The Great Pumpkin Search

Could this be my pumpkin

Yep, this is the one, dimples and all!

She made me think of Laura Ingalls (1/2 pint) running to her daddy through the pumpkin patch.

.

It was such a beautiful October day.

  

 

I told daddy, "drive crazy," daddy!

Lots of giggles on this ride......you could hear them coming.

 

We took the horsey train for a ride around the big farm.  There was a little hill that we drove over and on our second trip you said, hands in the air everyone!  Mama, I'm lovin' this.

 We loved every minute of spending time together and making memories.

Social Skills - Progress

Liliah has made her first friend this year in pre-school.  This is BIG progress for her. She has been content to play alongside others, but not really take an interest in any one particular peer.   This is Liliah's second year of pre-school and she has had exposure to her peers through church as well as limited daycare time.  Socially, I can see this is an area that suffered in developing because of her early beginnings of orphanage/foster care.  When we were in China she was fine with both of us.  Once home, she did not like any other woman except for me, but PREFERRED daddy for at least 8 months.  Just a couple of months ago, she said I like you mommy, but I love daddy.  She said it as a matter of fact and not in a mean tone.  I was surprised as I know we have bonded and that she loves me.  Daddy talked to her later and realized that she thought she could only love 1 person.  She now understands and verbalizes that she loves us BOTH...that you can love more than 1 person.  It took her 4 months @ 4 times a week to open up to her main pre-school teacher.  The other two aids, she doesn't even remember their names.  I have realized that she has to begin to trust someone first (they have to give her room to do so) and then she will like or love them.  She can't take on more than 1 person.  Today, her teacher said she had to sit down with Liliah because she told another little girl that wanted to play with her and Lily that she didn't like her and took Lily's hand and led them away.  In talking with the teacher, I did say that I was glad that she told me about the incident and we'd work on it at home and she'd continue to monitor/work with her in class.  I did remind her that this is actually progress.  That she actually decided to show interest and pick a friend instead of indifference.  I can see that this is Liliah now being able to move out and trust someone with friendship.  When I talked with Liliah in the car, I replayed the scenario and put her in the other little girls shoes....asked her how she would feel, would that make her sad?  She agreed that it would. I did explain that if there are kids that hit or kick, she doesn't have to play with them, BUT she still needs to be nice. When asking her about being able to love both daddy and I......and explained that she could have more than 1 friend.....she said....hum, I will have to think about that.  Soon after, she seemed excited and said, I can have more than two friends!  Yes, you can my little one.

Favorite Weekend Pictures

Getting ready for the cruise with family

Enjoying the sights on the cruise. It was cool, but never rained on us

Getting creative with cousin Kimberlee

My two sweet gals . . .

A Cornfield & The Pirate

You and I made a trip to the local farm.  You have been asking if we could go pick corn on the cob.  A funny thing you recently said while eating a chicken leg was, Mom this is good chicken on the cob!

We headed out on our great adventure to find the perfect ears of corn.

We searched high . . .

We searched low . . .

Until we found just the right ones . . .

Mommy stopped to pick some green beans and cucumbers.

I had such a fun time with you at the farm, Liliah.  You are such a pleasure to be with and you are always up for an adventure.

This past Saturday, we made an impromptu trip to the children's museum.  We went shopping for some new fall clothes for mommy and you were such a big help by letting me try on lots of things and told me what you liked.

It was fun to discover that it was pirate day!  You made a treasure map, and a hat in your favorite color.  You are trying to say, Arrghh maties!

Pirates can be nice too!

First Day of Pre-School & Friends

Looking "fabulous" after her first day with no nap.

Mommy dropped by a little early before the end of class.  You were so surprised and happy to see me, which of course, I ate it up! This year daddy will take you to school and I will pick you up. You have a new little girl in your class who was also adopted from China.  Maybe the two of you will become friends.

We were so happy to have Ami, Mia and Liliah meet for the first time. 

Our mommies tried to get a picture of us just before leaving . . .Mia gets "best smile" award, Ami gets the "you make me giggle" award!

All three of you girls are such precious treasures and I loved seeing you together.

Warren and Merrie, thanks for stopping by to have a meal.  We really enjoyed the time of fellowship and playtime.  We hope to do it again in the future!

Creative . . .

Liliah made herself some glasses with a little help. Once the frames were complete she knew exactly how to construct the arms.

 

Here is her silliness while she does one of her favorite activities, puzzles.  We may have an engineer on our hands.  She prefers cars over dollies and even cut one out and taped it to her bedroom door (much to my chagrin).

Good-bye Summer, We're Gonna Miss You

We went to one of our state fairs on your birthday weekend.  We headed straight to get some seats to catch the Alaskan Piggy race.  We giggled and had a good time watching these guys and gals compete.

And they're off . .

Look at her form (she's only 6 months old). I think she was celebrating knowing she was in first!

Ah, sweet victory . . . and grub waiting at the finish line!

 

Getty up, little pony

Enjoying her sweet ride.  She loves to ride and isn't apprehensive at all

We cheered on the lumberjacks as they sawed, chopped, and climbed TALL poles and had a water log roll contest.  We also downed a lot of free McDonald's frozen

lemonades

Did some dancing

Indulged in some cotton candy

This has been another FUN summer of new things learned.  You have wanted to roller and ice skate since you saw Minnie Mouse do it.  You are always eager to learn new things. I think you may grow up to be someone who loves adventure. 

You mastered staying upright

And going forward!

You loved it from day 1.

Sweet face, happily playing in your sandbox while I work in the garden.

We spent the summer in our backyard and mostly local, but have enjoyed every minute.

We also enjoyed doing some fun projects together

We sorted, peeled and broke your crayons to create new crayons

Our new crayon rounds!  They are fun to look at and use. 

We also made our first picture scene and put it in your bathroom to enjoy for the summer.  We have also loved going to the library.  You love to return them down the shoot and "ring" them up on the scanner.  I love our reading time in the evenings before bed.

You also learned to ride a training bike.  This was how we found you in the evening after your first day of riding.  You have mastered riding in a circle around and round the patio  furniture.