Six In Seoul
  • Our Life in Seoul Take 3
  • Our Life in Seoul, Take 2
  • 2015 Project 365
  • Project 365
  • Moving to Korea?
  • Six in the Hood
  • Seoul, 4/2008 - 4/2010
    • Flower Arrangements
    • Our second month here.....
    • Our first month here, 4/08
    • Flat Stanley
  • The Whole 30

What's Not to Like?

11/29/2009

1 Comment

 
I have a friend moving to Yongsan this summer and she ask me "what do you not like about Korea?”  I've had to think long and hard on this one.  As many of you may have realized by now I am an optimist.  I try to find the good in everything, so this question has puzzled me for a few weeks.  'What do I not like about Korea?'  Hummm.  

Here are a few things that could have prevented me from liking Korea:

1. I can't always find the party supplies I need, when I need them.  When I first moved here, I thought I could just pop out and buy a Thomas piñata the week before my youngest son's birthday.  WRONG.  Piñata’s aren't so popular here in Korea.  AND even though Thomas is very popular here, I couldn't find paper plates, napkins or plastic table cloths in Thomas either. Don't you guys worry though, we are a creative family, we still had a Thomas party, just minus the plates, napkins and Thomas piñata...we did have a piñata that we picked up from the PX, a fire truck.  By the way, there are fire truck trains in Thomas shows. Lesson learned.  Make Oriental Trading Company or Birthday in a Box your best friend.  Order at least one month in advance.  This is something I will take back to the states with me.  Both of these companies are fabulous and your stuff gets here in about 5-7 days. And as a bonus, there is no need to waste time going from store to store!


2. This leads me into the second thing that could have prevented me from liking Korea.  The mail.   We do not have a mailbox at our house.  All our mail is delivered to Hubby's office.  Crap.  Now he can see how much on line shopping I do.  ;-)  Seriously, not having a mailbox was bothersome to me at first. I didn't like it, now almost 2 years later, I can't say I LOVE it, but I am used to it.  The other thing that kills me about the mail is that although some companies are GREAT with getting their stuff to you in 5-7 days (the 2 I mentioned above), other companies send things SLOW boat, arriving to you 6 weeks later.  (Cabella's, not that I am a name dropper & when I called them about it, they could have cared less.)  Most companies are fantastic with their shipping policies and really love the military and delivering goods to us.  Just the other month, I ordered Girl's party supplies from Oriental Trading Company, after 2 1/2 weeks of it not being here,  I became concerned (seeing is to how I was going to have to reschedule her party), called them, they apologized and reshipped the products guaranteeing they be here in 1 week, and they were.  (And this is the reason Girl's birthday party post is the next one, things didn't get here in time, but all was fine, Girl just rescheduled her party.) 

3. The language barrier.  Again, this could have prevented me from liking it here, but instead, I took the bulls by the horn, went to Korean language classes, figured out how freaking hard this language is, learned a few key phrases, & learned how to order food.  I take my Korean phrase book everywhere and *TRY* to speak Korean when I can.  Koreans really appreciate this.  My suggestion to you when you arrive in Korea, the Army offers a spouse orientation to Korea.  When I arrived, it was a mandatory class, now it is not, TAKE THE CLASS ANYWAY!  Yes, there may be tons of stuff you know already, but there will be tons of stuff you don't know.  Don't be one of those "I already know it all type people", because trust me, 'those' people really don't know it all and normally have a harder time living overseas because they don’t have an open mind.

OK, I have to stop there and wake my kids up for school. As you see, I'm still having a hard time finding things I don't like about Korea.  I'll continue this post another day. 

Target...that is it, they don't have a Target!
1 Comment

A Presidential 'Fly' By

11/26/2009

1 Comment

 
Anyone that follows the news know President Obama was in South Korea last week.  President Obama flew from Yongsan to Osan, so the school children lined the streets in hopes to get a glimpse of the President. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Girl was right up front!
The kids were all super excited even after waiting outside in the cold for an hour and a half.  Once the kids saw the cars coming down the street, they started chanting "U S A, U S A, U S A!!  It was all very patriotic and it put a tear in my eye.  (Not the Obama part, just the patriotic part.)
Picture
After the fly by on the street, several of these Chinook’s took off; we are assuming the President was in one of them.
Picture
Picture
1 Comment

Got Milk?

