More quirks...

The movers were either excellent - glasses packed in a ton of packing paper - or, well you can check it out in the picture....

So much for our gift wrap!

Above and behind our house a short distance is a highway. Because it is a Korean highway crossing a military post space, air in this case, it must be constructed so no one could attempt to jump down to the post. It looks a bit like a water park shoot!

Love to all, Mona

Wow, has it been only three weeks? So much has happened. We spent the first part of the month clearing Yongsan. Before leaving, we took a day trip to the "Children's Grand Park." There was quite a variety of things to do. We saw a dinosaur exhibit, a zoo, large playground, and a small "creek" for the kids (and their watchers) to enjoy.

We said goodbye to "Miss Jewel." She helped Chip out with the boys and around the house for the first part of the year, and then was simply a family friend for the rest. We hope to be able to buy her a train ticket for her to come down for a visit.

Then it was time to move! This is the first move that I have not been able to be there from start to finish. Chip, with all four kids, received all of the shipment on a Friday, and started to organize. I arrived at about 5 pm that evening. Sunday morning at 10 am - I was off again for a field exercise.

The house is lovely. There are four bedrooms, all quite roomy. We do not have a connecting bath, but I think that is the only downside. There is a fenced back yard area and quite a bit of yard in the front. There is a separate room for toys (like they are going to stay there!) and a closet I have deemed the crafts area. We even have a working fireplace. The housing we have here is reserved for Colonels up in Seoul - not bad! A couple of quirks - the cabinetry is built so tall that even Chip has to stretch to hit the top shelf...but the door knobs are placed for folks who are shorter than average!

I am keeping my fingers crossed, in hopes that I will make my final trip to Daegu the first weekend in August. Until I get the final word on my transfer, I will be commuting down every weekend. Hope all is well in the States, and love to all! Mona

Howdy, all! It has been awhile, and I am already guessing it will be awhile hereafter. What has happened since the end of May?

Nate finished sixth grade. That is the first year of middle school here. With a babysitting course to take, he will be officially able to watch his siblings in our absence. He finished baseball and follows the pro teams in the paper. As a member of the Indians here, I think he is tracking Cleveland as his team. Nate just returned from a week at Boy Scout Camp. He earned merit badges in Swimming, Astronomy, Basket Weaving, Emergency Preperation, and Environmental Science. It was hard work, but he has plenty of stories for us.

Teri finished third grade. She also finished her coach-pitched softball. Teri turned 9 and had a craft making birthday party. She also attended a Girl Scout day camp that addressed five different places. These were Korea, Russia, India, Africa, and the US. On Africa day, Teri and the girls visited an ostrich farm. She says scrambled ostrich eggs taste just like regular scrambled eggs! Teri also had the opportunity to ride one. There was no saddle and she had to hang on above the wings.

Chris and Joe have spent the past five weeks playing and having fun. Chris is ready to start Kindergarten. He likes to ride his bike and play in the sand at the playground. Joe is a verbal two year old and enjoys his gymnastics class.

I took 10 days to go back to the States for my brother's wedding. I spent time in Rochester, visiting Discavages, and enjoyed meeting my two Alaskan nephews for the first time. Eric's wedding was amazing and it was great to see relatives I haven't seen in a long time. Note to Mom - I found the family pictures and I will send them right out. :)

Chip continues to be the rock of the family - only now with a beard! I will have to get a photo to post. One thing he has missed is the chocolate chip cookie cake. The smart man has figured out how to reproduce it and made one for Teri's birthday.

We are now preparing to move down to the Southern part of South Korea. Daegu is a much smaller city. We aren't sure if we will get the one four bedroom house that opens in July or we might spend four weeks or so in a hotel - just like last summer - until the next one opens in August. The movers come to pack up on the 5th, so I am not sure when we will post next. Hope all is well and we love you all!

Mona