TaeKwon Do, Hwaseong Fortress, Boy Scouts

It's been a while since I did a blog and we've had lots of stuff going on, so I decided it would be easiest to do 1 big blog instead of 3 or 4 small ones!

Elaina started doing TKD with her brother and as we expected...she's a hoot! However, she has been on a TKD hiatus since she broke her arm, so she hasn't done it in a month. The sling is now off, but we are still not letting her do TKD, dance or tumbling until we have another x-ray done in 2 weeks just to be on the safe side. Aiden is now a yellow belt and he is VERY proud of himself (we are too!)


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She makes that uniform look good, huh?! Doing her splits...Master Moon is SO impressed with her talents...she can lay her face all the way down on the floor...she definitely got her flexibility from her Mom :) Cutest little TKD'ers ever!

We also took a Sunday drive to the Hwaseong Fortress. It's Korea's version of the Great Wall. Here is a blurb I found about it:

Hwasung Fortress in Suwon City was initiated in January 1794, the 18th year (1794) of the Joseon dynasty’s 22nd king, Jeonjo, and completed in September 1796. When the king moved the tomb of his deceased father, Crown Prince Sado, from Mt. Baebongsan to Mt. Hwasan in Suwon. He also moved the provincial government office and residences to the foot of Mt. Paldalsan in Suwon and started the construction of the Hwasung Fortress not only to defend but also to serve as a southern capital, so the fortress has a multifunctional design as a military, political, and commercial center. Hwaseong Fortress, built about 200 years ago, has highly advanced fortification. Including the four cardinal gates, there are 48 facilities in the enclosure.

The kid's got to make there own pottery...it was really neat and they had lot's of fun!
The one arm bandit's turn!

After pottery we tried our hands at paper making!

Dad helping Aiden color on his paper! Elaina's was the Korean symbol for "Respect Parent"

Mostly just excited we had blue skies...we don't have many of them!

I just love these doors...just wish the pic was straight and I'd had a little more time to zoom/focus. They were about to start a program and we had to take the pic FAST!
Showing off the finished work...what little artists, right?!

Aiden's soccer season just ended and he had a lot of fun this season. He even scored a goal!

Our handsome soccer stud!

The Blue Sharks!

Aiden has also started Boy Scouts. He loves it, so that's why we're doing it. It's kind of a big time commitment, but since it makes him so happy and teaches really good values we figure we'll just hang in there!

His troop at the tain museum.

Smiley's and McWhorter's...our kid's LOVE eachother and it's great because they're all the same age!

Aiden's boy scout troop had a campout this past weekend. It was Aiden's first time camping and he seemed to really enjoy it. Although when we asked if he wanted to do it again he said "Yea, but only if his friends were there. Trust me...we were FINE with that. I have never camped and have no intention of starting and Dad does NOT enjoy it, but you'll do anything for you kid's (ecspecially when they're as stinkin' cute and sweet as Aiden) and Dad was a GREAT sport!! They actually just camped on base, so it made it fun because E and I got to go out and help set up and have dinner and play until bed time.

The girl's got the tent ready for the boy's! Doesn't look too bad, huh?!

Aiden's troop doing the boy scout sign!

Our little scout...what a cutie, huh?!
My sweet boy's in front of their tent!

Belly Shots

A friend of ours is trying to start up a photography business and we were her models for her first belly shoot. She did an amazing job! We've never had belly shots taken before and we're super happy with the outcome! As you can see our 'baby Hudson' is one SERIOUSLY loved little guy! We can not wait until he's here...ecspecially A and E...they are sure to be the best big brother and sister around! I know there are a lot of pics, but I liked all of these and wanted to show them off!

Family Shot!
Proud Mom and Daddy!

Loved

He was kicking on E...he ALWAYS starts moving when the kid's are talking...it's the sweetest thing in the world! I hope I never forget that feeling!

Love, Love, Love baby Hudson!

Aiden getting some kicks...

E's turn!

Just baby Hudson and Mom!

We also went out to the golf course and took some family shots...here's a couple of faves!

There we go!

Here we come!

Our sweet babies...there's a spot in the middle for baby H!

Our family! Can't believe next time we do this we'll have another baby in here!

A-10 family pics and Elaina's broken arm

We went out and took family pics with the A-10 a couple of days ago. We got a few good shots.

Our fam with the jet! We're going to take more in the spring once Hudson is here and then E and I will wear our party suits (like Dad) and A and H will have matching party shirts!!

Momma's boys...can't believe I'm about to have 3!!! I'm a LUCKY girl!

Draggin' ladies pic...I was bummed my party suit doesn't fit anymore, but we'll do some more in the spring!!

All the prego Draggin' wives...it's in the water!

