Christmas Dinner

Last night, Aaron, Truchen, and my friend Bongi (from S. Africa) came over to my place so we could all share a lil' Christmas dinner together before we all split ways for the holidays!  It was actually Gill's idea to get together for dinner, but unfortunately she was sick in the hospital ysterday afternoon and couldn't make it! :(  Poor thing!  

Speaking of "poor thing," Aaron is always the only boy in the room!  Some would say he's lucky to be in a room full of girls, but when our conversation turns to shopping, girlie books, and relationships, I'd have to disagree!  Luckily, he can roll with the punches and jump on in with us - sometimes to make fun of us, but whatever!  We all love and adore him!

Bongi was in charge of bringing the dessert and whoever put her in charge of dessert knew what they were doing, because she sure knows how to pick em!  She found this Santa/ berry cheesecake ice cream cake at Baskin Robbins and it was to die for!    

I live on a side of Busan where there are not many foreigners, and thus not very many girls to chose to invest a friendship in... but I think I've been really lucky this year to have met Truchen (who is one of my dearest friends in the world now) and her neighbor Bongi!   Who knew I would be living in Korea and sharing a Christmas dinner with South Africans!  It truly is a small world, isn't it?!

In 2 days, I'll be having another Christmas dinner, but that time it'll be with Aaron's family in Black Mountain, North Carolina!   Life is good!  

"Peanut But-tuh sand-eeches"

Today was the last day of school before winter vacation!  

Hallelujah!  

Even someone like me, who loves teaching, needs a break from these crazy kiddos sometimes!

I decided to throw out my kindergarten lesson plan for today and do a little cooking class instead!  What did we cook, you ask?  Well, nothing really... but we did make peanut butter sandwiches, which they all pronounced, "peanut butt-tuh sand-eeches!"

 I've made it a note to not only teach English, but to introduce my students to western culture and foods as well!  I think it's worth mentioning that NONE OF THEM had ever tasted peanut butter before today's class!   CRAZY!!
   

Introducing ELF

I think introducing friends to great movies is one of life's greatest pleasures!  To anticipate their laughter as the funny parts are about to play... and to see them smile and say "Wow, that was such a good movie" gives me a sense of pride, as if I know how to pick em! 

You can imagine my shock, which quickly turned to excitement, when Aaron confessed to me that he had never seen Elf!  WWHHHAAATTT?!!!  It's been a tradition of mine, for the past 7 years, to watch it every Christmas season!  If you haven't seen it, you're missing out!

"First we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle." 

As I predicted, he loved it!

"Mery chicrimas"

Merry Chicrimas from one of my 3rd graders!

Oh and for the record, this wasn't made in my class!  I would have made her erase it if it was... That's right!  I don't mess around when it comes to spelling!  ***

Shopping, Burgers and Cupcakes!

A couple days ago, I told Aaron that he could do whatever he wanted for his birthday, and that I would pick up the tab!  His response was a simple: "I want to go shopping, have dinner with you at Breeze Burns and then go bowling."   Hey, sounds good to me! 

So, tonight after work, we did some shopping at his favorite store at Lotte and then walked over to Breeze Burns, across the street.  It's one of our favorite burger joints in Nampodong! We normally keep to our budgets and order the cheapest item on the menu when we go out, but tonight, the budget was out the window!   Apparently a beer can be pretty exciting when you're used to ordering waters! :)

Not only can I spell my name with my fingers, I can make a "29" for Aaron's birthday!  I'd like to think I'm fairly creative with my digits!

After gorging on cheeseburgers, chili fries, beer, and diet coke, we took a stroll down the newly Christmas decorated streets of Nampodong!  It looks as though they're confused... Is it Valentine's or Christmas?!  hmmm  We happened to be standing in front of this heart, ready to ask someone to snap our picture when our friend Annie came out of nowhere with her Korean co-workers!  As Annie was taking our picture, her co-workers were ooing and awing at our affection for each other!  Koreans are really shy, and thus not big on PDA with their loved ones... but they love to watch other people be affectionate!  Go figure!

I couldn't believe these little schmooches!!   How could you not want twin girls after seeing these two?!  Their mom said, "hearts," and the girls quickly made these hearts with their hands!!    This picture is for you A!

Aaron decided he'd rather skip bowling and just hang out, so we walked over to Red Velvet, a new fancy cupcake shop that recently opened on one of my favorite streets!  I sang happy birthday in English and Korean, all while Aaron was shushing me...  Hey, I don't care who hears!!  It's his birthday!

Aaron couldn't even blow out his candle before I was ready to bite into my "Red Velvet!" Some things never change!!  I've always been a sucker for cupcakes!

Mint chocolate for the birthday boy!

... and red velvet for his sugar mama!

I have 365 days until he turns the big 30!  That's when the REAL birthday party is in order ~ None of this shopping, burgers and cupcakes stuff!  

So, with that said, who wants to come to Korea next December to celebrate with us?!  Anyone??  Anyone??