Front Yard Flowers

The dutch irises in the front yard made a nice backdrop for our annual Children's Day pictures.  It was a really sunny day so we waited till evening and got some nice lighting. 



Andy is always looking away from the camera, or looking like he's thinking really hard.



Kate on the camera.



메롱!

Kate had so much fun goofing off in the yard that she wanted to finish up her homework out there too.  I'm not complaining!

Children's Day Anniversaries

It's Children's Day! (in Korea.) Time for pictures in the park.

Today is the twentieth anniversary of the day I first arrived in Korea for my mission. (Still can't believe it's been that long.) It's also the fourth anniversary of the day I learned I was pregnant with Andy, which means Andy is the same age that Kate was when we found out we were expecting him. I've been feeling rather sentimental about this.



Kate says, "Do bunny ears on me, Mom!"



Awwww!




Andy gets some help across the stepping stones.



Running to the playground.




We went down to Chung Ki Wa in Lakewood for lunch, and I got some really yummy kimchi jjigae. I brought home the leftovers--judging from past experience, it should be even better the next day!



Andy has developed his own rice-and-kim technique. His concentration is very cute.



We all like kim! I brought four packages and it all got eaten. Yum.

In honor of the occasion, my BYU roommate Trish posted this picture of me opening my mission call:



I was on the phone with my parents in Ohio while opening it. I remember that when it first came I called home and Mom wasn't there, so I had to wait. Oh the torment. Mom talks about how she remembers me reading through it and saying "KOREA??!" It certainly was a life-changing experience. I'm glad to be able to commemorate these occasions, and lucky that my family will indulge my penchant for pictures and Korean food!

Children's Day

May 5th is Children's Day in Korea--time for the annual pictures in the park. We got some great shots this year.

We headed down to Point Defiance as soon as Kate got home from school. It was really a lovely day and the lighting was great.



 "Hey look, this plant is called Dinosaur Food!"




This one's a little blurry (I seem to have pegged the focus on the bench rather than on the kids) but Andy's face is just so cute.




We've taken lots of pictures on this bridge, over the years.  I think this one is particularly sweet.



"Here, Mom, I'll pose for you!"




Pink petal snow.



Pretty Kate.



Squish! (Giggle)



After pictures in the Japanese garden, we headed over to the playground. (This is what the kids were waiting for, of course!)



This thing is fun--it can be a car, a trolley, a train, or even a blimp.



Andy helps turn the crank bar to make the trolley go.  He seemed quite fascinated by the mechanics.




I love this tree.  It's so cool and knobbly, and covered with moss and ferns.  




Kate checks out the irises. Pretty!

It occurred to me that this was Andy's third Children's Day, in a way, since it's three years since the day we found out we were expecting him. We sure do love being a family of four.



Outtake!

The Day After Children's Day

We didn't make it to the park on Wednesday (May 5), but Doug has no afternoon class on Thursdays, so we went the next day.



The weather was gorgeous but the lighting was tricky for pictures. Here's one to start with--I'll add some more soon!

Improvising

We've been blessed with good weather for Children's Day every year since Kate was born, so we've been able to do the Korean thing and go out and take pictures in front of the flowers. This year it was not to be. So what do you do on a rainy and windy May 5th, when you really can't go to the park? We decided to take pictures at the library.

I don't think I've ever taken my camera to the library before. They have lots of big windows and nice lighting.



I got Kate to sit with Andy on her lap. They were both a bit uncertain about this.



But very cute!





Dad holds Andy while looking at some books. (I was going to say "checking out some books" but realized that has rather more specific connotations in a library.)



Kate plays with the library toys (and her own rubber Tyrannosaurus, which she had to bring along).



Andy gets a ride in the block wagon.



Children's Day last year was the day I found out I was pregnant with Andy. And here he is! Such a sweet little smiley boy.



I forgot to mention that we have new Korean neighbors! We just met them on Sunday. They have two little girls, ages 7 and 4. I hope we will be friends.

As a parting shot, here's an outtake. Ha!