AROUND LAKE WILDERNESS

I love to take Butch to Lake Wilderness in the Fall/Winter/Spring seasons when the kids are in school. The best time to go there is in the morning. However today we went in the afternon which was ok too. However other people had the same idea. In the morning there is no one at the lake. When we are there and being that the kids are in school, I can let Butch off the leash and he can run everywhere to his big heart's content. Believe it or not the ducks and geese were there just quaking and honking away loud and clear as a bell. There were the little ducklings too. Soooooo cute.

DIRT

One would think that withall all of the snow and rain we are getting,
one would not have to wash their car. WRONG! Car washing places here
are up and running. Poor guys that have to work them. Hard to believe
that I just had my car washed last Saturday and sadly it needs it again.

SNOWING AGAIN

It started about 7 this morning. I was waiting for the school's phone
call but it never came. Keri said that Blake was waiting till the very
last minute. Knowing my child, I had her suited up for the snow which
means layers of clothes including snow pants (which she did not want
to wear and I know that come recess time she'll be running and jumping
everywhere getting her butt cold and wet therefore the pants went on),
jacket, beannie, gloves and boots. She looks like the kid from
Christmas Story where he says "I can't put my arms down!"

THUNDERBIRDS vs WINTERHAWKS

Date night tonight with my man. Dad won the hockey tickets to tonight's game at the Showare in Kent. Can't believe how many people up here love hockey. The place was packed.

Just in cast you are wondering, Mortensen is the name of the construction company that works together with dad's architect company and they are building the hospital.

Not only did dad win tickets, these tickets were to the VIP room. So that means we had really good seats. However when we went to the Mariner's baseball game a couple of years ago and got the VIP tickets, we not only had good seats but better service as well. The service here was not all that great. The main thing is we did enjoy ourselves none the less.

We lost the game 4 to 3. It was a good game though right up to the end.

It had snowed some more. So when we got home, it looks as though there is a whole bunch of sugar all across our front lawn. I also took Butch for his evening constitutional around the block passing by Erin's house at 9:30 this evening and I am sure the girls are still awake as the lights are on in the bedroom. That's alright. I know somebody will definitely be going to bed real early tomorrow night as school starts again on Monday. No more vacation for that girl till Easter when they get one more week off for Spring vacation.

ICESICLES

I knew that it is cold up here but did not realize how cold till I looked out of our second story office window and saw this piece of ice hanging down.

It started to snow again today just after we arrived home from the skating rink around 3:00 p.m. The snow is still falling. Not hard but none the less still falling.

I do however love watching the snowfall from inside my warm, warm house. I may be biased but I love our Maple Valley snow instead of the Spokane snow or the snow they get in the east.

BLAKE'S 8TH BIRTHDAY

This month is Blake's birthday. We missed it for the last two years. Last year it was because we were in Canada at the Olympics and the year before that I can't remember.

Today his party was held at the Auburn Skate Connection. If I had my thinking cap on I could have Mimi do a sleepover at Nathan's since they live so close to the skating rink. Dad and I have a hot date tonight at the Showare. Going to see a hockey game. Didn't know we were hockey nuts didja??? Not. I do enjoy the game though but I'm not crazy about it as Brandy and her family are.

Oh well things worked out for Mimi and us. She will be having a sleepover with Erin and her family tonight. Then tomorrow she, dad and Sara will go over to Grandma and Grandpa house while the women division of the SGI will attend a women's meeting the Seattle Culture Center.

It never ceases to amaze me that even having just the one child our lives have become even richer and more blessed than I could ever imagined.

DOCUMENTS FINALLY SENT TO THE INS.

Got them signed, sealed and delivered today by FedEx. Phew! Recieved another e-mail last night from another China family stating that the cut off date is now is June 9th. Slowly we move along........sigh.

AT THE MOVIES

Emma had to leave Seattle at 4:00 a.m. along with Coach Kelly. Those two are on their way to Texas to Bella Karolli's (not sure of the name spelling) ranch for the National Jumpstart Trainning Program ths weekend. Rhonda brought them to the airport hence the sleepover with Elsie last night. This way Elsie could sleep instead of having to go to the airport so early in the morning.

I tell you those two are something else. Elsie asked if we could Sukiyaki for dinner and so Sukiyaki it was. Then I thought to myself why not have Emma and Rhonda join us before Emma's trip. So we all enjoyed a delicious dinner together and Rhonda brought over one of Mimi's favorite desserts.........cookies. Her other favorite dessert is ice cream.

About 8:00 p.m. is when Rhonda and Emma headed for home to get ready for the next day's trip. Meanwhile Thelma and Louise were upstairs just laughing the night away. I finally got them to brush their teeth and into bed by 8:30. That does not mean they went right to sleep. Mimi would say that she is tired and wanted to sleep while Elsie yakked. Then Elsie would say that she is tired and Mimi would be doing the yakking. Then there was the giggles and laughing in between. I think they finally petered out around 9:45 or so and was up and about at 7 this morning.

After breakfast and the clean-up, I thought that I would take the girls out to see a movie so that dad could have some peace and quiet while he got all of our paperwork together in order to FedEx it to Bal Jagat ASAP.

We went to see Justin Beiber's movie "Never Say Never". The girls liked it ok. I thought it was cute but kind of a sleeper for me.

Now the movie is done and the back home at Elsie's.

JUST DANCE

This is Mimi's favorite Wii thing to do. Blake and Shad love Club Penguin. So the kids switched back and forth. Shad says "I think my mom will like this cuz she likes funky music and she's kinda funky" The boy is not far from wrong.

MIMI AND SHAD

When we got home Shad was outside playing so I had Mimi go put on her snowpants, hat and gloves and once again the snowball fighting began. They played and played to their little hearts content and till they could stand the cold no longer. Then it was time to come in for some hot cocoa and Wii games.

LAKE WILDERNESS

On the way home from downtown Seattle I was lucky, no snowfall. Then I thought it would be a great idea to stop by the lake to see how the sledding is as they have some pretty good size hills for the kids to sled on. I thought that if was good enough, I would take the groceries home and come back with Mimi, Butch and a sled but it was a no go. Most of the morning snow was gone and it had just started to snow again while we were there and the new snow is too soft. It is when it has hardened a bit. Butch had loads of fun none the less.

UWAJIMAYA

Mimi loves her soups on the cold days. Downtown was not so bad. Very little snow if any at all. It's all mostly at the foothills like where we live. I knew that we were to get more snow today so we did not stay long. We did however go to the Kinokuniya bookstore which is always a favorite of Mimi's. I think that her Uncle David and Auntie Setsue may have rubbed off on her. Whenever they are in town, we always have to make a pit stop there during the visit.

OWEN, MIMI AND SPENCER

We were on our way to the downtown Seattle Uwajimaya when Butch saw Reno in the park and just went nuts. So we stopped to play for a short while and the fight was on.......with snowballs of course.

CHRISTMAS AGAIN

After the blustery snowfall this afternoon, this is what it looked liked as I was taking Mimi to her gymnastic practice at 5:00 this evening. All the trees lining the hwy was covered in snow. It was sooooo beautiful. The one thing about Maple Valley winter that I like is that it snows just enough for the kids to have fun in and we don't get as much as eastern Washington. It just right, not too much and not too little.

TODAY'S SECOND E-MAIL FROM BAL JAGAT

Re: Putney Home Study Update
February 23, 2011 12:29 PM

Our policy is we nev er approve of a homestudy or an update until all documents, clearances and or fees have arrived in our office.

I see that you have already notarized and sent, without my final approval. I left you a vm. Mike. Please communicate with me next time. Please include your agency's license and expiration date in the coversheet to INS (as I asked for you to do it in the priop e-mail before I saw that you had already notarized., approvend and mailed it off.)

I am still waiting for the docs to arrive Mike. Also please mail me the CA clearances when they arrive.

Thank you,
Mausamoi Momaya
Bal Jagat-Children's World Inc.

*****these letters are very irritating to me.

TODAY'S FIRST E-MAIL FROM BAL JAGAT

Date: February 23, 2011 11:45 AM

I went through all 17 pages confirming each change. Thank you for making my corrections. You have coverted this doc. to a PDF so I cannot type anything into it.

On the end of the second to last page I asked for your agency's license number and expiration date on the last version I sent you and you have not filled it in.

I have had home study updates returned by INS for this-which is why I asked you to fill it in.

Please add it in and resend me. Not approved yet.

I also have not received the paperwork that Mike was suppose to send me nor the criminal statement and fees from Greg. Mabe they will all arrive today.

Thank you!
Mausami Mamay, LCSW
Direstor of Social Services
Bal Jagat-Children's World Inc.

ONE HOUR LATER

This was our front lawn at 3:00 pm. My car was covered with snow when I left to go pick up Elsie and Mimi. Rhonda who had taken Emma to get her ID up in North Bend stated that the Hwy 18 was closed so she had to go all the way to Front Street and come home on the Issaquah/Hobart Rd. For those of you who don't know the way around up here, it's the looooong way home where you are going out of your way to come home. So instead of going from A to C, you are going A to B then onto C. So far the roads are clear so dad should not have any problem getting home tonight.

DIPP'IN DOTS

The weatherman was right again. It started to come down in full force at about 2:30 this afternoon and at 3:00 it is still coming down. However at first it was coming down like dipp'in dots or the styrofoam balls but now we have the flakes. Mimi and Elsie are at Lizzie's birthday party and I have got to go a pick them up in a few minutes. I really don't care for driving in the snow. Thankfully the party is in Ravensdale and not very far away.

SCRABBLE

Mimi is really getting into playing card games and board games these days. Yesterday when the kids were done with playing the boys (Blake and Shad) went home while the girls hatched a plan to have a sleepover at our house. That they did.

I feel so lucky to be in a wonderful neighborhood with wonderful neighbors. This morning dad took the girls to Black Diamond Bakery for breakfast while I got the house ready for our monthly SGI meeting/potluck. Next thing I knew the girls were home and Blake was knocking at our door.

The kids had fun all day till it was time for Halli to go with her family to the hockey game and Shad was outside so Blake and Mimi hung out with him for a couple of hours.

On gorgeous days like today I always have Mimi go outside because the rest of the time it is cold and wet until summer rolls around. The sky was soooooo blue. Although the sun was out, it was freezing cold. So they only stayed outside for about an hour till they went to play inside Shad's house.

Our weather forecast says that it is to start snowing on Tuesday. I just hope that it does not kill my budding Tulips and Daffodils.

Wii & FOOSBALL

When all of the fun was done at the school, plus it was getting way too cold for me and Butch, it was time to come home for snacks and Wii. However we did have a bit of a problem and usually I try to stay out of them. The problem lies in that they all have the Alpha personality and so someone's feelings usually gets hurt. Forturnately these kids are really good kids and can work things out for themselves. They are now having loads of fun playing foosball. Never a dull moment around our house and I love it!

2 HANDSOME BOYS, 2 GORGEOUS GIRLS & DARN CUTE PUG

Oh man was it gorgeous today. Freeze your nunnies off cold though. Our day started off with mom actually getting the chance to sleep in and Mimi and dad heading for the slopes up at Snoqualmie. Dad later reported that Mimi lasted for three runs before hunger struck and they came home. Dad said that Mimi ate 99% of the adult size clam chower and half of his french dip sandwich at their usual pit stop before coming home.

Next thing I knew the girl was home and watching tv. "I think not" I said to the girl. "We are going outside while the weather is beautifully clear" I added. It is supposed to start clouding up tomorrow and we are supposed to get some snow for a few days. Not sure about the snow as things change on a dime up here but you can best bet it will be darn cold, cloudy and rainy.

So outside we went and there was Shad, Blake and Halli. Off to the school ground we all went. The kids had loads of fun playing wall ball, riding their bike and scooter, playing on the playground equipment and racing across the field. Then Butch somehow got caught up in the soccer netting. Poor little fella. Then the boys decided to make up a new game. Playing soccer with a basketball. Go figure!

WHAT A DAY! PHEW!

My day started off great with my visit with Lisa. We did a whirlwind tour of Seattle. It got a bit stressful when I came home and opened up our e-mail. Another *&^%$ form to fill out for our homestudy update.

