Two Weeks of Summer Fun, Friends and Vacation Countdown

Maliana ~

Well...the first day back at work and school after a long weekend is always tough. We celebrated afterward with a trip to the library, DQ, and then the park. Love spending time with my girl! Here are some photos and FB statuses from our night...

~ Officer Mali and Officer Lion @ your service!
I don't know though...if these cops showed up
to help me, I might be a little nervous

Dairy Queen

~ Oh my goodness...we have been here 5 minutes waiting for M
to pick a slide while saying "There's so many to
choose from!" #firstworldkidproblems

Had to run to the store the next day while Daddy stayed home and hung out with you...when I left you went outside to play with just one neighbor girl. While at the store I got the following texted picture of you...Daddy is a much braver soul than I!

We both welcomed Friday with open arms this week and in the spirit of me being a little extra giddy on our fun Friday mornings together, here was my Facebook status:
~ in attempting to annoy Mali this morning, I repeatedly inserted her name into the lyrics of Firework on the way to school...over and over and over again. When asked if I was bugging her she said no. I told her that by the time she is a teenager, she will likely be annoyed by me all the time...to which she replied, "No I won't Mom!" (Really? Can I get that in writing, kid?)

After school we hit up the new Jeni's ice cream shop at Easton and you are officially a Jeni's convert now...currently in love (bordering on obsession) over the salty caramel. You "hoovered" your scoop and immediately asked to buy a pint of it to take home!

Of course, the Lego store and Build A Bear were on our list of stops before finally heading home.

howdy pardners!

A storm blew through that night so as Daddy promised, he took you into the front yard to hunt for worms. You've been looking forward to this for days. Unfortunately there weren't too many worms out but Daddy wasn't about to give up without finding at least one! And he did! The "grand worm hunting adventure" was a success!

Saturday we went over to Uncle Johnny's to visit after Daddy got his hair cut up that way...then came home where we lounged around the house, cleaned up (a little), napped, and then headed outside so you could practice riding your bike without training wheels some more. You are working on it and it won't be long before you've got it. You have a wonderful cautious streak so hopefully there will be very few (if any) broken bones in your childhood. I brought some watermelon out for you and Daddy and I love how you'd take a bite and just let the juice run down your belly. It really felt like summertime!

even Daddy joined in on the bike riding with
one of your bigger hand-me-down bikes

That evening I went to my 20th high school reunion (yeah, your mama is getting old) and you made sure to take me aside beforehand and asked me to promise I told them your name and let them know all about you. Ha. Deal kid.

Lesson for you...I really didn't want to go to this thing, but a good
friend talked me into it and I am so glad I did. I would have
missed a really fun time if I didn't go. So basically, make
sure you stay open to things even if you're a little
nervous...there's no telling what you could
miss out on if you let your fears or
worries get the best of you.

Sunday morning I was feeling a bit "rough" as I recovered from the reunion. Fortunately Daddy let me go back to bed for a bit while he took you to breakfast with Memaw and Papaw. Before you left, I heard you sneak back in the bedroom and felt you kiss me on the cheek two separate times. It was so sweet. We pretty much used the rest of the day to hang out at home and relax and play. I was working on the computer while listening to you and Daddy play a rousing game of hide and seek. At one point after finding Daddy, when it became your turn to hide again, you asked Daddy, "Can I use your spot?" Ha ha. Even Abby (the dog) got in on the action, running back and forth through the house and peeking into rooms and under furniture, excitedly searching for Daddy just like you.

Sunday evening we scooped up Aunt Lori, checked out her new haircut, and took her out for frozen yogurt. Always good to see that woman. She is up against the biggest challenge of her life right now and while I'm not always sure what to say or do, I do know one thing ~ we are going to love her to pieces through it all. As we sat there eating our treats, we were joking with you and told you that she is magic. Long story...(kids are so fun to mess with, ha), but that is what we came up with...so now we're hoping that some of her magic can get rid of the awful cancer she is battling. Fingers crossed...our Panty Brigade will soldier on for her. Love her so much.

