Getting Back in the Game

I can't believe the last time I've wrote on this blog! I feel guilty for abandoning it, and not documenting the wonderful summer and fall we've had. 

So, this is my attempt at getting back to this blog writing thing. 

I hope to go back and share our past adventures and keep track with what is going on with our current life. 

I don't have much time tonight now to write, but here's a quick list of what's been going on. 

1. We moved back to Georgia after living in South Korea for about 2 years. 

2. We visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando with my younger siblings and my cousin. 

3. Took a trip out West and visited my dad, Matt's family, and my Idaho family. 

4. Visited Yellowstone, Devil's Postpile, Yosemite, Jackson Hole, the Tetons, and Disneyland

5. Had a family reunion with Matt's family 

6. Started graduate school and almost finished with my first semester 

7. Trained for a half marathon - race day is Thanksgiving! 

8. Saw my sister, Chantal, and her daughters for the first time in years

9. Started looking for apartments 

10. Getting excited for our 5th wedding anniversary 

2004 Travel Reunion #asianbabyreunion

Okay, I know I still have a lot of updates to do about my visit with my cousins, but I wanted to put that on hold and talk about my trip home. 

I flew into Georgia on the 11th of July and immediately got in the car with my family to head to Missouri for the Asian Baby Reunion. 

*If you missed my explanation about what an Asian Baby Reunion is click here.

The car ride was not too terrible. {I slept pretty much the whole way.} We stopped in the City of Metropolis for the night, and the next morning we went to see the giant Superman statue.

{Olivia looks thrilled}

After 11 hours we finally arrived in Missouri!

This year the reunion was at a bed and breakfast called Aunt Jody's Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast. It was literally in the middle of nowhere, and I was a little worried that it would be boring. But everything was great. The kids had a great time, and the parents had a great time visiting. This was the largest turn out since 2005! It's amazing to see how much the 2004 girls have grown, and how big our adoption group has gotten!

Overall the kids had a great time. They mostly hung out in the house and played, they adventured to the barn, played in a corn field, and went fishing in the pond.

Next year will be the 10 year anniversary of the 2004 adoption group. I am excited to see all the girls again, and hope that we have a large turn out.

If you are interested in learning more about Children's Hope International click here.

{image via} 

Summer Reads So Far: Part I

As I have said many times in my last few posts, I am on summer break. As my last post talked about, I love t.v., but I love READING even more! Like a lot more!

Now that I have plenty of time to just hang around... I mean look for a job.... :) I can knock some books off my reading list and even read books that were not on my list. I don't really have a list per say I just find a book I am interested in- read it-- then repeat.

For the remainder of my summer break I will post on the books I have read so far and what I liked/ didn't like about the book. Now as most of you know I have a weakness secret obsession with trashy romance/ mystery novels and I can read one or two of these a day.... these are not the books I will post about. One because you probably don't care and two I don't want any of you to know the trashiness of these books. I would not want to embarrass any of you!

Okay, so what have I read so far....

A while ago I read Tina Fay's BossyPants. It was literally the funniest book I have ever read. I read on the plane ride home a year ago and I laughed out loud... on the plane... around strangers it was THAT funny. Now you might say... "Alex you read this a year ago... why are you telling us now?"

Good question- this book opened my mind to reading autobiography type books. I never really had a desire until I saw this book. And let me tell you it was worth it. If you have not read it yet, do it NOW!

Okay, so when I saw Ellen's newer/ish book I didn't even hesitate- I bought it! Seriously... I'm Kidding is written by Ellen Degeneres and it is worth the cost. Not only is it funny, but Ellen shares many great messages throughout her book. I have not yet read her previous books, so I cannot compare this to them, but I LOVED it. I laughed out loud. It is an easy read and it is just like watching the start of Ellen (the talk show).. you know when she talks to the audience. So good!

I also read the first two books of Ally Condie's Matched series. Matched and Crossed are the first two and the last book Reached comes out in November. This is a less violent Hunger Game type book. You know a dystopian futuristic book. Again easy read and pretty good. It's all centered around Cassia Reyes and her struggle with the "Society".

That's what I read so far, well not including my trashy books :) If you have any book recommendations please leave your comments! I am open to all sorts of books, but please nothing depressing---- I need a happy ending!

Summer Loves

I have a big list of Things to do for the summer (look out for the post about the list), but I also want to relax. While the beach is nice and relaxing for the day time, I need something to do at night.

This is where my summer shows come in! Matt and I are such t.v. and movie heads and I am so happy networks have some summer shows. Here is what I will be watching:

What summer shows are you looking forward too?