A good week, and hoping for an even better weekend in the Big Easy!

Maliana ~

Just a quick note before heading to New Orleans for the weekend. It’s been a nice week so far but it will be good to just get out of town for a bit, even if it is partially on “business” for me.

To borrow an expression from another mama blogger, you “fought sleep like a Jedi” on Sunday, staying up until midnight, laying in bed and practicing your new handshake that Daddy learned from a friend of his and whispering “break the pickle” over and over again. You are too funny.

Monday we headed over to Great Grandma’s to go eat dinner at Grandma’s favorite, MCL. It was really nice to spend some time with her and I love that you know her while you are still so little. I never met her until I was 7 years old, so it means a lot that you come along and spend time like this with both of us.

hangin' with Ggma

Once home, our neighbor Miss Mona had given you a Toy Story puzzle, your first real big girl puzzle (48 pieces!), which you insisted on putting together. I was impressed with your focus and stamina in finishing it with me, and then both Daddy and I when he got home. You were so excited each time a piece would fit, however as soon as you were done, you asked if we could rip it apart and do it again. So much for savoring your accomplishment!

look at that concentration - putting the last piece in!

Tuesday I picked you up from school and interrupted your playground time, which sucked because you were riding one of the few coveted bikes they have there. You were pretty sad to get off, and completely mobbed as you stepped away from the bike as about 4 other kids tried to wrestle the bike away from each other for their turn. There was much crying, and I was afraid there’d be some bloodshed too, as the kids continued to grapple with each other. I told the teacher what was happening as we were leaving and she said, “Yeah, it’s like a prison yard here some days when it comes to those bikes!” Ha ha, I’ll say!

To make it up to you, we got your tricycle out of the garage and you and I took Abby for a walk around the block while you pedaled nearly the whole way. I was again impressed with you. And you were equally proud of yourself, working those leg muscles and feeling like a big girl!

tricycler extraordinaire!

Anyway, today we'll be finishing packing...I'm just updating this blog for you before we head to New Orleans at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Here's a toast to a good week thus far, and an even better weekend in the Big Easy!

Love,
Mama