Carly's Engaged

This week we got the great news that my sister Carly and her Long time boyfriend Justin are engaged. While the wedding may be far away I have found a few things for her wedding. I know how stressful it
is I am going to be her mentor along the way.

Her wedding dress. Carly has been
a long time fan of Jenna Bush and anything
patriotic, I think this is perfact for her.

I'll be wearing something like this
to her wedding

This cake is so beautiful!

A little Christmas treat just for you

More Christmas...

When I think of Christmas time I think of
the real meaning of Christmas, however I can't also
help but think of.....


Indulging in the handmade
chocolates that my "Own" Grandma
use to make.
Once I am done with my sugar high
I go to my "Salt Lake" Grandma's house and
kick back a six pack with my mom.
Listening to this record over and over and over

The claymation Rudolph the red
nosed reindeer and Frosty the snowman.

Playing Uno with Carly using only
the red, green and wild cards.

Watching Meet Me In St. Louis

And of course White Christmas.

My Mom's "Poop Balls" that are similar to this recipe.

CHOCOLATE WHIP COOKIES
2 lg (1/2 lb.) Hershey bars with almonds 9 oz. Cool Whip Vanilla wafers, crushed Melt Hershey bars in a double boiler, then stir in Cool Whip. Take in teaspoonfuls and roll in vanilla wafer crumbs. Freeze until set. Good and creamy!! Keep in refrigerator or freezer.

More Meet me in St. Louis

Christmas time is here again!

I love Christmas time.

Korea celebrates Christmas on a very low-keyed
level. Most businesses take Christmas day off
and go back to work the next day. I know of some
hag wons that are not even closing for Christmas.
luckily we will get two weeks off to go visit my
family.

It is hard to think that it has been a year since
last Christmas. This year has not been exactly easy,
but the ride and the views have been worth it.

This will always be my favorite Christmas Tree.
This is this year's tree. It is a little more
flashy compared to last year's. Our pocket
books are a little heavier than last year and the Korean
all a dollar is a lot closer than the Oahu one was.

Juny Ju is feeling the Christmas spirit to!

Sha Bang, Sha Bang

Our hagwon is having a Karaoke party this Friday.
Each of the kids are preparing an English song to sing.
I made a deal with one class that if they sang English songs,
I would sing this song. Hahahha I think this song
is hilarious. Sha Bang, Sha Bang has no meaning in Korean.
I am pretty sure I am going to get first place. I still have to bribe
Boo into being my backup singer.

시사 = She Saw= Korean Ancestral Ceremony

시사 (She-saw) is an Ancestral ceremony that
only happens once a year. In Ha Dong next to Boo's
Uncle's house is The Son family's Jay Saw house.
The house is only opened once a year for the 시나
ceremony.

The women prepare all the traditional
food and then all the men bow to their
ancestors.

Here are some pictures of the food.
For the ceremony there are fruits,
dried fish, octopus, traditional rice cakes,
small cookies and other sea foods.
After the ceremony everyone eats the
food together.

The women preparing the food.
I didn't have any idea what they were doing
so I supervised. Or stood around
looking stupid what ever you want to
call it.

My Nephew Ha You and I.

Boo looking stunning in his suit coat and
training pants. (The dog got car sick on the
pants he was wearing)

Ha You and Ha Bin looking all cute

My niece Ha Bin and I

Ha Bin and Ha you with their older brother Ha Min

Juny Ju in Ha Dong

Juny Ju loved going to Ha Dong. She however
did not like the car ride. She got car sick in fact car sick
all over Boo. It was one of those times
when I felt really bad for my husband, but deep
deep down inside I was happy I wasn't holding her!

She loved running around all the barley and
rice fields.

Juny making friends with the goats.

감 = gam= Persimmon

We picked a bunch of Persimmons that were
right next to Boo's dad's grave. Ha Dong, Boo's
Home town is Known for it's persimmons and
Korean Pears.

Boo said this one looks like a frog, but I think it
looks more like Dolly Parton.

We took Juny with us. She loved getting
dirty.

My Daughter and I.

Boo with Juny in front of his dad's
grave.

Pae Pae Roe Day!

This week Korean kids celebrated Pae Pae Roe
Day. Basically it is a day where kids give their friends
and teachers Pae Pae Roes (빼 빼 로).
빼빼로 are cracker sticks with chocolate on them.
I did not know about this holiday until my
kids gave me all these 빼배로. I want to
institute in Diet Coke day!
My class room was really boring so I got a
bunch of leaves and strung them across the room and put
them on the walls. I thought it would give the kids who hate
English something to stare at.

Our dog needs dentures

Our dog Juny Ju lost over Six teeth this
week. So all week she has not been
able to destroy anything!

Gye Eun's Wedding

We went to our friend Gye Eun's wedding

this Saturday. No wedding hall in Korea
could do justice for how beautiful she looked.

Her dress was so beautiful. It was just the
right amount of puffy-ness with petals, and sparkles.
It was truly breathtaking.
Two lady's that worked at the wedding
hall were carrying things that looked like trumpets.
I was really confused until after the ceremony they blew
into them which made a pop sound and tons of ribbon went
flying everywhere. Now I know what I want for
Christmas!
Korean Wedding ceremonies are short.
The preacher speaks to the couple
and marries them in about twenty minutes.
After wards the groom is gets a hard time and has
to do tasks to prove his love. (Push up's, embarrassing
things etc.)
After the ceremony the couple changes into 함복
Hambok (traditional Korean Dress) and bows to their
parents and than gets money for their honeymoon from
them.

Here's to a Bright Future

Juny enjoying Election Day

"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time -- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth -- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can."






In Africa, you often see that the difference between a village where everybody eats and a village where people starve is government. One has a functioning government, and the other does not. Which is why it bothers me when I hear people say that government is the enemy. They don't understand its fundamental role.
Barack Obama
Profile in The Independent Magazine, March 10, 2007.

Fall in Changwon

I thought that I would take some fall pictures
of Changwon. This is the first Fall Boo has had in
over 5 years. In Hawaii there was not a lot of trees that
change color.

I love seeing groups of 할모니들 (grandmothers)
Hanging out. All of the middle aged women dress really
fashionable. But all the Grandma's just wear a mixture
of what ever they have. I like the grandma in the back
with the "varsity team" vest. She looks mean in that vest.

Changwon is surrounded with mountains, sometimes
it reminds me of Salt Lake City, Utah.

We went on a hike up one of the mountains, here is what
Changwon looks like from above.

More Changwon

This grave was tucked away in the mountain.
I thought it was pretty.

Fall colors

After a 40 minute game of "You can't
catch me" Juny is no longer aloud off her leash
when we go on walks. We did get her a 10 meter leash so
she can still run around in the park everyday.

Boo and Juny looking all cute.