When it turns cold...

Let's go to explore Seoul.

On a bus trip...

in the rain.

We really do know how to have fun!

We drove over to Yongsan

{the big Army post in Seoul},

so we could park there & take the bus.

Here we are at the carousel...the girlies saw this as the highlight of the day! :)

And the bus...we had to wait in the rain AND wind {with NOT a stitch of proper clothing}.

Grandma & Abby getting warm & learning about Seoul!

Ask her anything...she can give you the scoop on Seoul.

My husband didn't find this touching.

We could have put a lock on here.

With hearts.

And pledged our love at the Seoul Tower.

He's practical.

It made no sense to him...they will cut them off, then what?

But I won't know when they cut them off. I will live in blissful ignorance.

Nope. No lock and no hearts.

I should have made him pose for a picture. What was I thinking?

Another little girl favorite...let's go to the Seoul Tower to get all the fun toys in the plastic balls. Worth the trip!!

The boys sure have a good view from their urinals @ the Seoul Tower!

I really couldn't capture the steep incline.

This is the down view...

{and most the Koreans were able to NOT make comments about my baby being out in the rain. With inappropriate clothing/outerwear}

Looking up...fun climb!

After the bus tour was complete,

we headed to find a restaurant in Itaewon.

In the rain. And the cold.

AND WIND.

Ugly, ugly day.

And find it we did...

Abby proceeded to polish off almost every bit of calamari!

Mmmm...brick oven pizza!!

Pasta, pizza & calamari, oh my!

Thank you, Lord.

It was such a warm place.

So cozy.

And yummy.

Oh, and we were the only ones there!

Back at the Dragon Hill Lodge...a little carousel video footage.

{It's by Mommy, so you might not want to watch if Blair Witch type footage makes you nauseous!}

Bloggy love,

This Week

News this week...

Car gone. Check.

The baby has decided she wants to potty train. Please no. Why does she have to do this before we move? It was supposed to happen after we get back to the states--same timetable as Abby. {hahaha} Well, we have gone through the first package of pull ups. She wants big girl underpants, but Mommy isn't mentally prepared for that!

Dog airplane reservation. Check. Dog staying in Korea due to volcanic ash. Check. :)

{not completely sure what we will be doing...maybe the girls will head back earlier than expected to take Indy back??}

Operation Stop Sucking Fingers started. Check. On day #6...woot. So proud of this girly. What a grown up little gal & she is working hard to get her special prize. 8 days to go...

Bloggy love,

Goodbye facebook...

This time it is for keeps.

Want to know why?

Well, the truth is:

the hubby can cut a mean deal. :)

I was made an offer that I could not refuse.

Really.

To have all the time back that I was wasting on facebook

AND

get a brand spankin' new DSLR camera.

Hmmm...

Goodbye facebook!

So, if you wondered why I'm no longer your friend,

there you have it.

Don't take it personally!

I am moving from Korea to the USA.

I have 4 million sewing projects.

{that for some reason my husband doesn't enjoy looking at on the end of the dining room table--weird, I know!}

I have a lifetime of scrapbooks & supplies.

I have 2 small children.

I have a neglected blog.

I could go on & on.

Good decision. Even better with the icing {camera!} on the cake!

This awesome camera is on its way to me. Woohoo.

It will probably take me 4 years to figure out what to do with it, but it will be all mine!

Thanks to the best hubby in the world.

He knew how much I wanted to let fb go & what would get me to do it!

Bloggy love,

do you miss us yet?

oh, grandma,

do you miss us yet?

do you know how much crying has been going on here in south korea?

{crying & moaning at bedtime--AGAIN!}

that firstborn granddaughter...she kind of likes you.

oh, and your firstborn does too.

the baby likes you too, but #1 doesn't have anyone to play with when you're not here.

so sad. and depressing to have to share your mommy. and play with your little sister!

i'll get right on updating the blog...

here's what we did on ub's & grandma's last day...

