More Fall Traditions and Celebrations

Maliana ~

Since Daddy and my birthdays seem to usher in the autumn season, there was a lot of fall fun to be had, beginning with our annual mums. Although I love plants, I always seem to kill them. But that didn't stop you and me from planting some again this year. Here are some of our mums, or as you kept calling them, "our plums"...no matter how many times I tried to correct you, we were "planting plums".

I also recently found a fantastic web-site with lots and lots of clothing from China. The styles seem to be right up your alley and you were so excited when your new orange jacket arrived in the mail, exclaiming, "I'm gonna wear this tonight!"

Papa Joe came to stay with us for a weekend while he visited friends and his son, Chris. While he and Daddy went golfing one morning, you and I decided to dig out the Nerf guns/gear and terrorize the neighborhood. It was a ton of fun! You keep me young, kiddo.

And it wouldn't truly be autumn without a trip to Dill's Fall Fun Fest. We met your cousins there and then continued the play-date with them at their house. I'm so glad you love time with your cousins.

'punkin' chunkin'

you've seen me flick melons at the grocery store...so now
you are picking your pumpkins by flicking them and
then listening to the sound

and even sharing this technique with Sammy by telling
her to "just flick it!"

found your pumpkins!

You also decided to begin writing a "My Life" journal that begins with the story we've told you about how Daddy and I met (cheesy pick up line and all) and so far you have taken it through our dating and then when we became a family with our trip to China. It is the sweetest book so far. I love that you felt compelled to write this.

And here's another of those outfits from China...stylin' and profilin' before school.

While you began a "My Life" journal, you also experienced your first ancestry assignment at school too. It wasn't a family tree but it was a chart depicting where your mother and father's ancestors came from, which naturally led into a conversation about how adoption has shifted your ancestry chart, where you have Daddy and my ancestors but also your birth family's ancestors whose origins we don't know 100%. It was the first time you have opened up to me about truly grasping how "complicated" (your descriptive word) your family is and shared that it's hard because you have never met your China parents and how you don't know them and they don't know you. It was one of those moments where I wasn't quite sure what to say, so I just knelt down in front of you and listened. I hope you always know that. There will be moments like this in your life, about this or about other hard things, and I may not always know what to do or say, but I will always, ALWAYS be here to listen and sit with you through them. I promise.

*sigh*...Life is so preciously complicated.

In light of life's messiness, we were fortunate enough to be able to simplify for a bit and escape to some cabins at Pike Lake with Joe, Tina, Sam and Erin for a weekend. The autumn colors were just about peaking (in spite of the rain) so it was beautiful. Pike Lake is so far out in the boonies, that none of us had cellular connections and therefore, no screen time which was a blessing actually. You came up with the idea of charades one night and it turned out to be a huge, silly hit! We also did a little hiking the next day and got pretty muddy but enjoyed being in the fresh air and nature.

a beautiful, peaceful morning with just
you and Daddy by the water

Once home from our camping weekend, we carved one of the pumpkins we picked up at Dill's. You drew a kitty cat face and Daddy did the carving. It turned out great!

While we were gone (and with Halloween so close), we also got Boo'ed TWICE! It was our first time ever and is basically where someone leaves a bag or basket of treats on your porch, a card with a poem of instructions and a sign you hang that says "I've been ghosted" so everyone knows they can't get you again. Then you do the same to two more of your neighbors. As you looked through the treats, you exclaimed, "I love these people!"

We also got your school pictures back (finally!) and they are so adorable. I love how they turned out (even if you aren't showing your sweet little teeth)...your smile is beautiful both ways!

All in all, trick or treating went well. You have never been too big of a fan of going out to trick or treat (that old soul of yours is not very candy motivated) and would much rather pass out candy by the fire at home with our neighbors. So, after a few streets and running into some of your neighborhood classmates, we headed home. Along with passing out candy, I think you were also more excited that you, Lao Lao and I had all dressed alike in our homemade turtle costumes. As for these costumes, I had felt so spread thin lately and these were my first (and completely scatter-brained) attempt at making Halloween attire. They were, well...interesting. But, your reaction was priceless. You didn't care that they weren't perfect and instead were so proud that we had created our own homemade plaster of Paris shells. You had even helped make and paint each of them and although they may have been a little janky (my opinion only) and needed to have their straps fixed a million times while we trick or treated, the smile on your face totally made up for it. They may not have been the perfect costumes, but they created some perfect memories for us. You always seem to naturally remind me that it's the memories that we make that are the most important part of anything we do together.

with Roman in his silly costume, riding an ostrich!

once we got home, you couldn't wait to wash your face and put on the
new Christmas sweater I found for you the other day. as soon as I
saw the pug on it, I knew you'd love it! #pugobsession

The very next day was your fall party at school so I helped you get ready that morning, dropped you off, and then arrived back that afternoon to help with the party. Everything went great, even if myself and one other mom were the only ones who could help that afternoon. Your class was full of energy and really enjoyed the games we brought. Your name got picked as one of those to be wrapped up as a toilet paper mummy and everyone got a kick out of the mystery boxes that our family put together where each of you had to reach in and feel the vampire teeth (plastic fork tines), worms (cold spaghetti), and eyeballs (peeled grapes). All of your reactions were hilarious!

getting all wrapped up as a toilet paper mummy

cutest little mummy

another of the three teams

and the final of the three teams...so funny

That night you and Daddy (aka crazy nutballs that you are) decided to camp out again in the tent on the back deck. I guess Daddy had mentioned it a few days earlier and you held his butt to it. I (wisely) stayed inside in a nice, warm and cozy bed while you all froze your behinds off...but had a fun time doing it just the same! Daddy is pretty awesome. I do have to add...did I mention that I slept very soundly that night? I'm guessing it's because I didn't have to compete with all of the usual suspects like I normally do...

crazy, right?! but I do love all of you...

Daddy finished reading you the Halloween Tree book (which was perfect because it was the night before Halloween) and within 2 pages you were out like a light. You slept soundly and are truly a natural camper. When Daddy mentioned that it was getting a little chilly you said to him, "But Dad, we're out with nature and the wind and everything..." ~ who can argue with that, right?

And Daddy was on a huge winning streak as he not only camped out with you but also took you swimming the next day where you totally rocked it after not having been swimming for a few months. You remembered all the strokes and kept yourself afloat like a champ, swimming around and playing games and generally being silly with Daddy for a solid hour straight. He said at one point you began screaming at the top of your lungs..."Ha-yay-lulah!!" which is actually your battle cry of sorts for when you are in a great mood or truly in the moment and enjoying yourself. I love your mixed up version of "Hallelulejah!"...so cute. Whenever I hear that silly sing-song chant, I know something good is going down.

With all of that fun, the party continued into November with Lao Lao's birthday on the 3rd. We surprised her with a cake on her actual birthday that you had helped bake and decorate. You were excited to bring it up to her apartment and set it on the porch, then ring the doorbell so she would think the cake walked up there by itself. Goofy kid.

happy birthday, Lao Lao!

Finally, you have recently been upping the ante with your texting. As you can see, your emoji game has become much stronger. The following text is something I received during a late meeting I had to attend where I missed bedtime (a rare occurrence at our house). Yep, sweet smiles and also major mommy guilt after reading this one.

I love your tender heart so much

Love,
Mama