Wish you were here

 I took these with my iPod.  Our poor camera flew off the stroller recently and isn't working at all now, not to mention its other issue of letting in too much light.  I've been agonizing long and hard about whether to repair or replace it.  I've found repair places online. This website seems helpful for replacement, along with Consumer Reports, and I'd like to upgrade sooner or later.  Decisions, decisions!

This next one was taken with the real camera before it went airborne, but with its other problems.  Speaking of the Trist-man, he is one defiant potty trainee.  His latest trick is to put his entire booty into the toilet water when he doesn't want to use it (and I put him on the seat), even though he clearly needs to "go".  If my camera was working, I'd have pictures of that to show his friends and girlfriends later!  Dean has suggested that we give up and wait a year, but he clearly knows what to do (he showed his bear how to use the potty the other day), and lately has been dropping his loads closer to, if not in, the pot.  He had no accidents in church yesterday, wearing underwear.

Last week he managed to lock the van with himself and my purse/keys, etc. inside, and baby and me on the outside.  I tried and tried and tried some more to get him to push the right spot on the unlock button, but finally gave up and walked to the main gate to summon the MPs.  They called in a slim jim, but were actually able to get him to unlock it before the slim jim arrived.  That incident made me quite late for a primary meeting, and I had already missed a group exercise that morning thanks to some potty antics.  Serenity now!  Later that day Kyler's teacher called to report on how naughty Kyler had been.  It sounded like tattling as he rattled off all of Kyler's misdeeds for the day.  I'm glad that someone else finally gets to enjoy the boy; it's really been unfair that I've had him all to myself for so very long.

 I went with some ladies from church to visit this traditional village, right here in Seoul.  The pictures are also with the iPod.  It does alright when there's plenty of light.  The basket weaver is in the background, with some of his wares in the foreground. 

 A lady in her hanbok in a traditional house.  I got Tristan to use a urinal for the first time while there.

 This grinds grain, I believe, though probably not with helpers like these.

 Tristan always likes to climb over the "fence" and make people nervous.  He likes the fishies, and pushing his stroller around

Dean is currently in Maryland to visit army research facilities and see if maybe he'd like to become a lab animal vet or pathologist, or do a phD in such things.  It's unlikely that he would, but as he said, "you never know".  He was able to visit his uncle and some cousins in Connecticut before hand.  I'm trying to not completely lose my marbles on the home front, and when it makes sense (some years down the road), I think I'd like to take off at will and let him man the fort while I regain composure somewhere less stressful than home, ha ha.

Where to begin?

Dean is trying to exercise whilst Tristan climbs him.

  It has been hectic around here lately.  I finally hired a house keeper to come half a day a week, which has lightened my labor load.  Granted, the clutter is back in place within a day, but at least it's clean underneath for a bit.

Tristan's potty miracle was short lived.  We have him in underwear most of the time (even out of the house), but he still prefers to drop his load anywhere but the royal throne.  He's pretty good about numero uno at least, or will hold it for a long time. 

Cambria is generally a happy baby as long as she's not hungry, and she's wrapped up snug with a favorite binky.

The boys are back in school; Hunter seemed relieved, and Kyler was excited to finally go a week after Hunter.  Kyler's teacher is spending the first two weeks of school going through the motions with the kids, like how to line up to go to the lunch room.

Hunter, our fourth grader

Finally sending Kyler to school a year late (need I remind anyone that he missed starting last year by ONE DAY?!) feels like the black cloud hanging over me has turned to sunshine and rainbows.  He is mentally exhausting, and thinks he should have one on one attention and entertainment all day, every day.  I cried on the inside this whole extra year.  Dean had a four-day holiday weekend, so after gleefully sending the boys on their way we spent the day together with the two little ones, who are still cute and delightful.

Kyler - Mr. Socialite

I forgot to mention back in August that Dean and I celebrated our birthdays.  I made a lovely steak salad with chipotle dressing and a coconut cream pie (still his favorite) for his birthday, and arranged a date for us on mine, to a Brazilian restaurant and the cutest little coffee shop for dessert.  I would LOVE to have a B&B or a little decadent treat shop like that some day.  Without discussing it, we both bought massages for each other, and still need to redeem them.

