Mama's Memories for M

Heeeyyyy, M ~

It is officially the month that autumn begins! Woo hoo! Between the leaves changing colors, pumpkin patches, apple picking, Halloween, chrysanthemums, and cooler temperatures, it is one of my favorite seasons of the year. So, without further ado...here is our September.

this month, Lao Lao began taking Fridays off work until the

end of the year and decided to come over to give Daddy a break and wake

you up, make you breakfast, and see you off to school

each morning...this makes for one happy kiddo!

the cooler temperatures mean it's more comfortable to have coffee

on the deck on weekend mornings and I have had quite a few bug

friends join me...this lady bug's face reminds of me an angry panda

OSU is back in session and so we have enjoyed having Courtney and Sam's

company again ~ you kids LOVE time with these two college students!

a busted lip and a bruised eye ~ play time got a little crazy

On one of the hotter days, I took you and Ana over to Creekside and let you play in the water, feed the ducks and swan, and just enjoy getting really wet and sloppy.

sleepy, cuddly, sweet kid

On one particularly stressful day, I just had to get out and play. Remember what's important in life. So, you and I hit the trail with our Y-flyers, got silly, and had a blast. It was just what I needed.

even our shadows had a ball

Then Pipsqueak helped me keep it real the next morning too. Aren't cats great?

thanks, Pipsqueak

did I mention how little personal space I get at home?

Then, this happened. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I can't remember the last time you fell asleep

for a mid-afternoon nap, but here you are

(very tired kid)

And more play time with Ana. The usual around here.

you asked me for some flannels because you

wanted to play cowboys with Ana

buds

(glad you two live so close to each other)

And a trip to Target for only God knows what...

I always knew you were a unicorn!

We also celebrated the Mid-Autumn Moon festival a little early as well with our local COFCC group. It was a gorgeous, warm night with lots of yummy food, fun crafts, and of course chatting with all of the local families that look a lot like ours. I was so happy that you actually wanted to attend it this year. It's been a toss up for you in years past. As you get older, it's neat to see you grow and evolve in your understanding and perspectives of your life story and birth heritage.

moon cake! (you didn't really like the
taste but enjoyed the detailing on the top)

beautiful moon that lit up the night sky

while we marched in the lantern parade

one of the crafts you made

And when we got home...we found this.

I don't think Suzy is very comfortable. Do you?

On another evening, we went for one of our moonlight walks. It's something that we have started lately where you and I walk around our neighborhood after dark with the dogs and it gives us a perfect opportunity to talk about our days and share whatever is on our minds. I love any chance I get to hear about your life and thoughts and feelings. It's one of my favorite things. This particular night you brought up something significant and so I turned it to our friends and family on Facebook when we got home and they gave you some awesome advice. See for yourself below...

Pretty cool, huh? Sometimes social media can really suck, but other times it can be pretty great.

a text I got from Lao Lao on an evening when she came to watch you

and made you dinner...evidently you wrote to the author of this

book and she even wrote you back! so cool!

On another night, one of my friends at work gave us a heads up on the International Space Station that was going to fly right over our house and it was pretty neat to see. (see for yourself below)

You and Daddy have continued your fishing adventures. I love, love, love that you have this hobby that you can share. It's absolutely adorable and the quality time spent making memories together is truly priceless.

text that I got from Daddy

peaceful and serene at sunset

Another big happening this month was combining our Family Day party with a (belated) birthday celebration for you. We decided to postpone our annual Family Day party from July until now to wait until it was much cooler weather and fortunately, it worked like a charm. It was perfect and the whole celebration went off without a hitch.

in searching for some mums for the party, Daddy, Courtney and I

had fun in a haunted house that was part of a local greenhouse

the dogs enjoyed supervising party set-up

a little Facebook love from Lao Lao on the day of the party

Pipsqueak came to check out the annual flower bouquet that

I get from Lao Lao ~ for some reason, Pipsqueak LOVES

flowers...it's the weirdest thing

the calm before the flurry of guests arrive

you and your friends getting ready to

whack the heck out of that piñata

(L to R ~ Zoe, Ana, you, Jos, Jeffrey, Dylan, Jalysa, and Addi)

Uncle Flint was the brave piñata holder

birthday cake time!

you insisted on cutting it yourself

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to get a group photo of everyone like I usually do. It was a very fluid party that stretched from 2pm until probably about 11pm so it was nearly impossible to find a good time to get a photo with everybody. I wish I could have gotten more candid photos of the party, but sometimes you just have to be in the moment. And so I was. Trust me, it was a great time. I love that you give us this reason every year to bring the people that we love to one place and celebrate sharing our lives together. That's what it's all about, kiddo.

