China Part 1

We took a family trip to Beijing, China for Spring Break this year. It was only a two and a half hour flight from where we are and so it didn't seem like a long flight. We were surprised at how easy it was for us to get around and find out where and how to get places. We started our first afternoon just figuring out where we were and walked around to find our how close we really were to a few of the tourist places. We really were about a five minute walk to the Fobidden City and Tiannemen Square. We were bombarded by people trying to set up tours with us and tryinng to get us to buy things. We really were unconfortable with how the vendors would just hand things to the boys and then ask us to purchase them for the boys. At one time we even had vendors who opened a package to play a game with the boys and then when we wouldn't buy it they became angry as we walked away. On our first full day in Beijing we decided to visit The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. It was very easy to find and we learned so much from our visit. We decided to take a private tour with a tour guide as we got there and were so glad that we did. We would have been so lost with all of te people, and never learned a thing. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the City that she was able to explain quite a bit to us. We were told that on avereage there are 60,000 people who visit the city each day and to say that it was crouded is an understatement. The Forbidden City was a place of education in the art of calligraphy. And the only people allowed in the city were from the Emporer's invatation. Including all of the girlfriends who would just sit and wait to have a visit with the Emperer. The large pots that the boys are standing next to are water pots that were used to catch rain water and were used to put out any fires that had broken out with all of the wood that was in the city. The lions are also a reprensation of the roles of men and women. The lion with a baby under its paw the the lion for women and it represents that this is the women's rolde to rear the children. The lion with a ball under its paw represents the man's role to rule and guide the family and protect it. We were even able to be introduced to the Last Emporer's nephew who still volunteers his time evey once in a while as a calligropher in the the city. We then crossed under a busy street outside of the Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square whre the boys got bombarded by people who wanted to take a picture with them. And it wasn't just one picture. Each person who was with the person there wanted a picture. In the process we decided to start taking pictures of the people there wanting pictures of the boys. We told the boys that they didn't have to have their picture taken if they din't want to, but we did find that if we stopped too long they would be stopped to take pictures. So there were times who one of the boys just didn't want to have a picture taken, so the other would go alone. >

We're Seven!!!!

Our baby just turned seven this past Monday. He is growing up and maturing so fast. He is still our fun loving mischevious little boy and we love him so much for it. What would we ever do without him? We celebrated Isaiah's birthday the Saturday before his birthday and he loved every minute of it. He was able to invite a special friend to E World with us and they both had a great time! The big parking lots here are crazy along with all of the driving so we told all of the kids to hold hands so that we could all stay together and when this happened Isaiah said that it felt like he was taking Isabell out on a date. We had to laugh pretty hard aobut this because he is such a lady's man and loves the attention of the opposite sex. There is one ride in particular that is called The Sky Coaster. The boys just love this ride and being here in Korea we just laughed when we saw it for the first time becuae it is so Korean. It is a flat rollercoaster that you get to only after climbing up steep steps, and the only way that the rollercoaster moves is if you are peddling your bike. The Korean's are very consious of how their bodies look and excercise is a must and is a way of llife for them here. So this is really part of the culture. It is the boy's favorite ride here and it really doesn't do much other than go around on a track. But we always have to ride it at least two times if not even more and so we feel that after walking up all of the hills and steps to the rides and then peddling the bikes, we have gotten quite a bit of excercise for the day. Isaiah still was able to celebrate his birthday two more days. He told us that he wanted Brandon to make his birthday cake this year which surprised us both, but it was fun and turned out perfectly for the birthday boy on Sunday afternoon. And then on Isaiah's birthday we took him out to his favorite resturaunt McDonalds. We have only been there maybe about two times this past year and I guess he was just needing some American food because the McDonalds here don't have play places in them. We are so amazed at how tall Isaiah is becoming. He is so slender and is now streching up in the height department as well. We love you Isaiah. Happy Birthday!

