Korean Ox Bone Soup

I cook for my family, everyday.  Sometimes simple things, somethings fancy things and sometimes frozen foods that you just heat and serve.  Of all the dishes I've made, this soup takes the prize for preparation length.  I started making Korean Ox Bone Soup last night and wasn't prepared to serve it until tonight.  A full 24 hours.  Every few hours, you have to skim the fat, clean the bones, add or take out vegetables, change out or add water, cool and then reheat.  I am dedicated to feeding my family, but mostly my daughter, who has a particular palette.  She is a picky eater, but she embraces Korean food the most.  I would cook for her all day, everyday, if only she would eat it.  Unfortunately, what she liked yesterday doesn't always mean she'll like it again next week.  It changes everyday and that is this mom's daily struggle.

Stewing on the stove top.  On the left is our pressure cooker, also known as our rice cooker.  It makes delicious, moist, chewy rice in half the time, but doesn't keep it warm like a rice cooker.  Have to make a fresh batch every time we have Korean food.

Our princess loving her dinner and making her Mama very happy.

This girl loves her green onions.

Spicy adult version with rice noodles.

Vincent wearing Elizabeth's sleeper that she wore at seven months.  It fits him at three months.  Do they look alike?

Elizabeth shows off her dancing skills after a full dinner.

Vincent giggled for the first time this morning! Daddy's creative sounds can make any baby giggle. He was the first one to get Elizabeth to giggle too when she was a baby. -S

Children's New Ride - Britax B-Ready

After much consideration, we bought a new double stroller.  This makes our stroller count four in total: a cheap lightweight umbrella stroller, a more advanced umbrella stroller that reclines, the versatile Maxi-Cosi and the new Britax double stroller.  We're going to be selling two of them in the near future because this Britax is even more versatile and has many different configurations.  Elizabeth still prefers riding rather than walking and ever since the birth of Vincent, we've had to either carry one of the kids and have the other one in a stroller or bring two strollers.  It's been especially difficult for me, since we spend the afternoons at the playground or outside and I need to handle both of them.  I've had one strapped to my chest and the other on my back, one in the stroller and the other hanging on it for dear life, and one in the stroller while carrying the other.  It is quite a sight, like a circus act.  

So far, I've had the stroller for two days and it has been amazing.  Elizabeth loves it and no complaints from the baby either.  The ride is smooth, comfortable and it is sturdy.  It looks likes Elizabeth is too big for it in this picture, but it's only because she wanted the foot rest up, which really should only be used that way for younger kids or in the reclined position.  She's currently 28 pounds and the top seat is able to support up to 55, so she should be able to use it for a long time.  The top seat has three positions and Elizabeth is sitting in the foremost one.  The bottom one has four and Vincent is laying in position three.  It lays nearly flat for a bassinet like feel on position four, but since he was awake I wanted him to enjoy the scenery too.  Today's trip to the playground was an easy one.  We even took a trek to the one farther away without any complaints. -S  

Korean-American Friendship Festival

This weekend, the city of Pyeongtaek organized a festival to promote good relations between the Americans stationed in the area and the local Koreans. They called it the Korean-American Friendship Festival and had it in the "Songtan Special Tourist Zone", which is right outside the main gate of the base. Driving home from work last night, I saw that the area was busy and cars were parked everywhere. So, we went out today before I had to work to go see what was going on. When we got to the main strip, the stands were just starting to open. We walked the entire area and looked at a bunch of the stands. Most were food tents serving the usual foods and assorted sojus and beers with some were merchants selling whatever was normally sold at festivals. We even got a coconut to drink out of. Elizabeth didn't really like it. She just ate the chestnuts instead. This was a good way for the family to get out together and get some air and sun. Unfortunately, we had to cut it short because I had to get to work. Oh well. -T

We came across this place that was roasting the entire belly of a pig. That's gotta be tasty.

