One month already and Jaden finished his first year of school!

Well, we've been home 2 weeks now and things are settling in.

I had my first  Mother's Day as a mom of four. I'm amazed by the fact that I have 4 kids.  I hope things stay as easy as they have been so far.  Jaden continues to do well as a big brother and the big kids continue to be supportive and helpful as well.

Some things are a little different now.  Just 16 months ago,  Tim and I were empty nesters with a quiet house and full cabinets.  How weird is that?  Now we have 6 people at the dinner table and a perpetual grocery list.  The house is decorated with pink stuff and Legos.

It is amazing how much more laundry we have.  Instead of the pretty little gazebo we had been considering we now have Fort Sanford and a plastic kiddy pool and a water table. 

Instead of my quiet oasis of relaxation, the bathroom is now an indoor splash park. 

Alright, so things aren't really just "a little" different.  :)  Would I do it all over again?  Absolutely.

Jaden finished his first year of school and did very well.  Our goal for pre-K this year was not that he would be a reader or comfortable in math but simply that he learn to enjoy school and start to learn social skills.  If he was given a letter grade for each of those he'd probably get an A+ and a B respectively.  He is still working on his social skills but then, aren't we all?  He has not developed the best "filters" yet and will repeat anything he hears at school.  Ugh.  He loved school this year (well, except Spanish) and even asked to go back shortly after returning from China.  He will do Pre-K again this year and will hopefully be ready to tackle more of the "academics."   Hopefully this time next year he will know all of his letters and numbers but even if he doesn't, if he is continuing to work on his first two goals, all will be well. 

August 2013

May 15, 2014 (Hasn't he grown?!)

He is still such a character.  When he and Tim left for church, leaving me and little sister behind, he came to me and very seriously said, "Now remember, don't let anyone in the house while I'm gone.  Wait, you can let in my people--Laura, Daddy, Gege or Laila (Laura's roommate) but nobody else!"  I think the Snow White video we watched last week really affected him.  :)

Mitch and Laura are both moving on to new academic challenges.  Mitch finished undergrad and is going to start med school in August.  Laura is about to take her part 1 boards for med school and is FINISHED with the book work!

Katie is growing every day.  She has had lots of firsts...she met her Aunt Tami and Uncle Felix, Nai Nai and YeYe, cousin Brody, Uncle Danny and Auntie, jumped into the pool (over and over and over) after watching her xiao gege do it, went to the zoo, had her first shopping trip with just the girls; how much her life has changed in just a month!

She is also learning some words now...Mama, Dada, Gege, Sister, Jay, kitty, pretty, UP!, dog, bye-bye, hi, Katie, that.  She understands many, many more and has found a few that she dislikes including "no" and "gentle."  We are still using some sign language with her to try to help her communicate until she can speak and she knows several signs...up, milk, more, ball.   She is enjoying books, especially Hop on Pop and Go, Dog, Go.  We had a major accomplishment today, she used the potty chair!  Whoot.  She is not nearly ready to potty train but at least we can start.  As far as her comfort level here, she still wants to be held if we are out of the house but is much more independent when we are home.  She is starting to be less frightened of strangers but we still have a long way to go on that front.  She doesn't get nearly as nervous out in public if people are talking to me and ignoring her, but if people want to try to talk her to she gets very anxious.  She has 2 doctors appointments (new patient physical and dental exam) coming up soon and I am not looking forward to them.  She is not likely to be happy when they want to examine her.  Prayers please!