She was born to be a mom, I think...

I have the most amazing sister-in-law and I don't think anyone can argue with that.

I've been knowing her as a wonderful daughter, sister, sister-in-law, awesome auntie and wife. Some might know her as a very loyal friend and a very caring and well qualified physician. But when we took our trip to come to see her and her family over the weekend, I realized that none of above roles can discribe her better than her role as a mom to the adorable 2 month old Lucia. What a lucky little girl....

This is why Younguk has been losing the weight, by mowing the lawn with push mower by himself-

he has been absolutely refusing to get the rider mower because he gets to have "exercise" and lose weight.

It has been working so far because he lost almost 20 lbs

since we had closed on the house and moved, which he wanted. So, I cannot argue with that...

The Ahns from Michigan.... Always enjoy the time with them.

With Mom

Four of us (and the red balloon)

Our goofball... I definitely think that she has Younguk's personality... : )

Minzie's Favorite- Chocolate with sprinkles. If you bring one of those over,

you will be her BEST friend for the day... : )

Look at the concentration on picking out on little sprinkles

Minzie on First day of 4K

Seriously, why do I have so much stuff?

It has been almost 2 months since we had moved to our house and I am still unpacking! I seriously think that life will be so much easier for me if less things were invented AND we weren't living so close to Target!!! : )

My brother was out here couple of weeks ago and apparently he gave one dollar bill to Minzie to put it in her purse. Last Friday night, we told Minzie that when she wakes up next morning, we would be going to the Badgers game. She ran into her room as soon as we told her that and brought out the dollar that she has been protecting it for her dear life from her little sister. She said that she wanted to buy some pop corns when she goes to the game next day. She gave that to Younguk and walked back into her room. A few seconds later she comes out and says to me, "mom, but we CANNOT use this money at Target, OK?" Younguk almost fell on the floor laughing and I got a pretty good laugh out of it too. Yes, even my 4 year-old knows that my favorite place to go is Target.

Anyway...

Minzie started her 4K this year (this was her second week) and she is absolutely loving it.
When we had put her in the preschool program last year, she cried and cried and cried, which was very uncharacteristic of her- when things are explained to her, she accepts them as they are which I think it is one of many wonderful qualities that this little girl has. So we had decided to pull her out. Few months after that she started to talk about wanting to go to school. Most of all, she was so excited about packing her lunch box (cheese sandwich, carrots and ranch, everyday) to school. As the new school year rolled in, we decided to give another try and what a year makes a difference! Minah wasn't and still isn't too happy that she cannot go to school but Minzie has been assuring Minah every time when we drop her off that "one day, when you get older like me, you will be able to go to school too" : )

Better post some pictures since some might be interested in seeing the pictures of Minzie and Minah... : )

Getting another year older...

I had a wonderful time with the friends who found the ways to let someone else (or hubby) take care of their kids so that we could celebrate me getting another year older.... I feel very fortunate and am very thankful to have such a wonderful group of friends and an awesome husband who took our girls out to BW3 to watch the draft so that I could have a nice time out with my friends... : )

When I came home, I found a gift that was very nicely wrapped in foil with a card signed by Minzie. She said to me that it was a surprise for my birthday. Then she whispered to me very very quietly that she (and Minah, too) got a Badgers shirts for me. But, it's a secret and that's why she was whispering to me...

Today, I was asked how I feel about turning 29... I feel Good about turning 29...hmmmm... for about 6 times now. I realize that I am exactly where I should be and I am very grateful for that. I am looking forward to another year with my fabulous husband and two adorable daughters....

Our house!

Another new thing to learn...learn to take care of "pond"

Kitchen

Looking down to Diningroom which is connected to Livingroom on the left side
and Kitchen from "Library"

"Library" attached to MB

Patio looking down from MB porch

Mater Bedroom- Younguk thinks that I am going to use both of the walk in closets and he will only get a small part of it... : )

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2-on the left side of the wall as you walk in, there is a BIG picture of shark.

Minzie absolutely refused to go into this room when we took her to the house.

Bedroom #3 -this is the room for a teenager daughter of seller, can you tell? : )

Bedroom #4

Looking into Basement/family room from the stairway

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...

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...