Sharing Blessings for the Fourth of July

Maliana ~

Thank goodness we have the backpack for you. We have gotten so much use out of it this week and weekend! You were so excited to dig it out and go for a walk where we found some yummy wild raspberries off the trail, then later when Lao Lao came over and we all took a long walk to the playground where you channeled your inner country girl and actually pooped in the woods! (Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do when your kid has to potty). You are definitely heavier (and longer as your legs dangle considerably lower) this year, but it’s just a better workout for me, right? Anyway, it’s totally worth turning my legs to jelly, seeing you so thrilled to be enjoying our nature walks from a new vantage point.

2 cool chicks, right?

yum, wild raspberries!

One day this week, a balloon guy came to your school and made your class balloon creations. You had him make you a sword and holster that you proceeded to wear when I picked you up, strutting the entire way with the biggest swagger, as we walked from your classroom to the car. You were so proud!

Sir Knight Mali

Then upon arriving home, you have begun something new recently. As I’ve said before, you love playing hide and seek, with no one in the house allowed to be immune to this game, including Abby the dog. As soon as we will get home from school, you tell me we have to hide; then you call for Abby to come downstairs. As an unsuspecting Abby bounds down the stairs and rounds the corner, you jump out and “scare” her. I hate to break it to you, but I don’t really think she gets too scared…confused maybe, but not scared. However, this exchange never fails to make me laugh. You are too funny kid.

measuring how tall your favorite teddy is on the same wall we measure you on = super cute

Friday was a tough start to the holiday weekend. A weekend that was very busy and full of lots of surprises of varying degrees. Daddy actually had to go pick you up at school early due to you not feeling good and getting a fever. You ended up not being too sick, which was thankfully confirmed by squeezing you in for an emergency doctor’s appointment that afternoon.

Once home from the doctor (and me from work), we got ready for our first round of guests this weekend. As I mentioned before in another post, we met a lovely couple at the Asian Festival back in May. Well, we had You You and William over for a cookout on Friday night and it was so nice to get to spend time with them. You were a bit more subdued than usual, probably due to not feeling top notch, however we thoroughly enjoyed the evening. They brought you a gift, a wonderful Chinese paper-cut book with all of the Chinese zodiac animals, which was very thoughtful. Then while they enjoyed trying our American fare for the cookout, we enjoyed trying the delicious Chinese dishes they brought of salted eggs and a really yummy seasoned beef. After dinner, we had s’mores over the fire and shared more of our stories. It was really neat to learn a little more about their lives and understand more about their experiences both back in China and also since coming here to America. It was a very good evening with new friends.

Saturday evening included a birthday and bon voyage gathering for Audrey Ayi. She will be leaving for Germany soon and will be gone for 2 months. We’ll miss her terribly, but are very excited for her and wanted to make sure we celebrated her great opportunity. I think you were still feeling a little under the weather and discombobulated on Saturday too, acting up and being a little more ornery than usual, but otherwise it was a really nice time with really great company.

Not only did we have these two planned gatherings with friends this weekend, but we had another unexpected surprise that added to time spent with friends as well. Late Friday night, Daddy got a call from a long-time friend, who it turned out was having some fairly serious difficulties. Without going into much detail here, he and his family needed help. So, without thinking twice, Daddy and I invited them to come stay with us for a few days to help them get back on their feet. So, since Friday night/Saturday, we have had four extra honorary family members. This is a big plus for you since they have two girls, ages 5 and almost 2, with whom you have hit it off smashingly. It has been fun to watch and listen to you girls interacting, running around, giggling, and having the most hilarious conversations. Your antics have definitely helped to lighten the load and brighten our days in this time of stress. It has definitely been tight with all of these extra bodies in our house this weekend, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love teaching you that opening yourself up to helping others is its own reward, and I think you’re definitely getting it.

