Jill in Korea

I started my day out with a full dose of family time! Kevin's dad drove me over to Kirstin and Jay's to have breakfast with them and the boys! Jay, the master breakfast cook made us french toast, eggs, and crispy bacon (just the way Kirstin and I love it!)

Caeden is such a ham!

After breakfast together, we moved over into the family room so Caeden could show me his newest dance moves, which were an interesting mix between star wars style fighting, hop scotch, and river dance!! This kid's got some serious moves! Someone sign him up for a dance class!

Caleb was content stacking blocks when Jay and I weren't trying to get him to walk on his own, which was a no-go by the way. So sad. :(

Then it was time for some "animal games" as Caeden calls them! As a side note... Only a cool aunt would wear a crown while tossing stuffed animals into red plastic baskets! Can I get a little credit here?!!

This was literally the look on this kids face all day long! He's incredible!

We topped off the morning with an awesome drum recital!

My friend Cassie came and picked me up, and off we went to Jamba Juice for a Razzmatazz, my favorite! It was so good to catch up with her and talk travels, school, marriage, family, etc... We hadn't seen each other since her wedding 2 years ago and our visit was long overdue!

Then... it was off to see the Nivyabandi's! It was such a treat to get to see their new apartment in Phoenix, and to see how the boys English had improved so much in just one year!

Julienne did some good old African cooking for us, and we all sat at the kitchen table, chatting and catching up on the year!

This was their adorable tribute to Korea! (Julienne, Dadier, Me, Augustin, Jules, and Pamphile)

At 4:30pm (just like clockwork) Tiffany knocked on the door to pick me up for dinner! She took me to La Grande Orange, which is one of my favorite pizzerias in Phoenix!

Getting to have Tiff as my dinner date was perfect! She has lived in Prague for the last 2 years, so we were able to talk about traveling, life living abroad, and just about everything under the sun! The 2 of us could have talked all night if there weren't places to go and people to see!

We did, however, stop at her parents house to see their new puppy, Minnie, who is adorable and loved me like crazy before we headed back to the Murphys!

I was so sad to say goodbye to Tiffany, but so excited to get to see Sarah, Caleb, Kirstin, Caeden, Kelsers, and Jameson who were all at Kirstin's!

This was the shirt I found for Sarah! "Havea chew as heart?"

Sisters, together for the 1st time in a year...

2 more months, and these two will be newleyweds!!!

After it got late, Sarah and I headed over to the west side to settle in for the night at her place. When I walked in, I saw this note on her refrigerator "YAY JILLERS!" made from scrabble pieces she had turned into magnets! She's my creative friend for sure!! (You too Jess)

I'm literally running off of adrenaline today (and a little bit of diet coke caffeine) after sleeping only 4 hours last night!!! I'm hoping tonight is a different story, but knowing Sarah and I, we'll never be able to stop talking! Not that I'm complaining! :)

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Anderson Family Dinner Night!

Anytime I hear the words, "Anderson Family Dinner Night" I know I'm in for a good time! This time, family dinner night was in my honor, which was awesome! Before I left Korea, Kevin's mom asked me what I wanted to have for dinner, and I quickly answered: brisket, mashed potatoes, fruit, and cinnamon muffins please... as if I had been waiting for her to ask me for an entire year! She laughed and said, "That's my Jillers!"

I could barely contain myself when Kirstin (Kevin's sister), Jay (her husband) and their 2 boys, Caeden (4) and Caleb (1) walked in the door! I instantly hugged Kirstin, picked up Caleb...

gave Caeden and huge auntie Jiller's hug... and unloaded the gifts! :) Caeden was a good reminder. He looked me straght in the eye and said, "Auntie Jillers. Where's my gift?!" haha! He got this bathtime shark glove, since he's going through a fish and animals phase! I think he was a big fan!

The boys (Jay, and dad) got some chocolate "Crunky Nude Balls!" (Those were given more for the name than the taste!) There were plenty of jokes to be made with this one!

Then the girls got their funny English T-shirts! (Kirstin)

Mom and Caleb... (Double click to read the ridiculous message on her shirt.)

I also gave Caeden some Korean style crayons. We sat down at the kitchen table together to do some coloring, and he asked me to write his name for him, so I spelled in it Hangul (the Korean alphabet). After looking at it for a couple seconds, he looked over at me, very puzzled, and said, "Jillers. My name doesn't have an "F" in it!" We all died laughing!