We had a birthday party for Hunter and Kyler on Labor Day.  We told them about it . . . on Labor Day.  That saves the constant headache of questions every five minutes until the event.  It was an airplane party, with no pictures, but lots of airplane/projectile flying and airplane toys, plus pizza and cupcakes.  They were delighted and received much nicer presents than they deserved  from their friends : )  Toward the end of the affair a group of hooligan boys descended on us and started inhaling pizza and cupcakes, then demanding water and asking to come to our home.  Uh, no thanks.  Apparently that's how it goes around here; groups of kids roam around looking for parties to crash.  I was not amused, and lectured the boys later about not ever doing such a thing.

We were blessed to attend the temple sealing of Angela Hur on Saturday, whom we adore, and who has been in our home teaching group here.  I haven't mentioned them enough.  She, Corinna Barrett and Adam Murphy (until he moved back to the US) have been a joy to have over for dinner and  a lesson every month.  The kids love them and ask every week if they are coming.  I am so impressed with the single population in our church here.  They are all outstanding enough that they are here in Seoul, Korea, of all places, doing something way cool and having all kinds of experiences.  Most of them are not affiliated with the military, so they don't have that and all the conveniences of the base.  I really can hardly comprehend how much more difficult it would be here without the commissary, APO shipping/USPS, the PX, American schools/hospitals, and all the other amenities we have.  I never realized how difficult it would be to live in a foreign country that speaks a different language, and has a different writing system.  I do know how it feels to be illiterate, and helplessly dependent on the kindness of others.  Anyway, our singles are AWESOME!

Look Into My Eyes

 Exhibit A  Kyler pretending to sleep.  Note, I would not give Cambria to a truly sleeping Kyler, and he is now missing his two front teeth.  He is our most eager baby holder, which is a great help when Mom is trying to fix dinner, or help Tristan, or answer the phone, or extract respectable behavior from the boys . . .  Turns out that having four is more work than, say,  three, or two, or one.  She is a wonderful baby, though, and if she is well fed, usually just needs to be swaddled and given a pacifier to be happy.  And of course she loves to be held.  Apparently girl babies need to be looked at a lot in order to feel loved.  I have certainly noticed that she will gaze into my eyes for a long time when I'm holding her or nursing her.  I love it! 

 Exhibit B  Tristan loves all things Cambria, including hair ornaments.  Frankly, his hair is more spectacular than hers at this point, and probably for a long time to come.  He modeled head gear Thursday morning, before banging the bridge of his nose while playing on the couch at home.  The juicy hematoma is now draining between his eyes. It looks like a rainbow-y horn. 

 Exhibit C.1  A horn is not enough.  Here his chipped tooth is visible.  His play is getting more H&K like.  He has been in training for two years, after all.  It happened soon after the horn.  I must again sing the praises of Oxiclean.  It got all the dark chocolate and pink Crystal Light out of this white shirt.  It comes in a spray bottle, a gel tube, or a jug.  I have the jug and use a toothbrush to apply it to such indiscretions.

 Exhibit C.2  All dressed up for church.  Trist-man was not cooperative and wouldn't be coaxed into this picture.  Our camera has decided to become crappy of late.  Sometimes it takes decent pictures, and more often it does this.  I have the urge to spend a lot to get a decent one, since Cambria is growing so fast.  She doesn't look like a newborn anymore - no longer red and wrinkly, and I fear I've missed too much already.  Of course it would take time to research and figure out what camera to buy, and I just don't seem to have enough of that lately.  For all I know maybe it is just on some weird setting; I need to look in the manual under "crappy".

 Exhibit C.3  She and I are wearing the same outfits as the last time we took a Sunday picture.  I haggled a bit off my side-swept bangs and am trying out this look.  I kinda like it, but need to have them trimmed by a pro. 

 Exhibit C.4  Proud Papa.  He said today that he is surprised at just how excited I am about having a girl.  Really?  I've been wanting girl babies for 10 YEARS.  I took a walk up to Itaewon yesterday to the antique district and drooled over many lovely things, and pondered many ideas for a girlie bedroom.  Of course I'll have to wait until she's out of her baby-hood.  I did find the most adorable (new) round, velvet, button-tufted purple pillow, that will go beautifully in her bedroom some day.   

 Exhibit C.5  The uncooperative one.  He needed a nap, but looked so cute in his three-piece suit that I got Daddy-o to wrangle him into a crappy-camera picture, horn and all.

