IN THE PARK

Like I said in the previous post, last Tuesday was gorgeous outside so therefore we spent most of our time in the park. Xaunder and his family came and joined us along with their two golden retrievers Ziggy and Marley. Two years ago, one would not catch Mimi anywhere near any dogs let alone the big ones like Ziggy and Marley who are just about the most laid back dogs you have ever laid eyes on. Thanks to our Butch, that has all changed. Butch too really love to play with Ziggy and Marley. While we were in Portland a short while back, these are the two dogs that Butch played with while we were gone.

MORE PUTNEY UPDATES

On last Thursday while recuperating from the previous "progressive playdate", Mimi and mom spent a relaxing afternoon pampering ourselves at the nail salon. That was before our dinner date with Halliwell and her family. Then yesterday after our mini vacation to Hawaii, we dropped dad off at the library where he had his car parked and Mimi and I went over to Sara's to continue on with her 9th birthday celebration. Mimi just adores Sara and her big sis Tasha (the one holding Mimi). Four of us moms took the girls to see the new Hannah Montana movie. I must say that it was quite a nice movie. Dad decided that he did not want to go with us since it really was a young girl's "chick flick" kind of movie. Instead dad had a playdate of his own with our neighbor and good friend Scott at the "Open Mike Night" at our local eatery.

When it comes to riding in cars and if we have to take both cars for whatever reason, Mimi always prefers to ride with mom. On the other hand when it comes to fixing up the house and doing the handyman kind of work, Mimi really, really, really likes to give dad a hand. She says that it is because "Mom never reads the instructions so she can't help you." They are now at this moment going over to Home Depot picking out the blinds for "dad's office", although this is the place where we all hang out most of the time including Butch and sometimes Ollie (who is the one that watches over Butch for us).

MAUI'S KIKI'S

Katarina "Kat" is the tall slender girl usually standing in the back, Auntie Celia is in the red Hawaiian dress playing the ukelele and singing, the little girl in the bottom video is making her first debut with the class.

GOT LEI'S ANYONE???

This afternoon we took a mini vacation to Hawaii without ever leaving the Northwest. Everywhere we went there were Hawaiian music, food and souveniours plus the dancing. I must say that Katarina's class was the best. While the rest of the groups got about a 5 minute performance, Auntie Celia's class performed for almost one hour.

SPRING BREAK

The Putney's are still alive and well. Just super duper busy! With our Mimi, that is the understatement of the year. Last Saturday through Monday was magnificently gorgeous! The sky was amazingly blue and the temperature was purrrrfect. Every man, woman and child and their pets came out of the woodwork. Brandy says that there was actually a traffic jam on our local highway leading into the golf course.

Pictured above is Mimi and dad at their usual father/daughter breakfast last Saturday at Black Diamond Bakery before we had a birthday party we had to go to at My Little Gym for Kate and Ethan's (twims and classmates of Mimi's). After the party both Mimi's and Halle's families went out to Red Robin's for dinner. Mimi just adores all of her friends.

The next day Sunday we went to our Buddhist meeting at the Culture Center. There all of the kids had a German style Easter Egg Hunt. All of the eggs were filled with a penny. They had loads of the fun hunting for the eggs. The picture of Mimi and dad is just outside the Culture Center in front of the Cherry Blossom tree. There are so many of the Cherry Blossom and Plum Blossom trees just blooming everywhere here aroud the Northwest. They are soooo beautiful to look at. In the afternoon we went to Lowe's to buy mom a brand spanking new dishwasher. Woo Hoo!!! In our 14 years of marriage, we never bought any new appliances. They were always second hand. However last year we did purchase a new washer. Next year I hope to get a new dryer. Are you listening dad????

