Broken Anthropologie Latte Bowls~~- I've watched enough HGTV to know that broken glass is a hot commodity. If you're saving your shards for a cool mosaic something-or-other add my shattered junk to your collection.

We're Moving

2011-03-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

to Daegu, South Korea!

Photo credits here & here.

I Love These Days

2011-03-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

Doh!

2011-03-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

Asher's hair was perfect. Then I went and paid someone to give him Dumb and Dumber bangs. I meant to take "after" pics the minute we got home, but put if off for a couple of weeks. Now I realize it's not so bad after all. Hallelujah.

Your Goose is Cooked

2011-03-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Actually mine is, but it sounds better the other way around. In case you were wondering, having a Chinese goose in the middle of the city is a terrible idea. It's like a fog horn blaring 24/7. Neighbors start asking questions.

We determined pretty quickly that Goosey Lucy had to go. Nate presented three options to me: 1- return her to the farmer we'd purchased her from, 2- let her loose in the woods, 3- eat her. The latter seemed most sensible.

Nate dressed her out in the driveway with the help of the kids. Lots of lessons learned. Her breast meat was so different from other poultry, Nate begged me to "take a picture of them on a white plate!" You know me, I aim to please.

Once you've slaughtered a goose, here's how to cook it up:

(Refridgerate the meat at least overnight before cooking it. We waited a week.)

2 large goose breasts
2-3 T olive oil
1 med red onion
3-4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/4 cup white wine
course sea salt, pepper

Sauté onion and garlic together over med heat until onions become translucent (about 10 mins). Push onion and garlic mix to the sides of your pan and add both breasts to the center of your pan. Cover meat with some of the onions, pour in broth and wine. Generously salt and pepper. Cover pan and reduce heat to low. Let simmer until meat is cooked through.

Be careful not to over do it. Goose cooks more like beef than poultry. I oughta know. Make sure it's warm but leave it slightly pink in the middle.

It's so delicious Asher's been begging us to start a "goose farm," and Jensie has declared her favorite foods to be "pizza and goose!"

Frankie Took a Nap

2011-03-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe her fourth one ever. That is an exaggeration. As usual.

Naps make for wide awake babies at midnight, so I am perusing the sites. Heather tipped me off to Teacher Tom and I've been reading for an hour going "Uh-huh, You know that's right, Amen!" Check him out.

Bookmark these while you're at it.
SouleMama
Imagine Childhood
Pink and Green Childhood
The Perennial Plate

Oh, and in case you were wondering? Homeschool is hard. And even better than I'd hoped. Sometimes I worry that we don't play enough. Then I worry that we play too much and forget to do enough cursive and spelling. I am still working on balance. I decided that playing Horse-opoly counts as math. Jensie always buys out Percheron and Clydesdale (Boardwalk and Park Place) and bankrupts me with her barns. The other day we let Asher play after he promised to follow the rules and he killed us.

This concludes my most random post to date.

Goodnight.

Cool

2011-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Nate wanted me to add that he was not in charge of the making of this sign. He does indeed know how to spell "company."

Overheard: Simple Machines

2011-03-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Asher's first proposed Water Purification System, age 5

Asher: Dad, draw a tank. Now draw a red button on top. When the red button flashes, the water's dirty. If the water's dirty, you gotta draw an oxygen pump. There has to be a protein pump on the other side. And on the top there has to be an energy pump.

Nate: What's the source? Where does the water come from?

Asher: From Africa dad. Does Africa have dirty water?

Nate: Yeah, some of the water's dirty.

Asher: And America?

Nate: Yeah, Africa and America.

Asher: Ok, now draw waves,

This will clean the dirty water in Africa, but not just Africa. Dirty water everywhere!"

A to the S to the H. E. R.

2011-03-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

My son- curled up in the fetal position and thoroughly stuck in a pillow case.

Asher: Can you find me something super interesting to watch?
Me: Maybe, what'dya have in mind?
Asher: Find me a video about the four ventricles of the heart!

Asher's latest interest? Tachycardia. He'll either grow up to be a biologist or a total freak.

Dress #3

2011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Are we still doing this?

This one brought to you (almost)

live in living color!

And Now, The Moment You've All Been Waiting For...

2011-02-27T16:52:00.000-08:00

Finally dug up the "after" photos of our first house. I'll go ahead and repost the scary pics too in case you missed them the first time around. I loved that old place!

Living Room

Family Room

Kitchen

This room definitely deserves two photos. Wallpapered cupboards, pink brick, and a spray painted oven. Oh yeah, and we didn't buy any new cupboards. We're that good.

Guest Bath

Master Bedroom/Bath

That's right, it was one big room. Sick.

For Reals

2011-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

I married the most compassionate person I know. With compassion comes tact, a thing of which I know next to nothing. While ten years of his shining example have indeed been enlightening, I have yet to learn the subtle art of saying things "the nice way." This post will not be diplomatic. Consider yourself warned.