For lunch, we got Thai food from one of the restaurants that set up a tent for the festival. This "meal" cost 5000KRW a plate, which is just shy of $5. We felt a little cheated because we didn't get that much and the food wasn't that great. The other problem...we got two plates. I ended up eating both. Not satisfied, we walked over to McDonald's to grab chicken sandwiches and nuggets.

After the family picked me up from work, we stopped at the local Baskin Robbins for a little ice cream before heading home.

Happy 100 Days Vincent!

Thank you to Elizabeth and Vincent's Great Aunts that came to celebrate "Vincent's 100 Days of Life".  Our little boy looked like a little man in his miniature suit, but he was so handsome and cute.  Our family rejoices because you are in our lives and we love you very much.  -Mom and Dad

Little Bear Cafe in Pyeongtaek

Near the New Core Outlet Mall that we often visit is the Little Bear Cafe.  It is an indoor children's playground with a cafe for the adults.  It is the perfect size for keeping an eye on the children while they play house, ride cars, jump on the trampoline or come down the slide.  We went with Elizabeth's best buddy L and stayed for two hours.  It was a perfect way to spend the morning and entertaining for the kids as well.  They played so well together.  Afterwards, we ate Korean beef soup (갈비탕) for lunch at New Core and the kids ate three bowls of white kimchi (백김치) with their soup.  Elizabeth is going to miss her Korean food when we leave Korea.

Vincent, as usual, was a great baby.  He just needs to be held some and given plenty of milk.  In return, he gives big smiles.  He still asks for his milk every two hours or so and likes to nurse to sleep.  He's taking about three 1-2 hour naps a day and sleeps ten hours every night, whimpering every 3-4 hours for milk.

When on the road or in the stroller, our little boy will stay in his car seat for about an hour max.  Vincent doesn't complain initially when we put him in there, but after some time, he wants to be held.  He loves tummy time and is starting to roll.  If we place him on his back when he's sleeping, he'll automatically roll to one side, usually his right side.  He is a side sleeper.  -S

Working out on the treadmill...go, go, go!

On this slide, it's a one way trip.  There is no such thing as going up.

Filling the blower with balls...

...WOAH...this thing is loud!

Best Buddies

Elizabeth's best buddy L came over for a play date.  It is amazing how well kids eat when the meal is shared with friends.  They joyfully clinked their juice cups and dipped their chicken and fish nuggets in ketchup.  Both of them ate everything and then asked for seconds.

On their last night in Korea, friends J and E stopped by to share one last Paris Baguette cake.  The kids do not realize that it is their last night together, but they will have these pictures to remember each other by when they are older.  Hopefully, we will have a chance to see each other again and hopefully, they will recall all the fun they had together. -S      

Vincent's First Subway Ride

At three months old, Vincent's schedule is much more predictable and he is getting much stronger.  He is able to hold up his head pretty well now and likes being carried in any one of the three infant carriers we have.  Any time I have him in one of the carriers, he falls asleep immediately.  On my own, I had only taken him for a walk around the neighborhood or for some quick errands, but today I took him on the subway to Suwon for some light shopping and eating with friends. -S

Great Uncle's 60th Birthday

Just like in America, Korean culture marks certain birthdays in a person's life as important and are cause for celebration. The 60th birthday is on that list. We had the opportunity to celebrate my uncle's 60th birthday up in Seoul. It was a large gathering with all the relatives, even those from Busan. We haven't know these family members for very long (only since this past October), but we were welcomed with warm greetings. Everyone was really happy to see the kids, especially since it had been awhile since they last saw Elizabeth and this was the first time for most to see Vincent. I think he was held by just about everyone there. We stayed up in Seoul for a good part of the day until after dinner, where we had cake and sang "Happy Birthday" in Korean. It was a great time hanging out with the uncles, aunts, and cousins. -T

Vincent resting comfortably with two of his 고모s (aunt, on dad's side).

At the sight of the cakes, Elizabeth got excited because she knew there were candles too. After all, singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out candles is one of her favorite pastimes. She even got to blow out the candles.