Kid's Say the Darnedest Things...

Morgan received a play makeup kit for her birthday from one of her friends.  We have all been madeover more than once by our little artist, including the dolls.  Last week I needed to get ready to meet Mark for dinner.  Morgan asked if we could play, and I explained that I needed to get ready.  She said "I could do your makeup Mom."  As sweet an offer as it was, I politely declined while giggling to myself.  I can only imagine what Mark would have thought to see me walk in with green and yellow eyeshadow and purple lips.  

Morgan has picked up the phrase "what the heck?!?!" and uses it regularly.  Today Molly and I were waiting for Morgan's bus to arrive.  A car sped by and Molly said "What heck?!?!"  She is definitely her sister's sissy.  

Bye Bye Paci

The time has come.  The time has come to say goodbye (and good riddance) to Molly's pacifier.  As most of you know I cried when Morgan took the paci at 2 weeks and felt defeated when Molly took it before even leaving the hospital.  Lately, Molly had become a little too attached to her paci, despite our efforts to save it for naps and bedtime.  

With Morgan, I simply cut off the end of the paci and when she questioned it, I told her it was broken and she needed to throw it away.  So she did.  Easy as that!!  I tried this with Moly the other night and she had a meltdown.  "Paci no brokey!!"  She screamed and I gave in.  

However, the last few naps she has fallen asleep in the car without it.  I even managed to get her into her crib for her to finish her nap without the beloved paci.  So today I lay her in her crib awake with no paci.  It took less than 10 minutes for her to settle down and stay asleep for 2 hours (her average nap length).  

I feel confident that by the end of this week, we will be paci-free.  Thank heaven for that!!  I'll keep you posted.      

Picture Update

For all inquiring minds...the delicious looking picture from our trip to Namsan Park was of boiled silk work larvae.  Yummy!! 

Molly's day out

Molly loves to go to her sisters soccer practice and we struggle to keep her off the field.  She is just so cute when she is there.  Also her speech is getting so good that I just wanted to show it to everyone.  I hope everyone enjoys the short video of Molly at her sissy's soccer practice.

Namsan Park and Tower

We took advantage of the cool fall weather today and made a trip to Namsan Park.  This is a park in the center of the city.  Sort of a haven in this concrete jungle we live in.  We weren't quite sure where to go so we just parked at the bottom of the hill and headed up the steps.  A lot of steps. 

The park is situated on a hill so there is a lot of walking up and down.  But it was peaceful and a great day to get out for some fresh air.  We managed to find our way to the cable car which can take you up to the top of the mountain and access to Namsan Tower.  Its like a space needle with an observation deck on top.  

We were packed into the cable car like sardines and Mark and I felt we were truly testing the weight limits on the cable.  It was a quick and smooth ride up to the top of the mountain and then up more steps to the tower.  We stopped for a snack.  Thank heaven we brought our own, as you'll see the snack of choice in the pictures below.  

Overall it was a really nice hike and view.  Here is a sample of the pics we took today.  But if you're interested here is a link with more to view:  

http://gallery.me.com/x95faust#100064&bgcolor=black&view=grid

 

  

Can you believe it?!?!

I am driving around one of the largest cities in the world.  I still can't believe it.  A year ago, the thought of driving around New York City, Chicago or LA was very intimidating.  Now here I am driving around Seoul, one of the largest cities in the world.  

When we first arrived here I was a little nervous about it.  The drivers here are very aggressive and there are buses everywhere which just push everyone around.  I started out driving close by the house and of course with the help of my somewhat trusty GPS.  But now I'm all over town.  As long as I have an address to punch in my GPS, I'm off.  I've learned to stay out of the way of the buses and not to let the big black sedans push me around.  

Driving here isn't so bad and thankfully the rules are pretty similar to the US.  Most of the street signs are written in English, so that helps.  Driving may not be orderly and organized here but that is to my advantage.  Whose to know if I mess up or make a mistake?  I may make up my own rules of the road sometimes, but how is that different from the taxi drivers in town?!?      

Freebie Frenzy

It seems like wherever we go there are always freebies and give-aways.  When I fill up my tank at the gas station I am handed either a bottle of water or a packet of tissues with my receipt.  Last week I was informed that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, you can have your car washed for free at the station near our house.  

Today I purchased wine and was given a wine bottle stopper.  Recently when grocery shopping I was buying a package of paper towel.  The clerk motioned to someone nearby who returned a moment later with a second package.  Apparently it was buy one get one free day.  

Instead of there being a prize inside of a box of cereal, there is usually one taped to the outside of the box.  We have received a visor, bowl, and water gun just by purchasing a box of cereal.  

