Jeju Island

Baseball is back in our lives, so I'm taking advantage of the few quiet moments I have since Eric and the kids left and before Reece wakes up from his nap. Not surprisingly, I've been working on this blog post all week and am still far from finishing.

The past week has finally allowed us to fall into some semblance of a routine. Reece has been sleeping through the night for a couple of weeks...nope...not gonna say that. It's bound to end once we say it out loud.

Last Friday night, we went out for dinner for our anniversary. It may be the fact that we went minimalist this year; our only plan was to go into Itaewon for dinner at a steakhouse that we'd been hearing about for years, but the evening went off without a hitch. It really isn't even a story worth telling to the world. After four years of "exciting" anniversary dinners, I think we were entitled to one that didn't involve adventure. (Here's one from a couple of years ago, if you're up for reminiscing.)

We'd known that with the prices at this particular restaurant, we didn't want to bring the kids, so we'd been waiting for the right occasion. Apparently, our anniversary was it. We spent almost $200 on dinner, similar to last year, in spite of the fact that we didn't order the $85 bottle of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay (can you believe that?!), but this time we left the restaurant full. And that makes a big difference. It will probably be a long time before we return, but the Butcher's Cut delivered in terms of food and ambiance.

And since I no longer document our everyday happenings (unless you keep up with my Instagram!), these pictures our from our trip to Jeju at the beginning of the summer. We crammed a lot into a short trip, so I'm going to cram a lot into a (short?) blog post.

Eric has known that basically as long as we've been in Korea, I've wanted to visit Jeju Island. Everyone talks about how beautiful it is, and with regular, cheap flights between Seoul and Jeju, it's supposed to be an easy trip. The singles like to take weekend trips down there, and I didn't want to miss out. One of those "Korea bucket list" things.

So, when the middle school decided that the 8th grade would do their Week Without Walls down there and they needed someone to go down and scout it out, he volunteered us. All of us. The weekend after school got out. The weekend before we moved. And then flew to the States. Yup. Good timing.

The upside, of course, was that we didn't have to pay for his flight, we didn't have to pay for our accommodations, we didn't have to pay for transportation (and we had a personal driver!), we got to see a lot of the island, and we didn't have to pay for most of our food. How can you turn down a trip like that?!

So, we went. We did.it.all. In two and a half days. Holy whirlwind. The 8th graders will be down there for five days, and we did it all in half of that time. Granted, it meant we didn't have to do the 10 mile hike with all three kids in 80 degree weather, but we still did a lot. Thankfully, we got to do just about everything for free, too!

There's no way that I could possibly remember now everything we did while we were there. It's a good thing that Eric took good notes, because he had to remember it all! It's a good thing that I took a lot of (iPhone) pictures, because otherwise I wouldn't remember anything that we did!

We had to get up at about 6 am the day we left because the trip to the airport was almost twice as long as our flight. Thankfully, aside from the ticket agent not printing Reece a ticket and the fact that I left my wallet with my Alien Registration Card (needed for all international travel) in our kitchen cabinet (I still don't understand that one...chalk it up to moving), the travel part was uneventful. Does that count as uneventful? I guess in our world it does!

And then we hit the ground running on our arrival! We had the famous (in Korea) Jeju pork for lunch, which was our first experience eating Korean food with Koreans in Korea. They ordered everything for us and taught us a few new things about how to eat our Korean meal. The pork was really good!

In the afternoon, we checked out Maze Land, but didn't get to do the mazes, Sunrise Peak, but didn't get to do the hike, Jeju horses (miniatures), but didn't get to ride them, and finally stopped for McDonalds before crawling into bed at 10pm. A long day for all of us! (Oh, and they did actually get to ride the go-karts that we went to check out!)

The next day we were up early-ish for breakfast at the hotel and then into the van for more driving. We visited a senior center and an orphanage. We went to a tangerine picking farm (where we watch pig sliding!), Eric and the kids rode on a submarine, we checked out the haenyeo, and we visited one of Asia's biggest Buddhist temples.

We made it back to the hotel a little earlier this time, but we still had to eat with our tour guides as Eric worked with them to nail down the schedule for their trip this fall. We ended up having our late evening decompression in the bathroom while the kids fell asleep in the room. There's nothing like traveling with kids!

And the next morning, we were off on our return trip to Seoul to finish up the last minute packing. I think it's safe to say that we're all a little jealous that he gets to go back and spend a week actually doing all of the things that we just saw. But, would I want to go back with 85 8th graders? I don't know.

Cade's Kindergarten Graduation

We're a couple of days into the second week of school and so far things are looking much better than they did at this time last week. Everyone is healthy, albeit a little sleep deprived. Reece learned how to crawl last week and has been struggling with naps ever since. Combined with the fact that he's waking us all up at between 5:45 and 6:00 am, we've all been a little tired by the end of the day!