11/24/2009

4 Comments

 
So I know you guys are probably sick of seeing and hearing about this, but this is the biggest ad any of the kids have ever done, and it was so cool when I went to E-Mart the other day and happened upon this ~ (yes, I take my camera EVERYWHERE...one never knows when one might need a camera.)
Picture
Since the images are pretty small in that picture, here is a close up....
Picture
My baby is on a milk carton!!
OH, and they were showing his commercial over and over again on this little screen!
Picture
Picture
This was cute, Boy 3 wanted to drink the milk his picture was on (haha ~ remember what happened last time he drank this milk?).  I ask him if he was sure and reminded him that he did not like this milk.  He was as sure as any 4 year old little boy could be ~ I think he was thinking how bad can this stuff be, my picture is on it!  Right after this picture he started spitting, gagging and saying 'YUCK, my milk is bad'!   
Picture
Ahhh, the truth in advertising!
4 Comments

My Moment of Fame!

11/23/2009

6 Comments

 
 Last week Amanda and I went to the Seoul International Women's Bazaar at the Grand Hilton.  I was very excited about going even though some of my friends that went last year said they did not enjoy it - they said it was too crowded, over priced, blah, blah, blah.  I'm SO glad I didn't listen to them!  Amanda and I had a great time, even though it took us 45 minutes to get there (about 30 minutes longer than we expected) and I had to call in a favor and have someone pick Boy 3 up from school.  (Thanks Mimi!)  

Anyway, Amanda and I had a great time and we even picked up a few Christmas gifts.  I'm going to share one of my blonde moments with you guys...get ready to laugh (even though I didn't feel as bad because Amanda had the same blonde moment).  OK, here goes, I thought TEXAS was represented here......
Picture
See how excited I am?
Only to realize moments later (after the picture was taken) that this really is not the Texas flag, but in fact it is the flag of Chile.  (You can stop laughing now, you didn't know it was the flag of Chile either - well unless you are my husband.)

OK, so for my moment of fame....

I saw the booth for New Zealand and the New Zealand booth had wine bottles, and since my MIL has turned me on to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's I rushed right over to see what they had.  Upon arriving at the booth, the lady working the booth pointed to me and said "Hey, I know you".  I immediately start racking my brain trying to figure out where I knew her from.  It had escaped me; I had no recollection of this lady.  Then she said, "You write a blog, and I read it!" 
OMG, someone out there besides my family and friends actually reads my blog!!!!!  AHHHHH!!! I'm famous - look at me, someone out there in Seoul land knows me!  How fantastic is that?!?!   Not only did she tell me she reads my blog, but told how she ran across my blog a few months before she moved here, and how it helped her (OMGoodness, I help people, YEAH ME!!) with her move.  She also mentioned how she has gone to the express bus terminal because I talked about it and how she likes our hiking adventures!  (Sorry kids, we will be hiking again next weekend!) WOW.  I was/am so excited about this accidental meeting.  Thanks to my one and only fan (OK, maybe I am going a little too far now, she never said she was a fan, but in my own head, she is) Sara from New Zealand. You made my day, no you made my week - oh for heaven's sakes, you made my year!  Thanks for reading!  I'm glad you find my website helpful!
Picture
New Zealand Sara & Trish!
6 Comments

Fall Fun!

11/21/2009

0 Comments

 
Just a few fun pictures to share with you.  I rushed outside because of the blood curdling screams and crying.  If fact I thought for sure there would be blood, but when I arrived Boy 3 was just very MAD because they messed up his 'hill' of leaves.
Picture
Picture
He finally got over being mad and joined in to have some fun!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Girl's Shopping Day!

11/19/2009

2 Comments

 
So Hubby and I were in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas for a week, our schedule was school from 8-5, drive to Kansas City, eat & shop.  I didn't realize what serious shopping withdrawal I have gone through since living in Korea.  Don't get me wrong, there is great shopping in Korea, but I've missed popping into Ann Taylor, Gap, Tommy, Marshall’s, Ross, Victoria's, and many more.  The thing I have missed the most is SHOE shopping! Again, don't get me wrong, there are more shoes in Korea than I have ever seen in life, Korean women LOVE shoes. The only problem is my foot is BIG to Korean standards (8.5 just in case you are feeling sorry for me & want to send shoes) and if I want shoes I need to have them custom made.  So, back to my story, poor hubby had to go to school all day, then go shopping with me most nights.  He didn't really see to mind too much.  One night our friends the Z's saved him and invited us over for dinner.  It was great catching up with our old friends and neighbors!  (Can you believe I didn't take a picture of them?)

