Happy Thanksgiving ~ Now, Onward to Christmas!

M ~

Oh my goodness! Apologies in advance for all of the animal spam but as I peruse the pictures from this month, it became abundantly clear that our beloved pets are a huge part of our life! So furry. So fun.

Anyhoo...before I get into all of the furball deliciousness, I want to share a funny from one evening when Audrey was over for a visit and we decided to get out a new game of ours called "Freedom of Speech". Here goes...see below (as shared with our friends and family on social media):

"Playing a game last night where you had to get others to guess the phrases on your card without saying the words and M pulled the term "booty call"...

M: "This is what Grandma does to us all the time!"
All of us: "...???..."
M: "When she accidentally uses her phone and..."
Me: "Butt dial?"
M: "No! Booty call!"
All of us: "😳 Ummm... 😂"

Booty call...butt dial...I suppose it does sound similar to an 11 year old. Ha.

Ok, now on to the animal spam!

you and I took Suzy into the woods for a chilly, November
walk...I adore when you come with me like this

Grizz snuggled with Mom after babysitting the
crazy neighbor pup, Thorfin

GG is ready to get this show on the road and
decorate the house for Christmas!

an illustration of how hard it is to eat peacefully at our house

another illustration of how hard it is to read peacefully at our house

sunlight, Christmas tree, favorite kiddo

you actually slept in your own bed after I decked it out in new,
festive, Christmas bedding! as you can see from the sunlight
pouring in the window...you slept in late, too!

Dad also went to California for business this month, so we held down the fort (with Lao Lao's help) and even had to weather a small power outage. Here we are, being silly while sitting in the driveway trying to charge our phones so we have sufficient battery power to have an alarm in the morning. We sure do make lemonade out of our lemons. Don't we, kid?!

a thank you note you left for me in the bathroom:
"Dear Mom, Thank you for being there for me. Even dad
is not here, you are doing your best to Christmas-fi the house.
I didn't want to say it"

After a few days, Dad came home and we all surprised him at the airport. The dogs were so confused about what was happening. Ha.

And California isn't the only place we go that makes the animals miss us...

Lucky sent you off to school but made you leave your
sweatshirt so he could snuggle with it while you are away

The day before Thanksgiving break, I picked you up from school and found you attempting to busk with your friend, Delaney. Since middle schoolers aren't known for their expendable cash, you didn't make any money...but you had fun trying!

our little entrepeneurs

We also had a surprise house guest when Malcolm asked to stay with us for one night on his way through to his dad's for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to have him here with us and, among other things, you made gingerbread campers with him. You are so silly together and he is such a joy to have around. Definitely welcome at our house anytime!

The day before Thanksgiving was your first day off school and since Dad and I both had to work, Lao Lao took you out for lunch, pedicures, and trampoline bouncing!

text I got from Lao Lao

And finally it was Turkey Day, which we spent at Joe and Tina's with the Yersavich family. It was a nice, relaxing, fun way to give thanks.

the cheese balls I made because I don't do anything normal

Uncle Joe carving the bird

Thanksgiving aftermath

Daddy and me with our 'homage to
Christmas Vacation' shirts

your gingerbread turkey

And finally, what's the best thing to do between the end of Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season madness?! Nap!

"but first, let's call a meeting of the animals"

kitty cat nap time ~ clearly approve of your new
Christmas bedding

Lucky is beginning to cuddle with us more and more

and Grizz has always been a snuggler...even if
it's with your butt

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Now, onward to Christmas!

Love,

Mama

Mailboxes Like Candy, Too

Mali ~

Hi, baby! I'll start off this month with a tiny picture recap from September. I forgot to include my annual birthday flowers from Lao Lao with the single red rose. A tradition she remembers every single year. I hope that, in my own unique ways, I can make you feel as special and cherished as Lao Lao makes me feel as her child. We certainly have a good role model (Lao Lao) in our family.

bouquet for year 44

Next up to start us off are a couple pics of our zoo.

I've taken to walking the dogs at sunrise lately. I grab a cup of coffee and away we go. It's a nice way to wake up and relax all at once...plus it gives me a chance to start the day with gratitude (always a good idea).

Suzy at sunrise

This is just a cute moment I snapped as I sat talking to Dad over coffee another morning. I wonder what was so interesting out that window?

Last month was my birthday but this month we celebrated Daddy's. We took him out to dinner and to hit golf balls at the range for on his actual birthday. Then had another birthday dinner at Sakura with my brothers (and Monica and Kenzie) and Lao Lao to celebrate Daddy, Lao Lao, and Uncle Forge's birthdays.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

I had to use the restroom while we were at the driving range and this little message on the mirror was so on point, I had to snap a photo. Remember what it says, kiddo...and reject any distortions you may encounter in your own life. Promise?

"Warning: Reflections in the mirror may be
distorted by socially constructed ideas of beauty"

Since it's October, that means everything pumpkins, harvest, and Halloween. Since you don't like anything spooky, this was our front door decoration. I like it.

I'd been hearing a lot about your new friend Avery from school and we finally got to line up our schedules and hang out with her...we took her to Fujiyama and a pumpkin patch one beautiful afternoon. Avery is a nice kid and I'm sure glad that the friends you seem to gravitate towards are good eggs.

You carved the pumpkins on your own and yours was actually the "YEET!" jack-o-lantern while Avery's had a bulldog paw print for your middle school mascot.

Lucky the kitten is getting bigger and bigger...he's now big enough to see over the tub and is extra curious about bath-time. His little pot belly cracks me up.

We took him back to the vet for another check up and some boosters. He has more than doubled his weight and is healthy, healthy, healthy! Overall, he was pretty calm during his check up as long as he had you to protect him. He loves his Mali.

