Our View

This is what our 3 story apartment looks like and yes, that is Emmaline standing in the doorway terrified of the snow. I never knew snow could be scary, but apparently it is to her. Poor girl, that is the only spot she will stand while she watches Isaac and Molly play when we're outside.

This is the view from our front window.

This is the view from Isaac's window looking out the back. . . . and yes that is a grave you see. Apparently we were told that they used to bury the dead sitting up. They don't do it anymore, but as you drive around, especially in the country you see these little mounds every once in a while. For some strange reason it hasn't really creeped any of us out, but it still is really crazy to say we have someone buried behind us.

Can You Figure It Out?

My Korean Washing / Drying Machine

I push some buttons and FOUR hours later it is done. Aaron said he talked to someone that has a translation who will get us one, but until then. . . . . it is anyone's guess!

Christmas in Korea

Santa Came!

Aaron made our yummy Christmas dinner.

Bedtime On Christmas Eve

This will definitely be a Christmas to remember. We didn't have much, but it still turned out wonderful. We were together and that meant more to me than anything. The kids all got on their Christmas pj's and we began our Christmas Eve traditions. Aaron read from the scriptures of Christ's birth, we sang Christmas songs and then watched a short video about the nativity. We then tucked Isaac and Molly in with Emmaline following behind us. She then crawled in with Molly on a little blow up mattress and tucked herself under the blanket. It was quiet for a few minutes until little giggles started happening and we had to pull her out and put her in the porta-crib. Even though it didn't last long with them being all tucked in together, it was still dang cute.
After an hour had past on Christmas morning, Isaac realized that there wasn't a gift from Santa to Aaron and me.
"Where is your gift from Santa Dad?" Isaac asked.
I already got my gift Isaac. I wanted us all to be together for Christmas and have some place to live. "Said Aaron.
Isaac looked at me and said, "What about you Mom?"
"I wanted the same thing as Dad did." I said.
He looked really perplexed, but then walked away smiling and continued building Lego's from Santa. This season has been pretty crazy. We still are amazed that we are here and that we are together. We are so grateful for that "gift" that was given to us.

Molly's expression explains exactly how she feels about her baby sister being tucked in with her.I still can't believe I was able to get a picture of this.

It is about bedtime! YIPPEE!

"CHEESE"

Make Do With What You Have

We were able to have 1,000lbs of stuff that the air force was going to ship on a plane of things we would need right away, but it still has not arrived and will not for a couple more weeks. There has been a sweet family here that has really helped us out. They have already fed us twice and lent us several things while we wait for our stuff to arrive.
In that shipment I put in a little Christmas tree and a couple other Christmas decorations and every time I pass by a little Christmas tree I am tempted to buy one, but I have resisted. Luckily Isaac brought this little nativity set in his suitcase and he set it up this morning in our apartment. It is humble, but sweet to have something that reminds us of this time. We told the kids to find their biggest socks to use for stockings tomorrow on Christmas Eve and they didn't seem too excited about that idea, saying, "but our socks are so small". This year is definitely one to remember.

Korean Beds

I am not positive on this, but I think Koreans like to have very firm beds. Both the beds we have slept in so far have been this way. Last night was our first night in a Korean apartment and it is super nice. They provided a bed, sofa, coffee table and a kitchen table and chairs. SO NICE! As for the bed, maybe it will be good for my back, but my neck is a little stiff this morning. The kids slept on blow up mattresses, but this is Molly's reaction to our firm bed.

Who knew snow would be so comforting

Well, we have been here for a week and I am feeling the daze of being so tired is finally lifting. The kids have stopped waking up at 3am and wanting to eat, my headaches are gone and Aaron is in the thick of trying to get everything processed (if you are in the Air Force, you will understand). For the first week we stayed in a hotel in downtown Osan and loved being there. There was an opening in the base hotel so we moved all our luggage and said goodbye to the kind people in the Korean hotel.
Saturday night I took Molly and Isaac to the base theatre to see The Princess and the Frog(which I absolutely loved) while Aaron took Emmaline back to the hotel to bathe her and put her to bed. When we came out of the theatre, the ground had a thin covering of snow and I wanted to cry with excitement. The kids took my hands and jumped up and down asking me to go play in the snow. I put my back pack down and we proceeded to catch snow flakes on our tongue, make snow angels, throw snow balls and just enjoy the winter weather, which we had missed terribly in Arizona.
We have enjoyed it here and know that all will be okay. There are a lot of families here and Isaac and Molly have already made friends. I am going to include part of an email I sent to my family that will tell of a few experiences so far. Anyway, a new chapter in life has begun and I am looking forward to experiencing it.