Many moons ago when dad was young and not so bright, he was at the wrong place, wrong time and wrong people, he was arrested and had to spend the night in the pokey. When it came time to adopt Mimi, he called the courthouse and asked for the report to which he was told that they don't keep those kind of records for any length of time and so they would just fax him a letter to which they did just that. Now there is a form to fill out. ARGH!

Way back around Halloween last year was when our update homestudy was done. About a week before Christmas was when Mike our homestudy guy wrote to say that he needed our original homestudy to complete his job. Should he not have had it by then? It was our 2nd homestudy with this man. A little over a week ago dad got ALL of the papers Mike asked for and sent them into Mike. Last Monday dad called to see if Mike had sent everything to Bal Jagat and the man said he had just sent it in that morning. HE LIED! As of yesterday the man has yet to send our paperwork in! Everything is due by March 5th. Egads. Dad who is normally mild mannered lit his fuse and laid into the guy. Apparently Mike and Bal Jagat are now talking.

I just had to call Emily and Nathan's mom Lisa and share all of this. She said that Mike has yet to do their post homestudy update for Emily who has been home nearly 2 two years already.

So therefore I thought that I would drink a bit and have some chocolate. Ate a couple of pieces of the chocolate, closed the box and made the mistake of leaving it on my side table next to my recliner. When I came back downstairs, Butch had polished the rest of the box off. Great, now I have a dog with chocolate poisoning. He's a sturdy little fella and nothing bad happened thank goodness.

Then last night was the parent meeting at the gym. Dad and I take turns going as only 1 parent needs to attend. We went through the usual stuff such as what we as parents could do to help our child along and the importance of conditioning for the athlete. Then the big news came.

Most of the people in the gymnastic world knew this info and it was all over the news up here in the northwest.

At the end of the this month , our gym had a competition set up with the Top Notch gym in Portland. The guy who owns the gym also owns a cheerleading team. He is also on the gymnastic board that sets up the competitions for the regionals and national competition.

Well.......last week we got news that he was arrested for........possession of child pornography on his computer. Needless to say our trip to Portland was cancelled. I think that was a good idea, don't you? He is now in jail, cannot be anywhere near children including his own, career is shot.

A short while back both he and his wife bought a 7 year lease for the gym. The gym is up for sale now so whoever purchases it is locked into a 7 year lease.

One of the parents asked about the regionals that was/is to be taking place in Portland this year. Since this man was in charge of putting the money in for the location and he got arrested, his position in the gymnastic world is on hold and our Coach Debbie is the only one talking to him now, she found out that he NEVER MADE THE DOWN PAYMENT for the gym location for the regionals. Coach Debbie says that Missy (don't know her) from Utah has stepped up to take this man's place. That has some of the parents up in arms cause it may mean that the regionals will be held in Utah. Which means more $$$$ for us to dole out. Airfare/hotel you know. Things are still up in the air.

As of now a lot of things are up in the air for the Putney's. I can't wait for some of it to come on down.

ME 'N' LISA

Lisa and I met each other way back in the late 80's when we both worked for Soka University in Calabasas. Soka University is now in Aliso Viejo, California.

Lisa was my boss back then. That's when we were all young, single and free with very little responsiblities.

At that time Lisa was living in Japan working for the Soka Women's Junior College and coming out to California to work at the Soka University here during the summer months when we had exchange students from Japan. Oh my gawd we had so much fun back then.

Then eventually just through time we parted ways and lost contact with each other. Lo and behold along comes FB and I found her on it! We were able to re-connect again.

Long story short, before moving to Japan, Lisa grew up with her family in Texas. Her dad is from the Phillipines and her mom is from Japan. Her mom passed away several years ago and here dad wanted to move back to the Phillipines. So Lisa is here to take care of the family business of selling their home in Texas.

Just the other day I recieved a e-mail from her stating that she will be coming through Sea-Tac on her way to Texas via Denver and she has a 5 hour layover, so I met her at the airport and we did a whirlwind tour of Seattle since she has never been here.

First she had to go through customs so that cut out about an hour of our time. Then it was onto the lightrail and into downtown Seattle where I took her to see the Space Needle and Pike's Place Market. Of course we had to make a stop at Beechers for some of their famous mac 'n' cheese. OMG it is delicious.

