My Food Blog

I have been posting some great recipes on my food blog. Please visit and let me know what you think! Thanks!

My Fabulous Recipes

Change of the blog address… AGAIN!

So after trying wordpress for three months, I decided that I like “blogger” way better. I don’t know why everyone says wordpress is just so much better – I think it’s because wordpress is easy to put on a real website – I have been playing around with html and css, and redesigned our blog at

http://buntons.blogspot.com

I just got my old blog address back.

Now, our blog is all customizable and cute, I think. So please change our blog address on your blogrolls!! Thanks!

Love,
Sook

Just a note of gratitude

Dear Sean,

You know, when you are frustrated, you start counting things that you “don’t” have, instead of what you “do” have. I can think of many things that we don’t have -  Ooh, money, that’s right, that’s what we don’t have. But then I am sitting here on our beat-down couch that we bought at Ashley’s just before we got married, listening to your sweet voice, reading Matthew a cute, little bed-time story in his room… I can think of lots and lots more things that we have that I am grateful for.

We have each other. I can’t imagine where I would be, or what I would be doing, if I weren’t with you. I am so thankful for your generosity and kindness. You make me feel like the queen of the world everyday. Your thoughtful complements and occasional love notes that I find in the most random places in our apartment make me feel so loved and important. I wish I were as romantic as you but I am working on it.

We have the cutest little boy – maybe the craziest- that we can claim he’s “ours”. As Hal in Malcolm in the middle would say, “We are the only ones that can call him -our boy-” I know he challenges both of us everyday but also teaches us millions of different things about being parents and also reminds us of the goodness of Heaven. I love when you come home, he crawls towards you so fast that he falls down once or twice. I love when you call me on your way home, Matt grabs my cell phone just so he can hear your voice. You know how it breaks our hearts when Matt starts crying when we put him in his crib so he can go night-night… We make sad faces and pray that he will fall asleep fast? I am going to miss that.

Oh, the memories… I love that we have lots of great stories to share with each other – that many of our nights were sleepless because we talked and talked and talked about our high school drama, missionary experiences, classes, etc. I love how there are still brand new stories that we haven’t heard about each other and those stories just come to us randomly. I love how we can laugh about the corniest jokes, ever. I know lots of people think we are cheesy, but I like being cheesy and I love my cheesy husband.

I am so thankful that you and I are sealed for eternity through the temple marriage. I am so excited to spend the rest of my eternity with you. Some people say it would be boring to be with the same person for eternity, but I say I am so stoked that you will be with me even after this life – with our beloved children. Umm, I really hope that we don’t have to change our kids’ poopy diapers in heaven!

I am writing this to you while we are listening to Matt crying in his bed, waiting for one of us to come and pick him up. I know we both feel bad but Matt’s getting used to it more and more each night. So I am thankful that we have our bed to ourselves. I didn’t realize how big a queen size bed could be for just two people! Now we don’t have to be on the edges of our bed, trying not to fall off the bed. I love you. And this is the end of this note.

Love,

Sook

My Routan Babies!! (A little creepy but still fun!)

I found this on VW website today and thought it was kinda fun to see many options of what our babies might look like. I am not sure how accurate the technology is but it’s always fun to guess what our other future babies would look like. All I had to do was just uploading pictures of me and Sean and just click “make a baby”. You should try it too when you get bored. (Just CLICK HERE if you’re interested.)

So which baby is the cutest? There were some babies that looked nothing like me or Sean but some babies turned out pretty dang cute. But still, to me, my Matty boy is the cutest!

Baby #1. He looks more half-Asian.

Baby #2. Okay, this baby is REALLY cute and love his skin color!! It would be so cool if our babies really did have dark skin like that. But probably not likely… But Matt was pretty dark like that when he was born. And the baby #2 definitely has Matt’s hair color.

Baby #3 has the greatest lips ever!!

Baby #4 looks like he will be very smart when he grows up!

Baby #5 is cute but he doesn’t really look like either of us.

Baby #6 is adorable! I can actually see having a baby that looks like him.

