A Busy Week . . .

We have had a very busy week the last seven days, so let me recap the highlights.

The girls are full into summer, but we haven't let their studies slip. Each is doing about an hour of homework everyday. Lulu loves reading and is working her way through a number of chapter books on a daily basis. Her favorites so far this summer are the 'Amelia Bedelia', 'Frog and Toad', and 'Jeanie B. Jones' series. Red has started learning how to read from the 'Clifford' beginning reader's books, and also has a large workbook of matching shapes, practice letter writing, and basis concepts that she loves to work on even in her spare time. (She is very excited to begin kindergarten this fall.) -- Don't worry they have had fun too. Last week we visited the local art museum and children's museum. A few months back I took Lulu to an ancient Egypt exhibit there which she loved, so we all went back for a 2nd time because of a change of venue. Lulu's favorite was the ancient Japanese exhibit while Red loved a sliver collection from the kings of England. What peaked her interest most was a teapot that she said, "looked like Aladdin's lamp!". They didn't care for the main attraction though. I guess the finer points of Dutch art are only second rate to a good Barbie or Disney Princess coloring book.

My lovely wife of course is always busy with her calling. Girls camp is one week out - need I say more.

I traveled to both Seattle and Palo Alto (CA) last week and spent most of today trying to catch up on a little sleep. Both American Apparel stores were finished last month, but needed a few finishing touches to the lighting before we could call them done. The above pictures are from the Seattle store which opened at the beginning of June, but stilled need all the fluorescent wall lights mounted which we did in both locations last week. Our next store to be completed will either be in California or Texas. But I digress, enough of work . . . the highlight of my week has been going on a small hike through Washington Park with the kids. R- dropped the kids and myself off at a play ground inside the park. We played there for a while and then walked home. Doesn't sound like much, but to get home we had to hike through a lush dense forest, through one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the northwest, past the Japanese garden, and finally back up our green over grown street; all the while just talking with the kids about nothing at all. -CRW