We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Vacation

Kyle, Nathan and I were scheduled to be in Beijing for a long weekend around now.

A few weeks ago, Kyle called with news of an unexpected business trip to Detroit. We decided to take advantage of the timing, put Beijing on hold, and arranged for all of us to briefly head back to the US and enjoy a dear friend's wedding, attend Grandpa Stabler's Military burial and celebrate Nathan's first birthday with family.

More unexpected business. This time in Korea. Our trip was dismantled and rebuilt a few times right up to the last minute. We like to keep it exciting at the Crockett household (read: I couldn't pack the family or the dog until the night before, and even then we weren't 100%). 

We ended up having to travel without Kyle, and I felt dread leading up to take off.  But, as usual, Nathan did great on the flight. He always goes with the flow and makes it easy on me.  At least as easy as it can be having a baby in your lap for 14 hours. Kyle flew in last night.  Although he missed the wedding and his Grandfather's service, we were able to move the birthday party so he could attend.

While we aren't at The Great Wall, we are truly having some great fun!

Sage and Nathan 

Allen Girls and Natey

Natey cheking if Sophie is wearing a wig

Cousins (one tired)

Sami returns from her pretzel run

No words for this picture--I can't stop looking at it
(although I should have rubbed the sunscreen in his hair more completely)

Amanda was such a beautiful bride

Nate Pilon, me, Amanda and her new husband Ryan

I haven't seen Jillian in so long!

Kimmy and Nathan 

Grandpa Stabler's ashes were mixed with his late wife's per their wishes. So romantic.
 

Preparing for the salute

Sandy and Vickie being presented the flag.

Vickie's son Devin and his new fiance Megan. Congrats! 

Grandpa and Nate

Giggling sisters 

Smiling sisters

Laura, Kendall and Nathan

Ren Cen with Kyle

From the 53rd Floor

:)sbc

Photo Walk

Tonight my photography teacher invited us on a photo walk.  I got my things all together and headed down to her apartment.  

Now, I have this habit of always forgetting one thing.  I remember the food, bib and drink but forget the spoon.  I remember the swimsuit, swim diapers and towel but forget the lotion.  I remember the phone, keys and wallet but forget the shopping list.  I remember my tripod, camera and additional lens but forget my base.

Crap.

Without the base, my tripod is useless and the whole point of this exercise is to play with light and take pictures at dusk and in the dark, which means your camera needs to be very still.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

My instructor has a monopod, which was helpful.  I managed to get some shots but most of them I was just too wiggly (even if I held my breath.)  Anyway, it was fun and I can't wait to go out again, because now I at least know some fun places to try!

Waterfall at the Cheonggyecheon

Jongno Tower

Reflection of Jongno Tower in another building 

Fun with shutter speed 

Setting up a shot on the plaza (this one is with my iphone)

:)sbc

Coffee Talk

This morning we joined Kyle on his usual Sunday coffee run.

Oops--still in manual mode from yesterday's class

Where's Daddy going? 

I'll just wait for him here 

Pretty comfy, actually 

Natey Wi 

Here comes Daddy

Wait, he only has two coffees--where's mine?

:)sbc

PS--Today I took Nate and Pete on a lovely walk where I learned these two lessons:
1. If you are going to take your big/real camera on a hike to the mountain, ensure the battery is charged.  Wah-waaaaah.
2. If you are going to hike the mountain, carry the baby in the back.  It's too hard to see over him to make it down and up all the stairs, especially while the dog is also jockeying for position.

A Night at the Casbah

It's Ball and Gala season!  Last year, the two big (read: fun) ones fell during the last two weeks of my pregnancy. We, needless to say, did not attend.

Recently I asked Kyle, "If you had to choose how many Balls you wanted to attend--and you can't say zero (totally thought I had outsmarted my by-the-numbers husband)--how many would you attend?"

"Negative-one."

But he was a good sport and got dressed up for me--and admitted it was fun--for this year's Australia and New Zealand Association (ANZA) Ball.  This is the same organization that puts on the Melbourne Cup Party and Hat Party each Fall, so a good time was pretty sure thing.

We are dressed up, so of course we need a family pic! (Check out the very serious Natey) 

Fun with the iphone at a stop light 

Arriving at the Grand Hyatt Seoul

Lilly, Liad, me, Jessica, Leslie, Shelly and Randi at cocktail hour

Full dance floor

Fun

Entrance from cocktails to dinner 

Dessert (there is a little candle behind my Morocco scene-very cute)

Crocketts

:) sbc