HARU GA KITA

Spring has finally come to Maple Valley!!! My Tulips and Daffodils are in full bloom now. Also there are blossoms on our apple tree. Hopefully this year we will get a bunch of apples come this fall. Last year we got quite a bunch of them. Usually I would be planting more flowers in our backyard but as we are going to China in a couple of weeks, I'm holding off on my gardening until we get back. At least I am able to enjoy the flowers I have now. They'll be dead by the time we get back which is ok because that will be the usual time for them to kick the bucket. This summer I am planning to put a garden in our backyard and hopefully be able to grow our own veggies and fruits. Dad has his own projects too. One is to put the kids playset that we purchased a couple of months ago.

CAR CLEANNING

Notice the dust buster in hand??? Everything was going great until Blake started up with the "baby talk". Argh!!!! I can't stand it!!!! So I tell them both to knock it off. I don't care what Blake does at his house but they will not be doing it anywhere around me. Blake stopped but Mimi the defiant one thought I was joking until I told her that she was not going to Blake's house after lunch and that she was going to clean the car where she made a huge mess of crumbs and such. All three kids begged for me to change my mind. This was not the first time I have talked with the two of them on this behaviour that I so detest. So I stood my ground and brought Blake and Bailey home and Mimi is at her own home. We also warned Mimi that on our California trip that our friends the Luce's and Fratkin's are nice enough to let us stay with them for a couple of days while we are there. And if the girl does not mind her P's and Q's, she will be sleeping in mom and dad's room during our stay. Oooooo dad says that is worse a fate than death in itself.

BOUNCE IT UP AND MICKEY D'S

Today is Staff Developement day so the kids got the day off. However today I am working overtime. So although it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood I thought I would take the kids to the local bouncy place so they could burn off some energy. One of my friends wrote on facebook that I should take them to the park. That's fine and dandy but the problem is there is 3 of them and one of me. At least the bouncy is cool inside and it is a place where the the kids can't get away from me. Especially when one has someone like Mimi who is here, there, everywhere. Then it was on to Mc Donald's for lunch.

COMPARISON

Mimi at 19 months: Height 74.5 cm
Weight 8.5 kg

Mei Lin at 7 months: Height 66 cm
Weight 8 kg



I have a feeling that this next chili pepper will tower over Mimi. When I mention this to Mimi the girl says "that's ok cause I'm still the oldest and I'll still be the boss." Sigh............

AFTER MEET DINNER AT LA FOGATA'S

Usually after the meets, we all go have dinner together somewhere. Last night it was La Fogata's. The best part of the dinner was the friends and Margaritas. It was the big kids on one side of the table and the smaller kids on the other. As you can see Mimi, Elsie, and Lizzie are the younger ones. Although I did not realize it at the time as Mimi was not on the team yet, her and Lizzie were in the same kindergarten class. It is possible that they may be in the same class again next year as they are both signed up for the loop. Elsie is in the same school district but different school. The topic of discussion among ALL the kids last night was butts, toots and farts.

MIMI'S BOOTY

We've all heard of "Pirates Booty"....well this is Mimi's booty. At all competitions there are raffle baskets. These are the ways that the gyms make money for themselves. When her/their part of the competition was/is over, the kids of our gym are strongly encouraged to stay and cheer on their teammates. I love how this team promotes unity among the kids.

However the younger kids will be kids and they get soooooo bored. Truth be told, I dozed off several times myself what with taking the pain killers for my tooth extraction. Mimi was bored out of her mind so I told her that if she gives me a kiss and hug, she would get a surprise. It was the quickest kiss and hug known to man. Followed by a stuck out hand. I gave her $5.00 for 10 raffle tickets. As you can see, the girl won the basket she wanted.

WASHINGTON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Yesterday was the State Championship at the Renton Community Center/Carco Theater It was a two day event but Mimi only had to be there yesterday. Man! Was it exhausting! We were there from just a few minutes past 8 till around 7:30 at night.

The girl did great! Fortunate for her, dad and I are not one of these gung ho parents who get upset with every mistake she makes along the way. I see some of these parents at the practices and it is not a very pretty sight. I feel so bad for the kid sometimes. I'm just happy that she won something. On the other hand, I'm happy when she wins nothing sometimes cuz for a while she started to get a bit big for her britches. Dad is just happy that her scores are improving.

Therefore she rather suprised/shocked us with the two first places for her level yesterday. Mimi also is working her tumbling. She is getting better at it but still not good enough to compete in it. That's ok by me. When she started off learning the tumbling with Elsie and a few of the other girls, Mimi mostly goofed off during the practices. Now they have moved on up to a higher level and Mimi is bored sitting by herself at the competitions and watching them from the sidelines.So I just keep my mouth shut and let her learn by herself.