Willing the Weather Warmer

Last Saturday we decided to go for a picnic in the canyon.

First we had to figure out a canyon that wasn't buried with many feet of snow.

We decided that even though it was still cold outside, summer could not be put off any longer!

The ducks agree with us on this.

 

These little ducks have been frequenting our yard lately.

We drove up Provo Canyon, which was so beautiful.

We were going to park by Deer Creek and have our picnic, but they wanted to charge us $10.00 per car just to park by a picnic table.  I am way to cheap to do that,  so on we went.  We made it to Midway and found a great park.  I would love to live in Midway someday - if only they didn't get so much snow in the winter.  The park turned out to be way better than a lake.  I can only imagine how hard it would have been to keep William out of a lake.

Isabelle and Jee Hoon are best buddies! 

 

It's nice that he lets her boss him around so much.

 

Where are you William???

He thought it was hilarious to be standing on top of me.

 

Walking up the slide is just as fun as sliding down it.

 

Getting off of the swings was truly heartbreaking!

After a delicious BBQ, (thank you Soung-Jo!)

we had to play a little football.

Here are the boys trying to explain the "rules" to Isabelle.

 

Football might not be her forte.

It's definitely not mine!

It was so fun to play, but WOW - I am out of shape.

I don't recommend playing football with 

3 very physically fit grown men.

Luckily we weren't playing tackle.

As a side note though I can run very fast when I am afraid,

and Soung-Sik, Jee Hoon, and I won! 

Yay for us!

You can't drive past water with Soung-Sik 

without stopping to fish.

 

Sadly we didn't catch any fish.

Isabelle said there must not be any fish here.

We wrapped up the day with Bocce Ball and card games.

All in all a wonderful day and I am so happy that summer is peaking around the corner at us!

Humbled By My Children

Children have a unique power over their parents.

They have the ability to either inflate your ego higher than anyone else possibly could, or they can humble you to dust in a matter of seconds.  As everyone knows kids say the darndest things.  When I had children everyone told me "You should write down all of the cute things they say".  I thought this was a wonderful idea until the minute Isabelle learned to talk.  How exactly are you supposed to write down ALL of the funny/great things they say?  It has been non stop with that child.  I would have to follow her around with a tape recorder all day everyday. I don't know any mom with that kind of time on her hands.  So here's a sampling of some humbling (for better or for worse) things my children have said or done in the last couple of days.  

There is a commercial on one of the news channels I watch that is frequently played.  It is for a company called "Lifestyle Lift" that specializes in face lifts.  The "models" are both around 65 years old. Isabelle came up to me and said "Mommy, I think you need a lifestyle lift!  When you smile or do a face like this (picture any kind of weird face you'd like) you get wrinkles on your forehead.  I think a lifestyle lift would help a lot with that!"   Thanks girlie,  I really hadn't noticed the 3, or is it 4??? wrinkles that like to perch on my face.  I have a theory that a mom should grow a new arm with every baby she has, because let's face it, you need it.  I think what you grow instead is wrinkles on your forehead.  

Another experience that occurred after watching the news...I am not a supporter of our current president, President Obama, at all.  That is actually a huge understatement. If I could help him pack his bags and move out of the White House in a year and a half (or sooner) it would probably be one of the best days of my life.  Sometimes, like 6 times an hour, when watching the news I will get angry at my TV - or the President who happens to be speaking on it.  Isabelle knows that I don't really have tender feelings for Obama.  At lunch she started asking me about why people have different skin color.  I just explained to her that God created people of all colors and we are all children of God and he loves each and everyone one us.  Then she asked me "Is President Obama a child of God?" 

"Yes sweetie he is."  

"Then shouldn't you love and respect him mom?"

Humble pie - I think that is why God wants us to become as little children. As a disclaimer to this story I have to say that Obama's skin color has NOTHING to do with why I don't like him.  Okay Isabelle I am working on the whole loving others thing...

Isabelle ran into my room the other day and gave me the biggest hug.  She said "You are one of the best mommies I have ever had!!!"  I'm torn on this one.  Who are these other mommies I'm in competition with?  Well at least I am one of the best at something I am doing!

