swimming and sledding

Hi I am a little behind so I will try to catch up while Olive naps. On Sunday we had the chance to go swimming with Joe and his son.

It was good timing as Netta was running out of patience with us trying to find a public pool. She and John had gone in search of one on Saturday but never found it. Once he bought her an ice cream she was fine with that and they came home.

So Joe called on Sunday to invite us swimming and we jumped at the chance.

John had his first rehearsal for a singing group that he joined so it was just me and the kids.

Joe met us at the subway station and then we had a long drive to the pool. It was nice to get out of the city and see some trees and more mountains. We finally arrived and the place was really amazing. It was a camp owned by the methodist church that Joe used to teach for. The pool was great with 2 huge water slides, a waterfall into the pool and in the smaller pool a play structure. The play structure was just literally plunked down in the middle of the kiddie pool. It had a tire swing and slides - very fun. Olive and Netta had a great time being wet.

The kids were all in camp and so they had all these activities set up including this little kiddie pool filled with baby eels. Olive and Netta loved these - Olive squealed with delight as she tried to touch them and then catch them. They were so slippery! Netta became an expert at catching them and would give them to Olive to hold. It was fun! Of course I think these eels will actually become dinner when they get big enough.

After playing in the pool for awhile we headed to the showers to rinse off and Netta found a bunch of cute little frogs hopping outside the shower window.

Then we went and played soccer with Joe and his son. It was fun to run around together.

Joe mentioned that they had an all season sledding track. I wasn't sure what that would mean but we went up to take a look. It was basically a big sledding hill that is covered in plastic kind of stuff that makes you go down really fast in a sled. At the bottom there is astroturf to slow you down when the hill stops.

Netta really enjoyed this - it went very fast.

I took Olive once and was not a very good driver as it was fast and I was nervous with Olive and tried to slow it down. I tried using my hands but that threw us all off balance - wacky! Then I realized there was no way I would go down it again with my baby and that made Netta really mad. She wanted Olive to go down with her but Olive was kind of nervous by this time. She had really enjoyed the run but when I got scared afterwards I think it scared her. She didn't want to go with Netta even though Netta was a much better driver. Netta was not happy with this situation. She was also hungry and tired by this point.

So Joe and his son and Netta on her own went down a few more times and then we left. On the last run Netta fell off at the bottom and got a little hurt. I was glad that Olive had not been with her on that run. I think she would have been more hurt by the fall - as it was Netta sprained her ankle when she fell.

After the sledding we drove back to Seoul and got a bite to eat. The kids were starving and Joe's son Daniel had to have Burger King. I was dreading Burger King but the kids had to eat. We tried to convince Daniel to eat somewhere else but all he wanted was Burger King. Thankfully there was another restaurant nearby and we go some Udon and a pork cutlet for the girls. By the time we were done eating and on the subway back home it was after 10pm. I was exhausted and so were the girls. Olive fell asleep on my back on the subway (she hadn't even had a nap!).

Another long, fun day of play!

Then on to Monday - not too exciting of a day. We spent the day at home and then went to pick up a highchair I found on Craigslist. It was kind of far away and on the way home we took the bus for the first time. It was a great ride -easier than changing trains so many times.

Tuesday we decided to go look for Nakseongdae Park which we had seen on someone's blog. We walked there and it was nice. There is a temple there that was moved to the spot. It is the birthplace of a general and he is the reason this area is called Nakseongdae. It was said that on the day he was born stars fell from the sky. Hence the name which means place where stars fall. There was a big statue of him and a big plaza with lots of kids playing and riding bikes. Also lots of folks exercising on exercise machines and walking their dogs and such.

We met a nice lady - she had her grandkids with her. She spoke English and her grandaughters are right around the girls ages and they live close by. We exchanged numbers and hopefully we will see them again. Her grandaughters are visiting from China - so they speak Chinese and English and she speaks Korean and English --wow!

On the way home from the park there was a fountain that was so much fun. A bunch of kids were playing in it and Netta had to join in. Olive watched for awhile and then went in with John. It was great - Netta and Olive were so happy - screaming and running in the water! Just thinking about it makes me smile. Everyone was drenched and we came home - late again- and went to bed.

Sorry - I should have brought the camera - next time I will!!

Well between the fun and playing we are all struggling to get used to our new life here. It is hard sometimes and the language thing is frustrating. I think we are going to sign up for classes today - I know that will help. Trying to stay positive - but we miss all of you terribly.

What I wouldn't give for a date night right about now. It is hard to get time to talk to John - the apartment is so small and Netta won't go to sleep if we are talking - ugh!

Looking forward to a date when my parents visit in Sept. Hope we can make it until then!

Sorry this is so long ---bye for now!