DR. FISH! :)

i was really impressed that grandma lene went for it!

so sorry that the fish didn't have time for anyone else's feet!!

yes, mine were that scary apparently!

this is pretty much how we all felt...it takes some getting used to!

here's abby...not experiencing the fish.

been there, done that!

she had no interest!

she did ask, "are they {the fish} really all doctors?" :)

abby had her first real manicure & pedicure.

then,

she proceeded to mess the polish up on her hands AND feet. :)

it was also grandma's first time for a pedicure!

she really enjoyed it.

fun afternoon of pampering! our week was really busy, so it was nice to sit down & be pampered for a couple of hours!

Bloggy love,

let's partee

well, on sunday, we had our big birthday party. {how in the world do we have a 5 year old & a 2 year old??} we are still able to combine birthdays & the girls don't mind. hmmm. not sure how long that will last!!

photographic proof that grandma is in KOREA!

partee goers

food

THE birthday banner...

toot. toot. yes, that's my horn.

it is a darn cute banner! :)

speaking of cute...

we have the 2-year-old girlie...

um, really?!

and the 5-year-old girlie

ella & abby. that pretty much says it all!

what a precious little friendship.

this is funny...

abby has had her own little cake every year.

it has been a # cake up until this year.

well, mommy couldn't find one in enough time to get it to korea.

she assumed this whole princess cake was hers.

she gave ella & athena forks...

they dug in! :)

haha. mommy thought it was hilarious!

you go girl.

it's your cake & you can eat it too!!

the crazy hungry caterpillar

mommy doesn't really have skilz,

but it's still pretty cute!

one of her beautiful gifts!

our little family

where is bekah?

gifts & more gifts!

beating on elmo

that's all folks!

beks with no nap, sugar & lots of sass!

bloggy love,

whew.

our poor {pathetically updated} blog...

so, here goes. i am not sure where to start or what to tell you. can you tell the mommy is a bit tired? here is what we have been doing: pre-easter party, birthday #1, egg hunt, easter, & birthday #2 {accompanied by the stomach bug}. there's the whew.

we started out the festivities the sunday before easter...egg hunt & delicious lunch with our friends! windy & chilly though. oh well, it was still fun!

who needs those pesky egg holders? just drop them in there. the white sweater is a little boring.

beks.

she picked up one egg, opened it, & ate the candy. repeat. she doesn't like to stockpile & then go through them all at once. not her deal.

neither of my girls will be successful in the large hunts...they are a little too easy going!

abby & athena...good friends!

yum. here's a little seaweed with lunch. oh, and rice! are these girls in korea?

cupcakes. mmmm...

then, we did some cupcake decorating. not one of my better ideas.

{but at least it wasn't at my house! ha! j/k anastassia!}

i told the girls to press the sprinkles into the icing. grace took that very literally! :)

here are her cute little fingerprints!

going to sew. and sleep. sleep is priority tonight. we shall see.

bloggy love,

p.s. grandma gets here in 7 days. can't. wait. woohoo!

little monkey b turns 2

Winners of the big {HAHAHA} prizes:

everyone!

I will be sending everyone {who voted!}

a little Korean goodie...IF you provide your current mailing address.

Please send it to: thejohnsons01@yahoo.com

For you courthouse ladies, don't bother emailing me.

You will get a lovely box of goodies mailed to the office.

Good times!

Those of you that have actually lived here may choose to pass on this opportunity, that is up to you! :)

Photographing this little wild woman is not easy!

So, without further ado...

Beks in her birthday finery!

Ruffles, ribbon, cupcakes, special b-day tiara {thanks, Grandma & Pawpaw!}, and some Korean tights that have fairies on them! Fancy stuff! :)

We had a super day of celebrating!

I'll post more pictures later, but I forgot to do something {imagine that!}, so I must go finish the task!

As for the wiener...I meant winner, I will announcing the exciting news tomorrow! :)

Bloggy love,