Out With the Old and In With the New ~ 2014!

Maliana ~

Lao Lao was a lifesaver on Monday and Tuesday of this week when she spent the day with you while your school and daycare were both closed and Daddy and I had to work. You went on adventures together both days...COSI on Monday and painting pottery on Tuesday. She said you were really busy all throughout COSI, wearing her out with all of your walking and trying out nearly every single exhibit. You had told me the other day that you didn't like science, but in probing a bit more, we discovered that what you actually don't like is having to sit in class and watch your teacher "do" science...so COSI was a great hands-on experience to get your heart pumping to love science again.

This week also reminded me of the joys of living near woods...we caught another mouse in the house ~ eek! He's lucky we are such animal lovers and only trap them alive and let them go off the back deck. Little buggers are probably just getting right back in the house somehow but this time we painted him with bright pink nail polish to see if it's the same one that keeps getting back in or not. Hopefully his friends won't make too much fun of him.

Later that same "scary" mouse night...we hit the hay and you were a bit slap happy. I love laying in bed with you, being silly, and joking back and forth. Your sense of humor is getting more hilarious by the day.

We rung in the new year this week as well...goodbye 2013 and hello 2014!! It was a quiet gathering of family and a few friends. Through the night, we saw Uncle Flint, Audrey Ayi, Uncle Joe, Aunt Tina, and then Lao Lao, Uncle Forge, and Gabrielle all spent the night with us. Just the perfect quiet celebration to balance out the craziness of the holidays. The next morning, we had cinnamon rolls and bacon for breakfast, but not before waking up Forge and Gabrielle with Nerf guns! Happy New Year, suckas!

my traditional holiday walk with Abby...she's getting old
but still loves to get out and explore

Daddy was very proud of his shrimp arrangement

Audrey Ayi and I have been friends for over 30 years...
I only hope you can find friends like this in your life

Daddy had you and Aunt Tina try out the new 3D glasses

perfect way to start off my new year!

new year selfie ~ boy, that flash was bright!

Lao Lao photo-bombing Forge and Gabrielle

family selfie outside while we made some noise
to celebrate the new year ~ and again, that
flash was SO bright!

wake up!

puzzle time with Daddy ~ you love this new
puzzle gift from Uncle Flint

almost 6 and still such a peanut!

New Year's dinner we spent at Memaw and Papaw's for our traditional sauerkraut and pork. You had a little bit of each, so your luck is a-okay for 2014. You also had crazy amounts of fun with your cousins. It's always a bit traumatic when we have to part ways though...you're just like your Daddy when he was a kid and had to say goodbye to his cousins ~ so heart-wrenchingly sad in your goodbyes. Like father, like daughter.

new year with Sammy

new year silliness

For a Happy New Year message from Sam and Mali ~ click here!!

First day back to work after the holiday and I was not feeling it...so when we got home, I gave a big middle finger to the chores around the house and you and I took Abby to the hill in our neighborhood and went sledding! It was just the fun I needed and a great way to celebrate the inches of snow that dumped on us throughout the day. The three of us headed home after zipping down the hill several times, tired, cold...exhilarated and happy.

ready to sled!

eskimo Mali

not quite understanding the concept of ear muffs yet

our first trip down the hill together in 2014!

Once home it was hot cocoa, dinner, Uno, and snuggling on the couch until you fell asleep on my chest.

please tell me you'll never get too big to do this...

Friday was freezing so we decided to stay inside after school. You brought up wanting to go through your room to look for toys to donate to other children who might not have toys. I jumped all over that offer. Then you ever so sweetly asked if we could go to Toys R Us to buy some new toys that you have wanted for awhile (and there was the catch...well-played, Mali...well-played). Ha. Anyway, you did end up filling two huge, plastic garbage bags full of your old toys to drop off at Goodwill. I was very proud of your decision! You then used your very own Christmas money to deliberately choose precisely what you wanted to spend it on (ultimately, it was Planes toys). I was pretty impressed. For a few minutes there, I thought you were going to walk right back out of that store without buying a single thing. Not a ton of impulsiveness in you, kid.

