random stuff before we go

1. over the weekend i saw this cloud and had to take a photo. do you see the open heart and a bunny with a beaver tail?

2. thanks for the comments and sweet words about my last 2 posts though my dad wasn't the one who made the comment about the parrot. he's not that quick or funny.

3. early morning to get things done. take ollie to the groomers so he doesn't smell up the craprover, pick up contacts, buy kaylee some underwears, get gas, pick up prescription, take kaylee to her cookie class, more cleaning and packing.

4. not sure if we're leaving tonight as planned or very early in the morning. either way, ham will be lacking in sleep. we all might be lacking in sleep.

5. kaylee and i went back to trader joes. yay for me it wasn't as busy. i picked up two boxes of chocolate croissants and had to make a batch last night. they turned out to be pretty good.

6. can't believe ham's eating sushi. i had to make fun of him because i always encouraged him to try new foods and he wouldn't do it.  this is one of those moments where i get to say i was right!

7. did i mention that i went over to my neighbors to ask if he can keep an eye on our house while were away since our garage got robbed and that he knew that our garage door was opened but didn't want to "bother" us so he didn't?

8. mike is still a butthead.

9. i did kaylee's nails last night. they look all 4th of july. [the big toes have blue with white stars and the others are red with white stripes found via pinterest]

10. mike's mom is making us girls a pedi appointment for saturday. can't wait!

quick wit, not talking and getting ready

[found via pinterest]

1. thought this was hilarious and wish i had the quick wit gene. 

2. did i mention that mike and i got into a little fight over the weekend? yup. he said something stupid about something that i said/do when my intentions were all nice.

3. so i haven't talked to him since but maybe a few words here and there.

4. don't want him to get all crazy on me again and start yelling and threatening me and the kids ya' know.

5. this is going to make for a very interesting road trip.

6. i've been trying to eat cereal in the mornings since its quick and easy. cereal is not my favorite food which is odd because i love food. 

7. so far all the cereals i've tried just lacks that "oh I want to eat that again" flavor. [my last box was kashi cinnamon wheat biscuits. they totally lacked cinnamon.]

8. speaking of food. i made salmon, brown rice and asparaguts last night. all but the rice was a fail so we ordered pizza.

9. of course my house is a mess and company stopped by which i really don't mind. it was nice having someone to talk too. [it was a wife of one of the guys that works for mike that use to live in indiana and i did some house hunting for them]

10. got a few errands to run today and finish up cleaning the house. tomorrow is packing day! 

A little bit sad

Over the weekend, I took a better look at the paperwork my parent's had sent me awhile back about my adoption.  I wondered what White Lilly Orphanage looked like and was surprised to see the above photo that I googled. I was expecting to see a shack for some reason.  I think I read that in 2004 it was converted into a day care.

 According to the paperwork, I was sent there on March 12th, 1976.  Before that, I was at Taegu City Children's Counseling Center but when I googled it nothing came up besides some type of Army info.  So now I wonder if my father was in the army and left my mother and us behind because, as i have always thought, they had to have been together to have 2 kids or at least my mother had us but we have different fathers? [my sister and i] To be placed in an orphanage at the age of four seems kinda odd. Wouldn't I have known my parents names? Where I lived? On my paperwork it says birthplace is unknown.

I've also been reading some blogs and other information about Korean's being adopted.  I found that between 1970's through the 1980's, South Korea had more adoptions than any other country and that 150,944 babies/children were put up for adoption from 1953 [Korean War?]- 2006.

Also from 1971- 1980:  17,260 were abandoned, 13,360 came from split families and 47,153 were from a single mom.  Now, after being sent to the White Lilly Orphanage in March, i was sent to Holt Adoption Agency in Seoul, South Korea in April of that year.  I give all this information because of Mr. Holt who founded the Holt Adoption agency.  I've read that he found a way to make lots money by sending Korean babies to whoever was willing to pay the small price. All they had to prove was that they were Christian, had a job and promised to take care of the babies.  This was God's work according to him.  I also found that Holt & Co. would change paperwork information, like names or birthdays to make kids more "adoptable".  So there were/are many who wind up at a dead end when trying to find their birth parents.

I realize that some babies and kids needed to be adopted because they had no other family members but there are thousands and thousands whose parents were talked into giving up their children.  If the mother was unwed, spouse died or left them, etc... Mr. Holt & Co. convinced these mother's that no one would take care of them, not even their own extended families because of the shame they have caused, etc...

