Choi Happenings - pt 2

On Saturday, March 1st, we spent the morning with everyone’s favorite Occupational Therapist, Miss Roni as she evaluated Hansen for OT needs. As we suspected, he has some areas of concern that we are going to work on over the summer, but on the whole he is doing wonderfully well. Once we get the evaluation report back, we will really start seeing some improvements. Aimee was so happy to see Miss Roni again, she really did relate to her and she has missed her play sessions and hugs. I have to say that Miss Roni used to come to our house for Aimee’s therapy, but since then she has moved into a custom fitted facility. It is awesome and all three kids did not want to leave, they had such a blast. One thing that Roni pointed out to me immediately is that Aimee has quite a pronounced lisp. I knew she had one, but had gotten so used to it that I no longer noticed. Needless to say, I now hear it all the time and we will be working on some exercises to try and address it. Of course, our insurance won’t cover the speech therapy, but we never really thought it would, since they don’t like to cover much – lol.

Miss Roni’s office shares the same parking lot as ACE Educational Supplies, who just happened to be holding a huge sale that day. Always one for a bargain, we spent a good 2-3 hours wandering around and buying things we didn’t really need. The highlight of the morning was when Aimee and I were outside browsing and Rich, Joyce, Hansen and Cadence were in-line to pay inside. I received a frantic call on my cell from Richard to say that Cadence had disappeared. I cannot begin to describe the scene, the store was packed with people and it was impossible to move around easily, the parking lot was also full of stalls and people. Basically, it was one of the last places you would want to lose a teeny-tiny 4 year old with a habit of hiding when she is worried. I was doing okay standing guard on the only exit, until it became apparent that Cady was not going to suddenly reappear. They were the longest 5 minutes of my life until Richard called to say he had found her in the framing department looking very scared. He knew she was really scared when he picked her up and she clung to him with a death grip. We made as speedy an exit as we could and headed for some much needed lunch. Cady was very clingy and did not let us out of her sight for the rest of the day.


That afternoon was spent at the Manatee Bay Family Fun Day. It was a Wild West party in the park. The kids had a great time doing various arts and crafts, milking a ‘cow’, dancing, coloring and seeing all their friends from school. It really was a lot of fun and the highlight was when Aimee won a prize in the raffle. She was so surprised that she was the only one in the family not to hear her name called out. She was absolutely thrilled to find that she had won a clear plastic cowboy boot filled with trinkets and trash (or land-fill as we like to call it) from the school stationery store. At the end of the picnic we went to the playground area to burn off all that sugar. Aimee was overjoyed to meet up with one of her preschool friends (Aleksandra), who she hasn't seen in a long while. I have to say that I think Alek had a wonderful way with the little ones- check out the photos beow It had been a long and event-filled day, but also one of those great family days where you just look back and smile.


Armed (with candy) and extremely dangerous


Cady milking her cow


Isn't he gorgeous when he is mad? This picture also proves our kids are not always smiling.



Aimee and her prize



Aleksandra and the twins


If only I could get away with this, life would be so much easier. Where was the jump rope when we needed it this morning?

What's been happening in Choi Land?

I guess I am going to spend the rest of forever apologizing for not keeping this blog up to date. Richard tells me that I should be selective on what I choose to write about, but in a house with six people, there honestly is never a dull moment.

Let’s take a look at the past couple of weeks in no particular order…

The first funny tale is about Joyce. For those of you who have not met or heard about Joyce, she is our exchange student from China. She is 15 years old and is currently attending 10th grade at our local high school in Weston. Joyce joined our family back in August and will be here through to the end of June. I cannot say enough good things about her, she is everything you could wish for in a daughter – she is beautiful, kind, generous, funny, adorable, smart and just simply wonderful to know and love. From the very beginning she has called us Mum and Dad and her transition into the family was seamless. I know there is going to be a huge void in our homes and hearts when she returns to China in June. She is such a big part of our family and we all feel blessed to know and love her. Anyway, as usual I am digressing…

As I mentioned Joyce is 15 years old and comes from China. For many years her Mother and Grandmother have been trying to get her to pierce her ears, but she has always refused due to an incredible fear that it will hurt. Well now she has seen Cady and Aimee in their pretty earrings, she has slowly warmed to the idea of trying to get her ears pierced. After watching numerous YouTube videos to illustrate how painless it actually is, Joyce decided that now was the time.




Never one to sit back and second guess a decision, I immediately drove her and the 3 kids to Claires to get the job done. As the kids destroyed the store, Joyce anxiously sat in the chair and I signed her life and ears away. I have to say that up until the moment the lady wanted to come within 15 feet of her, Joyce was extremely brave. But as soon as the lady approached, Joyce was jumping out of her chair like a scolded cat – it truly was hysterical. You would think the woman was trying to murder her. I have never seen anyone so jumpy. In the end, I had to basically hold her down as she squeezed the life blood out of my hands. Needless to say within a couple of minutes the ordeal was over and we left the store.




Unfortunately, I did not quite understand it was only the beginning – for the next couple of hours Joyce slowly regained her normal skin tone (she had turned quite green) and she also proceeded to walk as if she were wearing a neck brace. When asked why she would not turn her head, she simply explained that she couldn’t since she did not want it to hurt her ears. No amount of coaxing from me would help her relax enough to stop her looking like C3PO. Finally, prior to going to bed some 4 or 5 hours later, she was beginning to look like her old self, with the addition of a pair of beautiful emerald studs. I wish I had just taken Joyce alone, since I could have made our own YouTube video and entered it for America’s Funniest Home Movies. Mind you, I think even the photos show the depth of Joyce’s discomfort – bless her. I also want to add that even though she was scared, she was adamant that she wanted her ears pierced and she is extremely happy now they are done and it is all over. Her Mom was happy to hear that she had finally taken the plunge and think we can all relax now it is over.


Joyce after the earrings















A couple of weekends ago, Aimee and I were on our way to a birthday party when we took a wrong turn and ended up passing the Dave Rodeo – why does that always happen when you are running late? Anyway, we called the rest of the family to meet up with us after the party and all spent a wonderful couple of hours wandering the various stalls and exhibits. Highlights of the day were watching the kids sing and play music with a man from the Navajo tribe inside his tent- it was so hot outside, but wonderfully cool inside. Seeing Joyce’s shock at the size of a bull in the farm exhibit, she never knew cows were that big. Amazingly, she had never seen a live cow before! The little kids loved the pony rides and the petting zoo of goats, calves, chickens, sheep and ponies and Hansen and Aimee even tried on a firefighter’s uniform, oh and I almost forgot shaking hands with a monkey... However my favorite part of the day was having my photo taken holding a one month old Florida Panther named Donovan. He had to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen and I fell deeply in love as he suckled on my thumb like a baby. I could have spent all day with him, he was so darn cute.

Our Beautiful Children

I wanted to add a few of my favorite recent pictures of each of the kids

First Handsome Hansen


Million dollar smile...



I just love the joy in his eyes in this picture


This is a face I know so well



Did someone say cheese?


Now a few of Aimee



My funny valentine



Looking sweet


Sweet as candy


Some of my fave photos are of the kids not looking into the camera,this is one of them


and finally Feisty McPhee


Ain't she adorable?



Looking a little put out



That's the girl we know and love


Now this is the face Richard and I see a lot - pure mischief