SUMMER RAIN

While it has been ultra hot today, about one hour ago there has been big time thunder, lightening and rain and it is still going on at this hour. Meanwhile it is still 78 degrees outside. Since mama is very sensitive to heat, she stayed inside all day while papa took Mimi to the movies to see "WALL-E' and then Mimi played in the fountain outside the theater to cool off. Sometimes I wonder if the hot weather is just as bad as the cold weather up here in the northwest. Meanning that no one can go out either way.

STOW AWAY

By the time 8:00 p.m. rolled around last night, people started to leave but it was still way too hot to go inside and get ready for bed. Instead we all ended up outside at Keri and Lisa's while the kids were playing in the street. Unlike back home in Southern California, the kids here are able to do so. Lisa and neighbor Erin their families are getting ready to go on a vacation to Colorado with Lisa's RV so all the kids had fun playing there too. Next thing we knew Mimi came out of the RV saying "Mama, where's my pillow and blanket?" Somehow she got the idea that she was going to go with them. She was quite saddened by the fact that she was not ;-( Mama told Lisa that she better start counting the number if kids on her trip (4 in all).

At 10:00 p.m. it was still in the 80's outside so we sat in our backyard swing and stargazed. Oh man! I have never seen so many as we did last night. Finally Mimi said she was tired and put herself to bed. Mama and papa followed not long after her.

BBQ WITH OUR CHINA FAMILY FRIENDS

Yesterday was our turn to host our monthly get together. Mama thought that it would be a good idea to have a BBQ and so we did. Boy! Was it hot as heck even at 5:00 p.m.!!! Not many families came due to one reason or another. Besides us, there was only 3 other families but none the less a good time was had by all.

HOTTER THAN #@&$%!

It hit 91 degrees yesterday in Maple Valley and it is forecast to be hotter today. Within a week it went from a winter that did not want to go away to a heat wave. It seems to be a year of extemes for weather.

Greg

BEAR-O-METER AND PANDA "MA-METERS"

Mimi has a bit of trouble pronouncing thermometer so "ma-meter" it is. I cannot believe it!!! We are at this moment hotter than our friends down in Southern California! According to the weather channel Los Angeles is expected to be 78 degrees at Dodger Stadium. They are now at the 70 degree mark.

Us folks up here in Washington have already surpassed that mark. Bear-O-Meter is the temperature in our backyard and Panda is our kitchen temperature. I think I will get the pool ready for our get together this afternoon/evening.

SUMMERTIME FUN

Mama is still getting used to the weather up here in the northwest. It seems that back home in California during the summer daylight saving time, it would be the hottest from 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. Then things would start to cool down a bit. Up here in the northwest at this time it does not get hot till 4:30 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. It was 6:45 p.m. when these pictures of Mimi and Ellissa were taken today. It is actually so hot that our cats Ollie and Stanley who normally love going outside, stayrd inside where it is much cooler. Since we are in-charge of our monthly China family playdate this Saturday at our home, mama decided to open up Mimi's pool to check and see how big it is for the kids to play in. The temperature is suppossed to be in the 80's this weekend.

THE PUTNEY CHIMP FAMILY

Papa, mama and Mimi. The reason for the puckered lips is because Mimi is forever saying "Kiss Me!"

SPACE CHIMPS

We love the movies and Space Chimps is another summer movie that Mimi would like to go see. Judging from the trailers, it reminds me of the movie Planet Of The Apes only computerized. It is also another means of cheap summer fun.

MORE SWIMMING PICTURES

Mimi is just like a fish in the water. She was quite upset yesterday for the fact that she was not allowed in the water before her class started. The pool was opened for public swim time but mama did not have her swim suit on. Shame on her. When public swim time was over the lifeguards roped off the areas for swimming classes. It was only them Mimi could go into the pool. Of course I was constantly asked by Mimi the universal question of "WHY can't I go in the pool before class?"

THREE CRAZY SILLY GIRLS

Sarah, Ling Ling and Mimi.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Mimi and mama were quite busy today. After the storytelling at the library, it was a trip to Fred Meyers. It is our turn to hold the monthly get together with our other China family friends this coming Saturday at our house. Mama has also invited our new neighbors Kathy and Larry. They not only have adult biological children but also a adopted teenage son from the US of A and a teenage daughter Nadia from Russia. After the grocery shopping was done we had just about one hour to do some light housekeeping then it was time for the swimming lessons, dinner with papa at Ivar's then going over to Ling Ling's house.

SWIMMING AND GYMNASTICS

Although school is out for summer, Mimi has been keeping busy with another round of swimming and gymnastics. This week is the beginning of each class. Mimi really loves them both and does pretty good if I do say so myself.

