October!

So I think this should finally get us caught up! But in my defense we did just move from a foreign country and had to find a house and settle in. (granted we've been moved in 2 months now but hey at least I'm trying).

October was a busy month for us. We were able to go up to Rifle, Colorado and spend a weekend with some really good friends of ours Dan and Ashley. Nate went to high school with Dan and I know they've lived in Rifle for awhile but now that we are back we are trying to take advantage of them close by (closer then across an ocean!) Our boys are just weeks apart in age and it is always fun to get them together and play.
We went for a little hike to a nearby waterfall (forgive me Ashley I can't remember the name of it). It was just right for kids. The surprise to us of the day was that Morgan went up to some other people who had a dog and asked them if she could pet it and she pet it. (those of you who know Morgan...she's a little afraid of dogs. And even since then has stayed away.) But she was a very big girl. We were proud of her. She also had a wonderful time with Ashley and just became Ashley's shadow. It was really cute. Hopefully Ashley didn't mind too much :)

Beckett, Dan and Ashley's little boy, walks really well. He really inspired Caden. The whole time we were on the hike Caden wanted to be down on the ground walking too. (He is now walking by himself!!) Thanks to Beckett's example.

We went to a nearby park and the kids ran through the water. I don't know how they did it cause it was really cold. A nice day though but really cold water!

Morgan usually is timid about running through water. But she had a blast.

Caden on the other hand thought it was too cold and this is about as close as we could get him. As long as he wasn't in it and could just splash it he was having a great time :) We had a blast that weekend and hopefully can make it a monthly visit either us there or them down here...at least until we can convince them to move to Parker :)

Morgan has been learning to read. She had to do 100 lessons and then she could pick out a book. Something we had started back in Korea. We are very proud of her for sticking with it. She was so excited when she finished her last lesson that she had to call her grandmas and grandpas and all her aunts and uncles. (It really isn't a surprise that she picked out a princess book :)

We had our cousins over to make little salt dough figures for Halloween and painted them. They all had a blast!
Grandma and Grandpa Layton came over and helped us carve pumpkins this year! It was really great to let the kids have some one on one time with their grandparents. and I think Grandma and Grandpa had fun too.

I'm not so sure Caden knew what was going on.

I couldn't help it. I thought this was hilarious!!

A tradition we've had since before Korea was to go to a pumpkin patch. We actually found out that day when it was and so didn't have time to get to plan it with our regular bunch. Although half of them moved! (Addie and Dallas!!) So we really missed being with the Howells.
Morgan decided to be Snow White and Caden really didn't have a choice in the matter. He was the lion. He can roar pretty good though.

The famous hay ride.

We thought it might be fun to do the barrel ride. We were the last ones to get on so unfortunately couldn't be next to each other. But as we'd turn Morgan and I could almost touch each other and give high fives. It was fun trying though.

Of course there was the pumpkin patch. They are so cute!

Need I say more?

We took the kids out trick or treating. We went early and not that many people were out yet. Which to our surprise is the best time to go. Everyone has so much candy at the beginning that they kept telling Morgan to take more. We got quite a bit and we really weren't even out for very long!Of course we had to go to Grandma's house. They had a little party for the younger kids. They had a lot of fun.

We did the old hang a doughnut from a string game. This was Morgan's first time. She loved it!

Morgan had so much fun that she had to help Gavin too. It's almost as if Morgan was helping him take a bite!

Lions and tigers and.....Cinderella????

Morgan is 4!!!!

For Morgan's birthday we decided to go to Water World. We had a blast!!! I never knew that there was so much to do even with small kids!



For Morgan's actual day we went to the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Layton. I cried that day. I can't believe she is 4. My mom says just wait till next year when she turns 5 and starts school!! That was a great comfort!

Morgan's favorite animal (at least this day was the giraffe).

Morgan got a bike for her birthday.
Which we had to go try out :) She caught on pretty quick.

Even Caden helped her celebrate :)

We had a little party for her a lot of family came over. Morgan was the one that invited them. She told me every single person she wanted at her party. (that lived here and could come).

She of course had a princess cake and party :)

Morgan is our little princess. It is really hard to believe that she is 4. She is growing up so quick. She is such a sweet girl and cares about everyone. She has especially been an angel to her mommy. Her smile lights up the room and her hugs can heal some of the deepest heartaches. We are truly blessed to have her in our family. Happy Birthday Morgan!!!!