Even though William doesn't talk much he still helps out with the 

ego inflating/deflating machine.  

He can say about 20 words now.  But he still adamantly refuses to say "mommy".  Yesterday he said peanut butter cup.  If I ask him to say mom I get one of two responses "Grandpa or Daddy".  I am going to remember this William when you are a teenager.  I will find a way to pay you back...you have been warned!  

He is really into bedtime kisses now.  Last night he grabbed me by both of my ears and pulled my head down to his to give me a slobbery bedtime kiss.  After he did this at least 15 times my ears were finally given freedom.  

He also wants any boo boo he gets to be kissed.  My mommy kisses have magical powers.  They can instantly heal any problem, big or ever so small.  In a pinch a kiss from Grandma will do too.  She must have some of that magic left, or maybe grandma magic is even better - who knows?

Well those are the ramblings of a tired and deflated mom.  

I LOVE my job, even if wrinkles are on the list of benefits!

BOOK REVIEW: BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER

 

Title: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Author: Amy Chua

Number of Pages: 229

Number of Stars I'm Giving: 5

I loved this book.  I have wanted to read it for a while because it is so controversial.  I had to get on a rather long waiting list at the library to even get it.  When I picked it up this afternoon I thought "I'll just read a chapter or two".  It only took me a few hours to read the whole thing.  It was so entertaining.  It was hilarious when she was horrified to learn that her breed of dog was only of an average intelligence! There were a few moments when I felt bad for her daughters, but then again there are moments when I feel bad for my own daughter.  I didn't really find any of her techniques "weird" or "abusive" as she has been labeled by many. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get the benefits. I have at least 10 Korean mom friends who are exactly like this. 

She does bring up a few things that I think as a culture we should really think about.  Asian children more and more are trumping Americans in almost every subject.  I don't think its because they are more intelligent, but rather they are taught from a very young age to work hard.  They put their blood, sweat, and tears into being the best.  I believe this can be taken to an extreme, however most Americans would have to change by leaps and bounds to get to that point.  I have witnessed at our Taekwondo center literally hundreds of children who quit because "they just don't want to stop playing to come to practice," or "they just want to have a break for a little bit".  This has always surprised me.  

When I announced to the world that I was going to home school my children, no one was concerned about the level of education they would be receiving. I did have to fight off hoards of people concerned about my kids socialization.  At what point in our culture did socializing become our #1 priority?  In my humble opinion, we are way out of balance in our priorities as a society. There's also no denying that hard work breeds success.  After reading this book I consider myself to be 70% Tiger Mom.  I could never be 100%, because lets face it I was raised in an American home and am therefore lazy...ha ha ha, sad, but true.  

The main thing I took away from this book was that whatever you push your children towards - just push.  Don't just sit around and wait for them to become great.  Greatness comes from hard work, by both the parents and the child.  Also something I already knew, but this book reinforced is being a good parent will often times be unpopular.  You have to stick to your guns as a parent, regardless of what your family, friends, acquaintances, and even your children may say.

I really don't care if my children ever end up performing in Carnegie Hall or have PHD behind their names.  But you'd better believe we don't believe in quitting and my goal as a mother is to produce very well rounded contributing members to society....

ROAR!!!

BOOK REVIEW: THE GOOSE GIRL

Title: The Goose Girl

Author: Shannon Hale

Number of Pages: 383

Number of Stars I'm Giving: 3.8

Here are a couple of things I didn't love about this book.

#1 - The whole "speaking to animals, wind, ect. seemed a little too convenient. It was thrown into the story in places where I wish Ani would have relied on her own new found strengths. #2 - The ending was insanely predictable. Not that predictability is always a bad thing.

Here are some things I enjoyed about this book.

#1 - I love reading fairy tales.  I doubt I'll ever out grow that. So it was nice to have a fairy tale written for someone older than 7 in mind.  However it was still probably written with people aged 13 to 15 in mind, just remember that as you are reading. #2 - The writing was fast paced, interesting, and clean.  #3 - It shows the consequence of people's choices. 

#4 - Surprisingly it almost made me cry in one spot. 