Potty Miracle!

Tristan is holding a knife behind his back trying to open this box of diapers that he was desperate for, just last week!

We've been dabbling more with potty training the Trist-man, but not doing it consistently makes it hit and mess.  Swim lessons have gotten in the way of training, since we all have to leave every morning for them.  This is the eighth and final week - whew!  So today must have been the day.  He was all about the potty, going to the bathroom himself, undressing himself (often closing the door, which is more than Hunter does - even with company over), climbing up on the big 'un (with the padded seat insert) doing the deed, then redressing himself!  I've been giddy all day over it!  He is 25 months.  I knew he could do it!  He only had one accident at the end of the day.  I never have re-done the one-day method since the first attempt before Cambria was born. 

Kyler is dressed in his swim attire.

As for swimming lessons, Kyler apparently doesn't like diving - says it hurts his nose, and didn't want to go this week since his class has been working on it.  He lost his second front tooth today.  It looked awful dangling there by itself, and I was going to get a picture but he yanked it before I could.  The boys have been learning to keep track of their swim goggles this summer, as they desperately want them every day for swim lessons, which is remarkable for them to keep track of anything!  Hunter is getting quite tan from being in the sun every day.  Kyler's fair skin doesn't tan much, and fortunately hasn't been burning much either. 

We blessed Cabria Rose a week ago Sunday in church.  As always I only seem to do projects when I have a deadline, so I was hand sewing the crushed fabric roses on the bodice as we drove to church.  She was an angel and slept through the whole meeting, including her blessing.  She did manage to poo at the end of the meeting, which of course blasted right through her new size 2 Huggies diapers and sullied the dress.  I put a onesie on her just for that purpose, which did contain most of it, along with her tights.  Huggies fail!  I got it all out by brushing liquid Oxyclean on it and washing on gentle.  My mom made most of the dress while she was here, so I finished it (hemming, buttons/holes, closing the lining, roses, etc.)  We'll get more pictures soon.

We got the game Settlers of Catan in March of this year, and have been playing it like crazy since, with anyone we can.  Hunter and Kyler can even play, and Hunter has won a time or two.  We highly recommend it, and would love to play with anyone who is inclined! 

the Saga ends?

I bought a membership to John Rosemond's website a while back and decided to submit a question recently, which he answered.  My question was what to do about Hunter who has been sneaking downstairs at night to play on his game cube, and I mentioned his other behavior issues.  He will sometimes fall asleep at lunch or dinner because he is so sleepy, and sleep 6 or more hours in the day time.  Here is his answer:

A: the obvious solution is to remove the video game from the home. they have no place in a healthy family environment anyway. you need to put a permanent end to this problem so that you can concentrate on the more pressing behavior issues. by the way, video games, says the research, are associated with low motivation, misbehavior, aggressiveness, underachievement, and short attention span. you are describing an addict, and the research clearly says they are addictive. get the heroin out of the house! today! now! do what i say! john

We did it, only we decided to be kinda sneaky like ol' Hunter.  We showed him this answer and told him it would have to go.  He was a little weepy, but said he at least wanted to sell it since he and Kyler had purchased it with their own funds.  I explained that it really wasn't worth much of anything after their treatment of it, not to mention how old it is...  Being busy with a newborn and all the other normal craziness around here, it took me a couple of days to get to it, and to ultimately decide exactly what to do.  I got out a hammer and had Dean go at it, containing it all in a box.  I put the box back where the game cube had been and left it there for Hunter to find.  

The next day he didn't say anything about it until later in the day, as he and Kyler marveled about it and accused me of being the culprit.  I denied it.  We actually had a spare unit, that I think I picked up for $7, and they got it out and hid it under the spare bed in Tristan's room.  I had them retrieve it and they begged me not to destroy it.  Once Dean was home Hunter really got excited, accusing us of doing it and carrying on, trying to choke back the tears.  We continued to deny it, just as he denies every misdeed of his life, even as we catch him with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar.  He admitted that he had come downstairs in the night to play and found it destroyed.  It warmed my soul to picture him slinking back to bed unsatisfied.  I had removed the cord from the TV as well, and locked the computer so he couldn't do either of those things during the night.  

There hasn't been a word about it today.  I forgot to take a picture of the destroyed unit before it went out with the trash.  I've hidden the spare one; maybe it will make an appearance in a year or two.  He's password protected out of the Wii, so he can exercise or whatever when he's supervised, but that's it.  I hope the saga is over.  

