Garden 5

Near our place is a Korean mall called Garden 5. It has a few good stores in it but the one we have gone there the most for is one called Modern House. I found some cool drinking glasses there when we first went and have gone back a few times since to look around and to replace one of the glasses that broke.

We went this most recent time to get some Christmas plates we were told they had there. It is a set of four Christmas plates made here in Korea. Each one of them has a different character on it (Santa, Rudolph, a penguin, and a snowman) but the best part is the small saying around each plate. My favorite, the snowman, says- "My best friend Snowman is smile." Bee's favorite is Rudolph- "Rudolph with a nose that glows red light." So we went and got some plates before they packed up their Christmas items and then we wandered around a bit.

The mall is actually three separate buildings but they are all connected by underground passages. As we were walking through one of the passageways between two of the buildings I randomly saw this room with a few gingerbread houses displayed in it. We walked in to look at them and were both surprised to find that it was not just one room but about four rooms with numerous gigantic candy creations set up in each of them.

They were all pretty impressive but some more than others; like the one shaped like a 4' tall spaceship! In the very last room there were only three displays. The two that I remember were a cruise ship longer than Bee is tall, and a scene with an aircraft carrier, some submarines, tanks, and other mass destruction vehicles. It was quite detailed, and HUGE!

It was very random, but neat to see all the different art works.We took pictures of our favorite ones and most of the pictures made it here but if you want, you can see the whole album by clicking here.

 After wandering through the rooms of edible art we made our way through E-Mart and on to the other end of the mall (which ended when E-mart ended).

As we were walking back the other way we grabbed a few things and then, getting back to the food court, decided it was time for dinner. After a long deliberation we decided to eat at Pasta Factory. We ordered a delicious blueberry pizza and an Alfredo pasta dish. They were both amazing!

I know you are thinking "blueberry pizza?" because Bee and I thought the same thing, but we decided to go for it (it looked good in the picture anyway) and it turned out to be a wonderful choice. Lots of fresh spinach on top and the parmasan complimented the blueberries wonderfully, and what ever the sauce was...mmm...! We both really liked it, Bee especially liked all the spinach on top- I think that is why she ended up getting that one.

It was lots of walking but we had a great time. There is not a whole lot at Garden 5 but it is close to home and now I know there is good pizza in the E-mart there. We will definitely be going back in the future.

Snow!

It snowed the other evening! So beautiful. Snow is so cleansing and peaceful; watching it fall, the white blanket that it spreads across everything it touches. It is enchanting. It actually snowed a few days before Christmas but I guess we never wrote about it. I figured I would post these couple of pictures we have from it.

Bee and I had just gotten done watching the new Sherlock Holmes movie at the post theater (good movie by the way) and walked out side and found a fresh layer of snow on everything in sight- about a 1/4 inch, maybe a 1/2- and it was still coming down. What a delightful sight.

We drove home, extra cautiously, through sparse snow flurries and got home just as it was subsiding. I thought it would be fun to run up stairs where we have access to an open patio rooftop. So we put on some gloves and ran up to the roof covered in white powdery snow. I attempted to form a snowball but it was not wet or sticky snow like many places in the States so the snow would not stick to itself, but rather, to my gloves. I brushed it off, turned around, and lay down in the snow to make a handsome snow-angel. I haven't made very many snow angels in my day but I thought he turned out quite well. After my fun with that Bee brushed me off and we set to work constructing a snowman.

He was not your traditional snowman as I mentioned that the snow was too dry to stick to itself. But that doesn't stop me from building a snowman. I started by kicking all the snow around into a pile on the rooftop, Bee joined in grabbing our broom to help expedite the process. Once we had a fair sided pile we shaped it into three connecting piles of graduated sizes; small, medium, large. And then with my fingers I poked two holes and a crescent shape in the smallest of the three touching piles. Voila! Snowman. Sure, he is laying down but maybe he is just taking in the night sky. It was fun to make him together but it was cold and we were tired from a long day so we went in for some hot chocolate.

The next morning when I went up to photograph our Frosty I discovered that it had snowed just a little more over the evening dusting the green of the roof with another layer of white.

