Friends, Family, and Our First Snow

Maliana ~

We started the new year pretty well, enjoying a family game night just before you had to return to school after break. It was so much fun and we all laughed so hard. I love our little tribe so much!

And I do just have to say that I adore the relationship you have with Suzy, which has been steadily growing over the last 6 months in particular. There is just something so sweet about the subtle little ways the two of you interact.

You also latched on to one of Daddy's old beanies and wore it for a few days in a row recently as well. I have to say that if I looked this cute in a beanie, I'd probably wear it every day too! Go Irish!

on this night you also wanted your hair colored
when I did mine. you are 7 going on 17!

And your most recent Mali-isms have included:

~ A Christmas tree skirt is now a "tree curtain".
~ As we lit a candle so you and I could meditate, you called the candle wicks, "candle twix". Ha.

Love these little words of yours.

Our second official weekend of 2016 was spent with a KCAP class and then a special visit from our friends, Ziying, Zuchao, and Lucas. They drove all the way up from Wooster and it was so nice to spend time with them again. I wish they still lived closer but I am so grateful that we have all kept in touch and that their lives are going so well. It was also interesting to see you compete with Enle for attention. It made me think that as much as you say you'd like a little sister, I wonder if you really understand how much our family dynamic would change. Sibling rivalry is tough!

as we prepared for our visitors, I found you
sitting in your bed wearing your new storm
trooper mask and whispering to your lion
(are we about to be invaded?)

Lucas liked your mask too

Zuchao, Enle, and Ziying

chili for dinner!

checking out our bunnies

going for laundry basket rides

I think Enle liked our cupcakes

The very next day we slept in (yesss!) and woke up to a light covering of snow on the ground! Yay! Exciting stuff. You were thrilled to finally get to put all of your snow gear to use. You played outside on your own with Suzy for a while and then later Daddy took you to the hill in our neighborhood for a few runs on your innertube. (Thank you for braving the cold with our munchkin today, Daddy!) He said you were all squeals, giggles, and excitement the whole time. You even had enough energy to insist on walking the entire way home while Daddy drove at about 2 mph in the car next to you. Silly kid!

Unfortunately, the snow gradually melted the rest of that week but it stayed cold enough to keep us shivering.

Memaw also had a big week by having a surgery she has needed for years. She was a bit nervous and I am happy to report that it all went well, even though she has a fairly long and pretty sore recovery ahead of her. You were a bit shy when we visited her in the hospital that first day, but became pretty concerned about her later. We got this picture from Daddy the next day and you were relieved to see her up and walking around. She came home later that same night.

As for myself, I had a rough day recently too. Not as rough as Memaw's surgery day, but rough all the same. As I took you to school the next morning on our usual Friday routine, we had this conversation. In spite of my lingering headache, you made me start my day with a laugh.

Me: "Ok, let's hurry! I have to drop you off and get to work. I don't want to be late again."
M: "Would your boss be mad if you were late?"
Me: "Probably."
M: "Well, you tell your boss to keep it weird. Being normal is boring!"
‪#‎keepitweird‬ ‪#‎normalisboring‬ ‪#‎7yearoldwisdom‬


I love how you think, kiddo!

Anyway, we fortunately had a long weekend up next and were able to spend more time with friends. First, a fun dinner at Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina's where you loved hanging with your bud, E. Later that weekend, we hosted a play date for you and your friend Lucy from school. I'm happy to report it went really well and you two were all giggles. 

chilling with E and Beatrice

playing with Lucy

On Martin Luther King Jr Day you and I spent all day together. It was really nice. We shopped, visited with Memaw (and Papaw) to see how she was feeling (sore, but a little better), and put our heads together to use our imaginations to bring to life a house for your LPS made out of cardboard and mosaic tiles (so far). I really truly loved spending this time with you, as every day that goes by brings more and more changes in you as a person. You are still so young, but there is no denying you are growing up. The conversations we have, comments and jokes you make surprise me all the time. And speaking of surprises, you actually gave me a really big kiss out of nowhere that night. You are not the biggest fan of giving bear hugs or kissing mom or dad anymore, so this was so special to me. It truly made my heart swell. I love you so much! Whether it's many or just a few kisses from you, I love you so much!

picking out your paints

since this picture, you have painted and
made a few more adjustments 

Since we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr Day recently, I suppose it was fitting that on a trip to Target the next day, you sang a tribute song to him at the top of your lungs from the family bathroom there. You had been learning it in school and even knew all the sign language for it. Wonder if anyone heard your sweet song? Nothing cuter than a kid singing. The very next day after that you shared with me that you were watching a movie about Ruby Bridges in school too. You described the racism she experienced and said that it made you sad, adding it was hard to watch because you have trouble handling sad things. I admitted that I have trouble watching sad things too. (Like those dang ASPCA commercials...good grief!) Sometimes it's hard to have sensitive hearts like ours. But, I wouldn't trade them for anything. Feelings are nothing to be afraid of and if it weren't for people in the world who deeply care about others, we'd all be in trouble. The people who can empathize are the ones who hold the keys to making the world a better place. I'm proud of that in myself and I'm proud of it in you too. Hang onto that ability, kiddo. It will take you to all of the good places in life. I promise.

Love you tons, my tender-hearted Monkeyfish!
Mama