News and pics from our travels

We've arrived in the land of the Mouse - the sky looks menacing, but it is through the tinted windows of the car

It seems like a lifetime ago, but a couple of weeks ago we spent a week in Orlando. All the kids were off school for Spring Break, so we decided we would take them all to Disney etc. We rented a gorgeous 4 bed house about 20mins away from Disney and had a pleasant drive up from Weston. everything seemed perfect until we pulled up outside the address the rental company had given us. Even though check out it at 10am and it was now 4pm, there was a car in the driveway... Hmmm, who could it be? Maybe the cleaner still working, but no it was a British family who were on vacation!!! They seemed a little cagey and swore they had booked the house six months ago through the owner... yeah, yeah, but who cares about that I have four kids in the car who are desperate to get this party started.

After a quick call to the rental company, which required leaving the housing development to be able to get cellphone signal (haha), they gave us a another address on the same street but about 10 houses down. We went back past the original house and pulled up in front of our new home. I went in first, since all the kids wanted to jump out of the car to get first dibs on the rooms. The house was beautiful and although it is a little more expensive than a hotel, I highly recommend it. The kids have so much room to run around and we all get a decent nights sleep, etc, not to mention not having to worry about anything. Hopefully, I will be able to upload some photos later, but most of them are not on this pc.

Anyway, after frantically unpacking the kids were already in their bathing suits and biting at the bit to get started. The pool was heated and was the best thing after a long drive. It was bliss.

All lined up and ready to go









Cadence hanging out at the house


Hansen pondering his next move



Do you think she is having fun?


Aimee looking very cute and sun-kissed


Joyce and her Snow White balloon



Hansen at the pool


See Rich does get to relax sometimes. The kids were squirting him with cold water from the hose

Too much to do and so little time

Well, here I am again I thought I had better start blogging since we have had so much recently. However, I was under the impression that I am 4 weeks behind on entries - but alas no, I am actually six weeks behind!!! Argh!

I don't know who talked me into this blogging business, but whoever you are, you have just added to the mommy guilt I already felt. Now instead of just feeling the regular bucket loads of guilt for not doing this or that, I now have one more thing to the list of things I am not doing well - lol.

I am sure that the kids will never even look at this when they are older, it will just be me and Richard remembering the old days when the kids were constantly under our feet and we thought we would never have time to ourselves again. I am sure by then we will be desperate for the occasional card or phone call (or whatever medium it is then) from our jet-setting independent, don't give a damn kids. I know this time with them now is so fleeting and they will be grown up in no time. I just wish I had the spare time that I will have then, NOW - that way I would stand a fighting chance at keeping this blasted blog current.

One thing I am going to do is not worry too much about my grammar and my typing and just get the thing written. I spend too much time, trying to make it perfect, when really it is more effective to get it on the page. so apologies for my lack of capitalization, or Us vs. UK spelling, or just plain old brain is faster that the fingers typing, but what would you rather have... a blank page or an update?

So I guess to be speedy, i will work back over the last six weeks and that way I am no longer catching up. It is allabout the frame of mind. If I am not playing catch up, then I am not behind and already see, I feel better.

So, yesterday was spent getting up at some ungodly hour (actually it is probably very godly due to it being a Sunday morning) to get ready to spend the morning with our favorite South Florida families. My dear sweet friend Lori (thanks Lori for the early Sunday morning) was hosting a party for her beautiful daughter Katie Starr who was turning 3. after having had no sleep (thanks Aimee, Richard and Cadence) all night and feeling totally crap due to my on-going cold, throat infection, nonsense that I don't seem to be able to get rid off, i woke up to discover the rain. Oh No! The party was due to be outside in a park. On checking with Lori who didn't have a plan B, but assured me it was not raining at her house, we headed off to the park. The whole way there it was raining on and off and then just as we got out of the car we had to make a running break for shelter due to a sudden outburst. Never mind, we South Floridians are pretty used to the rain and decided we were going to make the best of it no matter what. after about 15mins the sun came out and then if it didn't continue to be the most perfect day. I have to tell you that I even got sunburnt!! What the heck?

Anyway, Katie Starr had a blast once she had gotten over the 'It's my party and I will cry if I want to attitude!' - there were no tears fro her, but I am sure she would have preferred a quieter gathering. she is not one to be the center of attention. Lori and Marc make the most wonderful hosts and the kiddos had plenty of fun with a toddler size bounce house, party games and spin art, while the parents had plenty to eat and drink. I love these gatherings. Not having family locally (okay most are not even in the same country), Richard and I think of our Florida friends as our family. Our kids are very lucky to have such wonderful 'aunts, uncles & cousins' around them, not to mention their honorary grandma Miss Patty. We have definitely made some wonderful friends here.

There were many funny moments during the party, but one that sticks in my mind is of Ethan (Lori's youngest son). For those of you who don't know him, he came home from China only a few months ago with severe eating issues(would not eat ANYTHING) and developmental delays. He was so weak and could not really walk or play independently and feeding him just didn't happen. Well, yesterday as we are waiting for people to arrive 'Mr Poor Body Strength and Eating Issues Ethan' was seen pushing through people legs and climbing up onto the picnic table seat to be able to get himself Doritos (chips). Personally, I think Lori has been making it all up all these months. That kid is incredible! He is quite the determined little guy and it is truly wonderful to see the amazing growth he has made due to the love of his wonderful family.

