My Blooming Social Butterfly

Maliana ~

Holiday on Monday which meant bonus weekend day for me! You still had to go to school but we did get to sleep in and then out for donuts together. That night, once it got dark, you and Daddy took Abby for a walk and I lit up your pumpkin on the porch so you both could see it as you walked up to the house. It looks great and once it was lit, it reminded me of someone with a cleft lip. I asked you about it and you told me that it wasn't necessarily your intention to do that, but agreed that it reminded you of someone with a cleft lip too and it looked really cool! I told you I thought it was one of our best jack-o-lanterns yet!

This week you also had your first official school field trip. Your kindergarten class went to Lynd's Fruit Farm to pick some Fuji apples and learn about the life cycle of an apple and how they process all of the apples they harvest. I met you all at the school and followed your big yellow bus to the orchard. I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed as I watched you hop onto it and drive away. It was your first time riding a school bus on your own. There are times here and there where I am very ready for you to get a little older and be able to do certain things a little more independently, but most days are like that day, where I just can't believe how fast the time has gone and I am so not ready for you to grow any older at all.

At certain points during the field trip you snuggled into me and wouldn't let me leave your side, and other times you seemed to not even notice me at all. It was so fun to watch you with all of your classmates and I have to say, kindergartners have to be one of the most entertaining bunches of little people around. That day I not only got to go on a fun field trip with your class, but I also got a glimpse of your growing social life and it was really neat to see.

trying apple cider while we learn about the
life cycle of an apple and the orchard

looking at the bees and their honeycomb

learning about the apple press

getting last minute instructions before they let you
all loose on the orchard

one of your friends at school, Jocelyn

getting on the big yellow bus...as I walked back to my car across
the field, I heard a tiny "Mom! Mom!...Bye, Mom!!" and
turned to see you waving at me...so cute.

It was a big week for school events because not only did we have your first official field trip, but also held Wilder's big Oktoberfest festival fundraiser. I helped with the cake walk and Daddy helped with the games' prize table. It was so awesome to see everyone together, having fun and raising money for the school. The first thing you wanted to show all of us once there was your favorite part of the whole school ~ the library! I love that you love books and libraries as much as I do. You had had your eye on a particular Doc McStuffins book all week so before we left, you had suckered Lao Lao into getting it for you from the book fair. Since Daddy and I had to work an hour each as part of our PTA duties, you got to hang out with Lao Lao the entire night. Lao Lao remarked on how comfortable you seemed there at your school, and I noticed it too. It was fun to see how many friends you ran into, how many kids you joked around with, and how many hugs were shared between you and other children. As a mom, I always wonder how your school days go, hope that you are liked and appreciated by your peers (and vice versa), and endlessly worry about you encountering difficulties as you learn to navigate your own social world. At the Oktoberfest, on that particular night, it was reassuring for me to realize that I probably don't need to worry about you nearly as much as I do...you are doing just fine.

helping me bake the cakes for the cake walk

decorating our cakes

getting the sprinkles just right

showing us some books at the book fair in the library

playing the games...not sure if you can see it
 or not, but Lao Lao's face here
cracks me up!

carefully selecting your prize

The weekend began with a beautiful day. This autumn has been spectacular. So, whenever I have an opportunity, I try to put on my running shoes and hit the trail. I had you in tow on Friday, but not wanting to waste my chance, I took you running with me while you ate dinner in the jogging stroller ~ two birds with one stone. I love that we live so close to a trail like this, especially during these gorgeous days of fall. Perfect running weather, if you ask me! And even more perfect was one of our conversations during the run...it went something like this:

You: "I love spending time with my family"
Me: "We love spending time with you too!"
You: " Mom, if I didn't have a mommy and daddy...it makes me happy when you came to get me in China"
Me: (stopping the stroller to look you in the eyes and give you a kiss on the head) "I am so happy you are in our family. Daddy and I are so lucky"

Man, if you only knew how much your Daddy and I love you...

dinner and a jog

Here was some of your artwork this week too...priceless stuff right here.

you told me this was a monster mom and dad

a family portrait with me in the middle of you and Daddy...
did you notice that I have a little "something
extra" going on?? ha ha!

Saturday we got out of town for an impromptu girls' trip with Lao Lao and headed down to Cincinnati, not sure exactly what we were going to do but then decided on EnterTRAINment Junction. Home of the world's largest indoor train display. This week they were having a special Halloween event along with all of their usual train stuff. We even took a ride on Thomas the Train right before we left. Your absolute favorite thing of the day was Curtain Chaos in their fun house, a maze of sorts, which I think we went through about 6 times, at least!

choo choo!!

checking out part of the huge train display

going through Trick or Treat Manor

you are getting so interested in what things
say now...it's fun watching
you learn how to read

crafts after trick or treating

trying to keep your balance in the
"anti-gravity" room

you LOVED this thing!

inside the Curtain Chaos

super cool optical illusion ~ Lao Lao shrunk!

excited! here we go!

fun ride!

just after this picture was taken, Lao Lao and
I discovered that you do an amazing zombie
impression ~ it was hilarious!!

On Sunday you and Daddy went to Gena's for breakfast, (hadn't been to that stomping ground in a while), then once home you watched football together while I grocery shopped and went running. Daddy is excited that you were really getting into watching the game with him. He finally has a football buddy in the family. It was a good 'daddy/daughter' morning for the two of you.

That afternoon we loaded a bunch of decorations in the car and headed to 'trunk or treat' at your daycare where they had hot dogs, games, face painting, and of course, trick or treating from all the parents' trunks. We've never done an event like this before and it was really nice to meet more kids and parents at your school that we haven't officially met yet. You actually ended up enjoying passing out the candy more than the actual 'trunk or treating' as you were a bit shy at first, but of course by the end you were running around like a crazy person with your friends. Once again, I love to see you branching out and making friends. I'm really glad we came to this event.

the world's smallest Ghostbuster ~
she may be tiny, but she's tough!

helping Daddy pass out candy

attempting trunk or treating

ready for the next customer!

you felt pretty cool in charge of that big candy bowl 

waiting for our next trunk or treater

with one of your favorite teachers, Ms. Barb

pumpkin bowling!

running!

chatting with friends

running, running, running...

with Lexie from your class

That night Blake and Allie came over for some stromboli and a giant iced chocolate chip cookie to celebrate their 7th anniversary. It was fun to hang out together and before they left, you all got into a huge tickle fight, or "tickle torture" as Aunt Lori used to call it. You did your best to help Allie out and try to fight off Daddy when he was tickling her. He's so strong, we'll have to strategize for next time and figure out how to really get him.

My takeaway this week has been how much I have noticed you blooming into this independent and social creature. I always knew you were a personable kid, but this week I have really realized that you have a very distinct social circle growing outside of our family. It's amazing to watch. I can't wait to see what the years ahead hold for you.

Love,
Mama