Merry Christmas

We did not get our Christmas cards printed this year but we wish all of you the best this Christmas. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you!

We have just concluded a wonderful Christmas day together and with friends and know that most of you are just now waking up to a glorious Christmas morning. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas this day filled with cheer and gladness.

God bless you!

Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Bee and I wasted no time this year getting our Christmas tree up and decorated. We got a fake one at the PX (Post Exchange) for a great deal the day after Thanksgiving when all the crazy people come out to shop. I am more a fan of real Christmas tree but those are hard to come by in Korea.

As it is our first Christmas together we had to not only get our Christmas tree this year but also ornaments to decorate it with.  At the same time we got the tree we also got a set of different red and gold ornaments and some white bulbs just for flavor.

We set the tree up and put the lights and ornaments on and it looked beautiful, it was still missing a little spice though. I have been sitting on the idea for a little while now. It was an idea I stole from one of my older brothers but in my family we share things so it is all good (thanks Lost Boy).

A few months back my Battalion had a field exercise where we practiced our living-and-working-out-of-a-tent skills, "fieldcraft" as they fondly call it. We were fed MREs (meals ready-to-eat) for the week we were out there and most MREs come with a tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce in them. Lost Boy had the idea to use the little bottles as Christmas ornaments. Awesome! Sense I do not use the Tabasco to flavor my food I decided to collect them for Christmas. I also found a few slightly bigger, but still small, bottles of Franks Red Hot somewhere else that I thought would add a little variety to the mix.

After we placed the traditional ornaments I went to the cupboard and pulled out my stash of 1/8th ounce bottles of sauce. I think I collected about a dozen bottles in all. Bee helped me attach the wire ornaments hangers to them and then we strategically placed them on our tree. The next evening I found a box of candy canes Bee had bought and I thought they would complement our tree nicely so we added them to the tree as well.

Bee loves popcorn and for our first Christmas together has long said that we would be stringing popcorn garland together come Christmas time. So a few days after setting up our tree we strung and hung several popcorn garlands together for a family activity; the white rope of the exploded kernels flowing across the pine branches forming the finishing touches of our first Christmas tree.

What a beautiful Christmas tree. What a beautiful time together!

Merry Christmas!

Ice Climbing

So, Hunny is a leader in our church's Young Men's group. For one of their big activities they planned on going ice climbing. Hunny asked me if I had any plans for the Saturday they were going. I told him I didn't think so and he told me good, and that I was going with him. Awesome! I didn't know I could do that. Not sure even now if I could, but I did.

After the youth met and cleaned the church Saturday morning, the Young Men and I met together and went down to the subway for a few stops before we took the bus the rest of the hour's way. Yeah, it was way out in the middle of no where. The wall was inside a climbing and camping store. On the main floor is a window that you can see a bit of the wall. Down below, on the B3 floor was where we start. We got our gear and thankfully we got a nice thermal jacket. At -10C, no amount of my clothes would protect me. I was terrified. I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold. With boots, harness and helmet on we all went into the meat locker.

The instructor told us that we would first get the opportunity to try a small wall first and then he would tell us what we needed to know. We all got our chance and we all made it to the top. I did a barn door swoop open because I got off balance. When we had all had our turn, the instructor told us that we all climbed like we were rock climbing and that ice climbing is not rock climbing. The technique for ice climbing makes it easier and uses less energy. We were taught the proper way and then had to practice a bit before going on the 5-story wall. The instructor told us that his building and wall was the official Guinness Book of Records tallest indoor ice wall. Awesome, I know.

Five stories is quiet tall. I was only able to make it up about 1 1/2 maybe 2, but then the wall slants out a little  instead of straight up making it significantly more difficult. But Hunny and some others  were able to make it to the top, twice!

Even though I couldn't get up very far it was super fun! I felt intense and hard core climbing straight up this wall of pure ice. Let me just shove my poky shoes in this wall and tap my pick ax in and hoist myself up. I felt like I was in a movie or something doing a crazy stunt. I could definitely see ice climbing as being a super cool hobby. "Oh so what are you doing this week end?" "Me? Oh, ah.., I'm just gonna go ICE CLIMBING!" I mean besides you having to be beast to beat the cold, but you get a pretty nice work out and the feel of success every time you pull yourself higher. It is pretty cool repelling down too since that has been the only time I've gotten to.