On Friday night, after school let out, we drove to Kansas City to pick up my MIL (Mother-in-law) & SIL (sister-in-law) from the airport.  They flew in for a day of shopping with their favorite in-law.  (I just dubbed myself that thank you.)   On Saturday morning we woke up and headed out to my favorite Kansas store in a little town call Atchison.  For those of you that know the area, that's right we went to Nell Hill's! (Hubby stayed in the hotel to sleep, he was done with shopping and jetlag had finally caught up with him.)


Our trip did not start off quite like one would expect. We had a nice drive to Atchison, but when we parked the car and I jumped out with excitement, I felt something funny under my foot.  I looked down,
screamed and jumped back in the car.  This is what I stepped on:
Picture
After taking a moment back inside the car to recover, I got out of the car again, cringed, walked over the dead mouse, and then forgot about him for a while.

Here we are just before going into Nell Hill's:
Picture
 If you have never been to this little store in this little town and you live close enough, you REALLY need ot go!  It is so fun, and it stocked full or goodies for your house.  You can get anything from candles to furniture!
Picture
Not even a foot inside the door and MIL already found her first purchase!
Picture
Picture
I would love to have this wall unit in my house.
Picture
And SIL would like to have this one.
Picture
And another piece of furniture I would like to have!
After spending a couple of hours at Nell Hill's we popped over to the little cafe next door, I call it the 'pie place'. I think the real name *might* be Jerry's.  Anyway, we had lunch there, which is not anything to write home about.  I forgot you should just skip lunch when you go to this little cafe and just go straight for the pie.  We had a sampling of pies and they were all amazing!  Pumpkin, coconut and chocolate - the chocolate and coconut remind me of the pies my mom used to always make at Thanksgiving.  OH BABY! 
Picture
Picture
There was more shopping to be done this day, but I will stop here.  Atchison is  a great little town, visit if you can! (No, I'm not getting kick-backs.)
2 Comments

Quick Trip To Japan!

11/18/2009

2 Comments

 
OK, so that title is a bit deceiving.  We had a LAYOVER in Japan!  Hehe!  However we were very excited about this opportunity to have a bowl of Undon with tempura shrimp & veggies.  Hubby found this little restaurant in the international section of the airport and has been telling me about it for over a year.  Every time he stops over in Japan he eats here.  And let me tell you, it is YUMMY!  If you ever find yourself at Narita airport on a lay over, go find this noodle place, it is very close to the McDonalds. (Sorry, I would give better directions, but that is all I remember.)
Picture
So, we couldn't stop there.....since we were in Japan I felt we needed to have sushi.  Now, I don't care if we are in an airport, my thoughts are that any sushi in Japan (yes, even at the airport) is better than sushi anywhere in the US, or even Korea.  And I was right.  Hubby was a bit disappointed in the sushi because it wasn't up to "Japan" standards, (which I agree)  but he needs to get over it, it was still super yummy (and way better than anywhere else - and he calls me a food snob).  If I ever have the choice of eating sushi in the states, or in the Narita airport, I would totally pick the airport.
Picture
Picture
After we finished our eating tour of the Narita airport, we boarded the airplane for the next leg of our trip....16 more hours to Houston...
Picture
2 Comments

Halloween!

11/14/2009

4 Comments

 
I LOVE Halloween! October is such a crazy month here in our house.  Soccer season, (all 4 played this year) 2 birthdays and Halloween!  Since hubby threw the big FOUR-O party for my birthday we opted out of having a Halloween party, plus the morning after Halloween Hubby and I hopped on a plane and headed for the states.

Boy 2 did a fantastic job on his Halloween costume this year ~ he decided back in July this is what he wanted to be and I think it totally fits him!
Picture
Boy 1, well frankly he scares me a little.  I'm just glad he didn't come out a girl because he doesn't pull it off very well.  Here he is as Lady Gaga.
Picture
Picture
Girl is adorable no matter what.  She starts thinking about her costume on 1 November. I love her as a leopard!
Picture
Boy 3 could care less what he dresses up as ~ he is just in it for the candy!
Picture
When we started off, trick-or-treating was in the rain!
Picture
Picture
I love these guys!
Picture
Picture
Happy kids...
Picture
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Trish Turns 40!

