Mimi: The Tween Zone

In July 2008 I became a mother to this beautiful little six year old girl. This was the moment I met her.  Subhalakshmi was so timid and scared and I was instantly in love. 

It took her a while to warm up to me but her little nearly 3 year old brother was having none of that.  So we took them to the park and let kids do what they do.  This is the first hint of a bemused smile from her toward her little brother.  It would not be the last.

It was a lot of work and time and patience (maybe even some blood, sweat and tears) but slowly she warmed up as she acclimated to her new life and learned to trust us.  By the age of 7 her personality was in full effect:

Then came age 8 and I began to see the beginnings of a feisty little mini me developing! 

By 9 there was NO denying it.  She was a full-on Diva!

And a bit of a drama-queen.  No, really... she even admitted it!

Next came the double-digits and as she turned 10 she seemed to immediately blossom into a young lady, yet still maintaining her youthful innocence. 

And now here we are.  Mimi is 11 years old.  I cannot believe how far we have grown together in these past 5 years.  She came into my life so scared and confused and developed into a spirited, sweet, loving, sensitive and compassionate young girl who always gets in trouble for being "too social."  She has more friends than I can count and it is because her spirit is as bright as her smile.

I am in awe of my daughter. 

It's all about the Lincolns, baby....

On the day of the sleepover, Mimi lost her tooth.  As she is nearing 11 I am not exactly sure if she believes in the "tooth fairy" or is just milking it for what it's worth (current rate: $5.00 a tooth).  However, I did not want to potentially embarrass her by having the fabled fairy exchange enamel for cash while her friends were over so I set it aside for another day.

Which means.... I forgot.

Cue to tonight when Mimi and Max returned home.  I approached her with a $5.00 and explained that since she was busy with her friends the tooth fairy didn't want to bother her so here.

Mimi looked at me and the money with a smile and ran to her room to put it in her piggy bank (which is really a ceramic cupcake, but, whatevs.....)  About five minutes later she walks into my room and hands me the baggie containing her tooth and with a hint of a smirk she said:

"Here, Mommy.... make sure you get your money back."

Who needs sleep?

Saturday night I hosted a sleepover for mutual friends of Mimi and Max and preparations were under way... After shopping for all the required elements to ensure a successful party,

Max helped to ready the house for our guests:

And then our sleepover guests arrived.  There were six children in my home.  It was loud with laughter and squeals of excitement and delight.  To say they had fun would be an understatement. Here are some highlights that were captured.

 

 

 

 

How did Mama get through the night?  With a little help from my friends at Clorox, of course!

Smashing Good Time....

Every Friday when I have the kids it is "family night..."  We have dinner and then watch a movie.  Tonight at dinner, the conversation took a turn for the awesome.

Mimi: Who is your fave... Batman or Hulk?

Me: Batman.

Mimi: Hulk is mine because ... Wait Mommy! You be Captain America and say "it..."

Me: Hulk, smash.

Mimi: NO!! You have to pause for the count of 4. Do it again.

Me: *points* Hulk *1...2...3...4* smash!
 

 

Mimi: *makes Hulk fists then turns to Max* Who are you?

Max: Thor.

Mimi: Where is your hammer?

Max: *raises his corn dog high*

Mimi: What does Thor say to Captain America?

Max: *in a gravely voice* I'm Batman!

--- signed, Proud Mom

Wordless Wednesday

Three Cheers for Family!

Tonight we had the joy of dinner with Grandma Martha, Aunt Dawn and cousins Jessica and Alyssa, all of whom were in town for a cheering competition!  We met up at OK Cafe in Atlanta for great and easy conversation.  It was so good to see my NY family, however brief it was. 

Wordless Wednesday

Class Pictures

Max, First Grade:

Mimi, Fourth Grade:

Barbie Girl...

One of my favorite Mother/Daughter traditions is the Saturday afternoon manicure and pedicure. 

This week's theme is in celebration of every child's favorite candy-coated holiday -- Halloween!

Wordless Wednesday

(Mimi at age 6)

School is Cruel?

Mimi loves to make fun of me do imitations of me.  She will put on my glasses and start talking like me.  It's quite hilarious and is really justified payback for the years of making fun of doing imitations of my own mother. 

Well there is one way my daughter is nothing like me.  All who know me is aware that I am an avid reader.  Mimi, however, acts like she's being subjected to cruel acts of torture when it is time to read her chapter for the night.  I'm talking thrown herself on the floor, stomping feet, tears streaming and shouts of "IT'S NOT FAIR!" 

