End of Summer Wrap Up

Maliana ~

So, in spite of school having already started, there were still a ton of summery things left to do. Since the warmth was lingering around for quite some time, we were able to have some nice lazy mornings hanging out with our new bunny family members, relaxing as a family, and began a new Sunday tradition of coffee (for Daddy and me) while you, the dogs, and the bunnies all hang out under the tree in our front yard. It's a nice change of pace to the usual around here.

"always stealing me lucky charms!"

bike ride on the new basketball court at the park

coffee with this guy...your Daddy

lazy Sunday mornings with the bunnies

you kept singing, "me and Abby!" over and over again

We wrapped up your third trip to Olentangy Indian Caverns for the summer with a Fu Group outing.

you really love this gem mining thing

Lao Lao also took you out for an evening while Daddy and I got to go out on an end of summer date as well. It was nice for Daddy and I to reconnect and I was so tickled to get the updates from Lao Lao too. She took you paddle boating at Creekside, out to dinner, and then to the Sizzle and Sound festival in Sunbury. She said you had a wonderful talk over dinner about life, friends, and integrity. I love that you have other adults in your life that can take the time to truly listen to the things in your life that matter so much to you and then drop pearls of wisdom here and there as appropriate. We are so lucky.

paddle boating with Lao Lao

paddle boating and stimulating conversation at dinner must
have worn you out...fell asleep on the way to Sizzle and Sound

this text from Lao Lao shows your ornery personality

At the end of August, we had planned to have your Family Day party. It was a little later than usual, but with all of Daddy's health issues this summer, it was the best we could do. You were so excited to help with the prepping of this shindig. For example, here you are in Party City, making your mama laugh...

Video: "Where's the closest bathroom?"

Fortunately, the rain held off the actual day of the party and and our Family Day gathering was a success. It was actually pretty steamy hot and so there was a bit of drenching with water (by the kids) and a fairly epic kickball game with kids and grown ups alike. At the end, you said, "I love my family and friends!" So sweet. We love you too. For reals.

Happy Family Day Right Meow cupcakes

on the way from the store to the park,
they slid a bit in Lao Lao's car but she
salvaged them...sweaty icing and all

getting ready for kickball
(E, you, and Jos)

Sam and E tag-teaming to get Joe out

David, our silly pitcher

it was so hot...you loved cooling off like this

Tina carrying little Freddy around third

pinata time

Uncle Forge, Uncle Flint, McKenzie, and Lao Lao teasing you

our shirts this year...

Family is 4-Ever!

The very next day after the party, you requested we watch the video of us meeting you for the first time in China. Lao Lao came over and told us she had never seen this video before, aside from filming it for us 6 years ago! You did pretty well watching it and we all loved seeing that chubby cheeked, big eyed baby with the elephant tears, trying to figure out how she felt about these strange people she'd just met (Daddy and me). I was also reminded of that clip I captured of you sucking your tongue on that first morning waking up with you in Guangzhou...a welcome surprise since I used to suck my tongue too when I was a kid. That red thread again, I suppose. We love you so much.

Labor Day weekend was nothing crazy. Just a trip to Hoover for some impromptu swimming, putt-putt and Slushies with Mommy, and the UA Arts Festival.

we took Cori to Hoover with us

totally breaking the rules by swimming at Hoover

here you are trying to get Suzy to swim out to you

Slushie tongues

cool homemade xylophone at the arts festival

I finally had time to take you to the local international market so you could try some mochi and you liked it! So nice to have good Asian markets nearby. Should definitely try to get to them more often.

And speaking of great things nearby, poor Lalie (our neighbor) got sick and as soon as you found out, you decided to make a get well card and stick it in her front door. As you can see from her Instagram post, it meant a lot to her. Such a sweet gesture.

It says, "My little neighbor rocks"

Finally, wrapping up the tail end of summer(ish), we attended your annual cleft clinic appointment to discuss where we're headed from here. You did great! At the appointment, we realized that you are less than 2 years away from doing your bone graft surgery (eek!) and so we'll begin really thinking and preparing for that one soon. Aside from that realization, everything else was smooth sailing and we even enjoyed a nice lunch together before I had to take you back to school.

you wanted to wear our Team Lentil shirts to the appointment...
I loved it and so did everyone else!

you crack me up!

a text I sent to Daddy after dropping you off

So, there you have it. You may be back at school already, but there has still been a lot of summertime fun before buckling down to studying or weathering cold temperatures again.

Love,
Mama

Back To School Already?!

Maliana ~

The last couple weeks before school was to begin again was spent with crazy preparations, a trip to the Ohio State Fair, and a couple fun new additions to our family.

You got your teacher assignment the second week of August and immediately came home to check out your old yearbooks to get yourself all jazzed about the first day of school. You didn't get the teacher you had hoped for but the one you did get (Mrs. Young) seems nice so far with a good grandmotherly vibe going on. You say you like her so I'm hopeful about this year.

you and Cori looking at an old yearbook

Later that night, the picture below happened. Not sure what it means. You told me you're a "robert" (aka robber), but you actually reminded me of the latest computer hacker to join Anonymous. No?

"shhh...I'm a robert"

Then, the next morning Daddy snapped this picture (see below). Proof that I am not kidding when I say that I feel confined to one side of the bed at night and it's nearly impossible for me to get a full night's sleep. But, in spite of my many squished nights of tossing, turning, and getting kicked or punched in the face, I know I someday will miss these cuddly evenings with my number one snuggle bug. Someday, I will only wish you still wanted to sleep so close to me again.

Maybe not today (*yawn*)...but someday. Ha.

I guess my booty makes a good pillow

Anyway, that weekend we headed to the fair. It was just you, me, Lao Lao, Uncle Flint and Monica, and Uncle Forge and Kenzie. Uncle Flint was in charge of an art display at the fair and got us all free passes. While the day was very hot, it was nice to spend time together and enjoy all the sights, sounds, smells, foods, and people watching that the fair always has to offer.

excited to be able to climb on the farm equipment
(you look so tiny!)

'peanut' in a tire

on another winning streak!

Lao Lao stole your wagon for a little rest

face paint!

Captain Mali-America and Mommy the Cheetah!

Kenzie was adopting this bunny...so we sent
this adorable picture to Daddy to see if
we could bring one home too
(cute picture, right?...I know...we play dirty!)

Kenzie was the first one of us to get suckered into decide to buy a bunny from the fair. Once we got to snuggle her sweet bunny Theo, you and I decided to go check them out too. Lo and behold...we came home with a pair of chocolate brown bunnies.

look at these adorable brothers!
(how could we not take both of them home
when they fall asleep together like this?!)

and BAM! sold to this cute little munchkin!

Both are boys (or so we're told!). Their names are not set in stone yet (you are heavily leaning towards Bun Bun for the more calm one and we're debating Psycho for the other crazy more energetic one)...but in spite of having no solidly agreed upon names yet, they sure are cuties!

slowly getting used to sitting on my lap

I love when they stand like this

And finally, we rounded out the last few weeks with you beginning school! Already?! I know! Can you believe it? You are officially a second grader! Where has the time gone?

The night before school was to begin, I read you the traditional letter that I have been reading since the night before Kindergarten began. Do you remember the one? Among other things, it's basically a lesson on compassion. Anyway, here is how I shared about it on Facebook. I love your beautiful and inspiring additions to what you want to remember this year.

And I just had to send the following text to Lao Lao later that night. You crack me up, on the daily!

That night as we were going to bed, I mentioned that I would want to take pictures of you in the morning before your first day of school. You looked at me with a horrified face and said, "Noooo...not in front of my friends, Mom!" I reassured you that we could take the pictures at home and you were immediately relieved. However, it left me wondering if you are 7 or 14? Geesh. How are we starting this already?! But I digress...

Anyway, without further ado...*drumroll* please...here are the pictures I snapped from the morning of your first day of school (at home)! Second grade...here we come!!

you, Jos, Elyse in the back, Delaney on the left and Lucy on the right

cheers to a new school year from Mom and Dad!

When we got there it went so well, without any tears this year at all! It helped that you had a few of your friends in class with you and they gave you a nice warm welcome that morning. I really wish I would have had my camera ready when one of them suggested that you all do a group hug...it was so cute. Daddy and I chatted with your teacher while you chatted with your new classmates. When it was time to go in, you marched right inside with no more than a glance back. My, how you have grown up.

Daddy and I were both heading to work but not before we enjoyed a 15 minute coffee date to toast the successful beginning of a new school year and to celebrate the fact that he was out of the hospital and got to enjoy personally seeing you off on your first day of school. With us. As a family. We seriously didn't know if that would happen this year. We feel so lucky.

It truly is the little things that turn out to be the big things in life.

Be grateful for those little things, sweetie. Every. Single. Day.

Love,
Mama

P.S. And here's one more funny before I go...these are the kinds of things your daddy and I text about during the day. Thank you for being such a funny kid and giving us so much material to make us laugh.

xoxo to our future rock star ~
Mama