Boxed in

We got tired of unpacking and had some fun putting the baby in a box. We called Big Girl downstairs and asked her if she could find the baby. What a jack in the box surprise she had when she discovered Little Girl inside the box. Big Girl just had to try it. Sometimes the best toy you unpack is the box it came from... sigh.

Three boys, three bikes!

One thing we promised the kids back in Korea was new bikes when we got back to the States. Their bikes were either stolen or severely damaged from the pollution in Seoul. The kids kept wanting to replace their bikes from our cruddy little shop on post and we had them hold out for something better. I think you can tell from the look on their faces that it was worth the wait. Having new bikes has sure helped keep them happy during the wait time for the toys to arrive. Today T went on a long ride with the boys (after getting his bike repaired enough to ride- it took a beating out on our deck in Seoul). He was very impressed especially with Little Boy who was having difficulty the first week handling a bike this size. He can now keep up with the best of riders. That is one kid who does not give up easily! Way to go D!!!

Cute Sisters

Big Girl just can't be left out of a picture. Note the boxes stacked up in the background. I am swimming in paper and boxes and can't believe all the stuff that has filled up this large house. We thought we'd be swimming in this house but we are in sore need of a purging job instead.

Abby's Back!

We need to give a huge vote of thanks to my mother in law for taking care of our puggle (a pug/beagle mix) for 2 years while we were in Korea. It was a big sacrifice for her since Abby bossed their dog Shilo around the entire time. Grandpa was patient with Abby as well. It was a priceless gift to be able to get the same dog we left back again. I must say she is a much improved dog as well. She has grown out of her puppy tricks and is much more obedient. What a thrill it was for the kids to be recognized by her. She is adding much excitement and joy to our household. Here are some pictures of Baby Girl getting to know the dog she hadn't been alive to meet before we left for Korea.

You really ought to give Iowa a try...

Can I just say that I am so gosh darn grateful to be here in Iowa!! I literally smile from ear to ear when driving around here. It is so beautiful everywhere you look. All the green open space is such a refreshing sight for sore eyes. And there is plenty of space to be had. Something that I would not have appreciated half so much if I hadn't just lived in Seoul. This concept of appreciation coming after a trial is on my mind a lot lately. We are given hard things to deal with in life so that when we make it through them we have the wisdom on the other side to appreciate and love the good times all the more. It is even more evident of the growth I have been through as I compare this go around in Iowa to the time we lived here before for four years in medical school. I did not know how good I had it then. In fact I really recall how much I just wanted to go back to somewhere with better weather. Iowa did grow on me with time. But this time around it is an instant love affair with this wonderful place. People gave me looks of sympathy sometimes when I told them where our next stop was and I would just smile knowingly, and inform them that Iowa is a wonderful spot. I also love the familiarity that comes back when I see people I knew then and places we did this or that. It's a constant deja vu. We really grew here in Iowa. It's a great place to reap the harvest of growth. And that is just what we plan on doing during this wonderful year in corn country. If I can just get all the dang boxes opened!

Random talk

Hey there, I haven't blogged in a while since I have not been with the computer (T took it with him when he drove to Iowa while I stayed behind to attend my 20th high school reunion). And I must say that using my Mother in law's dial up computer sure is an experience in patience (or impatience) for me. But I feel the need to vent a bit tonight so I thought I would brave the hour glass that tells me to wait and wait and wait on her computer and crank out an entry.

So much to say, where to start. I have been missing my friends in Korea- shout out to K T and M B! I have had so much fun reconnecting with friends and family here in Utah. However the phyical effort it takes to drive all over and care for my kids in a vacation mode is really wearing on me and tonight was a bad night for me and the kids. Possibly the stress of getting ready to go tomorrow has added to this...

One thing that has been bothering me is that my Dad gave be a little lecture tonight on trying to get along better with my stepmom JA. This was our last conversation in the car while he was driving me to SLC to drop me off for the flight tomorrow and I just hated parting with him this way. I feel this lecture was pretty unfair since I have tried my darndest to ignore the rude things she says here and there to me and about my loved ones all week. It's strange how he doesn't seem to notice her mean streak. He's probably bugged that I chose not to stay over at his home when I could have last night. I chose to stay at my sister Shauna's instead since the kids and I were having such a good time there. I hope I didn't overstay my welcome with her and her roomate. I was so happy to have someone who paid attention to my kids the way a real caring relative should that I just couldn't bear going back to the house of no running or touching valuable things. Anyways, one of the last things he says to me is "you and JoAnn don't have to live under the same roof" and I say the obvious come back which is "thank heavens!" right? He then takes the opportunity to tell me that this is the core problem I have that I have to have the last word and that I have all these zingers at the ready. I had no response to that... Perhaps I need to re- evaluate my need to say something to him. He is getting old and I don't want to go down this road over and over only to have him up and die some day with me feeling badly towards him. He is in a tricky situation being in the middle of two women he loves who don't really like eachother. I must add a zinger here at the end though-it's really all her fault.
KT