Then it was on to the market and guys at the famous fish stand where they throw the fish and yell did a special yell just for her.

We made it back to the airport just in time for her to catch her connecting flight to Denver. As a present from Japan, she gave me a couple calendars and this huge box of Wasabi Flavored Kit Kat Bars. She says that it is really tasty. I'll have to trust her for now. I've heard about them before but have never seen it.

If things work out, I hope to be going to China for our next chili pepper via of Japan and staying with Lisa and her family for several days. I really want to see my mom's family also as I have not seen them since my mom passed away back in 2003. I miss them terribly.

Unfortunately we will not be able to see our California Friends then but we will definitely coming down to California sometime at the end of the year. Hopefully for Allyn's Fall Disney get together.

GOOD NEWS

There is nothing wrong with the girl so to speak. No fever, weight stable (49 lbs still), BP & pulse normal, O2 saturation 92%, lungs clear. So why the cough??? Nobody knows. My assumption is that it is possibly post nasal drip. The doc says that basically there is nothing much we could do except give her some children's claritin and monitor her cough.

There is a lot of viruses going on around here. Halli, Cal, Olivia, and Micah came down with strep throat. Micah also had pink eye over the weekend. Then at the doctor's office we saw a couple of other kids in there also. That's what happens when it gets cold up here. There is not much going outside as it is freezing cold. Although I have Mimi going out when it is not rainning so she is outside more than her friends. So I guess we are pretty lucky that she has not coming down with anything more than a cough. I can deal with that.

AT THE DOC 'S

Although Mimi does not have a fever, her appetite is normal, energy
has slowed down a little, she has had this nasty cough for the past
several day. Mucinex cough syrup has helped to suppress it but it just
won't go away. So here we sit at the doctor office. I have a sinking
feeling that she may have a touch of Bronchitis.

VALENTINES DAY

This has been a whirlwind weekend with birthday parties and Valentine Celebrations. Today I thought that I would surprise dad with lunch at Anthony's Home Port. Contrary to the picture on FB, dad was/is a happy man.

The musical dog is what dad got for his Valentine present from none other than me! I also brought some Moose Munch for him to share with his co-workers. Dad said that both presents were a hit at the office. I recieved my favorite bath powder "Oscar Dela Rente". I love smelling good when I go to bed at night. Mimi recieved a ton of Valentine cards and candy from her friends and video and book from dad and I.

When practice was over tonight, Rhonda and I thought that it would be a great idea to take the girls to the nearby newly remodeled McDonald's for their Valentine dinner. Dad joined in with us on the celebration. We pracitically had the whole place to ourselves. Imagine that!

SLEEPOVER

The other day Mimi asked me "Mom, are me and Mei Mei ever going to fight?" "More than likely you will I answered". Then I asked if she ever fought with Halli, Zoe and Olivia to which the girl answered truthfully "sometimes". "How about Erin and Elsie?" I asked. She said "not much".

So last night night when Daphne brought Sara over I mentioned this to her as Mimi and Sara rarely fight. Then dad reminded us about the huge fight Mimi and Sara had last year. You have to understand that Sara is all of 10 years old and feels that she is Mimi's big sister. Both girls are strong willed and stubborn as heck. Don't know what the fight was about but Sara and Mimi had a huge fight and Sara locked Mimi out in the backyard and went upstairs and locked herself in her room. Daphne realized that it was way too quiet in the house and found Mimi out in the backyard pounding on the door for someone to let her in. I sometimes wonder if this is what I am in for somewhere in my future?

Now they get along sooooooo well. Mimi could not wait for Sara to come over to the house. They had way too much fun with each other and Sara hooked up Mimi to this pretty neat website for kids. http://wwwanimaljam.com Mimi is a wolf. Go figure. They laughed and laughed and laughed the whole time. I love the sound of laughter in kids.

THERE'S A PARTY GO'IN ON

......right here, a celebration to last throughout the year. So bring your good times and your laughter too, cause we go'in celebrate your party with you........

That's what's going on in Mimi's room right now.

