Wednesday, July 9, 2025

California, Here We Come!

We went to California Beach, a big waterpark about 20
minutes from our house. 

I couldn’t do these fun things without my sister-in-law! She helped arrange the tickets, helped me get the kids out of school (we went on a Wednesday), told us what to prepare, drove us there, AND helped me manage the different interests/needs of all the kids, as well as her mom. 
John David is our big ride lover! He has no fear of heights or big drops. We got to spend a lot of quality time in line together, as we waited on three different rides throughout the day. This one was my favorite!

I also continue to be amazed at my 82yo MIL, who loves water, and wanted to come with us (decided just this morning!). She went to early morning prayer @5am, and then lasted the entire day getting in and out of the water (10am-5pm) and made it through the whole day to dinner at a restaurant, and THEN got home and rode her bike for church 7:30-8:30pm. She should sleep well tonight!

Catching up on summer fun:

A few days ago was July 4. We celebrated American Independence Day by watching an episode of Liberty Kids after school, and then eating dinner at a barbecue restaurant with my Russian friend Anastasia and her daughter Alicia. We had a lovely evening, though definitely wish there had been fireworks at the end. 


Last Sunday (July 6) we went to Ulsan and got to visit and play on the rocky shore. So grateful to my niece, for arranging all the fun and food, and my SIL once again for transporting us (1.5 hour away from our house & 2 hours from her home!) and helping us prepare everything. 

The boys enjoyed playing in the rocky ocean - our first beach experience with NO sand! So easy to clean up and change clothes. (We swam, but I didn’t get great pics of that.)

John David caught a water cockroach! Just kidding, their real name is Ligia exotica, aka sea slater. They’re an isopod and crustacean - not an insect. 

Beautiful fun exploring the Eastern Sea shore (aka Sea of Japan).