So now there are thousands and thousands of children, including myself, who wonder....

Wonder who I am. Wonder where I was born. Wonder what my mother looks like.  Wonder what my father looks like. Wonder if they love/loved me. Wonder if there's an Aunt or a cousin or a grandma looking for me. Wonder if they even know about me. Wonder what my life would of been like. Wonder if my mother was one of those that was coerced into giving away her children. Wonder when my real birthday is. Wonder if my parents, if they had been together for those 4 years, if they were happy and in love. Wonder what our house looked like. Wonder if it was my mother who taught me the Korean songs and dances that i use to know and do. there's just so much to wonder.

monday monday

she did these sometime last week

1. i haven't been taking very many photos but when i went into photo booth, i found these. she never fails me.

2. friday we tried a new tapas place for dinner. it was just all right.  expensive and mike didn't get full.

3. we did go and see brave afterwards. i loved it because the princess wasn't your typical looking princess, had a great story about a daughter and mother who, under weird circumstances ended up bonding and that you don't need to find a man at the end of the movie to make your life happy.

4. before all this, i did take a mom's day earlier on friday.

5. i kinda love that ham has a new outlook on food. i've been able to make salads and it actually gets eaten up.

6. the kids tried to get me into the pool last night but i layed on the floor and thought heavy. [plus i put my iphone down my bra]

7. we also found a new ice cream shop right across the street. so far i've tried their banana split and a peanut butter sundae. i got peanut butter wasted yesterday.

8. busy week- got house to clean, clothes to wash and pack for our really exciting road trip.

9. this may be the only time we go back to indiana. 

10. not that its not going to be great to see family or friends but we would rather spend the money on a real vacation. like to hawaii!

our garage got robbed

birthday cruise 2012

1. after the day i had yesterday, i really could use a vacation or these drinks. 

2. i found one of our garage doors wide opened and the first thing i noticed missing was ham's kinda expensive bike we just got him for graduation.

3. also missing were some tools, lawn stuff and mike's golf clubs.

4. the really irritating part- the bastards are probably celebrating a job well done with our beer they stole too. hope they choke on that beer!

5. and of course this all happens while mike is out of town. he comes back today.

6. and of course insurance won't be covering any of it because our deductible is twice more than the items stolen.

7. i feel like we've been robbed twice now.

8. i am happy and grateful that they didn't come inside the house or do anything to our cars. probably because they all have alarms.

9. so i plan on getting some stuff at lowes to make our house less dark.

10.  thinking about going griswold style.

shopping + plans for indiana

they could do the next coppertone ad

1. it looks super dark in the photo but i've been keeping the blinds shut like the rest of texas to keep that blaz'n heat out. 

2. yesterday, kaylee and i made it over to trader joes and since it was opening week it was crazy busy so i only got a few things plus kaylee wanted to go to the mall.

3. while in anthropologie, we saw an awesome hanging decoration made out of paint sticks. [wish i had gotten a photo of it]

4. we need to stop going shopping because i'm on a budget and every time she gets $5-10 worth of gunk (girl junk).

5. plus she encourages me to buy stuff for myself. [perfume from anthropologie and 2 tops from fossil]

6. and my house is feeling like a hoarders paradise. okay, thats an exaggeration but i've got uncompleted projects everywhere.

7. we decided that we're not going to do much when we head back to indiana except visit with family and friends. [hello girls night out- going to see magic mike!]

8. we were thinking of going to cedar point or staying at the kalahari water park in sandusky but there are new adventures we want to explore in our now home state. [like 1, 2, or 3]

9.  we do plan on going to chicago for a day so kaylee can use her american doll gift cards she got for her birthday and christmas. [mike's mom had a dr's appointment there]

10. and to my favorite winery so i can bring home a few cases of my favorite wine.

peonies, run in with a celebrity and father's day

i love peonies

1. when kaylee and i went to the grocery store i saw these beautiful peonies and she told me to buy. "they're your favorite flowers, just do it mom," is what she said. but i didn't do it.

2. but when i had to go back to the grocery store over the weekend, i did. and they make me and my kitchen so happy.

3. such a bummer but i think texas is too hot to grow peonies.

4. friday we went out to dinner to an italian place that ham picked out.

5. we were almost done with dinner when lyle lovett walks in and sits across from us. 

