Matthew 7:11

Two things - kind of small- happened this week that make me reflect how much more MORE God loves and cares about my kids. First, a baby doll for Salome. We somehow lost her one and only baby doll a couple of weeks ago. She did not seem to mind- she used everything else BUT a baby doll to act like a real baby doll. Today, I was going through old toys and there was another baby doll! Just for her. It might as well been Christmas morning for her! She is THRILLED. And I rejoice that now she has a real baby doll to love and not a water bottle or an action superhero, naked barbie dolls or a dirty diaper!

Miriam and English. Always in my head I am thinking about how in the world do I squeeze in more English for her? This week a friend I barely knew called me to ask if I wanted 3rd and 4th grade home school curriculum? WOW, I had not even thought this far! But yes, please! I don't think I will do all the pieces that came (for free) with this set. So thankful for something to guide us down this unknown path of local school/home school combo deal.

Parenting makes me marvel at God's abundant goodness. He knows what we need before we even ask. Dolls and books included. Matthew 7:11 sums up my feelings this hot sticky afternoon:

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Kids Update

Taking a bath all together is really more about having fun than getting clean. But still they are so cute all together. Someday soon I know Miriam is not going to think this is too fun. Everyday when she goes off to school I remind her to "have fun, you are only eight once". She then reminds me she is closer to 8.5 which is really almost 9. Yikes, where has the time gone?

Salome pretty much calls everything baby these days: dirty diapers are here "babies", plastic water bottle are her "babies, Superman action figures are her "babies". One of my friends expressed she is amazed at how maternal she is for only 17 months. She also says about equal number of words in Chinese as English. I think she likes speaking Chinese more as she gets WAY more attention if she whips it out!

Miriam is gearing up to move from a "little green sprout" at school to a "red scarf student" (think Brownies to Girl Scouts ). She is thrilled to be "growing up" and always amazes us at school. She is also really picking up the local dialect here- Shanghaiese. She will now translate for me at the grocery store when someone is speaking it. She and Asa have a blast together playing outside after school, reading books together and trying to make Salome laugh.

Asa is still coming up with all sorts of things to make us laugh. He usually gets out the dress up clothes whenever he can and even wants to sleep in them at night! He also is loving the warm weather and playing with all our neighbors outside.

So there they are. All my little Hot Dog combos (Meyer-Frank). All very different. All a lot of wonderful work.

Three Peas in Pod

Trying to get all the kids to sleep in one room is...well...interesting. Last night we tried Salome on Asa's bunk and Asa on the floor. The girls slept great- Asa was up at 3 Am saying he could not sleep. So we will try again tonight! The baby woke up at 6:30 AM got off the bed and came to find me! She is loving to be the "big" girl.

Salome has been in a pack in play in the office/guest room/baby room. But with Joab calling early to the USA more and more we needed a way for the office really to be an office! Salome has been napping in the kids room with no problem for a long time so we decided to try and move them all to one room.

Miriam needing "five more minutes" and Salome ready to play.

Miriam awake and pretty :)

This is actually how Asa came to breakfast. With a bear on his head.

And for breakfast? My new passion- homemade sourdough bread! Also potato pancakes and cherry tomatoes!

Motherhood

A very Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and Mom in Law!

Here is a picture of me with kiddos before church. Baby must now have a baby doll in tow when we go out!

We had a really fun day! Thankful for the gift of raising these three little blessings!

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!