My little firecracker turned into a FISH!

Maliana ~

Counting our lucky little stars and feeling thankful that Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina let us use their pool pass to begin our festive 4th of July week. I've been really wanting to get you more comfortable in the water and today I think we made big strides. The pool was the perfect temperature and in a matter of a little over two hours you had sufficiently turned into a fish...or at least a tadpole. You have had an aversion to going underwater and generally become, to put it bluntly, massively pissed when I force the issue and dunk you (hey, it's what they tell us to do at swim lessons!) But on this evening, you went underwater not once but TWICE, and only one of those times were you moderately pissed at me for a bit. At one point you even walked over, tossed off your floaties, and determinedly swaggered back to the pool to test out the waters on your own. What a little cowboy you are! We packed a picnic dinner and enjoyed ourselves until it was time to come home and greet Daddy after work. I am so proud of your accomplishment. Definitely a step in the right direction to becoming a true swimmer!

not cooperating with my "picnic picture" but
still cute anyway

The fourth of July was great this year. Began it with a very hot and steamy Doo Dah parade with Daddy, Uncle Flint, and Lao Lao. As always, there was a lot of silly fun and you made out like mad with all the candy and toys from marchers. Better than most other parades all year I'd say!

gotta wear tie-dye to Doo Dah

comparing Airhead tongues

there is no better bizarre hodgepodge of people than
is found at the Doo Dah parade

trying on our moustaches from the parade

We stopped home for a nap and some cool air before heading back out to your great Uncle Pat and Aunt Connie's house for a cookout and to watch the Reynoldsburg fireworks. They had set up a pool in their back yard and it was a huge hit, along with the fireworks (snakes and smokebombs) and popsicles we brought. You adore your cousins and had a spectacular time (as usual) with them, as well as made two new friends. I tell you what though, you and Sammy are two peas in a pod. I haven't seen this much concentrated cousin love in a while. Ha. Also, you conquered your fear and achieved a big milestone on this "birthday of America"...you went underwater ALL BY YOURSELF! I couldn't believe it! You were so proud, and so were Daddy and I! Way to go sister! It's amazing what a little encouragement, role modeling (a la your cousins), and practice will do. You rock!

we knew we had to snap a few pics of our matching outfits
as soon as we got there since you made a bee-line
right for the pool and stayed there all night!

lots of fun pups at Pat and Connie's house

little poser

cousin love

silliness

more love

And here is the video of you showing off your new pool trick!

peas in a pod

with your cousins and new friend Lauren

lining up the snakes to light

smoke bomb!

Happy 4th of July!

crazy cousins

yelling at Daddy to get out of the street...then
doling out his punishment (see below)

Daddy had to go sit with his Mommy for a time out

you, Sammy, and new friend Jack

"weren't those fireworks great Mali?"

Only one day of work in between the 4th of July and another day off for FAMILY DAY!! Our third anniversary ~ wow! Time flies! After school on this particular day, you and I ran errands as I was trying to wrap my brain around planning for the next big shindig, our 3rd Annual Family Day Potluck. Anyway, as I herded you into the car you turned to me and asked, "Mommy, will you stay in my heart forever?" Best question all day. Hands down. And of course my response was a resounding, "YES!"

In the midst of the errands, you were remarkably patient and well-behaved so I bought you some new knee and elbow pads, as well as gloves...all Cars themed. From the picture below, you can tell you were feeling pretty badass.

oh yeah, this chic is ready to rumble!

I woke up on Family Day and snuck into the kitchen to cook you your requested breakfast of bacon and eggs. You stumbled out of bed later and were happily astonished to have smelled the bacon all the way back in the bedroom. Always a good way to wake up in my book.

Unfortunately, our relaxing morning was turned upside down fairly quickly. We got word after breakfast that Aunt Tina’s dad had passed away during the night. I felt so awful for her. It’s been one of the first of any of my close friends who have lost a parent. In moments like the ones that followed, I felt so helpless. It also really brought to light all of the anxieties I have been having recently about the fragility of life. I went to see Tina that morning, if to do nothing else but give her a hug, and before I went you gave me a picture of butterflies that you had made and told me, “to help you stop crying.” You are so sweet. If only it were that simple.

We ended up taking Sam and Erin for the day and night while Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina headed to Elyria to be with family. We made the best of it and since it was stiflingly hot, we hightailed it to the pool. One good thing about the heat though was that it reminded us of Guangzhou those three years ago when we first met you. Boy was it like a sauna every day there! The heat on this third anniversary of our Family Day just provided a physical reminder of the experience of those first few days with you. Ha.

You were a wild woman in the pool, with even more tricks like tea parties and kisses underwater, even cannon-balling in from the steps so you are completely submerged in the water (all on your own). You are such a quick study! I am so proud of you, facing and conquering your fears like this.

celebrating Family Day by sticking ice cubes down
Daddy's swim trunks at the pool = hilarious!

you, Sam, and E

group shot with "Sam the Ham"

So, here is a video of you "swimming" to Daddy in the pool...look at you go! And here is yet another video of you attempting a cannonball on your own!

In spite of the sad circumstances for Tina and Joe, we did have a fun sleep over with the kids. Here is a little sampling of the craziness that ensued that night. Needless to say, if Daddy and I never hear "Call Me Maybe" again, we'd be perfectly content.


Uncle Joe came back the next afternoon and after we dropped Sam and Erin off, you plopped into a deep sleep for a couple of hours. You woke up for a quick trip to Target with Lao Lao and were once again asleep for the night. Recovering from sleepovers is exhausting business for kids!

Sunday morning you and I woke up slowly, with you suggesting we tell each other stories in bed. You had no interest in getting up at first, just wanting to lounge around with me and chat instead. It was one of those moments I love. And while so many critics argue against co-sleeping with your kids, I feel I could just as validly argue that they are missing these little memory-making moments that are so priceless and fleeting in a childhood. So I say, why not? But I digress.

Anyway, it wasn’t quite as hot on Sunday, but we chose to hit the pool again anyway. It's actually gotten pretty tough to keep you away from the pool this week with your newfound skills. Lao Lao came with us and you showed her your tricks, as well as a surprising new one. Dive sticks! Lao Lao was so impressed to see how far you have progressed in such a short time. Our little rock star!

After pool time, we hustled to Wai Gong’s for dinner with Memaw Lisa, Uncle Blaize, Uncle Johnny, and Ggma. We mostly just relaxed, played on the trampoline, and even flew a kite for a bit. You are really maturing, warming up to everyone, and not nearly as stingy with your hugs as you used to be, even yelling to Ggma as she walked out the door, “Wait! Wait! Wait!” and gave her a big hug. It was a nice way to wrap up the week for us all.

let's go fly a kite!

catching the kite

Love,
Mama

Oh yeah, and P.S.
Another little funny to round out the week...here is a status that Daddy posted about you on Facebook.

~~Mali is obsessed with the song "Call Me Maybe". God help us. In one of the verses it says "Pennies and Dimes for a Kiss". Mali thinks it's "Panties Down for a Kiss". Again...God help us!!!~~

We love you silly girl!