A Monster Weekend!

For kids that acted like they had never seen real snow before... you would think they were Eskimos!

Building a snowman was like child's play. Even Jacob has never made a snowman before.
Every detail was mastered by Scott and Athena.
Athena thought it would be OK to break off a few branches from "Mommy's Japanese Plum Tree" to make the arms... I caught her just as she was hanging on a limb.

You would think she is SOOOO, Innocent! :)

Two proud new parents... of a Snowman.

The Monster Squad.

Hannah Sings?

If you've ever heard Hannah sing, :o)
you would know what I'm talking about...

As long as she's having fun, that's all that matters.

Bubbles of Fun!

A 3 day weekend... after awhile, you have to make your own fun.

A quick game of "Sorry" before the girls are off to dance.

Gotcha day Montage Videos

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Gotcha day Montage Videos

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Month...

We all; (cousins included) went the Movie Theater and saw a PG family flick...{but, it's not "Alvin and The Chipmunks"}. ...And an UPDATE:

What's new after a month of being home in the USA.

Well, we received Scott's American Citizenship papers today, and a letter that Athena needs to report in person to USCIS to pick hers up... after she takes the oath, again, signs she wants to stay American, again, and be re~fingerprinted, this time Electronically. Does USCIS ever give adoption families a break... LOL! Actually they have been very friendly and nice... this is just part of the process for Athena as she immigrated and became an American Citizen through adoption; same as Scott a month ago, but her Birth Certificate puts her as an adults' immigration status.

Updates, hmmm...(Alphabetically):

Athena; is wearing glasses, has no cavities, has a plan of action for immunizations, is awaiting her EKG appointment. She is wearing a size 10 pants, and a girls Large shirt & dresses too. She is really happy and she loves her sister Hannah. She is so glad she has a big family with two brothers and she is a loving daughter to her mommy and daddy. She enjoys laughing at silly things. She is understanding a lot of English and speaking many sentences in English. She is doing Chinese Dance Class with her sister Hannah, and enjoying it alot. She is in Fifth grade and loving school. She is a typical girl with more shoes than are able to fit into the closet, LOL ...even a new pair of black faux leather boots! Hannah is really showing her the "Diva" way.
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Hannah; is doing as well, as always. She is loving being the baby sister, but also being the teaching sister. She loves having a sister, something she has missed since her and her "China Sisters" from Maoming came home. She enjoys showing her new siblings the ropes and inspiring them to behave, let loose and enjoy family and food. Hannah is in 2nd grade and reading and writing English very well. She loves everyone. Hannah is wearing a size 7/8 pants, and a Medium girls shirt and dress. {all the kids have the new adjustable waist pants, LOVE THEM}
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Jacob; is the same little man~with the humor of a "hunsufamily" member! OMG, he thinks all his humor is funny! He likes having a new brother, and a new sister and still loves Hannah and yet still manages to finds her annoying! LOL :o) He is still able to find and likes his "own time" too. He has been a big help in this transition in teaching, role modeling and listening, and genuinely helping. He is happy and loving to his siblings, most the time... except when Hannah is bossy, :o} & when Scott stinks it up with a fart... or two. :o\ Yikes (Paybacks daddy says!) Jacob is wearing a size 8/10 pants and a Medium boys shirt.
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Scott; is the most improved... LOL! He no longer jumps on beds. (China adoption travel blog)... He has really taken to listening in English and working on his complete English sentences. He loves his family and his brother and his sisters are okay too, ("family is good" he says, "I love You"). He really likes his cousins; Sarah and Dayne... and Sarah is very fond of Scott. She is the youngest and wildest and outrageously crazy... while chasing him around and playing hide and seek and she just likes having a big cousin to run and chase around fast and oh so WiLd & CrAzY!!! He enjoys the energy. He likes to laugh loud, when things are really hilarious. He does not quite have an "inside voice". He loves to say "mommy, mommy, mommy look, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy", and has a question for us; each time. Each time we come running, even though we are only inches away from him. LOL! It seems to comfort him to know we are here for him, his needs and to love him. He loves 5th grade and all his classmates are his friends, :o) even the teacher. He does still walk a bit (about 8 paces) ahead of the pack or a tad bit lagging when we are out in public. And he may want to wonder a few feet away if we are stopped looking at an isle in the store, he is very curious and eager to see and learn. He wants a computer,... Haha~ who doesn't; I told him he has to learn more English to use it, read upon it & navigate it. He is awaiting his dental visit, things look fairly good in that dept. he is growing his back molars. He is wearing a size 12 "husky" pants and a boys Large shirt. Oh, & yes he is a typical boy, loves jokes, DVD's,Video Games, lightsabers and farts... :o)
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All four are affectionate with plenty of hugs for parents and siblings alike and with mommy & daddy goodnight cheek kisses too and holding hands while walking places... (the boys - not so much with the hand holding in public... go figure... no surprise on that one). :o)

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They all say "I Love You". Each are beginning to understand "Today, Tomorrow and Tomorrow-Tomorrow", when determining time lines. They can all tell time on a clock; which is beneficial in determining timelines as well. It must be hard to be in this "limbo bubble" of sorts, learning a new language and to do things and go along with the group... and to be happy and content even though you are a wee'bit confused by the sounds, the date and the days of the week printed and explained in English. But we learned from Scott from his new formed English sentences that the Chinese Calendar starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. We mark each day off on the kitchen calendar and we talk about when we have school, work, a day off, when we are going shopping at the Asian Grocery or Going to the College for Chinese Language School/Dance. All this is helpful.

