Anyang Korea!

I have finally decided to post about our fabulous trip to Seoul to see my Mom and Dad (and Brynnie of course). It seems like we were there about 10 years ago...and we miss them even more now. It was SO much fun though, so I cannot wait to talk about it. I had so many fun pictures and videos to try and choose some, so please be patient with the LARGE amount I included. Know that I edited out a lot more :).

Thursday, Dec. 20: On Thursday morning at about 5:00, Bryce and I left for the airport. We flew from SLC to LA where we had to run our guts out to make it for our flight to Korea. We spent the next 15 hours on an airplane to Korea. Poor Bryce, his TV went out in the first 30 mins of the flight and so, since he married such an excellent woman, we switched off every 2 hours and used my TV. Then, after our flight was delayed over an hour and the longest wait for luggage of all time...

Friday, Dec. 21: We arrived! We ran out of the doors and I got to hug my Mom, Dad, and Brynne and there were many tears shed, I'll be honest. It was so fun to be able to feel at home in a totally foreign country. We loaded up the car and began to two hour drive to the Mission Home. It was GORGEOUS. There are the most amazing bridges along the Han (spelling?) river and we just loved the drive. That night we were treated to cinnamon rolls and ho cho with the Assistants and the Office Elders. We were pretty exhausted by this time however.

Saturday, Dec. 22: After a bit of a jet-lagged sleep, we got up and drove to the 63 building (named that because of it's 63 floors). I was terrified of the elevator ride up (since it is mostly glass) but it was pretty cool. Enjoy these pics and vids.

Korean Santa AND cool chairs, it couldn't get any better than that!

A pretty incredible view from the 60th floor! I had calmed down by now.

Sunday, Dec. 23: Today we got to go to the Songpa ward, which was just right downstairs from Mom and Dad's house. It was difficult paying attention when I couldn't understand anything, but luckily during Sacrament meeting, the elders were there to translate for us. It was really neat because we got to attend a baptism also for this amazing guy. That night we went to the Stake Christmas Fireside which was another cultural experience. We had photographers, crazy Santa hats, opera couple, and clapping. It was great!

Monday, Dec. 24: For our Christmas Eve Party, we decided to spend the day in Lotte World (Korea's version of Disneyland). I think that Bryce's favorite part was when we went on "Desperado" and at the end, his face flashed up on the screen saying WINNER! Apparently, Mom and I missed the instructions to shoot at people, instead we just were trying to hit our number...very silly. I enjoyed the conquestador (basically the Tidal Wave), Drunken Basket (tea cups), and Pharoah's Fury (Indiana Jones). The thing I really enjoyed most was the cultural museum that they had within the theme park. Me, Mom, Dad, and Bryce went and saw some really cool things there and THAT was definitely my fav.

1)Outside the entrance to Lotte World

2) The Desparado...Bryce just looks ready to win!

3) The Lotte World Castle...looks kinda familiar....

That night we went to the "Songpa Ward Christmas Eve Party" (You have to hear Brynnie say it). After my first (and last) taste of REAL kimchee we went into the cultural hall for the program. This party was no wimpy American Christmas party...no way...they had prepared a production. Play after play after song after song, it was really amazing. The best was the play about the family that was going "to suicide" with rat poison but they get saved because Santa brings them a Book of Mormon and then he bears his testimony to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock. We left at about 9:30, after 3 hours, and the party just went on without us. Those Koreans sure know how to party...it was a lot of fun. Brynne, Bryce, and I set up beds in the family room and enjoyed at least one Burton family tradition for the night.

Tuesday, Dec. 25: We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas day with Mom and Dad and Brynnie. I woke up, as usual, at about 5:30 and waited for everyone else to join me. We opened some fun presents and then called the family. Bryce got me a GREAT purse, an itrip, a fun game, and some other greats. He enjoyed his new camera way too much by sneaking in some pretty out of control candids. We played some games, ate fabulous food cooked by our perfect Mom herself, and even did the nativity that night with the elders. Although we have had some great Burton nativities, Elder Choi as the sheep was one of the best I've ever seen.

Since this post is getting longer every minute and I am sure most of you have given up reading by now, I have decided to forgo the dates and just summarize the rest of our trip. The next few days were CRAZY as Mom and Dad prepared for transfers. We were so blessed to get them for as much time as we did. They gave us more attention than we deserved. It was fun to go shopping with Mom and Brynne, to ride the subways together, and to go to some great restaraunts. We were treated to lunch twice by sweet Brother Lee. He took us out to eat at Dad's new Tio's and then again at a Chinese restaraunt. We were also treated by Elder Choi from the area authority presidency to an incredible Korean barbeque. This is also where Brynnie and I discovered the best bathroom ever. We spent a day in "Happy Suwon" which, although FREEZING, was gorgeous. We saw some pretty incredible things, but the most important was the time we got to spend as a family. Enjoy the last few pictures and videos. It was the best trip ever...we just wish the rest of the family could have been there to enjoy it with us. We cannot wait to go again!

Introducing the Winkels!

Purple is SO in this year.

While you are waiting ANXIOUSLY for my update on our recent trip to Korea...please enjoy this season's new trend, purple, as my background. Thank you.

Enjoy this little appetizer as well: