Life as it happens with our three beautiful and adopted children, Shayla, Yamira and Manuel: Happy Chinese New Year

We have had a relatively quiet day here. Ping went to school and I went to swimming. After I picked up Ping, I went to CVS where she got to pick a special treat and then to the bank. I had ideas of doing a million things around here. Nothing got done. I hate days like that.

One thing we do daily is we empty Ping's backpack and she shows me what she did for the day. She loves to do this. She takes extreme pride in this. Everything she makes is supposedly for me and she always asks if Daddy is going to love it. Well of course he is, how couldn't he. Then as soon as Daddy gets home, he gets to see what is in the backpack. Then she tells him she made everything for him. It's adorable. Well today she hands me a brown paper bag and says there is a snack in there for her. So of course I open it because this is all very odd. Well I pull out a packet of raisins, an old carrot, some birdseed, some nuts and a 1/2 of an orange with some seed on it. I said "Honey, I don't think this is a snack for you, I think it's for the animals outside." So I told her we would show Daddy when he got home. So of course the minute he came in the door, we showed him the contents of the bag. He says that it's obviously for outside and then Ping pipes up and says "yeah, it's bird seed." Okay, why did you tell me it was a snack for you then???? Anyway, I encouraged the two of them to go out in the dark and put it all out in the yard. So I suited up Ping in warm gear while Bill put his boots on and they trekked outside in 6 degree weather to put all the snacks out for the birds and squirrels, etc. It was so adorable. I handed them a flashlight and from inside I tried to take some cute photos, but none came out nicely. I then got the video recorder out. I need to now listen to see if you can at least hear them as the recorder wasn't picking up their image at all. It was so adorable. Ping is yelling at me "Mama I did it, I did it. Daddy, don't let me fall. Daddy, you are making a big mess, a big mess. " She didn't understand why he would allow the seed to overflow the bird feeder. She also was wondering where the ants were. If anyone remembers, she had an ant issue where they flew up her legs during the summer. She forgets nothing!!!!! It was so cute to see them both out there bundled up at 6:30 pm and just hanging out feeding the birds. It warmed my heart. It was such a beautiful thing to witness. She was so cute. She kept saying "Don't let me fall Daddy" because we have a banking that drops right down to the street. It can be a little scary! I told her to make an angel before she came back in. I had never done it with her and neither has Bill. She knew how though. They must have taught her at school. It was so precious. I didn't get a picture of it though. Bummer. I was proud of her for ripping off her Princess dress and getting dressed again in her earlier day clothes just so she could fee the birdies and such.

After the dark excursion, Bill heated up our Chinese take out. It was okay. Nothing grand. We gave Ping her card and some lai see. That is money in a Chinese red envelope. It was rather hysterical. Twice this girl had me in stitches today. Earlier I said "Ping, Daddy is getting us some Chinese food for dinner" as I clapped my hands and smiled with excitement. She looked at me, scrunched her face, crossed her arms over her chest and said in a very angry voice "I want cow." It wasn't whiney like normally, it was downright angry. Between the voice and the face, I just broke into hysterics. She had been asking for cow just before I told her about the food, so she didn't care what I had to say. LOL. Cow is Ping speak for chocolate milk.

Tonight she goes to open the red envelope and she finds the dollars in there. Married people are supposed to give unmarried people and children these red envelopes with money in them and they are supposed to be in even denominations. So I said to her "show me the money so I can take a photo honey." She literally slips the money into the top of her dress!!!!!! Bill turns to me and says "Who the heck taught her that?????" It was hysterical. I was able to get a few photos of it. This little one is so happy. She really is a complete joy.

In other news, Sarah's mom is being transported to a rehabilitation hospital, so that is great progress. She will get excellent care and hopefully grow stronger so that she may come home and enjoy time with her friends and family!!!!

Hope you are well and Happy New Year!!!!!

Mama Out!!!!