the next adventure

I know it's been forever since I've blogged.. I've been incredibly busy.  Tomorrow early (like, before-the-birds-start-chirpin' early), we head out on the road for Arkansas.  Our new home for the next few years.  And our next adventure.

Life is always an adventure, isn't it?  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm hoping to be 'back to blogging' in a couple weeks.. after our move, and we're settled, and I'm maybe half-way kind of rested.  ;)

I snapped a photo this afternoon, while I was relaxing in the house.. after my husband and dad hooked my car up to the back of our truck.. and stuffed it full.  It's sweet, right?

gettin' ready to hit the road... again!

These last few days here in Arkansas (for now, anyway) have been fun visiting with family and friends.  Clara has been doing really well with meeting so many new people.. she just smiles at everybody.  ;)  I totally thought she would make strange, but nope!

 

Coleman with his girls!  :)

Him and Erin, our niece, made these cute tie-died shirts together when they had their 'date night'.. Luv them!

Then the other day we went out and took a little ride on the trolley in Memphis, to get Clara out of the house for a bit.  She loves being outside.. and in the 'daddy backpack'.. however, I think it's about time to retire the baby carrier.  She was trying to figure out how to bust out of it!

Today we are just relaxing.. I'm finishing up laundry, and packing up suitcases (again), and loading up the truck.  Tomorrow morning bright and early we will be on the move (again).. to go up north to visit my family!  I can't wait for everyone to see how much Clara has grown!

we made it.

Finally.  We're here, in the states.  We've been back for about a week now and are visiting my in-laws for a couple of weeks before we head up north to visit my parents.

The trip was long.  32+ hours of airports and airplanes... and Clara was nothing short of an angel the whole entire time.  I couldn't have asked for a better behaved baby.  ;)  It really made the trip that much easier.  She was a little cranky the first couple days after we got back, but I expected that.  It was a long trip and I figured it would catch up with her sooner or later.  That, and she's teething.  Bless her heart.. she has 2 more coming in on the top.

And we are all finally over the jet-lag.  Only took a week for Clara to get back on her schedule.

I can't even tell you how GOOD it feels to be in America.  There are no words.  And to see our family and friends.  And see our beautiful niece.. (SO fun to see her and Clara together!)..

And the weather!  Oh, the weather.  It has been absolutely perfect since we flew in.  Coleman has been in heaven, working on his new truck.  And we've been trying to get in as much outside time in as we can.  The other day we went for a little walk down by the riverside in Memphis.

 I hear that a lot of little kids hate the grass when they first feel it.  Not Clara!  She LOVED it.  She was pulling on it, crawling around... just adoring the fresh air and green grass.  And of course, she tried to eat it.

We had a fun time watching her 'discover' grass.. something she's never experienced before.  And she enjoyed watching the puppies walking by... and the barges on the river...

 I want to take her there again this week.. and perhaps next time we'll pack a lunch!

My 'Last Hurrah' in Seoul

Thursday a couple friends and I had an all-day girls trip into Seoul... kind of like my 'last hurrah' before I head move, I guess.  We went to Insadong, which is like an 'artsy district' of Seoul.. with handmade goodies, music, and fun things like that. 

We strolled around, through the crowds of people... I bought a new scarf, and a little handmade coin purse.  But mostly we just browsed and enjoyed looking through all the unique goodies that Insadong had to offer.

On our way out of Insadong, we stopped to listen to some street performers.. the kiddos LOVED that.

I think Clara even liked it too.  ;)

(Do you see those 2 front teeth??  I adore them!)

I'm sure they would've danced around all afternoon if we had let them!

After we grabbed some lunch, we headed to Changdeokgung Palace.  One of the things I love about Korea is their beautiful, old traditional structures.. and so much history.

I'm so glad I was able to spend one last day in Seoul with some great friends.  The fact that we fly out of here in about 72 hours hasn't quite hit me yet.  I've been go-go-go for the past week (so I don't go insane in this small hotel room).. but now I'm a little burnt out.  This weekend I'm going to be doing some serious resting!  :)

A Happy Little Outing

This morning I had a nice little outing with some wonderful friends I've met here in Korea... our first stop was Happy Quilt... fabric heaven here in Korea.  Rolls and rolls of beautiful fabric, on the cheap (compared to stateside).  I had to get one last fix in, and 'stock up'.  I don't quite know what I'm going to do with the fabric, but it's pretty... so most of it is probably going to be used for Clara.  ;)

I just love all the bright, pretty colors.  It makes me happy.. and ready for summer!