Monday I went to work later and took you to school in the morning...man, I love those mornings! So much nicer than sneaking out before you're awake. Such a brighter beginning to my day when I get to see your smile!

After school we headed to Taco Bell where Audrey Ayi met us for some burritos and tacos. So many
of the people there got such a kick out of you...saying "Oh wow! She's just so happy!" You were a character and so excited when I told you that Audrey Ayi was coming to meet us. "Mom! Let's look for green cars!" You love your Audrey Ayi!

Of course, as soon as we got home, the kids next door and across the court inundated us and we played outside for a while. You all were quite entertaining on your motorized toys (jeep and motorcycle) and also painting the driveway (and the trash can, and each other, and our neighbor's dog, Vada). Ha.

Picassos in the making

hard to get a good photo but there is blue paint on her
ear and down the side of her shoulder

After coming inside, you had the idea to bake heart-shaped brownies in preparation for the home visit from your potential kindergarten teachers the next night. So thoughtful of you! And you surprised Daddy and I with a bit of knowledge from all of the baking shows you watch on YouTube (Nerdy Nummies is your favorite) and telling us we need to tap the pan to make the bubbles rise to the surface before baking. By God, you were right! Wow. So smart.

my little thoughtful baker

Both of the kindergarten teachers came over on Tuesday, Ms. Gormley and Ms. Fitzpatrick (who loved your Spidey shirt). Their visit was very brief but they brought with them some school supplies, fun summertime school prep worksheets, and an alphabet puzzle for you. You were a bit shy and didn't want to take a picture with them without me, but you grinned ear to ear when I took your picture with all of the goodies they brought. So awesome! I got teary-eyed when I started looking at everything and imagining you going to actual school...such is the life of a mommy. It all is bittersweet at one point or another. Here are the pictures that I put up on Facebook shortly after they left...

~ Mali with the school supplies and gifts that her Kindergarten
teachers just dropped off during her home visit...I think
her smile says it all...this kid is stoked to start school!

~ this brought back memories for me so I had Mali sniff
her school supplies and told her that this is what
the first day of school smells like.

The rest of the random days of the week while we counted down to vacation (yep, we're heading to the OBX on Saturday ~ woot! woot!) we spent hanging out at home, letting you crazy kids run wild, goofing around until dark most nights. Love watching you make up games, laugh, and play!

Lao Lao also came over to spend the night and help get you to school in the mornings while Daddy went to New York for a last minute business trip. So fun to have sleepovers!

relaxing in the cool night air with their technology

After my last day of work for the week, we celebrated by getting Spoon Me with Audrey and then heading around to run some errands before vacation. While at Target, Audrey picked out some really fun toys for you to play with while on vacation...all beach/vacation-themed. You are stoked to get into them! Audrey is so thoughtful. On the way home you had us in stitches with a very silly game you made up called "Goose Rocket"...don't even ask at this point how exactly it's played, I only know that I LOVE the name. Ha ha. Cracks. Me. Up.

Thank you Audrey Ayi!

So, signing off of the blog for now. Have to do the final preparations and packing for the beach...I can't believe we'll be on the road in just TWO days! Yahoo!!

Love,
Mama

Zombies, Asian Festival, and a Sewing Lesson

Maliana ~

Audrey came over for a visit on Monday and we spent most of the evening outside. With camp outs, mudpies, and the ice cream man jingling down the street...it was really feeling like a summer evening at our house!

blanket over your playset, some lawnchairs, bricks placed
in a circle and voila ~ you're camping out!

 

inside your "tent"...it appears to be bedtime

Audrey Ayi showed you how to paint the timbers on
the flower bed using the mud from your mudpies

 

you guys were hilariously jumping up and down
on the sidewalk waving your dollars as
soon as you heard the first jingle
of his truck

ice cream smiles!