BIRTHYDAYS, PLAYDATES AND SLEEPOVERS

That is pretty much our day in a nutshell. Today Mimi's classmate Morgan had her 8th birthday party at the Metropolitan Gymnastics out by the Valley Hospital in Kent (?). Oh man is that place huge!!! It's about 4x's the size of our gym. I like our gym better though because it is smaller and more intimate.

Mimi is at the stage in her life when she does not share with her friends the information of whose birthday party she has been invited to as not everyone is always invited. As it turns out, a couple of other girls besides Morgan the birthday girl has been invited to the party. One of them is Rachel another one of Mimi's good friend. Rachel also likes Mimi alot and has helped Mimi tremendously when her leg was on the mend.

When the fun of the party was over, I saw Rachel's dad and asked if would be ok if Rachel came over to the house for a playdate and of course both girls said YES !!!!! Which is where they are at this very moment. In Mimi's room with door closed (but I can hear them in the next room), Kidz Bop music blasting away and they are singing at the top of their lungs and I am pretty sure there is some dancing going on in there too.

Sara is at a birthday party also today and when she get done with that, she will be over for a sleepover. Then tomorrow Mimi will go to her first Valentine Party at another friend's home.

I don't know what our next little chili pepper will be like but she better be able to keep up with her big sis.

MIMI AND SHAD

When all was said and done at the park, Mimi and I headed over to Costco to pick up our pictures. While there we met up with Shad and his family. I tell you, the Covington Costco is the watering hole for all the Covington/Maple Valley moms and kids.

UP A TREE.......AGAIN

When Mimi and Erin got tired of playing Pirates, they decided to climb their tree. I think that over the years Mimi and Erin has had some effect on each other. Erin can bring out the feminine side of Mimi and Mimi has Erin climbing fences, walls and trees.

MEET THE PIRATE

........Derek along with the boys Liam, Patrick and Owen who are not in the picture.

PIRATES

While Butch played with his friends, Mimi played with hers. Of course you all know Erin. The big girl is Caitlyn, Roxy's and Brooklyn's owner. The girls had loads of fun playing Pirates with the boys and this playset is their ship.

BROOKLYN, ROXY AND BUTCH

Today was absolutely gorgeous. So after school the kids and I headed for the park. This time Butch met up with his other friend Roxy and Roxy's little sis Brooklyn. Yesterday it was Reno. Can't really tell from the picture that Roxy is huge. Most St. Bernards are. She is 7 months old and Brooklyn is 4 weeks old and already bigger than Butch. Both girls gave Butch a run for his money. Oh how they played and played and played. That was so good for the boy since he had to be cooped up in the house all day while I did all of my errands without him. Poor little fella.

PS: Did I forget to mention that Butch's head fits perfectly in Roxy's mouth?

Fwd: California Clearance

Another form to add to our loooong paper trail to China. Sheesh!!!! And as we all know this will not be the end.

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Betty Lucas <betty@adoptionhomestudyservice.com>
Date: February 10, 2011 3:38:55 PM PST
To: "gd.putney@comcast.net" <gd.putney@comcast.net>
Subject: California Clearance

Greg,

 

Please complete the attached form for your clearance in California and return it to me as soon as possible.  I believe this can be done on line and you can email it back to me.

 

Betty

 

Betty Lucas, Office Administrator

Adoption Home Study Service

Physical Address:  10116 116th St E Ste 201

PO Box 731128  (NEW MAILING ADDRESS)

Puyallup WA 98373

Phone:  253 604-0466  (NEW PHONE NUMBER)

Fax:  253 604-0465  (NEW FAX NUMBER)

Email:  betty@adoptionhomestudyservice.com

 

LETTER

Went through the stack of Mimi papers today. As Lisa says, I am
nesting till yhe next chili pepper comes along. This is one paper I am
going to keep forever.

Not sure when she wrote this but it is still worth sharing.

Translation: Me and my mom and dad are going to China to get my little
sis. It will be a great time. We are taking a plane to go to China. It
will be 4 people in my family when we get home. It is going to be
exciting and fun! My mom and dad have been to China. I was born in
China. We are going in June.

ALARM

A short while back Mimi told dad that she "needed" an alarm clock. What for I have no clue. The girl wakes up at the crack of dawn no matter what time she goes to bed. None the less dad got one for her and she has been driving me crazy with it ever since.