 

Seriously... have you ever seen someone look that miserable while reading? 

Our story so far....

Long long ago I began a blog to chronicle the journey my (now ex-) husband and I took with starting our family through adoption.  We brought home our son Max on May 14, 2006.  He was eight months old:

For a short time I kept a blog for everyone to keep up on the expansion our family with the arrival of our daughter Mimi.  She came home on July 19, 2008 at the age of 6.  Her story picked up with her little brother's on the main family blog.

I stopped blogging when life took a turn down SNAFU Road but I have been finding my voice again and enjoying my children (now ages 10 and 7) in ways I never thought imaginable. I always found blogging to be an incredible tool to enable friends and family to stay connected.  So I'm back.

Here are my kids today:

And then there's me:

Single mom working full time and trying to find my place in the world after spending years of it lost.  I have a blog (that needs to be updated!) which is a fun place for my "alter-ego" Spank to wax poetic about the things that really matter in the world: Hot guys, great movies, pop culture, current events and my favorite books.

Golden Showers?

Do you ever wonder what kid's may be thinking when it is really quiet in the car while driving in a rainstorm?  I did, until tonight when from out of the quiet came the voice of Mimi:

You know, rain may be God's pee. 

Now there was a pause.  It was just long enough for me to process the hilarity of what just came out of her mouth.  I only got out the word "MIMI..." from my lips before she continued with an exasperated tone:

Oh come on... Even God is laughing in my heart right now.

The tears fell ... well, they fell like rain.. that's how hard we all laughed after that.  Max exclaimed:

Good one, Mimi.

 

Yes.  Good one, indeed.

Weekend Getaway

Mimi was invited to spend this weekend at Lake Lanier with her best friend Lauren and her family.  I have to be honest, I was very anxious about this trip.  It was the first time Mimi actually went away beyond a sleepover at a friend's house.  Her father and I discussed the pros and cons and we both agreed it was time to loosen the ties and let her enjoy this time with her best friend.  We both knew that she was in excellent hands with Lauren's mom, Lisa. 

 

 

Mimi had a fabulous time and came home with many stories to share of good times at the lake.  While Max certainly missed his sister he was able to have a great weekend as well, spending quality time with two of his other favorite girls.  Me:

 

 



and Dagny who came over for a swimming playdate:

Everyone had a great time. 

Wordless Wednesday

A Perfect 10

That's my daughter.  She turned 10 on Saturday. So we had a pool party to celebrate!

That's my son.  He's 6 years old.  He had to endure a day at the pool with a dozen "older women."  So what did he do to entertain himself (and the rest of us)?

Isn't that what tubes are for? *shrugs* Well, the 10 year old girls reacted to this much like I hope they do 10 years from now while at a pool where a boy is trying to get their attention:

Yelling: "Stop it!"  And like most boys, he was undeterred. 

*sighs* I have my hands full, I know.  I apologize in advance to mother's everywhere.... 

Fun Fact: 

Sunday morning I was preparing breakfast for the girls who slept over. One girl told me that she didn't like eggs. I then asked the other children if they liked cheese in their eggs.  She quickly amended "I like cheese in my eggs."  To which I said "Oh so you want eggs then?"  She hesitated, then asked "Well, what kind of cheese?"  I replied "American."  She asked "shredded or sliced?" I said "sliced." She sighed and said "No. I don't like that. I'll just have cereal." -- I will spare you the discussion on which cereal she was willing to eat. And no milk.  Because she doesn't like milk.   

Now you know why I drink on the job. ;)

Wordless Wednesday

Third Grade... Buh-Bye....

I don't know who is more relieved to FINALLY say goodbye to the third grade but it may be a tie, thanks to the CRCT mandatory testing. Today was Mimi's end of the school year party which I was honored to attend.

 

Mimi obviously has no trouble making friends.  She was like a social butterfly the entire afternoon. 

I am immensely proud of Mimi.  She has overcome many hurdles during the most challenging year of school for her yet.  Now with fourth grade is on the horizon I have no doubt that she will survive the many late nights working through homework assignments as I try to foster in her my love of reading while she, in turn, tries to encourage me to attempt long hand multiplication. 

We always find ways to help each other, though I still use a calculator for simple math and she still hates to read.