Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster, one of our favorite rides at Disneyland
Hawaii Sea Turtle, we saw a few when we were snorkeling in Hawaii this summer.
Amber went to the Balloon festival in New Mexico this fall
Blown Glass Balloon from Grandma Dana
Buddha offerings wooden bell from Korea
Dragon roof tile from Korea
Logan's trains
There's Thomas
Here are the rest!
Last year we bought a plastic tree from Costco and weren't too impressed so this year we decided to go back to "our roots" by getting a real tree! The Turpins pointed us in the direction of Home Depot and we found a winner, for a great price too. The drill bit to put a hole in the thing almost cost more than the tree... I thought I drilled a straight hole, maybe the tree grew off the edge of a cliff or something, if you look at the picture you can see I had to wedge a few game cases under the stand to make it look okay.
Next came the lights, logan was a big help making sure that the line didn't get tangled up. For those of you who have never seen a "Cottrell Tree" it is kind of a mix between a bonfire and burning bush. We just cut off the, "for external use only" stickers off the lights and get to work. I have great memories of putting lights on at Grandma's house as well as mom and dad's, it really gets me into the Christmas holidays. We put on some B-B-B-Bing and some Jonny Mathis and went to town.
Once we were done with the lights we put up our ornaments and Logan spent the entire night finding the perfect spot for "Kachow" a.k.a. Lightning McQueen.
There's the spot!
Welcome to our winter wonderland!
This year has brought so many blessings to our family and we have so much to be thankful for. It was nice to have some time off work to spend at home with Logan and Amber and really get into the holiday spirit. We were shopping for some groceries and we saw a small turkey and thought it would be fun to try making one. Neither of us had any experience baking one before but it turned out pretty good, and Amber's potatoes and deserts were especially delicious. 
Pumpkin Pie Squares for Daddy and Strawberry pudding cake for mommy. Logan just licked the cool whip off of both our our spoons.
For Thanksgiving our friends the Rogers invited us over to their house for dinner. It was so awesome, their house was beautiful and the kids had a blast running around playing. Though we only had a few moments when all of us were at the table and not chasing kids or changing diapers, it was really memorable and we feel blessed to have such wonderful friends who make us feel so at home when family is far away. Logan was so cute, after we had all sat down for dinner, Bern and Eric asked us if we wanted to say a prayer. Logan immediately bowed his head and started saying one. It was short and sweet and perfect.
This year Santa was so much nicer, last year he had a crazy look in his eye like he was about to snap under the pressure of running out of candy canes or something. The boys had a blast putting on antlers and looking at the cool workshop display.
With a face like that we were worried they were going to kidnap him and force him into elf labor.
Matthew enjoying an icecream cone.
This was a big surprise, Logan usually dislikes icecream cause he doesnt like anything that is not luke warm. Thankfully, Matthew showed him the licking technique and now he loves it.
Amber Posted:
Amber is always on Craig's List looking for deals. Lately we have been looking for a reasonably priced bunk bed. Logan is going to be capable of climbing out of his crib any day so we are preparing for him to have a "big boy bed". Amber found a great set including a dresser and a chest of drawers. The price was kind of steep but Amber was able to talk it down so we spent the weekend putting it together.
The room was not too big to start with so it was a relief to see it all fit alright.
All in all we are excited for Logan's new room. He loves to sit on the top bunk and play with his cars.
We hardly ever put up pictures of the poor kid, so here are a few... These two babies are his pride and joy. He loves to fill the interiors with fish crackers...
Logan is a happy kid. Currently his favorite song is "popcorn popping" though he won't let us drive in peace unless we have Enya's "Ornico Flow" blasting. Every time he hears it he says, "I love it song". Yes, my son loves to head bang to Enya... what can you do?
Logan is definately Amber's son. Upon finding some crumbs on the counter, he got out the vaccum and his step stool and sucked them up. He is a good little helper.
