Spring Has Sprung

Maliana ~

Over the last few weeks we have taken full advantage of the breaks in winter weather. Spring is really coming and I have a feeling this year will be glorious! Not only was it the first day of spring on March 20th, but we got to celebrate St. Patrick's Day that week as well and you were so excited to get all decked out in green, complete with festive tattoos everywhere, including your face and neck!

we put your tattoos on the night before school and hoped they'd last
until morning...they ended up lasting a week (no matter how
hard I scrubbed to get them off)!

drawing of what you would do if you had a pot of gold...(translation with
spelling corrections by Mama smile emoticon )..."I will use the gold to take some of the gold and give for charity"
(the picture is you giving the gold to a volunteer at a hospital for sick kids)

a drawing of our family, all in our PJs

more artwork
"I would not have a turkey as a pet
he will bok at nit"

You also went bike riding and explored the old abandoned barn in our neighborhood with some of the neighborhood kids too. I tagged along (for safety reasons, of course) and it brought back so many fun memories from when I was a kid and went on adventures. At one point, you turned around and slapped the bike helmet you were still wearing and said, "C'mon Mom! Are you ready for an adventure or not?!" Ha. Love that spirit!

On the official first day of spring, I surprised you by picking you up directly from school and then we went on a 3 mile bike ride/walk together. You commented that "Spring is coming in like a lion but going out like a lamp." Yes, a lamp. Ha ha. You crack me up! After that, you played outside until dark...it was a good day.

I love your smile!

The very next day the amazing weather continued and there was some fantastic silliness to be had from the time you got up until bedtime. I took you to KCAP and we were in great moods, then we headed to Hoover as a family (dogs included) and we played cops and robbers and just had a very crazy fun time. The car was filled with giggling, muddy paw prints and wet dog smell for the whole way home but it was like Heaven to me...those first few sunny days of spring feel so blissful. Add that to my family all together and full of smiles and laughter...it just doesn't get any better.

you dressed me up in a silly costume and I got to
embarrass Daddy!

we caught the robber

he got away ~ we're in hot pursuit!

luckily you brought your handcuffs!

Suzy is definitely a water dog!

We rounded the night out with a bonfire next door with our neighbors. We have all officially come out of hibernation - let the Dolomite shenanigans begin! Ha ha. The next morning, you woke up reeking of a campfire but told me that you didn't want to take a bath because you love that smell. Yep! That's our kiddo!

Speaking of our neighbors, you and I also met Courtney, David, and Maddy at a playground in the 'ville and played one night this past week. Then we all went over to grab some frozen yogurt before heading home. It was a chilly evening but had just enough sun to still feel like spring. So great to really enjoy the outdoors and be reunited with neighbors again!

fun at the park

getting ready for the soccer season with David

played until the sun was setting

And finally, the last of our recent springtime fun outdoors included a family run/bike ride on the trail. Daddy was a wee bit grumpy but we were still glad to have him along and so happy that he has lost enough weight now so that his knees don't hurt as much when he runs on them. Yay! We are so proud of all the healthy choices Daddy has been making lately! We definitely want him around for a long, long, long time.

Daddy came with us this time!

fresh mulch for the playground!

off-roading

our old lady, Abby loves her walks

Also, I haven't mentioned it much here, but Daddy and I have been battling the cats over the last few months who have decided it would be fun to start peeing on our family room carpet. Uggh! Really?! Anyway, after trying everything, we decided to bite the bullet and get new carpet downstairs. With that change on the horizon, we also decided to paint the paneling a brighter color as well. You were stoked to be able to help out (asking repeatedly to be able to paint with us) and had Lao Lao bring you to Lowe's (where you spied on us before giggling as you ran down the aisle to jump into my arms) where you could get your own special painting gear while Daddy and I purchased the paint. Once home, you got all suited up and did an excellent job of assisting us. You are such a helpful and sweet kid, the perfect mix of everything wonderful in life. We love you so much.

ready to paint! and yes, that's a trash bag

such attention to detail!

as much as I hate to admit it, Daddy's buttcrack will
definitely wind up being a childhood memory for you...ha ha!

And speaking of how neat of a kid you are, you related a story to me about your friend at school lately too. In the evenings, we often go through sharing our "goods and bads" from the day, especially at bedtime. Well, you shared how one of your friends was all embarrassed because they had to wear a "boy" shirt to school that day. As we talked, you told me that it doesn't matter, that you wear "boy" shirts all the time, how you just have to be who you are and how it's all about your style. I really wish I could have remembered your exact quotes because you sounded so much wiser and beyond your 7 years. I made sure to affirm what you said and told you that I love that you can be who you are and feel comfortable. I also said that it can be so hard and make anyone really sad if they try to be something or someone they are not. That's actually something that took me a long, long time to realize in my own life. Sometimes I wonder if I am sending you the right messages as a mom, however this time I realize that you have this particular lesson pretty much nailed down. You are one cool, cool kiddo.

And about that style, I took you shopping for a spring outfit that we could use for your 7 year old portraits this year. You were pretty tired that night and so really the only thing that floated your boat were these shoes...

diggin' your kicks!

Yep, dinosaur high tops. *sigh* I guess they are pretty rad. And they make you so happy...so it looks like we build the outfit around these sweet kicks! Ha.

Daddy and I also celebrated the 18th (*gulp*) anniversary of our first date on March 21st. Daddy was going to surprise me with dinner at the same restaurant where we had our first date (The Top Steakhouse in Bexley) but our schedules were a little too crazy for that. Upon hearing that we missed out on our date, you ever so sweetly said, "Mom, why doesn't Lao Lao watch me tomorrow and you go to dinner?" Aww. Completely unsolicited example of your thoughtfulness.

You've also been requesting a particular book at bedtime lately. "Mommy Far, Mommy Near"  is your go-to book almost every night. It's a book about a girl who was adopted from China and is starting to piece together how she feels about her adoption and having two moms, one in China and one here with her in America. It has brought up some good discussions and you have been asking a lot more about China, even asking to see a map of the Great Wall of China over breakfast one morning. You are also starting to be interested in going back to visit. I don't have answers to all of your questions, but I sure can listen (and Google, if necessary). It's such an honor to see you piecing this together and watch your interest grow. I wonder where this journey will take you...

Finally, the most recent weekend was kind of a dud. You felt pretty sick for most of it and a nasty fever on Sunday morning had you missing out on the St. Phillip's Easter egg hunt and also Aunt Lindsey's daughter, Ellie's ice skating birthday party.

chilling with Silkie and a cool rag

Luckily, you were feeling better by evening (thank goodness!) and I guess there is always a silver lining. Getting sick is our body's way of telling us to slow down and this rest may have been just what we all needed before another hectic but fun-filled week in our crazy, silly family.

Love you so much,
Mama