Later that day, you and I had an impromptu window-shopping session at Easton and I had almost forgotten how fun it is to have a lazy afternoon with you to just meander around somewhere and be silly together. It seems we always have a tight schedule to adhere to anymore so this felt amazing.

getting stuck in a way too small jacket at NorthFace
and laughing your butt off about it

passed out with our sweet Susan

another one of my peaceful, sunrise walks...I love autumn

You were craving dragon fruit one day so we made a trip to the local international grocery and satisfied your craving and I was pleasantly surprised to find a yummy coffee from New Orleans. We both scored!

One afternoon I heard a lot of strange commotion from your bedroom and the picture below is what I found when I peeked through the door...Grizz and Lucky playing in his tent. Silly animals.

sometimes on my walks, I need to pee...and the dogs
are usually quite concerned about where I've gone when
they can't see me for 2 minutes. poor Lao Lao...

Lucky may be tall enough to peek over the tub, but unfortunately (for him), he's not quite tall enough to climb onto the windowsill in our bedroom.

"you want ME to help you up?"

another one of my walks...did I mention that autumn
is my favorite season?

So, I had parent-teacher conferences this month as well. It was kind of a big ordeal since in middle school you have 7 teachers and they all require different meeting times. Yikes! Well, I'm happy to report that your conferences went amazing and all of your teachers said very similar things about how you are a delight to have in their classroom, you are helpful to others (including the teachers), are friendly to one and all, follow directions and put in extra effort in each class. I am so proud of you (and not terribly surprised by these glowing reports). You are such an interesting mix of child and adult, have a kindness that goes well beyond your years, and have surpassed every expectation that I had as to how you would transition into middle school with all of its new challenges (both academically and socially). I'm one beaming mama over here.

this was a poster hanging in the hallway...each 6th
grader had one and it asked about your heroes and
other various details about your personality...when I sent
this picture to Audrey, she cried at your mention of her

our street in autumn

how in the world do you manage to sleep with a dog on your head?

another shot of our trails in autumn with the one
and only Susan Elizabeth

Towards the end of the month, our community had an event called the "Great Pumpkin Glow" and it featured 2,500 illuminated jack-o-lanterns along a walking path and tons of food trucks and games at a nearby park. It was a fun event and some of the pumpkins were amazing!

could this be Trump? ha ha.

yep, that's a toilet. ha ha!

the local schools made scarecrows and here you
found Wilder...your elementary alma mater

This month marked the anniversary of losing Abby a year ago. That was such a rough experience for all of us, but I'm relieved that this anniversary didn't have as much of a sting as I was expecting. It definitely helped that Grizz chose the morning before the anniversary to wake me up like this.

Who does she remind you of? 

Look closely at the picture below and then answer...

Crazy, huh? I swear that Abby is in Grizz somehow...guiding her little spirit at times. I truly swear. 

October also means it's the Fall Festival out at Dill's where Uncle Kevin and Papaw work. Daddy took you to meet your cousin Sam there one afternoon and, as usual, you both had a blast together. Two peas in a pod. 

Later, you went out to Sam's house for some more fun with Memaw. 

For some reason, October brought several days off of school for you. On one particular morning, Daddy surprised you with breakfast with your buddy, Jocelyn. You two have been friends since you were about 4 or 5. While you've spent several of these years at different schools, you're back at the same middle school now and have maintained your friendship which is really nice to be building a history together. Her mom told me that she has wanted to have short hair for a long time and has always used you to justify why her mom should let her. Well, she finally got the haircut she's wanted and it looks fantastic! What is that old saying, "imitation is the best form of flattery"? Ha. 

And speaking of haircuts...Daddy took you to get yours cut and colored again and sent me the picture below. Ha ha! Total rock star!

He also sent me the picture below with a text stating, "God, I love this kid!"...evidently this is the note you left with the receipt from your breakfast at Gena's with Daddy. The staff there have known you since you were tiny and adore you...the note below is likely an indication of why they adore you so much. You are so sweet.

"Thank you for the good food. Have a great weekend!"

Haven't done this in a while, but below is some good ol' dog shaming. Grizz has decided that the likes to eat snacks out of the litter box. Blech! and she also brings them on our bed while she eats them! Double blech!

"My name is Grizz and I eat my brother's poop"

So, this is one of the first times that Pipsqueak (our resident grumpy cat) has agreed to let Lucky sleep with her. I just had to capture the moment. It's not a lot but it's a start!

But, wait! What is this I spy? ... I think she's warming up to him! Yay!

With Halloween fast approaching, we had a good old-fashioned pumpkin carving party. Audrey and Lao Lao joined us and the pumpkins turned out pretty darn good!

need a bigger knife, Audrey? ha.

L to R: Dad, you, Lao Lao, and Audrey
(yours says Wilkinson around the whole pumpkin)

And finally it was time for Halloween! I was able to wrap up your costume and I think it turned out great (if I do say so myself)!

Jelysa and Jeffrey joined us for trick-or-treating.

Lao Lao had to help you navigate the porch stairs as visibility was not perfect in that big box, but we made it work. You also cracked me up as you would get up to people's doors, ring the bell, then step back and squat down so it looked like a mailbox was just randomly sitting on their porch. Ha. It was hilarious.

And of course we had to show Will, our favorite and best mailman on the planet, your super cool tribute the the United States Postal Service. He absolutely loved it! He's known you since you were super tiny and has always been friendly and kind to us all. He truly appreciated this costume...just like we appreciate him! 

Well, that about wraps up our October. 

Happy Halloween, kiddo!

Love you so much!

Mama