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July 26, 2004
Relax, it's the weekend.
We had quite a busy weekend, but it was surprisingly relaxing. The key? Don't stay at home.
When you stay at home, you feel like you HAVE to pick up those magazines, finish the dishes, laundry, dusting, and and and and and...
When you're not at home, you just get to BE. It's particularly good to BE at a one year old's birthday party.
It's also good to BE on the shore of the big, big lake you live so close to for four hours.
But first the birthday...
Isoo's party was like no other one year old's party. It was a tol, a Korean 1st birthday celebration. From what I've heard, back in the day, it was a big deal to make it to the first birthday, so it is a big celebration. The child dons a birthday outfit and is placed by a table that is full of different symbolic items... books, brushes, pencils, money. The child is encouraged to grab three things. Those three things are said to indicate the child's future.
So first, Isoo had to put on the outfit. Not happy.
Here is Isoo with his parents, Chris and Cheong. Happier.
Isoo was then placed before the table. Ummm. Not so happy here. How do you explain that it's important for his future?
Then we all crowded around. We watched as Isoo became quiet and noticed the things on the table. We secretly chanted him on to pick the *right* thing (depending on your vantage point and opinion). His hand hovered for a while...where would it land? The anticipation!
Paintbrush! Yippeee!
Isoo then had two other picks. The second one? A hundred dollar bill. Yippeee! The third? Another paintbrush!
A rich artist!
We also got to see Seth, Monica + Evie there. Three weekends in a row, so lucky!
Baby Swap! Seth + Gus
John + Evie
John + Gus... ahhh.
The best one yet. You wonder why Gus is sleeping through the night?
Then there was the lake! Ah...site of bbq and required relaxing. Christin + Andy + Theo invited us. Theo is now four months old, check him out!
Posted by janna at July 26, 2004 09:54 PM
Comments
In my family (and I have no idea if this is an Irish thing, German thing, or Polish thing), we do sort of the same thing. There are only 3 items as I recall: a shotglass, a dollar, and a bible. Shotglass=drinker, dollar=rich, bible=faithful man/woman. Seems like an Irish thing, doncha think? I like all the other choices... looks like you could also be a scholar (books) or maybe a fruit farmer? :-)
Posted by: Ann Marie at July 27, 2004 04:01 PM