I lost my best friend a few months ago. No, she didn't die. She just decided she hates me. It eats me up inside. Not that she hates me--that she hates me for the wrong reasons. To her, and people like her, I am a phony. Why? Because I fail. A lot. And then try something new, and hope for better luck next time (this time?). My ability to change, to assess and adapt, this is the one thing I do consistently well. It is, in fact, the thing I love most about myself.

So tonight, to all the haters, I say "Phooey."

It's okay to fail. You can have your cake and eat it too. Even if it falls in the mud first.

I am a happy person who has bad days. Sometimes lots of 'em. In a long line.

And furthermore:

I am not a farmer. I know it says so on my sidebar, I wrote it. But I will be a farmer, and I say that counts. I believe that you can want something into being. I am not so naive as to think that the simple desire to be a ballerina, basketball player, doctor (insert big dream here), and yes even farmer will make it so. But with lots of practice, study, and desire it can happen. I am willing, and practicing, and studying my dream into being.

Folks, I live on a cul-de-sac, in the middle of the city. My hands are tied by city-ordinances and practically no first-hand experience. But God told me to do this. That's right. God. So I killed a Tom. I raised some Khakis. I trained a dog. I robbed some bees. It's the best I can do with what little I've got. It will get bigger. I will get better.

I think about food all the time. It's exhausting. I have actually laid on my bed and sobbed big heavy tears because I don't know what to feed my family. It's important to me. It should be important to you. Especially, if you fancy yourself a Mormon.

No meat, "[beasts] shall not be used" except in times of winter, cold, or famine, is listed on the same set of rules as No alcohol and No tobacco. We're so good at following rules. We're famous for it. Why are we ignoring this one? I'm not saying God wants us to be vegetarians. The Bible tells us not only of the Lord's implied acceptance of slaughter, ie You have dominion over the beasts of the land...but time and time again He straight up commands his believers to kill an animal and eat it. First lamb? Angel of Death? Anyone...anyone?

Mormons this is what we believe. And this is the the council we've been given. What the hell are we doing serving chicken croissant sandwiches at every ward function?

Blah blah blah... you eat crap and I don't. I sound like a snob right? Where'd you think my children get their superiority from?

Know what else I'm good at? This whole motherhood thing. If you're not surprised you should be. I sure am.

For a while there I really had me worried. I want you to know that. I felt guilty from the get go about having my own kid when there were already millions of other people's offspring that needed a good home. But I did it anyway--brought a newbie into this here world and was overcome with "Oh no, what have I done? I can't do this!" the minute she arrived. She slept through her first night here. I didn't sleep for days. So overcome with terror, and maybe even regret, that I could barely drag myself out of bed, I forced myself to love that baby. Eventually love came. It didn't happen right away. I didn't look into her big grey eyes and know I'd done the right thing. I only hoped I had and carried on.

Nate left for basic training when she was six months old, and then it was just me and the babe in a drafty old house. Every day I ordered myself to hold her while I danced in the kitchen. Some rock their babies, some lather them in lavender. Me? I dance. Then one day, miracle of miracles, it was fun. And my daughter was mine at last. Reading this might break her heart. Don't you think I know that? But reading this might also be her crutch, words she can rely on when the going gets tough...get out of bed, try again, one day you'll get it right.

I make mistakes-- I can be short-tempered, short-sighted, and am often plain old tired. But seven years, three kids, two wars, and eight homes later, I know that Mama is a title I have earned. And yes, the me you see on your computer screen is the very best me. It's not the only me. I don't wish to hide my imperfections, only to outgrow them. I will be better than the wilted weary me. Why focus on the speed bumps when the final destination is a glowing paradise?

Like my food and my farm, I will want the best me into being. And yes, I will be glowing.

Well I Feel Sheepish

2011-02-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Chapter One:
Last year while we were in Oregon, my mother-in-law showed me bits of her amazing collection of vintage costume jewelry. As I oo-ed and ahhh-ed over everything, a charming pink set in particular, she told me of her intention to organize and divide her collection among "the girls."

"Wow," I said. "Make sure I'm there that day!"

I realized immediately how greedy that sounded. Have you noticed how good I am at saying stupid things? (You know what they say, practice makes perfect!) It wasn't a "I want to be there so I can call dibs." More like a "Golly! Seeing your sparkly things is so neat, I'd love to see these when they're all laid out."

But then, well, it just seemed too late to try to again. Back-pedaling never really gets you very far. So I sat there with my foot in my mouth, and a broach in my palm.

(and Giddy)
Chapter Two:
Tomorrow I will be twenty-nine. Today I received a birthday box in the mail. It was from my mother-in-law. She loves me. She has graciously chosen to overlook my idiotic ramblings.

I am the proud new owner of the prettiest pink baubles you ever did see.

EM Goes Head to Head with T. Pain

2011-02-17T06:08:00.000-08:00

We love Elizabeth Mitchell. So when Asher started humming "Little Liza Jane" this morning I offered to play it for him on iTunes. After singing along for a minute, he shook his head and said "Actually, I wanted to hear 'Shorty got low low low low.'" A'ight?

