SEATTLE AQUARIUM

Earlier this year I found a brochure for the the Lake Wilderness Camp
Wild. Since we can't afford to send her to camp, I thought that I
could save some money and create our own Camp Naomi.

Every week the camp is going on a field trip somewhere so I decided
Mimi and I would do the same. Although Mimi and I spend alot of time
together we rarely do anything together. It's always me taking her for
practice somewhere.

I counted out all the field trips and it will take us right up till
when school starts again in the Fall.

So today after swim lessons we jumped onto the light rail and headed
into the city.

First we had a delisious Thai lunch before going to the Aquarium. Now,
since the kids had studied the marine life at school, this place is
more interesting to her this year as opposed to the first time we
brought her last year. Plus she's older now so I think that helps.

IT'S SWIM TIME

With each and every passing summer, Mimi gets better at swimming. Now
Cameron is teaching the girls how to swim like a dolphin and also the
back stroke.

Fwd: SWIM LESSONS

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dorothy Putney <gd.putney@comcast.net>
Date: June 25, 2010 10:35:25 AM PDT
Subject: SWIM LESSONS

With all of the lakes and rivers we have around here, we just felt that it is important that Mimi knows how to swim. I found out from Shelley this morning that there was a drowning at Shadow Lake here in our home town.  Plus Mimi just loves the water which is a far cry from when she first came home from China.

Unlike dad, I am not crazy about the winter sports as much as he is. I am more of the sun 'n' surf kinda gal. I prefer the water. Fortunate for the both of us, Mimi enjoys various activities.

Unbeknwnst to dad, after China, my next travel plans are Hawaii and an Alaskan cruise. I am pretty much done with the winter vacations for quite some time. If anyone would like to join us, you are more than welcome to come along with us.

Sent from my iPhone

A GORGEOUS DAY

That it was and still is. A couple of weeks ago I thought that I would make a trip to the doc's because I just did not feel any zip anymore and thought that my Thyroid level may have been low.

I tell you, doctors and nurses make the worst patients ever and I am no different. First she asked if I had made my mammogram appointment. No. So no sooner than when I arrived home, they called me to see when I could come. Man! Dr. Markegard is quick! There's no mess'in around with her. Next when I told her how I was feeling, she asked if I was exercising. Even though I joined a gym, it just petered out. Then she asked if I was taking any vitamin D. That's when it hit. DUH! After 50 years in California where one never needs to take vitamin D, I totally forgot about it. Therefore I had to pay a doctor $20.00 in order for her to tell me that I was depressed. She did the blood levels and the Thyroid was fine but the vitamin D was super low. It is supposed to be 30 or above and my count was 14. Now wonder I was feeling down in the dumps and that is not to mention all of the grayness we have been having lately which is unusual.

Since then, I had the mammogram done and it came back normal and I have been taking the vitamin D and feeling 200% better than before. So now I am back on my exercising.

Last week Mimi was just plain ornery and sassy and so "Mean Mom" came for a visit. Mimi really dispises "Mean Mom" and came to the conclusion that Nice Mimi = Nice Mom, so she has been ever sooooo sweet since then.

These past couple of days we have been quite busy and so she really has not had much playdate time. This morning she had her swimming lessons, then it was on to Ms Celia's for piano lessons with a short stop at McDonald's for a 15minute playtime on the playset. When the piano lessons was over, we went to Costco for a little grocery shopping and lunch. We had just a couple of hours at home before it was time for gymnastic practice. Her summer practice is a little longer now, so while she was at practice, I took Butch over to Lake Wilderness and we took one long, Long, LONG walk around the lake. I was not about to let this sunshine that we are having go to waste. It was absolutely gorgeous outside. You could see Mount Rainier atop all of the trees. I absolutely love where we live if only we had some good places to eat and I wouldn't have to cook all of the time.

IT'S ABOUT DOGGONE TIME!!!

KARATE CLASS

A couple of months ago Mimi came flying home from school yelling
"Guess what mom?! Our karate teacher came to our school and passed out
these fliers! I wanna go! I wanna go!"

Fortunately the time schedule works out with her gymnastic schedule.
It was not planned but her good friends Blake and Alex also signed up.
She is in 7th heaven.

I just figured that with Mimi's petite size and most likely she will always be on the petite side, it is good to know some self defense. When we checked into her swimming class this morning, the woman asked what level Mimi was at and I told her that she is in level 3, the woman exclaims "But she is so small!"

FIRSTS

Today is the first official day of summer. It is also the first day of
swimming lessons and karate lessons.

While at swimming lessons this morning it was quite a nice surprise to
see that Mimi had not forgotten anything since last summer. She and
another girl did really good today. What was even more surprising was
that Cameron (teacher) took the kids over to the starting blocks and
had them jump off of it.

When swimming was done it was time to head home for lunch, piano and
school lessons and a little yard work.

I just knew that things were running way too smooth. Even Mimi was
just as sweet as she could be. I then had a great idea of heading over
to Lake Wilderness a little early so that Butch could get some
excercise in. Then I had to go and lock myself out of the house
WITHOUT the keys! Argh!!!

None the less, we made it to the lodge with about an hour to kill. So
took a nice long, long walk with Butch around the lake. Also Mimi was the one who took the picture of the Geese and their young brood.