We also have other news....Elaina broke her arm. The break is right under her shoulder in her humerus bone. Unfortunately and fortunately the break is so high they can't cast it. I say unfortunately because we would feel A LOT safer if there were a cast on it...pretty much all you hear out of our mouths these days is "Stop Running!" Fortunately because she is wearing a sling when we're at home and when we go out and about a sling with swathing, so she can still take a bath like normal and can take breaks from the sling when she gets tired of it (which is always)! But, she's been in great spirits and we're hoping all will be healed in the next couple of weeks.

Here she is in her sling at home with Daddy. Notice her makeup...she did it herself and put fluorescent lipstick all over her eyes...I STILL have not gotten all of it off and it's been 24 hours! Check out that eye makeup and I don't know if you can see it, but she's got it stuck in between her top and bottom teeth!

A pic of E with her sling and swathing...we're at the Hwaseong Fortress in this pic (I'll blog about it later this week just wanted to show the whole get up!)

POW/MIA day flyover

Daddy was in the POW/MIA day flyover here on the base. The kiddo's and I watched it from the parking lot of the where the ceremony was. It was really fun and as you can see he did a GREAT job!! As usual we're so proud and happy he is ours!
When the video starts he is on the right and then as they go over he is on the left (you'll see what I mean)! Also, please excuse the power lines in the beginning (I didn't know what direction they were coming from and it happened too fast to try and get a better view)! Enjoy!

Our Little Girl's 1st Day of Pre-School

Our baby girl started pre-school on Friday. She did so good! For the longest time she kept telling us she didn't want to go to school, so we thought it was going to be a disaster. Boy were we wrong! We had open house the night before and she was so excited when she saw her classrooms and realized that ALL of her friends were going to school with her. When she went to her "math class" she opened her arms and said "This is math! We get to make jewelry!" (They have strings and big beads to help them learn patterns). She clearly gets her love of math from her Daddy! ;) She then told us that she was going to make a necklace for "Mom, Daddy, baby Hudson and Aiden." to which Aiden replied "That's okay, Elaina. I don't want a necklace." She looked at him and with as much attitude as she could muster (which is LOTS) and said "Fine, then you don't get one!"
Her first day went well and she seemed to like it. I was a little sad. She's my buddy. All the other mom's were quick to point out that I'm getting another buddy, but Hudson is a boy and he won't want to shop, get mani/pedi's and play makeup. I know it's only pre-school, but time flies and it's a new stage in our lives!

All ready to go out the door!

Cutest kid's ever!

Showing off there new booksacks! Ready to go into her new "off base" school!
In front of her cubby hole!
Proud Mom and Daddy!

Had to throw this one in, too! Aiden lost another tooth and I wanted a picture of him showing off his "real" tooth fairy pillow that MeMe made him! He's so proud of the "hole in his head!"

Typhoon Kompasu and Malipo Beach

We experienced our first typhoon last week. A typhoon is a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean and they turn the other way. I woke up around 3:30 a.m. to a lot of wind (my family can sleep through anything...my ever growing belly is starting to get uncomfortable and I can hear a pin drop these days). I went back to bed and we woke up about 6:30 to wind that had died down considerabley and as we were walking down the hallway the power went out. We ended up without power for about 18 hours! Fortunately we were able to save all of our food and the only real downside was that we had to climb the stairs...all 12 flights! Now that we've "done" a typhoon we can honestly say we don't need to do that again!!

Typhooning it by candle light....only "romantic" for about 5 minutes! How did they do it in the old days??

After the typhoon we decided we were ready to get off the base, so we went with some friends to Malipo Beach which is on the west side of Korea on the Yellow Sea. It was really fun. The beach was a mess because of the typhoon, but once we walked past the trash it was great. Here's a quote from our Laina when she first saw the beach: "Why did you bring me here? This place is disgusting!" To quote our friend, Jeff, "She is high maintenance!" But, we love her to bits!

The fam at the beach (prettiest thing we've seen in Korea so far!)

Kristana, Aiden, Elaina and Chloe showing off some of the starfish they caught. By far the coolest thing about Korean beaches...the shells and starfish...that was a first for this family!

Aiden's a First Grader!

I keep saying it, but it's not slowing down...time flies! Aiden started first grade on Monday! He is such a big boy! He has had a great first week so far and we are so pleased. His teacher seems to be fantastic and he has some good buddies in class with him. His only complaint so far is "I have to sit alot and my muscles get sore." There are no more centers, no more free time and nightly homework assingments starting next week (I think I can help until about 6th grade and then Dad's going to have to take over :)) We are so proud of our big boy! He really is the best kid in the world.

Our handsome boy about to start first grade!

Of course Laina has to get in on the picture action, too!!