Of course to add to the stresses, Murphy’s Law just had to strike on Sunday afternoon when our refrigerator decided to stop working. Great timing, right? Well, normally something like that would have driven me nuts, especially with all of these people relying on us. But ironically, for some reason we dealt with it like champs and it didn’t even phase me much (which was very odd because usually I am the 'Queen of Freak-Outs'). I’m not sure, but maybe it’s because I have a new perspective and am realizing even more how blessed we are as a family now; or maybe it’s because it just feels good in general to be able to help others and that has carried over into other areas of my life; or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever it is, I know I’ve been reminded lately that doing whatever you can, to share whatever you are able to with others, is definitely the way to a life of happiness. I sure hope this lesson can be passed on to you as you grow up. I think we've got a good start so far.

and they're off! gotta love slip n' slides!

playing "hoarders" in your princess tent ~ how much stuff is IN there??

you're jammin' so hard you're blurry!

So, if you are (hopefully) learning important life lessons this weekend, you are also learning not so important ones too. What with all of the entertaining we’ve been doing lately, you filled up a cup of water in the bathtub the other night and informed me, “I’m drinking beer”. Oh lord.

The fourth of July finally arrived on Monday, and we finally got to do some traditional celebrating. Lao Lao came over and you, me, Daddy, and Lao Lao all headed down to the annual Doo Dah parade. You enjoyed it, laughing at some of the marchers and floats, and when it was all over, said, “Let’s do it again!”

matching tie-dyed shirts ~ a must at the Doo Dah (thanks Lao Lao!)

taking pictures of the parade

After getting home and taking a good nap, our ‘temporary family of seven’ headed down to the Park of Roses for the annual fireworks festivities. We met Wai Gong, Memaw Lisa, Uncle Blaize and his two friends there and ate a picnic dinner, played on the playground, lit sparklers and smoke bombs, danced to the live music, and put together all kinds of glowing bracelets (which you insisted on doing yourself ~ Little Miss Independent) and other toys, before the fireworks began around 10pm. You did phenomenal during the fireworks, covering your ears as usual, but actually getting into watching the display, even being slightly disappointed when they ended. Daddy even got teary eyed this year, as the three of us huddled together taking in the colorful flashes, loud booms and pops, and patriotic music blaring through the night air. Given the trials and tribulations of this weekend, the brilliantly lit night sky seemed to dissipate all of our troubles. If just for this time, we were forced to be in the moment, sitting together gazing skyward and enveloped in the radiance of the firework display…it was definitely another one of those magical and memorable times I’ll remember.

geesh, we are loaded down with fun! ha ha

picnic dinner

buds

silly monkey

weeee! (as Wai Gong peeks over the top at you)

we survived the playground!

eek, sparklers!

Memaw Lisa aka the "Candy Lady"

dancing

T minus 10 minutes until BOOM!

our own little firework against the night sky

ahhh, family

And finally, in light the many events of this past weekend, I wanted to share another couple things lately that I’ve noticed to suggest your heart for others continues to grow. For one, you have become more encouraging of others. For example, you and Daddy were “golfing” in the living room the other day, practicing hitting balls into a cup. When Daddy would fall short or miss, you’d look at him and say, “That’s ok Daddy. It’s tricky.” When I heard you say that, my heart smiled. Then, during our fun fireworks shenanigans on the 4th, that ornery Wai Gong decided he was going to tickle me (even at 35, he still feels compelled to tickle me mercilessly). As soon as you saw me in distress however, you leapt into action and rather than joining in “torturing Mommy”, you began to actually try to wrestle with Wai Gong and literally threw your body on top of mine to try to protect me! Then, as I sat up, you lovingly put your arm behind my back and helped me up, saying “It’s ok Mommy”. You have never done that before, and it was so sweet. My little bodyguard. Little glimmers like these keep occurring, in the midst of all of your own orneriness, tenacity, and fierce independence. Every bit of this, from each end of the spectrum, I love. You are growing into the coolest little girl.

Love,
Mama

Family on the Lake

Maliana ~

What can I say? What a fabulous weekend away at Lake Michigan. I seriously don't know how to begin expressing how touching it is for me to watch you on weekends like this.

