Independents' (aka Mali) Day Festival

Maliana ~

Began the week on a date with Daddy to the park and rocking out to the Beastie Boys in the car on the way home, where Audrey Ayi and I had been busy making dinner and icing cupcakes for you. Not a bad way to end your Monday and start your week..

Tuesday brought more park time with Mom and Abby...the weather has been gorgeous so Abby and I picked you up from school and we hit up Dairy Queen for dilly bars and then got all static-y from the slides at the playground.

your self portrait right before we slid down the slide together

I realized a parallel of you and I as children this week too. Nothing big, just a funny detail. Lately you have taken to saying that you can see certain things (that possibly the rest of us can't see) with your "light eyes". Upon further questioning, I think you mean that your "light eyes" glow, or emit light, and agreed that these were more like super-hero eyes (think Iron Man), not necessarily magic. It reminded me of my own statement as a child, where I too told my parents I had super eyes and proclaimed, "I can even see.....(dramatic pause)....through wood." It struck me as funny that we both imagined ourselves with special eyes that can do amazing things. Wonder what that says about us? Hmmm...I'll let you ponder that one.

Friday night we went to a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Uncle Forge's high school. Just before leaving we got a knock on the door. It was Roman, asking "Can Mali come out and eat Pop Rocks with me?" Ummm, sure. Why not? I think it's cute that Roman wanted to share something like that with you...and I know you loved it too.

Pop Rocks!

We had fun at the spaghetti dinner and got to check out the high school. Lao Lao graduated from Big Walnut too, so it was fun to take some pictures of you both in her alma mater.

Big Walnut senior rock

Saturday we got to see them pouring cement as they fixed the court across from our house...since you've spent a lot of time watching Bob the Builder, this was uber cool to you.

heavy machinery = awesome

Then we headed off to a marathon of classes, first your KCAP Chinese dance class at 9am and then your tang soo do at 10am. It was a bit hectic but we made them both (barely). While you weren't so into your dance class (it was your first of the year so I wasn't surprised you were a bit uncomfortable), but you had definitely gained your confidence back by the time you were kicking and punching and kee-yahing at tang soo do!

neither you or Mia were having any of that dance class!

Home for a bit and then we were off again to the Independents' Day Festival...a collaborative of artists of all sorts had gathered for a miniature art show and food truck extravaganza. I have no idea how many years Columbus has been doing this but it was our first time. It was good good fun...love being around people who just enjoy expressing themselves creatively and encourage others to do so as well!

tracing our feet with the sidewalk chalk

clearly you spent a lot of time creating with
that chalk ~ just look at your jeans!

learning how to pick out sunflower seeds so you
can do the same thing with our mammoth
sunflowers at home!

convincing Lao Lao why you must have a
moustache cookie

mission accomplished!

at least I got a bite!

very cool section where people painted with their feet
while they danced to really loud techno music

your second favorite part after the sidewalk
chalk was creating with clay

Once we were finally home, I was pooped. Uncle Joe, Sam, and Erin came over later to watch some football and you were so excited to see E, shouting "E-R-I-N!!!" from the porch as they pulled up in their car. I hope no children had gone to bed yet, because they were up now! All in all, it was a very busy but fun Saturday.

On Sunday we woke up early and you, Abby and Daddy headed to get donuts while I went running. But not before we had played some of your favorite games of "Baby, Mommy, Daddy"..."Let's go on vacation!"...and "Diner". It never fails on weekend mornings. You wake us up and want to take us into the playroom as soon as we open our eyes. I love your imagination. I just need to find a way to wake mine up a bit earlier on the weekends.

And finally when we checked the mail for the weekend, you found a card from your friend Mia. You have exchanged cards and little trinkets through the mail before but it's been a while since you've sent each other anything. You loved her card with stickers and even some tattoos and immediately wanted to make her a thank you card, even asking how to spell "MIA" and "LOVE" at one point, however you would not let me see the finished product stating that "only Mia can see it". You were so excited, you couldn't even wait until morning to put it in the mailbox.

your card on the left (showing off the back of the
envelope) and Mia's on the right...I love that
you have a pen pal at 4 years old

eager beaver

No matter how much technology changes and shapes our lives, there's nothing that compares to getting something through good old-fashioned snail mail.

Love,
Mama