Carter turns 6!...and The Korean War Museum

SIX?! How can that be?! I remember bringing him home from the hospital Christmas morning as if it was just yesterday! It's amazing how much faster your life seems to go by after kids. We started off the birthday boy's weekend going to a classmate of his birthday party at the arts and crafts center on post! All the kids got to pick a ceramic dish to paint, had pizza, cake and ice cream, and took a shot at the pinata.

 After the birthday party Carter wanted to go bowling and have pizza on post. (American pizza) I'm embarrassed to say, I think this was the kids first time bowling! They were pretty excited and we all had a great time!

Even tracker got in a few frames!

and a hot dog of course!

He didn't think much of their hot dogs! 

 The next day was Carter's actual birthday, and to no surprise, he choose to spend the day at The Korean War Museum. He IS his father's son, no doubt about it! History, military, guns...they are all about it. Addley and I, we couldn't care less....but anything for her favorite big brother and my birthday boy! (We had tried going to the war museum once before on a Monday that Austin was off work, but like a lot things in Korea, they are closed on Mondays. The pictures outside are from that first visit.)

I did find this North Korean 'spy sub' the South found in 1996 interesting. 

Like stepping on Lego's in the night!

South Korean soldier of the future. 

I'm sure the pictures might be more interesting if I could tell you more about them. Next time I'll take notes! After we wrapped up at the museum we headed home for presents, cake, and ice cream. Austin and I make the kids birthday cakes based on the theme of the party. I come up with the idea, bake it, and do my best, then he fixes it! He's much more artistic then I am. I don't have the patience to decorate baked goods.Carter has become a huge Star Wars fan and wanted a Millennium Falcon cake, so we did our best.

Our presentation definitely could have been better, but no one seemed to mind! It was a great weekend celebrating our smart, handsome, by the book, well behaved, sweet, sincere, thirsty for knowledge and too grown up for his age first born! He makes us proud everyday! 

Free Time...........Just Kidding

We finally had all of our belongings and the house was well on it's way. We were all getting into our new routines, and I was starting to think, "Wow, I might actually have some free time here!" With a smaller place, half the amount of things to pick up or dust, no dogs to clean up after or take care of, less places to be, less people to see, and not comfortable enough to go exploring alone, I was starting to think I might actually make time for the things I usually put off, like learning how to use my sewing machine I've had for 8 years, or scrap booking!!! (I've got tons of supplies, and plans for books, and one book I made 9 years ago!) Then Carter and Addley's extra curricular classes we signed them up for started! All hopes of free time where gone!

Pretty big class!

Carter started Taekwondo! We signed him up for both classes, the one in our 'village' and the one on post because they both had wait lists. The one on post is the one that had an opening first. He had class Mon., Wed., and Friday at 5PM. Which meant the kids and I would have to take the bus and Austin would come pick us up from class when he got off work. We would catch the 4:20 bus and make it to the gym around 4:45. Class would get out at 6 and we would be lucky to get home by 6:45. Making an hour class take up almost 2 1/2 hours three days a week!!! When we got home at 6:45, we still had to eat dinner. It was not working out!

That's him in the blue shirt! 1st night!

Getting promoted from white belt to yellow belt in his 4th week of class.

Luckily the class in our village had an opening beginning the next month and we switched!! It's a much smaller class very close to our apartment and is from 3-4! It is working out wonderfully! I feel like he's learning a lot more in the smaller class and that this class is a little more about learning and less about paying to move up to the next belt every month! We really like Grand Master Kim! He holds a Taekwondo 9th Dan, that's a 9th degree black belt, the highest there is in Taekwondo! And for some reason he reminds me of my dad...I don't know why...he just does!

Getting his certificate for high yellow belt

Addley started ballet! Her class was also on post but at 10 am on Tuesdays. It was impossible to take the bus because of the time of class. We would either be late or an hour early. We ended up taking a taxi every week and when Austin could he'd pick us up on his lunch break and take us home.  

1st class!

She absolutely loved it and it was beyond adorable to watch! Unfortunately , her instructor PCSed (moved) and they haven't found a replacement yet. :(