Our Last Supper

Today, Tuesday, we had planned to see some palaces, as many of them were closed on Monday. However, in getting the maps and information ready this morning, we realized the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Changgyeonggung Palace we had planned to see were actually closed on Tuesday. So we went the National Palace Museum of Korea, about 150m from our hotel. Unfortunately the museum was also closed today (usually closed on Mondays). But we walked around the outside of it. Because it was so cold, we decided to wait and do some more sightseeing later in the day.

So, we went back to Itaewon! I had read that rubies can be bought at very reasonable prices, so we were going to check back at the Hamilton Hotel shops where we bought my amethyst ring. So, back to the subway to Itaewon we went with a promise to the kids that they could skip the shopping and get icecream at Baskin Robbins. More bad luck - the Hamilton Hotel shops were also closed today!! However, it was a blessing in disguise, as I was "forced" to browse some of the other shops along the strip. I found the cutest sparkly Hello Kitty necklace and quite a few more souvenirs to bring home!! So, a successful trip in the end!

After lunch and naps, we went to see the Changdeokgung Palace. It is best known for it's beautiful garden for the Royal Family - often called a secret garden because the entire layout cannot be seen at once. Also within walking distance, we were fortunate it was open for viewing, but the secret garden was closed! The monuments here are spectacular! So ornate and colorful in their enormity!

After walking around the Palace, we stopped for dinner at a Korean restaurant to have, as Jacob put it, our last supper. We stopped at a place that served Japchae and Bibimbap. Japchae is a dish made with cellophane noodles (which Lucy has termed 'gummy worms') and vegetables. It is sometimes served with a little beef or with Bulgogi. Bibimbap is a rice hotpot in which rice is served in a very hot pot with various root vegetables and and egg that has been cracked open on top. You typically mix it altogether (the egg cooks because the dish is so hot) and you add hot chili paste and sesame oil to your liking. And, of course, the meal came with various little dishes of colorful, decorative and sometimes yummy (sometimes not) delicacies! The kids do so well trying all of them, except kimchi, which is per my recommendation. They even try to use the chopsticks!

On the way home, we stopped for popsicles. The kids got grape icees and Todd & I got something called vanilla ice candy - it was a cross between vanilla icecream and a vanilla tootsie roll - YUMMY!!

A final dip in the pool and hot tub for Todd & the kids while I tackle the packing!! That may be the most challenging activity yet!!

We are SO SO very excited to get Olivia tomorrow! Matty asked again today where Baby Sister was. (He also asked this morning if he could go to Grandma's House since it was Tuesday.)

We are to arrive at the agency at 8:20 tomorrow. I believe they have a little send off there - I have heard it is quite emotional as the foster mothers say their goodbyes to the babies they raised and loved all this time! We are so grateful Olivia has had a foster family that clearly loved her and took such good care of her!

I had asked our Social Worker if she could find out a favorite memory the foster mother had of Olivia so I could write it in her baby book and retell it to her as she gets older. One story the foster mother told was that Olivia likes to mimic her. One day she found Olivia had gotten into her (the foster mother's) make-up and had it all over!

Thank you again to everyone who has supported us on our long journey to bring our Olivia home. Thank you for your continued support and words of encouragement through all the phone calls, emails, facebook posts and blog comments!! We are so happy to say we are now looking forward to our journey home to start life as a complete family!