Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 started with a BANG!  By bang I actually mean lots of vomiting and sick children.  In the middle of the night/early hours of the 24th Gabby and Natalie started down the dreaded Stomach Bug course puking every hour for over 6 hours.  Rick spent the middle of the night cleaning up vomit and washing the sheets and several clothes all because he wanted to keep me and my pregnant self away from the vomit.  He was hoping I wouldn't get sick.  Little did he know I would be sick on Christmas Day! :) Fortunately the stomach bug only lasted 24 hours and the girls were good to go come the evening of the 24th.  They two older girls were anticipating Santa, but Henley was not sure about all the commotion.  The next couple of years will be full of excitement as they get old enough to understand.  This is our last Christmas as a family of 5 and last with only girls!! Next Christmas we will get to add some blue to the mix with the addition of Zachary!!!   The girls were allowed to open one of the presents from MomMom and DadDad on Christmas Eve as she made them some soft fleece blankets and after the stomach bug we thought it would be fun to cuddle up with soft blankets while anticipating the arrival of Santa.

Opening their presents on Christmas eve. Henley looking to her older sisters for guidance.  All three look sweet in their matching PJs

Henley knows when to pose for the Camera.

Natalie was the first to get hers open.

Henley showing off her pretty blanket.

Sheer excitement on Gabby's face.

Santa brought Henley a bitty baby set and baby stroller (MomMom and DadDad provided the mega blocks but I didn't have a box to fit them so they got set out with the other presents!! SORRY MOM)

Gabby wanted these specific princess dresses and shoes to match. Santa couldn't help but oblige.

Natalie scored the best with her own ipad. Now before you think I spent that much money on her, think differently. We were able to get an old broken Ipad fixed for the same cost spent the other girls!! Thats bargain shopping!!

Not really sure about all the commotion

Skyping with MomMom and DadDad while opening presents. DadDad is in the background with his Santa Hat..Look closely at my ipad screen :)

Opening presents from Grandma..>BARBIES

Seoul Land

While at the PX we saw these little cardboard houses, we decided to get it for them even if it got torn up, we knew they would enjoy it.

Peek-a-boo

The donkey was put to work

Fall Trip to Seoul Land over Chusok Weekend.  

My scarecrows

One would think we were at Epcot in this picture. We like to pretend we were.

Hennys first ride on a carousel 

The bigger girls loved it.

Rick rode Peter Pan with the bigger girls.

Flying DUMBO

She was not a good partner in Dumbo. She wanted to climb out of the ride 

Natalie got the purple elephant

A little ride for Gabby alone. She loved it.

Face painting - Minnie Mouse

A dolphin for Natalie

This was a big dome like trampoline with slides etc. The girls spent about 30 min playing on it. Their dad might have had more fun than them.

Up up and away!!!

Where have we been?

Wow! Where did the time go? I just realized it has been over two months since I updated the blog. That might be the longest time period between blog posts I have ever had.  What have we been doing?  The better question is, What have we not been doing?  Here is a quick recap of the last few months and an update as to where we are and what we are doing.

June 2012 -

June saw the end of 1st Grade for Natalie and the last time she would attend Humphreys Elementary School.  She ended the year reading on a 4th/5th Grade level and we could not be more proud.  She is doing well in school and we can't wait to see what 2nd Grade holds for her.

Gabby was her usual bubbly spunky self and there is nothing major to report for her.  She talks more and more and gets in more and more trouble.

Henley turned 10 months old in June and also got tubes placed in both her ears at a Korean Hospital. What was a 10 minute couple hour outpatient experience for Natalie was an overnight stay for Henley. She was intubated instead of gassed and it took 3 times as long for the procedure. Definitely interesting. Though everything was okay and the procedure simple, I do not want to experience the Korean medical system for anything more than tubes. It was unique.  It makes you grateful for the medical care we have.  Henley also started walking at 10 months old and is the earliest of our children to walk to date.  The older girls did not start walking until 13 months and Henley beat that record.  Now, she is the slowest when it comes to talking.

June also saw the Frank family move from Camp Humphreys South Korea to Seoul, South Korea for a year. Rick was assigned a job in Seoul and that meant the family had to pack up and move too. New School, New House, New Job, New environment. It was quite a lot to process. We moved a week after Henley's tubes were placed in and we didn't stop there.

July 2012 -

Oh July. Korea is not the greatest of places in the summer. Its Monsoon season and gets very humid hot. Possibly worse than Houston area.  My mom flew to Korea in July and picked up Natalie for her visit to Turkey.  We enjoyed her visit for a few days and are thankful she was here.  During her time here Henley contracted Hand Foot and Mouth and was really sick. She was on the mend when my mom arrived, but two days later was running another 105 degree temperature warranting a trip to the ER.  After rounds of tests, 2 IVs of fluid Henley was diagnosed with a Kidney Infection and started on some strong antibiotics.  That was a rough couple of weeks for the poor girl. We could not keep her well.

July we learned that we were expecting baby #4. A complete surprise of a baby.  This baby was not planned that is for sure.

August 2012 -

Henley turned 1!!!!!!  We have a toddler now! :) She is 27 pounds and 31 inches. Putting her in the 96th percentile for height and weight. She is no lightweight that is for sure.  Henley weighs as much as her sister who is 2 1/2 yrs old.  They are polar opposites.

Rick left for the field for 3 weeks and Natalie returned from Turkey two days after her Dad left for the field.  That was not the best timing. Mom stayed for 10 days and once again was a life saver. With morning sickness and extreme fatigue the extra help was more than appreciated.

At the end of August  we found out that Baby #4 will be our only BOY. After three girls, we got a boy.  Or at least thats what they say for now. We are still waiting on the 20 week ultrasound to confirm sex, wouldn't that be a shock if he turned out to be a she.

Natalie started 2nd grade August 27th and we are hoping this year is a great year for her.  

That is a recap of the last 3 months and we look forward to the fall and the holidays approaching.  We are supposed to move from Korea in May and I am counting down the days until the birth of our LAST child and our move back to the United States.  Its been fun living in a foreign country but after 4 years its time to leave.

Now for the pics.

 

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

Field Day 2012

Natalie participated in Field Day this year at Humphreys American School.  She really enjoys field day and it reminds me of my childhood and elementary school field days.  However, they no longer award ribbons for places because now days everyone is a "winner!".  

My little runner in the relay race. I love how her tongue is always out.

Looking over her shoulder to see who was approaching her.  Once again that tongue is out.

This little piggy went to market...

Sack race.  I made sure that mop top of hers was out of her face.

Such smiles.

Interesting relay, but she liked it.

Henley must not have found the field day as entertaining as her sisters.

Sharing juice with her older sister.

Gabby wanted in on the action so her sister was showing her how the next activity went.

Gabby was always close behind.

Seriously, where did she get those lips???