No Mo Hoolala

There's a new chicken place that opened in our apartment complex. Hoolala Chicken. Who can mess up chicken? As we were discussing dinner plans, Cole was begging me "I want to eat at home, I don't want to go out" HA! Every time I put a plate in front of him at home he cries "I HATE this, I don't like it" (with the exceptions of red chicken, fruit, or pizza) I guess the Korean dinner last week really traumatized him. Don't worry little man, me too! We walked around the corner to the little chicken joint. I'm so happy all the menus come with pictures. The waiter tried his hardest to explain the chicken in English, but the closest thing I understood was something like "teriyaki". And the picture looked appetizing enough. So we picked that. We sat there waiting for the food and Keith made the comment that he would have liked to try the hot chicken. Maybe next time we said.

Everything here is served family style. One big plate and everyone shares. They bring us pickles (for some reason pickles are served with everything - even the pizza joint will give you a side of pickles), another corn dish that Brad liked, and some kind of fermented white cubes. Brad is our "Mikey." He ate it, but wasn't going back for seconds. For the record, I just don't throw things at my preschooler. I force my husband to eat it too... in case it's poisonous. I'm not sure of my line of thinking there, but maybe Keith will be able to explain why he's puking his guts out later in the evening so I have a better idea on how to take care of Brad. Thanks honey, because there was NO WAY I was going to try it.

Soon the chicken arrives. Interesting. I am really doubting this is chicken. It's too tiny. It appeared to be the size of a squirrel. There were wings that looked like Merlin legs chopped up and coated in seasonings. I've seen more meat on crab legs if you know what I mean! Speaking of the seasonings. Keith got his wish. It was FIRE hot. Apparently "teriyaki" means very spicy! Upon closer inspection of the menu, we picked the only picture with a red circle next to it. Leave it to the Americans to set their stomachs ablaze. Overall it wasn't too bad - as long as I convinced myself it was truly chicken. Keith says he's seen the size of chickens around here and they are tiny. I think he was just trying to be nice. I'm happy to say I ate it, AND we got the hot kind so we don't have to go back anytime soon.

Shortly after I got here, I decided I needed a new purse. I brought my small COACH bag, and it wasn't going to cut it for what I needed. We went to the PUMA store and I got a large bag to carry my venturing-in-a-foreign-country arsenal of supplies.


For some reason... (maybe this has to do with him being related to me), Cole became obsessed with wanting a bag too. Except he wanted a purse. Every store we would go in, my son was looking at the purses and crying for one. Keith immediately needed to put a stop to this. We went into a luggage and embroidery shop and found little backpacks. They got to pick the color, and what design they wanted on it. You can imagine, it involved fighting, crying, and switching the order 15 times before all was said and done. The worst part was leaving without the backpacks. They would be ready in 5 days. Let me just say, it was a MISERABLE 5 days. Cole asked, on average, 349 times a day if his backpack was ready and when we can go pick it up. This morning the day arrived. He was up at 7:01am and the first words out of his mouth were asking if the store was open.

We picked up the backpacks and my little men are so excited. Except now he wants to go camping and hiking with his new purchase. Forget that! I should have bought him a purse. Purses don't camp ;-)


I guess I should get use to all the roughhousing the boys keep doing. The other day Brad headbutted Cole right in the face. He even has a shiner to show for it. It hasn't slowed either of them down. I seriously sound like a crazy lady telling them to stop it. I repeat myself so often even I get sick of my voice. Is it wrong to secretly hope for a small blood inducing injury? Wait a sec.. we had one of those in Texas, so that's not gonna work. What will it take? I fear for them smashing through the glass windows here. I really don't know how we haven't been kicked out of the apartments yet.


Our neighbor above us is doing a little remodeling. The jackhammer has been on for two days straight. Today I found this outside our elevator - bags, lots and lots of bags full of concrete. Should I be worried they will come through the ceiling soon? That's alot of floor!


Oh, I should also introduce you to our newest pet. Meet Fuzz Ball Wuzzy, and yes, the boys named it.


He (or she) is a Banana Spider that lives outside their toyroom window. It's pretty tiny for a banana spider, but she's growing fast! Last night she shed her exoskeleton. The boys are in heaven. She's even caught a stink bug and has eaten the guts out. We can now see through the shell of the bug. It's kinda cool. Thank you Fuzz Ball Wuzzy for picking our window. Please don't leave and make me search out another spider friend for the boys. Thank you ever so much.

One more mentioning: If you ever worry that the cigarette industry is going out of business with all the million dollar settlements, don't worry. South Korea alone is supporting them. I'm not kidding. These people smoke like chimneys. I don't think they are up to date on the cancer risks and knowledge. I miss Amercia and all the laws and banning of smokers. It's not smog around here.. it's cigarette smoke! Oh my lands. So far, it's been the worst part of adjusting to life here.

Class in Session

When I was younger my mom would ask me what I did at school today, and I never had an answer for her. Then Cole started preschool and everyday I would ask what they learned... he never could answer me. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I think we've decided to home school Cole. He's still on the waiting list, but there's several reasons I hope he doesn't get in. He's already completed kindergarten so for him to repeat it would only be for social purposes. It's all day, and he has to ride a bus. He would leave at 7:15am and come home around 3:30. All for social purposes. It's on base and attendance would be taken. Keith's schedule is 3 days on, 3 days off 1pm to 1am. If he has to work a weekend, he would never see Cole. And, we would not be able to travel like we wanted to because of the attendance policy.