6. i had a great photo taking view but i didn't want to disturb him so i never got a photo.

7. saturday was spent swimming and hanging out. 

8. i had plans for kaylee to make a dad book for father's day but she was getting frustrated because she didn't know the correct answers to the book so i told her to stop because its suppose to be fun and there are no "right" answers.

9. so we went to olive garden for lunch and he got himself a haircut and a new Texas A+ M hat since they didn't have the right white sox one.

10. then we came home and swam some more and made pizza's on the grill per his request.

[friday] love

painting this table. again.

[it's been off white, white and green]

1. paint and how it instantly changes the look.

2. ham is home from interning in chicago.

3. that he spent the whole day talking to me.

4. his uncle calls him "young skywalker".

5. how much kaylee missed him even though she will only admit it to me.

6. that ollie will sleep till we get him or till 9AM most days.

7. that i've lost 4 lbs! [hope it stays off]

8. mini m+m's and gummy bears.

9. jessie miller surf art

10. my "budget" idea is helping. [we get so much money to spend till the next pay check. even though we went over, we didn't go crazy over and it put money into our savings]

shopping

"princess" and fiona

1. whenever ollie and his girlfriend get together, kaylee's inner doggyness comes out and she becomes "princess" the puppy.

2.we decided to take in a movie yesterday so we snuck in some gummy bears and ate lots of buttered popcorn for lunch. saw madagascar 3. we love them all!

3. i asked if she wanted to go the outlet mall afterwards and since she was all for it- away we went.

4. i want  need a new purse.  after going through all mine, i only like about 3 of them.

5. i hate it when you go into a store and the sales people look at you like your frump girl. hello kate spade  + sephora employees! [i was wearing long jean shorts and my ann taylor top w/flip flops]

5. i got kaylee a skirt, a dress and shorts from hart strings. all 3 were 75% off. she also got some flip flops.

6. i ended up with $10 fossil sunglasses and 2 pairs of shoes!  same design, different colors. does anyone else do that? buy the same but in different colors?

7. our precious budget was shot anyway. [we eat out way too much. we just eat way too much]

8. i'm finding that kaylee is not a good shopping buddy yet. when not looking at her stuff she becomes tired, bored, hungry and her ankle starts to hurt.

9. so today is pay bills and clean house day. maybe go for a swim too.

10. ham comes home tomorrow. [happy dance]

a great weekend

her new swim "soup"

1. after whining on friday on what to do about ham we called him up and told him he could stay in elkhart for those 13 or so days till we got there but he needed to have places to stay lined up.

2. we didn't want him running around being a homeless banshee.

3. being as picky as he is, he's decided to come home instead because he doesn't want to sleep on any floors or stay with family.  yay for him being so picky!

4. the weekend was good. friday we went and picked up the mirror that my parents are buying for us. [since i had a 10% off coupon, i also got two of these for "free"]

5. saturday was being a bum around the house day and make good use of having a pool.

6. mike wanted something frozen to drink while lounging around the pool so i made some miami vice's. 

7. sunday we pretty did the same thing. since my rash is cleared up, i even went in for a swim.

8. my closet didn't get touched and have a feeling its last on mike's to do list so i'm going to put it back the way it was till he's ready to work on it.

9. i'm really sad that my friend is gone back to scotland. they left yesterday.

10. but i'm really happy for her because this is what she's been wanting for some time now. 

i should of gotten a hot chocolate

me on a very "scary" ferris wheel

downtown aquarium 2011

1. this is how i was feeling last night. [even a little this morning]

2. i felt like getting a hot chocolate from fivebucks. [because their drinks cost like five bucks]

3. but decided to cry in the shower instead.

4. uncle in chicago is going to hawaii for a few days before heading to germany to celebrate his mom's 70th birthday.

5. which means ham's "interning" will be done next friday.

6. so do i force ham to come back home and then take the drive with us or let him stay with friends back in elkhart for those 13 or so days?

7. its his past that scares me and is keeping me from saying yes.

8. but he is 19 years old is what's keeping me from saying no.

9. and i have to trust and hope he will make good and right decisions.

10. but isn't it my job to keep him from losing his focus till he gets out of college? i just want him to get through college. 

[love] lava light galleries

via pinterest 

found this awesome photo via pinterest but the talent behind the photo[s] can be found at lava light galleries

anniversary, locked in and cell phones

what i was doing last year on my anniversary wishing i was doing the same thing this year.

