Christmas Lights...Everywhere!!

Maliana ~

I got these pictures on Tuesday while I was at work and I can't tell you how much I love these sneak peeks of you at daycare!

reading a sight words book to your class!

playing Legos with your friend, Cassidy

And a funny Mali-ism to start the week (as shared on Facebook):

~ very thankful for our security system...according to Mali, it helps protect us from "Roberts"...and we all know how dangerous they are.

Hump day had us helping at the pantry again...so good to give back, plus getting to spend time with Memaw and Papaw is an added bonus for sure! I wasn't sure when I picked you up at school that day if you'd make it through pantry or not, but when I arrived at daycare, you ran and leapt into my arms and gave me (and all your teachers) big hugs so I knew you'd had a good day and the stamina to head to pantry. I love it when you have had a good day!

We were surprised on Thursday with an invitation to come over to E's house so you girls could play. You were stoked, to put it mildly! It was so nice of them to have you over, feed you dinner, and let you girls completely weird out all night. We love the Yersaviches something fierce!

I woke up sick on Friday morning and since Daddy was home getting ready to head to Notre Dame this weekend, he was able to take you to speech so that I could go to urgent care. A rocky beginning to the weekend, but between the meds and the following pictures that were emailed to me at work...my day got a little brighter.

attempting chopsticks

how sweet is it that you are creating
art about how you love your dog?
(actually made me say "how
sweet" out loud at work)

exploring instruments

you are always so proud when you get to
help with the calendar!

I also attended your first ever IEP meeting at school (which went very well - no surprise there) and as we walked to the car you saw your daycare teacher, Miss Amanda, picking up some of your friends at the elementary school. You insisted that you needed to say hi to her and made me race the bus all the way back to your daycare so that you could give Miss Amanda a big hug for the weekend. I just love that you feel so close to your teachers...and by the smile on her face when she realized that we came back just so you could give her a hug, I could tell that you really made her afternoon. I love that about you!

While it was a drizzly, grey and rainy day, there was no way we were going to let that dampen our attending the Easton tree lighting that night. We swung over and picked up Aunt Tina and Erin and headed to Easton. Luckily, the rain held off and we enjoyed a chilly but beautifully bright evening in the magical glow of the newly lit Christmas tree and all of the other thousands of lights that adorn this gorgeous area this time of year. It all looks so majestic, like you are stepping into a holiday movie. While we strolled around, it was fun to see you and Erin skipping while holding hands, squealing, laughing, acting rambunctious, and thoroughly enjoying one another's company. It makes me feel so good to see your friendship growing as you are both getting older. We made sure to step into the Cafe Bistro in Nordstrom's for some dinner and then on to get some hot cocoa and of course Fuzziwig's for candy before leaving. It was a terrifically simple and spontaneous evening of fun...great way to kick off the holiday season!

I love how you are looking up at E...oh, how you adore her!

fun night with these awesome ladies

you both held hands nearly all night...
it was adorable!

we love the HUGE tree at Easton!

I also have to mention a funny conversation we had on our way over to pick up Aunt Tina and Erin. You were chattering away from the backseat and told me that you wanted to have two kids when you are a grown up, but you don't want "that married stuff." When I asked you why, it boiled down to you not wanting to have to wear "that itchy dress" at a wedding. Ha. I then asked what you thought marriage was, like, "What do married people do?" To which you proceeded to tell me, "You find the perfect person. Like Daddy found you and you found Daddy. Then you go on a date. Then you ask them to marry you." Ha ha. Yep, kiddo. You pretty much nailed it, more or less. I love asking you questions like this and seeing what your responses are...you absorb more than I realize you have sometimes. Your take on life is great.

Saturday morning we woke up and headed to Chinese class. Ms. Lily was her ever energetic self and you all made indian head-dresses in honor of Thanksgiving, working on your colors and counting in Mandarin. So cute!