Hiking with the boys

It has been a while since we have taken the boys to do some outdoor cultural things and our base community center was offering a hiking trip to the Gatbawi and Donghwa Temples today. So I took the boys with me and we had an adventure. We actually went to Northern Daegu, but it took about 45-50 minutes to drive there. The first temple that we went to was the Gatbawi. Our tour guide took us through the back entrance because it was the easiest. The steep incline to the top of that entrance killed us. It seemed to be at a 45 degree angle. I am not kidding. But then we had to hike the same angle with about 500 steps(That is the number that our tour guide gave us, but I think that it was a lot more than that). Sounds easier than it was I promise. It took our tour group about 45 minutes to get to the top. But the harder front hill was similar only it has over 1000 steps, and they weren't all that even and as nice. It is said that people from all over come to hike the 1000 steps of the Gatbawi in search of a wish. The candles behind the boys are candles with people's names on them, where they are from and what they are wishing for. They are supposed to bow to Buddha 1000 times once on top(from standing to kneeling and then bow), and he will grant one visitor that day one wish. Isaiah thinks that he likes Buddha because he grants wishes. The Gatbawi is the Statue that looks like the Buddha is wearing a flat hat. On the picture of the boys under Buddha, there is a wall next to tham that people put their won coins on and if the coin stays there all day that person may have a wish. There were quite a lot of coins resting on the rock wall of the mountain beside the big statue, and Isaiah decided to try his hand at wishing and put 100 won on the wall (about 10 cents). Isaiah was helping all of the coins that would fall off and put them back on so that the person wouldn't miss out on their wish. He also saw the majority of the people bowing at different parts throughout the temple and at one point decided to join in. That is his hiking stick that is between his legs as he didn't have anywhere else to put it when he was bowing. He got a good reaction and so he continued to bow throughout the day. Funny kid. I hope it wasn't rude for him to be doing this. But I guess that we have the what do we know, we're American's excuse still. We then went to the Donghwa temple, and had been there once before to see the monks performing the drums, and didn't realize that there was more to see. I am glad that I was able to take the boys to see this as well.To give you an idea of the size of the Buddha a the Dongwha temple, the first picture you see Isaiah pretty much at the base of it minus the people praying. It is about 30 feet high. We were not expecting such a big statue to be there. It was a pretty fun day! The Donghwa temple is the oldest temple in Daegu. It was built in the 1500's. One of the most fun and interesting to see and experience here, is the rich history. It dates back to forever, and I am not able to keep track of which king did what and what time period it was in. I am glad that America is such a young country. There isn't as much to know in history as there is here. I would hate history class here I think.

Yellow Checker Belt

Isaiah just had his yellow belt test last night. He was very nervous all month about this particular test until the day of the test! He was so confident it is amazing how much this little boys has transformed into a powerhouse kicker. He knew every form and did them very well. He also surprised Master Song when he told him that he wanted to break the board. He was given a thinner practice board to start and broke it into three pieces. Then on the first kick he broke his second bigger board. His little face says it all as he sits with his broken boards right in front of him. Way to go muscle man! He impressed Master Song so much in the amount of growth in his ability and confidence that he was given an award in recognition of this accomplishment. We are so proud of our little Tae Kwon Do Warrior. The last picture of all of the student who were testing, the two youngest are both five years old. Isaiah is standing next to a girl who is in third grade. Yes, he is a very tall first grader. We are so proud of him! We love you big guy!

Flag Ceremony

Both of the boys' requirements this year for scouts was to participate in some way with a flag ceremony, Braxton's in a little more detail. With every pack meeting they never brought the flags and this time they came. So both were able to put on the flag ceremony for our pack Blue and Gold. Don't they just look handsome. Isaiah was very nervous and when he was told what he needed to do he listened with full attention. They were told to salute the flag until the pledge started and both accomplished it in a different way. They are growing up so much. We are so proud of them in all that they do. This is pretty much our entire pack. Minus a little boy hiding in the picture and one absent from this meeting.