ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY

Yep folks ! It was gorgeous outside yesterday. We actually hit 78 up in Bellevue. Almost summer like. It was also nice enough for me to rake the majority of our leaves out in the front. Today I am planning to sweep up all of those !@#$% pine needles in the backyard. Today is also warm so that is the best time to do it. Tomorrow we go back to the cold gray days.

It was soooo nice yesterday that Mimi went to the park after school and before gymnastics. Man could that child eat!!! Made some Bulgogi and rice before gymnstics. She ate all of that. After practice we made a McDonald run thru as she now likes the grilled chicken snack wrap and I got the McRib. However the child not only ate her snack wrap but my McRib sandwich also and wanted more to eat ! Holy Cow ! She must be going through another growth spurt! I may have to go out and buy more school clothes soon.

DOGS + KIDS = FUN, FUN,AND MORE FUN

Just could not let a day in the park after school pass us up. Besides family and friends, I miss the California sunshine. However on the other hand I have learned not to take it for granted like I used too.

After yesterday's torrential rain, we all welcomed today with open arms. Even Butch got in some fun too with his pals Reno the Cocker Spaniel, Roxy the St. Bernard and Willow the Golden Retriever.

We had kids on one side of the park and the dogs on the other. Nice thing is these dogs all get along together. But of course they all see each other everyday when they walk their owners to school.

Reno's pet Owen is in kindergarten, Butch's pet Naomi "Mimi" is in the second grade, Roxy's pet Caitlyn and Conner are in the 6th and 3rd grade respectively, not sure about Willow's pet.

Am I not a fan of Disney's 101 Dalmations ? I sure have seen it enough times to know the dialogue by heart.

LOLLY GAGGING

There has been a WHOLE LOTTA THAT GOING ON here this past school year. Not sure if it is because Mimi is getting older now or what. There was a time when the kid was getting up before the sun would rise.

Now with the changing of the season and we are back to the cold, dark, gray weather and along with the blackout curtains it is soooooooo dark in her room at 7:30 in the morning. Even without the blackout curtains it is still really, really dark outside. Also now that she is a bit older, her bedtime has extended to between 9:00 and 9:30. That also gives a bit of family time for us too.

So with all of these factors in place, she does not get up at the crack of dawn. However even on the mornings when she does.......that is a whole different story. Instead of getting dressed, the girl will put on her music and play, play play. Then there is the puzzles. Mimi loves, loves, loves the 3-D puzzles that I buy for her at the Uwajimaya market. The nice part is they are only a dollar a pop.

So now I am constantly reminded of the Bill Cosby comedy where he states that his wife is a college educated woman but yet she is always going around the house talking to herself. That's me. I am also yelling at the ceiling from the kitchen downstairs. Our conversation usually goes something like this......."Mimi !!!" I yell. "Whu-ut !" comes the reply. "Come down and eat breakfast !" I yell back to the girl. "In-na minute ! (she gets that from her dad)! I'm getting dressed !" yells Mimi. This will go on for about 30 - 45 minutes. Then the one nice thing about carpeting is that I can go upstairs without her hearing me and catch her playing in her room in nothing but her panties and undershirt. Ooooo that child ! That's about the time when I make all of these false threats to her. Then she will slide down the banister to the kitchen wrap her little arms around my neck and give me her fish lips look and say "I know you love me even when I drive you crazy. Kiss Me !" Of course as usual my heart just melts right then and there.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT 2010

This morning started off really quiet at our house. Mimi watched her Saturday morning cartoon shows, Dad at the computer and I was still asleep. Starting to get a bit of RA and so my hands have been giving me a bit of trouble lately especially with this cold weather. Because of the discomfort I wake up at night sometimes 4 or 5 times. Then there is the insomnia to contend with. I tell ya....it's crappy to get old. Oh well so much for my woes.....

Next thing I knew it was time to go and have a early lunch and dad has been dying to try out the Five Guys burger joint at The Landing. So off we went. It was still good. After lunch we headed over to the Renton Uwajimaya for some groceries. I just figured that since we were down there I might as well go shopping and save myself a trip.

