The Ficus Killer

Plants do not usually have a long life expectancy in my house.

A couple of weeks or months tops.

Soungsik and I were given a ficus tree at our wedding 10.5 years ago.

I am now of the opinion that a plant is a horribly mean thing to give newlyweds. Let me explain why.

When we got it I thought it was such a great idea.  But as I have almost killed this ficus tree 20 times you can't imagine the guilt associated with almost killing something precious from your wedding.  It's not like breaking a bowl or a dish, it an actual living thing.  Somehow it turns into a testament to the strength of your marriage and your own maturity.  When I was pregnant with Isabelle and I almost killed the ficus I ran to my dad, a plant lover, and begged him to save it for me.  I was worried that if I couldn't even keep a plant alive, what was I going to do with a child?  My dad saved the tree for me and while it was under his care it miraculously even grew a few inches.  It hadn't grown at all under my careful love and attention.  It turns out you have to water plants every now and again.  Now my ficus tree looks like this.

Every time you walk past it 10 leaves fall off. 

So I could look at this 2 different ways.

It could be a bad omen that our marriage may be coming to an end and dying like this ficus tree.

Or I could be very happy that or marriage is so strong it has outlasted this tree. 

I'm going to go with the second option!

Maybe I'll go water it and see if love (and water) really can conquer all.  I still can't bring myself to throw it out.  Maybe when all of the leaves have fallen off I will throw it out. 

Maybe I will break down and go crying to my dad again.  

To sum things up,  don't give people plants for their weddings.  It's just a gift wrapped in guilt and doubt.  Unless it's a money tree, now that I probably would have watered more!

Primary Class Party

This year in primary I taught the Valiant 10 class.

It was a class made up of predominantly boys, and I learned something new about 11 years old boys.

It is a myth that girls talk more than boys, at least at this age.  All of the girls in my class would just sit quietly. 

The boys were non stop jesters, announcers, and auctioneers.  Not really, but it seemed like it some weeks!

Despite the rambunctiousness I have to say I really LOVED my class and the students this year!

They kept me laughing and thinking about things in a whole new way.

They give me hope that even though William might be a complete goofball when he is 11 his heart can still be as good as gold.

We had a pizza party last night to celebrate the end of the year.  

Our entire class couldn't make it, but here I am with some of them.

 

There are two depressing things about this picture for me.

First, I clearly look much, much older than my 11 year old students.

Secondly, without my high heeled shoes I am about the same size as my 11 year old students!

What can a girl do?  Nothing - I know!!!  I keep eating vegetables, but I just don't seem to grow!

We had pizza & tons of junk food.

If you want to have a really great time with lots of laughs you should invite a group of 11 year olds over, give them lots of sugar, then teach them how to play spoons!  We were laughing so hard and I had more fun with them than with adults, because like me, they are very uninhibited. 

We gave the losers of spoons 2 choices,

#1 - you could be eliminated from the game,

#2 - all of the other players get to hit you on your wrist 

(this is Korean style in games)

Most of the time they chose to get hit.

I am pretty sure hitting your students is against the church handbook

and I may be getting fired from my calling shortly after posting this!

Lets hope not, because I am looking forward to getting a whole new group of children next year!

Happy 6th Birthday Isabelle

Isabelle is officially 6 now! 

She is always the last of her friends to have a birthday, so she has been waiting anxiously for many months.

She decided she wanted a taekwondo party this year.  It was lots of fun!

Soungsik did a little TKD class for the kids and then they played a few games.

 

William was so excited to be a part of a "class".

Bethany (behind William) was a big help!

 

It's still unclear where Isabelle gets her competetive nature from.

Soungsik and I are truly baffled.

 

William doesn't weigh enough to pop a balloon,

but he can sit and bounce on one for a long time!

After the games we beat a pinata!

 

William really enjoys hitting things with sticks - scary!

 

Isabelle actually broke the pinata this year!

It was very exciting!

Soungsik claims it was all because of his superior rope swinging skills.

I think Soungsik is full of candy...or something else that rhymes with snot bear.

 

Pizza was enjoyed and devoured by all!

And then it was time for cake.

 

The biggest reason Isabelle wanted a TKD party was so she could cut her cake with a sword.

The funny thing is we have swords at home too, but she didn't seem to make that connection.

The concentration needed for cutting cakes with swords looks something like this...

 

Not to seem materialistic, but presents are always exciting and fun.

Karli wanted to do "heavy, heavy hangover" on Isabelle.

Isabelle had no idea what that was and I think she was 

afraid Karli might drop the present on her head.

Isabelle & Hannah

Isabelle & Sariah

Isabelle & Jessica

 Isabelle & Lily

Isabelle & Faith

Isabelle & Natalie

Isabelle & Joey

She had invited more boys, but Joey was the only one to show.

He really didn't seem to mind much!

Isabelle & Aubrey

Isabelle told me a few weeks ago,

"Mom when I started school Aubrey said she hated me, but now she likes me a lot."

I am not sure what girl drama went on at school, but I am glad they seemed to work it out on their own.

I don't like being a mom with a child old enough for girl drama!

Isabelle & Grandma & Grandpa

They got her the scooter that even Santa wouldn't be getting for her.

That's why Grandparents are the best - even better than Santa.

Isabelle is crying in this picture because she was using bratty talk with me right before I took it.
I informed her that even though she was 6 she is not too old to receive a spank when needed.
Luckily no birthday spanks were dished out, but just the thought of it was clearly disturbing.

Sorry to make you cry on you birthday kiddo!  Mean mommy moment.

Soungsik and I gave her presents earlier in the day.

 

A nintendo, so she will stop stealing Grandma's.

She has been playing this non stop for 2 days now.

And "Too Many Monkeys" which she loves and we'll be playing as soon as we can get William down for nap.

Happy Birthday Isabelle.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives. 

You are growing up to be such a great person.

Keep up all of your hard work, never stop being happy and loving, and we'll check back in with you in a year!

Love, 

Mom & Dad

In Our World: Death of a Tyrant

Kim Jong Il communist dictator and tryant leader of North Korea died on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

I am quite happy about this news even though the future of the country is so unsettled right now.  

I have to hold out the belief that the death of such an evil person is always a good thing. 

We are living in very uncertain times in this world right now. 

I am mostly concerned about China making some kind of power grab for North Korea right now because I don't believe the U.S. will do anything against China at this time.

We will have to watch and wait to see what the future holds for North Korea.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our family and friends in South Korea and we hope with all of our hearts that their economy and safety will be protected throughout whatever this new future holds.