YISS Rummage Swap and Fun day!

This year we put on our first rummage swap during the annual fun day.  It was a huge success!

 Why doesn't everyone do these things??

 It was great to be together with the YISS staff and families for a day of fun in the sun.. it means more to me now than years past as we are thinking about leaving these dear friends.   Jarrod spent the afternoon playing softball.  Not sure if you can see him (click to enlarge) but Jarrod is pitching.  (This was taken just before he hit a home run...)

Camping, Korean Style!

Thursday night after school, we headed out of Seoul to go camping with the students he took on a mission trip to the Philippines last month. I have heard that camping in Korea is jokingly called "glamping".. which stands for: glamour camping.   Yes.

We got to the camp site and easily found one of the four rented trailers for Jarrod's post-GWAM camping trip.   Inside, we found that it was quite similar to renting a hotel room.

Marc and Emmalyn were PUMPED about the bunk beds!  Marc called the top!

We went to sleep that night.. and it got.. in a word: COLD.  Since Jarrod and I are Americans used to tent camping.. this did not phase us.  We bundled up, and camped.  Come morning.. as we started to move and thaw a bit.. we discovered the floor heat that could have been on all night.

Then we thawed much quicker and happier. 

Jarrod manned the stove to make eggs and bacon for all the students on the trip!

Then we explored a bit...

.. on Bicycles!

Here are the two other teachers (Ms. Bandy and Ms. Corbett) that lead the trip with Jarrod.

We found all sorts of interesting things to look at..

And then had a picnic lunch before heading home.

It was a quick overnight trip, but such a good experience and SO fun!

Guemho Potlucks

One of the blessings of living in our apartment complex, Guemho Bestvill, is the community it provides.  There are several other YISS families that live here with us, and lots of other families with kids for Marc and Emmalyn to play with.  We have been getting together for cookouts at the playground (one in the Fall, and now we are revisiting the idea as the weather has gotten warmer again).  

Good food, great friends, sweet memories!

2013 YISS Annual Christmas Party

One of the highly anticipated events of the year is the YISS Christmas party.  It is a "black tie" event at the Seoul Millennium Hilton Hotel and always so fun to see the beautiful Christmas decorations and spend an evening out as a family with our friends.  The other reason it is highly anticipated is because it is an opportunity to get a great family picture.

This year, Alaina got sick and after much debate, we decided we just couldn't afford to take her out for the evening (and eventually landed in the hospital anyway.. more to come on that).

Anyway, I decided to stay home with Alaina and encouraged Jarrod to go to his work party.  Jarrod decided he was up for the challenge to take both Marc and Emmalyn with him - so they got all dressed up and headed out for a night on the town.  He spent most of the night taking care of them, but dutifully snuck in a few pictures for his wife. :) 

The YISS staff kids all got together for a picture this year... can you spot Marc and Emmalyn?! :)

Here is the highly anticipated family photo:

While this is a fantastic photo, it is only half of our family - so they are not off the hook.  

I anticipate a family photo session coming soon to our home. :)