The two weeks they were here were filled with lots of catching up, eating out and about, exploring the cities of Yeosu and Seoul, and generally just admiring the cuteness that are toddlers.
Ed's mom, sister, and nieces came across the Pacific to spend time with us and get a taste (figuratively as well as literally) of the life we lead over here.
Rachel, Jen, Sophia and Grace, tried all the food we put in front of them--even some that Ed and I aren't much fans of (keep on keepin' on, tiny little battered and fried anchovies). And the family was so good about the schedule when we tried to plan and pack as much as we could into the 12 days we had with them.
All went well! Here are some pics to recap. the times we had together.
Until next time, you four! <3
~ F i r s t s t o p ~
A n a u t h e n t i c K o r e a n m e a l
A n a u t h e n t i c K o r e a n m e a l
Ed was thrilled when we found dinner the first night out on the island of Incheon.
Ed was more than thrilled when just hours earlier,
his mom and sis and nieces were safely in the country.
Everyone settling in to this sweet little restaurant just across from our hotel.
( The KTX didn't have times back this night so we stayed the night
and headed back to Yeosu the next morn. )
The twins getting a new kind of attention they would grow to
love and gravitate towards during their two-week stay with us.
Mama and son. <3 <3
Ed and Rachel doin' some sweet, sweet catching up.
Jen and her babies. <3 <3
ALL the side dishes. Always.
"What's that black box you keep carrying around, Aunt Kristen?"
"Ohhhh, I get what it's used for." -Sophie, the official ham of the trip
"Being a toddler is tough work. I've gots to contemplate things, guys. Let me be."
"Alright, done contemplating! Let's play hide and seek!"
Brunch anyone?
Handsome.
Sophie trying to figure out these special crayons that the waitress gave the girls.
Grace just waited patiently for the food to come.
Just what the girls need: C A F F E I N E
Uncle Ed was having a great time!
He loved having his mom and sister to chat and catch up with,
although he would have enjoyed a nap already.
The creepy monkey said it. I guess it's true, Jen!
Next day, headed from Seoul down to Yeosu to spend the week in our neck of the woods.
~ Y e o s u ~
Back at our apartment, relaxing, puzzlilng, and playing!
LOTS of puzzling! These girls love their puzzles.
FaceTime time! ~ "Hi, PopPop!"
Apple squares and mystery squares. Guess which one the girls devoured...
But they did try the ddeok!
~ W e e k e n d S h e n a n i g a n s ~
Farmers' Market not 5 minutes down the road from our apartment...
The girls had their fair share of admirers that day.
Turtle Park after smoothies for some running around to kill any jetlag still lurking about.
Later that evening, hanging at home before dinner out.
But first, some sweet nappers wanted to take naps...
...or rather just pretend like they did.
To the ocean for a sunset stroll!
Rachel had really missed Ed's crazy sense of humor, and very much enjoyed his crazy faces.
Cuties.
~ Hanging at home ~
The girls quickly figured out that our camera was their plaything when one of us had it on them, and once they realized this, well...
You get the idea. ;)
Straight-up cuteness right thur.
~ T o t o r o E x h i b i t a t Y o n g s a n ~
Not sure if it was us or the girls who were more excited for this!
This mini-museum and gift shop in the Yongsan Train Station in Seoul
was our first stop the next weekend!
Cute!
(but expensive)
Yeah, Kristen may have been most excited.
This was a little calendar counter for her desk at school.
~ E x p l o r a t i o n o f S e o u l ~
Next stop: checking out the Ewha Women's College near our hotel in Idae.
Beautiful sunny and warm day out for this exploration,
the last little bit of summer was holding on.
Rachel was set for any amount of sun or heat with this great hat
she found at the Yeosu Expo Site earlier in the week.
~ C h u s e o k H a p p e n i n g s ~
On Chuseok Day (Korea's Thanksgiving Day),
we ventured to the main downtown of Seoul to hit up the grand palace, Gyeongbokgung. There is a museum dedicated to King Sejong (the guy in gold just beyond Ed and Jen here) there, and the palace is just beyond the statue.
A little bit of Hangeul writing...
...a funny street performer...
"I love you, chicken skewer."
...and a few chicken skewers later, it made for a lovely afternoon.
NOM NOM NOM
Aaaaand onto the palaces!
*Christmas card, Jen!*
Looking into the many rooms that make up the palace and its multiple layers
that stretch many city blocks-lengths beyond the front entrance.
Lots of walkin' and baby-holdin'!
~ L o t t e W o r l d ~
We decided to skip out on Everland, a popular theme park of Korea,
to enjoy a closer and less-hectic tourist attraction that Seoul had to offer.
Or so we thought.
Yeah, it was pretty packed.
But Grace had no problem making friends while we waited in line for rides.
<3
To her mother's and grandmother's surprise,
Grace ventured out and even tried a ride on her own! Reluctantly at first...
...but not for long! She enjoyed it, it's safe to say. :)
And then finally, we talked Jen into having a caricature done of her and the girls.
Before we thought of how still two toddlers can be, they were already settling into their place on the stool, wiggling and squirming around,
trying to get comfortable on their own knee of their Mama's.
Needless to say, Sophie didn't last long.
And that was that.
~ M y e o n g d o n g a n d N a m s a n ~
Before the family headed back out to Incheon the next day and we back to Yeosu and work,
we took Rachel, Jen and the girls to one final destination in Seoul:
Namsan Tower, nestled back behind the bustling district of Myeongdong.
Once through the streets of Myeongdong, it was up, up, and away for us.
Ed was pretty pumped.
Steep, steep steps that led us higher and higher, closer and closer to the tower at the top.
Once at the tower, we elevatored to the top, Rachel and Jen found some postcards
to write to family and friends back home, and soon it was time to say our goodbyes.
Once the postcards were written, it was back down the mountain for us,
rushing to catch our train time, only to decide to postpone it and spend a few extra hours together. All worth it.
But soon enough, we will be back in the States, ready for more adventures together...
Until then, <3
~ #6months ~