Wednesday

I didn't drive to the school today after Mei Li got on the bus.  My car is broken.  

Mi Na went down for a nap right after we took Mei Li to the bus stop.  Stephen had a short quiet time and then I asked him to help me make pizza dough.  I'm really loving this recipe, by the way.  I resisted almost every urge to correct his helpfulness.  He loved watching the "tornado" in the mixer.

He wanted to watch TV after making the dough, but since he lost TV privileges for a week, we made a birthday card for someone special instead.  He sat on my lap and I helped him write the letters.  I love that boy, and I'm glad that Mei Li being at kindergarten has given us more one on one time together.

Mei Li had a frown getting off the bus.  She came straight to me and had me hold her.  Somehow, in the one mile between the school and home, she got sad.  Her brand new friend who is in her class and on her bus, decided to go to the back of the bus (against the rules for kindergarteners) with her older friends instead of sit next to Mei Li.  I consoled her, and she seemed to feel better.  Her smile returned as soon as she saw her neighbor friends playing outside.   I love her resiliency.

We were all ready to go to the swimming pool when I heard Mi Na say, "Da-ee."  Steve had come home early.  He got his suit on and we were about to leave when the ice cream truck rang its bell all the way down our street.  It wouldn't be summer without an ice cream truck treat, so we indulged Mei Li with an ice cream sandwich and Stephen with a cyclone popsicle.  Mei Li said, "Wow! Dad's home early, the ice cream truck came, and now we're going swimming!  This is turning out to be a great night after all!"

 

Mi Na and I stayed at the pool for half an hour and then we rushed home to make the pizza so it would be ready when the others got home.  Mei Li said I got the dough just right this time.

Tonight after the little ones were in bed, we did her homework and read a couple of books.  Then she asked if we could read from The Friend magazine.  We read several stories and after we were done, I told her that no matter what happens at school, she will come home to a house full of people who love her.  She said, "I know."  I'm glad she knows.