Arrived at grandma and grandpa's at around 1 in the afternoon. While dad was watching the Seahawk game with grandpa, I went swimming in the indoor swimming pool with Mimi. We swam for a good hour and a half. I was pooped !!! Mimi has sooooo much energy ! She did really tire herself out though ! She was so tired that she actually took a short nap before dinner.

I was not expecting it but grandma had already made arrangements for us to have dinner with them. We got home just in time for Mimi to change into warmer clothes and got out trick or treating with dad and friends. I stayed home to pass out the candy and of course take pictures of all of our friends as they came to the door.

Xander is in Batman suit and lil sis Rianna is a lady bug. Micah and Corey are in the Whoville costumes. Alex and Nate are pictured with Mimi. By this time she was done getting candy and decided that she wanted to pass them out instead. Next comes Chase and big brother Noah in some kind of Star War costume. It is nice to have friends in the neighborhood especially when you need a potty break which is what happened tonight at our house. Then comes Zoe, Braden (Mario costume), Allyah and dad Mike with the mask that actually drips fake blood. Next there is Janet and her kiddos, Erin, Patrick (Lightening McQueen car) and Liam. Finally the last picture is of Mimi and Halliwell.

Mimi out grew her Power Ranger costume so this year she wanted to be a cat and so she is. The nice thing about this costume is that it did not cost much and she can play with it allllllll year long.

JUNK MAIL

Yesterday morning Mimi was going thru our junk mail.

Mimi: Junk mail, junk mail, junk mail, junk mail, WHOA! Let me see that again ! (it was an ad for
Toys 'R' Us)
Mimi: Mom ! This is what I have been dying for all my life (pointing to a scooter) ! And this one too! Mom ! I just now found what I can give you for Mother's Day! Also there is something here for Father's Day too !

Me: Great! I always wanted something from Toys 'R' Us. I think the girl may have some ulterior motives ya think?

FORECLOSURES

It is on the rise up here in Washington.

This past summer our neighbors received a letter from the bank that the house they are renting is going into foreclosure. They could not believe their eyes nor ears. They had just put their house up for sale in Spokane and it was still in lieu. Patrick spoke with the owner of their now house and was told that he is in some kind of house payment plan with B of A and for them not to worry about it.

Well...... get this. BofA is bad news already and smelled of something fishy when Cory made mention of it. Badda Bing Badda Boom !!! Pat and Cory got word the other day that their house is going on the auction block come the 19th of next month.

They have nowhere to go now. Talked it over with dad a little and said that it would be nice if we could buy it and lease it out. But that is where it stands now.

PIONEER FARMS

Of all things to forget .......my camera and phone! Went as a chaparone for Mimi's class today when all of the second graders went to Pioneer Farms. For about a month now they have been studying, reading about the pioneer and early American Indian lifestyles. So today we went to see what it was like around 100 years ago.

This place is located in Eatonville about a one hour bus ride from our school/home. The kids had loads of fun. I knew this place would be like the pioneer days but no one said that it was going to be the EXACTLY like the pioneer days right down to the OUTHOUSES ! There was absolutely no functioning plumbing anywhere! YIKES!

It is now our rainny season so everywhere was muddy, hence the newly purchased snow boots for Mimi. The way I see it, why buy rainboots when snowboots work just as well and they keep your feet warm. Fortunately while we were at the farm the rain had stopped but then started again as soon as we got home. Someone up there is watching out for us.

The kids got a real kick out of riding in a buck board wagon pulled by Jack the working horse. This is kind of a neat place. Everything was hands on. Mimi favorite part was going into the barn and jumping on the haystack. This farm was complete with horse, chickens, pig, sheep, honking geese and ducks. The other thing the kids got a kick out of was milking the cow. Even I had fun doing that but oh the smell of that place. WHEW!!!!

This picture is off of their website. Because it is Fall now, the coloring up here is so much prettier with the brown, red, yellow and gold.