If I could figure out his napping--at least something do-able--then I feel like we'd be starting to get into a routine. But, every day is a little different. He's only sleeping for about 45 minutes at a time, which means he needs three naps to make it through the day, and it just doesn't seem to be working out.

By the time, we get some sort of routine figured out, things will get turned upside down anyway. This year, the kids are finally riding the regular school bus, rather than the staff bus, and Kennedy is not enjoying it at all. I think she liked being one of those crazy staff kids that ran all over the school every afternoon. Next week, their after school activities will begin, though, and she'll get to skip the afternoon bus ride a few times a week.

Before I get into the pictures of our summer, it's only fair that I go back and post the pictures of Cade's Kindergarten graduation. He did make for a handsome little graduate, after all!

It's all a bit of a blur by now, but I remember that my highest priority was getting pictures (when is it ever anything else?). And pictures are never Cade's priority. This kid has been averse to my camera ever since I got the thing.

Nonetheless, I managed to get him outside at our apartment complex to take a few photos, and I even hauled my tripod over, so that we could get a family photo. How often are we all dressed up at the same time? Not very often.

At Kennedy's graduation, I got to take lots of pictures of her with her friends because everyone arrived early. That didn't really work out with Cade, but I did get this shot of him with his friend, William, who left Korea last month.

I also knew ahead of time to ask Cade which side of the stage he would be standing on and which side he would walk down, so that I could get good pictures. You can see how well that worked out!

Ha! We were in the opposite corner!

Nonetheless, he was a cute little graduate, and we are so proud of all that he accomplished as a Kindergartner!

They have both already gotten rave reviews from their teachers this year (never mind the fact that they were required to send us "positive contact" emails!), and we're looking forward to all that they will learn as first and third graders!

The First Day of School

The first week of school is almost over already! They have a special half day tomorrow as the president of Korea decided that the annual Liberation Day holiday should be observed on Friday since it falls on a Saturday this year. That was a new one.

The week has been a little different than we had imagined, but it's looking like things are improving at this point.

Cade came home on the first day of school with a stomach ache and low grade fever. He slept the entire afternoon (it was a half day), and only got up off the couch to get into bed. When I woke him up on Tuesday morning, he agreed to get dressed but then he laid on the couch until it was time to leave for the bus. When it was time to go, he was in tears and promptly climbed back into bed for another nap. Poor kid.

By about 1:00 in the afternoon, he'd eaten a ton and announced that he was ready to go to school. That didn't work out for him, though, since it was so close to the end of the day.

He woke up feeling great the next morning, but came home with another stomachache and slight fever again on Wednesday. He skipped dinner and went to bed early again. On Thursday, he woke up willing to eat a little bit and headed to school knowing he could come home if he felt sick again. Thankfully, he's still feeling fine, so we'll see how tomorrow goes!

Cade has the only male teacher in the first and second grade this year, Mr. Adams, and he is so excited about it! Mr. Adams has been here since before we got here, so he's a YISS veteran at this point. He's originally from England but has been in Korea for a long time and is married to a Korean, as well, so he's probably not going anywhere. He's one of the most soft-spoken and gentlest teachers I know. It's going to be a great year for him!

Based on the small amount of time he's spent at school so far, he seems most excited about the new technology class that is starting in the elementary this year. Cade really likes the teacher, Mr. Chan.

Kennedy has been dying to know who her teacher would be this year since the moment the plane landed in Korea. She spent every single day asking us to check our email to see if we'd gotten the news yet. She was so excited!

Like every other year, she's thought about the pros and cons of all of the potential teachers. She actually started talking about which 3rd grade teacher she wanted back in November. One of the teachers, Ms. Everett, had a family setup similar to ours because she was in 2nd grade when her baby brother was born. Ever since Kennedy found out about that, she had wanted Ms. Everett for a teacher.

Unfortunately, Ms. Everett moved back to the States this summer, and since then I think Kennedy had been hoping for the new teacher that arrived last year. We don't know her well, but Kennedy thought she looked like a lot of fun. Instead, Kennedy continues her tradition of having the new teacher, and so far she is loving Mrs. Hannah. She's both new to Korea and new to teaching (after one year in the States), so it will be another interesting year for her. She's not at all phased by teachers "trying things out" on her, though, so it should be a good fit.

We're all excited for another great year at YISS. It's so comforting knowing that regardless of which teacher our kids get, they're going to learn a ton and be loved and nurtured by this great community!

The Last Day of School

Oh, did you think that said "first" day of school? Well, I can see how that would make sense, but no, in the world of behind blogging, one must blog photos from the last day of school before one can blog photos from the first day of school.

And, since tomorrow is the first day of school, and my children are so stinking excited that they can't even whisper in bed...they're pretty much yelling...I must blog the last day of school photos. From last year. Because that's what a good mom does. I set the bar high.

If I were a really good mom, I would have made sure that the first and last day of school photos from last year were edited more similarly, but I'm not. My Lightroom is not at all the same since upgrading both my software and my computer, so you get what you get.

But aren't they cute?

I'm exhausted.

