Friends, Family, Parties, Homework and even the PTA ~ Thankful for it all!

Maliana ~

Began the week feeling grateful. I was stopped by the director of your daycare as I came in the door who simply wanted to let me know what a joy it is to have you at their school, how well-behaved you are on the bus, and how you are just such an all-around nice kid. After a long day at work, it was refreshing and touching to walk in to such an unsolicited and glowing report. Thank you to both the director and you for making my day that much better!

I was still so jazzed by the time my first PTA meeting came around that evening that here is what happened as it was shared on Facebook later:
~ going around and introducing ourselves at the PTA meeting and I'm starting to think it was a bit much for me to add, "and I'm probably way too excited to be at my first PTA meeting!" ...probably would have been just as effective to write "SUCKER" across my forehead.
My other mommy friends all agreed that I am SO on every committee from here on out. Ha.

Thursday kind of a felt like a Friday, and even though you had a couple of rough patches at school (new friend troubles ~ sounds like girl cattiness might be beginning already), you were still all giggles and silliness when I picked you up. Until Daddy got home, we played "doctor" (even though your coat and tag read "Animal Hospital"). Thankfully, I was able to cure your case of "a-mo-monia" (otherwise known as pneumonia in most medical circles). You are a hoot, kiddo.

Then as you left with Daddy to go watch Lalie's volleyball game, you spotted this little guy taking full advantage of the "salad bar" that we unwittingly set up in our front garden. Thank goodness we have so many tomatoes this year that I am more than willing to share with him.

we love wildlife!

As Friday rolled around, we were all really stoked about our 3 day holiday weekend! This little gem began our day and I just had to share with Facebook...can you get much cuter than this??
~ sometimes I forget how literal kids take things. I just got a phone call from Lao Lao who spent the morning w/M who evidently had her feel the bed where our cat (who is in HEAT but not pregnant) had been sleeping. M (very seriously) advised Lao Lao, "Feel how WARM that is? That's because she's making babies" ...a big thank you to Carol Garrabrant for keeping a straight face during this "education" from the 5 year old.
You and I had a lot of laughs on Friday night too. We took silly photos on the Ipad's Photo Booth and laughed our butts off at the results:

then more fun was had as we busied ourselves being silly while dancing, reading some great books by one of our favorite authors (Todd Parr),
~ no joke, this page was actually in one of the books:

sounds like what we used to do for Aunt Lori, doesn't it?

and discussing some of our favorite places to travel where you replied, "I have two favorite places, New York City and Outer Banks!" I guess those vacations really made an impact on you, and all of us, really!

Saturday was a long and somewhat unusual day for us. We started it at a birthday party for (Aunt Lindsey and soon-to-be Uncle Jeff's) Cate who just turned 6 and celebrated it at Super Games! As we got ready for the party, it dawned on me that you wouldn't be able to partake in much of the bouncy houses with your broken toes, but that was just fine because the party went great, we got to spend time with everyone, there was yummy pizza and cake, and Daddy and I took turns carrying you up at least one of the big slides (where you squealed the whole way down, each time) so it was definitely a success!

the birthday party crew!

two broken toes may have stopped you from bouncing,
but they didn't stop you from hula hooping!

In spite of the party going well, we did actually leave a bit early because you began to have a meltdown of sorts. It probably had something to do with the hives that you just haven't quite been able to shake and our having had to give you Benadryl (basically) with your breakfast that day (poor kid). You simply were just not feeling quite like yourself. Anyway, since you have been having such a rough go of things and didn't get to bounce quite as much as you had hoped, Daddy and I decided to make it up to you and headed straight over to Magic Mountain to ride the go-karts. Once there, we realized that you were just an inch shy of being able to ride as a passenger (what luck, right?) but were tall enough to ride the bumper boats with us. We jumped at the chance and unknowingly got soaked in the process! It was all worth it to see you smile and hear you laugh, even if we had to walk around in squishy shoes and wet clothes while you played a few more video games before we left.

soaking wet, but having fun!

We came home and got ready to head right back out again for another party. This time it was for an old friend. The occasion for the party was a bit sad, but the party was anything but sad. See, the reason we all gathered together is because Jake (our friend) has been battling lung cancer over the past several months and just recently was told by the doctors that there is nothing more they can do for him at this point. It is only a matter of time before the inevitable. Such an incredible bit of news for someone to absorb, especially at only 39. He has had many ups and downs over the course of the last several months, but all in all he has handled his illness with such gratitude, humor, grace, and given all of us such a beautiful perspective on things, even in his darkest moments. When he got the final news, he decided that if his time was limited, he wanted to throw a party and have his friends and loved ones come and spend time together, enjoy each other, and just celebrate life. It was a wonderful turnout with even a local band surprising him and setting up in his backyard for his own private show. After they started playing, you and I walked to the car together to get your blanket and you said, "I didn't know there was going to be a rock star here!" Ha. Once again, we had to leave a bit early because we needed to get you home and feeling better, but we left a huge bag of fireworks for them to hopefully "do it up right" once it got dark. We definitely wanted to help Jake "go out with a bang", so to speak. I sure hope they enjoyed them and that the firework display was as beautiful as Jake has been in this life.

