Video Update: Roller Skating & Being Two

I took Beniah on a mommy date on Monday night. He wanted to go bowling, but we convinced him to try something new since he has been bowling a number of times. He has shown some interest in ice skating because we watched some hockey-based race on tv recently so I settled on roller skating (I can't ice skate). I used to go roller skating every week when I was in elementary school. Walking into that skating rink brought me back in time.

Showing off using his brake

Watching the fast skaters in the big rink

We laced up his skates, stood him up, and then I realized, skating is pretty hard! I was worried he would be disappointed and of course I always want my mommy dates to be fun (Dave got to take him to a monster truck rally..... but, of course, we are not keeping score) so I helped him onto his feet and we took our time. After about an hour gaining some confidence on the carpet, he wanted to try the beginner area. That floor is super slippery, but he kept at it and soon asked if he could go without me holding his hand. He was a trooper and kept trying and trying.

At the end of the video, he fell pretty hard and hit his face. Of course the only video I recorded he hurt himself at the end! But the important thing to note is, after taking a minute to recoop in my arms, he decided to go back-alone.

Haneul is definately two. She wants to do everything on her own and one of her favorite words is no. Exhibit A.

She walked off and asked Daddy for help. I guess he wasn't offering so she didn't have to say no. :)

Lunar New Year Party

While I knew growing up that my family was Korean American, it wasn't until I lived overseas in Korea that I began to actually take on some of the culture. Thanks to my mom, we ate lots of delicious Korean food (that my husband still thinks is the best...no matter how hard I try), but outside of eating "weird" things like dried squid and going to Korean church, my upbringing didn't seem much different than my other American friends.

I remember my first Lunar New Year in Korea. I was in sixth grade and we traveled to Kangnun to visit my mother's family. My grandmother and most of my mother's siblings still live in the oceanside city she grew up in and we had made the four hour bus ride to see them often during our first year in Korea. But this weekend was special. It felt almost like Christmas because all the businesses were closed and everyone was home visiting family. I remember walking around and seeing everyone dressed in their hanboks, commenting on how much all the kids had grown and how beautiful everyone looked.

After we ate delicious food it was time for the traditional new year bows. All the children lined up to bow to the elder members of the family, starting with my grandmother. My brother and I picked up quickly how to bow and how to wait patiently as our elders wished us blessings in the new year. As all teenagers do, we especially liked the part when they blessed us with money. But our family picked up quickly that we weren't exactly sure what we were saying. So they had my brother and I bow alone. We both started strong "Sae hae bok..." knelt down to bow and finished with mumble, mumble, mumble. Our entire family burst into laughter-we had been set up! :) 

This year to honor the Lunar New Year we gathered with other Korean American adoptive families to enjoy some Korean food and traditional bowing. It was fun to see all the kids dressed in their hanboks running around together. It was also great to talk with other adoptive parents and share experiences-both painful and joyful. I am grateful for the internet as I found both Becky and Christy through their adoption blogs-how fun that they both live so close!

I loved this wall decoration: "Family" 

Meet Joshua, son of Becky.

I love the details on hanboks, so pretty! Here is a close up of Joshua's

Miss Haneul

All the kiddos. Seems like the bottom row was more interested in taking a photo..

 Two of Christy's boys.

Joshua and Lucas

Christy's daughter

Gabby, big sister to Lucas

Bowing to Mommy and Daddy

Beniah was super excited about receiving his dollar-I think hes already decided he will purchase a new Hot Wheels car. :) Its the little things in life.

holiday review pt. 2

Whew-post number 2 in only a day. I'm on a roll. :)

Christmas season is always busy-but this year we tried to slow things down a bit. While I still felt like December made me run around like a crazy person we intentionally took our time on Christmas morning. I remember being heart broken last year because I had expected Haneul to be home in time for Christmas. My family gave her gifts even though she was not there and I cried as I opened them. This year, Dave and I savored Haneul's first Christmas home.

Sukie was kind enough to be my subject (the kids wouldn't sit still long enough)
for Uncle Paul & Aunt Yumi
:playing with a fancy lens:

A suitcase of gifts came with Mimi & Poppo during Thanksgiving. In it was 25 small gifts for the kids to open each day leading up to Christmas. There were gifts for the kids to share, give to Mom & Dad, or give to each other. Let's just say both the kids were pros at opening gifts by the time December 25th rolled around!

Beniah was fascinated with this snow globe-one of the gifts we got from Mimi & Poppo

rhino chopsticks!!

pororo bath toys! thanks halmoni

checking out her new handmade bag

Beniah's big boy science kit from Halmoni

Haneul's first Barbie-thanks Halmoni!

out Advent candle centerpiece

We took a break from opening gifts for breakfast. Daddy whipped up German Pancakes, one of his favorite Christmas morning traditions.

Haneul's first taste at the LePeau tradition

love those eyelashes

hopefully NOT a new LePeau tradition

Before finishing off our presents we took time to read the Christmas story. 

B's new skateboard!

Haneul's new cooking set!

calling over our expert skateboarder

Jojo stopped by to give Beniah a lesson

Love that cute smile

That evening we headed down to Sierra Vista to enjoy Christmas dinner with my dad and family.

Snowflake!

Christmas Day 2012

Finished off the night with homemade blueberry pie!

holiday review pt. 1

Woah..where did January go? Prepared to be overloaded with a recap of the last couple months!

Uncle Steve and Poppo came down to Wildcat country for the U of A vs. Colorado football game. Even though it was a boys weekend, they made time to meet Haneul for the first time.

Haneul thought Uncle Steve was pretty funny!

I snapped this while at a red light-they had been holding hands in the car!

I LOVE the way her little nose crinkles when she giggles.

Then Mimi & Poppo came in from Chicago for Thanksgiving weekend.

Suitcases are so much fun to pop out of!

We enjoyed the beautiful Arizona weather and Beniah & Haneul had a ton of fun with the LePeau boys.

Love his eyes-he looks like a little man to me!

Eric & Uncle Dave running some routes

Eric's mid air catch

Poppo is so dramatic!

Proud holder of the drumstick

Too cute!

B's signature smile-head cocked and bright eyes

Mimi & Poppo with the Arizona grandkids
Thanksgiving Day 2012