They are so friendly here. I thought Oklahomans were friendly, but Korean's have them beat. Yesterday we were eating at. . . . . now brace yourselves. . . . McDonald's for lunch. The kids and I were walking downtown Osan looking at all the shops while Aaron had some business to do on the base and we walked right by a McDonald's. The kids were so excited and freezing so we went inside. Luckily we got what we ordered after some difficulty. Aaron explained to me how the money works here, but it was still really crazy when the man said "You pay 10,500." Molly's chicken nuggets were really spicy, but everything else tasted the same. It was comforting. Back to people being so friendly, while we were eating, a Korean man about 40yrs old came in and played peek-a-boo with Emmaline the whole time he was eating. It was so sweet and it kept her quite entertained. Every time we walk back into our hotel lobby the lady at the front desk, who I think owns the hotel, comes running over to us to give the kids a squeeze and she rubs her hands up and down all of their arms to get them warm saying something like "Ah Chwo, Ah Chwo" I give her a hug and tell her thank you while bowing my head. Quite often she will hand the kids some juice (which Molly absolutely loves). It says Sunkist on it, but it tastes a lot different here. The Coke also tastes really different and I don't care for it much. Every time the cleaning lady sees us, she literally runs with her hands up in the air towards us squealing in Korean. It is really quite a sight to see and I have to try hard to not laugh. Amazingly Emmaline just smiles timidly, Molly stands there frozen waiting to be mauled and Isaac gets behind me or the stroller for protection. They have made us feel so welcome and done everything they can to make us feel comfortable.

Saying Goodbye

I can't quite find the right words to describe all the emotions I am feeling, but I wanted to say one last goodbye on U.S. soil. We are in our hotel room in San Diego, everyone is asleep and their quiet breathing is a comfort knowing they are all safe. I look over at the clock on the nightstand and it says 10:45pm Sat. Dec. 12th, yet the clock on our laptop says 3:45pm Sun. Dec. 13th Korean time and it pulls at my heartstrings. Aaron has thought of everything to prepare us for Korea, including the time change on the laptop. He even warned me of this heartache I would feel before we left. I was doing so well and feeling so strong when Linda and her sweet family came from L.A. to spend the day with us, but now as I sit still in the quiet and see my tender children sleep, I feel my weakness come over me and want to cry. I will miss it here. I will miss my family. I will miss speaking freely with strangers in the store, street, you name it, anywhere I can visit with people. . . .it is just my nature. I will miss knowing I can get to Boise quickly if I needed to. I will miss having a yard. I will miss being able to read signs along the road on buildings and whatever else there is to read. I will miss PBS, Disney Channel, and Discovery Channel. I will miss my country and that sense of security in knowing I am home and again I will miss my family more than I can say. Before I sign off I do want to say that I am excited for this new experience and know that I will grow from it. I have always said from the time we joined the Air Force that I hoped we would have the opportunity to live in a foreign country and now it is happening and I really am grateful. I also know that this pain is also normal and is to be expected with any big change in your life. I know God will watch over us and buoy us up when needed and that knowledge means more to me than anything. Farewell my country, family and friends. I love you all.

Molly's 6th Birthday

Molly turned six last week and she feels so big. Today she said, "Mom, now that I am six I can turn on my bedroom light when it is dark and not get super afraid, just a little bit afraid." She also said that she can be even more obedient. Like getting dressed without being asked and putting her toys away fast. What a wonderful thing to hear for a mother. We love Molly so much and are so happy she is in our family.

About to open her presents. Oh the anticipation.

Molly seeing her musketeer barbie.

Showing her musketeer barbie. (She now wants to be a musketeer when she grows up.)

Isaac helping her open the impossible packaging.

90's in November

Well so much for the nice cool days a few days ago. It was wonderful while it lasted, but today we were back into the 90's. Molly and I were putting away our Halloween decorations back into the garage and were getting quite warm. When we were done, I sat down to watch Molly ride her bike. She looked so cute and so I went inside to get the camera and when I came out with it she said, "Oh Mom, put the camera on record and watch this". So I hit the record button and. . . . . .

She continued to do this several more times and had so much fun. I know she sounds a little angry in this clip, but she let me know that this was her 'tough' voice. She loves to ride her bike and make up different adventures. Quite often first thing in the morning she will ask me to go outside to ride around the cul de sac and I always have to remind her that we need to do school and chores and then she can. Poor thing.

