2009

This past year has been a year of firsts:

It is the year that Mimi turned 6 in Jaunuary.
It is the year that she did little league for the first and most likely last time.
It is the year she could cross the monkey bars all by herself and swing like a monkey does.
It is the year she could pump herself on the swings all by herself without being pushed.
It is the year she picked up more phrases like "I betcha didn't see that one com'in now did ja???"
It is the year she she first did karate and most likely the last year.
It is the year when she lost her two bottom teeth.
It is the year she joined the gymnastic team.
It is the year she started going to school full day. This is not counting the time she went to pre-
school and daycare.
It is the first time for her to participate in a parade and not be a spectator.
Most importantly it is the first year she is learning about responsibility like feeding Butch, getting your lesson prepared before going to the teacher's house and that work comes before play not the other way around which is the way she prefers.

CARTWHEELS

PARADE PREPARATION

We all met down in Black Diamond this morning. Mimi was excited to see all of her friends, Elsie, Emma and Jaelyn. As we were getting ready to walk to the start of the parade all of the older girls were to choose a younger gymnast. So it was natural for Emma to walk with Elsie and Mimi walked with Jaelyn (our former neighbor). Mimi just adores Emma and Jaelyn.

So far I really like the Summit Gymnastic Team. Last week I had a long talk with another mom by the name of Karen. Her daughter Lizzie is on the team and is one of Mimi's former classmates in kindergarten. Karen gave me the low down on what to expect from the team and what they expect of us. I was told that come this next January is the when the competition starts. The girls are expected to partipate in at least 51% of their competitions. Debbie (owner) only signs the girls up for competition of Saturdays only. She believes that Sundays should be reserved for family day. I won't disagree with that. However the competition days last all day and we have to take them wherever they meet. When the time comes and Mimi competes out of town, we are to provide our own hotel expenses. Debbie will reserve rooms for the girls to all be together. Also Karen says that unlike other teams, our girls are expected to stay together at all times even when they are not competing and their teammates are. They are also expected to cheer for each other and extend their support to their teammates. They are also expected to maintain good grades in school too. So the long and short of it, they teach the girls professionalism.

MOM'S FAMOUSE FRENCH TOAST

Today was the big day and I wanted Mimi to have a super good breakfast before the parade. Thankfully it had stopped raining. Still cloudy though but no rain.