I Never Imagined

We went to a children's museum with lots of fun stuff recently.

... that we would upgrade our video gaming system.  I let the boys buy an old school Nintendo Game Cube a couple of years ago (with their money).  Recently someone we know was selling a nearly-new Wii.  I mentioned it to Dean, and without hesitation he said "let's get it!"  He had been wanting to try the Wii Fit for exercise.  He has been using it, even doing yoga, which apparently he's been wanting to try  for a while.  If all the posture exercises convince him to hold his head high instead of slouching (one of my pet peeves!), then I'll be happy.  I won't let the boys use it without Dean around.  They've treated their Game Cube like a red-headed step child, so I'm not about to let them trash this.  Hunter wailed and then hid for hours when his friend came over the other day and I denied them of it.  He has stopped asking.

She has the longest, prettiest fingers, and often uses the pacifier.

Now I know what it is like to take all four kids shopping.  Somehow I've managed to avoid it thus far.  I told the boys I'd get them something at Taco Bell if they would be exceptionally good.  I wore Cambria in a pouch, and had Hunter push Tristan in the umbrella stroller.  Kyler's been stealing at stores once again, we discovered recently, so he got to sit in the basket of the shopping cart that I pushed.  At one point Hunter managed to separate himself (and Tristan) from me, and ran right to the front to have me paged.  Oh, joy.  Kyler tipped the cart completely over while he was in it (I was looking at something); he jumped out before it hit the floor at least.  He spent the rest of the time whining about wanting to get his quarter from the van to buy a gumball.  Hunter pointed out a magazine in the checkout stand that had a headline about how to get rid of a fat belly, and thought I should buy it for myself.  I got Hunter a burrito at Taco Bell, since he was actually helpful, and Kyler got to eat leftovers for lunch at home.  We all got to listen to him carry on about it the whole way home, and I doubt that it cured him of any of his misbehaviors, but I felt a little vindication, and that's what matters.       

Tristan loves all things baby.  He can't get out of the swing by himself.

Tristan woke from a nap with nasty goop coming out of one ear the other day.  His ear drum must have ruptured, and it turns out both ears are infected.  He never made a peep about it or showed any sign of illness.  The lady who uses him to model occasionally called late this afternoon to see if he was available to finish a shoot, since the other kid who was modeling was having a melt down.  Dean was able to come home from work and stay with the boys while I went with him and Cambria in a taxi.  Between Tristan and Kyler they've made about $1000 now (all going to college funds).

I was trying to remove the redeye, but managed to do this instead, and it's saved, grrrr.

Hunter and Kyler have had four weeks of swim lessons now, and have four more to go.  They have loved playing in the water forever, but it wasn't what anyone would call swimming.  Now they are learning for real.  I never did learn to dive, just belly flop.

Not sure what it means, but finally got a picture.

Yawn!

They were both very sleepy after church.  Kyler loves holding Cambria most of all.

 

We went to a Korean water park recently and were required to wear swim caps.  The black ones looked like doo rags, and the caps made it hard to spot the kids amongst all the Korean kids.  Normally it's easy with their hair that isn't black.  I was afraid of a repeat of our last trip to a water park two years ago when Tristan was one month old (like Cambria is now) and I got stuck holding him the whole time while the rest of our party had a grand time.  I made sure that didn't happen this time. She was a hit with the Koreans, of course.  Water parks and cameras don't much go together, so I didn't get any pictures.

the 4th

 Here is our 4th child - it's still hard to believe that we have four now.  Same goes for the Koreans.  They can't believe it either, and count them all when we come around.  She is a doll, and has been sleeping 'round the clock lately, including through the night.  That sounds great, except that by morning those who feed her are overflowing...

We started to celebrate this guy's golden birthday on July 2nd, and had his favorite for dinner - pizza.  Then we decided to wait and continue the rest of the (simple) festivities on Sunday the 3rd.  Spence and Rachel came over and had cheesecake with us, and with a little direction from Mommy, he blew out his own candle.  The toy Cars camera was the favorite of the presents - just ask Hunter and Kyler.

He is a fantastic big brother, always wanting to keep her pacifier handy, and shove his fingers in her ears to be sure they are OK, or test the seat belts to be sure that they are working - by unbuckling hers...  He was rocking her so vigorously the other day in her car seat at home that I thought the whole thing would launch.

