Pinwheels!

Right now I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with pinwheels...they are so cute and make me happy. I followed this link to make my pinwheels and then made some really fun cards with them.

Look what Steve (my mailman) brought me....our mailing address is the Weather Squadron, so Steve brings home all my goodies with him when he comes home from work. I received my first birthday card...my birthday isn't until next week but of course amber was the first to surprise me...thank you! That day was full of great mail...I had ordered some Sherbet Pips fabric and it came that same day. I love getting mail.

earings

Madi has fun playing with earings. She does not have pierced ears, I was 18 when I got mine pierced so... She does not ask but she does like those sticker earings. Well, I was at the PX and found these clipons she can play with now too. She thought she was hot stuff.

A few weeks ago we roamed around a Korean museum. When we stumbled upon this exhibit Ben asked what it was. Madi: "Duh, it's the Korean War". Loud enough for all in the room to hear...bless her little heart, I am still chuckling.

Last Thursday night I enjoyed a night out with other women. My friend Kelley took a yummy dip to share with all. It was something I have never had before...Taboli. She gave me the recipe that night and I made it for my family the next day...it taste like summer.

Taboli

1/2 cup cooked couscous (cooled) 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup lemon juice 1 cup chopped green onions 1 cup chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 3 tomatoes, chopped 1 cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped 1 teaspoon salt ground black pepper to taste

DirectionsToss all to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Baby fun

This week we have added a new member to the 607th Weather Squadron Family. One of the Weather Wives gave birth to a little baby girl named Natalie. We had just had a baby shower for her. I made a colorful baby quilt for a gift.

I also made these adorable corsages using baby socks for the flower buds. There was one corsage for Mom and one for Big Sis.

We played that game where you can't say the word 'baby'. Ben as you can see TOTALLY got into it.

My friend Kelley made the monogrammed cookies...aren't they neat!

Lotte World

Last Thursday was our big move. On Friday the kids had a half day of school and the church on base sponsored a free trip to Lotte World that afternoon. These past few days have been crazy. Steve has been working extra (even during the whole move) due to the crises in Japan. But on Friday, we left Steve and the new house full of work to be done behind, with my bestest neighbor Liz and scooted off with the kids to Lotte World.

Madi's favorite ride...the swings. She must have ridden them 15 times.

Inside Lotte World they had some really fun parades to watch.

The log ride was the first ride the kids went on. Liz and I skipped it so we didn't get wet first thing. When I went to the exit I was a bit nervous over that last drop...I didn't think Madi would like but it was too late to get her off the ride.

Look at the picture the camera on the ride captured...Madi horrified. Believe it or not we all went on the ride again and it ended up being her favorite scary ride.

Ben and Regan locked in and ready to get that wave going.

The Waikiki Wave was what got Ben's vote for best ride.

We have moved to our 2nd Korean home...

We moved...yes, our third home since August. We have only been in this new place for 2 days and are already feeling at home...side effects of moving too much I guess. This new, and I mean BRAND NEW...we are this first people to live in this absolutely gorgeous, top floor (penthouse) apartment, is the most beautiful home I have ever lived in. Of course it is valued at $2 million American dollars....thankfully the U.S. Air Force flips that bill. After living so high-class, I am worried I won't enjoy my new home in California when I get there.

I am excited over this new kitchen. It comes complete with that HD little flatscreen. The cupboards and counters are so pretty too.

Not sure how, but strawberries are in full-swing here in Korea. This is our 3rd box of these babies in a week.

Civil Defense Exercise

Every month here in Korea they have a Civil Defense exercise. Madi was home sick and I was tired that it was a good thing I talked to Steve over lunch and he reminded me...cause when the sirens would have gone off I think it might have scared me to death today.

After North Korea tossed bombs this direction, Thanksgiving week, these civil defense exercises are a little more serious. The sirens sound and all 22 million people living in Seoul come to a stop for a bit. The police are in the roads with gas masks on and ALL the cars come to a skreetching halt.

Not sure what is being said on the roaming loud speaker.

Jets flew overhead and then we watched the helicopters land on Post.

Madi sat on my bed and watched out the window the whole time. They practice at school. Normal school kids have fire drills but Ben and Madi have bomb drills. Madi cracked me up today with all her knowledge on bomb/nuclear safety.

I really love living in Korea....well Seoul that is. It's the military's best kept secret! It's just like Manhatten and the base is Central Park. You can see the base in this picture out our living room window. If you click on the picture to make it big you can see base housing with their red tile roofs.

If you make this picture bigger you can see more housing, the base gym, the lights for the soccer field...isn't it funny.

Pots of gold

Here are some little pots of gold (rolos) we made to hand out. The tag is a free download I found over at the crafting chicks.

We are getting ready to move. The apartment we now live in had been for sale for a few years for $1.5 million but Korea is also experiencing a slower economy. The couple who own this apartment....the wife has cancer and they need the money so they dropped the price down to $1 million and it sold in a heartbeat...so I keep telling myself in this whole situation I am not the one getting the raw end of the deal. Plus the new apartment we are moving to is a nicer $2 million dollar place....it's beautiful with beautiful grounds. (I still can't believe the U.S. military pays for us to live like this.) It's a community with 13 towers, 3 kids parks, built-in soccer field, basketball hoops, 2 gyms for adults and we got the top floor with a decent view.

Look at this old Korean temple. It's a landmark that they are not allowed to touch so they have to build all around it. This is in the middle of the 13 tower community...too cool.

Outside exercise equipment. I wonder why they don't make stuff like this in the USA?

Kimchi pots

Today was perfect. I met some friends in Itaewon at 9 timo for a delicious Italian lunch. After lunch and cupcakes (we celebrated another friends birthday) my friend Kelley and I decided to walk all the way home. Kelley is so cool. She is the Weather Squadron's Commander's wife and cares so much for all of us ladies in the unit. Plus she is prior Air Force too. Before moving here after just getting married last summer she worked in the White House doing communications for President Obama...see she is really cool. On our walk home we made a detour to the aka Kimchi pot gate. The base we are at has at least like 15 gates and this stop is right outside one of them.




Kelley picked up this pretty green piece of pottery.

Look at these beautiful large kimchi pots. They can be used at a side table or something like that since I won't be using it to make THAT much kimchi. I didn't get a large one...not sure exactly what size I want yet. Any ideas on what decorating purpose it could fill?

I did get these baby kimchi pots. Wouldn't one of these make the cutest sugar bowl!?!

Decorating with green

Easter is so late this year, I had to make St. Patrick's Day ornies to tie me over from Valentine's to Easter.











I chainstiched some yarn for a green garland.




This large green shamrock is made from felt.

Hmmm...little Georgia Bulldogs living in Korea. Look at the kids toothbrushes.

a spiderweb and a new highrise

I love to make things. I am learning so many new things and I can't believe some of the pretty crafts I have been making. Here is my latest...it's one block of the spiderweb pattern. There is NO WAY I would make a spiderweb quilt...it would take a lifetime. Anyways, I followed these directions.

Okay now about moving. Our apartment here sold and we have to move. I think we may be setting a world record....my family will call 4 different houses home in 13 months by the time we get to California in Aug. We aren't sure yet which place we are moving into...it may be that highrise down the street...I looked at it yesterday. Today our realtor is going to show us some others that are open. I am starting to feel sorry for myself. Craziness I tell ya!