And before I forget, here is something else I found on Friday...I'm definitely saving this for you for when you're older so you can fully appreciate it...

as you can imagine, I was beyond relieved to find
out this is actually your drawing of the bottom
half of a lion costume...*whewwww*

Saturday morning started with triple berry dinosaur pancakes (which you actually discovered you do not like as much as banana dinosaur pancakes), then some playtime with Daddy before heading to the grocery store to get ready for the winter storm that is coming.

as I listened to you and Daddy in imaginative play, I wondered
if he realized how much all of his characters sounded
like the Californians skits on SNL.
Google it...you will laugh. 

I guess on your way home from the store, you asked Daddy if you could go to breakfast with Memaw and Papaw on Sunday morning. All your idea. I love that this has actually become somewhat of a tradition for you, enough to look forward to and ask to do again from time to time. It's gotten to be "your thing" with them. So sweet.

As you were pulling in from the store with Daddy, I was actually on my way out for a hike at a local metro park with Aunt Tina so we could get a little exercise and enjoy the snow. I didn't know this until after I was already home later, but unbeknownst to me, you made Daddy follow my car all the way to the top of our neighborhood to make sure I was safe and to be there in case I got stuck and needed help (since the slippery slope in our neighborhood can be kind of tricky at times). It was all your idea and you insisted quite strongly on keeping an eye on me just in case...it really touched me that you were so concerned. You are such a caring and thoughtful soul.

taken on the trail behind our house

we love to take Abby on adventures

this dog loves snow so much, she even scoops it
into her mouth as she runs

tree at the park (off our trail) where we come to play sometimes

That night we met our friends, Ziying and Zuchao. They treated us to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with very authentic (and delicious) cuisine. We talked about all sorts of things, the biggest item for them is that they are expecting a baby sometime in mid-May. It is very exciting for them and we are so thrilled to meet their little one when they arrive. On our way home from dinner, you had lots of questions about how babies get in peoples' bellies. It was the preliminary discussion of the birds and the bees. I was taken a little off guard and felt so unprepared, but I did my best. I was very honest, and (I hope) age appropriate, however it still freaked you out a bit. Oy. Why is it that these questions always come when I feel the least prepared or ready in the moment? *sigh*

Sunday you went to KDB with Daddy to meet Jay, Brooke, and Brooke's son Xander (who is 9). Daddy said he is a very polite and sweet kid who you enjoyed playing all sorts of games with all afternoon. You came home and relaxed while watching movies with Daddy while I took care of some more stuff around the house. As I finished making dinner, I heard this:

(from the other room)...
Mali: "Mom! Mom! There are sick puppies and kitties that need help!"
Me: "On TV?"
Shawn: "It was the ASPCA commercial"
Mali: "Yeah, it's the ASPCA! They need our help!"
Me: "What do you think we should do?"
Mali: "We need to call the phone number. We can help them. We get a credit card and a t-shirt!"
#wellplayedASPCA

Ahh...those commercials get me every time too, sweetie. I always end up wanting to race down to the nearest shelter to rescue every single furry critter in sight. It warms my heart that you are such an animal lover, just like your mom and dad. Life is a whole lot sweeter when we care for and have compassion for those around us...both people and animals. Trust me on that one.

Love,
Mama

Overwhelmed with Abundance this Christmas

Maliana ~

On Monday we went on another Operation Secret Santa mission to the Shermans' homes...you took it very seriously (as you can see from the picture below).

hoodie and a headlamp ~ good for sneaking
around in the dark!

Once home, we remembered that there was an email waiting for you from the Big Guy himself, Santa Claus. You watched your annual special message from the North Pole which you loved and made us replay at least 3 more times that night.

Watching your Santa Message for Christmas 2013!

We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner the next night with Vince, Nadia, Abela, Memaw, and Papaw. As usual, we had a lot of laughs. I think this tradition has been going for nearly 20 years now and it's pretty special. It was so great to have Abela with us this year. You both hit it off like two peas in a pod. I hope we can continue this ritual for many more years to come. The beauty of traditions is that they can stay the same or slowly evolve each year, forming and molding and fitting into our lives as we change and grow with the seasons of life. You can build on and reshape traditions, creating new ones as you see fit that become just as important and treasured as the old ones. Such a wonderful thing.

shirley temples for the littles

Memaw and Papaw

Nadia and Vince

Daddy and me

Nadia, Abela, and Vince

brrrr...it was cold! this was the only shot we could get!

After dinner, Nadia, Vince and Abela came over to our house for a gift exchange, a belated birthday celebration for Abela (her 5th birthday was on the 22nd), and to hang out until nearly midnight. In fact, we all parted ways only when we noticed that Santa Claus was already in Baltimore, Maryland on the NORAD Santa Tracker and figured it would be best to get all of your little booties into bed, pronto!

even Pipsqueak was ready to party

Abby too!

about to celebrate Abela's birthday

the goofy girls

the goofy boys

happy birthday, Abela!

making magic food for the reindeer

mixing it all up

spreading the magic reindeer food
on our top deck

and finally settling down with a little 3D movie
action under a warm electric blanket

After everyone left, you, Daddy and I set out milk and cookies. Finally laying our heads on our pillows after learning that Santa was even closer, already making his way through Boston! Wouldn't want him to miss our house on account of us being awake, right? *wink*

getting the milk and cookies just perfect

the hearth is all set for the man in red

And voila...what do you know? Santa arrived almost as soon as you were fast asleep...it's funny how that happens, isn't it? *wink, wink*

he left you a note and even some messy footprints!
Oh ~ that Santa!

Christmas morning ~ fabulous! It was wonderful to sleep in and wake up slowly with no real place to go almost all day, taking our time with each other and enjoying the magic of the morning. First Christmas in a while that I felt like it was really ours. We all came downstairs together to check out what Santa had brought and it felt so relaxing. Memaw and Papaw came over with their gifts for all of us in the afternoon and it was so nice to see them. You were squirrely and ornery and sassy...everything you'd expect from a kiddo who is fueled by sugar and not enough sleep...but through it all you remained as sweet as ever. I am beyond thankful this year...I think I lost count on how many times I teared up on Christmas morning, overwhelmed with the emotions of reflecting on our year and my gratitude for every last minute of it. Here is what I wrote on Facebook which sums up my feelings quite nicely:

~ one of the most relaxed, warm, fuzzy and emotional Christmases I have had in recent memory...many changes have taken place over the past year that make me even more thankful for those still in my life and the new unexpected bonds I've made with some of the most loving and supportive people I've ever met, both near and far. Merry Christmas to all of my friends and family, both on Earth and in Heaven. In your own special ways, you have given me the most precious gifts of all throughout the year. XOXO

Click HERE to watch you coming down to see what Santa left on Christmas morning!

you with your presents from Santa

showing me where Santa Claus left his footprints!

helping Abby open her present from Santa

the present you specifically asked for all Christmas season...
LPS, Rescue Tails Center!

here we are with the Secret Santa present that you
picked out just for me (a black labrador
retriever ornament and a miniature
gold nativity set)

giving Daddy his Secret Santa gift...
wool socks!

using your new video camera to film
your LPS toys

safari hat and Toothless stuffed animal
from Memaw and Papaw

our family (minus the kitty)

with Memaw and Papaw

Christmas night we went to the Yersavich's where you disappeared with the kids for most of the evening and us adults got to gab and laugh and enjoy each other's company. What was that I had said earlier about creating new traditions as you see fit? I am hopeful that we did just that on Christmas night. I was feeling so blessed this year with much family and so many friends who feel just like family...it's all what you make of it and we are clearly in abundance. I just felt so fortunate and full of warmth, the Christmas spirit some might call it. That night you even slept over with E ~ first time ever! Our baby is growing up, that's for certain!

all cuddled up on your sleepover...E is such a good friend,
she even read you "Go, Dog, Go!" at bedtime

The next morning I actually had to work (boo! hiss!) so Lao Lao helped us out and ended up picking you up around 11am the next morning from Joe and Tina's house. Aunt Tina told me later that it was a treat to have you stay over and that you cuddled with her in the morning after waking up. You are definitely a big-time cuddler, one of my favorite things about you.

You hung out with Lao Lao, running errands with her, until I got home from work. Then the rest of the night was spent quietly at home, watching some of your new movies and playing with your new toys. We also spent a few hours watching the Discovery channel which you are currently hooked on...totally into investigative shows about the ocean, the megalodon and another about evidence for the theory of aquatic evolution of humans. Pretty heavy stuff for a five year old, right? Perhaps we will see you on a boat in the middle of the ocean, following your passion and investigating your own mystery someday. Our budding scientist.

Friday I took the day off and spent it at home with you, waiting for the chimney sweeps and garage door repairmen. Normally, that would stink but we spent the time stuck at home waiting by relaxing, playing, cleaning, cooking, and decompressing from the holidays. We had to get out of the house and blow the stink off towards evening and so went for a walk in the neighborhood where we decided to collect any litter we saw and bring it home to throw away. I ended up carrying you home about the last 1/4 mile and we talked about how you are getting so big that you are not my little peanut anymore...to which you replied that you are now my little moustachio. Ha. Touche!

making dinosaur banana pancakes with Mama
(don't even want to know how many health
code violations we were breaking)

walking Abby

Daddy finally came home from work and while you spent some time with him before bed, you chattered on and on about your new outdoor explorer gear (vest, hat, binoculars, bug vacuum, field scope, etc) and discussed possibly going on an adventure with him in the morning. When I asked what you were talking about as you headed back downstairs to show him something else, you said with a shrug, "Just some grown-up stuff, Mom." Ha. Oh...okay.

this was taken the next morning, you're all
geared up, serious, and ready to go!
(didn't have the heart to tell you that there are likely
no bugs for at least a few more months)

Saturday, we got out of the house to get some fresh air again and since it was such a beautifully warm December day, we headed to the park to meet Sam, Erin, Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina.

After some solid outdoor time, we headed over to their house for some good old fashioned hanging out. Daddy met us there after he wrapped up (once again) at work and we stayed until nearly 11:30pm. Another late night for all of us, but I couldn't think of spending it with more wonderful people.

playing Taboo

Uncle Joe giving you a little help with the clues

yay! they got it!
(you were hilarious, giving a double "finger-gun"
every time someone would get your
word correct)

the girls helping Daddy out

making s'mores in the fireplace

Sunday we met Uncle Blaize for lunch at Red Robin. It was so nice to see him again and catch up on everything! This Christmas was different than in years past since we did not see the Hart side of the family due to interpersonal problems between myself, Wai Gong and Memaw Lisa. But as for the both of you and Blaize, it's important that you know that my differences with them and the lack of contact between us has nothing to do with either of you. I know it's tough to grasp because I am really not mentioning many details here. Perhaps we will discuss what happened as you get older. Perhaps not. But at this point, the details are not necessarily important outside of what has already happened between myself, Wai Gong, and Memaw Lisa. We have our reasons for things to have gone down the way they did, as painful and heartbreaking as it has been at times. However, my hope is that you and Blaize can both understand that the changes in relationship that have occurred, have not and will never alter how I feel about either of you. I love you and I love Uncle Blaize and I will always be there for the both of you. No matter what. Nothing will ever change that. Period.

with your Uncle Blaize

Love,
Mama

P.S.
And here's an extra picture, in case there wasn't enough cuteness in this blog already. It's actually from last week but I forgot about it until now...

bubble bathing suit!

Cheers to a great new week ahead!