He did help put the chairs up after church yesterday.

Today we decided to put on our party hats and say "goodbye"

We kept Cambria covered with a light blanket to keep the sun and the Koreans off her.  They don't take their own babies out of the house for a number of months after birth, but have no problem fingering others' babies.

to Seoul for just a bit.  We went to Namhan Mountain and hiked around.  It was great exercise for the out-of-shape post-partum one, except that my shoes were killing my feet and I went barefoot the last downhill stretch.  Apparently these particular shoes really are too small, as my feet aren't swollen any more.

Here's part of the wall, which is essentially the fortress (one long wall).  The map above was handy.

I've realized that once you've seen one Buddhist Temple, you've pretty much seen them all.  I like to look anyway.

I really liked the giant orchids growing in the pots on the right.  At home, every time I sit down to nurse the baby I notice that my orchid looks dry, and remember that I haven't watered it in ages.  But since I'm sitting down nursing I can't do anything about it, and once I get up I forget.  I finally remembered today, and one leaf is pretty much a goner.  Poor orchid.

We have a similar picture of Proud Papa with baby Hunter way back when he was in vet school.  I think he was actually studying then, rather than playing games.  I don't miss those days.

So that's what we did in Korea on July 4th.  We did go to the base to see the awesome fireworks show on July 2nd (Saturday).  We told the boys that the fireworks were for Tristan's birthday.  They were impressed.

I am at a complete loss for a new name for the blog.  Ideas???

Debut

 Here she is!  I never even knew about getting these kind of newborn pictures - until it was too late to do it with Tristan, so I was uber excited to have Cambria molded and posed to get shots like these.  There will be many more to come, but this is what the fabulous photographer has edited so far.

 She was awake for a little while, then once her tummy was finally topped off, she slept through hours of this, and then a few more hours afterward.  We are certainly enjoying her around here!

In other news, Tristan had another modeling gig today.  I had to take all four children - ugh of ughs, but we survived, and it's that much more money to fatten his college account.  Kyler had his first modeling session while I was still in the hospital.  My mom went with him and found it all to be very interesting.  Speaking of my mom, we were sure sad to see her go, and we all wished we had planned for her to be here another week, but alas changing the return flight would have cost as much as the original round-trip ticket.  People here in the church have been very generous with meals, which we sure appreciate.  Dean is back to work as well after his ten days of baby leave (which included weekends).  

We will miss such perks when he's a civilian again.  Yes, he finally told his command that he intends to be finished with the army after we leave Korea next June.  He had just been accepted to do a residency in internal medicine, compliments of the army, but ultimately decided that's not what he wants to do.   Now we have a year to figure out what in the world we'll do, and where in the U.S. we'll do it.

Imagine My Surprise

 A few weeks ago at church Dean walked into the primary room after meetings were over with my Uncle Louis - imagine that in Korea!  They've been serving a mission in Russia and have to leave every 90 days in order to maintain a visa there.  They knew that they were supposed to meet up with someone in Seoul when they came, but couldn't remember for the life of them who it was.  It was us, and Dean recognized Uncle Louis in Priesthood meeting and we were delighted to have visitors.  They came home with us and had lunch and played games.  We always love company.  I was about 39 weeks pregnant at that point, so the next time they come we'll have a three-month young baby to show them!

 Hunter worked on a project for some time in his gifted class at school, and we were able to attend his presentation of it.  He studied and reported on the cultures of the U.S., Cuba and the Dominican Republic.  He did very well, except for covering his face when he saw me pull out the camera : )

 I need to cut Kyler's shaggy hair before he does this style again!

 We worked out the timing very well with my mom's visit.  It's been a great help to have her around with Miss Cambria and the boys!

The boys are all enthralled with our sweet baby and constantly ask to hold her.

She is still one hungry girl, and I'm still not making enough to satisfy her, though I finally "let down" my milk today, which she gulped.  She gets too cozy and falls asleep when nursing, so 'round and 'round we go.

We are all so excited to finally have a girl around here.

She is definitely a keeper!  Even though she is a big newborn, she still seems tiny.  She's not chubby; she was 21.5 inches long at birth, and was down to 8lb14oz four days after she was born.  She is now one week old.