UNINVITED GUESTS

Since our move up here to the northwest, mama has learned from grandma that one needs to keep their pantry and garage stocked full of non-perishable food especially during the winter season. Mama also learned that there is a family of racoons living behind our backyard. The other night while it was so warm out, mama and papa could hear something climb the trees behind our backyard fence but we could not see anything. Last night about 10 minutes after arriving home from Angie's house, papa went downstairs and turned the garage lights on and said that he found a mama racoon munching on our Cheetos. She hissed at him while he shooed her out, then he heard some kind of warbling sound coming from under mama's SUV and there were her cubs. He shooed them out too. Unfortunately he did not think of taking pictures %$#@~! This is a picutre of what mama found this morning.

BASEBALL LINGO

Ever since mama could remember, her dad (Mimi's other grandpa), brother and I have always loved watching the LA Dodgers and Anaheim Angels play. Every Sunday was spent listening to Vin Scully giving the play by play. Now that we live up here in the northwest mama has a soft spot for the Mariners. I think that some of the baseball has rubbed off on Mimi. We have been working on paying attention and following directions that of Mimi's swim and gymnastic coach. Out of the blue yesterday Mimi says "Mama, if I make a mistake one more time I will be 0 for 2, then there is 3 strikes and you're out! (using the hitch hiker thumb)"

RAIN GUTTERS AND SWIMMING POOLS

All this afternoon papa and neighbor/friend Ray were cleanning out the gutters of our homes. Mama meanwhile started to set up Mimi's pool when she realized that this is more than a one person job. When mama bought this pool, she did not realize how big it would be even though the box stated that it is 15' x 32". Maybe that is why she only received a passing grade in home economics all those years ago in Junior High. She can't measure worth a darn. In between time, we went over to grandma's house for papa's birthday dinner. Then came home to resume the gutter cleanning.

Believe it or not, these pictures were taken at 9:00 p.m. and it was still 72 degrees outside but since there is no wind, it feels like 82 degrees.

CARSEATS

According to Ray and papa, there is more than one use for a child carseat. Since we are fortunate to have good weather today papa and Ray made a date to clean the rain gutters before it is too late. Since the houses are too high up they needed to go and rent a taller ladder from the hardware store and this is how they brought it home.

MIMI'S BIRTHDAY

Whenever someone has a birthday such as today was Elsie's birthday and papa's birthday, Mimi will always ask the enevitable queston "When is my birthday?" Mama will tell her that it is not until next January which is followed by the universal question of "WHY?" sigh. hmmmm

WINTER SPORTS

This is papa's new toy. He loves to ski and so this is what mama and Mimi bought for him. He is like a kid in a candy shop. As tired as he is at this hour, mama can hear him downstairs trying out his new toy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELSIE

Besides July being papa's birthday, it is also Elsie' birthday. She turned 5 years old today. Unfortunately mama's camera ran out of batteries and she was not able to get a good picture of Elsie. Elsie and her big sis Emma are part of our China family. The girls also go to the same gymnastic school as Mimi and they are both on the gymnastic team there. Mama was quite impressed at the way the gymnastic school handled the party. First all the kids sat on the rug as in the picture above to stretch out their muscles then the teacher took them around the different apparatus while the parents were able to mingle with each other up in the balcony where the kids came up for ice cream and cake. Before we knew it the hour and a half was gone and the party was over. Several other China friends were there also. When the party broke, Elsie and her mom and sis plus another China family Lori and her two girls started heading over to Whidby Island for the China Heritage Camp that is put on by our local FCC. Unfortunately we are not able to go this year but most definitely we will be going next year if we are not in China for Mei Mei.