Overheard: An Auntie's Scolding

2011-02-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

Asher stop that...

Asher be nice...

Asher stop licking your lips at her!

Gum

2011-02-12T06:01:00.000-08:00

So much for growing it out.

PS. This is definitely the last post about hair. Even I'm getting tired of them.

Profile Pic

2011-02-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

Literally.

It's been raining for weeks and I can't get a grip on these hairs. Frankie comes by her crazy waves honestly.

I'm Usually the Last to Know About These Sorts of Things

2011-02-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

but just in case you're as behind the times as I am, I thought I'd let you know about One Charming Party. It's swell. I'll never throw an elaborate party (too lazy), but the pictures are pretty and there are lots of printable invitations and goodies. Jensie took these to all of her friends at girl scouts-

Cute and free!

Not Your Typical Saturday

2011-02-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

As a parent, it's reasonable to assume that at some point you'll be called upon to dig something weird out of your kid's nose. I don't mean boogers. I mean, like, thumb-tacks or matchbox cars.

But have you ever imagined having to tweeze a foreign object from a goose nostril?

Me neither.

Life is full of surprises.

One More

2011-02-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

That was awesome! (How, I had a question, and you had answers.) So here's another one for ya.

Frankie wants to grow her hair "all the way up to her feet." We haven't cut it in a while, which means a little of this

and alotta this.

Any ideas about how to tame fine blond baby hair that's half straight, half curly, with a little wave leftover?

Question

2011-02-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, at Barnes and Noble, the woman ringing us up asked "Do you homeschool?"

"Sure do," I replied.

"I thought so," she said. "I could tell by the books you're buying."

The kind of books homeschoolers pick up at B&N

Huh? You can tell we homeschool, not by the fact that I'm at your store on a Monday afternoon during school hours, but by the books themselves? It really begs the question, what do you normal moms buy?

New Bird on the Block

2011-01-30T20:24:00.000-08:00

That title is sick. Makes me think of a chopping block. Not what I meant.

Got a guard goose. She's fierce--a regular honking ninja.

Turns out, geese are loud and intensely annoying. Miss Daisy be driving me crazy.

Other things you might not know:
Daisy is a Chinese goose, they are generally tame and very nice to children
Chinese geese have pretty blue eyes
That bulb above her beak? It's soft and squishy, like an earlobe.

Choose Your Own Adventure

2011-01-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Will you read just one, or go for the whole enchilada?
1. Excuses, Excuses
2. New Tunes
3. It's a Small World After All

Excuses

2011-01-28T08:54:00.001-08:00

I am so good at making excuses! This morning when my alarm went off at 6 for me to go running, I immediately thought of like 20,000 excuses to hit snooze and keep sleeping. But I didn't. I dragged my lazy bum out of bed and went for a long hilly walk. Also took a picture of myself to prove I was up before the sun.

I've been running with the Columbus Road Runners three times a week, doing the Couch to 5K program. My first 5K is next week. Yikes! I have never run that far in my life. I'm gonna make it though. Nat and Nate are running with me.

Those runs aren't quite enough to help me meet my fitness goals, so I've added daily early morning workouts to my routine. After only two mornings, I already have more energy, am happier, and am more motivated than I've been in long long time.

The moral of this story is...don't let your lazy self take over your determined self. The determined you will rock your world!

Diggin'

2011-01-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

I am so out of the loop. I seriously never listen to the radio and know nothing about new cool bands. I wanted some good workout tunes to go running (alright I'll be honest, walking) with in the mornings, but didn't know where to start. Enter my kid sister with an extra iPod. Hallelujah. You guys! Do you know about Kings Of Leon?

They are a little sweary and I've only heard each of the these songs once, so I don't know which songs are really bad. Don't listen to this with your kids.

Small World

2011-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

Stole this pic.
I don't know if she minds, I didn't ask.

This is Errin. I met her at an ACLU party five years ago, and liked her right off the bat. I often passed her in the halls on campus, so a week later when we passed I waved hello. She didn't remember me and failed to wave back. The end. (For a little while).

Fast forward to the fall of 2010. I'm in Utah to be with family while Nate is deployed, and spending a lot of time with a friend from high school, Ashley Thalman. This you already know. Babies (the movie) is about to be released in theaters and promises to be an amazing documentary. Who doesn't love babies?

"Let's go!" I say. "Save the date."

"Oh definitely," says Ash. "and I'm gonna bring my neighbor, she wants to see it too."

And who's her neighbor? Errin! Whattdya know. We see the movie. We talk, we laugh, she likes me back.

Now, we're bona-fide friends. She's awesome. She's also going to lose 100 pounds this year. That's right O N E H U N D R E D pounds. She's keeping track of her progress on a new blog THINCREDIBLEJULK. (Her maiden name starts with Julk, is long and Scandinavian, and I can't spell the rest of it). So many clever plays on words in the title alone. Her blog's incredibly motivating. When I want to sleep late instead of go running, I remember Errin's gonna lose 100 lbs this year and get my lazy A-- out of bed. You must check it out.