In spite of some obstacles ~ First Week of School a Success!

Maliana ~

So much has happened (again) this week...we'll start from the top which means...*drumroll please*...the First Day of Kindergarten!! I took the whole day off and we started it with Tim Horton's drive thru in our jammies, then played for a bit, then off to CPK for lunch at Easton before your afternoon kindergarten class. You had me cracking up with a story about "Millie the crocodile" that (evidently) accompanied us who (as you described) is a rescue croc that you found in the desert after her parents died (eek!) and likes to eat fish, only likes kids, and (from her behavior that day) does not listen to instructions very well while in parking lots (ha ha). Anyway...*almost* all silliness aside...you were SO ready for your first day!

you put on this shirt and proclaimed,
"I look like a workin' man!"

attempting to look like a pirate

obligatory first day of school photo

Daddy took some time off work to see you off
on your first day as a kindergartner too!

getting a name-tag from your new teacher,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick

chatting with the first new friend you spotted

"seriously Mom, I'm fine. you can stop with the pictures now!"

Juan (from the neighborhood) joined the group

when you saw Gavin, you said "Hey! Come sit by me!"
(I love that you made room for your unsure friend)

look! no tears!

And then...my FB post about you AFTER school on your first day...

~ Abby and I picked M up after school where she exclaimed "It was a great day!" and then promptly fell asleep on the way home...successful first day!

We had your follow up ortho appointment on Tuesday morning and while you think the big old boot is cool, we had to pay a visit to your pediatrician immediately after school due to more swelling and redness that was spreading up your leg. By the time I picked you up from school, you were a red, itchy mess. Luckily we pinpointed the source (we think) ~ an allergic reaction (hives) to one of the antibiotics (Bactrim) that you had been placed on over a week ago for the infection on the bottom of your foot (completely separate issue). Dr. Dan (who might as well be named Dr. Fabulous) reassured us that you would be fine once we gave you more meds (steroids and some Benadryl), but suggested that you should stay home from school the next day, just to be safe. Geesh! Third day of school and I already have to call you in sick and arrange for childcare (thank you Lao Lao! you saved our booties, once again!) Talk about one thing after another...when it rains, it pours! Oh well. That's life for you, I suppose!

before school on your second day...you can tell by your huge
gaping smile you were so proud of youself for riding
the bus on your own and as you ran by you
waved and exclaimed to me,
"that was so fun!"

Even though you had to stay home from school the next day, Lao Lao was able to hang out with you while she worked from her laptop and you took it easy, playing quietly and watching your beloved Dinosaur Train. I guess you conned her into 3 cups of cocoa during the course of the day, so it couldn't have been too rough of a day! Ha.

While the next day, your first day back at school, went well for you...I had a dental emergency (what had I just been saying? oh yeah...when it rains, it pours!) Anyway, you rode the bus on your own both to and from school. I was able to get there to see you get off the bus at school and you were so proud of yourself, not even stopping to give me a hug or anything more than that same big gaping smile and a breathless, "Hi Mom!" My big girl. When I had called you earlier in the morning to let you know that I could possibly be later than usual due to my dental appointment, in true "sweet Mali" fashion you told me, "Just try your best, Mommy. I'll wait for you." My heart melted.

We (Daddy, myself, Lao Lao, Audrey and you!) celebrated your first week of school on Friday by having dinner at (where else but) Red Robin. You were so tired and wiped out, but we all had a good time with our newly minted Kindergartner! (psst...that's you!) On the way home from school that day you also informed me that you now have a best friend in your class. When I asked her name you said, "You know, Mom. The one in the pink dress." Ha. We narrowed it down and she is one of the kids that also rides your daycare bus with you and her name is Jocelyn. You also offered up that your favorite part about your first week of school was riding the bus because "it goes so fast." (Hmmm...perhaps I need to have a word with the bus driver? Ha.)

on our way to dinner!

Audrey and I, being silly (as usual)

the "Yay! We Finished the First Week of School!" gang

We attended the annual Cleft Lip and Palate Support Group picnic by Nationwide Children's Hospital on Saturday. This was an event put on by the group where I am also a part of their parent planning committee. The picnic was a huge success and it was so nice to chat with old friends and make new friends. I just love being part of such a fantastic organization and wonderful group of people!

your speech therapist, Katie, painting eyeballs
on your hands (your choice, an eyeball
and a smiley mouth on each hand)

coloring with Cara before lunch

playing soccer...ortho boot and all!

admiring the creek with your new friends

checking out the spiders on our nature hike

once again, running with that big ol' boot ~ tough kid!

Daddy showing you girls how to overturn
logs to find creepy crawlies underneath

taking matters into your own hands and
flipping logs yourselves

Sarah, Lily, Lily and you...new buddies

two thumbs up for a great picnic!

Sunday was our day to just "chill" at home, if you include laying new wood flooring and cleaning out your playroom by filling 2 boxes of toys and 1 and a half bags of trash "chilling". Either way, it was nice to hang out at home and recharge, with you helping both Daddy and I at nearly every step of the way. I also got a chance to go through your school papers where I found this little gem...which I promptly shared with FB as you can see from the picture and caption below:

'I love getting notes like this from school...her teacher wrote (in blue ink) at the bottom of the page, "Mali really felt like dancing today so she tried to teach all her friends (and teachers) how to do the Robot Dance"'

Love, love, love you, my little dancing monkey.

Love,
Mama