Hard week...

Sorry family, as it has taken me so long to post our Christmas Pics. We have all been either sick (Mia and Chad) or moving slowly (me) or still having a hard time adjusting to all the changes (Nykolas). I am finding getting settled here more difficult than any other place we have been....besides the fact that I am seven months pregnant and am trying to keep house and keep two toddlers in line....Mia was sick for two days as has been Chad and Nykolas is still in 'remission' from potty training. I have never in my life cleaned up more, how shall I put this delicately, disgusting things. Mia is now on the mend and I think Chad is not far behind. Prayfully Nykolas and I will miss out on this horrible stomach thing.

I am much more dependent here on others. Dependency not being my strong point ~ I have struggled. Please keep us in your prayers.

Wishing I was close to home now more than ever before.....

Merry Christmas

Christmas Slideshow.....

CLICK HERE....

Sleeping with blocks.....ouch....

Nykolas had to stay home the other day as Hitomi and Jeeyoon took Mia to the grocery....I decided it was her turn to go as he usually goes....he was fine at home with me and Chad but the next day when we were getting ready to go out all together ~ Nykolas louded shouted "Joy stay, me go bye-bye" ~ talk about holding on to things!

I'm finally up and running with the internet. This has been a busy and tiring week but we have made it through. The house is pretty well unpacked....still buying a few essentials such as drawers for the kids, washer/dryer, iron, etc....

Life is in some ways more convienent as living is much more urban but the walking back and forth from the grocery is taking it's toll on me. I am going to have to adjust to the daily shopping instead of weekly shopping and I'll probably be doing more night shopping with Chad and home and the kids asleep. Shopping and then walking home with two toddlers is trying to say the least.

Everyone here has been so welcoming. Jeeyoon, Chad's secretary has been an amazing help. Hitomi also joined us for a week and I am not sure I would be where I am without her help. We have taken the subway (very convienent and easy), worn the kids out on a tour of the city on a double decker bus, enjoyed a street vendor lunch in PIFF Square downtown, walked on the beach and of course visited at least two Starbucks.

The kids seem to have adjusted pretty well. Nykolas has had more potty accidents than need be but we are extending tons of grace with all the changes....I must say the washing machine has gotten to the MUST HAVE IMMEDIATELY list though. Nykolas did mention going home on our first day here but has since decided, in light of all his toys being unpacked that this is home.

We are looking forward to a two day holiday at a nearby hotel for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Just to rest and be with one another without all the to-do lists that seem to be floating about.

Phone number....

82 (country code) 51 (city code) 912-1870

So, from the states you would dial 011-82-51-912-1870.

We are still in the same time zone....GMT +09:00.

Atlanta -14 hours ahead
Dallas - 15 hours ahead
San Deigo - 16 hours ahead
and Bonnie Scotland - 9 hours ahead

We made it! God was so so good to us on our trip to our new home. In spite of the 3:30am waking time, two one-hour flights en route, a three hour layover in Fukaoka which included a transfer of us and ALL our baggage on a bus from one terminal to the next, a mommy and daddy responsible for 13 bags and nothing familiar ~ our children were AMAZING! Nykolas even stayed dry the whole day ~ letting us know quite emphatically at a very convenient time "Poo poo NOW mommy" and we made it to the bathroom! And both kids slept on both flights. Chad and I kept looking at each other saying "THIS is going too smoothly". God provided help at every turn...airline personnel and even a huge cargo elevator right where the bus in mainland dropped us off with two babies in strollers and 4 luggage carts packed to the hilt ~ we all fit ~ even me with my big belly! Chad did all the work...as I cannot lift anything too heavy and all of our things...including the kids in car seats are a too weighty....I know his back is killing him but what a hero he was!

There was a group awaiting our arrival with a banner and flowers! Nykolas, Mia and I went in one car with two new friends straight to our new apartment and Chad followed with several others and all our luggage. Hitomi arrived the same evening we did and it's been sooooo good having her here for familiar company and the extra set of hands. Our boxes arrived the day after us. Now we are all tucked in our new place with slowly unfolding boxes and new friends in and out helping us get settled.

My husband once again has scored high points with our apartment. I love it....it's cozy yet plenty big enough for all of us. There are some glitches that are being worked out....slow drains, leaking sink, and no heat yet but all that will get fixed and once we purchase all the homey things...i.e. a rug for the living room floor, trash cans, etc....this place will become home very quickly. We are conveniently located one block from a mega store called Homever which has everything from towels and sheets to groceries. The grocery section is huge with a large selection....I didn't realize how un-urban Okinawa was until I was able to walk aisles again with more than 4 choices of cereal.

We have plenty of beds...although Chad, the kids and myself have all been sleeping in the same room so far....a sofa, a t.v. and dvd player...key in entertaining the kids....and I even bought a wee Christmas tree with lights. So there you have it...once again the Hammonds have conquered a move with the sweet help of our gentle Savior going before us and preparing the way!

New address..

We fly to Busan on Wednesday morning. Our house is full of packed boxes, which the kids view as their own private climbing wall, and we are living on minimal 'stuff'. Chad takes all the boxes to the airport on Monday morning to ship them air cargo...so the kitchen, as of today, is officially closed. Hooray for mommy!! Ya-ya left yesterday to be with her family in Manila and will join us in Korea in February.

Transition always pinches a bit but I think we are hanging in there. I will be glad when we are settled into our new apartment and can take some time to unpack, enjoy our new home and find twinkle lights to put sparkles in little eyes for the holidays. We've decided not to try and push ourselves for a traditional Christmas and are instead going to spend Christmas Eve and day in a suite at a nearby hotel. Taking advantage of all the holiday cheer at a hotel and of course the indoor swimming pool should be a memory, although not traditional, that Nykolas and Mia enjoy.

Friends have invited us to dinner and a free circus over the next several days. It will be nice for the kids to be out and about instead of stuck inside with loads of boxes and not many toys!

By the way...Mia is sporting the newest use of big brother's Thomas the Tank Engine briefs...clean ones of course!

Our address in Busan is as follows....

Chad and Heather Hammond
Busan-si Haewundae-gu
Woo-dong 1388-4
Daewoo Marina Apartment 106-903
South Korea