Is That Sunshine I See?? Hallelujah!!

Maliana ~

Tuesday after our long weekend, we all hit the gym as a family. On the way there, you let out this humdinger and had us smiling...

~ from the backseat of the car ~
"Mom, you know what I would do if I saw a bully?"
"No, what would you do?"
"I'd call you and then gather my team...Jocelyn, Mia, and Lainey."

(anyone else thinking of Charlie's Angels? yeah, me too)

I love your empowered, fierce outlook...and that you feel comfortable and supported in your friendships. Awesome.


Wednesday morning I woke up and this was tucked into my purse:

Evidently, you wanted to return the gesture of my pictures on your lunch napkins and created one of your own for my lunch that day. So sweet.

Then after I'd been at work a while, I got some text messages from Daddy and noticed these posts on Facebook:

Daddy's original picture showing how Suzy the puppy
had massacred your homework that morning
after I left but before you guys woke up

From Daddy's post:
"As I had mentioned earlier our dog literally ate Mali's homework.
With a little tape and a little luck I think we'll be ok."

Mrs. Fitzpatrick accepted your homework just fine, but not without giving you her infamous "Eegads!" look.

All of this dog hub-bub must have inspired some more artwork from you because this is what you handed me that afternoon at daycare pickup:

you and I walking the dogs
(what is that between my legs?!?)

And the inspiration continued as we brought your art to life by taking the dogs for their afternoon walk through the melting snow and mud and slush and freshly mushy dog poop. *blech!* By the time we got home, your shoes were soaking wet and your feet were freezing from jumping in all the puddles. I had previously warned you of your feet getting too cold from the melted snow and you simply replied, "Mom, I'm a kid. I'm supposed to have fun!" Ha. Ok. Carry on, sister. Carry on.

Regardless of the wet and cold feet, mushy dog poop mixed with slush, and gigantic puddles that you didn't realize were puddles until you were ankle deep in them, it was amazingly wonderful to finally see the sun again. Hallelujah! We are ready for spring!

You've also been doing so well with helping Daddy get you ready in the mornings lately that he decided to take you to $5 Below to use some of your money after school that evening. So, on the way there, this conversation happened:

"Dad, when I get older Jocelyn and I are going to move to Florida and be paramedics. You guys are going to call and want to come over to hang out, have a campfire, and a Bar-Q."
"A barbeque?"
"Yeah, a Bar-Q!"

(Seriously, I love the stuff that comes out of our backseat!)

The weekend brought with it some beautiful weather and we all took full advantage of the long-awaited and sorely missed sunshine. Let me just say that from top to bottom, you had one hell of a Saturday! The day began with Chinese class, then from there we picked up your scooter from home and headed to the choo-choo train park for some play time. 

scooping the mud and ice

"Mom, I'm really enjoying myself!"

Then we hit Dairy Queen for lunch where you convinced me that you needed to ride your scooter more and so we headed into Uptown where you rode all over the sidewalks and through the neighborhood, passing the school (Emerson) where I attended kindergarten. I was always impressed with that school (still am) because it looks just like an old castle. Very cool. 

look at all of that color! between your outfit and
the sunshine...it was hard to not smile all day!

my kindergartener on the steps of the school
where I went to kindergarten

I noticed a huge difference in your stamina on the scooter, riding the entire time and never once asking me to carry either you or your scooter. It was a big difference since just last fall. You are growing up so much and so fast. It was a great, impromptu mother/daughter afternoon and I loved every minute of it. I made sure to tell you at various times, "I really love hanging out with you. You're a lot of fun!" And I meant every single word. 

On the way home we swung by Audrey Ayi's house for a quick visit and you got to see your buddy, Mr. Yang. When Daddy called to ask us if we wanted to meet him at the dog park with Suzy, you actually wanted to stay with Audrey and Yang. Too funny. You love them!

Yangees!!

had to stop by Anthony Thomas on our way to the dog park...
the same store has been here for 40 years. I remember
stepping up to this exact counter when I was a
kid...nothing like tradition!

After I cajoled and finally convinced you to come with me, next on our list was the dog park where we watched Suzy get good and muddy...and tired. You also did your fair share of running with the pooches so dog parks are not only good for dogs to get their energy out, but kids as well! 

Taking no more than a 5 minute nap on the way home, you were promptly invited to go to dinner and a movie with the neighbors, Brooklyn and Braycen's family. Of course, you jumped at the chance to see Frozen again. That movie is like crack for kids age 2 to 10! 

waiting for the movie Frozen to begin

What, oh what, a day!! How is it that you are only 5 (*almost* 6) and you have a more active social life than me?? Ha ha. 

Sunday we met Memaw and Papaw at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then they whisked you off to see your cousins and cheer Joey on at her basketball game. You had a great time and judging by your face in the picture below, you were ecstatic about spending time with all of these Wilkinsons. 

When you got back, Daddy had made dinner and Memaw and Papaw stayed and ate with us. Daddy has been trying really hard lately to make more healthy meals and take better care of himself. It is definitely showing. He's become quite the health conscious chef and dinner was delicious. Nothing better than a nice family meal to round out a busy week. 

And finally, bedtime stories on Sunday night with another set of ears snuggled up with you and Daddy...I think little Suzy is feeling at home here. What do you think?

even Su Su likes bedtime rituals

Love,
Mama