Summer 2010

It's been more than 2 months since I have entered anything in my blog. I don't even know where to begin to catch up.
The girls have taken swim lessons at Kingsgate 3 & 4. Jaclyn can actually swim now. Madison is getting there and she's a great bobber. She can hold her breathe under water for a really long time. After her first set of lessons, she was good enough to be put in the same class as Jaclyn (although their skill levels are quite different).

The girls have also done a few Vacation Bible Camps. They are probably ready to preach now!

We went to Whistler in mid-June around Father's Day. Michael went up first with his groomsmen - Hamish, Cort and Mike. Then we met up with him afterwards with Maryam, Shahram and Maisha. We were pretty low-key. Maryam cooked Iranian-style most of the evenings, and we played hearts & other card games until the wee hours of the morning.

For the 4th of July, we headed to Rattlesnake Ridge where Jaclyn hiked all the way to the top. Madison got tired and headed back down with Maryam. The view from atop was amazing. Then we had an Iranian BBQ. It wasn't the best weather but we had fun nonetheless.

I went to Las Vegas with Joann Smith for Cookie Lee's Fashion Week. What a blast! I loved seeing all the new jewelry. Besides the amazing Cookie Lee training, style tips & fashion shows, Joann and I had a blast playing blackjack and craps. I came out ahead so I told Michael I was ready for another trip to Vegas. We are going in November!

Of course, there are trips to Vancouver or Uncle Duh Duh comes down to visit. Mom and dad have their health challenges - well, dad does. The golden age is not so golden.

The girls have really grown and changed a lot, Madison especially. I can't believe how big she is now. Both are great at doing monkey bars and chin-ups, too!

As far as indoor activities...they have been totally into melting beads...since May. Everything is melting beads, melting beads, melting beads. We have them on our floor, in our clothes, in our bags, and Michael almost ate some out of a bag of chips.

A funny quote from Jaclyn a couple of months ago:
After she had fallen off her bike and got some bad scrapes on her knee and elbow, she was complaining to Michael in the car how much it bothered her. Michael said something along the lines about her "cut". "I don't have a cut." and then he said, "a scab". "I don't have a scab."
Then Michael said, "If you don't have a cut or a scab, then what do you have?"
"I have an owwie!"

We have got one more trip before school starts. We are heading to California. Disneyland, Solvang, Monterey, San Francisco, and then finishing off in Palo Alto for Michael's cousin's wedding. Jaclyn and Madison will be flower girls. I also look forward to staying with my cousin, Linda, and her family.

For the fall, Jaclyn will be going to her new school for grade 1. It's a Choice program at the Community School. It's quite alternative but I won't say too much at this point until we actually experience it.

Madison will be going back to Overlake Christian Preschool. Pre-K with Teacher Jen. A lot of her friends from last year will be in this class so it should be an easy transition for her.

Well, that's my quick update. My memory is muddled so that's the best I can do.