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...