Everland and First Pony Ride

We decided to take Elizabeth to Everland before the weather got too hot. Plus, we wanted to do something special with her before the new baby was born.  So, we checked with our friends to see if they wanted to go too and made it a group event.

We were thinking about going on a weekday, but ended up going on a Saturday. Big mistake. The car ride should've only taken about 30 minutes, but took 2 hours to get to the park instead. Luckily, Elizabeth was really good, sitting in her carseat the entire time. We got into the park and yup, it was going to be that kind of day...crowded. The big thing we wanted to do was the mini safari ride that she enjoyed so much last time. Unfortunately, the wait was about 2 hours, maybe more. So, we walked the animal exhibits instead.

Feeding the birds out of our hands.  Elizabeth wasn't scared of the birds at all, but we didn't let her feed or touch them.

Dippin Dots for the entire crew.

First pony ride ever!  She did so well and then talked about the "horse ride" all afternoon.

Sana at 38 weeks! Hopefully this baby will come very soon. Especially after walking the entire day in the warm sun. -T

Spring Field Trip

Every spring, Elizabeth's school takes advantage of the warmer weather by going on an all-day field trip. This year, they went to Yongin, which is about 30 minutes north of where we are, and spent the day away from their all-too-familiar classrooms. The morning of the trip wasn't very different from any other day except that Sana was packing Elizabeth some lunch consisting of avocado pieces, grapes, tomatoes, and heart-shaped 주먹밥(seasoned and pressed rice).

As the kiddo and I were making our way down to her school, she seemed pretty cheerful...as if she knew she was going on a trip. When we got to school, the teachers were getting things together while trying to keep all the kids occupied. I dropped Elizabeth off and came back home to take out the recycling and the trash. After tossing everything, I went back to the school so that I could take a few pictures of Elizabeth getting on the bus. The kids started filing out of the school and lining up in front of the bus, waiting their turn to get on. Elizabeth didn't see me at first, but then turned around and saw that I was taking a picture. She just pointed with a surprised look on her face, waved with a big smile, and was picked up to go on the bus.

It looked like Elizabeth had a fun day with her friends. She got to have a nice picnic outside in the sun. Hopefully, she remembers days like these. -T

Eating lunch with her classmates.  Picture taken by her preschool teacher.  For more pictures of her field trip, check out her school website at 위즈 아이........재롱반.

Auntie Rosa's Baby Shower

Not only is Elizabeth going to be an older sister, but there are two more second cousin babies on the way within months of our expecting birth.  We are very fortunate to live so close to Auntie Rosa, who spoils Elizabeth with plenty of books and art supplies, and to join the celebration of their future baby.

Elizabeth started decorating a bib for the shower, but it was just too hard and decided to draw on paper instead.  Nice try though.  -S

Master finger food eater. Loves fruit and potato chips.

This is a long party, I shall take a nap before it is over.

Potty Conversations

Potty Conversation 1

Mom: Ellie, do you want to go poo-poo in the potty?
Elizabeth: Nope, poo-poo diaper.
Mom: Let's just sit on the potty.
Elizabeth:  No potty, poo-poo diaper!

Potty Conversation 2

Elizabeth: Mommy, look at me, look at me!
Mom: What is it? I'm looking...
Elizabeth: Pee-pee diaper potty (as she squats and goes pee in her diaper)

Potty Conversation 3

Elizabeth: Daddy, ewww, stinky
Dad: Do you need to poo-poo?
Elizabeth: Poo-poo diaper, stinky...Daddy wipe, change diaper.

*Elizabeth goes pee and poo in the potty regularly, but only if she wants to.  She's aware of the need to go and if she decides to go in the diaper, demands that we swap out her dirty diaper for a clean one right away.  It may be time to commit to potty training, if only I had the energy and could move quickly enough to place her on the potty before she wet her diaper.  Once the baby is here and Elizabeth is wearing more dresses, we will do more potty time. -S

Coin-op Laundry

After moving to Korea, for the first nine months, we did all our laundry at the coin operated laundromat on Osan Air Base.  It was an all day event.  Sort the clothes at home, drive to base, wash them at the laundromat, fold them and sort them according to person, bring them back home, and then put them away.  Since we now have a washer and dryer at home, laundry has become less of a task and much more pleasant.  Elizabeth loves to help sort the wash and when it comes out of the dryer, she loves to roll around in the warm clothes.  If you ask her to pick out her clothes, she will pull them out, put them to the side and "help fold" them.  She is Mommy's little helper.

Every once in a while, we still go to the laundromat to wash blankets and pillows.  We try to coincide it with Elizabeth's nap time, because an active toddler can only handle so much down time.  There is a playground nearby, so one of us takes her there during the wash cycles and then we walk her in the stroller until she falls asleep.  An hour or two later, when nap time is over, the items are dry, folded and loaded in the car.  She usually wakes from the movement of the stroller back to the car.

After laundry, we went to the commissary for groceries and a few vendors were there promoting their items.  One had a bounce house up, so we let her jump in it for a few minutes.  -S

Steady...steady...

Ooohh...bouncing is fun!

Oh no, I fell down.  The big kids are making the bounce house too jumpy.

This is not fun anymore...I'm coming out now.

Times Square in Yeongdeungpo (영둥포)

The largest shopping center in Korea is the Times Square in Yeongdeungpo (영둥포).  From our home, it is an easy train ride, without any transfers and if you time it just right, the express subway will get you there in under an hour.  It is a huge shopping network, with hotels, department stores, office space, and a movie theater with the world's largest screen.  http://www.timessquare.co.kr/en/

We had been there before to eat and shop, but this time we went to play at I Like Dalki (딸기가좋아), a strawberry theme park for toddlers.  We met Elizabeth's friends J and M there, who traveled from Denver to visit relatives here in Korea.  All the kids had a great time, especially riding the train that half circled the play area.  Elizabeth and M rode it three times! 

After playing at I Like Dalki, we walked around the mall and enjoyed some treats.  Elizabeth tasted her first Krispy Kreme donut and insisted on licking off all the sugar instead of eating it, getting it all over the stroller and her clothes.  Before heading home, we went to the Shinsegae (신세계) Department Store and had yummy noodles with clams (칼국수) for dinner in their food court, one of Elizabeth's favorite dishes.  What fun it is to be a 2 year old. -S

On the subway to Times Square.

Happy Parent's Day

In Korea, instead of Mother's or Father's Day, they celebrate Parent's Day.  Elizabeth decorated a cake for us last Friday at school and she ate most of it herself when she got home.  Thank you and good job! -S