The boys turn 5 this month. I can't believe it, really. While Oliver acts and talks like a pre-teen, Ronan still has that little baby face and voice. And, despite his older-kid pretenses, I love that Oliver talks without pronouncing 'r' and 'l' clearly--kind of a little New Jersey mixed with Elmer Fudd. And, Ronan's confusing of consonants ('drink' becomes 'pwink' and 'puppy' becomes 'tubbie') is just too cute. Pretty soon, they're going to grow out of their baby ways and hate me just like Dahin does (only half kidding). The second Wednesday of every month, the teachers at their school celebrate the birthdays of the kids who have birthdays that month (does that make sense?). Oliver and Ronan had their turn this month. The parents provide a cake and snacks for the class, the teachers prepare cards for the kids to sign and decorate, and the kids bring gifts. In Korea, standard birthday gifts appear to be stationary sets, pencils, erasers, paints, etc. You can get these kinds of things at stationary stores for around $2-$3--we've bought a few things like this for other kids' birthdays. It's sweet because,while you need these things, the kids love them and use them. Plus, it makes birthdays affordable, even when you have two presents to buy in one class! Jack bought this cake at E-Mart the night before; did a good job, didn't he?
The teachers made heart-shaped cards and laminated the front and back pages. On the cover was a picture of the birthday boy and it said, "My favorite person in the whole world is Junmo(Ronan)/Hyunmo (Oliver). I love you!" Then, their classmates each had a page to write something to each of the boys (the boys each had their own heart card set). The boys also got to write on one page (the back of the card) and they each drew pictures of their family. Oliver's is the one below--it says "I love Mommy and Apa."
Ronan's is the one below and it says "Mommy (hearts) Apa." Ronan included everyone in his picture, while, in Oliver's Apa is absent--unless that is the little person version of Apa (yes, Eumma--the Korean version of mom he's been calling me without prompting; the other two still call me 'mommy'--is the giant of his world) instead of Dahin (I believe that's Dahin standing next to me--always the one with yellow hair). I'm like the freaky 'village of the damned' one with beaming blue eyes and a yellow halo---ooh, freaky. Ronan usually draws his hair spikey (see below), so you can find him in any family portrait.
The drawing below is from Ronan's 'girlfriend' Yeju. She wrote, " I hope you have fun today. I love you. Let's play together." And, I can't make out the rest. Most kids told the boys to mind their parents, brush their teeth, eat a lot and grow big, and to have a happy birthday. One of the boys, Oliver's "best friend" Geunu wrote, "After lunch, let's play together" and drew a picture of a rocket ship with the two boys inside. So sweet. The boys came home with a bag each full of presents from friends. It was so sweet to see all the little notes from the kids in their class. Many kids wrote little cards and attached them to the presents.
Ronan's is the one below and it says "Mommy (hearts) Apa." Ronan included everyone in his picture, while, in Oliver's Apa is absent--unless that is the little person version of Apa (yes, Eumma--the Korean version of mom he's been calling me without prompting; the other two still call me 'mommy'--is the giant of his world) instead of Dahin (I believe that's Dahin standing next to me--always the one with yellow hair). I'm like the freaky 'village of the damned' one with beaming blue eyes and a yellow halo---ooh, freaky. Ronan usually draws his hair spikey (see below), so you can find him in any family portrait.
The drawing below is from Ronan's 'girlfriend' Yeju. She wrote, " I hope you have fun today. I love you. Let's play together." And, I can't make out the rest. Most kids told the boys to mind their parents, brush their teeth, eat a lot and grow big, and to have a happy birthday. One of the boys, Oliver's "best friend" Geunu wrote, "After lunch, let's play together" and drew a picture of a rocket ship with the two boys inside. So sweet. The boys came home with a bag each full of presents from friends. It was so sweet to see all the little notes from the kids in their class. Many kids wrote little cards and attached them to the presents.
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