#5 - It has a fairy tale ending...

which you will figure out about half of the way through.

Overall a fun, quick and enjoyable read.

I definitely recommend it if you are 

wondering what to read next.

If I Have to Tell You 1 More Time...

We had one of those days today.

Not bad per say.

Not good either.

I think we all woke up feeling like 
we wanted to go back to bed. 

Isabelle and I really had it out a few times today. Our house guest doesn't believe that I could get really mad at my kids. 

Obviously he hasn't been around long enough yet. 

Honestly I don't know if I needed to be more patient with her, or if she needed to be more patient with me. 

It took her over 2 hours to finish 1 page of her piano theory.

It took her 2 hours to not finish 1 page of math.

Science, crafts, and spelling didn't happen at all.

Strange that we were still doing school at 6:00 tonight.

Not so strange that the kids were in bed by 7:30.  

They aren't sleeping, but they are out of my hair 
for the day so - whew!

I must have said the phrase "If I have to tell you 1 more time to (fill in the blank) I swear...
That's as far as I get.  

I am not really sure how to end that sentence.

During one of Liam's many tantrums tonight I said

"Somebody is a little cranky today."

Isabelle immediately replied

"I think it's you Mom."

Normally a comment like that would not fly in my house, but today there was just enough truth in it that 
I had to let it slide.

Tomorrow I am determined to wake up on the 
right side of the bed.  
This might require me to switch sides with Soung-Sik.

There is a new rule at our house effective today.  NO TV, Wii, or fun until chores, school, and piano are done.  
I might reconsider the fun part in the 
morning when I am a little less "cranky".

For when my little minions read this in 20 years, I just want to add that you had plenty of cute and loving moment as well today.  I love you both!

Korean Picnic & Choir Performance

I have to give a disclaimer for this post - yet again.

I had some of the worst picture taking luck all day!

The pictures are far from good, but you'll probably get the idea.

We started off the morning at a picnic in beautiful Sugar House Park with all of the students in our Korean language school.  Since this was a Korean party there was good food.  LOTS and LOTS of good food.

The man sitting next to Soung-Sik is the friend staying with us for the next few months.  His name is Doo-Il.

 

After we stuffed ourselves the kids had to get some playground time in.

 

William LOVED the swing, but he is so small he 

kept falling out of the baby swing.

Now that I look at the picture I think he's in the swing backwards.

Hey I was just doing what all the other parents were doing.

I wonder why their kids stayed in?

 

Here's Isabelle with one of her teachers.

Her teachers were the best!  They have been so nice, patient, 

and incredibly loving with Isabelle.

We are really going to miss them during the summer!

 

This is Isabelle and some of the other kids doing a drawing competition.

 

They also had hackey sack competitions, a treasure hunt, and played some Korean games called "something, something in Korean".   Isabelle had an extreme amount of fun even though she didn't win any games.

William was just running around like a crazed baby without a nap.  

I tried to subdue him with the sling...

 

 Sadly he never fell asleep.

Instead he started entertaining himself by pinching me and pulling my hair.

It hurt.

He laughed.

After an hour I gave up and turned him loose again.

After the party we had to hurry, 

and I mean hurry to Isabelle's choir performance.

Actually I had to dress her and do her hair in the car.  This was not an easy feat, and sadly we still missed the first song. Were you aware that it takes more than 10 minutes to get from Sugar House park to 7200 S? 

 

Here's my summary of the choir performance.

Natalie (my niece) and Isabelle were the cutest kids, if you ask me.

The choir as a whole did great.

Then came the soloists.  Horrible is an understatement. It was so so bad.

Someone such as their parents or the choir director should have let them know this. 

I realize it's mean to say things like that, 

but I think it's meaner to let them go do that in front of 100 people.

As a side note I am ridiculously glad choir practices are over.

By this point in the day William couldn't resist sleep any longer.

 

You know he's tired when he falls asleep without finishing a sucker!

Congratulatory ice cream was in order.

 

We wrapped up our busy day by torturing William...again.

 

 

All in all it was a very fun and very memorable day. 

I hope the memories last longer than the sunburns!

House Guest

We have had a fair share of house guests since we got married.  