Ice Climbing is just all around awesome and I hope we will be able to go again sometime. Maybe in the summer when we need somewhere to cool down. :p

Thankful for family

I would like to take a moment to tell you that I am thankful for family. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my wife who has joined me to make a family of our own. I am thankful for the many families that take me in, that let me share a little of their life and let me be a part of their family (Ellison's, Roberts', Mitchell's, Russell's, Meyers', Thornburg's, Lawhorn's, and so many more). I am thankful for my wife's family. I am thankful for the idea of family. I am thankful for my spiritual family- that is all of you. Thanks be to God for families.

This week was American Thanksgiving. And what a wonderful Thanksgiving it was. We all got together over a few roasted turkeys and plenty of trimmings. Bee and I participated in a potluck Thanksgiving feast with several friends of ours from church here in Seoul. We all met at the house of our host and brought several home-made dishes to add to the bounty. Bee and I made creamy garlic mashed potatoes and two pies. Originally it was going to be one pumpkin pie but I had too much filling to go into one crust and I happened to have an extra crust so I put the remainder in the other crust but then it was not enough to fill it. With some quick thinking and a little creativity I decided to mix up some pecan pie filling I had on hand for future pie  making opportunities and poured that on top of the pumpkin filling. It was my own little creation, kind of a cross between the walnut topping the recipe suggested and a pecan pie filling. It tasted fabulous! I mean, I love pumpkin pie and I love pecan pie and the two flavors complement each other so what better thing to do than to combine them in a tasty pie! Mmmm. It was a hit. It did not look the best and can use a little tweaking to the recipe but all it all it turned out great and the several people who tried it thought so also. At one point from across the house I hear some one shout "Who made this pumpkin pie?" He liked it!

The potatoes on the other hand, did not turn out so hot. We (I) got a little carried away with the garlic. I bought fresh garlic cloves and a garlic press to mash them into the potatoes and I suppose I got carried away with my new toy. They were good and all but I think we may have used a wee bit too much garlic. When we got home after the activity we walked into a wall of garlic smell as we opened the door to our house.

Dinner was great and the company was delightful. I would say there were over 30 people there, about half of whom were kids. You can't celebrate Thanksgiving with just two people! especially when your whole life you have celebrated it with a big family, even extended family.

Bee and I got there early to help get everything prepared and set up for guests. People started showing up and we all socialized for a while and munched on appetizers while waiting for the several different family's attending to get there. When everyone arrived it was time to eat, and what a tasty spread we had. Mmmm...I love Thanksgiving dinner!

As you conclude your Thanksgiving festivities and stomach aches we would encourage you to take a moment this holiday season and be thankful for family. Be thankful for your parents who gave you life, your parents who raised you- even if you don't feel they did the best job. Be thankful for your family you are growing, or hope to grow in the future- husband, wife, children. If nothing else be thankful for your heavenly family, your heavenly Father, who loves you and cares about you, your fellow brothers and sisters of the world who, without even knowing you might do a simple act of kindness for which you are thankful.

We love you and are thankful for all of you who care about us and who take time to read our blog. We love you. We thank God for you.

~ Happy Thanksgiving ~

Lantern Festival 2011

Seoul does a lantern festival every year and I thought it already happened earlier this year but i guess that was some thing in conjunction with Budda's birthday because the other week was the actual, offical 2011 Seoul Lantern Festival.

There is this stream that pops out of nowhere in downtown Seoul called the 청계천 (Cheonggyecheon) River  and most of it is lined on either side with walking paths. For the Lantern Festival they place large shaped lanterns (characters, figurine, etc.) over the river and people can walk down either side and view the magnificent artwork. It really is artwork, some of these lanterns. They are all made of paper and some of them very intricately painted.

