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...