Halloween Costumes

This Halloween Isaac and Molly had a new experience because this was the first time they actually went trick or treating through their neighborhood. For the past five years we lived in Enid and there is a church on almost every block. A lot of them do trunk or treating and so that is what we participated in as well and had a lot of fun. Our church here did a trunk or treat, but then we also went around the neighborhoods and they loved it. Emmaline who was our little pumpkin was not feeling well, so Aaron stayed home with her and passed out candy. I walked around with a couple of our neighbors watching the kiddos go door to door just giggling and squeeling the whole way. Isaac and the other boys had to be reminded continually to slow down and wait for the girls who were wearing high heals.

Ninja Isaac playing his role very well.

Molly also playing the role of a princess very well.

Finally, A Cool Fall Day!

Only a couple days left in October and the temperature finally felt like a beautiful crisp fall day. The kids were so excited to feel the coolness that they wanted to put on their hats and mittens and go play outside. It was in the low 50's and I know that doesn't really merit putting on winter clothes, but being in this warm climate we just couldn't help it.

Emmaline making one of her cute crooked faces. To my surprise she loved her hat and gloves.

Molly loved being able to wear her favorite pink sweater from last year.



Isaac kind of missed the point of getting warm from head to 'toe'. Notice his flip flops.

Emmaline loved running up and down the drive way. Her little nose even turned red.

Isaac making his mother laugh.

Children's Museum

A few Saturday's ago we went to a children's museum and had a lot of fun. It was a lot like the Leonardo's Discovery Warehouse in Enid(which we miss terribly), but a little bit bigger. If we were going to be here longer, I would love to get a membership.

Having fun in the music room.

Getting through an obstacle coarse.

Emmaline crawling through the 'ocean'

Molly's turn.

Aaron and Isaac building a city and Emmaline coming by to love her Daddy.

It was hard trying to capture Emmaline with this cart.

She was cruising around sooo fast. I think she felt very big.

Watching the kids play.

Isaac being 'scared' by a dinosaur.

We had a chance to play outside for a little bit too.

Molly tree climbing.

Isaac being eaten and Molly being loved.

An Evening With The Guitar

Every now and again Aaron will play his guitar before the kids go to bed and they love it. Emmaline sat next to him the whole time on the couch happy as can be, Molly danced like a ballerina around the front room and Isaac played quietly with some lego guys on the coffee table. Here are a few photos that caught the moment.

Like I said, as happy as can be.

Molly broke away from her dancing to get a picture with her cute sis'.

I had to pull Emmaline away to put her pj's on, but then she

continued to sit there 'reading' next to her Daddy.

Molly posed for me while dancing.

A-10 Graduation

Aaron graduated from initial qualification in the A-10 last Friday on October 2nd. YEAH! It has been pretty busy these past few months. It's not until now, that I look back on the experience and realize how difficult it was. Aaron was gone a lot and when he was home, he was studying. During the week he would leave before the kids woke up and get home around 6 or 7. He would eat dinner and chat with us for about 15 min. and then went off to study for the rest of the evening. Almost every Saturday he would wake up early and study 5 to 6 hours and then we usually tried to do something fun as a family. Sunday he would again wake up early and study another 5 to 6 hours beofore going to church in the afternoon and then took time to rest, play some board games with the kids and recoup for the coming week. We were extremely blessed during these past few months. I know God buoyed us up and strengthened all of us.
On graduation day we were able to fly the A-10 simulator and then walk out on the flight line right next to the A-10's. The day ended with his class graduating and then dinner to follow at his squadron. I didn't get any pictures of the graduation, because I was trying to keep Emmaline from squealing "Daddy" every time a pilot in a flight suit walked up on stage. Everyone but her Mother thought it was quite humorous. The day was a lot of fun and I can't quite believe it is over and that we will be moving soon.

Aaron instructing Isaac on the simulator.

Molly's turn.

Emmaline waiting so patiently and happily.


This video is kind of wiggly, but it gives you an idea of what the simulator is like. Also, anyone who knows Isaac and his fun personality will appreciate it. He took the camera while I was flying and took quite a few videos and they all cracked me up. He certainly adds a lot of joy to our little family. Here you can hear his excitement as I do a loop in the A-10.

I decided to include this one too. There was a computer just outside of the simulator that showed me flying and apparently Isaac wanted to spice it up. Listen for his sound effects.

We head out to the flight line and you can see the A-10's lined up so precisely.

Standing by the gatling gun.

My pilot and me(and Isaac trying to sneak into the photo, which his Grandma's will not be surprised by this occurrence).

Standing by one of the missiles.

Aaron showing the kids the cockpit of the A-10.

Isaac and Molly coming down the ladder after peppering Aaron with questions. Emmaline just waiting in the stroller watching the A-10's taxi.

Leaving the flight line.