Chuseok, my "thanks" begin with the kids

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I do acknowledge that Thanksgiving has become, as of the past few years, a small dinner, a small moment of gratefulness for family, and good food, and a day off. The hoopla it may have once held, or may hold for other families, has dwindled for our family...and by that I mean that we have accepted it as a wonderful excuse to cook a turkey, and actually sit down at the dinner table together. It is not a large gathering of friends and family...it is not an excuse to overdo it on wine and tell embarassing stories to members of your extended family that may not be as educated on your personal information. But, for that reason, it has become even more meaningful to me. It is a time when our small family realizes how close we are, and how we really only need eachother to appreciate the value of the holiday.

And this year is the first time I have not been allowed that opportunity to enjoy it. Appreciate it, however, I do...even more now that I can only relish the joy it would bring if I was there. But alas, I am not. I am with my kids, dressed to the nines in traditional 'hanbok', hysterical with the knowledge of their different attire, the fact that there schedule for the day was out of whack, and knowing that they were about to get a whole week off to feast.

I missed my family, but there were good things to acknowledge. The kids looked amazing, and it was an incredible experience to see them knee deep in their own culture, something i would not have access to otherwise. And Bill and his family took me for dinner, which gave me the opportunity to experience the family side of the holiday. I don't know what I would have done without Bill as a part of my Korean experience. It meant the world to me to be welcomed into their home, and into their own intimate family experience. That is something I have needed, something i have missed much more than I thought. And that I am thankful for. And for my family at home, to know I have an amazing group of people on the other side of the world to miss.

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Photos

Chris and Leo
Leo was a camera hog that day....as he is everyday

Jasmine
Beautiful hanbok

Johnny, Kate, and Jasmine
Kate's outfit was, of course, and attention getter

Edward
Hammin it up, love that monster

An adorable threesome
Johnny, Edward, and Leo

Leo and June, in a headlock
It was meant to be a nice pic....

June's pride
June looked like a pimpin little man in his hanbok.....he knew it

John and WIlliam
my little men...behaved

Random William scream
It was perfect...went to take a nice photo of William in his gear, and he busts out a random howl. I don't know why. I never will.

Jimmy
Awkward, but cute, as usual

Attendance time
It was tricky getting any classroom particulars over with that day

My beautiful kids
June sees something...he always does

It is a spider
It probably made their day...at leat the boys...they were mesmorized

Edward and Kate
My smallest and largest kids...both, however, the biggest sucks

Liz and Alice
Superstars