Korean Adevntures

Last week was pretty awesome for me and Tripp.  We got to go visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and step into North Korea on Wednesday, and then spend the weekend together in Seoul.  Our amazing parents got to spend that time with Bobby Boy and, of course, enjoyed every bit of it. We're so blessed.


The tour to the DMZ was really interesting!  Since it was Tripp and I going, I knew there would be a lot of laughs and good times, but I hadn't really realized the sad, serious history of the place until we got on our bus.  The tour guide played a History Channel video about the DMZ which was as enjoyable (I love history!) as it was heartbreaking (we both fought tears a few times).

On our way up there, we stopped at a memorial site where the Freedom Bridge is located, had lunch at yuuummy lunch at a Korean restaurant, took a peek across the border at the Dora Observation Platform into N. Korea and their "Peace Village," (commonly referred to in the South as "Propaganda Village"), trekked waaaay underground through Tunnel #3, visited The Military Armistice Commission (MAC) meeting room right on the border, and went to the exact spot of the August 18th Axe Murder.  It was pretty intense!!!  Here are some pictures from the day:

South Korean awesome Soldier!  All are at least a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do

At the DMZ... there is nasty ol' North Korea :(

Our tour guide served during the Korean War

Then this weekend was a whole other adventure!  We just wanted to have one last hoorah in Seoul before I move back to the States,  so it was a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants kinda trip -- the best! :)   In an effort to not only save some money, but also have a new experience, I booked us a night in a Korean Hostel!  We shared a small room with 4 other people, and despite the fact that we didn't get much sleep for all the snoring a noisy guests, we had fun!  I'm so glad that we did it... I've always wanted to stay in one, and who better to try it with than your tall, strong, protective AND awesomely fun brother??? :D

We wandered around the city checking out cool shopping markets, eating yummy street food, navigating our way through the subway, and waiting in lines for Seoul Tower.  We had a lot of fun!!  After we spent the night in our bunk rooms and got ready in the teeny bathroom, we visited the Korean National Museum and shopped some more.  We also enjoyed some YUMMY food!!  I think Korean food is now my second favorite, after Thai. :D   I'm going to miss it so much when I move back... but I will NOT miss the way it makes your breath smell! BLEH!!  (Side story: in the middle of the night I went to the bathroom in the hostel and when I came back into the bedroom, I was hit by a wall of hot, thick, Kimchi Breath air!!!!  Omg it was awful and took me several minutes to adjust back to it without gagging, LOL!). 

I like Korean food... but this meal was nooo good.  Still, we had fun!

Bangrang Hostel, Seoul, South Korea!

Yummy street food and Korean cops!

WEE!!!! Lol

Security for the Summit, lol

It was a great week!!  My brother is awesome and a blast to explore with.  My parents are awesome and I really appreciate them taking such good care of my boy so that I can have fun with Tripp.  Life is wonderful.

Bragging Rights, Febe & B.B. Style

Ever since my dear friend Autumn gifted me the book Rattled! by Christine Coppa, I have been a fan.  She also has an awesome blog I love to follow and share with friends.  One of her latest posts about life as a single mom was fun to read and really motivated me to make a similar post of my own. 

As you no doubt know, my Robert Carlisle is my universe.  Several times a day he does something that I wish the whole world knew about, and I've been thinking about starting a "segment" on here celebrating those moments.  Something like, "Wish-You-Could-See-It Wednesdays," or "Too Cute Tuesdays;" a weekly post to share something awesome about my growing boy and my blessings as his mama.  I have a ton of these special stories stocked up to share, and decided to dedicate a whole post to them, to kick things off.

So, if you don't mind, I'm going to brag now. :)

- Bobby brushes his teeth!  Albeit not very well, but he definitely understands the concept and general steps.  When I say, "time to brush our teeth," he takes his index finger and scratches his teeth.  He does the same thing when we are in the bathroom and he points to our matching zebra toothbrush holders.  I hand him his kiddie toothbrush, he gets it wet, moves it around in his mouth, chews it a bit, occasionally rinses it out,  brushes some more and - get this - he spits!  It is soo cute!!!!!  He isn't as excited when I take my turn and try to bush his teeth... but its a start!

- Bobby knows the parts of face!  He points to and says "aaaa" (eye), "naa"  (nose), "eeee" (ear) and "ma" (mouth)!  When we ask, "where is your eye?" he points and says it.  When I ask, "where is Mommy's nose?" he points to my nose and says it!  He also knows belly button but can't say it yet.  Just the other day he went up to my Edward Cullen poster and showed me his eye!  It blows me away. :)

- Bobby is learning sign language!  He understands and uses "bite," "more," "drink," "stop," change," and "all done."  He also knows to wipe his hands when I say "icky!!" Haha

- Bobby is so affectionate.  When you ask, (most of the time) he will give you a kiss and a hug.  Sometimes he even pats my back when he hugs me, or he squeezes soooo tight that he shakes.  So cute!!

- Bobby loves to do chores!  I hope this quality lasts into his teens, because it is awesome! :)  His Papa is credited for this because they totally bonded over doing chores, ever since he was a month old.  Dad would put him in the front-facing carrier and they would work work work around the house, and Bobby would always have a hanger or some other "tool" in hand.  It is and always has been adorable.  Now he is 14-months-old, has been walking for about 5 months and is so active around the house.  He helps vacuum by either helping push & pull or riding on top.  He sweeps by pushing the little Korean straw broom around the house.  He helps do laundry by pushing the start buttons on the machines and carries clean clothes from the dryer to be folded.  (We'll work on the actual folding part when he gets bigger... for now he just throws the clothes around the room.)  He helps me unload the dishwasher by handing me the dishes from the bottom rack.  He helps me cook by stiring (more like poking, lol), helping me pour the liquids and placing ingredients in the mix. For instance, he will take walnuts out of the bag one-by-one and put them in the blender when we make smoothies.  He helps me hold the mixer when we bake.  He carries food and supplies from the fridge and pantry and puts them on the counter.  After I change his diaper, he takes the wrapped-up old one and puts it in the trash.  He is also starting to help me change his diaper by wiping himself (hardly, but its cute!), and pulling one side of the sticky tabs over and pressing it in place!

- Bobby loves to dance!  He will dance to pretty much any kind of music that comes on, from Lady Gaga to Brooks & Dunn to LL Cool J -- even the music that plays during the weather on TV!!  It is so precious!!!  He, Tripp and I love to have little dance parties in the kitchen and living room. :)

Last one for today, I promise!

- Bobby has a little vocabulary building!  Some words he says now include "Mama," "baba" for bottle, "ni ni" for night night, "hhhaa" for hot and "haaaa" for hat, "bye" which he recently said clear as day, "cheese," and similar sounds for "please" & "juice" and all the aforementioned words for the parts of the face.  He is also working on saying, "I love you," but right now it is slurred, lol. It is all a lot of fun. :)

If you've made it this far, thank you for sharing in these special stories!  Soon we will be near many of you and I look forward to seeing what he will learn from each of you. 

Much love and warm thoughts to you all!