You and I headed to the grocery store and then home to relax for a bit until it was time to meet the Fu group at the Zoo Wildlights that night. Lao Lao joined us and while it was very cold, especially when the wind would pick up, we had a really nice time and it always looks so amazing there. Once home, we were all settling in to eat a late dinner together and as you were using the restroom on your own, I heard you say to yourself, "What a fun day!" So adorable...I couldn't agree more!

telling Santa that you want the LPS Rescue Tails
Center and Planes toys

you and Delaney, eating your decorated cookies

checking out the aquarium with Lao Lao

you and Delaney, picking out your favorite fish

saying hi to Scuba Santa ~ this was SO cool!!

After a cold couple of evenings, we were due for a little warmth and relaxation and so we had a lazy Sunday, beginning with dinosaur banana pancakes...

Then hung around the house, cleaning, organizing, and starting to get out decorations for Christmas. Yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I just can't help myself!

Daddy came home in the afternoon and we were very happy to see him! Good for us all to be under one roof again. It was a simple and lazy evening after that. I guess I wore you out this weekend because you ended up falling asleep in my arms just before bedtime. I'm not one to complain about a little extra snuggle time with you though. Earlier that night you showed me how wiggly your tooth is getting and I'll be surprised if it lasts through Thanksgiving. It reminded me that pretty soon you'll be too big to fit in my lap so I will take what I can get and savor it all now, while you're still my tiny little monkey.

Love,
Mama

Two Weeks Until Thanksgiving But Feeling Very Thankful Already

Maliana ~

Monday was Veterans' Day and while we did make sure to discuss what a veteran is and what they have done and are doing...we also were able to have an easy morning before school. I had some carpet cleaners coming at 8:30am, so we hunkered down in the family room with breakfast, Nickelodeon, and a game of checkers until they were done. Afterwards, we headed outside for a walk in the leaves with Abby and got just cold enough to really appreciate the hot tomato soup, grilled cheese, and hot cocoa lunch that I made before taking you to daycare to ride to school with your friends.

crunching through the leaves

mmm...tomato soup and grilled cheese!

You wanted me to stay at daycare long enough to watch you get on the big bus and head off to your school. As I waved and watched you climbing on the bus, I yelled, "Have fun! I love you!" as you peeked out the windows and waved back at me. Once again, I got that pang of wishing I could do this kind of thing every day. I love our stolen moments together.

Tuesday you accompanied me to the monthly PTA meeting and got to play in the gym with some other kids while us parents discussed everything. Luckily, you saw a little boy who is in your kindergarten class (which was nice) but you also enjoyed some new kids, making good on your statement just before we left for the school of "I can make new friends!" You do have your shy moments but I'm so glad that you can be a much more outgoing kid than I was at your age. You had a good time and it was neat to notice a couple more teachers at the school who knew you by name. I love that you are fitting in so wonderfully here.

You ran over to Lowes with me after the meeting and we got to see Markie at work who showed you how he uses the big lumber saw. Pretty cool...

explaining how that big saw works to you

And you were very amazed when we walked into the garden center and took in all of their holiday decorations, breathlessly exclaiming..."Ohhhh....wow!" I have to admit, it definitely helped get me in the spirit too. Maybe we'll decorate earlier than usual this year.

reading some of the Christmas books on display

this tree was so huge, I couldn't even fit it all in the picture

In keeping with this ever-growing Christmas spirit, we also decided to try something a little different this Wednesday night. It is typically the one night of the week that Memaw and Papaw help out at their church's food pantry and so I had an idea. Our friend and adopted "Auntie" Jo in Colorado has recently shared with us her current self-proclaimed mission to step up and reach out to help the homeless in her area. We are so proud of what she is doing with her friends out there and I am very thankful as it has given me endless opportunities to discuss with you the issue of poverty and homelessness. It has led to many questions and some great ideas. With you being only 5 (and a half ~ can't forget the half!), I realize you are trying very hard to grasp the concepts but it is tough...after all, your brain is still working in very concrete ways for the next few years. It dawned on me that we could kill two birds with one stone by pitching in at the food pantry...helping all of the wonderful people out down there and giving you a real life experience at the same time.