On Friday, we headed up north, through South Bend, IN and into New Buffalo, MI to the cottage that Daddy and his family from South Bend and Chicago have been going to for more than 2 decades now. Memaw and Papaw came up and spent the weekend with us as well. It was wonderful for you to get some unadulterated "Memaw and Papaw time" too, an 'oh so' precious commodity.

It's always nice to get away, but what makes trips like this one all the more special and amazing is being able to watch you basking in the love of family. Some of this family you may not get to see more than a couple times a year, but they are family nonetheless. Family, in the complete unconditional sense of the word...one that welcomes us in year after year, and since you have begun coming with us, loves you and adores spending time with you just the same, no matter the distance or time between visits. Family where you too adore each and every one of its members just as much. It's amazing to see how well you fit right in, being shy and then comfortable and ornery with the grown ups, making your cousins laugh (and definitely vice versa), pitching in at family dinners and then joining in the conversation and festivities in that special three year old way, running here and there to do the "ever important, top secret, kid stuff", and frolicking on the beach doing what kids do best, being forever in the moment.

Lots of things you said and did this weekend made me (and many others chuckle)...but a few of the memorable right now include your catch phrase lately of, "Let's rock and roll!" when you're ready to go somewhere. Upon hearing me fart at one point (I can't believe I just wrote that), you asked, "Mom, you need to get gas?" (I think you're a little confused about gasoline and bodily functions at this point, but it was pretty darn funny nonetheless). The water was fairly cold this weekend, especially our first day at the beach, so in spite of shivering uncontrollably and your lips being near purple, it was pretty difficult to convince you to get out of the lake ~ you are one hard core water bug! And then of course there were the very sweet comments all weekend about how neat your personality is, how much fun you are, and how adorable you are. Daddy and I said thank you and told them how much we appreciated their compliments, (and obviously we couldn't agree more). You are the best, kiddo.

Really, at this point, there's not much more to say. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. There are so many more great moments that I wasn't able to capture...they just happened so darn fast. But I think I did a pretty good job of conveying the basic feel of our weekend at the lake.

what's a good road trip without snacks?

we made it!

first picture on the beach

Mali and new favorite teddy from Papaw

Tootsie Pops ~ a lake house staple

Swashbuckler Mali

one of your favorite toys all weekend

heading back up the TONS of stairs to the lake house (someone will sleep good tonight!)

Mali and Papaw

showing off your big muscles after a good breakfast

belly is full after the annual breakfast at Rosie's

Mama and Mali, with the local Barney's grocery in the background

protecting Daddy from the sun

ecstatic happiness

stand back! I've got a shovel full of sand and I'm not afraid to use it!

not only did you like making sand castles more this year...but also loved hunting for smooth round stones on the beach

 

Bailey helping you squirt Daddy

army crawling with Reilly

exploring the sand dunes with Reilly and Bailey

shooting "bad guys" (I think you look like the 4th Charlie's Angel)

listening to Justin Bieber with Abby

a common sight this weekend...Mali getting tickled

fun of the evening, going to get hotel ice with Memaw!

laying out with Mama

here you're telling me that you're going to play baseball with your friend (Braden)

Daddy pitching to you both, simultaneously

sizing up your pitcher (notice the Tootsie Pop, I told you it's a lake house staple)

a swing (and a miss), but good effort!

