How did Minzie's first day of school go?

Well... many people whom knew about Minzie starting her pre-school last week had asked me this question. She did exactly how I expected her to do. Cried most of the first day.

When I went to pick her up, I could tell that she had cried before I got there. So, I asked her... "Minzie why were you crying?". She said, "Because I was missing you mama..." I almost cried with her.

Per your request Brenda.... : )

I got an email this morning from a friend of mine... reminding me that I haven't updated my blog and how she still sometimes checks on it to see if the blog has been updated. She was very kind to have an excuse for me that I had a new baby... and I sure felt guilty because it is not the new baby that has been keeping me away from updating the blog but it is the FACEBOOK!!!! So, thank you Brenda for your email and here is my attempt to catch up on things.... And if I ever fall behind, please drop me a note again because it is working for me!!! :)

Last time that I wrote on my blog was back in March. Here are few things that had happened in the Choi house/Madison.

After looking at least 50 some houses and 4 offers (which all fell thru)... No, we haven't moved yet and yes, we are still looking for the "perfect house". When we left Milwaukee area, we decided to take our time looking for the house in Madison, knowing that housing market will be in our favor. According to our "perfect plan", we should have found the house by May and moved in by... well... August. Obviously, it was the perfect plan only in our own minds... I think our realtor is not liking us very much at this point... oh well... : )

Minzie turned 3 in May. Hard to believe how fast time has gone and how fast she has grown to be her own person. She has become such an amazing girl, daughter, and big sister and we are truly grateful for her everyday.
She will be starting her pre-school next week. We have been talking to her about going to school and Younguk said couple of times how "mommy might be crying when Minzie goes to school". Yesterday, she walked up to me and gave me a BIG hug out of blue and said
"Mama (don't ask me why... she has been calling me mama since she could talk), don't cry. I will be Ok at school, OK?" Of course, I almost cried!!!!

Minah had first two teeth in June, have been crawling everywhere for last couple of weeks , responds to her name, notices me in the crowds (which is one of the best feelings, I must say), got an awesome belly laughs going whenever she sees something funny and demand foods until her tummy is completely full. Oh, and thanks to Kristi and Nikelle, she got to tried cotton candy and ice cream while we were at the State Fair! : )

Younguk is very busy and happy with his job. It means alot knowing that not everybody gets to do what they love or love the things that they are doing....

Will post some pictures soon, after I finish sorting them....

Happy Birthday Kristi!!

Yesterday we celebrated Kristi G's birthday in Dells... Minzie had so much fun spending a day at the waterpark (that is all she talked about all day today and she even drew "waterpark" during the meeting this afternoon) and of course, it was nice to see Shane, Nikelle and Tristan again.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
(apparently this means "happy birthday" in webdings)

Minzie "helping" Kristi...

Group picture

Minah making faces

Minzie to Younguk to Minah to Hyesoo to Minzie to Minah...

This is the path that flu bug has been traveling in the Choi household... As you can tell, it has been around and after a week and a half, it is still around. Poor Minah, her tiny nose is so stuffed up.

I felt pretty bad of keeping Minzie inside so we decided to do something fun... Here is what we did...

Pictures, pictures and more pictures....

Minzie playing the piano...

then decided that singing might be more fun....

Youngin and Troy with their anniversary cake
(Happy #1!!!!)

This wonderful anniversary cake became...

a birthday cake!!

Minzie blowing the candle
Everytime when Minzie sees the cake (or cupcake), it is a must to sing "happy birthday" with candle. She goes thru everyone in the room with the song, so sometimes it takes a while to have the cake... And of course, she is the one to blow the candle each time.

When my brother came out to Chicago for a conference, he flew out a day early to spend time with Minzie and to meet Minah for the first time.

Younguk had meetings up by Minneapolis, so we all tagged along. Where we stayed was just across the street from the Mall of America, so this stroller came very handy as I walked to the mall with Minzie and Minah.

THE BEST BABY SITTER!!!

On the way back from Minneapolis, we stopped by at Rochester to spend the night with Shane and Nikelle. I was very spoiled by this wonderful baby sitter and the hostess... : )

Minah chilling out...

Here's another cake... You know what that means- We gotta sing "Happy Birthday to You!"

Minzie and Minah

Minah having a bad hair day...

Minzie brought this to me and told me that she drew a "sad face"...

and this one is a "happy face". I was pretty excited that even though she looks like and acts like Younguk, she still got bit of me in her... : )

I don't know if you can read, but apparently top left is "uncle Dave", top right is "auntie Kristi" and what she is writing is "Meika"....

While I was changing Minah's diaper, Minzie came into the room and told me that she was going to work and came in to say bye to me and Minah....

and Minah was not too happy about the divided attention while I was changing her diaper...

I got no rhythms...

Today I finally made out to the gym for the first time since I had Minah.

