Where is the Party?!

Putting kids to bed is an art. You: read stories, say prayers, kisses, brush teeth, etc. etc. etc. You close the door and then BAM the kids hear a noise (cell phone, computer, front door opening) and you see the above! They are hanging off their bed just hoping they can come out! We have tad poles in our little pond near our house. Everyday the kids go out to report on how they are doing. Asa somehow ends up near/in the pond and Miriam has enjoyed better health now that the weather is a bit warmer.

Salome is clapping for herself here! She is pretty cute walking around these days and loves to give herself validation. It probably helps that all of us coo, clap and cheer her on every time she walks! It is really fun to see her personality come out more. She is an extrovert big time. Loves people, pictures of people and will squeal when she sees other people at the park coming towards her. She hates to leave groups of people! If she could, she would have a party everyday.

Piggy Tails

One of the joys of having little girls is doing their hair. It hit me yesterday that Salome's hair was probably long enjoy for some small pig tails!

Sorry- the light not the best here. But once she realized I had the camera all she wanted was that!

Her new words are: baby, and she can point to parts of her body when you say the name in Chinese. She is without the aid (addiction?) of a pacifier and is sleeping through the night! She now hates the bath, loves to drink milk and still loves her Mommy! We are blessed indeed!

Our weekend

We had a wonderful weekend! We were able to spend the weekend at our dear friends Ryan and Aimee's house! We watched their kids and they spent a weekend away! Ryan and Aimee will return the favor this weekend when Joab and I go away! It is a pretty good set up :) In total- we watched their four kids and our three for a grand total of seven ages from age 8 to 1. Also there are a ton of other kids (family of ten) in the next house over so in general it was a busy, fun, exhausting time! Also, you go through A LOT of food when you need to feed seven kids! The above photo some of the fun at the park.

Look at that blue sky! Also they live right next door to an amusement park- note the Ferris wheel.

The pickle in the middle- Rachel almost four. She was my pal all weekend!

Baby having fun= kids fighting over who gets to have fun with her.

This is Sammy he is two. I loved it that one person in the neighbor asked if they were twins!

I am just going to declare it now. Salome is walking! She is getting braver and quicker!

Also she loves cell phones. She will pretty much pretend with any toy/hand that she is picking up a call!

Hospital Time

Most of your know we have been in the hospital this week for a bad case of pneumonia. We are home now and hope to be better soon! All the TV you want, all the Sprite you want and the only catch? An IV once a day! Mei was pretty happy to corporate for that!

Asa was thinking this was pretty nice- Cartoon Network on the TV and a bed that you could play with to go up and down!

She is cute, she is walking a little bit and she gets into everything= Salome Grace Elaine Meyer.

Something that is actually "working"

We gave up television/movies until the weekend starting in September. Last year Miriam and Asa could watch some television (all in Chinese) once Mei finished her homework. However, the Post Traumatic Television Whining (PTTW) was too much for Mommy. So since then it has only been books Monday- Friday. And on Saturday they get a movie. I have been blown away how much not have PTTW in my family has actually made me enjoy the evenings! Even the baby gets into the action.

15 months. Can say: Mama, Mom, Mommy (she loves me the best), Daddy, Bye Bye, Ayi (Chinese for Auntie) and ME, MINE and AH ME (she loves herself the second best). She loves to eat, read books, talk to people, wave at people. And in general a joy to be around. She can walk- but perfers to crawl very fast and be picked up.

Banana last night was a pirate hook. And he was the pirate.

I cut his hair last night. Only to discover GREEN permanent marker all over the back of his head! I was shocked and at first thought it might be blood poisoning (why do Moms always go to the worst option first ??). So, I looked at him in the eyes and said, "Asa where did this come from?". He looked right back at me and said "the robbers did it". I had to laugh. But did remind him that fighting with markers at Sunday School is not the best way to learn about God!

A Get Well Soon Smile

Dear Christy Grandma

So sorry we have to get a new knee!
Hope you feel much better soon!

Love,
Asa

March Update

Asa lately MUST create. It is like he has to- very interesting to see. So two nights ago he made, cut out and colored a pirate robot (to the left). After that he had to take two paper cups, tape and markers and create a spinning top thing. He knows exactly what he wants to do! Also the morning is not complete if he does not come to breakfast with this knight helmet on. He keeps us laughing and creative. Thankful for that!

Salome still loves her baby dolls! And she can not put them into the baby stroller and walk all over the house. She can take a few steps without hanging on to anything and will be full on walking/running soon!

The World Expo (used to be called the World's Fair) was in Shanghai this year. It is over but the main attraction - The Chinese Pavilion is still standing. We braved the 40,000 person a day crowds last Friday to take the whole family there. This picture is not the best but when thousands of people are behind you in line you do not have a lot of time to snap photos!

Here are some of the crowds. We thankfully, had a stroller so in most lines we could just go right to the front. However, that meant that all these people are behind you in line!

A quiet moment in front of some Water Lilly Plants. Miriam also for the first time in her life chose to wear ribbons in her hair.

Here are the waiting cues just to buy tickets. Thankfully most of these were not used anymore! During the World Expo most people had to wait up to five hours to just get into the Pavilion!

Inside the Pavilion we saw many things on the history and culture of China. All in all I am glad we went- but I never want to go back! Yikes, too many people!