MATH GAME NIGHT

Tonight there was a school function at Mimi's school called "Math Game Night". Unfortunately dad could not make it as he had other pressing things to do on his schedule plus the time was not convinient for him (5;30- 7:00). So as Mimi called it, it was a mother/daughter night. When we arrived, we saw Blake and Erin and their families already there. It was almost like a "Open House" only slightly different. The students of each grade were able to show the parents the math games they are learning in school as shown in the pictures above. We also were able to go to the computer lab and see what the students are doing on the computer. I also had a nice chat with Mimi's teacher Ms. Blevins. She says that Mimi is doing quite well in school and in her reading. We also had a nice chat with her music teacher Ms. Hinami. Mimi was quite happy to see all of her friends there tonight as well. Halliwell came a little later with her parents and both girls hugged as though they had not seen each other for ages and ages when in fact it was just a few hours earlier when school let out for the day.

COUNTRY LIV'IN

Now I know that we are definitely living in the country. I found this sign along our main highway this morning.

COOKIES

It's that time again people and everyone knows that I have a huge sign on my forehead that says SUCKER! Yep, that's right folks, I am a sucker for those Girl Scouts Cookies. Not only did dad buy them from the people at his office, the girls in our neighborhood know where to go and Eileen who is another piano student of Ms Celia's knows that I will buy them from her too. Young Katrina from down the street knows that I am also a sucker for the snickerdoodle cookie dough that she sells for her school. One good thing that I learned from my friend Eileen is that when we get the cookies and the cookie dough it that we can freeze them for a later day. She says that they tasted especially good during the summertime when the weather is hot and the cookies are nice and cold. mmmmmmmmm

TWO THUMBS UP OR TWO THUMBS DOWN

Mimi: Mom, what does "important" mean???
Mom: It means something is very special to you (it's the only way I could explain it to a 6 year old), like how you like strawberries.
Mimi: uh huh. Ok mom, I'm going to give a thumbs up if I like something. Ask me something.
Mom: Do you like your friends?
Mimi gave a two thumbs up.
Mom: How about your Disney Samantha?
Again two thumbs up.
Mom: How about Samantha's mom and dad, Allyn and Teri.
Another two thumbs up.
Mom: How about bananas and french fries?
This time it is two thumbs down. They are yucky according to Mimi.

JACK FROST

He's baaaack!!! This is a picture that was taken at 4:30 this afternoon. It is leftover frost from this morning. At this very moment the sidewalk is glistening like glitter because of the frost and the sky is a magnificently clear sky with one huge shinning star. Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of it as I don't have the right kind of camera for it. Mimi was outside making a wish for her friends to be happy and I am wishing that we go back to China ASAP.

WHEN I GET BIG.......

What happens when two Capricorns live together??? All hell breaks loose that's what happens. This morning was going great until the inauguration was over. I was trying to get Mimi ready for gymnastics and trying to get her to practice her piano before leaving. All I end up doing is to start sounding like a broken record. All morning it was "Mimi get dressed" "ok mom". Then she would go right back to goofing off in her room still in her pj's. After what seemed like the millionth time and the clock still ticking, I let her have it. I told her that I was plenty upset with her and that I was going to make her life miserable for the day. If she wants to go to Blake's, the answer is NO, if Blake wants to come here the answer is NO, and we are NOT going to the movies like I had planned. Once we were in the car on our way to gymnastics, I was told by Mimi "When I get big, I am going on a trip and I'm never coming back!!! I'm going to live with Joe and Nicole!!!" Maybe I should warn Joe and Nicole about this. Maybe one day she will show up on their doorstep with her little suitcase in hand. Phew!!! What a little chili pepper we have on our hands. I still would not have it any other way though. Just the other day I explained to Mimi that on the 24th of this month she will be having a sleep over at Blake's house because her daddy and I are going to be at dad's office Christmas Party at the Space Needle. You should have seen those crocodile tears that flowed down her cute face. "But, but, but, I'm going to miss you" sobbed Mimi. "I'm going to miss you too. But you do like Keri don't you?" I asked. "uh huh" says Mimi. "Keri's real good to you isn't she?" I said. "Uh huh, but I'm still going to miss you" said a sobbing Mimi. How soon they forget. This past Christmas, she was given a Hannah Montana calendar and now it is hanging by her bed. On the 24th day it is marked with a "B" for sleepover with Blake.

PRESIDENTIAL INNAUGURATION

This morning both Mimi and I watched the innauguration of our new President Barack Obama. We had a lovely discussion about being president of the United States. All of a sudden she says "he's a good speaker". "Yes he is" I said. Then she liked the part when I pointed out to her that we were just there this past fall when her cousin Joe got married. Although she does not know the words she does however know the fact that the Star Spangled Banner is "the song of America" and that the flag is "the flag of America."