THE LETTER "N"

Mimi: Mom, do you know what starts with the letter "N"?
Mom; Napkin?
Mimi: No. It's Naomi Bi - Yo - Ni

A SLIGHT DISAPPOINTMENT

This year while other kids in the country went on a field trip to the pumpkin patches, Mimi's school decided not to go. Mom heard through the grapevine that the reason is because one never knows when it will rain up here this time of year and where the pumpkin patches are (old dairy farms), it is usually muddy. This is something that is not far from the truth. Plus that the fact is that the majority of the parents have taken their kids to at least one pumpkin patch on their own. We took Mimi to two of them this year. Maris Farms and Remlinger Farms. In place of the pumpkin patches, Mimi's school is going to take a field trip in December to the Children's Museum in downtown Seattle right next to the Space Needle. She is very excited about that idea. Another big plus to it, is that they get to ride the school bus there and 12 parents from her class can go as chaperons. Mom is hoping to be one of them. So far the teacher told mom that she could go with them but we will have to see.

OUR MISS SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

This morning started of with mom being completely and totally exhausted after last night's wing ding at our home. The kids had a super great time so it was all well worth it. This morning as usual Butch woke mom up and believe it or not Mimi was still asleep at 7:00. Mom went to get Butch out of Mimi's room before she could wake up. She had so much fun last night playing with her chums. Dad came home late after stopping at grandpa's house. When the party was done and the clean up was done, Mimi and dad carved another pumpkin together. Unfortunately there was not enough light to take a decent picture of the two of them. Around 10:30 this morning was when we were just about ready to go for a brunch at Black Diamond Bakery, Mimi wanted to invite Blake and so she did just that and of course he got dressed in no time flat. We always have a good time together. Then it was time to head down to the Farmers Country Market for some Rockridge Apple Cider. Next thing we knew it was time to head for school. While Mimi was in school, mom got together with a couple of other moms to stamp some treats for Halloween. Mom loves doing arts and crafts. This year another mom in Mimi's class Katrina "Kat" invited mom to join her in doing some card stamping. So this year all of our Christmas Cards are handmade by yours truly. Now that school is out for the day, Mimi is over at Erin's house watching.......... a Barbie movie! The surprising part is that she is actually enjoying it too! Plus get this, Mimi said that she did not want to go to the park on this gorgeous fall day. Mimi says "Mom, we don't have this Barbie movie!" Will wonders ever cease. Mom is now at home enjoying some quiet time to herself.

ANOTHER KODAK MOMENT

This is definitely a Kodak moment. This is the very first time Mimi has ever given Ziggy and Marley a pet let alone a hug. In the past she would just look at them and would not even touch them and these two dogs are the most laid back dogs you have ever laid eyes on. Butch must be having some effect on Mimi.

ZIGGY AND BUTCH

As the party was winding down, our neighborhood friend Krista was walking by with her two pure white retrievers Ziggy and Marley. Pictured here is Butch and Ziggy.

PUNMPKIN CARVING PARTY

This evening the kids from Mimi's school had a blast at the potluck pumpkin party. The weather was great. Not too cold well plus we had the heat lamp going and they were all running around in the front yard chasing each other and that kept them warm. After eating dinner they all carved their own pumpkins and of course Blake being the man he is decided that Mimi needed his help with hers.

WILD WILD NORTHWEST

For those of us who can remember, there was a show called Wild Wild West. Only in our case it is the northwest. This morning started of early as usual with Butch barking to go out and Mimi up and about. It then went downhill after that. Now and then Mimi will go into lolligag mode and mama finds herself having to repeat things over and over and over and over. Things such as clean your room, change your clothes and so forth. Today was not the day to lolligag. We had things to do and places to go. While mom was getting ready for the day, Mimi was downstairs practicing her piano, then she took forever getting her shoes on in order to go to McDonald's for breakfast (mainly because she likes to play on their playset), when it was time to head for the gymnastic class, again she lolligaged putting her shoes on and we were late but not late enough for us to schedule a make up class. After class we had just 45 minutes to get home, change clothes and walk over to the school and again she was goofing off. This time mom was starting to lose it and sent Mimi to her time out sofa. Being the little chili pepper that she is, she ran upstairs yelling NO! Then proceeded to run into her bedroom and lock the door. Needless to say we had a fallout. There is a key to open the door in case that it gets locked. The problem was that everytime mom started to lock the door, Mimi who is on the inside would lock it as soon as mom would unlock it. The little twerp. Finally she came out and mom sent her to the time out sofa. As she was being marched downstairs Mimi informed mom that when she gets big she is not going to be a doctor or vet but that she is going to steal everything from her room to the catapillar. Where that one came from, I have no clue. We did however make it to school on time. After school she was back to being an angel again. When I asked if she was still mad, she says "just a little". I think it is because I told her that this coming weekend, dad is going to take the locks off the bedroom doors. Then I asked her if she was still going to be our doctor and she said "No". "But then who will take card of dad when he gets sick?" mom asks. "Oh alright, I'll be a doctor on Friday" Mimi says. Mimi also said that she is going to teach mei mei how to listen and follow directions. Go figure! By the time the party rolled around she was back to her happy go lucky self. Mom is exhausted though but happy. I tell you it is never ever dull around here and I would not have it any other way. Mimi is definitely the spiting image of my mom.