A couple of firsts

Ok, I'm just going to jump right in.  I kept thinking I should come up with a clever way to explain, excuse the long absence from the blog...but then I figured, what the heck, let's just pretend it didn't happen and post away.  

A couple of exciting firsts this week. Z. turned 3 months about a week ago, and figured out how to roll herself over this week.  No more blissfully putting her on the changing table and not worrying to bend down to pick up wipes that had fallen off.  No more putting her on the bed and nonchalantly walking into the closet to get changed. Now we have a baby on the move!  She hasn't quite figured out what to do once she's rolled over, but she's kicking her legs and moving her arms and becoming frustrated enough that we are worried she's going to figure out how to propel herself forward sometime soon.  Oh, let us get adjusted to the rolling first!  It's amazing how this time around I just want her to stay how she is; there isn't the same urgency to see what is going to happen next or to get her to the next milestone quickly.  I just want to hold on to how she is NOW, because I know how quickly it all went by with her big brother.  

And, speaking of oppa (what a younger girl calls her big brother, and a term of endearment with many couples, as long as the guy is older), he went to see Kung Fu Panda 2 this weekend with a bunch of our friends, who then all came back to our place for some Western style Chinese food.  This was the first movie that he did not ask to leave from in the first ten minutes because of it being too loud, or too dark, or just too scary to not know what was coming up.  He sat with popcorn in his lap, a soda in his cup holder and was mesmerized for the entire movie.  He laughed at the chase scenes, offered daddy popcorn, and wanted to set up a time to go again as soon as the movie was over.  He also wanted to know why the characters were speaking English if they were all in China. We will have to talk about suspension of disbelief before we see Cars 2.  

 

(I completely forgot to take any pictures from that night...it was a bit crazy with the baby and the cooking and the organizing tix for 12, but this is a contemplative O. during Bugil's Sports Day...pics and explanations of that to come!)

 

Artwork and baby stuff

It has been cold.  Frigid.  Freezing.  The snow that fell during Christmas is still covering the garden plots that line our walk to the doctor's.

But, O's artwork has injected some color into our snowy days...

as well as did some ridiculously cute baby gifts at a baby shower my friends held for me.  I didn't get any pics at the actual shower, but I couldn't help but take some photos when I got home. 

Thanks everyone!  It was such a nice afternoon and a perfect way to escape from the snow and cold outside.  More pics later!

PS Can you believe only four more weeks???

 

Busan in December

While S. was on winter break, we decided to check out Busan.  It is a very large city to the south, famous for it's beaches, bridges and traditional markets.  With an almost 4 year old and an 8 month pregnant mommy, we decided to stay in only one area of the city for a quick trip.  We chose Haeundae since it had both beaches and the aquarium.  While temperatures back in Cheonan were frigid, we got to enjoy some time on the beach building sand castles, digging for pirate treasure, and looking for shells.  After lunch and a nap at a nearby coffee shop, we went to the aquarium.  Then, a very tired crew headed back home on the KTX bullet train.  What a nice break from the snow and ice!

Good thing O. thought to pack some sunglasses!

Almost Christmas

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A whirlwind of a week getting ready for Christmas, going to Everland (Korea' s version of Disneyworld....sort of....), getting a much needed haircut, getting to open a couple of packages early and putting out cookies for Santa.  Merry Christmas to all of you!!

Another sweet morning

Day number 15, chocolate and candy covered marshmallows, inspired by http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/.  

Another star for our ever-growing garland.

 

A star for the top of the tree.  (Of course in Korea, it is very hard to find a star that is actually made for the top of a tree.  O. found and liked this very large hanging star.  Thank goodness it was foam or else the mild leaning may have turned into a tree falling all the way down.)

 

Christmas Countdown

O. is really into counting these days, and calendar days are no exception.  He has been asking since Halloween when Christmas will be here, so we decided to help him out with a countdown of sorts once December started.  Inspired by the stars that I saw here, http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/12/advent-garland.html, I started crocheting.  Every morning, we hide a star along with a piece of paper that has an activity or little gift attached.  

So far, we've roasted marshmallows...

made and decorated gingerbread men...

and had candy cane hot chocolate.  

It's turning out to be a sweet season!   Up next are pics of the tree, our ever-growing garland of stars, the gingerbread house that was built, decorated, and eaten and other holiday happenings.  

Hope you all are having a great December too!  Be back soon...off to make a lasagna for the holiday office party tonight!

Turkey in pictures

Our 8+ kg turkey (over 17 pounds)...beautiful, brined, and ready for carving.  We used Alton Brown's roasting method and it was wonderful - cooked in about 3 1/2 hours and all of it wonderfully moist.  

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html

The purchase of a thermometer was a very smart addition as well - we would have never believed it would have been completely cooked that quickly otherwise.  

O. overseeing the carving.

Some of us haven't had turkey in three years, so it was a pretty big deal.  Everyone had to oversee the carving at this point.  So much good food...mashed potatoes, freshly  made cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, mushroom cornbread stuffing and apple-sausage-chestnut-cornbread stuffing, squash casserole, homemade rolls, baked corn, and of course the turkey and gravy.  Mmmmmm....let's do Thanksgiving again. 

Hey, pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen.  It's S.'s dream.  Just kidding.

Introducing Koreans not only to turkey, but to the fine American tradition of leftovers. Is it wrong that I asked everyone to bring their own tupperware?  

Homemade peanut butter cups.  Look at the boy's face.  We were lucky to have any to pass out after dinner. 

Dessert included the fore mentioned homemade peanut butter cups (I've already bookmarked the recipe to try later at O.'s request), zucchini bread, cranberry pistachio and chocolate chip almond biscotti, pecan pie, sweet potato pie and apple pie. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  

The countdown to Christmas has begun here...I'll post pics of how we are helping O. count down.  This morning involved roasting marshmallows on the stove before S. went to work.  Nothing like counting down with sugar first thing in the morning!