EMILY, NATHAN AND MIMI

Tonight was our monthly get together. This month Nathan's family was sponsering. For good or bad, we were the only family to show up.

Little Emily in the background is 19 months and Art and Lisa adopted her from Maoming when she was 4 months old. She is just cute as the dickens but at the same time into everything Lisa says. She really has her hands full that little one.

They received Nathan about four months ago and on his papers Lisa says that they have as a four year old. But when you meet him, he is far from a four year old. He has the thinking more of a 6 or 7 year old. Long story short is that all of the info they received is totally 1000% wrong. Poor little fella has had a lot of hurdles to overcome and he seems to be doing quite nicely in his new environment. One of his issues is that he is deaf.

A couple of months ago when they came to our monthly get together, the other kids did not really know how to play with him. Mimi tried but he in turn did not know how to play with her either so she just gave up. However tonight because they were the only ones close in age, they did swimmingly together. Mimi showed him some of her made up hand signals and he showed her his sign language. Nathan absolutely loves anything electronic. He also loves to figure things out. So Art and Lisa figure that he may be some type of engineer when he grows up.

Nathan just recently was fitted for hearing aids and is getting used to them and even starting to make sounds which is not easy for him at times. Art says that he hears a lot of white noise. Today was the first day he could say Mama and Baba which made Lisa soooooo happy.

Lisa says that when they received his referal picture, he was riding a plasma car. Then when they took him to their local Costco and saw the same exact toy, Nathan just went crazy with so much joy. So they bought him two and both he and Mimi went around and around the house just laughing and squealing with so much joy.

BOUNCE IT UP

This is a new place that just opened up a couple of weeks ago just before going to the Black Diamond Bakery. And because it is new and they don't have the clientele that is needed to be opened more hours, there is a limit to when they are open.

As soon as we were done with the farmers market, Mimi was anxious to try this place as we tried yesterday but they were closed to the public. Both she a Blake had a blast till it was time to go home and play in the pool then play with Shadd and Blake both outside and inside.

She was quite upset when I had to break her away from the boys in order to go and get ready for our monthly get together with our China family. She did not like the fact that the boys were going to have some fun without her. At the time she did not know that there was more fun in store for her at Nathan's home.

MIMI AND JOHN SENSEI

For the past couple of summers, Mimi has been taking Karate from her "Sensei" John down at Lake Wilderness and she absolutely loves it. She has always been quite the tomboy from the very beginning. Not sure if it is because she had a foster brother who is about 5-6 years older than her or it is just her personality or both.

Next week John Sensei wants to test her for a Yellow Belt. I have a feeling she will get it but at the same time we'll see.

This morning at our local farmers market John Sensei's classes gave a demonstration and he also passed out fliers for the next upcoming class that is to start week after next. The downfall about that is it goes all the way till September 17 which is not good for us as she has gymnastic practice and school. So I am not sure as to what we will do.

SWINGING IN THE BACKYARD

I purchased this backyard swing again much to dad's dismay a couple of years ago at our local Fred Meyer's grocery store. And again it is one of the best buys I have made. It gets a whole lot of good use especially in the summer. At night when it is warm outside, we all will sit in it and talk about our day or whatever is on our minds at that time.

This afternoon Halliwell had gone out with her family and when she came home she saw the kids playing in the street and wanted to join them but by the time she was ready, they were gone. So she and Mimi played for about a half hour till it was time for her to go home. Of course Mc Callister is her little tag along brother who always wants to do what his big sis is doing.

MORE SUMMERTIME FUN

This weekend the temperature is to be in the 80's. Woo Hoo!!! It's about darn toot'in time! Today it was 70, but with no wind, it felt like 80 so again the kids went swimm'in. This time Blake and Bailey joined them. Keri had to work so the kids hung out with Mimi and I. Mimi was in heaven playing with the boys and Micah and Bailey seemed to get along well together too. This was the first time for all of the boys and girls to meet and play with each other. For the most part, Mimi, Blake and Shadd got along really great. Micah who is the same age as Bailey tried to play with her but Bailey was starting to be kind of a sour puss because she wasn't able to "boss" anyone around especially Mimi, Blake and Shadd who had their own agenda.

First they all played in the pool then when they got tired of that, out came every single riding toy known to man in the street. Blake really took a liking to the motor scooter that belonged to Shadd. I pretty sure he will be able to talk his mom into buying one for him.

LET THE SUMMERTIME FUN BEGIN!

Finally, finally, finally it is warm enough to use our pool that dad put up last week. Shadd and his family moved into the neighborhood just before the fourth of July. Correy who is Shadd's mom says that Mimi has been a true blessing for Shadd as he was feeling a bit friendless when they moved in. They moved to Maple Valley from Spokane and that is where he left his best friend. Micah his little sister is now feeling a bit left out cause Shad has a friend close to his age but she doesn't yet. However both Shad and Mimi try to include Micah in their playtime.

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY BAILEY

Last week was Bailey's 4th birthday and she celebrated with all of her friends at home last Sunday. As it turns out, Mimi and Zoe gave her the same kind of present.........Costco's Disney Princess coloring, sticker and stamp set. It did not seem to bother her though as her best friend Cassie was there. So Bailey says that Cassie could have one and she could have the other.