SPY KID STRIKES AGAIN

Last night after piano practice, we called up Sara to see if she would like to go out and have dinner with us at Chuck E. Cheese down by her house and of course she was ecstatic. So that is what we did. While the girls had fun running around playing with the games, saying hello to the mouse and taking pictures, Daphne and mom had a good time enjoying some girlfriend time together. We did call dad to invite him but he said that he was going to stay and work late. Poor guy. Around 6:30 we dropped Sara and Daphne at home and stayed for a while. Sara has gotten Mimi interested in the Spy Kids Movie and she loves all of the equipment that comes with it. While there we got a phone call from dad saying that his car was locked in the parking garage and the attendents had already gone home. Although dad did mention that he would not mind to stay at a hotel/motel, I know dad, he would prefer to be at home in our cozy bed, with his family at home, be able to shower in the morning and have clean clothes available to him. Wouldn't you? Instead of staying at some sleazy motel and paying an arm and a leg? Therefore I told that I would come up there and pick him up. So I did. I packed up Mimi and off we went in the pouring rain driving all the way up to Everett and back. We got home around 11:00 last night. Then again early this morning we took him to work. I came home and dropped Mimi off at school (we were about a hour and a half late) and went right back to bed for a 2 hour nap. Now it's time to clean out my car and get ready to take Mimi to gymnastic practice. The things we do for love.

Collections

Ever since Mimi was a baby she was collecting rocks. I followed her
teachers suggestion and put the in a container however I draw the line
when it comes to leaf collecting.She likes to leave them all over the
house.

DATE NIGHT

Well.....sort of. For the most part it was just a day of R & R. Unfortunately dad had to go and help grandpa with some small stuff to do at the old place. Mimi and I just stayed home and watched a movie "Ratatouille". Actually she watched, I slept. Then I slept some more. Dang, I really did not realize how tired I was. Next thing I knew it was time to take her over to Brandy's while dad and I went out to attend a SGI meeting in Tukwila. Mimi decided that she wanted to go to Halli's in her pj's and so she did. When we got there Mimi was surprised to see that Halli was in her pj's too! I think we need those kind of days sometimes.

When the meeting was over it was time to eat, at least that was what my tummy was telling me and that is what I was listening too. So over to Olive Garden we went in South Center. It was delicious. The company was good too.

FIRST HOCKEY GAME

This week was Jon's birthday and to celebrate we all went to a hockey game. Jon is from Wisconsin and is a huge, huge hockey fan. So is Brandy and now their whole family. Mimi who knows nothing about hockey was having fun rock'in out to songs such as "We will, we will rock you..." and "Born To Be Wild" (which I think may be her theme song). Then when the crowd got quiet, I explained to her how the game is played and since she played soccer last year, she caught on quickly. Our team was the Seattle Thunderbirds. So every other word out of Mimi's mouth was "Go T-Birds!!!" or a "Yo Baby!!!" Brandy just looked at her in astonishment. Hmmm... maybe Mimi got that from listening to me yelling at the Mariners games? Or maybe dad cheering for the UW football team? Can't say which but I think it's me since that's the way I talk.

Wasn't quite sure whether or not we would make the game. After practice and while changing in the bathroom, Mimi had a bloody nose. Since the weather has been cold, the heat is on. At home I has the humidifiers on so the air does not get too dry but at the gym it was very warm. Usually at home I have Mimi take the Q-tip and apply a smidgen of Vaseline to the inside of her nose to keep it lubricated but sometimes I forget to tell her. Then because of all the activities she did during the day, she fell asleep in the car on the way to the game. But then once we arrived at the game, we had time to kill so we stayed in the car and then she woke up on her own I must say.

Today we were all just exhausted.

MIMI AND SARA

Yesterday the Kent school district had the day off for staff development. Daphne still had schooling to go to so Sara hung out with Mimi and I. Sara came to the house around 8:00 so therefore she and Mimi had about a good 45 minutes to hang out together till it was time for us to take Mimi to school. While Mimi was in class, Sara and I helped out Brandy by hanging Halliwell's class's artwork in the hallway. Brandy is a volunteer with the art docent school program. She said that she did not realize how much work it is. That is why I am not doing it. I think that I have just enough to do as it is.

Next thing we knew, Sara and I were starving. I had pictures that I wanted to put on a Costco disc so off to Costco we went to have lunch, get the pictures and do a little shopping. I like to take the back road to Costco. It is so much more of a nicer drive and prettier drive than going down the main highway. Sara seemed to like it too. We had such a lovely time together just her and I. While at the school and waiting in the office for Brandy, I overheard a conversation between 2 students. They looked to be like 3rd graders. The girl says to the boy, "Just how much trouble do you want to get him into?" I looked at Sara (a 3rd grader) and said "Please tell me that you all don't talk like that to each other." Of course the girl say "Nah..."

Next thing we knew it was 12:00 and time to head back home to pick Mimi up from school. They had early release and get out of school at 1:10. So we did. Got home, put Butch on the leash and headed for the school. Butch loves going to school. He gets a chance to see his friends Lola (Pug) and Teddy (Pomeranian).

Well let me tell you, it was raining hard as all get out. Even hail. The kids were quite excited about that "Look at the hail!" they shouted.

Brave woman that Brandy is. She invited Mimi and Sara over to the house to play with Halliwell and Olivia. You have to remember that she has the two babies too, Mc Callister and Therrian. Well...... little McCallister was in 7th heaven with 5 girls to play with. Lots of running, screaming and laugter in the house. In California most moms would send the kids outside but unfortunately for us it is way too wet and cold. Brrrrr.

Mimi and Sara stayed there for about an hour before I called them home then they had about another hour to themselves where they had the music blasting downstairs and dancing up a storm. It was almost as if there was a party going on over here.

Next thing we all knew it was time for Sara to go home and Mimi to head over to Summit for gymnastic practice.

THROUGH THE YEARS

My, my, my, time really does fly when you are having so much fun. Top left picture is our referal picture. Couldn't really tell from the picture what kind of a girl Mimi turned out to be. It wasn't until we actually had her in our arms than we found out that she loved having her picture taken but she would never smile during the picture taking only afterward would put on a huge smile grinning from ear to ear and clap. Then no sooner did we arrive in the U.S. she was accepted into UCLA pre-school/daycare and was really into Sesame Street. At that time she was 2 years old. Then comes the group picture going top left: 3 yo (pre-school), top right: 4yo (pre-school), bottom left: 5 yo (kindergarten), bottom right: 6yp (first grade). This year I helped out with the picture taking at school. You should have heard some of the kids complain about their moms. There were several options. First of all, all of the students were required to take a picture whether they were going to purchase picture or not. Second, if you were purchasing pictures, you could pay a few dollars more and have another colored background as opposed to the standard gray color.There were kids who thought that they were going to get the background of their choice but when they found out that their parents did not pay for it you should have heard the moans and groans of "MO-OM!" Then there was the kid whose mom wanted to wear a dress shirt and tie. He absolutely refused. Then his mom talked him into it by telling him that she would bring his favorite shirt and he could change after the picture taking. Problem was, his was the very last class to have their picture taken that day. Poor boy had to wear a shirt and tie the whole day of school. If looks could kill.......he sure had them.

TALENT SHOW

This morning Brandy was having a rough morning and asked if Halliwell could walk to school with us. Of course I said yes. Halliwell informed us that her 6th birthday is this month and that she will have a party and Mimi and Erin are invited. She also said that there will be a talent show. So I suggested that Mimi could play the piano and Halli and Erin could dance. It was a big yes. We had a little time this morning and so the two girls wanted to practice a bit. So they did.