Daddy ran out and got a ton of burgers and brats
to grill for the party...with a little help from
Dewey the dog

ahh...I remember doing this many times as a
kid ~ trying to figure out ways to get
something unstuck from a tree

here you are enjoying the band, Project Phoenix

As for your hives, we stopped at urgent care on the way home from Jake's and were advised that it was a very annoying but common childhood ailment. They suggested we get children's Zyrtec. A dose before bedtime that night and by Sunday morning, they were all gone! Bad part is that you likely have some real allergies brewing now, but the good part is we now have a secret weapon for them! Officially huge Zyrtec fans up in this joint now. Thank God for modern medicine!

And another sweet little tidbit from Sunday morning that reminded me of something ever so important ~   Basically, some other parents I have heard in the past may criticize the concept of our "family bed". Yes, you're 5 and still want to sleep right between Daddy and me each night, the same way you have done nearly since the first day we met you. For Daddy and me, the easiest response is, "If it's not broken, don't "fix" it" ~ you are a very well adjusted kid, so who cares, right? There will always be critics, no matter what a person chooses. However, I will say this. There is nothing like waking up (as I did on Sunday) and having your munchkin snuggle in closer to you, throw their tiny arm around your neck and nuzzle deeper into your cheek while they catch a few more moments of sleep before starting their day. The older you get, the more I notice how much stronger your tiny arms are getting when you reach over to find me and pull me closer to you. It's the little things like this that would be missed if we did not have our particular sleeping arrangement. We had some of these precious moments this weekend and in the wee hours as we lay there together I fully realize that you won't be this small or willing to cuddle like this for very long (in the grand scheme of things). I, for one, plan to savor every second of it. Critics, be damned.

We finally did officially start our day Sunday and met Memaw, Papaw, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Beth, Joey, Alex and Sammy for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We surprised you and you were so thrilled to see some of your favorite people in the world! As usual (dining out with children), it was an interesting breakfast (to say the least). It was really nice for all of us to spend time together and since the goodbyes were so rough (especially on you and Sammy...many tears and pouting ensued), we already have plans to see them next weekend and hopefully you will get to spend the night at their house. Fun, fun! Such a blessing that all of you girls get along so well.

tickling Daddy (aka Uncle Shawn) through the chair

Sunday afternoon we continued the fun with some good friends, the Neuhausels! They came over for a cookout and to let you kids run wild together. It's always nice to spend time with this family and you kiddos had fun together too. So thankful for the friendships we have made through adoption...they are one of a kind and some of the best.

this was our dinner entertainment...
you kept running out and serenading us
with some very original songs

3D movie time! both of you kept jumping up and
trying to touch the 3D images and saying,
"Look, I'm in the movie!"

Double Agent F!

Monday was Labor Day and therefore, the last day of our coveted 3 day weekend! Daddy had to go back to work but it gave you and I one more free day to enjoy. Since you have had a rough way to go lately with all of your random medical concerns, I decided to let you lead as far as what we did all day. You had asked for pancakes the other morning but I didn't have time to make them, so I greeted you with pancakes when you woke up on Labor Day. As I finished cooking them you told me, "This is the best morning!"

smiley face pancake

We did have a small bit of business to take care of though. You have homework now, which is a bit strange to get used to, however you are tackling it like a champ (with only minimal complaining) and doing it so adorably. Here you are below, our future veterinarian, working on your math assignment.

We spent the rest of the day at Easton with Lao Lao and I had forgotten how nice it is to walk around and hang out there. No wonder you love to go there any chance you get! Ha.

this fish game at KDB was awesome!

fun new froggy fountains!

Monday night we wrapped up our nice long weekend by watching the most recent "Mali movie" DVD that Lao Lao and I put together. I love watching these videos every year and seeing you grow right before my eyes, not to mention all of the dancing, singing along, and laughing with you at all the pictures. I let you stay up late to wait for Daddy who had to work a really long day and with the exception of one rather large tantrum just before nap time, you were in an excellent and hilarious mood all day long. Love these kinds of days with you.

Love,
Mama