Korean Food and Yogurt

Well, after our mishaps at the beach we headed back to the hotel for a bit of rest.  Later that night, we met up with our friends for dinner at a nearby Korean restaurant.  It was so yummy.  We followed dinner with some frozen yogurt and a little playtime outside the on the sidewalk.  The kids and adults all got along so great - fast friends. 

 Robin and Melody

 Yummy!

 Sweets for the sweet

 Wish they had places like this at home

 Most of the gang

 Lauren knows a cute boy when she sees one

 Plotting and planning

 Dylan playing hard to get

 Pint sized duo

 Birthday buddies

One last hug goodbye

Aquarium and Virginia Beach

When we first began our adoption journey, we were blessed to meet some wonderful families that had also adopted children from South Korea or were in the process.  Most of these friendships developed online.  It's funny how much you can know someone despite never meeting face to face.  One family has been close to our hearts for many years.  They have three wonderful boys that are similar in age to our children and are waiting for their little girl to join them (hopefully soon).  We waited together for our children's referrals, cried many tears together when we missed important milestones, celebrated new pictures together, and speculated on the process together.  We missed just meeting each other in Korea by a few days.  Our Lauren and their Dylan were born on the same exact day in Korea and share two parts of their names.  So when we planned our vacation and knew we'd be in their area,we just had to meet face to face and what a wonderful time it was.  It was like old friends getting together. 

The two families enjoyed a wonderful morning at the Virginia Aquarium.

 Dylan, Evan, Carson, Kyle, Lauren, and Cameron

 Lauren checking out a model ship

 The boys touching the sting rays

 Posing on the metal statue of a dolphin

Following the aquarium, the two families parted ways for the afternoon.  We headed down to Virginia Beach for lunch along the boardwalk and then thought a nice walk along the beach would be great before heading back to the hotel for some rest.  Well, its always best to be flexible with young children.  About 2 minutes after stepping our toes into the sand, Kyle fell down in the water and was soaked.  Lauren then proceeded to somehow get a mouth full of sand and throw up - twice.  Oh well, I guess we needed a rest instead but first one quick picture to mark the occasion.  

   

Vacation to Virginia and North Carolina

This will be the first of many posts about our summer family vacation.  This was our first big vacation as a family of five.  Destination: Virginia Beach, Virginia and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina (the Outer Banks) in mid-August for 10 days. 

The kids were so excited for this long awaited vacation.  They were such a help with planning and packing.  Grandma Judy was kind enough to come down to the Twin Cities to drive us to the airport.  Love her.  We successfully managed our way through the airport, did wonderful on the airplane, and found our hotel at our first destination...Virginia Beach. 

 Lauren thought the airplane was such fun.

Cameron and Kyle loved the airplane and were great little travelers.

Waiting for our connection in Chicago.

Swim Lessons

All three kids loved their swim lessons this summer.  The boys were in a semi private class since they are so close in ability.  This gave them lots of time to swim and not just sit on the wall waiting for others.  The progress they made was incredible.  Lauren attended in the preschool class and not being biased here but she was the most well behaved student in the class.  She'd willing and eagerly enter the water with her teachers and followed instructions (we do need to work on getting her whole head under the water but she tried).  The looks on her face when the other kids were crying and running to their parents was so funny.  No tears for her...my baby girl is growing up. 

 Excited for her first swimming lesson

They all loved it - this was actually taken on our family day. 

 Cameron, diving is his thing

Kyle, loves the back stroke 

Lauren, anything about the water is wonderful to her

Baby Dolls

Over the last few months Lauren has developed a big love for her baby dolls.  She loves to take care of them.  She will put them to bed, sing them songs, feed and change them, and take them for stroller rides.  She is such a cute little mommy. 

 Singing baby to sleep

 Wearing baby in typical Korean fashion

Feeding time

Married 12 Years

On July 28th, Mike and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.  Twelve wonderful years full of ups and downs but I wouldn't change a thing.  In typical fashion, as a couple with young children, we celebrated as a family.  Our city held its annual festival on this day so first up was a candy filled parade.  Next stop, the park where the city holds its festival.  The kids enjoyed the jumping house, we watched the tae kwon do swat team demonstration, fed and petted the animals, visited the fire house, and munched on some salsa and chips by the lake.  What a lovely day.  Looking forward to seeing what the next year brings.  Happy Anniversary to us.

 We love parades and candy!

 Want some?

 Ah, too cute.

Twelve Years!

2 Years Home

Wow, hard to believe Lauren MeeHyeon has been in our arms for 2 years now.  It really seems like yesterday that we were in her birth country saying goodbye to her loving foster mother, wiping our new daughter's tears, and becoming a new family of five.  On July 23rd, we celebrated our 2nd family day.  Family day is a bittersweet day; on one hand we celebrate our daughter joining our family (her forever family) but on the other hand we realize that there is a great loss that occurred for her on this day.  She lost her home country, her language and culture, her foster family (the only family she had known for 13 months) and so much more.  We also remember her birth family on this day and hope that they know that MeeHyeon is loved beyond words. 

Family day 2012 began with swimming lessons for the kids.  This was Lauren's first swim lesson and she loved it.  After a quick change, we enjoyed a hot, fun-filled day at Como Town and Zoo.  All the kids loved the rides, splash park, animals, and picnic lunch.  On the way home we made a special stop to buy some yummy handmade chocolates for our chocolate loving girl.  She was in heaven with her chocolate treats.  Lauren picked out dinner for the night - her choices:  shrimp, corn on the cob, roasted broccoli, and macaroni and cheese.  We ended the night watching the boys at tae kwon do practice.

We love you baby girl.

 Daddy's girl

 Roller coaster for the big guys

 Giddy up

 Watch out everyone - crazy drivers!

 Frog hopper

 Cruising

 Big brothers watching over little sister

    Our three blessings