This week I went to the store to look for some extra summer shorts for you since our beach trip is coming up soon. You fell in love with these (calling them your "Hawaii shorts") and proceeded to wear them the rest of the week...even asking to sleep with them one night!

love the Band-Aid on the elbow too!

You were so stoked that it was a three day weekend and when Friday FINALLY made it here this week, you were elated! I had bought a new camera this week in preparation for our beach trip and so decided to take it with us to try it out on an errand and a walk after school. Well, you couldn't be left out of the fun and so also insisted on bringing your camera too. So funny.

scooter, helmet, and camera ~ check!

bike, helmet, and camera ~ check!

evidently, you had to stop and attempt to "fix" your bike...
here you are taking a picture of the problem, I'm
 assuming to send to your mechanic?!

why is it that running errands usually ends with frozen yogurt?

you and Braycen decided to get out the hammock

As for the weekend, boy was it a doozy! Saturday morning we headed down to Logan for the Zombie 5K obstacle course Run For Your Lives. Check out my Facebook status for the shenanigans that occurred before we even left the house...
~ We're leaving in a few minutes for the Zombie 5K Run For Your Lives. Mali is eating breakfast and every time I walk within 10 feet of her she is trying to psych me out by saying in her scariest (aka hilarious) voice..."I'm a zombie...I will eat your brains!" Let's see how much of a smarty-pants she is after she sees an actual zombie at the race!
And here is a picture of you right before getting into the car...

zombie face

Uncle Blaize and I ran the course which was infested with zombies along the way. It was exhausting and muddy, but very fun. You weren't so sure about some of the zombies when we got there, but quickly got used to it all and did very well. Hanging out with Memaw Lisa, Wai Gong, and Daddy helped a ton!

post race photo

We came home and rested for a bit. You and I hung out in the hammock for a while, looking up at the sky, and making up very silly and inappropriate phrases. Evidently, putting together the word "poop" with "butt" and other random body parts are winning combinations for any 5 year old. As charming as our topics of conversation can be, I love times like that with you.

That night we headed to a local Brazilian steakhouse to celebrate Papaw Rick's birthday. You actually agreed to wear a dress (so did I) and were in rare form throughout the entire meal. Uncle Flint brought his girlfriend Monica who you have now officially renamed "hey friend". She answers to it and seems ok about it, so what the heck. You must have taken about 4 trips to the bathroom while we were there, exclaiming the first time, "Wow! These bathrooms are beautiful!" which likely explains the repeat trips. After dinner we walked to the middle of Easton and of course you hit up the photo booths with Uncle Flint and "hey friend". I think the photos below speak for themselves as to how much fun you had that night.

actually got you in a dress!

all of your mini foods from the buffet

laughing it up with Enay and Lao Lao

dancing to the funky music

Monica aka "hey friend"

the gang after dinner

so silly...you had fun with these two

more proof of the silliness

trying on Mama's shoes while looking for a
snack once we got home

Sunday Lao Lao came back over and we picked up Uncle Flint and went to the Asian Festival at the grounds of the Franklin Park Conservatory. We watched a demonstration put on by Koguryo (your old martial arts studio) and then walked around to shop, eat, and drink some of our favorite bubble tea, of course!

our family at the Asian Festival

with one of the dragon boats (and
your new $5 toy from a vendor)

with Lao Lao and Uncle Flint

 

about to dig into the yummy purple sticky
rice that was roasted in bamboo ~ yum!!

 

this picture is of Uncle Flint to remind us of his sweet gesture
(just before the picture was taken, the little boy behind us was
absolutely heartbroken because his balloon had floated into the sky.
Uncle Flint went to find him a new balloon and tied it to a stick so it
wouldn't float away again...all on his own, your Uncle Flint took
it upon himself to make this kid, (a complete stranger), happy...
what a good example of a simple act of random kindness)
you've got one sweet uncle!

