After a year and eight months and four (unsuccessful) offers....

WE FOUND THE HOUSE!!!! And the best part is, not only we found "the house" but our offer got accepted!

When we first moved to Madison, we weren't sure whether we would be in Madison area for a long term since there was a talk of Younguk's job might take us back to Chicago. As bad the housing market it has been, we didn't want to buy the house only to sell within a year or so. So, we decided to rent while we were "waiting". Anyway, as soon as it became pretty sure that we would stay in Madison area, we started to looking for "the house". We saw houses after houses after houses... and more houses. If we liked one thing about a house that we went to see, we ended up not liking three things. If we liked two things about a house, we ended up not liking five things... as time went by, we got pickier and the list of "what we really want in the house" got longer. Our poor agent, when he contacted us, he probably thought that it would be an easy job since we were ready to find and move to a house... after looking at about 50 houses (I am not making this up), and after 4 unsuccessful offers, we found THE house that we love, and we can picture ourselves growing older in it with our children. It is not the perfect house but we know that it is perfect for us. As soon as we looked around the house once, Younguk and I looked at each other and said "this is it!"
There are much to be done. Alot of paint jobs to be done. New carpet is needed. Some yard works need to be done (hahaha!). But we are very very very very excited because we once again have a place to call our house and cannot wait to make it to be our home. Will post the pictures soon...

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...