In her gymnastic class she is the only one who is 5 years old. Everyone else is quite a bit older and taller. After class yesterday we saw her friend Jack as he was getting ready for his class just after Mimi's. Mama tried to get Mimi switched into his class but unfortunately it is for boys only. At Summit Gymnastics some classes are for boys only or girls only, then there is the trampoline class for boys and girls together.

This past Monday Mimi started her swim classes at the Aquatic Center. She had a blast. At the Aquatic Center they teach the kids to swim without any floating device. Mimi is really jazzed about being able to touch the bottom of the pool without any help of any kind. She really loves jumping up and down while waiting her turn with the teacher. Mama who is sitting on the sidelines could see her head bob up and down and smiling and waving to her. Now and then she will give mama a wink.

THE BOUNCY PLACE

Mimi's school chum Jackie and her brother Dillon each have A birthday close together. Their mom Melissa decided this year to celebrate the two birthdays together at The Bouncy Place. It was our first time going there. Mimi had a blast running and jumping here, there and everywhere. She really worked up a good sweat.

MY SPACE

On very rare occassions when Mimi needs a "time out", this is the sofa where she sits. Last Sunday our friends Guy and Diana came over for dinner with their 3 kids, Tess, Porter and Cooper. While they were here Cooper started to have tantrums. His dad Guy said "Cooper, if you don't straighten up, we're going to have to give you a time out". Without skipping a beat, Mimi pipes up saying "He can use my time out place! Ya wanna use it?"

SALVATION

After yesterday's hair fiasco, mama took Mimi over to see Maya this morning to see if she could salvage the damage that was done to Mimi head. Everyone thinks that Maya did a pretty good job. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done about the bald spot except to let it grow out.

I really do hope that I live long enough to see Mimi karmic retribution like my mom is watching mine from up above. ;-)

RESTRAINING ORDERS

Many years ago back home in California, mama's hairdresser Dean Rhoades (the guy who invented Youthful Essesnce) told mama that she needed a restraining order against scissors. Mama tried cutting her bangs and did not do a good job on herself.

This afternoon while mama was cleanning the kitchen, mama asked Mimi to go upstairs and brush her hair. That was all the girl had to do, just brush her hair before our compnay Diana and her family were to come over for Sukiyaki dinner. About 10 minutes later, Mimi came downstairs and informed mama that she had "tied the hair in a knot" therefore the girl decided to go into papa office and take the scissors and giver herself a haircut. There was hair all over the office rug. Fortunately Mimi is able to use scissors safely and they have blunt tips.

As you can see in the above picture, well that was our referal picture that was sent to us before going to China. One can see how bald she is. Mimi has very fine hair and it takes forever to get it to grow out. Mama worked real hard to get it to the point of fixing it into a ponytail. In one swoop all of mama's hard work is shot to heck. I think Mimi needs a restraining order against scissors. We will be making a trip to the hairdresser tomorrow.

IS IT CHOW TIME YET?????

Our two kitties love to eat especially when the food is fresh straight from the bag.

SUMMER SOLTICE

The summer soltice season is now upon us. Pictured left to right is Alex, Savannah (Blake's half sister) who is visiting from Virginia, Izzy (Alex's older sister), Blake and Mimi. Believe it or not these pictures were taken at 9:00 p.m. today. Now at 9:42 p.m. the sun is just now setting.

This is the main reason why mama has such a hard time getting Mimi to go to bed. Mimi will say "But Mo-om! All my friends are outside and it's not dark yet!" Since mama is fortunate to be able to stay home with Mimi and Mimi does not have to get up early now that school is over, mama does not push Mimi to go to bed early. Plus Mimi has more time to spend with her papa. Come September when Mimi enters elementary school, that will all change though.

In the fall and winter it gets completely dark by 4:00 p.m., but most definitly by next summer there will be blackout curtains in both the girls rooms. That something that all the moms up here in Washington put in the kids rooms.

MIMI THE ROCKSTAR

This morning not long after waking up, we were all snuggled comfortably in Mimi big bed. Out of the blue Mimi says "Mama, I gotta go get something. You have fun with daddy ok?" One never knows what she will do or say next.

After Chinese school, there was a huge garage sale going on in Michelle's (teacher) neighborhood and that was where mama picked up this guitar for a couple of bucks. For many months now Mimi loves to pretend she is a "Rockstar".

A BIT OF SAD NEWS

There was a bit of sad news in our household. Mimi's beta fish Nemo went to the great fish tank in the sky last night. The new tenants (guppies) moved into Nemo's condo this afternoon.