Back in the good ol' U S of A

It took a while at first but once we got settled (had a baby) Korea was really great. Mr Ahgasawki (which is not really his name but what I accidentally called him at one time when talking to my friends and Nate) was our house guard I guess is what you'd call it? He helped me learn how to back up our car to park in the ever so tight spaces in our parking garage. He was super nice and would always say hi to us.
We went to dinner with everyone from Nate's work. Yes this was our favorite restaurant. I miss it!!!!!

again Nate with everyone from work.

Ahhh...Frosty! Our car in Korea. We miss him too. He was a good car.

All packed up.
We went to Jeju from here. Then back to Seoul had lunch with the Ahns and then left Korea. I will forever be grateful for Sister Ahn. She was another who helped make the transition bearable. Especially after me throwing up when I first got there!!

Back to the good ol Us of A!!!
We got back to the states July 4th. A great way to celebrate our independence! We immediatly got busy looking for a car and house. With in a month we found both. We have been very blessed since being back in the states. We miss all of our friends in Korea but are glad to be back with family and old friends again.

A short while after getting back we made a trip out to Utah for a family reunion on the Feher side. I actually met Nate's family who I've never met before. They are wonderful and we had a great time getting to know them.
We stayed with Dawnelle (Nate's sister) and her husband Eric. While there they introduced me to what is probably now my most favorite past time ever!!!
I went water skiing for the first time in my life. Although I never got up on the skis.
I tried soooo hard. And I have never been so sore and for sooo long after this trip yet had so much fun.

since I wasn't progressing with the skis we decided to change it up a little bit. (I think the kids were bored...how long can you watch mommy/aunt Debbie fall? (Steve and Marty don't answer that!!)

Dawnelle and I rode the tube together and Eric really tried hard to get us off. I am proud to say that we both survived and never fell off. Got some good air a few times...but never fell off.
After tubing Eric got out his surfboard. He of course made it look so easy. So they all tried to get me to go back in the water and try that. Yeah right! My feet aren't even hooked into anything! Amazingly enough I actually got up! But everyone was so surprised no one had their cameras going and I didn't have the strength to try again. (it really takes a lot out of you). So Dawnelle gets up (of course). And then everyone tells me to try again. (I was pretty upset with Nate that I finally get up and he didn't have the camera!) Ok...I'll try it again......

This is just one of the many that Nate took. I even have videos!!!! I have to tell you I am soooo proud of myself and I had so much fun!

Of course Nate got up. Right away.
Eric wanted to go out again 2 days later (the day of the reunion for just a couple of hours). I have to tell you I was pretty sore from the first day! But how often am I going to get this chance? (well since we don't live near them or near anyone else with a boat) So we went. It was a different boat this time. Not as nice as the first day. I think they were trying out different people's boats to figure out if they want to get their own. So this time Eric gets out the wake board. Nate of course got up right away. I get in the water...my first 2 times....splash. nothing. but on my third try...I got up!!! Yea!!! I had so much fun. I was trying to convince Nate that we needed to get a boat :)
So I finally was able to try water skiing, wake boarding and the surf board. We all really enjoyed it. Of course Morgan loved the tube so that was a plus there too :)

Caden is 1!!!!!

Between our travels to Japan and Jeju...we celebrated Caden's first birthday!!! It is hard to believe that he is one already!!!
Caden has been our little challenge. Doctors appointments and worry and concern. He seems to know that though and will come over and give me hugs or just love to hold your hand. He is a trooper. He is definitely teaching us that boys are different than girls and is learning his "brotherly" role pretty good. His eyes light up when he smiles and he gets really excited when he does something that pleased us. He also has his sensitive side and will cry when Morgan or mommy cries and wants to make sure we are ok. We love our little "Korean" boy. Happy Birthday Caden!!

Because of his egg allergy he got pie instead of cake

I think he liked it!

For his birthday we went to an aquarium with some friends of ours. We have been there before so it might sound familiar. It is inside a really large mall which is mostly underground.

Us and the Webbs. They have been our really good friends since day one that we moved to Korea. We were both pregnant at the same time and had daughters named Morgan. It's always hard to say goodbye to friends. This was the last time we saw them. We left the next weekend hit Jeju and then on to the states.
Caden and Jackson. I think Caden knew this might be the last time he would see his friend. He was taking it pretty hard. Either that or Jackson is pinching him from behind :)

It was friends like these that made living in Korea bearable. I know I haven't been the best at keeping in touch with everyone since we've been back but know that you are missed and loved. And thank you so much for making our time in Korea memorable.