Leo's 3rd Birthday!

We celebrated our big guy's big day with an outer space party at a park in our neighborhood. 

We love you so much, Leo. Happy 3rd Birthday!

8-14-2016 Profile

Name: Leo Finley Steeves

Age: 3!

Sign: leo (coincidence; we're not into astrology or anything) 

Personality: energetic, active, tireless, lively

Likes: school, going on bike rides, chicken, chocolate ice cream, light saber duals, the pool slide

Dislikes: drinking milk, sitting still, the nighttime diaper ('they're for babies')

Favorite toy: Star Wars figurines

Favorite books: Spider-Man, Pete the Cat series, Lino

Favorite pastimes: swimming, running, kicking balls, jumping off things, dancing, shooting bad guys  

Ready to get this party started!

Eri did such a good job helping me decorate ...

... while Leo did a good job eating the cookies.

Cutest space invader ever (Mariam)

Abraham is Leo's best 'big kid friend'
and one of the cool kids in the neighborhood.

The heat didn't stop the jumping.
#sweatymess
#wethair

Get it!

You go, girl.

This was the winning shot.

Mad dash!

Happy Birthday, Leo!

We hope all your wishes come true.

The world is a little brighter with you in it.
#amotherslove
#iadoreyou

Jeju Island, South Korea

Jeju Island is South Korea's largest island and touted by everyone as the "Hawaii of Korea." Just a quick flight away, we recently spent a long weekend there with a Korean family also from Seoul. Our friends, Ju Young, who is in the South Korean military and works with Geoff, his wife Yu Young and their 4-year-old daughter Su Min, showed us all their favorite spots and made our trip authentic. We loved being toured around by them. Highlights: jet boat ride, digging for clams, kayaking in the bay, hiking to waterfalls and playing on the beach.

Over-packed. Again.

Awe, friends!

Jeju is known for its mountainous, tropical climate; beaches; volcanoes and all-around natural beauty.

And dinosaurs, too.

Sugaring up before a rainy hike.

Speed racin'

We ordered soup and all the seafood was brought to our table alive and dropped into the boiling broth. Our Korean friends kept telling me, "It's not sad, it's fresh." I didn't eat any.

This is a clip of the octopus being submerged. Spoiler alert: I freak out.

The weather was rainy, misty or foggy some of the days, but warm enough that it didn't slow us down.

Digging for clams, but only finding shells.

Yu Young and Su Min

These statues are iconic of the island. Korean tradition says expectant mothers should travel there to rub the statues' noses in hopes of having a boy. I asked where they should rub if they want a girl and was told nowhere because they only want boys. #effthat

                                     

Beach bodies

#makingherdadsoproud

Visitors from the States

Two of Eri and Leo's very favorite people came for a visit and spoiled our babes with love, attention and lots of presents. We had fun showing Nana and Grandpa Booboo around Seoul and were so sad when they left.
Highlights included: Grandpa vs. Leo light saber battles; the Pancake House breakfast for dinner; bike rides; Eri showing off for Nana at ballet class; ice cream on many (most) occasions; Everland amusement park; Star Wars movie night; and seeing the best of Seoul.
Thanks for visiting; we're ready for you to come back!

Street churros and ice cream.
Every day was a 'treat day' with Nana and Booboo.

The Children's Science Museum

City tour and the Korean Palace

The changing of the guard

South Korea's president for a day
(Tip: Watch out for the North)

Korean milkshakes

Shopping at the city markets

Feeding the birds at Zootopia

Touring the area along the North Korean / South Korean border

Korean Disneyland

Spa day with Nana

Father's Day

Makin' the donuts

Father's Day baseball game

The Twins played the Lions, but we rooted for the Bears.

Traditional Korean dinner