LUNCH AT JAK'S

Sure enough my camera was here where I left it. Since we are here and
it is lunchtime and the food is delicious......we stayed and shared a
steak sandwich. So sorry dad, we are having fun without you today.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY/FAMILY DAY

Today started off as usual. Dad left for work at 7. I woke up at around 7:30 and so did Mimi. Then while I was getting ready for the day, Mimi did her usual playing in her room or as I call it "goofing off" as she was supposed to be getting ready for school. Then she tries to pull the wool over my eyes by putting on a short sleeve t-shirt along with pants and says she is ready dressed. Oh so NOT! It is cold and damp in the morning nowadays. And she is sniffling but I think it is the allergies. Claritin seems to be working on that one.

On the other hand she sometimes cannot help but wear summer shirts as they have yet to put out the winter clothing. Those darn stores! However I recieved an ad today that starting tommorrow Kohl's is having a 50-55% sale and it looks like there are some long sleeved shirts on sale. Will have to check them out.

Then while everyone was gone and it has not started to rain yet I thought that I would get out back and prune my garden for the winter months. That means pulling out the weeds, cutting back on all of the perrineals. The backyard is looking quite bare compared to this past summer. It is supposed to start rainning tommorrow. All the clouds are coming up from Southern California. You guys are supposed to bring the sunshine, not the rain! Then by next week it should taper off. Then I will get out in the garden again and plant my bulbs for the Spring. Going to plant more Daffodils, Hyacinths and Tulips. Those are my favs.

Gardening is very carthartic for me. I love it. By the time I was done, I smelled like celery (I have a celery plant growing. It is actually an herb), I was pooped and it time to pick up Mimi from school. Came home, cleanned up and headed for piano lessons. When that was over Mimi and I headed over to Costco for a few grocery items and hopped onto the 18 freeway and met dad at Jak's Grill in Issaquah. It was deeelllliiicious! Heard about that place from Keri.

We have been here 3 years already and slowly but surely we have found some great places to eat dinner. There is Salty's in Alkai Beach, The Melting Pot in Bellevue, 272 "It's Whatcha Want" in Covington, Mizu in Covington and now Jak's Grill. Still have to try out The Swinging Arm in Black Diamond.

The only stinky part about tonight is that I am pretty sure that I have left my camera at the restaurant. Argh!!!!! They open at 4 in the afternoon and I found out that there is a train museum behind the bar and grill. I may leave a little early and take Mimi there to look around.

Although we have the cosmopolitan cities like Seattle, there are quite a number of small towns that still have that small town feel like walking down main street in Disneyland. Issaquah is one of them. It is a very quaint little town. I love it.

BIG WHEEL

Today was again gorgeous outside so after school Mimi and I headed
over to Erin's house. Janet had seen where Mimi is doing pretty good
on her bike so she wanted Erin to practice on her own bike. However it
was a no go. Erin took a spill and she was through. The kids played at
the park till 5 then it was time to head for home. Meanwhile Blake was
put riding his bike. Bothe he and Mimi rode around the block then came
inside. The temperature really dropped low enough for me to turn the
fireplace on tonight. Brrrrrrrr.

ROXY AND BUTCH

Almost every morning after dropping Mimi off at school, I take Butch
for a romp around the school field while the kids are still in class.

Usually it is Reno who hoes with us but this morning it was Roxy.
Butch just loves EVERYBODY! Roxy just reminds me of Clifford the Big
Red Dog. She was more interested in the wrestling than the running. As
for Butch, he loved it!

He came home all muddy, wet and grinning from floppy ear to floppy
ear. Thank goodness tomorrow is his beautification day. Mine was
yesterday and I feel like a new woman.

Almost forgot to mention that besides Mimi's great day at school, when
we got to the gym for gymnastic practice, there was her friend Erin.
It seems ad though Erin is interested in trying a gymnadtic class.

I think that her friends may have an influence on her. Word up is that
Zoe is taking up basketball this winter season and Erin wants to sign
up for it too. Mimi has made mention that she wants to sign up for it
too. Can you imagine that? As petite as she is?

I found out yesterday that my beautician Mai's (My's) baby boy Jordan
who is now 2 months old weighs close to 15 lbs. When we recieved Mimi
in China, she was 19 lbs at 19 months old.

As long as she is healthy and happy that's all I care about.

A VERY GOOD DAY

Today was a very good day for Mimi. She not only 2 out of 2 correct on her math problem solver but she recieved a paw print as well. Students get paw prints when they have earned by doing something good such as paying attention in class, helping others, cleanning up without being told to do so, etc. and etc.

ROLLING IN THE HAY

Although the kids did everything from riding the roller coaster, ponies, barrel twister, ferris wheel, carousel, to the train ride. Then there was the rock climbing. This was and still is Mimi ablsolute favorite..........playing in the hay maze. That girl could stay there for hours on end if we let her.

She has already made mention that she wants to go back there again to get her pumpkins for Halloween.

SIGN LANGUAGE

As you can see, Nathan is hearing impaired so he wears hearing aids. For the most part he and Mimi get along really well. However due to the "langage barrier" Mimi says that playing with him is a bit hard because he cannot speak and she does not know much sign language although she is learning some from Lisa (Nathan's mom). However Nathan can read as we discovered yesterday. So both Mimi and I decided that the next time we get together she will write on her dry eraser board what she wants to say to him. Today dad told me that Nathan's parents are looking into getting him some cochlear implants. I think that would be so cool. This little boy has been through sooooo much in his short life that it is so wonderful to just see him blossom and grow from the first time we met him about 6 months ago.