Then part of me wants to try it. I mean, there will never be another time where it would be logical to take him out and try homeschooling. I hope this time together this year will be priceless when I send him to 1st grade next year. I also found a homeschooling group that meets on base so the kids can hang out together. He really got along well with one of the girls there. I signed him up for soccer and his new friend Jake is on the team. We've signed up for MOPS and other social ventures for him to particapate. So for all these reasons and more, we're 99% sure even if a school slot is available, we'll home school.

Just to test the waters before the base school starts (Aug 31) we started class last Monday. We are working on handwriting, math, and spelling. We did a few pages out of the workbooks and did shelfwork. Keith came home and asked what he learned in school today.... guess what... Cole didn't have an answer. I take it to mean, we did a pretty good job!

Something's Missing

Did you know that every time we leave, I have this odd feeling that something isn't right. I have the urge to make sure the dogs went outside and have water. It's so weird to not have them here. We will be running around town, and I have this nagging feeling we should head back soon to let the dogs out. I want to leave everything early because we've been gone too long.

I miss my puppies. I miss the cat too, but am totally enjoying the litter box I'm not cleaning.

Things I Already Love About Korea

1. I love kicking the foot plate to turn the water on the kitchen sink. I've since been kicking the bathroom cabinets when I brush my teeth. Gotta get this back in the States. I think Doctors have this when they scrub in for surgery. If I would have known this all along.......

2. I love there is a trash receptacle outside of our building. No rushing outside a 7am in my pj's because I forgot to take the cans down to the curb. I drop it off when I please. It's complete with recycling so I don't have to haul 4 cans to base every week.

3. I love the motion activation lights outside our apartment in the stairways and hallway. When you leave, they come on and then turn off once you get in the elevator. (I think my dad will love this too) Oh, and our entry light is motion activation too, so when you walk into a dark apartment the light comes on automatically. OR if a boogie man tries to break in, the lights will come on and scare him away.

4. I love the cool LED lights they have in the ground outside our apartments. The boys like them too because they change colors and flash patterns.

5. I love that the Baskin Robin's on base carries my all time favorite ice cream ever.... Citrus Twist Ice (formerly daiquiri ice)

6. The sinks are big and deep here. They're just pretty. And the shower in the master bathroom is bigger then the boys toy room.

7. If a small child or two get excited and press every button in the elevator, you can press them again and it "turns off" going to every floor on your way up. Genius!

Paiging Dr. Kim

Yesterday we almost had a flat Bradley. We heard a loud crash and one loud scream. Running into the room, we discovered Brad on the floor completely underneath the dresser. It fell over on him. Keith quickly lifted it off and we pulled Brad out from under it. We checked him all out and the only damage were a couple of bruises on his face.



This kid knows how to get our hearts pumping. The thing is... he's done this before! In Idaho we had everything bolted to the wall because he tried climbing up it last year. I even told Keith the first day we got here that the dresser needed to be anchored to the wall. He already tried but the walls are concrete. Wouldn't you know a week later, it's like he read our minds. So please, as a public service reminder for those with little ones - anchor all your furniture to the walls! And if you think your kids know better, just remember mine who have escaped serious bodily injury twice now.

On a positive note, we did find out our new neighbor is a medical doctor with her own clinic down the road. It's like God knew right where to put us! He name is Dr. Kim and in the elevator she said the only damage done (to Brad) were his tears. I think I like her!

Attached is the injury I sustained as I lifted the shelves off him faster than Wonder Woman. It looks MUCH worse than what's shown... just in case anyone cares about me ;-)

Krazy Korea II

Today we went to the Orange Factory Outlet. I saw it from the side of the road and told Keith I wanted to go to the O Range outlet mall. Yes. I. Did.

I don't know how to Be Act, but it's apparent that not everyone can think at the O Range outlet mall.




These people are serious about their McDonald's. A 24 hour two story McD's. I doubt we venture into one of these during our time here. (we avoid this place as much as possible - Keith vomits just thinking of eating there)



But for those who can't live without it - McDonald's delivers

BTDT

Saturday we ventured out and ate authentic Korean food. This was a well known and recommended place. I was looking forward to trying it out!



This is a picture of what our table looked like when they brought the food. There was a bowl full of lettuce, rice, and all the smaller bowls were the "fixings." You could make lettuce wraps or use the rice to make a rice bowl using the red chili paste as seasoning.

This is the "beef" they grilled at your table. It didn't taste like cow beef, but Keith says it was the marinade. Interesting.

Here is the after picture of our meal. Gee.. not much has changed from the before picture. That's because it was NASTY. I love Chinese food. I love Japanese food. I don't see myself ever even liking Korean food. All the "fixings" were fermented bean sprouts, fermented cabbage, corn in what tasted like frosting, noodles I couldn't even bring myself to try because of their smell alone, some thinly sliced green things that Brad promptly spit out.

Here are my boys after paying the tab and deciding to grab some ice cream instead. Korean food: Been There - Done That.