Baby # 7 is really cute and the hair style and the color are like Matt’s Really, really cute! Personally, I don’t think any of our babies would have bright blue eyes like these babies do. I think the reason why all these babies do is because Sean has gorgeous, bright, blue eyes. But Matthew has light brown eyes – sometimes they turn green in the Sun or when he is wearing a green shirt – but I personally think all of our babies will have light brown eyes like Matthew -maybe Green. But you never know, we will see!

These babies all look like boys, though. I wanted to see what our girls would look like. Maybe some of these babies are supposed to be girls.

MY BABY

Here you go mommies – a different kind of survey for a change – it’s all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself!

Let’s see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Well, define “planned”….

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes, we had been married for about 8 months.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was SO excited. I literally jumped up and down.. Well, Sean’s reaction was more interesting. The first thing he said to me when I told him the result of the pregnancy test was, “Let’s go buy another test, just to be sure”

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
NOPE, I don’t believe in that crap.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
26.

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Suddenly, I was always tired. Plus I was like three weeks late. So I took the test

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Sean, my parents, Sean’s parents

8. DUE DATE?
Feb 17, 2008

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Oh yes, I lost like 15 lbs during my first trimester.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Unfortunately soda…. and hamburgers… No wonder why I gained so much weight with Matthew!

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Um…Waiting in line.. bad service at restaurants, and bad drivers.

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD’S SEX?
A boy!

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
I knew I was going to have a boy.

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
I think about 32 lbs.

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
I had two.

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
All were planned

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Braxton hicks were pretty bad during third trimester due to stress but nothing serious. Matt was two weeks late so I was induced. But Matt still didn’t want to drop so I had a C-section.

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Sutter Roseville Hospital

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
I arrived at the hospital for induction at 6 pm on Feb 26, 2008 and I was induced at 6 am on Feb 27. I was in labor all day and then I finally got a c-section at 1 am on Feb 28. Gosh, that was a nightmare!!

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Sean

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Sean, Sean’s mom, the doctor, and a few nurses.

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
C-section

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Heck yes!!

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
9 lbs 4 oz (He lost about a pound while we were in the hospital though)

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
February 28, 2008 at 1:10 AM

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Matthew Jun Bunton

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY
11 months

My lovely Matthew… I love him SO MUCH!

I ain’t sayin’ he’s a gold digger…

ha ha ha ha ha This picture just cracks me up! Matt’s cousin Brandon took it the other night and it just makes me laugh every time I look at it.

It’s all about Matthew!!

When you stay at home with your baby alone all day, you will find that there is really not too much to do around the house. I usually turn on my computer and check my email and go on facebook, then I smell something sour -usually Matt’s poo-poo-, I change his diaper, I read Matt a couple of books, turn on TV, watch Malcolm in the middle on DVR for a while, then go for a walk for a little bit, then back at home, then Sean gets home! Between these activities, Matt entertains himself for about an hour or so, the rest of the time, he wants to climb up on the couch and sit by me or tries to fall off the couch and understands the concept of the rule of gravity – but he forgets it all way too easily.

Matthew loves being on the couch next to me and plays with wires and cords, looks out the window for a while, points at things, laughs for a while… but sometimes I really wish that I had my own car so we could just drive to a park or go to the mall or just do something more fun. I am getting a license this month though. I did a driver’s ed thing this morning and the guy said I was really good and shouldn’t have a problem passing the driving test. So I am really excited. When I get a license, I might go get a cheaper used car for myself and Matt so we can do something during the day while Sean is gone.

Matthew has found his index fingers! He always points at things now. Everywhere we go, he points. If he sees someone, he points at them to say hello. We usually put out finger on the tip of his finger and say “Elliot” (From E.T). He loves it.

I love when Matt does new things. I’m hoping that he will start putting food in his mouth on his own. He wouldn’t even put a cheerio in his mouth on his own, which is really weird. He puts everything else in his mouth though, so it’s not like he doesn’t know how to put things in his mouth.

Matt wants you!

I know you all want to be bendy like Matt in this picture. Seriously, sometimes I wonder if their bones bend, too.

