You and Daddy = My Best Birthday Gift

Maliana ~

Date with Daddy to Easton on Monday...love that you both got to spend some quality time together.

you love your hopscotch!

Tuesday I had to fill up my tank and while at the gas station I let you pick out some gum for yourself (which you thought was da bomb). Then we headed to the secondhand store to see if they had any cute shoes or clothes that you liked (since God knows Mommy has no taste in clothes if we were to ask you, ha). We not only scored on clothes and shoes for you, but had a lot of fun with all of the Halloween costumes they have out now.

little stud

don't ask...no idea what this is all about. ha.

why did the chicken cross the road?

Picked you up from school Wednesday and read that you had a great first drama class. Your drama teacher left a cute note of all the things that your class acted out; popcorn, snowflakes, etc. At the end you had to act out your own story and you told me yours involved a sword but that's all you would share, telling me that it was just for Mr. Adam. Ha.

Later I headed off to enjoy dinner with Audrey Ayi while you met one of Daddy and I's friends, Kim. She is a pilot in Chicago so she hadn't had the chance to meet you yet. From the looks of this picture, I think you both hit it off well.

goofballs

Thursday was cold and rainy so it was a good day to come home and clean as dinner cooked in the oven. We even hosted the neighbor kitty for a bit, who came in and kept coming back for visits all night.

You also saw a video of a little boy on YouTube making pancake muffins, which inspired you to do the same. A fine night for baking and making the house smell yummy.

my little muffin maker

The weekend began with Daddy and I stepping out to Gordy's for a pre-birthday drink, conversation, and some relaxation, while you went out with Lao Lao to Easton. Daddy has been fighting a stomach virus for a while now but we made the best of it. And so did you with Lao Lao. You were stoked when we got home, leaping out to surprise us, since you and Lao Lao had picked up the birthday present that you and Daddy had created together on your date on Monday. You were so proud ~ and I love it!!

I love you silly girls!
...and by the way, the shirt you are wearing
is something Lao Lao bought you which was your choice
because as you say, it looks like a "skater shirt". the
best part is the tag inside says "Team Chipmunk"
Ha!

you're holding my birthday mug that you painted "MOM"
on yourself...I'm hoping to get to hold it at least by
my birthday. you were so proud of it, you
didn't want to let it go

tuckered out with Abby

Saturday and Sunday was a mix of relaxation, family time, and some laid back outings to enjoy the changing of leaves in autumn. I woke up to pancakes from you and Daddy...they were delicious.

my favorite chefs made birthday
pancakes  that said "MOM"

After a tough week personally, I needed to get out into nature and clear my head. The perfect place for that was overlooking Lancaster from the top of Rising Park. I needed to be reminded that the world is a good and beautiful place in spite of the ugliness and cruelty that may surface from time to time.

picnic by the pond before going hiking



contemplating life

 

we made it to the top of Rising Park ~ with you walking
the entire way up on your own!

pit stop on the way back down

looking "hard"

and someone was done with pictures

Then Daddy let me go for a run with Aunt Tina while he took you on a date to, where else? Easton. As I ran with Aunt Tina, she told me about how you and Erin helped her cook dinner the other night when we were over there and how much you adore being of service in any way you can. Love that about you Mali. I also have to giggle that, in discussing birthday celebrations, you also had referred to streamers as "paper walls". Ha.

At dinner with Daddy, you were so eager and proud to show me that you had made it to the clean plate club with this texted picture below...and a belly as big and full as a ripe watermelon when you got home. Nice job kiddo!

clean plater right here!

Once you got home I had promised you could help me go pick up some mums for our front flower bed...you were so excited to help.

giving some mums the sniff test

All in all, it was a nice birthday weekend. Some bumps here and there, but when I can wake up each morning and realize I get to see you and Daddy, I can't help but be reminded that life is good.

Love,
Mama