SUMMIT OLYMPICS

Tonight was the night for the Olympics at Summit Gymnastics. Mimi did really, really good if I do say so myself. I think the reason she did so well was because #1 she practiced the routine really hard at home and #2 there were other team gymnasts practicing while the little ones were showing their routines to the parents. I figured since the other gymnasts were practicing, Mimi did not get stage fright and just thought that it was classtime. The reason for the two certificates is because Mimi is in two gymnastic classes. One is tumbling and the other is trampoline.

On the way home we stopped at the park where Michelle our neighbor was having a birthday party. Since it does not get dark till 9:30 p.m. we all stayed at the park quite late. Later in the evening Ray started up a campfire for everyone to roast their marshmallows. YUMMY!

RED ENVELOPES

Money, money, mon....ey, ...money!

Mimi: Mama, what's that? (pointing to the red envelope)

Mama: It's a envelope to put money in and give as gifts.

Mimi: Oh. Well, where's the money?

Mama: We don't have any.

SURPRISES

This morning before going to the Aquatic Center, Mimi came upstairs to tell me that she had a surprise for me.

Mimi: Mama, close your eyes, I got a surprise for you. (Mimi said she wanted to pose and closing her eyes are part of the posing)

Mama closes her eyes and opened her hands.

Mimi: Noooo, you're not supposed to open you hands.

Mama: OK, what is it?

Mimi: SURPRISE!!! (holding two Japanese rice crackers with a peanut inside) They're mine and I'm going to eat them!!!

Then she proceeds to laugh real hard. Boy, what kind of a surprise is that I ask?

YEE - HAW COWGIRL

There's a new sheriff in town and she's a mighty mean look'in too. Ya better watch y're P's and Q's around here or sheriff Mimi may throw ya in jail or so she says. Now a days it seems like everyone is going to jail in our household. There's no exceptions.

UP A TREE

This is a old photo of Mimi after she has climbed the tree in our neighbohood park. At this point in her life she is in transition. On some days she likes to be a girl and wear dresses. She pointed out to mama yesterday, she wants to let her hair grow as long as Samantha's hair. On other days she still prefers to be a tomboy and climb trees and wear a ponytail. Yesterday was one of those days.

The weather yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. Little Liam (Erin's brother) had his 3rd birthday party in the park. Mama actually got sunburned and did not know till she went to take a shower last night.

Mimi was having a grand time running around and playing with the other kids there. Must have been around 16 or 17 kids from the ages of 5 and under. All of a sudden mama heard some yelling from the tree. It was Mimi yelling "mama, I can't get down!!!" Mama yelled back "Yes you can! You got up there, you can get down! You do it all the time!"

While all of this was going on, mama was getting some pretty strange looks from the other moms in the park. They could not for the life of them figure out why mama was yelling at the tree, and thought that I must have lost my mind till I told them Mimi was up the tree. They then all breathed a sigh of relief.

Mimi then shimmied down the tree as fast as she got up there hence the gymnastic classes. ;-)

CRITTERS

This afternoon the weather is gorgeous. It was warm enough for Mimi to play in her wading pool. Mama in the meantime was sweeping the patio when lo and behold what does she see? None other than Mr. Catapillar. Too bad Samantha is not here. I could have given it to her. Maybe I could mail it ya think? In the meantime he has a new home in our cherry tree in the backyard.

For the past few months mama has made friends with Chick the little bird who likes to hang out on our fence in the backyard. He lets mama get real close but then goes nuts whenever she goes to the far back corner of the yard. It's quite possible that there is a nest there.

As for Mimi, she still has interest in cars but the new thing now is SNAKES! She won them yesterday at the carnival at Lake Wilderness. Egads, mama cannot stand them especially the real ones.

FATHER'S DAY WITH GRANDPA

Yesterday afternoon we all went to grandpa's house to help him celebrate this wonderous occassion. While waiting for dinner Mimi and mama played a round of Mimi's favorite game of slap jack and go fish. Everyone else was engrossed with watching golf and Tiger Woods playing at Torrey Pines. I truly love that place. Papa and mama had dinner at the lodge one year B.C. (before child) and was it ever deeellliiicious!!! In the picture, Mimi is showing grandpa the mug she made for papa at her school.

MORE DADDY DAY FUN

This morning after breakfast, we all headed over to Lake Wilderness for the carnival. I must say that it was very laid back and actually quite nice. Not a big crowd at all. Of course there is no going to a carnival without a pony ride.

On the way home there was a party going on over at the park. Of course we had to stop by for Derek's BBQ and more fun.

In the evening it was dinner at grandma's. Pictures are forth coming at a later date. At 8:30 p.m. it is still very, very bright outside and the temperature is very cool. The party is still going on at the park and we had been invited to to have some root beer floats but mama is quite pooped! Papa will go by himself.