$20 Find

Brandon found this cute desk for $20 from a guy who was getting rid of it at work. It is Korean made. We gave it to Isaiah because he doesn't have any shelves and needed a bigger desk to work on. Now he has a big art area where he can make anything which he loves. He also has more room to store more things. I am thinking of painting the white areas a different color, but until I have time to even think about what I want to do with it or find out where to go and buy supplies for it (here in Korea there aren't any yellow pages as to where you can find anything, you just have to walk in a store and look at what they are selling and remember where it is the next time you need it). So as for now it will just stay this way for a while.

Hanji and Paper Mache

I have started taking some of the craft classes that are offered here, and I am really enjoying to learn new things. I was approached by a lady in our branch about taking a doll making class. She had told me that it was going to be offered at a Army base about 40 minutes away, and that the class was only offered once a year and they may not offer it again next year. It was also going to start at 2pm, the exact time that the boys get out of school. I told her what my problem was and she decided to change the time. Well, I was enjoying the class and on week two of the class I was offered a long term sub job for a first grade class for the rest of the school year. It wouldn't start for another three weeks and asked the lady in our branch what she would prefer that I do. I really wanted to take the class, but I didn't know how I would be able to finish. She asked me if I could come an hour early to class and stay an hour after to see how far we could get. I was also taking a hanji class that she also teaches in Daegu and for a few weeks I would be able to come an hour early to those to work on my dolls. Well with that said, I still wasn't going to be able to finish my dolls, but she decided to take my dolls home and help me to complete them. What a wonderful lady!
You can see at one point I had made an attempt to make the face of my doll and it looks quite a bit like an alien. My instructor quickly helped me get them back on track. Everything on this doll is made out of some sort of paper (including toilet paper)except the wire inside and the little tassel that is hanging from the girl dolls hanbok. What a fun and tiring project, but they are keeping me busy. I am starting another hanji class next week and the project are getting more difficult as we are learning new techniques.
I am exhausted after my long days back to school and 1st graders are suck a different breed from what I am used to, but taking my classes is a time for me and I am going to continue to take them as long as the boys will let me, because they have to come to my hanji classes, but they do get to benefit there too as everywhere on post they can watch American TV.

Rain Gutter Ragada

Last weekend Braxton had a great time at scouts. He was able to make a boat with his dad and float it in a rain gutter ragada. He is just so handsome in his uniform. He didn't place, but he still had fun! Wahoo! Braxton!

Gyeongbokgung Palace

This weekend we decided to have an adventure and explore two other bases here in Korea. Osan Air Force Base and Yongsan. Yongsan is in Seoul and Osan is about 1 hour and 10 minutes south of Seoul. There is a free bus that took us up to Osan (3hrs away)and we spent the day catching our barings and trying out a little shopping there. It was nice to be able to have a larger BX and even get to eat lunch at Chili's (Yes, American fatty food). We then stayed the night on post. That night we decide to let the boys rent a movie from the base library and each boy got to choose a movie. The boys got to watch Braxton's movie the first night and we told Isaiah that he could start his in the morning. Well, that night the boys kept coming into our room to use the bathroom and we found out why in the morning. Isaiah decided that he would watch his movie at 1:45am. We didn't hear a thing! Oops!

From Osan we caught another bus to Seoul. We then explored the subway station there. We were very nervous due to the fact that here in Daegu we only have two lines and it is pretty hard to get lost on them, but in Seoul there are about 8 (I'm guessing). To our luck, our destination wasn't too difficult and we didn't get lost and are now pretty confidant that we will be able to get ousrselves around on another visit.

In Seoul we saw a reenactment of the changing of the guards that was done back in 1479 (Joseon Dynasty). The guards duty at that time was to devout himself to the peace and security of the dynasty by protecting the monarch and his family living at the palace. The ceremony has been passed down and so that the have a pretty accurate ceremony. The ceremony starts with a drummer who then calls the musicians who are followed by the guards. Then everyone changes up and the drummer starts up agian and then the musicians leave followed by the leaving gurads. Pretty cool! Isaiah wasn't all that impressed except for the drumming, it was so loud and he said that the drum was making his heart pound. But we all thought that the ceremony was very entertaining. We then explored the palace grounds and were facinated with how massive they were. The grounds were very beautifullly kept and we were very impressed. We were starting to get tired by that point but had a little bit of time before our bus took us back to Osan, so we explored the Korean Folk Village Museum that was also attached to the palace grounds. Very interesting to learn about a new culture.

We had a great time even though the majority of the weekend were walking the entire time. Came home with some pretty cool gifts, and some ideas for Christmas! I now own a Korean tea set. It now is sitting on some shelves in my bathroom. Braxton told me that he really likes my antiques. Wow! They must look old to him. Funny kid. We all slept well the night we got home.

Popcorn popping and Another POP!!!!!!!

Korea is beautiful right now! Our family traveled down to ChinHae Naval Base and toured the Cherry Blossom Festival that they had there. It was beautiful!!! We had a great time. The boys were able to eat one of their favorite foods. Pineapple on a stick. Yum! One of the things that we are finding here is that there is so many opportunities to exercise. We found a little staircase leading up to an observatory area to see the entire city. And what a hike that was!!!! The boys were complaining and wanting to ride the tram to the top. Guess we've got to get out and hike stairs more often. Most of the hiking trails in the mountains are quite steep here but are very beautiful. We loved being able to shop and look around at the different things to see. Brandon even got a little surprise of his own. As we were looking around there was an area where they had a spanking table and I thought it would be great fun to have a picture of the boys getting to spank their dad. So I had Brandon go lay down on the bench and the boys were to take the paddle and gently paddle dad. Well a little lady saw what was going on and took the paddle away from Isaiah and shouted STAND BACK (in English)! So Isaiah did as he was told and she lifted the paddle and hit down. I think she didn't realize how hard she was swinging until after Brandon's shout out in agony! I must be a bad wife, but I was still giggling about it when we got home. He had a red bum still when we reached Daegu almost three hours later. He did however get a consolation prize... A pink key chain. You can't live in Korea and be male without owning something pink. Everywhere we go there are men sporting pink and purple bikes and purses to boot. She just wanted Brandon to fit in.

Daegu is starting to look just as beautiful here. My running course down by the river is gorgeous! Hopefully I'll be able to use it while it's blooming. My life is going to be staring to get crazy next week and with spring break happening this week not much is getting done. Well let's face it nothing is getting done. Yikes!

I looked out the window and what did I see?...





Traditional teeter-tooter game played in the folk villages here. They are only quite a bit bigger and longer. They are made for adults to throw each other into the air quite high and then continue the process for some time.


The picture that I wanted with one extra boy in there!



The picture I got!!!!!!!! OUCH!!! Look at some of the faces of the spectators. That says it all! She raised the paddle above her head and slapped the paddle down.