Our guests usually have a few things in common.

Number 1 - The don't speak any English,

Number 2 - They are much older than me,

Number 3 - They stay for at least a month,

Number 4 - They make me really uncomfortable and on edge.

When my husband told me someone was coming to stay for 3 months a mere 6 days in advance - I started to get uneasy. Do you know how hard it is to feed a Korean man?  Well it isn't easy.  It's taken me 10 years to condition Soung-Sik to my lack of cooking skills. And ever since I caught my Mother-in-law mopping my walls I tend to second guess my cleaning abilities. 

As it happens Soung-Sik is always at work when people arrive at the airport.  That means I get to be the official "Welcome to America" greeter.  I do refuse to hold signs.  This time Soung-Sik forgot to tell me his last name and flight number.  I just looked for a really lost and worried looking Korean man and luckily he was the first one I saw.  Like our other guests he doesn't speak any English so I checked my nephew out of school to be a translator - a VERY good idea.  Our guest is younger than me, which means I'm the boss.  Being the boss is a first for me when our guests are concerned, I think I am going to enjoy it. He is planning on staying 3 months, but I wonder if a single guy used to living in Seoul will die of boredom at our house. The really great news is he hasn't made me nervous or uncomfortable at all.  Actually I just boxed with him, I was a little nervous then.  Hopefully this will be a smooth visit for all involved.

After reading this post I am wondering if I should just learn how to cook really well and speak Korean?  

It could happen...

IN OUR WORLD: AT LAST

Usama Bin Laden has finally at long last been caught 

- and dealt with.

I am not one to usually feel elated over a death, but I must admit I gained a pretty big smile when I heard of the news.

 

Here's a brief news story about his death.

Usama bin Laden is dead, multiple sources confirm to Fox News.

President Obama is expected to deliver a statement from the White House Sunday night to discuss the major development.

Sources said bin Laden was killed by a U.S. bomb a week ago. The U.S. had been waiting for the results of a DNA test to confirm his identity.

The announcement comes nearly a decade after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks which started a tireless hunt for the terrorist mastermind and Al Qaeda leader.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/01/usama-bin-laden-dead-say-sources/#ixzz1LA7D8tgx

I am also happy that we don't have to deal with a long drawn out legal process.  I wonder if the after life is what he believed it to be.  He's probably in just a bit of shock right now. And that is all of the attention this guy is going to get on my blog.  I will be off to talk about bigger and better people now!

A Monster is Born

HELP,  I need somebody. 

HELP, not just anybody.

HELP, you know I need someone, HELP!

This is how I am feeling tonight. My children have been in their dark room for over an hour and a half now. Are they asleep?  No silly.  Why would someone sleep when they are in a pitch black room with warm soft blankets?  Isabelle is upstairs claiming to be scared, something about monsters or something.  We aren't buying it.  Soung-Sik just hollered to her that we are scared of her too.  It is a fact that we are scared our children might never go to sleep. 

Don't they look terrifying???

 

But the real monster isn't one in the closet or under the bed.  The scariest monster is about 2 feet tall, weighs around 20 pounds, has uncontrollable hair, a mischievous laugh, and never slows down.

Tonight this monster... hold the phone, a monster should have a really scary name...lets go with Maximus-Non-Sleeperious-Tasmanian-Devil, or Maxnoeepmandev for short. 

Maxnoeepmandev figured out two simply horrifying tricks tonight.

He can now open doors and enter or exit any room he pleases. 

I am not especially thrilled about this.  Not even a teeny tiny bit.

The second trick he learned is how to climb up the bunk bed without the use of a ladder.  I am beginning to understand why Isabelle might be afraid.  Even though Maxnoeepmandev scares the living daylights out of us all, we don't want him falling to his death and/or a broken limb from the bunk bed.  

How he managed to learn these tricks on the same night is a puzzle, or a curse from Soung-Sik's mom many years ago. I am not exactly sure how we are going to solve this problem. I think if a monster is old enough to open doors and climb up three times his own height then he is old enough to start receiving Mey mays.  Mey May is Korean, I'll let you use your imagination on what it translates into.  It's a sad day for us all.