Unfortunately after leaving the party, and spending a couple of hours in AC Moore (the art store) I began to feel really yucky and so took myself to bed. I know that is not unusual in itself, but I felt so crappy. My darling DH made me some chicken soup and a cuppa tea and I spent the rest of the evening in bed reading. This morning I feel a little better, but have decided I am taking care of me for a change and am doing absolutely nothing today. I have spend this morning napping and catching up on this blog. I know I will feel guilty later, but honestly who gives a damn. If I clean up etc,the kids will come in and trash the place at 3pm, so why bother. There is always too much to do and so little time...


One of the very few photos of me



Birthday girl Katie Starr


Girls behaving badly - Kim & Lori


Teamwork from the Dynamic Duo

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

All Quiet on The Weston Front – Quite literally….

Sorry, I couldn’t resist the play on words…

The reason it is so quiet here on the Weston Front is because I have my annual case of Laryngitis. A few weeks ago it started out as a sinus problem/head cold and it has slowly been making its way south. I had the annoying post-nasal drip for about a week and finally after an afternoon of laughing in the wind at the park, I was struck mute. Okay, that all sounds rather dramatic and honestly it was not dramatic in the least. I slowly became croaky and then was reduced to a whisper. The kids are having a blast, Richard cannot believe his luck and I am already bored of all the jokes at my expense. Seriously, do I really talk that much?? Okay, don’t answer that!




I am also bored of the constant throat clearing, the sympathetic looks from strangers and the stupid questions (‘Oh, have you lost your voice…?’). I hate being sick, I am not good at it and would much rather do something else. Some people love all the attention, but I am definitely not one of them. How much use can I be as a Mom, when my most valuable weapon is out of action? The good news is that I managed to order coffee in Starbucks today sans voice and actually got exactly what I had ordered. I don’t think that has even happened before. I guess you lose the dodgy English accent when you have Laryngitis.

I do have to share this Aimee story – it was a classic.
Yesterday after school, Aimee informs me that she wrote a story about me in her school journal.

This is how the conversation went:

Aimee: I wrote about you today Mom.
Me: You did.
Aimee: Yes, the story was called Voice.
Me: Uh-Huh.
Aimee: Yes, I said that today my mom lost her voice. She lost her voice because she yells ALL the time.
Me: You wrote that?
Aimee: Yes.
Me: But why did you say that, I don’t yell all the time?
Aimee: I had to say that Mom because it was a Non-Fiction story…

I nearly died laughing. I guess that lesson in always telling the truth even if the truth hurts really has sunk in.

So not much else to report from the Choi home. Cadence is fast following me into sickness, poor baby has a cough and a nasty runny nose. She was sent home from school today, which was great since I collected Aimee while I was there - nothing like the weekend starting early. They did nothing but argue for the first hour together, which in itself is okay, but when you can’t speak it is really infuriating not to be able to yell at them to stop. Not that I yell ALL the time of course, right Aimee?

Anyway, the plus side to Cadence not feeling well was that this evening she came upstairs and snuggled in bed with me as I read (I was resting my voice). She fell asleep almost immediately and I was able to hug her to my hearts content. She is an affectionate little thing, but she never sits still long enough to snuggle, so this evening really was special. I miss her being a baby. I used to love taking a nap with her when she was younger. Now, she way too active and independent to sit with Mama for more than a few seconds. So even though I hate to see her sick, I will take hugs and be very grateful for them.

What about me?

The other day Aimee happened to be watching over my shoulder as I was editing an earlier entry. She saw the photos of CNY and then asked to see the rest of the blog. Of course, I never even thought about it, but I started this blog in January of this year and both the younger kids have since celebrated birthdays. Aimee picked up on this immediately and asked ‘Why isn’t my birthday picture on there? What about me?’ The fact that the blog started on January 1st didn’t seem to be a valid enough excuse, nor did the promise that she would get her day in the spotlight in December alleviate her concerns.

So after careful consideration, here are a couple of late photos of Aimee’s 6th Birthday.

I can't believe she is now on two hands...



Her hat was courtesy of her teacher - She got to proudly wear it in school all day

Cute as a Bug?

This entry is just to share a photo or three of our cute little bug Miss Cadence. It is not often that Cadence will allow me to put little ponies in her hair, but it is amazing what she will do for a piece of candy.

Okay, I'm smiling now where's the candy..?




Cady is such a little tom-boy until it comes to skirts and dresses and then she is all about frills, ribbons, swirls and pink, pink and more pink




She was also very proud of her new Disney leotard (actually it's a swimsuit, but don't tell her that!)




Does my bum look big in this...?




Thanks to Mary, I am now the proud owner of 4 more ladybug shirts...






Not to mention the 3 other tees she actually called me about, that I just had to buy...