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As for basic chores: They all help with gathering their laundry and making their bed and clearing their dishes from meals. They all can brush their own teeth nicely and we are learning the ropes, {all most mastered} of how to use a shower. Not a splash water tub, type, squat and clean thingy... It is good. They are doing great at self care, American Style. :o) The girls enjoy helping mom a bit in the kitchen as well. They are eating more variety and protein too... I actually can not remember when I last cooked Ramen... :o) but I can tell you this, it will most likely be tonight. LOL!!! and I'd better get them started...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Nothing like eating cake with family on the "little" 44.

Always make sure you get a shot with someone 10 yrs. younger...

to make yourself feel like you haven't aged. :o)
Terror Inc.Only way Jacob could win was VS girls... (teehee) :o)

Aunt Sherry and the fashion girls. :o)
They must of thought if they were cute they would make it onto the blog.

Some people always have to get into the photo.

I Scream U Scream...

What's more American than the Ice Cream Truck!?

{...On Our One Month "Family" Anniversary.}

Some were proper and ate like a lady...

Some were down right scary!!!

Not sure, if everyone walked away from this experience with the same feeling as I had when I was a kid? But we'll keep trying. :o) Yummy.

Out of the Bubble

Athena is loving, caring and helpful. But also reserved, shy and unsure of herself. She loves playing with Hannah, helping around the house with chores. Until today, it's been hard for me to get a picture of her just having fun. Thanks to her teacher giving out bubbles, she was able to just relax and let loose.

Athena wanted to save some so Hannah could play with the bubbles too.

I think they had fun...

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

OK, let's just call it what it was, a "Half-Moon" Festival. ;o)

Scott had taken about 15 moon-cake pieces off this serving plate when I caught him... he put it back, but I wonder how many he would have taken?

Hannah liked the Festival Food as well, not sure what she's eating though.

I think it was a Fish-Pork-Rind. ;o\

Fresh Moon-cakes from the "Quaint Small Festival". Ahwhh, I was hoping for a big party.

Journal Update:

We took them to Golden Corral for breakfast. What seemed as a good idea; hoping that exposure and choices would make food easier, if they could see the "bounty" before them. Maybe tryout some new flavors, visualize and sample what was appealing to them. Athena ate one banana (I insisted on it) and 2 milks, (insisted again) the rest of her plate turned into a "lets eat candy and cake". Actually she had; Gummi Bears, sunflower seeds, crushed mixed nuts (from the dessert topping bar), and chocolate covered raisins, she had two rice crispy treats as well on her plate, but never touched them. Both Scott and Athena are having problems adjusting to "American" food. They didn't even like Krispy Kreme Donuts! This is of course, expected and normal. Hannah too, after watching these two new ones, be finicky over food has regressed in her eating as well. (normal again, but this is were we stand, for new updates).

We are blessed we have no aggression with/amongst four siblings. (or parents, heheheheheee) And most are sleeping soundly through the night. Athena has some night terrors, and whimpers and talks in her sleep. She is sound asleep during all this, and wakes in the morning, happy as a bee. Scott is sleeping well, and both are doing well with School. They actually love the routine. Scott is progressing in English and hand signs. Athena is well mastered in hand signs and her English is very good, wanting to learn new words each day. All four kids or all six of "us", are still happy to be a part of this craziness; that we call family aka Jia'!

Dancer and Prancer

Here we have two girls; one's the "Ham" and one is "Shy". It was easy (131 pictures taken today) to capture Hannah in all her graceful silliness. But Athena was much harder, she's so stiff, and awkward and not familiar with her body (but this is the best thing for her coordination & processing). In just the few short weeks we have been blessed with Athena as our newest daughter; she has improved tremendously with her walking (glasses I am sure help). She is speeding ahead on progress, and enjoying herself every minute. That being said... they both had a lot of fun and a great time.

This is very impressive, and correct Athena! The spin... ends in a capture.The sister's cheerleader!
"Dancing With The Stars" in the making.

Athena did an excellent job, on her first ever dance class. Look at how beautiful she tied her ribbon into a flower. She is awesome. Hannah is a goofy-goofy girl. Together they are "two lovely, lovable peas in a pod".