Please go to sleep Maxnoeepmandev and stop scaring little defenseless girls!

BOOK REVIEW: The Last of the Mohicans

Title: The Last of the Mohicans

Author: James Fenimore Cooper

Number of Pages: 517

Number of Stars: 4

This book took me 4 months to get through the first half and only a few days to get through the last half.  It was like reading two entirely different stories.  That is the only reason why I didn't give this book 5 stars.  It is truly painful to read the first part.  It is very well written, in fact I think that was the problem in the beginning, it was too well written.  Going back and forth from different dialects and languages made my head want to explode!  

Once you get past that the story is simply amazing.  You really love the good guys and really hate the bad guys.

This has always been one of my favorite movies.  That being said the movie is 100% different from the book.  I am not even sure why they named the same thing.  It couldn't have been more different.

My favorite characters is Uncas.  He may be one of my top 5 favorite fictional characters of all times.  I really admire characters who in hard times do the right thing with the right attitude, and don't ever question if they should or not.  Cora was also amazing.  There is a real shortage of true heroins in novels, but she lives up to it.  She is the best example of courage and unconditional love for your family. The other supporting character all have wonderful qualities as well.  This was a little too real to life in that not all of your favorite people can live happily ever after.

This book gives such a clear picture of what life would be like at those times.  I love the deep spirituality both the Indians and the "whites" have.  The respect they hold for each others beliefs would be refreshing in our time. I am glad that I read this book. I honestly don't know if I will read it again, but if I do I will probably start in the middle.  Everyone should read it at least once, so if you haven't yet - you'd better get to it!

Easter Weekend

Easter Sunday is winding down. My sugar filled children are sleeping soundly probably dreaming of chocolate bunnies.  

We had an action packed weekend.  We had so much fun.  So so much fun that I think I am actually excited to get back to a normal Monday.  

What would Easter be without colored eggs?  Isabelle and I waited for William to take a nap before we brought out the dye.  This year Isabelle picked out a dye set named "Bright and Shiny Foil Eggs".  The marketing idea was much better than the actual hands on process.  The only things that got bright and shiny were my fingers.  *Note to self...next year buy the dye set named "Boring, Dull, and Easy".  

Easter sugar cookies were next on the list.

 

Cut, baked, frosted, sprinkled, and eaten.  What's next?

Cupcakes?  Baked, frosted, sprinkled, and eaten. Moving on.

Lounging around in one of dad's sweaters sound good.  

The entire time I was growing up I would steal clothes from my dad.  This made him completely crazy.  He never understood that his clothes were so much more comfortable than my own.
I wonder if I have a clothes thief in training?

Finally we got around to some Easter egg hunting.

 

This hunt was for family home evening.  These eggs were filled with scripture references.  I know that's not as good as candy, but the kids still had fun learning about the resurrection. 

 

 "Dear mom, if you ever show this picture to my buddies in high school I will never forgive you!"

Easter morning the kids got their baskets.

 

  

Isabelle's favorite thing was her bunny.

 

William was only interested in the candy.

Tonight all of the cousins came over and we got around to doing a real egg hunt.

 

William caught on pretty fast.

 

He thinks Easter egg hunts are the coolest things since.....

well since...nope he thinks it's the best.

You have to be pretty fast to get an egg with these girls around.

 

Easter eggs & candy - $15.00

Basket - $10.00

Finding eggs with Grandpa - Priceless

 

We even had bunny visitors this year.

 

"Shadow" was so patient with all of the love!

 

"Bandits" little bunny heart was pounding pretty fast, 

but the kids were in love!

Sometimes you just need to relax and hang out.

 

Grandma Great joined us for dinner.

 

It was so fun to have her here.  Doesn't she look wonderfully vivacious!

(ha ha ha - inside joke. I love you Grandma!)

She was telling us lots of stories about my dad growing up.

Should I share some?  Yes?

Okay you twisted my arm. 

My dad used to take straight pins to primary and poke the girls sitting in front of him!

What a meanie!

My dad used to throw things in the canal.  

Once he threw my Grandpa's tools in.  

Then my Grandpa threw him in.  