[hawaii 2011]

1. todays our 9th anniversary. we'll see if mike remembers. obviously he hasn't.

2. i've been up since 5:30- can't remember the last time i was up at this awful hour but the fiona needed out and i learned my lesson from yesterday. [she's not like ollie who waits till i wake him up!]

3. i told kaylee we would get our toes done today if fiona is picked up at a decent time.

4. did i ever mention that i locked myself inside the car?! yup, inside! and it was already hot outside- like high 80's!

5. my key is broken [a $300 repair]so now you have to manually unlock the doors well i knew something wasn't right but i got inside anyway only to have the doors lock, alarm go off and steering wheel lock.

6. i panicked because it was already so hot and i had no air. luckily, the next time i turned on the car, the windows came down but the alarm still went off and the doors were still locked.

7. long story short, had to unlock the car from the outside, again. at least i didn't have to climb out the window![btw, i was at the mall]

8. good news, my rash is starting to heal and go away. bad news, still itchy and i haven't been able to shave that armpit and won't be able too for a little longer. eww- i know.

9. guess while ham is waiting for phone calls doing his marketing thing, he's looking into new cell phones and services.

10. i might not have an iphone for much longer but i think i'm okay with that. iphones might be overrated.

crazy ideas, budgets and dogs

one year ago today; on our way to hawaii

1. i can't tell you how many times i have pleaded, begged, texted, demanded and emailed mike that we should sell all our shit  stuff and move to hawaii.

2. we do consider it. then all things comfy comes and wipes out that crazy idea.

3. it would be much easier if we didn't have kids.

4. so yesterday, kaylee got yet another swim suit because it was only $10. i noticed when i take other people with me, i tend to buy stuff i hadn't planned on.

5. i'm trying really hard to keep us on a budget only giving us so much money every 2 weeks to spend.

6. though i didn't count the $175.00 for mike's speeding ticket. 10 miles over = $175.00 ticket- isn't that kinda steep texas?!

7. though he does have the option to take a $115 on-line driving course which will clear all records of it every happening but mr. moneybags has no time for that.

8. we had friends come over to swim yesterday.

9. and having 2 dogs in the house has made my statement of "i'm not a dog person" even more true. [no matter how cute they are]

10. so for once in my life- i can not wait to disinfect and clean my house![after fiona goes home tomorrow]

super!

peanut butter chocolate eclair cake via plain chicken

1. we had company over again yesterday. say what? that's two super weeks in a row!

2. and i made this super easy, super yummy dessert that went super well with our texas heat!

3.  i went through the recipe super quick and bought regular graham crackers by mistake but think it turned out better though next time i will double the frosting for a bit more chocolate taste. [i made it the correct way before and i don't care for chocolate graham crackers]

4. i also made this super yummy potato salad by recipe for crazy.

5. my old book club is throwing a super going away party for our friend since she's moving back to scotland.

6. i was looking up flights to super surprise everyone till i remembered, much to ollie's delight, i'm dog sitting his girlfriend for the next 2 days.

7. talking to my mom i told her i was sad because everyone in our family is super done having babies. we need a baby in the family!

8. what are the odds that i get a super living social deal for archery classes and kaylee's been begging me for archery lessons? [not sure i want to drive that far]

9. ham texted me this afternoon that he was thinking about ordering some shoes so now i know he's still alive and still super shopping for shoes.

10. must be nice to be a guy sick. mike's been sleeping and resting all day. when i'm super sick i still get to do the same things- take care of kaylee, the dog and the house. 

[friday] love

ham grubbing it in chicago

[sent via iphone]

1. that ham still has his appetite and he's trying new foods. 

2. that when kaylee saw ollie humping his girlfriend, she said " aww, they're giving each other piggy back rides!"

3. that kaylee got on the computer and googled archery lessons.

4. that she made it through first grade without all the bellyaches she had in kindergarten due to stress.

5. sleeping in or more like being to able to wake up without an alarm.

6. leftover kabobs so peanut butter cookies with frosting wasn't the only thing in my diet this week.

7. my tomato, jalapeno pepper and basil plants are producing nicely.

8. sweet kaylee. she said she was sorry i'm feeling so itchy.

9. that i hardly had to cook this week since it was just us girls.

10. when an idea in my head actually turns out- so far.  [i used those command things to keep my shower caddy from sliding]