Is Cinderella in the Bible?

Alyx asked Graci, "What is your favorite Bible verse?"

Graci replied, "Cinderella 87:08 - God made all the animals."

I wish I could take a recorder in with me when I pray with Graci. She prays the most innocent, sweet, precious, and funny prayers every night. One part of one very long prayer that stands out in my memory is when she was praying for orphans.

"God, please help all the children, in all the big lands to find their families. Thank you Jesus that my family found me in China, my Dax in Dottemawa, and Fad and Kamby in Eeefiopia. Have mommys go get all the children in all the lands, please God! And God please give my family the money so we can go to Disneyland, thank you for making Disneyland for us. In Jesus name, Amen" (Graci - 4 years old)

Just a Little Fun with our Kiddos

We took the kids to Prince and Princess night at Chik fila (above is picture one).
We rarely go anywhere without someone falling and knocking something over, we just don't usually have pictures of it. (The boys were fine by the way)

This is Graci's "picture" smile. We took the kids on walk for autism that ended at the zoo. Then we spent the morning at the zoo.

Dax is trying to see the tortoise at the zoo.

Alyx with the littles.

Posing (kind of) with the pumpkin.

Happy Kamby!

Oooooh, Kamby thinks the goat stinks.

Graci, Dax, Thad and Kamby in a cave- Kamby is singing the itsy bitsy spider.

Thad doing his babboon imitation.

We never wonder what is on Kamby's mind, her expressions tell all.

Graci is hot and very done with the zoo. Before this picture we went through monkey village and she said, "my biskies are hot and I need a fan for them".

It is so fun to tickle Thad.

Kamby is a daredevil, the higher Daddy throws her or holds her, the better.

Our little princess, Graci Jia.

Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Daddy and babies.

College Life

Everybody helped move sissy into her dorm room.
Savannah's room is huge. It has a full stove, fridge, and sink. She is only sharing it with one room ate, Jen.

Having some fun with Sissy before we leave.

Savannah at her new desk.

It is all sinking into my brain. Yesterday we celebrated 20 years of marriage, 1 month ago we became parents of a college kid, and in one month I(Tami) turn 40. This is a lot to process, especially when I have two preschoolers and two toddlers running circles around me all day. I don't feel old but my life says I am. :)

We are so proud of Savannah and her quest to receive her degree. She started at Southwestern College a month ago. It is an intentionally Christian four year college that is about 45 minutes from our home. She lives on campus and comes home on weekends. She is doing so well adjusting to life "on her own". Tackling her two classes, Bible and Math, as well as taking care of all her physical and occupational therapies, doctor's appointments, and everything else that life involves. She is pursuing a double major in English-Secondary Education and Christian Ministries. We are ever so grateful to all the people that made this opportunity possible for her and most grateful to God for bringing her through, continuing to heal her, and give her a desire for education.

Thad's Speech

Thad working with his speech therapist.
Kamby is not happy that Thad is getting the attention.

That has been working on the "p" sound, it comes out more like an "f" though.

That mouth is always open, with the tongue out, especially when he is focusing.

Our home is like one big speech therapy session. We are always correcting, pronouncing, articulating, and repeating words in order for all the kids to speak clearly. While Dax and Graci attend the developmental preschool in order to receive speech services, Thad has a speech therapist that comes to our home. Kamby appears to be developmentally on target in regards to speech and just about everything else. We first noticed Thad seemed to have issues eating. He has a sensitive mouth and it was always open with his tongue hanging out. He is now 18 months and still has very little babbling, mimicking, or words. He is progressing though. He probably says a new word about every 3-4 weeks. He does a little bit of signing but not much. We have to be sympathetic to the little guy, even if he did talk, he would not get a word in due to his sisters. Between them(always talking over each other) and Dax (who you can only understand 50% of the time) it would be very hard for him to pick up proper speech. But we are getting there and are greatly encouraged because he did not need eating therapy. He now eats many textures and is chewing and swallowing well. I am very proud that one of his few words is "mama" with an "n" sound but nonetheless it blesses me to hear it.

Tea for Two

I don't get a chance to blog often, as you can tell. I am really sad about that. I have so much I would like to record and remember but I don't have the time. I thought I would just try small and blog when something simple and precious happens. Our babies are now 18 months and 15 months old. They walk/run everywhere, they are trying to talk, and they play together. This is new. Recently our days were filled with Kamby hitting Thad on the head with whatever toy she had in her hand or whatever makeshift weapon she could find. Then I would come to tend to Thad's tears and wailing and Kamby would take a break for hitting. It made for very long days. But a new season is emerging, I remember this season with Graci and Dax. Where they start to become best friends and play mates. Today as Thad and Kamby sat down to have tea with no grabbing, hitting, screaming, or pushing, I had to grab the camera and capture it.