Christmas and lots more

Yet another giant blog entry coming your way. I wish I was better at updating, but there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day! It's Christmas night in Korea and hard to believe that it's only Christmas morning back home. It was a good Christmas. Quiet, but good. We're just happy that we're together. I feel for all the families with a deployed family member this time of year. That must be so hard.
I'm going to lead up to Christmas....

We had Aiden's school Christmas party and it was really cute. We met in the cafeteria for crafts and snacks, then went around the school and listened to them sing carols...about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah....gotta love the public school system! Aiden was by far the loudest singer and everyone kept telling us how funny/cute he was....we were (and always are) proud!
Please excuse yet another sideways video...one day I WILL stop doing that! This was Aiden's big part. We practiced and practiced these lines. I'm proud to say he remembered them and was very loud when he recited them!

Helping Aiden make his milk carton gingerbread house...with a little help from E! (if I look awful to you it's because it was the day after Reese.)

Aiden caroling at school...he was a masked mummer from Canada. Elaina was over the moon because A's teacher told her she could sing with them!

We then went to Tops in Blue. It is the Air Force's show choir. They were fun. They did songs about dreams. The kid's had a really good time and we are all about free!

This girl came and picked Elaina out of the crowd to dance with...can you imagine how excited she was?!

Patrick had a roll call (fighter pilot thing) and some of us got sitters and met up with the guys after. Turned out to be a really fun night!

Jessica, Brooklyn, Rachel, me and NoelleMy oh so handsome hubby and me at the O Club!

Another shot with some of the girls. The girl to my right, Ginger, is an F-16 guys wife and they are from Arnaudville (for everyone not from LA that's like 20 min away from Lafayette). Small world, huh?!

We went to the COEX mall in Seoul. It is HUGE! They have a FEW American stores, but the real reason we went is because they have an aquarium.

Patrick and the kid's in front of the largest theater in Asia! It was pretty impressive! It's in the COEX mall, also. Getting an idea of just how huge this place is?!
They had this room showing all different kind of aquariums....this was a fridge, they had a toilet, makeup mirror, your computer screen in glass in a fish tank. I'm not sure there's anything these Koreans won't try!
Two headed turtle...supposedly he is lucky!

The kid's and I playing with starfish...Dad wanted no part of this activity! This was a little scene at the Draggin Hill at Yongsan that the kid's thought was really cute...we didn't see a lot of Christmas stuff, so we took what we could get!

Now for some very big Smiley family news.....Aiden is a yellow stripe belt in Taekwon-do. He is SOOO proud. He keeps showing us his new belt and telling us all about it. It's hilarious!

Getting ready to punch the board...you have to break it!

He broke it...he gets his new belt! A and his very proud Daddy! with Aiden's master...Master Moon....nicest guy ever!

Aiden doing his "test" for his yellow belt. He practiced and practiced. Notice how he kind of dances while he does it! The people were just eating him up...even Master Moon. He's got rhythm...that's for sure!

Aiden breaking the board. Notice at the end how he looks at his fist. It was priceless. It was like he had no idea he had that kind of strength!

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders came to town, also. You better believe we didn't miss them! They were great. We all had a lot of fun! They were all VERY sweet, too.

Some of the cheerleaders
Our future cheerleader. She sat and mimicked their moves the entire time...Here she is doing her kicks!

They loved her! They said they could see her dancing the whole time (we were pretty close to the front) and loved watching her!

Aiden's turn...we figured now we have proof that we can show him that one day (however long ago it may have been) his dreams came true!!

We finally made it to Tiger World (where we were supposed to go for Aiden's birthday.) It was long awaited for and the kid's had a great time. We had fun, too, just thought it was a little pricey for what you got.

Here we are in our swim caps...you have to wear them there...only kid's and men can make those things look good!

Dad finally trying out Dr. Fish...Elaina still doesn't like it!
They got him...that was the end of that!
They had all these different pools with scents and the reason for the scent. If you click on the pic you can read it.....I tried to throw Patrick in, but to no avail ;)

Finally...it's Christmas Eve! Santa is coming.....

We let the kid's open one present each...they got new sheets for there beds...Elaina got princess and Aiden got Sponge Bob (it was slim pickins at the BX for boys!) Throwing reindeer food off of our balcony, so Santa can find our house! We thought the kid's would be worried about Santa coming since we have no chimney, but they knew he would come in through the balcony door! Smart cookies! Got the cookies, milk and carrots (giant Korean carrots Aiden thought the reindeer would like!) all ready . Aiden decided right here close to the balcony door was the best spot for the goodies!

Christmas morning is here...we video Santa Claus and most of Christmas morning, so we don't have a lot of pictures.

Grampa and Gramma got Aiden and Patrick a Wii...he was so excited and has been playing with it all day!

Pop P and MeMe got Elaina her very own pink leapster...she was thrilled and played with hers all day!
Every year what Aiden is going to get his Daddy is so much fun to see. This year he wanted to go to the military clothing store and get him a BDU (camo) jacket. I explained that Daddy already had a couple and he never sees them because he wears a flight suit. So, then after some looking he decided on this Air Force water bottle and he new Dad would be so excited because it says "Air Force" on it!

Elaina on her scooter from Santa with her Princess Tiana frog from Uncle Clay and Uncle Greer!

Playing her new Pretty Pretty Princess Cinderella edition game that Santa gave her...she loves it!

Striking a pose...showing off some of her and Baby Cindy's new dress up clothes from Santa.

The kiddo's and me with my jewelry box from Patrick. You can't see it, but they picked out a cute amethyst heart necklace and earrings for me for Christmas. Aiden said "Momma had to have a heart!" (he definitely has mine :)) The brushes on top are something we are collecting while we are here. They are traditional Chinese caligraphy brushes. We just think they are pretty and make for a neat converstation piece.