Spring Has Sprung (sort of)

Maliana ~

Well...our week could not have begun on a brighter note! We experienced a (somewhat delayed) St. Patrick's Day Miracle!

CHECK. THIS. OUT.

Just prior to coming home and surprising you with Silkie...I shared the good news with Ms. Beth when I picked you up and she was so happy she hugged me, exclaiming, "Good things happen to good people!" I don't know who was excited more that Silkie was back. Ha. And the bonus to all of this is that Lao Lao scrambled and made you a new silkie so you wouldn't be without something special and you FINALLY accepted her attempt! She had tried to make you so many spares in the past, but you rejected every single one of them (7 in total I believe) and now, FINALLY you like one! Yay! Like I've said before...I am so thankful for the little village that surrounds you with such love.

You spent some special time just with Daddy this week as well and it paid off with you ecstatic to see him at night, running to wrap your arms and legs around him whenever he walks through the door and randomly telling him "I love you Daddy"...there's nothing better.

member of the Clean Plate Club!
breakfast date with Daddy to Gena's
before school

dinner date with Daddy to Red Robin
to see the big bird himself!

The first day of spring was this week and I was so proud of you. Your school had a fashion show and a spring party to celebrate and well...here's what you did. Man, do I love you kid.

I posted this picture on Facebook with the following caption:
So, Mali's school had a "Spring Fashion Show" today...can you guess which one is mine? Yep, the one dressed like a monkey. She knew the other girls in class were going to be wearing dresses, skirts, jewelry, yadda yadda yadda...and she STILL wanted to be a monkey stating "I'll be the best monkey in the world!" I love that she marches to the beat of her own drum and embraces her individuality. I hope she never changes!

I have to share one more thing...a friend of mine commented on the above picture on Facebook and I couldn't agree with her more...here's what she said:
~ there are lots of "dresses, jewelry and sparkly" out there. in my opinion, there are not enough "monkeys".
Yes, we all could use a lot more "monkeys" in this world!

The first day of spring celebration continued once we got home too. In spite of the freezing cold weather, we took your bike over to Safety Town and got some fresh air. We just HAD to usher in spring somehow ~ flurries, biting wind, frozen ears, and everything...nothing was going to stop us!

always obeying traffic laws

had to stop and get some "cash" at the ATM

love this little biker!

being silly

I had a professional conference this weekend so I didn't get to spend as much time with you, but I didn't need to worry as your dance card was completely full of activities. On Saturday afternoon you got to spend some time with Memaw Lisa, Wai Gong, and Uncle Blaize shopping and eating lunch at Polaris. You came home with lots of fun goodies and even more great memories!

with your Uncle Blaize

Clean Plate Club again!

shopping on Wai Gong's shoulders

I love that look...

Then Saturday night you had a sleepover with your cousins at Memaw and Papaw's house. When Daddy and I arrived at their house on Sunday morning, it was pure chaos. Memaw and Papaw looked exhausted but you girls looked like you'd had a ball! Thankfully Joey had really helped out and let you cuddle with her the night before so you slept very peacefully, even being away from home. She's always more than willing to help and you love your 'big kid' cousin Joey! We then headed to St. Phillips for their Easter breakfast and egg hunt. Just like their Secret Santa event, they had really done a nice job with this one and you girls really enjoyed yourselves. Afterwards we topped it off with brunch/lunch at Cracker Barrel.

donuts and juice

is it a bird? is it a plane?
no ~ it's Papaw as the Easter Bunny!

bunny love

Papaw and his girls

egg hunt!

off to find some loot...

 

nice haul!

 

checking out your goodies

oh my...no words. ha.

aww...Papaw's such a good sport

you actually took this picture Mali!
nice job!

it's not Easter without a little...
football?

check out those skills!

SUGAR!



Sam, you, Joey, and Alex with your Easter baskets

Memaw, Papaw, and their girls

When we pulled up at home, we had a surprise waiting for us from Wai Gong...an enormous inflatable Easter bunny that he had set up once you went to Memaw and Papaw's! Very cool.
Thank you so much Wai Gong!! You rock!!

I do also have to mention one last thing before signing off for the week. On both nights of my conference I had driven home from Cincinnati, on Friday I had wanted to tuck you in and snuggle with you as we slept (or on Saturday, I made sure to visit you briefly at Memaw and Papaw's before you went to bed). On Friday in particular I was home earlier than expected and, after all of my time at the conference and hours of driving, was exhausted. I couldn't fight it anymore and had crawled into bed even though you were still out visiting Memaw and Papaw with Daddy. As I lay there in bed drifting off to sleep, I heard you come in the door and whispering with Daddy. I was still half asleep when I groggily overheard you begging Daddy to come in to see me. He agreed (as long as you were quiet) and so a few seconds later I felt a pair of little lips softly kiss my cheek and then your tiny hand lovingly rub my arm. It was so sweet. I opened my eyes and gave you a big hug, then you sat on the edge of the bed (with Daddy too) and the three of us caught up on each others' days there in the dark. I just love our little night time talks. Eventually, you wanted to get a bedtime snack but before leaving, gave me another gentle hug, kiss, and arm rub, and then headed out to the kitchen with Daddy. Needless to say, I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face. You are just the sweetest kid. I am so, so, so lucky.

Love,
Mama