Now I can understand getting up early to go to work. I did that for many years. But why on earth would I want to wake up early when I don't have too??? Hmmmm?????

I am working harder now than I ever did but if I don't have to get up till 8, doggone it I want to get up at 8. Not 7, not 6 but 8. Yesterday she had the alarm set for 7, this morning it was set for 6. Tonight I made sure that the girl had it set for 8 tomorrow morning. "But mom, It rings really, really loud!" the girl cried. "Then WHY do you have to set your alarm so early in the morning?" I asked. "So I can bug you" she answered. Does it matter if the alarm is set at 6 or 8? It is going to ring loud no matter what time it is set at. ARGH!!!!! Dad justs laughs and laughs about it. He says I look cute when Mimi drives me nuts. Thus I have a standing appointment with the beautician every month to get my hair done so that nobody can see how many gray hairs I now have.

BUTCH AND RENO

Reno is one of Butch's buddies. They always have a grand time together. Yesterday we had a huge down pour of rain, today sunny and clear blue skies. Go figure. Still freezing cold though. After school Mimi still had energy to burn. I know that is the understatement of the year but none the less she was raring to go to the neighborhood park on her scooter. So we bundled up and headed to the park only to find Reno there. So Mimi and Erin plus her brothers Liam and Patrick played together and then Butch had his pal Reno to play with. Come the end of the month we will all head down to Hillsboro (near Portland), Oregon for another competition. While we are there, Butch gets to stay with Reno. Ziggy and Marley's house is a bit crowded with their new lil' sis Lizzy who is another pure white Golden Retriever. Unfortunately Mimi won't get to see her camping buddy Benjamen this time as he will be in a school play that weekend. Bummer.

MAIL MIX-UP

It was really strange. I had two letters sent to me by the same mail order catalog. Both letters stated that the order I placed was not available. Problem you ask? I never ordered anything from this particular company. Both checks were sent back to me. One check was for grandma who has the same name as I do but the address is totally different. The other check was to another woman who lives way down in Arkansas. The company itself is located in Pennsylvania. A call was put into Grandma and the other woman. Go figure!

FUNFILLED SUNDAY

Today started off with going to the Seattle Culture Center for our monthly World Peace Prayer meeting. While there Mimi got the chance to play with all of her friends Sara, Ling Ling, Alex, Tasha and Naira. They always have way to much fun all the time. She had so much fun that she did not want to come home but we had plans to meet with Rhonda and the girls in the afternoon.
However I received a phone call from Rhonda and found out that she and the girls were at the McDonald's by the gym. She was having lunch with a couple of other lady friends from her church and since we were on our way home and we have to pass by that very McDonald's, we stopped there instead. Mimi was ecstatic. This is the McDonald's that has been closed for several months for renovation meanning they put in a brand spanking new playset and she has been dying to try it out. We all had a very good time together catching up on all of the latest gossip while the kids played on the playset in the next room. Finally it was time to head for home however Thelma and Louise always have way to much fun together. So much so that Elsie did not want to go home. So instead she came home with us for several more hours. I took this picture so that you could see how much Mimi has grown since we moved up here. When we first moved in, you could not see her head over the banister and now look how much the girl has grown. Plus they are standing flat on the ground, no tippy toeing. Of course when I brought Elsie home, Mimi tagged along and both girls cooked up a plan to play together even longer. They figured that if they got out of the car real fast, they could race upstairs to Elsie's room without me knowing it. Mimi asked on the way "Mom, you're going to stay and talk with Rhonda for a while aren't cha?" Hint, hint. We did stay for about 30 minutes or so. By 7:30 p.m. it really was time to go. By 9, the girl was passed out cold.

HOME MEET

Wasn't quite sure if Mimi would be ready in time to particpate in the gymnastic meet but apparently I guess she is. The girl didn't do to bad for someone who was out of the picture for a couple of months and only been back in the gym for 2 weeks (total of 4 practice days). What was even more surprising was the fact that she won the raffle basket that she wanted. Tonight she will go next door to Micah's 5th birthday party. All in all the girl had a super fantastic day.