We arrived at the church and walked around back, where the line for the pantry began. Memaw and Papaw were so happy to see you! They let us help in the bagging area where we spent most of the evening putting together grocery bags full of food that more volunteers would then wheel out to peoples' cars so they could take them home. I am happy to report that you LOVED it. You did amazingly well and were cranking out the bags *almost* as fast as some of the adults. I was so proud of you for holding your own so well. You were such a huge help. Some of the others joked that you must have been the youngest volunteer they'd ever had and made more jokes about child labor laws. Ha. By the time we left, we were all pretty hungry. We went out to eat at a local burger joint and as you said, "I'm starving!" while we waited for our food, it gave me another excellent opportunity to talk to you about poverty and hunger and how it must feel to have to go to bed at night feeling that hungry. Once again, I tried bringing it all back to what we were doing there at the pantry earlier. I tried to make it click. I'm hoping that some of what we did that night resonates with you...I'm hoping that we planted some good seeds in there...I'm hoping that all of those families that we helped tonight can find some peace as we go into a cold and difficult time of year for so many...I'm just hoping.

helping Memaw load the grocery bags with food

helping with the grandparents was fun and I am so thankful
for all they do for others on a regular basis...we couldn't
leave the pantry tonight and not feel quite humbled
by the experience. very, very grateful...

After a pretty good week, the weekend had finally arrived and we kicked it off in style on Friday with a visit from Audrey Ayi ~ always a fun time with her!

craziness

Saturday morning we woke up to breakfast with Memaw and Papaw at Cracker Barrel. Love time spent with these two!

checkers with Papaw after breakfast

and a piggyback from Memaw on the way to the car

Then it was the beginning of the weekend of birthday parties! Saturday we celebrated with Lainey and Sunday we celebrated with Jack ~ both turning the big 5!! How in the world are all of you kids getting so old?!

just before Daddy stuck his nose in your cupcake icing,
goofy Daddy

Lainey's party

silly girls

while Jack opened his gifts, you had a special job from Ms. Pam

you wrote down the list of who gave Jack which gifts...
and loved every minute of being Pam's big helper

playing trains with the birthday boy before we left

A fun weekend that went way too fast, as usual.
Now off to begin the new week!
Love,
Mama

Slowing Down Has Never Felt So Good

Maliana ~

On Monday it was a good, good day. You were sleepy but in a great mood as we ate dinner, then you worked on homework with me, and made muffins while I filmed you just like your favorite baking clips on YouTube (per your request). You were so cute and very proud of your finished product - blueberry muffins! You headed downstairs where Daddy was nursing a cold and told me, "I want to take a muffin down to Daddy because I want to be nice" ~ awww.

Wednesday was another cold and dreary day, so I introduced you to checkers after dinner. You caught on pretty well and seemed to enjoy it. I joked with Daddy that I'd wait to "bring the hammer down" until next week, when you are thoroughly hooked on the game. Ha. After checkers, Daddy took you for some bowling on a daddy/daughter date. (I just love those.) You had a super time together!

While I was still out and you had already gotten home, I received the following text. Another reminder of how cool it is that you are learning how to spell and read...you can now send me your very own texts (on the sly) from Daddy's phone. Super adorable!!

you (and Daddy) are in yellow...I'm in blue

And then Daddy helped pack your lunch for the next day, deciding he wanted to get in on the napkin art action too. Love it.

Thursday we did our part at a McDonald's fundraiser for your school...we picked up dinner for us and the neighbor kids and got to see a bunch of your friends and even some of your teachers helping out at the restaurant! As you held on to me and made me hold you (because of your aversion to Ronald McDonald - which I completely understand) while waiting for our food, Mrs. Fitzpatrick (your teacher) said to me, "It's so weird to see Mali so clingy. She's such a wild woman at school!" Ha.

this isn't from Mrs. Fitzpatrick's class, but this is a
friend of yours (Jocelyn) who is in both
your daycare and school classes
(nice to get these fun pics of
you throughout the day!)