I think that was the end of that phase.

My dad got in trouble in 4th grade because he was hiding a book inside of the book he was supposed to be reading and reading the other one instead. Was it a comic book you ask?

Why no, it was the Book of Mormon. 

I guess he wasn't bad all the way to the core!

I just love Easter.  I love the candy. I love the hunts.  I love the food.  I love that it is almost warm weather.  I love the family.  I love the memories of my childhood that it brings.  But most of all I love the reminder it gives us of our Savior and his sacrifice for us. I love that he chose to do something that he didn't have to do, just because he loved us. I love that he knows us better than we know ourselves.  

Happy Easter to all of those that I love!

Garden Party

We broke down and decided to do a garden this year.

This is not the first year doing a garden, but hopefully this year our neighbor won't spray it with Roundup!

Let's begin...

 

No we are not trying to grow cinder blocks and fabric.  

Those are the clever pathways I thought of.  

I will let you know in a few months if it was a super great idea, or a never do it again idea.

 

Isabelle was so excited to help.

I am not sure how many of the seeds made it into the right spots.

As mom reminded me though 

"We aren't trying to grow plants, we're trying to grow kids".

I figure we only spent $20 on seeds, so as long as we get that many vegetables back it'll be a job well done.  

 

I remember always having a garden growing up.  I hated weeding and working in the garden, but now that I am older I can really see the value of the work for the kids.  Maybe Isabelle will eat vegetables if she has the pride of growing them herself!

 

Daniel and Erica's family stopped by, which was nice because we enlisted more child labor.  Elyssa might be a child, but she works harder than many adults could, or would.

 

Cameron enthusiastically said "I didn't know work could be this fun!"  

Wasn't it nice of us to let the kids have fun?

 

William had fun too!  This kid loves to be outdoors.

 

We found William helped with gardening best when he wasn't in the garden. 

Here's to hoping that we gets lots and lots of yummy food this year.

Zucchinis I challenge you....prepare to be breaded, baked, shredded and fried!

10 Years and Counting.

How is it that time can stand still and yet go by so fast?  I think my mind and my body must be in alternate universes.  In my mind I am still 22. I just got married.  Somehow I have 2 children, we must have found them on our doorstep. 

In reality Soung-Sik and I got married 10 years ago today. It was rainy and cold that day as well. My body is proof that my children didn't come from the doorstep. Sadly I won't ever have a 2 in front of my age again unless I make it to 200.   

It is still strange to me that my perfect match was someone, who on paper, is completely opposite from me.  I doubt that any dating agency on the planet would have ever paired the two of us up.  Thank goodness I subscribed to heavenlymatch.com instead.  On paper we have a 10 year age difference, actually 9 years and 360 days difference. I promised myself I would never marry someone 10 years older than myself, that's just gross!  Factor in different languages, different religions, different cultures, and me never meeting any of his family.  Somehow after the second date we had made up our minds, even though we tell each other. We dated non-stop for 7 months and were engaged for a whopping 3 weeks.  We were a recipe for disaster.

Looking at it now I can't believe I found someone who balances me in so many ways.  We care about the same things, and we don't care about the same things.  We are perfectly content just being together at home. There isn't another soul on Earth I could be more comfortable and genuinely myself with. We find the same things funny, and believe me it doesn't have to be very funny.  Soung-Sik is very giving and I am mostly selfish, so that balances out well, especially when blankets and cookies are concerned. But one thing I love most about our relationship is that we are both extremely stubborn and opinionated.  I am grateful that I didn't marry someone that would let me walk all over him.  I love that we both feel strongly about life, fortunately most of the time we feel the same way.  Occasionally we disagree and then you'd better stand back.  Because of our stubbornness it gives me courage in life.  I know that whatever challenges come, when we are united we make a powerful team and we will make it through.  

I have had so much joy the past 10 years, mixed with a little stress and a little sadness.  Add more laughs and happiness than I could have imagined.  And what started out as a recipe for disaster has turned into something sweeter than you could ever buy.

Soung-Sik, I am so grateful I said "yes" to you 10 years ago today, it was the most important decision of my life and I think I got it right!