Love,
Mama

Hey-yo, M!

It was officially August, the final full month of summer. We filled our calendar with a beach trip, the first days of school, and fishing time with Dad (you are both now obsessed with fishing ~ so cute to see you both enjoy something together).

Going to the beach meant a shaving party for Dad on the deck. (Our neighbors just love us!) Ha ha!

This year we decided to try a vacation with just the three of us. We chose Myrtle Beach for a little something different and thinking that it would have more than enough to keep us all occupied for a week. Unfortunately, it rained most of the time and our hotel was much less than what we expected. Given our challenges while at the beach, we actually ended up heading north a few days early so we could find some sunshine and a nice, clean pool to swim in. In spite of our hardships on the trip, we still enjoyed spending time together. No matter where we are, as long as I am with you and Daddy, I am happy and have all I truly need.

As far as the actual trip, here's how it went. On the way down to Myrtle Beach, look what we found! Biscuitville! We just had to send this picture to our neighbor, Jenny, since she loves the way you say..."Bischkitz!!"

The long drive down left a lot of time for you to snooze in the car. I found out that you are still, even at age 9, not too old to need a snuggle with Mom's hand to help you sleep more soundly. So sweet.

So, we ended up making it to Myrtle Beach...however, between the lower end hotel (thanks to Mom trying to save a buck - I learned my lesson for sure!) and the chillier, rainy weather, we only really got one good day for beach and water fun. Luckily, I snapped some pictures of your first dip in the ocean for this trip as you can see below.

you were excited to have the freedom of going
shirtless at the beach

Poor kid kept getting your sand castles wiped out when it was closer to the surf so you chose this safer spot...right by the stinky trash can. Ha.

you wanted me to take a picture of your creation - ta dah!

The first night, we hit a nearby seafood buffet. You tried your hand at cracking the crab legs and did a pretty good job! So much work for just a little bit of meat.

The next adventure of the trip was probably my favorite. We went to see a super cool, musical and acrobatic, aquatic pirate dinner show called the Pirates' Voyage. The set was ginormous and there were live animals, pyrotechnics, acrobats, singing and dancing. We all loved it! You even got to help out in the show (chasing ducks for the pirates)!

the audience (us) sat in these bleacher rows to eat
dinner while we watched the show below

On the way home from the show, we stopped for a round of mini-golf. It was a really fun night. I love our little family.

Daddy being silly, pretending to be a gorilla

family selfie at the top of the golf course, overlooking Myrtle Beach
(if you look close, you can see the giant ferris wheel in the background)

Later in the week, we headed out to do some beach-side lunch and tourist shopping.

drinking some fancy drinks together ~ you had the super cool pineapple!

we knew when we saw the restaurant logo that we had to eat here
(butt crack!!)

"I wish I were BIG!"
(if you don't get it, google that movie quote)

shark attack! luckily you pulled Dad to safety

and we even rode the giant ferris wheel...it took some coaxing
but you finally agreed to get in the cage with us

clearly, you are not so sure...but you did it without any tears

When we got back to the hotel, you and I decided to try out our new boogie boards after searching for seashells together.

It was fun but sadly lasted about 15 minutes in the ocean before you got stung by a jelly fish. (What?! Seriously. Crazy, I know). Luckily, our hotel had a cup of vinegar for you and instructions for us on how to help with the stinging. You handled it like a champ, but I suspect it will take you quite a long time to get back into any murky oceans again. Poor thing.

After your leg felt better, we headed back out to do some more eating and shopping. (Are you noticing a theme here?) Eat. Shop. Eat. Shop. Eat. Below, Daddy is trying to show you how to finesse a chicken wing to optimize the meat. By the third picture, you can tell that you aren't quite buying it. Ha.

Surprisingly we met up with the Doelling family (the day before) who was also vacationing in Myrtle Beach at the same time. Over ice cream, they told us about this awesome shop called Ridemakerz where kids can build their own remote control cars. So, while we were out shopping, we tracked it down. You got to pick out all the parts, use real tools and put it all together (with a little help) like a real pit crew. See below.

they even timed how long it took you to drill everything together and wrote it on a
tag for you, then put it on your shirt and announced your time to the whole store

ta dah!

That night we (you guessed it) went out to dinner at a local joint. Here I am posing for you (who took the picture) with the silly prop at the restaurant.

The next day we decided we had had enough of Myrtle Beach and wanted to go home early. We stopped for some ice cream at another local spot before we left. This picture sums up how we all were feeling about this particular vacation spot. Peace out, Myrtle Beach ~ we are heading north!

you had just told me, after not being able to finish your
ice cream, "Mom, you gotta win this one for the family!"
(tapping out!)

More snoozing once we hit the road to our next destination, Winston-Salem, NC. We were in search of blue skies and sunshine. Our only stipulation was that the next hotel have a pool!

And it did!

yay! a clean pool all to ourselves!

The next morning, we hit the road again. Next destination - home sweet home!

on our last leg before home...here I was trying to
sneak a video of you crooning in the backseat

We finally made it home and it felt great. We even had several days to relax before jumping right into a brand new school year for you. Luckily, I had gotten nearly everything ready ahead of time so we had plenty of time to spend together without stress. I wanted to be sure to soak in these last days with you before homework and the minutiae of the school year bowls us over.

my almost 4th grader showing how you
can make it across the balance beam

bike rides to the park on our beloved trail

And finally...the day was upon us. Your first day of school! Look out, 4th grade ~ here you come!

(Forgive the deluge of first day of school pictures, but I am a very typical, extremely proud mama after all!)

Walking to the bus stop with your bud, Ana. It was really nice tohave a friendly face help you feel more comfortable that morning.

Your first year riding the yellow bus to and from school. You were a bit nervous about it but did fabulously!

you're off! the school bus in the upper left corner of picture

And here is the after school update - success!

Since you requested a "party" to celebrate your first day of school, but it was such a spur of the moment suggestion, you settled for my getting you and Ana a cookie cake. Giant chocolate chip cookies make everything a party, right?

You did fantastic getting used to the new school year, including riding the bus. For a little while, you let me meet you at the bus stop after school. However, as you became more and more comfortable with the new routine, you wanted to walk home with friends on your own. Each little bit of independence is bittersweet. You don't need me as much as you used to (and sometimes it hurts) but all that means is that my kiddo is growing up. Proud of you.

As fun as starting a brand new school year can be, we also had some sadness to balance out the happy. Audrey's dog, Mr. Yang, is nearing the end of his life. At 18 years old, his body is finally failing him. One day after school, we headed to Audrey's house to bring Yangies some Arby's roast beef sandwiches and give him some snuggles. As hard as it is to say goodbye, it is a natural part of life and nothing to fear.

feeding him some Arby's

August also brought a surprise from a new friend of mine who owns the company Deconstructing Gender. You see, in our family we believe that people should be able to express themselves however they choose and be anyone they want to be and no one should be restricted from hair styles, clothing, behavior, or anything else based on their sex/gender. That is what Deconstructing Gender is all about as well. I bought a shirt from this company a while ago and you have been asking for a shirt like mine for some time, so I ordered you one in the spring. Unfortunately, it never arrived. You continued to ask about it and I was finally able to track down the guy (Avery) who creates these shirts and explain that we never received ours. He apologized profusely and told me that something had happened to his distributor and that he would work on getting us our shirt as soon as possible. Over several conversations with him where I told him all about you, he not only eventually sent you your shirt, but also several other goodies (another shirt and some stickers) as well! Here you are (with Ana) in your awesome new shirt.