The Works, The Pumpkins, and The Zoo ~ I'm Exhausted!

Maliana ~

Ding! Ding! Ding! Proud Mommy Alert! Just a quick note that Ms. Beth at school told me at pick up on Monday that you are the only kid in class that says thank you at lunch and snack times when you are served. So relieved to hear that you use your manners even when Daddy and I are not around. Love that!

And here's a funny bathroom conversation that only one with a preschooler in the house will have.

Mali:  Mom, Why do you sit down when you wipe?
Me:    So I don't drip on my legs. Do you stand up when you wipe?
Mali:  Yeah.
Me:    Don't you drip pee on your legs?
Mali:  *shrugs shoulders* Yeah, sometimes.

Ahhh...the joys of A) not having an ounce of privacy and B) the honesty of children.

And while there is definitely humor in our lives now more than ever before thanks to you...there is also our share of challenges too. Like Wednesday when I attempted to take you to Steak and Shake after school. Everything was fine until I stipulated that you had to eat something healthy before I got you an Oreo ice cream sandwich. And that folks, is precisely when IT happened. To put it in what I am sure is a very politically correct and proper child development term...you "completely lost your $h!+" and we had to calmly walk out (well, I calmly walked out while you continued to lose your dang mind). Oh. My. Goodness. Let me just say that it is no fun to be the "bad guy" and have to put my foot down, but that's part of the job description so....what else can I do? We all have our rough patches and I will admit that if any of the stories I have been told about myself as a child are true, then you are definitely MY daughter. Ha. It was a tenuous 30 minutes or so afterwards, but all turned out just fine later, with you apologizing for your behavior as I sewed your nubbin back on your silkie (yet again) and we played play doh together. No matter what, no matter how many tantrums you throw or how many mistakes you make, I love you. Always will. And I made sure you looked in my eyes as I told you so much, acknowledging that I know it's tough to say you're sorry and I appreciate that you did it. Hopefully I'm doing this parenting thing right. Some days are much easier than others, that's for sure.

I learned this week that you have a new buddy at school too. A slightly older boy named Isaac, who apparently sticks up for you and looks out for you throughout the day. Ms. Beth says that you both love to play together and on the way home you told me that you both like to play and pretend that the mulch on the playground is lava. This was particularly funny to me because I used to play precisely the same game when I was a kid, except our living room carpet was the lava and I had to climb on top of all the furniture instead. (I'm sure my parents loved that.)

The weather warmed back up briefly this week, so we took full advantage by riding your bike up to the playground, doing some gardening, and catching bugs one evening. You were in a magnificent mood on this particular night and I really enjoyed climbing the jungle gym and sliding with you, as well as watching you perfect your new trick of leaping off a swing in mid-flight.

we caught a pretty big leaf bug and a fat juicy caterpillar

Friday your speech was cancelled so we took advantage of the free afternoon and headed out to Newark, yes, Newark. They have this, (what we discovered to be GREAT), interactive children's science and history museum there called The Works. We had a blast together! It's so fun to see you exploring and enjoying yourself, challenging that amazing mind of yours. We topped off our afternoon with a stop at Bob Evans for an early bird dinner. A super afternoon spent with my favorite kiddo.

car that you made and raced down a ramp
with another little boy you met

Fire Chief Mali

Dr. Mali

Police Chief Mali

you LOVED serving up ice cream

banana split?

voila!
(trying hard not to spill)

shopping at the market

pretending to race

practicing your Crossfit skills

working on your balance to get ready
for the skateboard you're going to
ask Santa for

super cool xylophone bench

just one of the exhibits in the courtyard

And what made this day even sweeter was the moment as I tucked you into bed when I asked you what your favorite part of the museum was, and you said, "You." *Commence the lump forming in my throat* Right back atcha babe, right back atcha.

Saturday we went to dinner with Memaw and Papaw for both Daddy and I's birthdays. It was nice to see them and you were so giddy during the meal, clearly happy that we were all together.

you and Memaw playing with, what else?
a camera

during the evening Memaw made the comment
that your face was just PRECIOUS
(I'd have to agree)

thanks for dinner Memaw and Papaw!

We headed to the pumpkin patch with our friends Ziying and Zuchao this weekend and in spite of the rain that began on the way there, we still had a lovely time. I believe it was their first time at a pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins. They did great! As did you, even carving some all on your own. You were so proud of your creation(s) and of course had a super time squishing all of the slimy pumpkin guts. Ha.

first pumpkin picked from the patch

my pumpkin in a sea of pumpkins

Daddy really wanted you to put this one on your head,
luckily you kept declining his suggestion

 

 

mmmm...slimy pumpkin guts!

 

learning how to carve safely

 

concentration

 

so proud!

actually carving some on your own and
doing a GREAT job!

 

ta dah!!

Ziying and Zuchao were so great playing with you...
nothing but giggles from your playroom

Monday was Columbus Day, a difficult and sad holiday in some respects because essentially it celebrates the fact that we stole their homeland from the Native Americans. However, it also celebrates Christopher Columbus's discovery of what has become America. Regardless of how you "celebrate" (or don't), you and I got to stay home today as Daddy left for work. As he kissed you goodbye, you asked, "Mom, is it the weekend still?" when you realized he was leaving and you were not, adding "It's girls' weekend...not boys, right?" Then you excitedly told him, "I am NOT going to school!" with a serious shake of your head. Ha ha. Way to rub it in kiddo.

On our free day we decided to head to the zoo with Audrey Ayi, Pam, and Jack. It was cool but sunny, a perfect day to enjoy the animals and the outdoors.

manatee rides...you are a goofball

our navigators

ridin' pigs ~ yee haw!!

choo choo!

we're on a train!!

doing your best bear roar while in
the bear trap with Jack

maybe we should have brought two strollers?

Oh, and by the way...huge news on a particular accomplishment that you have been working on for a while. Our (not so) baby girl is tying shoes all by herself!! Way to go Mali!!

you tied Dad's shoe and then my shoe...
ALL. BY. YOURSELF!

Outstanding!

Love,
Mama