another familiar sight this weekend...laughter

getting some rest after a big couple days on the beach

Mali, Jacqueline, and Brewster



kids' table...Dawson, Reilly, Braden, Abby, and Mali

ok, so it's a staged 'sleeping' picture ~ super cute anyway

Mali, Abby, and Reilly

the obligatory sunset family picture on our last night at the lake

So, I just keep reflecting on this weekend as I have been waiting on the pictures here to upload. I am overwhelmed thinking about how great it is to have family, both the family that we celebrated at the lake this weekend, and the multiple members of our family that stayed home. It also got me thinking, once again, about family in the general sense. The word family can be defined differently by all kinds of people. Families can look so different and be brought together by so many different circumstances. It's fascinating to me to look at all the unique people with varied life experiences, that can end up in the same place, sharing special bonds, and calling each other family. If nothing else, you have shown us that family, by no means, has to be biological. I can acknowledge the importance of having and knowing biological family, and by no means do I want to diminish that need. But at the same time, I also want to express the beauty that family can gain its origins in such unique ways and in all sorts of places. I also believe that families built in these ways are no less deeply connected than any other. I suspect considering yourself as being part of a family, biological or not, probably FEELS the same to nearly everyone. That feeling is hard to describe, but I know it's as real as you and me. Kind of like love. Try describing or conveying a clear definition of love to someone else. It's near impossible, undefinable, but it's real. Maybe the two are interchangeable...love and family. Yeah, that makes sense to me. Because until Daddy and I brought you home, and became a family of three...while I understood what love was, I had no idea the depths to which it could take me or the appreciation and reverence I could have for it in my life. Loving your child, loving someone more than yourself, is the most powerful and vulnerable feeling in the world. Then watching as your child is embraced by those you love in such an unconditional way, in a family...well, that's just the icing on the cake.

I'll love you forever and always Maliana.

Love,
Mama

Had some fun...now off to the lake!

Maliana ~

Just a quick note before we head out for our big lake weekend! While it’s been a short week so far, you’ve been just as entertaining and interesting as ever. On Monday as we drove to speech, and went up and down some big hills in the car, you yelled, “Mom! That hill freaks me out!” Huh? How do you know that expression? While at speech, I was breathless, my heart was pounding, and I was on the edge of my seat. Was I watching an action movie in the lobby? Nope. Just sitting in the room with you and Miss Ashley, watching you make progress in your speech. Guess that’s one cool part about being a mom…getting ecstatically excited as your kids do something new or make progress on something they’ve been working towards for a while.

Tuesday was your water day at school. Daddy picked you up just as you were heading outside, so he decided to let you stay and watched as you splashed and ran around like a maniac in the sprinkler with your friends. Good times.

And if the water day at school wasn’t fun enough…Audrey met us at home and you, Audrey, and me headed out to the zoo. You are getting so much more into the zoo, on a completely new level, each time we go. You have favorite animals, you want to linger a little longer at some more than others, you are more interactive with the ones you can interact with, and you have an opinion on just about everything. Just like speech, it’s neat to see you progress in this area too.

not all of the wildlife was in cages...I can't believe how close this chipmunk let you get!

looking at the red panda

what is it with you and checking statues for boogers?

yeehaw!!

letting the goat sniff your hand and get to know you

Audrey and I also have a new favorite word that you say now too. We were munching on Combos on the way to the zoo and for you; it comes out as “Commo” except that last “o” is drawn out just long enough to be extra cute. We’d giggle every time you’d ask for another "Commo-o-o".

Once home from the zoo, you insisted on Audrey giving you a bath. You guys played together and then she worked with you on your letters and even some sight words…and by God if you didn’t start recognizing different people’s names as she wrote them on the edge of the tub in washable bath crayon. I was amazed…and Audrey should be a teacher. You already know how to spell your name and can recite it perfectly, but this was new to me and ever so neat.

Finally, on Wednesday, Daddy had me giggling at his description of you. It was hat and sunglasses day at school, so not only did Daddy let you wear these to school, but also let you pick out your own outfit. It was a mismatched doozy too…and he said that your hair reminded him of Edward Scissorhands meets Cousin It…but you had the biggest swagger as you strolled into school in the morning. I swear ~ your personality is bigger than Texas! Don't ever let that go.

So, like I said…we’re heading to the lake on Friday, tomorrow actually. We get to see our South Bend and Chicago families. It should be a lot of fun and you are super excited (we all are) for some fun on the beach. Signing off for now…

Love,
Mama