11/13/2009

4 Comments

 
Have I ever mentioned how much my husband ROCKS?  He is the bomb!  Two days after girl turned 8, I turned 40.  WOW, 40.  The big FOUR - O!  And for my big FOUR - O, hubby threw an amazing Murder Mystery party for me!  AND he did everything from ordering the scripts, to decorating, (including going to the flower market), to having it catered and much, much more!  This will be a birthday I never forget. 

The Murder Mystery was called Murder in Sin City.  Hubby was Ronald Trump, the owner of a very nice casino in Las Vegas and I was his beauty queen wife (a title I won 20 years earlier), Iguana Trump.  We were celebrating the one year anniversary of our casino and my birthday.
Picture
Iguana & Ronald Trump
Picture
Jamie Journalist, Precious Trump, our one and only daughter & Mimi Martini
Picture
Jim Beam, the casino's favorite bartender.
Picture
Agent Avery, who graciously switched parts at the last minute because the 'other' Agent Avery got the swine flu.
Picture
Ace High & Hustling Haley
Picture
Jack Black, the casino's favorite black jack dealer.
Picture
Security Sam
Picture
Elvis & Lucy Legs
The night was amazing with great company, food, drink and MURDER!!
Picture
I love the tattoo on Hubby's neck!
Hubby had dinner catered from the Navy Club.
Picture
Picture
My cake was AMAZING!  (Ordered from the Dragon.)
Picture
After I blew out the candles, something horrible happened...
Ace High was found dead.
Picture
And his poor wife, Hustling Haley was distraught.
Picture
Picture
Agent Avery was all over it, figuring out who the killer was.
Picture
In the end, Haley was hauled off to jail.
Picture
I want to shout out a special thank you to my wonderful husband for making this night so special!  You always treat me like your princess.   I love you more!

To all my friends, thanks for coming and celebrating this special night with me. I feel blessed to have such a great group of friend.  I love you all! 


(To see more pictures from this night, go to my FB page!)
4 Comments

Girl Turns 8!

11/12/2009

4 Comments

 
October 26th, our beautiful daughter turned 8 years old.  Where did the time go? 

Her birthday morning started out just like every other birthday in our house, breakfast of the birthday person's choice.  This year girl opted for these pancakes instead of cinnamon rolls ~ this is a first!!  She also wanted bacon with her pancakes!  Her wish was my command.    During breakfast we opened gifts.
Picture
A webkinz from her brother...
Picture
A hug for her brother!
Picture
A pink camelback!
Picture
And Julie from her Grammy!
After morning festivities, Girl headed to school, but only for a couple of hours!  I picked her up at lunch time to take her to her favorite restaurant, The Flying Pan Blue! Can you guess what she had?
Picture
Chocolate pancakes ~ oh baby!
Picture
Her Daddy joined us for lunch!
After a super healthy lunch Girl wanted ice cream ~
Picture
And Burger King for dinner....
Picture
We ended the day with birthday cake!
Picture
4 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Proud Army wife and mother to 4 wonderful children.  I love to cook, travel, work out and scrapbook life’s adventures when I find the time.  We just got orders & are heading back to the states in March 2010.  I'm bummed that our time has been cut short, but proud of Hubby for the reason why.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008

    Categories

    All
    Appetizers
    Breakfast
    Cake
    Cakes
    Car Wash
    Cookies
    Cooking Tips
    Daily Life
    Desserts
    Drinks
    Entrees
    Hiking
    Modeling
    Moving To Yongsan
    Nightlife
    Not Quite Right
    Recipes
    Restaurants
    Salads
    Sandwiches
    Seafood
    Shopping
    Side Dishes
    Sightseeing
    Soups
    Spices
    Street Food
    Vacation
    Vegetarian

    Friends, Family and Fun reading:


    FeedYourKids
    GreatinGreece
    CookieMadness
    RomaninRoundRock
    Heather, Heath, Hayden & John
    EggsonSunday

    Five in Boise
    PioneerWoman
    Just The Four of US 
    SteamyKitchen
    All About Korean Food

    KissMyKimchi
    EatingOutLoud
    TheThrashClan
    Yossislost

Proudly powered by Weebly