There are always samples in the grocery stores.  Not just one or two.  On a typical shopping day, you might pass by 15 or more sample stations.  Everything from fruit, baked goods and frozen foods to meat, dairy and drinks (including alcoholic).  

People flock to these samples like they've never eaten before.  And it's amazing what taping a free milk bottle to the side of a cereal box can do for product sales.     

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

I thought that by being in Asia we would not have to deal with this, but it has started.  Christmas decorations in the stores already.  It's September people!!!!!  I'm sure in the states you're already seeing ads on TV and wrapping paper in the stores.  I just didn't think we would see this here in Asia.  But I was wrong.  Just this week at Costco, I saw trees, ornaments, cookie tins, and gifts on display.  AAAhhhhh!!!!!!    

Cluck-Cluck

The Korean locals are fascinated with Molly.  They are not as invasive as the Chinese, but they still like to ogle over her whenever we are out.  We can be out for a walk or shopping and they are always trying to get her attention.  Many of them make a clucking sound with their tongues on the top of their mouths.  Molly used to just look away, but now...she clucks back!!!  I could not believe my ears when I heard her making the clucking sound.  The locals get a kick out of it too and smile and laugh when she does this.  Our little girl is just full of surprises.  

Frustration

I have been looking for a new daily planner since we arrived here in Seoul.  Somehow I managed to misplace mine between MI and here.  I've not had much luck on my own.  Mark asked around at work and a co-worker told him of a bookshop that has a large stationery section and should have what I'm looking for.  So on Sunday, I left Mark home with the girls while I went on my mission.  Mark asked how long I would be and I said, "about 1 hour.  It depends on how long it takes to find this place."  I had a good idea of where I needed to get to, about 15 minutes away from our house.  

Well, I was way off in my time estimation.  It took me an hour just to get there.  First I missed my u-turn (yes they are legal here) and ended up way off course.  Traffic is so bad in this central area of the city that I spent a majority of my time at stop lights.  I finally got back on track and could see the building I needed to get to.  All I needed was to park.  But I turned at the wrong place an ended up way off course...again.  Then I found myself on a one-way street.  I was just about to give up, when I finally found the parking lot.  I took the stairs up one flight to get to the book store.  I was taken back as I opened the door from the stairwell into the middle of this massive book center.  Seriously, the store is about the size of the biggest Super-Duper Deluxe Wal-Mart you can imagine and it was packed with people.  Thank heaven I had a map with the layout of the store.  

I managed to find the stationery section and was able to navigate it pretty well.  I can't even really describe it to you, but its just different from what I expected.  The department was broken up by brand.  So instead of just looking for the planner/calendar section, I had to explore each area before making my decision.  Which wasn't easy.  In true Asian form, everything seemed to have characters on it, and pre-printed doodles on the pages.  I did finally decide on one and checked out quickly.  I also managed to find my way out of the store and to my car with no issue.  Although, somehow I lost my receipt between the check out and my car and then had to pay $5 for parking.  (Most places give a discount, or offer free parking if you make a purchase in their store on that day.)  

After all of that....I was home in 15 minutes.  

Morgan's Ballet Lesson

Morgan started her ballet lessons today after school.  The classes are held right at school at 3:15.  She was so excited to change into her new ballet gear and was happy to recognize most of the girls in the class from the playground.  The parents were not allowed to watch but I did manage to sneak a few pics before going out in the hall.  She had a fun time and can't wait until her next lesson.

Morgan's Party Pics

The much anticipated Pink Pirate Birthday Party was today and a HUGE hit!  Everyone had a fun time.  The kids played games like stick the treasure on the map (pin the tail on the donkey), cannonball pop, tick tock dont get stuck with the crock (hot potato) and limbo.  The kids also went on a treasure hunt.  We had pizza, pirate punch and ice cream cake.  It was a really fun time.  Enjoy the pics below:  

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Ouch!!

I got my first Korean hair cut yesterday.  Which actually turned out pretty good, other than being a bit short.  The guy cutting my hair spoke decent English, enough to tell me my hair was damaged and heavy in some spots.  He also asked where I was from, how long have I been in Korea and which neighborhood do I live in.  When I told him we live in Pyungchang-dong, he smiled and said something I couldn't understand.  Then he said, "rich village", which I definitely understood.  I wonder if he could tell that my "Coach" sunglasses and "Louis Vuitton" bag are fake?!?!  

Anyway, my point...