It was fun to get out and walk the river and see the many beautiful (some odd) lanterns that were on display. at one point in the exhibit there were trees they made out of lashed together branches with different lanterns from across the world hanging on them. That was neat to see all the different styles of lanterns from all over the globe. It was a cold night but we found a moment of refuge from the cold as we huddled under an overpass next to a space heater as we took a moment to paint our own little paper lantern that we had purchased. We painted a blossoming tree on one side of it and Bee decided that the other side needed a scene of a waterfall and mountains on the other side so she did that and we added the year to a blank spot between the two masterpieces. It was fun to do together and it gave us something to take away from the experience.

Below are some pictures of the different lanterns.

Pagoda

So, as most all of you know, my birthday was recently. Even more precise, it was on Thanksgiving this year. Thankfully it will not be so again for another 5 years. Why the hard feelings toward having a birthday near, even worse, on Thanksgiving? I feel like my birthday gets overlooked or undermined for more important things and what have you. Many people always say, "well why don't you do it on another day?" Well, this year something DID happen on another day then on my birthday. Saturday night Hunny claims he was cleaning out the car. When he came in after a while, he was accompanied by a tiny "meow." This was somewhat alarming because though there are many many strays around, Hunny would be the LAST person to catch one and bring it in the house. Curious as all get out, I following him and investigate the scene. I go into the room where he was last and coming out of the shadows was a tiny black and grey tabby. She was...is, so small and adorable. Hunny's plan was to hide the cat and wake me up in the morning with her cuddling next to me. I'm not sure how he was planning on keeping her quiet all night but it was a pleasant surprise.

We...er I decided that our next pet would be called Pagoda so coming up with a name wasn't hard. Though after a few days I was thinking of changing it to Pandora due to the chaos she can cause. This little tabby was a spaz! Why is it that every cat I get is phyco? I'm beginning to think it is me. Maybe I should stop shoving my finger in her mouth when she bites me to teach her to stop or scarring her all the time...or toss her off the bed at night. It would help if Hunny didn't tackle her or accidentally squish her too.

She has been fun and something to look forward to come home to while away. She is already a bit spoiled. She always has to be with one of us and knows where food is prepared.

It was a neat and surprising birthday gift. We have fun with her and since she has made it past four days she is now part of the family. Not the same could be said about the mysterious rabbit... :(

Modelling

I am now officially a model. No big deal. Really, in Korea they are always looking for foreigners. Hunny and I were at some festival on base and we were called over to sign up and get our pictures taken by this model agency. Neither of us thought we would get a call back but last week I got a call. A small gig. I was super excited!

After having to call and reschedule multiple times for the other models we finally met on Monday morning. I was super nervous. I met them in Yongsan and when I got in the cab, there was a guy- not what I expected. But he was cool and we talked the whole $30 cab ride to where we were going. He had done tons of gigs and was really good. He was really helpful in calming my nerves and I also got to watch him before my shoot so I kind of knew what to do. The company was needing people's expressions for a slide of college class course descriptions to help the students decide which one they wanted. All we had to do was stand in front of this white sheet and make the expressions called out. Some were things like "I don't understand," "that's not what I was told," "telling your friend to calm down," "complementing your friend." It was the strangest thing to just look at a camera and make different faces for one emotion and even telling the camera "You're Awesome!"

I was super nervous and felt embarrassed. They even had to call me back in because I kept looking away from the camera. Well of course it is weird. I have a hard time looking a person in the eyes to tell them I don't understand or to calm down, let alone a camera. We were told that they liked us better than the other models they had previously but I think they were talking about the other guy. :P

It didn't take more than 30 minutes and I pocketed $200 no questions asked. It was a fun experience and I hope I get another shot now that I have some experience under my belt. Plus, I wouldn't mind another couple hundred bucks. We will see if there is a future in modelling for me! Maybe you'll see me on TV! :P

Seoul Air Show

For the last two weeks jets have been screaming over our house, and my work. It was cool at first, for about a day, and then it just got obnoxious. Every day, at the same time, we would hear them scream by as the building shook and your heart-rate went erratic. Jets are loud. I am glad I am at an airbase with helicopters and not jets.