If there is one thing that I am proud of doing with Matthew everyday is having home-made dinner all together as a family. He sits at the table with us, we pray before our meal, and eat together. He loves it. He behaves pretty well at dinner time. He still stares at us when we pray but I think he’s getting used to it. I can’t wait until he folds his arms when we pray.

I love taking pictures after dinner because Matt’s all full and happy. He loves solid food now. He still doesn’t like a lot of sour and sweet food but loves rice, chicken, fish, potatoes, carrots, peas, noodles, sweet potatoes, bread, etc. He likes chocolate icecream sometimes but I don’t think he’s into cold food just yet. He makes the funniest face when he tastes orange.

Here are some family photos that we took at Akebono (The best Japanese restaurant ever!) on my birthday.

Matthew has four cousins that he absolutely loves – Brandon, Garrett, Nathan, and Alex! They love Matt, too. I love it when we are at a restaurant all together, the kids all come and gather around Matt, trying to make him smile or laugh. They even brought their own cameras and took pictures of Matt. I think one of them got a picture of Matt picking his nose and smiling. I got a cute picture of Matt and Alex together.

After a long day, he fell asleep in our bed. He slept through the night.

So Matthew is pretty busy in his own way. What a life, huh?

Red Carpet Premiere for “Hotel for Dogs”

If you saw my mother-in-law, Sue, on the Price is Right in December, you might remember she won a trip to the red carpet event of “Hotel for Dogs”. She also received a free limo ride during her entire trip to L.A and $600 spending money for food each day for three days. They stayed at a really nice hotel in L.A at a penthouse. Pretty sweet, huh?

She took her daughter Jodi to the event and they had a blast. They got to take photos at the premiere and see one of my favorite “Friends” actresses, Lisa Kudrow. They also got to go to Jay Leno Show and see Hugh Laurie!! (He is one of my favorites, too.) I guess Hugh Laurie is in a band called “Band from TV” and he gave out free CDs to the audience. My mother-in-law went up on the stage after the show was over and asked them if she could get an extra CD for me for my birthday! So I got one. I haven’t listened to it yet but am really excited to listen to it in the car.

I’m glad that they were able to spend some mom-daughter time together!

Sean’s 25 random things about him

25 Randoms about yours truly

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

1. I hate chain letters and the like. So I am doing this only to appease certain people, but I’m not sending it to 25 people like you will.

2. Onions make me want to vomit.

3. I love playing Battlefield 2. Its so much fun. Who wouldn’t. I try to play on Thursdays when I can make time. Not every week though cuz Sook hates it even though she doesn’t admit it.

4. I know I’m still a fatty but I have lost about 30Lb since May. Another…a lot to go.

5. What is it with Asian snacks? (Breads! cookies, cakes, ect. Oh and the Bread!) They are so good. It baffles me as to how they can still be so skinny over there.

6. 6 is my favorite number. who knows why.

7. I can look at electronics over and over again and I still want to look at them again. A guy has to dream I guess. My wife doesn’t like to go that often though so I go when shes at the gym. Matt likes it too.

8.I hate working with number, I never planned on working with numbers and yet I am a data analyst. Amazing how things work out.

9. I am pretty forgetful. Wait… what was I saying? Oh yeah, forgetful. Yep.

10. I don’t want an I-phone and really can never imagine buyine a Mac. I do have an I-pod though. Wish I would have gotten the Creative brand player though. Oh well. I have an I-pod and I’m a PC.

11. My family is a little nutty and very naughty. If you really know them you know exactly what Im talking about.

12. I play chess! Yes I’m a nerd but you knew that. This does make me even nerdier but its a great game. I might add that I’m pretty good or at least I used to be. I was even in the chess club.

13. Its linked to my last one but the chess team was the only sports team I was on during high school. You might say its not a sport but that would only be if you are that ignorant. Even ask our coach, Coach Stevens.

14. I teach a primary class every week. I have four very wild and cray kids. Wow it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. You would have to be there to really understand. One boy is autistic which presents different challenges.