Mr. Lee cut my hair dry, and then I was shampooed.  The girl shampooing my hair was scrubbing my scalp as though it were infested and needed disinfecting.  Then she was "massaging" my head and neck with such force I thought I was going to cry.  No wonder I have a head ache this morning.  I will go back to see Mr. Lee, but I think I'll skip the shampoo.        

Kindermusic

Molly and I had our first Kindermusic lesson today.  This is a group of mom & tot classes devoted to music and body movement.  I assumed Molly would love this type of class given how much she loves to sing, dance and listen to music at home.  Well that wasn't the case.  We went to the studio today for the first time and she basically hated the class.  All was well until the teacher started singing the "hello" song.  Molly started crying and carrying on.  She wanted nothing to do with any of it.  Not even shaking the bells.  We stood outside of the room for much of the class.  She is the youngest of the group aged 18-36 months.  The teacher was very reassuring saying this is normal behavior for this age, not to worry about it, and that it may take several lessons before Molly participates.  Well go back next week and try again.  I really do think learn to enjoy it.  

In Other Words...

Here is an email I received today from my friend here in Seoul.  This is her perception of our new city.  She is from PA and arrived in Seoul in early August.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN SEOUL WHEN:

• You’re walking down the sidewalk and suddenly you’re almost run over by a moped – being driven by a grandpa with a baby in the front – both without helmets
  
• You’re at a pool where women of all ages are wearing shoes that you’d wear  to a Christmas ball – if there was no snow
• You take a 3 mile taxi ride that takes you 45 minutes and costs $3.50 USD
• You go to a Costco where they bring out the samples like it’s the last supper and crowds of people push you out of the way like they’ve never seen chocolate cake before in their lives
• You walk down the street and the only other Caucasian you’ve seen that day greets you with a hello like he’s your long-lost brother
• You go to a hospital, and there must be at least 600,000 people there – all with their brother, mother, grandfather, daughter, second-cousin, second-cousin-once-removed, and their auntie
• You make it to your destination in one piece, pull into the parking garage and discover that you’re expected to park your American-sized SUV into a space that would barely fit a Smart Car
• You go to a public toilet, enter the stall, do your business, and suddenly discover – OMG! – there’s no TP!!  You finish up, go out to wash your hands, and notice that Oh- there’s the toilet paper, it’s hanging by the wall, next to the sink
• You’re out to lunch, and try to order a Diet Coke – a what? – ok, how about a Coke Light?  Ok, I’ll take water – major caffeine headache begins
• You go to a food court – does ANYONE have Diet Coke???
• You’re out to eat, they bring you the smallest napkins on earth, a water in a glass the size of a juice glass, and chopsticks
• You wonder to yourself – what IS IT with this country and the teeny-tiny napkins and teeny-tiny Kleenex??
• you hop in the car to go somewhere with your kids, and your neighbors kids and everybody piles into the car like it's 1975 - no car seat, kids piled up into the back - crawling all over each other and fighting - ah, the memories

Last, but not least,

You know you’re in Seoul when:

• Every time you go to the market with your 4 year old son, he begs, pleads, and promises eternal good behavior if you will please, please, please buy the 5 fish on the string – can he have it?  Ok, how about the octopus?  (both are fish plunked out of the sea, and thrown into a freezer – this is literally what they look like – why he wants it is beyond me)

Great Australian Ball XIII-The Aussie Horror Picture Show

The actual reason we made the trek to Shanghai was to attend The Great Australian Ball, put on by the Australian Chamber of Commerce.  Being that a majority of our friends from Shanghai are Australian, they were the ones to extend the invite to us.  

This years theme, The Aussie Horror Picture Show.  The decorations, details, food, drinks, music and costumes were outstanding.  Costumes were optional, but I'd say about 80% of the guests were dressed up.  Everything from guys in drag, in true Rocky Horror style to Halloween style costumes.  Our group chose the safe route and dressed black tie but still looked great, if I do say so myself.

The Aussies are a great group and definitely know how to party.  We were all a little slow moving on 

Sunday morning.  I wish I'd taken more pictures, but because of the dim lighting most of what I did take didn't turn out.  The details in the decorations and some of the costumes were amazing.  We hope we can make it again next year...and we'll be prepared to dress up for sure!  

Shanghai (Days and) Nights

We've returned from our visit to Shanghai!  We had an awesome time and visit with friends.  Since we arrived on Friday, Morgan's actual birthday, we did a little bit of celebrating.  She and her best friend Emily had their nails done that afternoon.  (No black polish this time!!)  Both girls chose cute heart and cherry designs.  Then we headed off for dinner at one of our favorite hang outs, Blue Frog.  We met up with more friends and even had cake for our birthday girl.  We even caught up with our driver, Mr. Yu.  He was happy to see us, but mostly the girls.  Molly made him smile when she went to him willingly for a hug.  

Saturday, it was time for the big girls to hit the spa.  Me and 2 friends had our nails done in preparation for our Big night out.  (More pictures and details to follow.)  We did a bit of shopping at the fake market before heading home to get ready for the ball.  

Sunday, we were invited to a BBQ at our friend's home and it was a really nice, relaxing day.  Morgan and Emily went for a swim that evening and all kids were in bed early that night.  Which made for the perfect excuse for the guys to shoot some pool at the pub and the girls to hang out and chat.    

Before heading off for the airport today, my friends and I did a little more shopping (we couldn't get in for a massage, so it was the next best thing.)  We had a really great visit and we hope to return again soon.  Likewise we hope our Shanghai friends will visit us in Seoul too.  

Our Happy Little Girl

We know it's a day early, but since we are leaving tomorrow for the weekend we have celebrated Morgan's 5th Birthday today.  She is so excited about this birthday, I can't even tell you.  I was able to take a Birthday snack to school for her today.  When I arrived she was wearing her Birthday crown.  I asked if she wore it all day and was surprised at her reply, "yes"!  The class all sang to her and enjoyed their cupcakes.  We had pizza tonight for dinner, per Morgan's request.  Then we opened presents.  You can see below that she had a blast doing that.  

This is a holiday weekend for us, and many people will be away.  We are heading to Shanghai tomorrow to visit friends.  Which is why Morgan's party will not be until next weekend.  Expect plenty more pictures then.  In the meantime, enjoy the ones that follow below:

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our LOVE/HATE Relationship with Costco

One thing we are really excited to have in Korea is Costco.  The same mega-warehouse store that we have in the US.  Here we can shop once a month and stock up on juice boxes, lunch meat, snacks, macaroni and cheese, cereal and more.  We love that we can find a few of our favorite brands from back home without having to shop the "black market" downtown.  

However...there is a small price to pay for such familiarity and comfort, and I'm not talking about the membership fee.  Getting to Costco is not easy.  It's at least a 40 minute drive on a good day, in traffic.  Mark and I try to go on an early Saturday morning to be there right when they open.  Even then we are waiting for parking and elbowing our way through the big box store.  Its anything but retail therapy.  

Well, we made a huge mistake this past Saturday.  We knew we were in trouble from the beginning, because we didn't even leave for Costco until after soccer.  Well after the store opened.  We knew we would have to wait in line to find parking.  We knew we would be packed in the store like sardines.  But what we forgot was that this is the weekend before the Chuseok holiday.  American Expats compare this Korean holiday to our Thanksgiving.  Imagine shopping at Wal-Mart the weekend before a HUGE American holiday.  Then triple the anxiety of that!!!  

It took us at least 30 minutes just to get off of the exit from the highway.  I finally decided to get out and walk to the store just one block away.  I was able to get in, fight my way through the store and checkout before Mark was able to get near the parking garage.  He finally circled around and picked me and our groceries up at the side of the road.  

I hate shopping at Costco, but I will be back.  Just not the weekend before a major holiday.  AAahh!!!     

Soccer Saturdays

Its soccer season and Morgan has joined the team.  Today was her first practice/game.  The program is run through the school/PTA and is designed just for fun.  The kids all practice for 20 minutes and then have a quick game with another team in their league.  Morgan is on the red team (t-shirts to be distributed next week.) and today they played the blue team.  

We are really proud of our girl.  Morgan was goalie today.  The score of the game was 1-1 and Morgan had 3 saves!!!!  She did great and had fun.  It helped that some of her classmates were there also.  We are looking forward to the rest of the season.

Not to be left out, Molly had a fun time kicking around her own little soccer ball.  She really wanted to be on the field with her sissy, but settled for hanging out on the sideline with Mom and Dad.  She's got a pretty mean kick on her though and it won't be long before she joins the team.  

Insa-dong

Here are some pictures from an art/culture area in the city.  Insa-dong is home to many galleries, cafe's, traditional Korean craft shops, souvenirs and more.  Notice the trees, even though this area is in the heart of the city.  I also came across a demonstration.  The man in costume is pounding out the "dough" to make a tradtional Korean sweet treat.  It is a glutinous dough filled with a sweet mixture of, I think, honey, sugar and sesame seeds.  This is a fun area to visit and shop.  On weekends, the streets are closed off to cars and fill with pedestrians.  

 

Out & About

My friend and I were out shopping today, looking for a market called Dong Dae Mu.  We never did find it, but did stumble across this market.  Here are few pictures: