Happy 60Th Birthday Dad!

I guess the Randall Jr. have a little birthday blogging tradition around here. This little post is dedicated to Mr. Randall Sr. 

Happy 60th Birthday Dad! 

From Joe:

Dad,

  Happy 60th birthday!  I hope it was memorable.  I just wanted to let you know how much you mean to me.  You are the man I truly look up to and admire.  I admire you for your work ethic, your knowledge and your sacrifices you have made for your family.  You are truly a great man.  You have raised successful and happy children who admire and love you very much.  Your wife has stuck by your side for over half of your life, you have individually become a very successful businessman doing something you love.  And the best part about you is, that everyone who knows you or has dealt with you in any form, always has the same words to describe you.  "Mike is a loyal and honest man who they respect."  People have to earn respect and you have earned it throughout your life, everywhere you go.  I am so proud to call you my dad.  I love you very much and look forward to spending time with you in a short few months.

From Stephanie:

Happy Birthday Mike! 

I always had a dad growing up. I was never one of those girls who would seek the attention of a father figure. I never expected to gain another dad when I married Joe. But that’s what happened. Not only did I get to marry a wonderful man but I gained a second set of parents. I don't think I could have been any luckier.

You're the kind of man that leads by example. You’re not a huge talker. You'd never tell us what to do or how to act unless we wanted your advice. And even then you would be sure to make it clear that it is simply your opinion, your views on a situation.

You’re open about your feelings. On more than one occasion you’ve told me you were proud of me. Out of the blue, for no reason but to tell me I’ve made you proud. Just for being me. It’s one of the best feelings, knowing your dad loves you and appreciates you and your hard work. It means more knowing you said it because you wanted to. Not at an event, not to get attention for yourself, just because you felt it. 

In the few years that we have known each other you have completely opened your home, friends and heart to me. I never expected that. You have shared your passions with me. Not pushing them on me but you answer questions when I ask. Your willing to open up and share. I never have to pry a conversation out of you. 

You’re passionate and devoted. Your strong willed and hard working. You pass on your passions and share your hobbies with your family. You're a true father, not just a weekend dad. A few summers ago you took Joe and I on a tour of the mill and then for a mini tour of some of the land you were working on and processing. Watching you and seeing the pride  you have in your work is inspiring. I want to have career like you. A job I want to show off and am proud of.

You’ve invited Joe and I on vacations. You’ve let us learn how to be adults and grow into our roles in the family. Helping us when we need it, nudging us along. Helping Joe to become the man of our little family. Leading him in the right direction but never pushing him. 

I wish I could do more to show you how much I appreciate you and how much you truly mean to me.

Happy Birthday! Enjoy your special day and sleep well knowing you have a family that truly, unconditionally loves you and thinks you are the greatest dad! 
xoxo Stephanie

Happy Birthday Stephanie!!!

Hello everyone,

I wanted tot take some time and blog about the best wife a man could ask for. As you may know, it is Stephanie's 28th birthday May 9th.  Stephanie has been "politely" hinting at the fact that we have been here for two years and I have yet to blog about anything so I figured a perfect time to blog would to be about Stephanie.

We have been here almost 2 years now, with a couple geat very memorable vacations thrown in there but for the most part, working 5 days a week 10-7.  It has started to feel like groundhogs day...as they say here, "same same, but different."

 Through all of it, Stephanie has been the rock that has kept us positive and upbeat.  On the days where I want to tell my boss off or kick a side of a car that almost hits me in a cross walk or elbow people who have no idea how to wait in line, walk on a sidewalk or wait for an elevator (because there have been A LOT of those days) she is great at reminding me why we are here and points out all of the positive things that have came from this experience.  With out her, I would not have been able to experience so much in my life, the places we have been, the people we have met, the memories we have made all in a short few years of being married.  I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with her and continue making countless memories together.

I am so proud of my wife, it is unreal.  She is the best teacher I have ever met, everyday I see her with the children, I am in awe.  She has this talent of being able to connect with every kid in a special way which makes me strive to be better.  She is also the most determined person I know.  If she wants something, there is nothing that is going to hold her back, she has the belief in herself and work ethic to achieve anything.  Stephanie is also one of the most humble people I know.  For all her talents and beauty, she still acts as if none of that matters.  I love the way she can be proud of herself and be confident, but in a way where no one would ever feel threatened or underappreciated.

I just wanted to wish Stephanie a happy birthday and tell her that I love her with all my heart. As well as share a few of my favorite pictures from this past year.

The beautiful queen and her princesses

Best. Trip. EVER!!!

Steph and her favorite....4 legged creature

                                                    

New Year's in Korea (a really fun hike with some good friends)

Christmas in Hawaii

                                                   

After completing our half marathon

                                              

A fun filled Friday night in Korea (We are so lucky to have met such great people)

I hope you have had a great year Steph.  Love you and happy 28!

J

"13.2 miles is soooooo far"

Joe and I ran a  1/2 marathon last weekend. During the week before at school I was a bit nervous. Then with perfect timing it just so happened that "nervous" was a vocabulary word in one of my 2nd grade classes.

I described nervous as a feeling when you're a little bit scared, a little bit excited and sometimes have a funny feeling in your tummy.

I used the example that I was a little nervous about the 1/2 marathon. I am a little bit excited about running, I am a little bit scared of how far and for how long I have to run. I am also a little nervous about making my goal time of under 2 hours. 

They seemed to understand and the class continued without a hitch. Class finished and they were off to their next class.

Well, it just so happened that this 2nd grade class had Joe's class next. They had to take a test and when they were finished they got to have some free time. They usually play Uno or solve crossword puzzles. But this time they asked if they could make me good luck letters and cards because I was so nervous about my run. (how freaking cute is that!) Well at the end of the day I was bombarded with good lucks and cute cards.

Check these cards out:

 "To: Ms. Stephanie, Hi, I am Dana. I am writing you a letter because of your race. I wish you could win. I did color purple on the "Good Luck" because you like purple. Do you like it? And again, I wish you could win. Love, Dana"

 I LOVE this drawing of Joe and I. It's hard to see but Joe is wearing a U of O hat. The one he has that is green with a yellow "o". And yes, Joe does have a sward oh his hip. How else does he defend his princess?

 

A mini book by Angela; "Hello! Ms. Stephanie! I'm Angela. I listen that you will go to race. I hope you that win the race!!"

 "Ms. Stephanie. I will cheer you in Friday!!! So don't worry about that!! You can run 13.1 miles! You can do it!"

 page 2: running REALLY fast! page 3: being crowned first place winner!

 "Ms. Stephanie Gook luck in your race! 13.2 miles is sooooooo far! (arrow pointing down) 2 hour"

 "To Ms. Stephanie Good Luck in your race (13.1 miles is sooooo far)"

(My personal favorite is that in the picture, I cross the finish line before Joe )

From June: "Ms. Stephanie Good luck for your race! I can't think running 13.1 miles it is so~ far....

 

 I hope you win but I think there is faster people than you. 

(I love kid honesty)

I hope you win!" 

(It's hard to tell but on my shirt there is a 1st crossed out, then a 2nd crossed out, but the 3rd place is clearly written)

I love all of the cards and notes! These kids are so creative and thoughtful. I was still nervous on race day but these good luck cards/notes did help.

Babies and Belly Buttons

The little people Joe and I get to work with are hilarious. They do and say really funny things. They are smart and quick witted. They really do keep us on our toes. Lots of funny things have been happening lately and I don't want to forget them. Enjoy.

Just a few tid-bits from lately:

On where babies come from....kinda.

I have started a count down in my classroom, 90 days until Ms. Stephanie and Mr. Joe go home to the United States. I change the number at the end of every day after the kids have gone home. One class of second graders came in and were discussing how sad they will be when we leave.

Dana asks; "Ms. Stephanie, why do you want to go to the United States?"
Me: "Well, I want to have a baby. I want to grow a baby in my tummy in the United States"
Dana: "Oh so you don't love Mr. Joe in Korea?"
Me: "What?!? No, I love Mr. Joe in Korea, what do you mean?"
Dana: "My mom said that when a mommy and daddy love each other VERY VERY much,then a baby will come. So you must not love Mr. Joe in Korea."
Me. "........um....yeah, I guess you're right, I will love Mr. Joe more in the United States"
Dana: "Is Mr. Joe sad that you don't love him in Korea?
Me: "Mr. Joe knows that I love his as much as I can in Korea, but we can not have a baby here."
Dana: "I guess you're right, it would be weird if YOU had a Korean baby."
Me: "Yes, I don't think the baby people would let me have a Korean baby."


Belly Buttons

A few weeks ago a kindergartener, Jacob, drew a lovely picture of me. He drew long dark hair, five fingers in each hand and a lovely pair of legs. Unfortunately for me, he also drew me without any clothes on! I just had a big round peach body, with a belly button. We laughed and laughed. Jacob thought he was the king of the room. It was funny.
Well a few days later Jacob needed help taking his sweatshirt off. He was pulling it and it got caught on his head, exposing HIS belly button. We all had a good laugh. And Jacob was renamed Belly Button Jacob.
In true kid fashion, they will not drop the belly button thing. We have had a few tickle attacks and I drew a funny picture of "The Belly Button Boys of BIS". Jacob even tried to reach down my shirt one day to get to my belly button. So I knew I had to put an end to the hunt for Ms. Stephanie's belly button.
I told the kids my belly button fell off. It was a lie but it is SO worth it. I told the kids that when I was a little girl I was really sick. I had to go to the hospital. It was a really bad tummy ache and the doctor had to give me lots of medicine. And because I was so sick, my belly button fell off. As simple as that, I do not have a belly button, stop looking/asking about it!

Jayden wrote a cute journal the other day:

 "My best friends are Alex and Ms. Stephanie. I like her because she has a cute little monkey belly button. She is so funny and sometimes she sees Mr. Joe's belly button. Sometimes she puts me in the trash can. Alex is so so fun. I want touch Ms. Stephanie's belly button. I love Alex. I met Alex when I was 6 years old at BIS. We play together at play time and sit by each other in class. He is my best friend."
First of all, he has NEVER seen my belly button. But thank you Jayden, it is a cute little monkey belly button. :) Secondly, how cute is this little journal? I'm glad he thinks of me as his friend.
I am afraid that the belly button will not die. All of the boys call me "Belly Button Ms. Stephanie".
They are pretty cute, I'm really going to miss these boys.

Spoiled!

Joe and I are SO spoiled! We have some amazing family and friends that send us goodies in the mail. Who doesn't love getting mail?

M and D send (on average) a package a month! (I told you we are spoiled!)
Well, now that we are in the final count down until it is time to say good bye to Korea, we talked M and D into sending one last package. M and D said that the last package would cover every holiday until we got home. And that wasn't a lie. 

Special delivery!

I love those two!

Look at all of those goodies!

Joe and I each got the goods to make our favorite birthday desserts. Brownies for me,  peach cobbler for Joe. All of the holidays were covered. Cadbury Eggs for Easter, four leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day and even a very festive hat for the 4th of July! So many goodies! Our cupboards and tummies are full! 

Last month we got a surprise package from our friends the Brown's. Josh, Leah and baby Cooper sent us a package full of goodies.

Like I said our cupboards are full!

Thank you Brown's and M and D! We love all of the goodies!

More Instagram Love

You know I Love Instagram!

Here are a few of my favorite Instagram pics from the last few months.

        

       

        

        

       

           

        

 My favorite is the black and white of Joe and Eddie. Oh how I love my boys! And I love our Sunday cuddles on the couch. Joe said his favorite was the picture of our lock from N. Seoul Tower, over looking Seoul.
Oh and look at the personality in my little dog. hahaha It seems like in every picture I take of him he is showing off a different side of himself. I love that little ball of fluff!