One of my friends told me about the Zumba class that she took and recommended me to try out. I found out that our Y offers the class every Tuesday evening, so braved the cold weather to try out. It was VERY intense, 45 minutes of non-stopping "body movement" (aka "dance"). First of all, I am Korean. I don't know any Korean that can be good at dance. Second of all, I am thirty some year old Korean. I don't know anyone who is over thirty years old and never danced can do any of the movement that Jumba requires to do. It must be very popular, though because the room was packed when I got there. Anyway, I was bit self conscious but about 10 minutes into it, I realized that about 2/3 of room had no clue as I was and just trying to move as fast and affective as I was to copy the instructor! It was fastest 45 minutes that I ever had, working out at the gym...

Got Milk?

"Daddy, I like this house!"

Younguk had a conference in downtown Milwaukee for last couple of days. When he left on Tuesday morning, he asked me to come and stay with him at the hotel as I had done for last few years. However, I wasn't too sure of the idea this time... of packing million and ten things with two kids. So, I decided to stay home on Tuesday night with the thought that if I really want to go, I would go out on Wednesday since it is only an hour away from home.
After a very very rough night on Tuesday (Minah decided that 2 o'clock in the morning was the good time to be wide awake...) I realized that I am still new at this two kids thing to do alone and could use Younguk's moral support, even though he would only give in his solid sleep. So I started to pack a million and ten things and left the house by mid afternoon yesterday. As we were getting into the car, I told Minzie that we were going to see daddy. I don't know what she was thinking but she must have got the idea that daddy was somewhere else and we were going there to stay with him.
When we got to the hotel, Minzie was pretty excited to see new things and explore new place, running from one corner to next. After checking out everything, Minzie said to Younguk, "Daddy, I like this house!" After hearing what she said, I thought what there is not to like about this "house"?!?!
Someone comes to clean it, make the bed for you, if you are hungry just pick up the phone and food will be delivered to your door... don't have to do the laundry and when you leave and come back, everything is back to where it should be! Ha!

But after one night away from home, I realized that I much rather do my own cooking and laundry along with many things but just be at home where I could be most comfortable. Even though Minzie really liked that "house", I think she was happy to be home, too... to play with her own toys and sleeping on her own bed. Speaking of bed, better get some sleep while Minah is sleeping, just incase she decides to be wide awake at 2 o'clock again...

Minzie the "hockey player"

Practicing-at home

Real thing... On the ice

As some of you would know already, Younguk plays hockey. He was a serious hockey player while we were dating, but became less and less of aggresive one as the years went by. Probably because of the age and few extra pounds that he had put on since we got married. Anyway, I asked him in a few occations to "hang his skates and retire in his glory" but he does pull out his skates once in a while and plays to make sure that he still got it. About a year ago, he had a chance to play at one of the men's leagues so Minzie and I went to watch him playing, for the first time for Minzie. Unfortunately, he spent quite some time in the penalty box for doing the things that he wasn't supposed to do apparently, and of course it left such an impression on our than year and a half old daughter. Everytime that he went into the penalty box that day, Minzie was saying "Daddy is in the box again!" And of course, she wanted to be the hockey player just like daddy.

Last week when Younguk's parents came over, they brought a pair of double bladed skates for Minzie and oh my! wasn't she attached to them right away! She was carrying them around everywhere and telling us how she was the "hockey player". And of course, Younguk had this big grin on his face as a proud dad everytime when he saw that. He had been looking for an opportunity to take her out and due to the extrem cold weather, he couldn't do it until couple of days ago. So, the first opportunity that we got, we went out to the local park outdoor ice rink for the trial run. I must say I was very impressed with two things:

First, how good Minzie was on the ice-this is not "mom-saying"... I am being very objective, of course. :) She was bit scared at first but she figured out right away how to balance herself. For this one, I cannot take ANY credit whatsoever because I still do not know how to skate!!

Second, how good of coach Younguk was with Minzie as he was teaching her. I really never got a chance to watch Younguk teaching anything so seriously to anybody until I saw him with Minzie that day. I always knew that he was a great son, awesome husband but as Minzie would say, he is the best dad.

So, I am posting some pictures of Minzie in the action...

From -18'F to 90'F....

Minzie and Minah... Knowing that everyone is looking at our blog to see the pictures of the kids, I feel like I have to post a picture.. : ) So, here is the most recent picture, them taking a nap-well, at least one of them.

Like Younguk said earlier, mom was here for a week and a half and left this morning. She called after she got home and she said it was around 90'F while our temperature was something like

-18'F... I must admit, I like snow and don't even mind cold and long winter but it was the first time I (kind of) wished that we were living in sunny Southern California... We are staying home tonight because our meeting got cancelled due to the cold weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder- Perfect excuse to stay in, I guess.

Holiday Season

Younguk again. Apparently some of you have asked Hyesoo for some holiday pictures, so I was tasked to post some for you to enjoy. Hyesoo's mom just left after a week and a half with us, so Hyesoo is again pretty occupied.

Anyway, on to the pictures. The first three are Minzie opening some gifts she received.

Sweater!

Sleeping Bag!

Books!

We were invited to my Aunt and Uncle's home near Chicago for Christmas Day.

Minzie's not too sure she's ready for the long drive.

Blowing out a birthday candle with Great-Uncle...

And with Uncle Tim!

Helping Great-Auntie cut the cake.

And what was Minah doing during all the excitement, you ask?

Sleeping, of course!

The drama has started...

Look at that tear!