Friday finally arrived and since Lao Lao is using her vacation time little by little throughout the end of the year, she joined us for breakfast at Tim Horton's before dropping you off at daycare. You practiced reading her some of your baggie books while we ate. She is really good at helping you sound out the words and crack this whole reading thing.

After school, you were in great spirits and we came home, picked up Daddy, then headed back over to the elementary school to play "Firefighters" on the playground. Love your imagination!!

firefighter Mali going down the pole

I think you were missing Daddy because after we finished at the playground, you asked to go back to his work with him where he needed to cover for a couple of people tonight. Fortunately, Daddy's work is much more interesting than Mommy's work...you actually got to get on a jet (while it's engines were still running!) and then made a cubby under his desk so you could play on the IPad and work on your homework until he was finished.

On Saturday morning, the fun with Daddy continued as he took you to your Mandarin class while I got some rest (since I'm now feeling a bit under the weather). The rest of the day we didn't have anything in particular planned (for once...and it was so nice), so we got some serious purging of the house done. You played outside on this beautiful fall day while I made a trip to Goodwill for one of our many drop-offs.

Braycen is "filling up" both you and
Brooklyn's scooters 

We continued to get things cleaned out until Lao Lao came over for dinner. You both worked on a special secret project for Christmas (shhhh...Daddy and I aren't allowed to know) and as you did this, I continued to sort things around the house and came across the proofs of your daycare pictures that were taken recently. Evidently, we forgot which day it was because here's just one of your portraits that were taken...

not your typical portrait but at least it
captures your favorite jeans
and Hot Wheels shirt!

Lovely, right? I had to laugh out loud when I saw it. Not the "norm" but definitely cute as a button. Of course, I think my favorite picture day "faux pas" are these little gems from a couple years ago...so funny and cute!

football and football player tattoos
with a sleeveless dress

aww...how darling!

Sunday morning I headed to Aunt Lindsey's bridal shower while you went off with Lao Lao for a fun morning. After working some more on your Christmas surprise for Daddy and me, she took you to Cantina Laredo for, as you put it, "a brownie that was so big we can't even finish it!"

another craft you made with Lao Lao,
beaded candy canes for the tree!

Once I got home, I headed straight to bed all afternoon since I was still battling a nasty cold that had progressively gotten worse and had me actually feeling nauseous by the time I arrived home from the shower. Daddy had taken you to the grocery store with him so I could get some rest and you were so cooperative which was really nice. Once you got home, you did just as I had done and fell fast asleep too. This is huge because you've been fighting naps with amazing fierceness ever since kindergarten began, but today you actually succumbed to the sandman while inside your tent in the living room. (Yay! Victory! Score one for Mom and Dad!)

passed. out.

Daddy continued to be awesome throughout the evening as he cooked dinner for us while you and I played "spy" (your made up game) after we woke up. You also earned a bit more change to put in your chore jar by helping to set the table and then doing dishes after we ate. You adorably suggested we eat our meal by candle light and were so talkative and funny throughout the meal, even offering to make us all dessert with a recipe that you made up..."sprinkle bananas". You were so proud of your concoction and it was actually pretty good!

yes, your favorite place to prepare
food is on the table...ha

adding some sprinkles

voila!

After dinner was bath time...what do you think, did I leave you in the tub a bit too long this time? Ha.

pruney fingers

geesh...they look like old man hands!

We had a little more crazy tickle time (I have never known a kid who requests to be tickled as much as you do!) and then books before bed.

All in all, we had a slightly slower weekend than normal for us, but as Daddy and I sat on the couch relaxing before bed, we agreed it was really, really nice to slow down for once, spend time at home, and just enjoy our family.

Love,
Mama