Here is Logan modeling his new sunday look courtesy of Grandma Dana.
Last week we picked up some overalls. Uncle Ben would be proud:)
More new clothes, we can't seem to get out of Costco without buying more...
Racing with Daddy.
This year we were debating staying at home and just watching a movie for Halloween, but our friends, the Rogers, invited us over and lent Logan a costume and we ended up having a blast. Logan always has so much fun with Matthew and Andrew.
Armed with a bag he made in play group, Logan hit about 8 houses before he turned to me and said, "Daddy, I'm tired, I wanna go home." What a funny kid.
Bern and Erik gave out glow sticks instead of treats, Logan had a blast, what a great idea!
The royal guard at KyongBok palace in Seoul.
The APEC building overlooking Kwang-An Ri and the bridge.
Detail of door at Tongdosa Temple.
View from Democratic park in Pusan.
Spider at Bomusa Temple
Empty court at Kyong Bok Palace.
Buddah at Yungdosa Temple, Pusan.
Seoul Station
Good for what ails you. I know that I was always told that you get warts from touching them, In Korea, frogs cure skin imperfections. I am a tad curious how to get a frog out of the pot with a ladle though...
Here are some of the more creative lanterns at the lantern festival, there were also a large number of Sponge Bob lanterns. A patent lawyer could make a killing here, I saw a cigarette vending machine with donald duck smoking a cigar as a mascot...
With cars like that, who wouldn't want to be a cop? Where do you put the "ship-won"?
Breakfast of Champions, banana milk and coco balls.
Neo-Confucianism will never die. This is the traditional meal left out on Korean Thanksgiving for the ancestors. Korea is a beautiful mixture of the future and the past. Some customs will never die.
Monument to the man who engineered the seedless watermelon. This is right across the street from the mission home.
Make graffiti not war...
This hood is run by Santa and his elves, better be good or they will break out their nines and bust a cap in your stoking.
Will explain this one later...
The priciest picture in Korea. At first I thought the nice old lady was being nice taking my picture with my camera on a trail near Haeundae beach. Little did I know that this was a service that required me to do something for her. She was selling nuts and rice cakes (I am not a big fan of either) in appreciation for her taking my picture I offered to buy some nuts. She filled a bag then threw in some cakes and told me it cost the equivalent of about 5 dollars, I was pretty shocked but I didn't want to make a scene so I pulled out my wallet and just as I was about to leave another lady said, that was just for the nuts, the cakes will be another 5... I was grateful for the picture but 10 dollars is irrational I told her that I didn't have any more money and that I didn't like rice cakes anyways then she told me that I was just like all foreigners, wanting something for nothing, when I tried to give her back her cakes she told me to just leave. I left felling bad but what could I do???
Baptising Buddah, I can finally mark that one off my missionary goals:)
Me on one of my first P-days in my greeny area, Chinju
8 years and a few pounds later... 
Last weekend I arrived home from Korea and I am finally getting back into the groove of things. I am still feeling the effects of the time change, and the smell of Kimchi still lingers in my clothes. I don't know where to begin describing the wonderful experience it was to go back to where I served my mission and be immersed in the culture with the people I love. Alot has changed since I left 6 years ago, but there are also things that will never change, Korea will always be a part of my life. There is something magical about waking up early to see the sun come up over the Oh-Ryuk islands on Pusan's South-East coast, or sitting in the raised pavillion overlooking the South river in Jinju where thousands of Korean peasants and warrior monks faught to their deaths to defend the fortress from the invading Japanese in the 16th century, or climbing South mountain in Kyoungju surrounded by towering pine trees and the remains of tens of thousands of statues. I have many wonderful memories of my mission serving there, but after a few years those memories began to feel like distant dreams and it was wonderful to go and refresh some of those and make new ones independant of my missionary experiences. Being away from Logan and Amber for so long was definately one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I am grateful for the time spent back in the land of the morning calm, my home away from home.