So, enjoy a few pictures with just a few words.

And remember that when these pictures were taken last year, I was packing up our apartment to move, getting ready for our trip to Jeju, and getting ready for our summer in the States. So, I've got an excuse. Or three. Just trying to get in the spirit of the school year!

And, for good measure, I'll throw in one shot of Reece. Just because he's cute, too.

Hopefully, tomorrow once everyone has left for school, I'll have more energy. Or someday soon, anyway.

Reece at 9 Months

Well, we're another week down. This last one was one of those let's-just-get-through-this weeks. If we hadn't had air conditioning, I don't know if we would have survived! Because Eric was back at school and the kids are getting a little tired of spending every moment together day in and day out, it took every last ounce of effort to get lunch on the table, to get out the door on time, or to get the house cleaned up. But, we made it. School starts on Monday, and we're all excited (well, except for Cade)!

So, to be honest, I'm feeling pretty good about the fact that I got these pictures taken and edited already. I forgot to transfer all of my presets for editing when we bought the new computer, so editing is taking me A LOT longer these days. Just another one of those things, I guess. On to Reece, though...

Sleep: As I already mentioned, Reece was a great traveler on our trip home; I couldn't have asked for more. He slept at appropriate times, ate at appropriate times, and was generally in a pretty good mood, considering the situation. It wasn't all bliss, of course, but the best we could've expected. And, miracle of miracles, the kid hit the ground running in the sleep department. He has been sleeping better here at home than he did all summer, and I'm so thankful! He hasn't slept through the night every night, by any means, but it's usually only one wake up, if there is one.

I was really worried about how much work I was going to have to put into getting him to take 90 minute naps again after his irregular napping over the summer, but that has been much easier than I thought it would be, as well. He's taking at least one 90 minute nap already, and he'll take two if he's cool enough and the house is quiet enough.

He does struggle to fall asleep from time to time, and I'll often come into his room 10 minutes after putting him down (when he lets out the "I'm hurt; come save me!" cry) to find that he is now sitting upright rather than lying down. Thankfully, since we picked up a crib bumper at Ikea last week, those cries occur less often, and they are no longer a result of a limb being stuck between two crib rails!

Eating: He's still eating pretty much anything we put in front of him, and he's been much better about going back and forth between spoon feeding and finger foods. He seems to understand now that the two do not have to be independent. At dinner, he usually eats piece of whatever we're having. This week it's been things like pork tenderloin and roasted potatoes, taco toppings--cheese, tomatoes, olives, (not a fan of the lettuce), and refried beans. He hasn't been quite as enthusiastic about finishing his bottles, so we've been cutting those back to 7 oz, and trying to get him to drink more water--using any means necessary!

Moving: This kid is so close to crawling, it's ridiculous! He has mastered the art of moving from a sitting position to his stomach and back again. He also spends a lot of time rocking on his hands and knees, as well as getting frustrated by the fact that he can't move forward. He can move backward like a pro, and he manages to get around pretty well, in spite of his lack of forward motion. Unlike his older siblings, I think he'll skip the army crawl. Any day now, we're going to have a mover and a shaker!

See that picture above? That's what I thought the 9 month session was going to look like. That's what I've been waiting for since he was a little lump that I awkwardly positioned on this chair and blanket beginning on day 8(?) of his life. He can sit up now, he can smile, he can make eye contact. This was going to be the easiest photo session yet! Ha! Boy, was I wrong! I think I missed the magical, easy photo session since I didn't do an 8 month shoot with him. That was when he was finally sitting up confidently, but before he could wriggle around and crawl off of furniture. This was more of a try-to-hold-the-camera-one-handed-and-use-the-other-hand-to-keep-the-kid-on-the-chair session.

With a few of these (^^) thrown in! I was certain by the end, when I was done asking Kennedy to get part of her head or hand out of the shot, that I was going to have absolutely nothing to work with and was going to have to re-shoot (not that hard since he never has clothes on these days, and I'm trying to get back into cloth diapering). But, just like every other month, I ended up with more than I could possibly use in one post!

Everything else: Reece still only has those two bottom teeth, though I was convinced last week that his intermittent low-grade fevers were due to teeth, nothing new has appeared. He's now mostly in 9 months clothes, as well as 6-12 month from the Gap. He probably will have outgrown those cute new 12 month pajamas I bought him before it gets cool enough for him to wear them.

Everyone here is constantly commenting on how big he's gotten in the past two months, but they're excited to see that he's still the happy, cuddly baby that he's always been. He's still letting everyone hold him, even if he gives them a shy smile before he warms up.

The big kids are starting to see their future, as he is gradually able to get into their toys. Thankfully, it takes a little while right now, so they have time to pick things up before he reaches them. Soon, that won't be the case! Nonetheless, they're loving him, and Kennedy is especially loving the fact that she has more freedom to pick up and carry Reece now that he's stronger.

We are all loving this little boy and can't believe how close we're getting to his first birthday!!