Mama's Memories for M: Happy Easter!

Maliana ~

The week began with you requesting a “work out” from Daddy, who had you running laps through the kitchen/living room, doing squats, sit ups, push ups, and more. Ironically, you loved it and it was hysterical to watch. You have boundless energy!

outside cooling off from your workout

And then you decided to showcase some of your awesome dance moves…I absolutely LOVE these videos.

Imagination Movers' Theme Song

Dancing To 'Paint The Day Away"

Since you’ve been watching so many cooking videos on Youtube lately, you decided to make one of your own with our IPad. Then Daddy took the pineapple angel food cake you had made into work the next day and they made a video for you, thanking you for the treat. Awesome.

And for as many laughs as we had early in the week, we had a few challenges too. One day in particular, we got a report from school that your whole class (you included) had been acting up and were defiant all day. Evidently you decided to bring it home with you. You screamed at me at one point, ran from me when you needed a “time out”, banged so hard on your door while throwing God knows what in your room, and repeatedly opened your door and tried to escape so much while in “time out” that I had to stand there and hold onto the doorknob for a while to keep it closed. It wasn’t pretty for either of us, to say the least. It was tough. Thankfully PMS was on my side and it was much easier to draw a clearer boundary with you that night (without feeling too guilty about it). After a while when you had finally calmed down, we talked about what happened, you apologized to Daddy and I, we hugged it out, and then all of us started over. It reminded me that so much of parenting is trying our best, making mistakes (or at least feeling like we are failing miserably), and revising as we go if needed. I know you may not believe me when I say this, but it NEVER feels good to discipline your kid. *sigh* But it is definitely necessary sometimes. The one thing I try to always make sure to do afterwards though is look in your eyes and tell you that even at your “worst” behaving moments, I love you and always will. There is nothing you can say or do that could ever change that. When it’s all said and done, I think you get it. And that’s really all that matters. You are a good kid. No matter what.

Friday was a crazy day. First we started with speech in the morning, then raced back to drop you at school for a couple hours so you could color Easter eggs with your class, then off to an eye exam (which went great...your eyes are near perfect! much to your disappointment since you were really rooting for glasses), and then dropped you off for lunch and shopping with Lao Lao while I worked for a few hours in the afternoon. It was hard for me to go into work so late on a Friday, but you made it easier by physically pushing me out the door. Ha.

ice cream cone at Easton

the mandatory photo booth pic

Saturday morning I tried to sneak some quiet time for myself in the early morning hours, which lasted all of about 10 minutes before I heard little feet padding out to the kitchen. I asked why you were up so early and you rubbed your eyes and sleepily replied, “Mom, I didn’t feel you.” You love to sleep pressed up against me in some fashion, all night long, so immediately you just know when I get out of bed. Looks like if I want any quiet time, I’ll have to come up with a “mommy dummy” I can slide under the covers so I can slip out of bed undetected. Ha.

Then later that morning, this happened, and I laughed...then locked up the mustard.

Facebook status:
~ watching me color my hair today...Mali closely observed me squirting the solution into my hand and onto my hair. After a while she looked at me and said, "So...it's like mustard...for your hair!" hmmm...sure. we can go with that.

We all dyed Easter eggs together as a family too. You were giddy with happiness, as is usually the case when we’re all together. It was something so simple but really fun. We all definitely needed this family time together immensely.

yep...coloring eggs in your undies is the way we roll

and now we're ON the table

so glad we used spoons so you wouldn't get dye
all over your hands, ha.

nothing beats getting messy

turning into the Incredible Hulk!

You requested to go out to visit Lao Lao that afternoon, so we did. You were excited to see her animals and got to see Papaw Rick on some of his construction machinery too. You LOVE those big machines.

feeding Spirit some apples

I had to run out and get some last minute groceries that night and so you and Daddy went to feed the ducks, but not before going into “stealth mode” and sneaking up on me at Kroger’s where you bought some bread for the ducks. You were hilarious as you spied on me for a while, getting the biggest kick out of the whole situation. You and Daddy are so goofy.

showing a goose where the bread went

On Easter Eve we prepared by leaving some carrots for the Easter Bunny and as we talked about his arrival, you exclaimed, “I am so excited!”

carrots for the Easter Bunny...now
THOSE are the real deal!

a little nervous to put them by the door since
it was so dark outside. you were a bit spooked

Easter morning was overcast and grey, but that didn’t stop us from having fun with the egg hunt inside, and a special Easter Bunny breakfast.

found one!

following the trail of shredded carrots that
the Easter Bunny left behind

the grand prize...thank you Easter Bunny!

my special eggs and bacon Easter Bunny breakfast
(olives for the eyes and carrot stems for the whiskers)

Then, after begging and pleading with you to wear your Easter dress (instead of your beloved T-Rex t-shirt and red cargo shorts), we headed to Aunt Connie and Uncle Pat’s for Easter dinner with the Wilkinsons. Food was great and it was a really nice time with family. You and Sammy are like two peas in a pod, and all of you girls are hilarious. We are going to make so many amazing memories at this year’s OBX beach vacation in June.