Grandma & Grandpa with Carson & Jess
Walking to Insadong
Gate to pagoda in Insadong
Walking into Pagoda park
Korean War monument
Carson checking out the monument
Family from the back side
Temple
Here are the intricate paintings and designs up close.
Beautiful encased Pagoda
Our next outing was to eat delicious Chinese dumplings at one of our favorite restaurants Din Tai Fung in Meyongdong. Here we are walking down an alley in single file so we don't get hit by cars, scooters or motorcycles. Sorry no photos of the dumplings, maybe next visit?
Meyongdong is another one of our favorite eating and shopping districts in Seoul. It's about 3 subway stops away from post.
The far pink billboard is a huge Korean department store called Shinsegae.
Beautiful fountain in Meyongdong
Our 1st Korean adventure while Chuck and Janet were in Korea was to a neighborhood right outside the gate called Itaewon. It is an internationl eating and shopping district with so much culture. Here we are walking along the crowded sidewalks. The Korean vendors have small mobile shops all along the sidewalks.
Here are some photos of the traffic, the buildings and the crowds.
Chuck took this photo for future fashion tips.Sorry that this video is so dark. Garrett also learned recently to say, "Shh!" and put his finger to his mouth. It looks a little like he's picking his nose and blowing. :)
Sorry about the sideways video, can't figure out how to rotate it. Garrett has figured out how to open ALL of the doors in our house. Jess was sick yesterday and trying to take a nap, but Garrett kept opening the door and saying, "Boo" and then laughing away. Notice how he is on his tippy tiptoes. We love our little thrill seeker!
Jessica had her 2nd dance performance in Korea on Memorial Day Weekend this year. She loves her Korean ballet instructor, Miss Michelle, and she loves performing even more. Jessica with her dance friends - no she didn't wear her blue crocs to dance.!
Miss Michelle is getting them placed properly.
Getting ready to dance...
Beautiful ballerinas!
Their music had technical difficulties and had to be re-started 3 times. 3rd time's a charm - they were able to continue their performance without missing a beat.
Forming a circle
The End! We are so proud of our beautiful, smiley ballerina!
Carson's single
While Grandpa and Grandma Locke were visiting in May, Grandpa took some pictures for Carson playing 7-8 year old baseball. He was on the Diamondbacks. Due to rain, illness and prior commitments Carson didn't have many baseball games. He had a great time the few games he was able to play. Here comes Carson bounding across homeplate.
Playing "pitcher" Carson caught quite a few hits during his time as pitcher, he even made a double play.
Daddy, Garrett and Carson are warming up for the game.
Carson gets a hit!
The last stop on our Gyeonggi-do Province tour was to the Gwanjin Roayl Ceramic Festival. Vince, Carson, Carmen and Jessica are getting ready to make their pottery.
Carson finishing his pottery vase.
Jessica, Jeremy and Carson are decorating their pottery.
I love drawing flowers on my vase!
I love drawing mountains and a sun on my vase!
Carson picking strawberries during our Gyeonggi-do Province trip.
During our Gyeonggi-do Province trip we also went strawberry picking. Our Korean tour guide and Strawberry Farm worker were giving us a strawberry picking demonstration. Jessica says, "You spread your hand out. Put the strawberry vine between your 3rd and 4th fingers and close your hand loosely. Then you pick the strawberry by waving at it or bending your wrist."
Garrett had his own version of strawberry picking, just bite it off the vine.
Garrett and Mommy's strawberry stash
Garrett trying it with his hand this time.
Jessica's shows off her quart of strawberries and similar to the hard boiled eggs, ALL of the strawberries were eaten before lunch that day.
The kids and I went on a Korean cultural tour of the Gyeonggi-do Province with our friends the Endres, Cuellar, and DeStazio families this spring. Jessica is patiently waiting for our craft making.
A friendly Korean man taught us how to make an egg basket with long pieces of straw. The kids are watching intently. Jessica is surrounded by our family friends from left - Elizabeth, Carmen, Mary Kate, Vince, Jess, Mia and MacKenzie.
Jessica and Carson with our finished straw egg basket, just in case you ever need to carry 5 eggs. The hard boiled eggs didn't make it home, they were eaten promptly before lunch.
