Fart the Skunk, Mama Bear Strikes Again, and Autumn Moon

Maliana ~

I got to attend a Disability Job Summit/Conference for work at the beginning of the week so Lao Lao helped out with picking you up on Monday. I'm so grateful for her help and never worried about you when she's with you.

enjoying the butterflies at Blendon Woods

 

you are pretty darn good with a camera

 

silly picture I texted to you because you wanted to
"see me" while on your outing with Lao Lao

and equally silly picture you texted me back
in response to my text to you

And you discovered the Naked Cowboy of NYC on YouTube this week...making those new RED cowboy boots I just bought come in mighty handy. Ha!

Naked Cowgirl of Gahanna

~ "Ding Ding Ding" ~ Proud Mama Alert ~ Picked you up from school on Wednesday and Ms. Beth reported that you were the only kid in class who was listening and following directions, so she rewarded you, and you alone, with a timbit for being such a good example and leader for your peers. Way to go little lady! So proud of you!

That very same afternoon you and I snuggled on the back deck under blankets and read books and watched Bob the Builder under a cool and slightly sunny autumn sky. I love this particular weather. We noticed the leaves are just begining to change colors and outside is the perfect temperature for cuddling with someone you love and enjoying their company (and their body heat).

Just before sunset we headed to Hoover Dam with Lao Lao, Abby, and your big girl bike. A fun and relaxing activity to end the day...well, kind of relaxing. You actually climbed all of the stairs at Hoover yourself, rode your bike back (and forth) all the way across the dam and then played on the playground, finishing by riding your bike back up a hill to the parking lot. You wore yourself out and there's nothing like getting the smell of the cool air of the outdoors on you just before bed.

Unfortunately, by Thursday my grumpy Mama Bear was awakened, right in the middle of your tang soo do class in fact. Everything was going great, and then during sparring a little boy bulldozed you across the gym and pushed you down, not only once but twice. It was supposed to be a no-contact sparring activity and this child took it way too far. And that's putting it mildly. He was bigger than you and probably figured that he got away with it once, why not do it again, and harder the second time. I let it go the first time, thinking that maybe this kid was just a little overzealous but unintentional. When I saw you go down hard for the second time, I had had it. I screamed, "Hey! Don't push her down again! That's the second time!" while pointing at the little offender. The gym came to a screeching halt. You were fine. But it was the principle of it all and the fact that this kid thought he could get away with picking on someone smaller. Now, I do want to mention that I don't blame the instructors at all. They have so many kids doing so many things and typically do a spectacular job given the demands of the class. Fortunately, after my outburst they addressed the issue with the whole class and turned it into a lesson. It worked out well. Even after class they came over and apologized that they hadn't seen it, that they should have been watching closer. Like I said before, I didn't blame them at all, simply saying, "My Mama Bear came out" with a sheepish grin. On the way home, you and I had a nice conversation about bullies, what to do if it happens again, and even talking about what makes some kids act like bullies. It turned out fine. Eventually, my adrenaline went back to baseline levels before bedtime.

That same drive home, you showed me something you had in your jeans pocket from school. Thinking it was going to be some toy you had swiped from your classroom, I was surprised to see you pull out another stray piece that had loosed itself from your silkie. Thankfully you had the wherewithall to save it so that I could reattach it later. We actually have a small sandwich bag full of "fallen soldiers", casualties of too much lovey lovin'. In fact, your most favorite "fallen soldier" I had to reattach right into the middle of your silkie so as to reinforce it a little better. Ahh...the things we parents do.

yep, that's what we are now calling your "nubbin"
in the middle...reattached "fallen soldier"
right there, nice and dirty from having
been EVERYWHERE with you

Saturday...or also known as the first day of autumn (yikes, really?)...was a good day, a very good day. Woke up and met Audrey Ayi at Gena's for breakfast and then we all headed to tang soo do. It was the first time Audrey got to see your tang soo do and you were more than happy to put on a show. We all really appreciated Audrey coming and showing you her support. After tang soo do, Audrey went to work and we headed to Hoover Dam with Abby and enjoyed the blue skies on a walk through the woods, finding all different colors of leaves and all shapes of nuts to collect. Holding your hand while you skipped down the trail, clearly pleased to be spending time with all of us together, and watching Abby zip through the woods at lightening speed made me so happy. Something so simple can bring such joy. I love this time of year!

climbing trees with Daddy

in spite of the chill...you just had to dip
your toes into the water...brrr!

After nap we headed to the Autumn Moon Festival for our COFCC group. It had turned decidedly cold as the sun got closer to setting, so there were only a few of us brave souls left by the time we got around to marching in our lantern parade. However, it was still a very nice time and always great to see all of these families come together to celebrate. Happy Autumn Moon and Happy Fall!

moon cake

marching with your eyes shut tightly so
as to avoid Mommy's camera
(little stinker!)

having fun plunging off the stone wall with Cass and Mia

working out your upper body

 

you and Mia chased each other around the
playground a ton...great way
to keep warm!

conquering your fear of crossing this
part of the jungle gym

no idea what's going on here...

braving the cold for a little Autumn Moon fun

One thing I do need to mention from this week, that particularly made your dad and I chuckle, was your sharing with us that we now have a new sort of member to the family. On the way to school one morning, after smelling a skunk, you were inspired to begin an entire monologue about how we actually have a skunk that likes to ride on the top of my car and whose name is "Fart". Yes, Fart. As the weekend wore on, Fart the Skunk's backstory grew and grew and grew some more. Given your hilarious enthusiasm for regaling stories about Fart, I have a strange feeling that Fart will be with our family for quite a while longer. Oh boy.

We slept in on Sunday while Daddy went to slave away at the office (boo). After breakfast you helped me clean the dishes and I couldn't believe you only needed a stool to reach the sink now. Wasn't it just the other day you needed a kitchen chair? My, how fast you've grown! *sniff, sniff*

We played a little "Star Wars Goes on Vacation" too...(your idea)...and when I asked if Darth was allowed to go, you replied, "Yeah, because he said sorry to his son." Ha ha.

all of your Star Wars toys lined up to
go on vacation

After we got dressed, we headed to Sharon Woods for some bike riding, walking, and playground time, then we had lunch at Panera and dessert at Orange Leaf with Lao Lao. This weekend we've been outside in the fresh air so much that I honestly haven't felt better in a long long time. My stiff neck/shoulder is even feeling looser. Being outside in the middle of nature is some of the best medicine around.

insisting on finishing listening to "Sunshine on my Shoulders"
by John Denver before getting out of the car

hot stuff on your bike at the park

home stretch...you stopped for a bit
to smell the goldenrod

you love your frozen yogurt...and this place was cool
because their spoons were shaped like guitars!

Daddy came home later and we all headed out for one more walk with Abby before it was time for bed. A great wrap up to a great weekend, the first of fall and we are all looking forward to many many more just like this one!

Love,
Mama

P.S.
Just a quick note about Daddy and one of the reasons that I love him. Not only was he willing to read you the same bedtime story twice in a row, but the second time he was reading the story "No Bears" to you in Mike Ditka's voice. Just google the video for 'SNL skit Mike Ditka Go Bears' and you'll likely figure out why this strikes me as so funny.
Love you both!