ALKAI BEACH AND SUMMER RAIN

When we polished off the last crab leg and dessert we headed over to the beach. It's the first time for us to go to the beach since leaving California. Even then we did not go to the beach much as Mimi would scream bloody murder at the sight of the waves. That was a huge dissappointment for me since I grew up along the shores of California. C'mon now, how can you not even like the beach at Torrey Pines??? That really was a disappointment way back then when the child was 2 years old. Even then it took me quite a bit of coaxing to get her into the pool. But with a lot of persistance and patience I was eventually able to get her into the pool. Now at 6 years old I can't get her out of the pool nor could I get her to leave the beach. I always get the universal kid answer "Why mom???"

The one picture I forgot to take was the view of downtown Seattle. You could see where the cruise ships are docked not far from the Space Needle. Dad says that maybe one day we could try to talk our friends the Fratkins into going on a cruise with us up to Alaska. Who knows???

Of course we had to stop by the park before going home to play with Erin. Sean and Liam were there also. The kids were having a great time playing outside that is until it started to rain HUGE drops of rain. Then it was time to skeedaddle as fast as we could all the way home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

The other day when I had Mimi and her little friends Zoe and Halliwell in the car, the subject of discussion was birthdays. It happened be Mike's (Zoe's dad) B-day that day. For whatever reason that I cannot figure out as of yet, these 6 year olds think that all dads have to be taller than the moms and they have to be older too.

Mimi: Mom, how old is dad?
Mom: He's 39 (not really)
Halliwell: Well guess what Mimi? MY DAD is 42 so that means he is older than your dad! Nyah, nyah, nyah.
Mimi: So mom, how old are YOU?
Mom: 21.

Actually yesterday was dad's birthday. Believe it or not I actually suffered from heat exhaustion on Friday afternoon until today. Although Saturday I felt a little better so we had some cake and ice cream when the neighbors came to visit. Today was even a little more better so at first I thought that it would be a great idea to try out a couple of places that we had never been before. We wanted to try a place out in Bellevue called "The Melting Pot" but it did not open till 4 p.m. and we did not want to come home from our buddhist meeting only to go out again so instead we chose Salty"s out in Alkai Beach. Oh man oh man!!! Was it ever sooooo good!!!

At first Mimi went with dad to get her food and when I saw her plate I could not believe what I was seeing. Our Mimi who loves food more than life itself had only a couple of steamed clams and watermelon. Dad said that was all she wanted. I thought to myself "uh huh". Sure enough when I came back with my two plates she ate most of what I had and went back for more as you can see in the picture.

MIMI'S FIRST MARINERS GAME

Last Thursday may have been Mimi's first Mariner's game but most definitely not her last. Erin's dad Sean is part of the Rotary Club and they had tickets to sell so naturally mom wanted to buy some. Mimi was ecstatic because we were going to the stadium with Erin and meet up with dad there. She was even happier to know that she was going to see Ichiro. I wished that I had taken a video. She was yelling at the top of her lungs "I - CHI - RO !!!" over and over right along with the rest of the crowd. True to form EVERYTIME dad got up from his seat to get food or go to the bathroom the Mariners would get on base otherwise it was nothing happening. Mariners were losing to Texas Rangers. In the 6th inning the score was Rangers-1, Mariners-0. Then dad went to the bathroom and all heck broke out. The Rangers walked Junior (Ken Griffey Jr.) and Ichiro hit a double. The crowd went wild with cheers. Long story short when dad returned to his seat the Mariners had the game all wrapped up with a beautiful bow. They won. The score was 3-1. A beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

SWIMMING LESSONS

After the day at the salon, we had just enough time to come home for Mimi to practice her piano with Maddie for about one hour. Then head over to the pool for swimming lessons. Mimi is totally in "puppy" luuuuuv with her instructor Spencer. So are all of the other girls. Mimi is all over him and he does not seem to mind it too much. Mimi really should be in a higher level class this summer but she is in the beginner class because it was more important to her to be in a class with her friends. Last year Erin did not pass and has to do it over and this is Halliwell's first time. I guess that it is why Mimi just goofs off because she can already do the stuff that Spencer asks of her. In fact I was quite surprised that today was the first time I actually saw her swim the way you are supposed too. You know, with your face in the water and your arms going in a clockwise motion and feet kicking all going at the same time. Unfortunately I did not have my video but I sure will on Wednesday.

Then the best part of today was when Washburn pitched a shut out to the Baltimore Orioles! Woo Hoo! Plus the Dodgers won too! Another big Woo Hoo!

Come this Thursday, we (Sean, Janet, dad and I) are going to take the girls (Mimi and Erin) out to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners play. All Mimi can say is "Are we going to see Ichiro play???" She just loves Ichiro.

BEAUTIFICATION DAY WITH MAI

Today was beautification day at the Putney household. "What's that?" Mimi asks. It's the day when we spend it at the beauty/nail salon. It is practically a whole day gone for the both of us. Whenever we go to see Mai, she just loves to spoil Mimi rotten and of course Mimi just eats it all up.

Yesterday (Sunday) was spent recuperating from the night before. Mimi and dad went to see "Iceage The Meltdown" at Southcenter Mall. I suggested that they see it in 3D. When it was over, I asked Mimi how it was to which she replied "It was AWSOME MOM!". While they were out I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep. I have been fighting a bad cold that seems to just keep lingering on and on.

Then all of a sudden at 9:30 tonight, what did we hear? More fireworks!!!!! It lasted for another 15-20 minutes. It no sooner went off and I could hear little Therrian across the street starting to wail. I'm sure Brandy must have been real thrilled about that one.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

The celebration in our "Beaver Cleaver" neighborhood actually started on the 3rd of July. The main event was on the fourth starting at 4:00 in afternoon in our neighborhood park where we all got together for a BBQ and firework celebration. All of the kids had a blast playing in the park, eating hot dogs and burgers and such. Then it was time for the fireworks to begin. First all of the young'uns did their pop it's and sparklers. Then we set up the chairs in the park and put the orange cones in the streets so that the big kids (dads) could play with their fireworks while everyone else sat around to watch. Man! I tell you! Who needs to go to a fireworks show around here? There was major fireworks going on ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD! It was starting to sound like a war zone. My ears are still ringing. Even though I brought Mimi in around 10:30 tonight. The fireworks are still going off.

BACKYARD CAMPOUT

By the time we arrived at the hospital Mimi was still sleeping so I stayed in the car with her while dad went to check on grandma and found out that she had been discharged! I just love how our family communicates with each other. So we called the house and found out that grandma indeed had gone home with grandpa and is doing pretty good.

Later in the evening dad put up the tent while Mimi supervised. We then cooked hot dogs and roasted marshmallows over an open fire. While doing so Mimi dropped her hot dog and marshmallow. Luckily Butch was there to help clean things up.

In the night Mimi and dad slept in the tent while mom stayed in her nice, warm and comfy bed. Why should I sleep in the tent while I have a perfectly good bed in the house?