Monday came and we went to Ms Celia's for Mimi's piano lesson which was followed by a trip to Uwajimaya. By the time we got home our day was shot. The good news is, Uwajimaya is planning to open a new store not far from home. Woo Hoo!!! Since Monday and Tuesday were still gorgeous outside, that's where we stayed all day at the park with Alex and his mom. I was able to get some gardening done then too. By the time Wednesday rolled around, we were back to our true Northwest weather. Gloomy with a hint of drabbiness. Then a light bulb turned on inside my head! Why not have a "progressive playdate" ? We started it off with lunch at Erin's. It was an all girl playdate, Erin, Zoe, Halliwell and Mimi. All was going well until I saw Halliwell crying at the top of the stairs and Mimi was comforting her friend. As it turns out, Erin who has been losing her six year old teeth left and right had just the day before lost another tooth and the subject of the six year old conversation was is there or isn't there a "Tooth Fairy" and "Santa Clause". Halliwell says that there isn't and the rest of the girls disagreed with her. If only our world problems were that simple. Sigh. They were able to work things out for themselves and all was well again in their little world. After lunch we all headed over to Zoe's for a couple of hours then to our house for dinner where I had prepared a delicious spagetti dinner for them. While they played at our house, they all came downstairs with the baby dolls, strollers and suitcases packed full of stuff. When I questioned them about what they were doing, they just looked at me matter of factly and said "we're going on vacation!" Duh! Now why didn't I think of that??? They all had loads of fun by the time they went home at 7:00 p.m. I was just about to pass out due to pure exhaustion. Thursday was spent recuperating for me. Thursday evening Mimi, Halliwell and I took Butch out for a walk and then both families went out to try the new Mexican restaurant Mezcal which in my opinion was ok. I still like El Coporal better. I like Esparza's even better but that is way to far for us to go.

Friday was spent taking Sara to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday lunch. Mimi and Sara had a great deal of fun as they always do until it was time to go back to Sara's in the evening.

Today we spent the early afternoon going to Puyallup to watch Spencer's big sis Katarina perform in a Hawaiian show. I have always loved Hawaii and planning to go back there again sometime in the near future. Mimi is dyingto go too. We are quite jealous/envious of Samantha and Elissa's families who are in Hawaii now having a super duper great time there.

While watching the solo Tahitian dancer this afternoon, I thought to myself "I know I've seen that girl somewhere before but where??? Hmmm???" I usually don't remember names well but I don't forget a beautiful woman nor the huge gorgeous rock she has on her ring finger. "I got it!!!" I said to myself. She is the woman who performed at dad's company luau last year at UW (University of Washington) arboretum! What a small world!! This girl's mom "Auntie Celia" is Katarina's hula instructor! I tell you, it is taking some getting used to living in a small community.

Tomorrow we will go to Grandma's for Easter dinner. Then come this Monday it is back to the old grind again. We are expected to have a storm and possible snow up in the mountains then too.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN........

Last night was the Lugnuts first game of the season. They did a couple of innings before it was time to go due to the freezing cold weather. All of the kids did pretty good if I do say so myself. They were all pretty cute too. At first Mimi was put on the pitcher's mound before she was switched to second base. Zoe was third base, Blake played shortstop and Erin was put on first base till the coach realized that when the opposing team would hit the ball and her teammate threw the ball to her, she did not know what to do with it. She just would stare at it lying on the ground next to her feet. Needless to say she was switched to the right field. Us parents had a good chuckle about that one.

Now it is time for me to take Mimi to gymnastics, then school. After school she will go home with Zoe as I have a dentist appointment. That should be loads of fun. Then it will be definitly time for LAUNDRY, as I have not had the time lately to do it. Yesterday while Mimi was in school, I took Butch to our local park and just let him run and run. You have to remember that our park is not like the ones we have in Southern California. They are more like what you would see on the old Andy Griffith Show with a lake and everything. Ol' Butch did not quite know what to do with the ducks he saw down there. I found that if I take him out and let him get his sillies out things at home are a whole lot calmer with him.

Well it's back to the grind of sports, school, more birthday parties this weekend and a baby shower next week.

THE LITTLE THIEF

First she stole our hearts when she came into our lives. Now she is stealing MY iPhone! What is also sad about it, is that she had to teach me how to use the i-tunes on it. How about that?! A 6 year old teaching an adult who is a techno dummy (but still learning) how to use the phone. Oh, so sad.