Pyeongtaek Market

We ventured out to the Pyeongtaek Market today.  A place that we've been saying since we moved here that we needed to go to, but alas, have never taken the time to get there.  It was a cold, wet, and miserable day, but the market is mostly undercover so it wasn't too bad. It is a place you can find almost anything you need, and a few things you might never need, such as:

Pig's heads 

or pig's feet,

or octopus.

I could've gone for some crab or lobster, but not for $200... 

They do put out some pretty displays of their wares:

I love the fact that my kids will still hold hands.

Christmas Day

We had another wonderful Christmas, with far too many gifts.

 Santa is getting more reasonable, the Grandmas are not.

The kids were up early, but didn't come get us - even with the temptation of all those gifts under the tree! 

Naomi with her mini-lightsaber, sitting in her new Hello Kitty chair. 

A lego battleship from Grandma Dawn, and amazingly enough he got a lego aircraft carrier from Grandma Judi.

Grace got lots of beads and beading accessories this Christmas. 

They both got DSi's this year, and this expression made my day!

There's nothing better than seeing pure joy on my children's faces 

Playing with Noah's Ark 

Playing with the fishing game Grace got for Tristan

 

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

A Christmas Carol

The kids had an opportunity to audition for our community theater group's production of "A Christmas Carol", and what do you know?  They each got a part! So we have been busy with rehearsals for the last month, but it was well worth all the hard work. Here are their pictures from the playbill

Tristan Samuelson - Littlest Urchin Boy

Grace Samuelon - Urchin Girl and Cratchet Girl

Grace was originally cast as just an urchin girl, but because of her dependability, she was asked to be an understudy for a couple of other parts, and opening night she was called upon to fill the role of Cratchet girl as well.

The first two performances were dinner shows, and since my mom was here, we were able to have a date night to enjoy the show without interruption.

Their opening night gifts, flowers for Grace and a guitar strap for Tristan

The Cratchet Family

Mr. Scrooge and the Littlest Urchin Boy

The kids were also involved in the children's choir that performed before the shows

"I'll do it, I ain't scared!"

After the boys were being taunted to go sing at Scrooges door.

Singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

The ghost of Marley

The ghost of Christmas Past

Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig

Grandma and Naomi enjoying the show

The ghost of Christmas Present

The Cratchit Family

The ghost of Christmases yet to come

Receiving a schilling from Mr. Scrooge

At Fred's house

Mr. Cratchit being ashamed for being late to work

Mr. Cratchit's response after getting a raise from ol' Scrooge

Taking a bow

We were sooo proud of these kids! I never imagined Tristan would ever be interested in being in a play, much less having a speaking/singing part.  But he did wonderfully and enjoyed it very much.  Grace was amazing as well, and really made us proud when she was asked to be an understudy and was ultimately cast as the Cratchit girl as well.  We were proud of both of them for being reliable to be at all of their practices and know all of their lines, even when they had to adjust on the spot just a few rehearsals before the show.  If they have the opportunity again, I know they will jump at the chance to preform - I think we've got a couple of thespians on our hands!