That evening we headed to Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina's for a gathering of friends. We ate some more and played games, laughing and talking while you played with the other kids. I seriously can't tell you how much I LOVE to watch you running around and exploring, being silly, and having fun with other kids. You and Erin (Sam too!) get along so amazingly well together and the sound of your laughter as you play is awesome. We stayed until well after dark and it was reminiscent of nights I myself can remember running around, playing hide and seek, tag, and laughing until my sides hurt with my friends. We used to squeeze every last minute out of the night until our parents rounded us up to go home. Those are some great memories of mine and I love that you are forming those very same childhood memories of your own.

you and E on the hammock

jump!

resting

challenging E's bike to a foot race ~ you ambitious little thing

surprise! mamarazzi!

playing hide and seek...
"shhh...don't tell anyone I'm behind this tree"
(of course, I guess Mom's big spotlight
camera flash didn't help, ha.)

tiny girls...big hammock

We got home so late from Joe and Tina's that while I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, you fell asleep in the middle of "stalking" me outside the bathroom door. Ha.

Memorial Day was rainy and cold...we slept in (thankfully) and I woke up to you lightly tickling my arm. You are the sweetest and gentlest little soul. We then headed over to Lao Lao's where she helped us make some summer tube dresses for the beach from material we had picked out at Jo-Ann Fabric. She even quickly made you a new silkie with a piece of the same lace used to make my wedding dress. I wonder if you'll actually use this one. You were pretty intrigued by it, so we'll see. You loved your sewing lesson, nonetheless.



Daddy had to work on Memorial Day, so we just spent a relatively quiet day together. We talked about the meaning of the holiday and also took Abby to Petsmart for some shopping. You thought it was particularly interesting to know that even dogs can serve in our military, as I explained this to you after finding a picture on the internet of a marine and his dog as part of a canine unit.

very excited to bring Abby to Petsmart with us
(so proud of your "sister")

Once finally home, we spent the rest of the evening outside playing until dark with the neighbors. So very fortunate to have kids that you get along with so well.

you guys kept the siren on almost the entire time you
rode this motorcycle...where's my Advil? Ha.

Love,
Mama

Scars

“Mommy, why do I have a scar?” It’s a circumstance that we’ve talked about over and over again before. You already know all about your cleft lip and palate and the surgeries you’ve needed to have them corrected so that you can eat and speak more easily. But hearing you ask this question again on the way home from school  the other day made tiny little alarm bells go off in my head. Even though you didn’t admit that anyone had said anything to you, or God forbid made fun of you, I still had a gut feeling that you had endured something that day. I knew these days would come eventually, especially as you got older and entered further into the jungles of elementary school and beyond. Ok, so now what?

We talked (yet again) about your clefts and surgeries. We talked about how scary some of the procedures were and how each of your scars represents a time when you had to be really brave. We talked about how scars are actually little badges of courage because each scar has a story behind it. How lots of people have scars but that different people may or may not want to talk about how they got them. However if they do decide to open up, they just might have very interesting stories. Stories about their own challenges and times when they needed to be brave, just like you.  

We sat in the car in our driveway and you climbed up into the front seat with me. I began hiking up my shirt, showing you the scar on my stomach from gallbladder surgery, the scar on the side of my breast from when I had a birthmark removed, even the scar on my knee from softball. You pointed yours out too and we compared scars a bit, sharing our stories. We talked about the other people that we know who have scars. Daddy even has a big scar all the way across his head from when he had his brain tumor removed. He’s got one of the greatest stories and in fact, his scar story led us to you. I wouldn’t change that for the world. Neither would Daddy. I told you that we (and anyone who has a scar) are actually a part of the “Cool Scars Club”. You grinned. We did a fist bump. I think you liked that idea.

You seemed appeased by our little conversation in the car. I felt a little better. But the rest of the night I kept thinking “I hope I handled it ok” and “time will tell”. Geesh. I feel like I say that a lot as a parent..."time will tell." Since there are no hard and fast rules, us parents are all just winging it really. Doing our best and holding our breath. I guess I’ll just continue putting deposits into your “therapy fund”, just in case. Ha.

Love you,

Mama (aka just another member of the “Cool Scars Club”)