There was a family fun day the day of the actual air show on base so we went to that and Bee volunteered at the FRG (Family Readiness Group) booth selling goodies and as a fund-raising venue. We heard and watched the jets soar over head but sense we had been seeing them all week it was not to distracting for me.

Our view of the show was a little unique though. The main event of the airshow with all the viewers and static displays was across the airfield on the far side of the runway so the jets would more often than not do some of their turns and fly right over our heads. It was very up close and personal but it also added to the deafening roar of their engines.

It was nice to have see the show and have the Black Eagles and other jets here for a bit and see them practice but we are glad that it is all finally over and things are returning to quite here.

63 Building

ohbamma!

-not a real person-

Hunny had the day off today and I took the day off to spend it with him. We decided to finally go to 63 Building. This is a incredibly tall, golden tower that we past every Sunday on our way to church. It is called 63 Building because of its whopping 63 floors, making it the tallest building in Seoul. I knew that there was an aquarium on bottom and a restaurant on top but that was about it. We picked up out discounted tickets, because the military is awesome, and headed over to our adventure. First stop was a wax museum. I was pretty excited because I'd never been in one, and neither had Hunny. I hear they are pretty cool. Wow, was I creeped out and amazed. They really did look like real people. When we first started I passed a model I didn't see at first and both Hunny and I mistook him for real. I practically jumped and Hunny asked what he was doing just standing there. Since it was Halloween, they did a section devoted to a creepy, dark room with maruled and maimed prisoners. Didn't really help the creepy feeling. The eyes would look like they were actually staring at you, not through you. I kept expecting them to go "Boo!" and jump out at us.

 

This is a fish, not a rock.

After our fun at the wax museum, we wandered to the aquarium. It was pretty big. I don't think I have been to an aquarium before but as I say that I feel like that is something I say every time I go.

Dory's!

 It was so neat to see all the different types of fish and sea creatures. I could have spent all day in there. All of them were fascinating! There were Nemos and Dorys, Flotsams and Jetsams, and some "Squishies". There were even a lot of creatures that weren't of the aquatic nature. Snakes, lizards, and tarantula. But I think I decided that my new favorite animal, or at least very close second, is the otter! There was a play pen of them and they were adorable. Oh!! And there was this spot where you could put your fingers in a container of these fish and they would eat the dead skin off your fingers. It tickled like crazy and was so fun!! I couldn't get enough. Then there was a short show with two seals where the trainer got them to play on a playground. It was a neat and fun experience.

King of Herring. (possibly the ugliest fish ever)

We were getting pretty tired from walking around but we were able to make it all the way up to the 60th floor to see the art gallery. Well, we took the elevator so it wasn't that bad. The gallery wasn't all that grand but the view out the window was. Sixty stories up looking out all over Seoul was a pretty magnificent sight. It was something else. I have seen it coming in from a plane but the angle we were at made Seoul look so much bigger and more populated then before. The tight, compact apartment towers, numerous offices and buildings, the massive curving Han River; it was awesome to behold.

We were curious about the other floors in between the top and the bottom. We knew that most were offices but the elevator that took us to the top showed that there were a few available. We scouted out an elevator and explored the restaurants. I knew they would be more expensive because of location and reputation, but $100 for a plate? $10 just for seasonal fruit dish. But I mean hey, if you want caviar, or shark fin!... be my guest. Probably the only place you will find shark fin. I heard later it was super rare and on the black market in a few areas. Don't get me wrong though, they were some pretty nice places. One was set up almost like a hotel and you got your own room, not just your own table.

After we gawked at the menus long enough we managed to find our way through the huge building to our car. We were beat from a long day of exploring and adventuring. We had a great time and are glad we got to spend the day together. Now when we pass by every Sunday we will remember the good times.

Fall is Here!

Fall is here in Korea and it is Beautiful!

Bee and I both love the fall. But I say that about every season. Right now Autumn is my favorite season, but that will probably change when Spring gets here. It always does. Autumn is oh so colorful! I love the change in weather, the breeze, the bright yellows and oranges, the browns and reds, pumpkins and soup! It is wonderful snuggle weather. And we like to snuggle ;D  Have a beautiful day!

We love the fall~!