See that yellow chevron?  I'm thinking I need some of that to make some pillow covers out of.  It would be so cute on our new couch (well, once we get one) in our new house (.. again, once we have one;)..

And this is what I came home with.  A nice, colorful selection I think.. :)  I can't wait to post the projects I plan on using them for.

So after that we headed to Heavenly Bread...

...and I enjoyed a bread bowl of potato soup and a coffee.

My husband was kind enough to let me go out and have some time for myself, with friends (and I get to do it again this weekend!)... and it was just the boost I needed to get my butt into gear for this move.  The movers come in 3 days and I have SO much to do.

3 Weeks.

My schedule these days is just a little crazy.  Just a little.

And on the days that are 'empty'.. well, those are the days we get to paint Clara's nursery back to plain ol' white (sniff, sniff), sort and pack our suitcases/unaccompanied baggage shipment/household shipment, run last minute errands, ship out last minute Korea gifts to family, etc.

(by the way, I accidentally wrote on my dry erase board with sharpie.. which is why there's a big black blob next to the month:)

Between that and chasing around a 9 month old who is a speed-crawler and trying to stand by herself.. and likes to try to eat everything she sees.. well, I'm tired. 

I'm ready for this day..

3 weeks until 'Peace out, Korea!'

(are you kind of tired of hearing me talk about moving yet?  because I'm kind of tired of hearing myself)

EBT for the last time..

My lack of posts is partially due to my lack of 'drive' lately.  I am so ready to be moved and settled.  The last few weeks before a PCS always seem to take a toll on my patience.  I don't have ambition to do much -- especially not having a car right now, and it being cold outside.  I so just want to be in the kitchen cooking up something yummy and post it here to share with everyone, but I'm trying to make do with what we already have in our cabinets (no more grocery shopping here.. 11 days until they come pack us up).. also, we have been eating out a lot.  We have to hit all of our 'hot spots' (and sneak in a few new places) before we leave.

But trust me, as soon as I'm settled in the good ol' States.. there will be posts of recipes and pretty pictures of food.. lots.  I have so many things 'bookmarked' that I'm excited to try.

Anyhoo.

A couple weeks ago -- I think.. I can't remember when.. all of my days are running together -- my friend Amber and I headed to Seoul so I could visit the Express Bus Terminal one last time.  :)  I got a few crafty items, then I also bought a little step-stool for my sweet Clara.  Something she can use when she's a bit older.. she can use it to help mommy bake in the kitchen.. or to reach the sink to brush her teeth.. or you know, whatever.

There were so many pretty ones to choose from, but I ended up going with these cute little sheep.  Hand-carved into the wood.. and painted all pretty.  I love it.  You love it, right?  ;)

She likes it.

I ended the trip with a tasty little choco chip muffin for the bus ride back.  (and it sure was a 'lovely day')

if there's one thing i'm good at..

..it's shopping.

Ok, I'm good at more than that.. but I'm really good at shopping.  Just ask my husband.  :)  The other day my husband had a random day off of work (which pretty much never happens), so I talked him into going to Seoul to do a little shopping.  We had a lot of fun.. and Clara was a good little girl, as always.  She loves being on the go.  My little traveler.  ;)

After some shopping, we had lunch at Johnny Rockets (apparently they have them here in Korea.. who knew?).  I think that made it worth the trip for my hubby.

We bought Clara a sweet handmade bear at one of the little shops.. something she can cherish and 'remember' Korea by... ;)

And lately I've had a slight obsession with globes.  I don't know what it is.  So when I saw this cute little one while shopping in Seoul, I had to have it.

Can you see little ol' South Korea on there?

And these skeleton keys.. I don't quite know what I'm going to do with them yet.. I just like them.  ;)

I bought a few other things.. things I can use as decor when we move into our new house in a couple months.  The next 45 days can't go by fast enough!