15. My wife is Hott! If you dont believe me take a look. Ok…stop staring!

16. My keyboard has no letter “B” Because my little boy ripped it off and broke it.

17. Maximum PC is my favorite. Read it, study it, love it.

18. I graduated college in 3 or 3 1/2 years depending on how you count it.

19. When I was younger my favorite toy was GI Joes. I still have 4 or 5 huge boxes in my parent’s garage.

20. Sometimes I eat Matt’s snacks. 2 Cheerios for him one for me. What? They’re good.

21. It has become a tradition that when I get home Matt crawls at top speed to me I pick him up kiss my wife and then Matt gets a kiss too. Its hilarious when he crawls at top speed because he often falls over because his little legs are moving faster than his little arms.

22. We have 4 laptops a desktop and 2 monitors but I still want to build a new computer.

23. I really like watches. I would have 50 if sook let me but they are so dang expensive. Some day I want a Rolex. It can replace my Rolox.

24. I think 24 is Awesome! Not the number, the show!

25. My mom won on The Price is Right. She won the showcase. Pretty cool huh? Well she won it twice. Craziness!!!

Am I really 28 years old today?

At 6:10 a.m., I wake up to a “Happy Birthday” song in bed. Sean comes into the bedroom with my favorite cake -Betty Crocker chocolate cake with layers of chocolate and coconut frosting. I am surprised because I don’t hear Sean sing very often. I am still half asleep as I pretend to blow out candles in the end of the song – Sean realized that we didn’t have any candles to put on the cake late last night and wanted to run to a store to get some but I forced him to go to bed because he planned to go to a cycling class at the gym at 4:45 a.m – But it’s okay, it’s the thought that counts. Sean asks me if I want a piece of cake and I say no. I’m not really a breakfast person and I am still so, so sleepy.

Wow, so it’s been exactly 28 years since I saw the bright light of this world for the first time. I used to only think about myself on my birthdays. It’s my day and everything should be centered around me, right? But as I get older – or it may be because I’m so far away from home… or maybe because I’m a mom myself – I have been thinking a lot about my MOM.

MOM -Umma in Korean- There is something about that word, don’t you think? I think you appreciate your mom more and more as you get older. Whenever I am around Sean’s family during holidays, I think about my mom and the things that we used to do together. My mom has always been proud of me – although I am not so sure if I have always been a daughter that she can be proud of but I try. When I was a teenager, I was sad because I thought she was the most miserable person on earth. And I always thought that it was my fault that she was misrable, sad, and unhappy. Well, time went on and we moved on. When I went and saw her with Sean and Matthew last year, she seemed to be doing whole lot better – She was no longer the miserable, sad, unhappy person I remembered. She laughed and joked around with her son-in-law whom she had never met in person before. I got her to laugh with her mouth open, her teeth showing – This was one of my biggest accomplishments in life. Now I have many pictures of mom smiling, proudly showing her beautiful teeth, not so self-conscious about the way she looks when she smiles. I was delighted that Sean and Matthew got along with her so well. Matthew never fussed with my mom. My mom would put him on her back and wrap him up and go outside for a long walk. One day, they were out looking at  beautiful flowers for an hour or so and I was never worried because I knew mom was taking good care of Matthew. I just wish that I lived closer to her so she and Matt can bond more. I try not to think too much about mom because it makes me homesick. But I know distance makes our hearts grow fonder – It is true for mom and me. I think we are closer than ever because we have been far apart for a while, now we appreciate the time we are together even more because of it – although I wish we could see each other way more often!

So I thank mom for going through all the pain to give birth to me. I wasn’t born in the best situation. – It was a stormy winter day. It had snowed up to your knees. There were no cars on the road. Mom couldn’t make it to the hospital. Dad was on duty in military 2 miles away. He walked through the pile of snow for two hours and arrived at home just in time to deliver me. Mom was only 18 years old when she gave birth to me. – But my parents always say I am a blessing to them. Well, but I should say they are a blessing to me.

Happy birthday to me. I am grateful for you, mom and dad, for being there for me all the time. I love you and miss you very much.

엄마 아빠 사랑해요!!