Home With Savannah

Catching Up...For Now...

2011-04-29T19:54:00.008-04:00

We have been busy the past several months with work, sports, dinner theater, adoption paperwork. Here are a few photos from the past few months...

This one's for you

Melinda's baby boy

Valentine's cupcakes for her boyfriend

Singing at Dinner Theater

Dancing at Dinner Theater

Singing Journey's Faithfully

Whoa...Who is this

400 meter individual

110 meter hurdles

Ready to make Easter Eggs

I made you one daddy

Almost done, here's what we have so far

What Easter is really all about

Cheese

Loves her bub

Quadruple Decker

Loves her "other" bub

Peek a boo

Smelling Mama's Birthday flower

Our Journey to Nevaeh Starts Tomorrow.

2011-02-17T22:17:00.006-05:00

We finished filling out our application for our new exciting journey to bring home Savannah's sister, Nevaeh. We decided to name her Nevaeh because we thought it was a pretty name but mostly because it is Heaven spelled in reverse. A few weeks ago we met with our social worker to discuss some of the new rules for international adoption and when we seen her, the first thing out of Savannah's mouth was "Are you going to get me a baby sister". It was so cute. We ask her where we are going and she says "China".

The application goes out tomorrow.....Ready for the looooong wait...

All Smiles Waiting For Her Baby Sister

Christmas Tiime

2010-12-26T22:49:00.007-05:00

This was a really great Christmas. We had a good time watching Savannah open her gifts and playing with her new toys. Jordan, Tannor, and Haleigh also had fun watching her. We started off Friday evening at Melinda's parents. Saturday morning we opened gifts at our house. Then Saturday afternoon we visited my parents. Needless to say by Saturday night we were all tired and full. Sunday night we went to church and received the message by one of our very own, Jordan. He did a great job speaking on the Greatest gift of all... Jesus. Here are a few pics from this past week.

2010-12-25T10:40:00.001-05:00

2010-12-21T19:46:00.008-05:00

This will be our 3rd Christmas together. Seems like only yesterday we were on a plane to the far East to bring her home.

Playing Catch Up...

2010-08-26T20:11:00.007-04:00

Trying to play catch up since the last time we posted. We have had 2 birthdays, fun in the swimming pool, and our county fair. Jordan turned 18 on his birthday which was actually way back in June. We got him a small cake for home as we celebrated his birthday during the youth camping trip. Tannor turned 16 in August. Savannah has been learning how to swim in ours and her papaw's pool. Savannah rode her first...and last ride at our county fair. It was the merry-go-round and even though mama was right beside her she screamed and cried until I finally took her picture. We met David, Lois, and Leila, our friends from Pt. Pleasant. Leila rode almost all of the rides but we couldn't convince Savannah to ride with her. Here are a few pics from the last few months."Big 18"

Smile, it's your birthday"Sweet 16"No problem smiling hereA little jam session at the party
Look at me, I can swim all by myselfI like to swimMaybe this isn't so bad after allSavannah and Leila at the fairHamming it up for the camera

A Visit With The Foy's

2010-07-18T18:35:00.005-04:00

Today we had a much anticipated visit with the Foy's. We had a GREAT time. It rained just about all day but we did manage to get in some playground and pool time and a short dip in the ocean. Sophie and Savannah started the day off on the playground swinging and going down the slides. We drove to McDonalds for lunch and the girls started to open up a little. When we got back to the condo we hit the indoor pool due to the rain. We tried the beach after the pool but the rain struck again. We had spaghetti for dinner and then it was time for the visit to end. We wish we could have froze time for a while as it flew by so fast. We had a great time today and are looking forward to meeting them and others from our travel group in the future.

Give me a hug girl, it's been almost 2 years

Push me higher daddy

Back together again

Pretty Little Miss Sophie

I'm the captain of this ship

Catch me, here I come

Sophie, you crack me up

No Savannah, you crack me up

How's your spaghetti?

Pretty good

Best Friends Forever

Not more than 15 minutes after Sophie left

Having Fun...

2010-07-15T15:46:00.002-04:00

After 3 days, Savannah is really liking the beach. Hope she continues to like it, we still have 9 days to go.

Myrtle Beach 2010

2010-07-13T01:14:00.005-04:00

We finally made it to the beach. Savannah did not like the sand the first day. She screamed and cried and would not put her feet down, we had to carry her everywhere. Melinda's brother and his girlfriend are staying about a 25 minute drive away, we drove to their beach today. She did a little better and played for a while. First from the chair, then from the blanket, then she walked around a little. We went crab hunting tonight, Savannah walked in the sand most of the way. Here are a few picks from today.

Melinda, Kevin, Stephanie, and Savannah

On the blanket with her own personal pony tail holder

In the chair... Aahhh I've got sand on my feet

I'm ready to go now

Having fun in the sand

Our little fisherman (Woman?)

Lets bury him real deep

Celebrating special times!

2010-06-02T14:55:00.010-04:00

The last two weekends were amazing! The weekend of the 28th we celebrated Jordan's graduation, it is still hard to believe he is out of high school and getting ready for college! I just can't figure out where the years have went? He has grown so much and has made us very proud. Graduation was such a happy but sad moment for me, this is one Momma that has a very hard time letting go! We also had a great Memorial Day weekend full of family, lots of corn hole tournaments and great food!

Proud Momma and Dad

The oldest Decker and baby Decker

Jordan and Mr. Roush His Chemistry teacher

Jordan's friend Colin, best buds since first grade

After the ceremony

Finding four leaf clovers in the backyard

this week Savannah started letting me fix her hair and she actually leaves it in!

This is the face she gives when she wants something, she knows how to work it!

enjoying the warm weather

2010-05-25T21:11:00.008-04:00

Today was so nice, we stayed outside till way after dark and at 9:00pm it was still 75 degrees out. We haven't opened up the big pool yet so we bought a small blow up pool for Savannah to play in today. Sorry about the indecent exposure on the first picture but I had to add it because she had such a huge smile. I can't believe how long her hair has grown in 20 months! I can't believe how much she has grown! Last year she was not so crazy about the water, this year she LOVES it! We can't wait until we go to the beach this year.

CHEESE!!!!

who needs extensions!

FUN!!!

Come on in, the water is fine!

Easter Sunday

2010-04-04T21:57:00.005-04:00

Today after church we went to Maw Maw and Paw Paw Decker's and Maw Maw and Paw Paw VanMatre's houses to hunt Easter eggs. Savannah didn't want to hunt any more eggs after she found the first one. She wanted to open the egg and eat the candy inside first. After a little coaxing and some help from Jia Jia she found all of the eggs and enjoyed the candy inside.

Resting before the hunt

Hunting eggs with Jia Jia

Almost done

Break time to eat some goodies

One more mama, Please

LID Anniversary

2010-01-28T13:35:00.012-05:00

Yesterday Jan. 27th marked the four year anniversary of the day we were officially logged into China's data base. Better known in the adoption world as our (LID), it was the starting point of our three year wait for Savannah. Wow has it really been four years? Having our beautiful daughter with us today makes all of the tears, pain, the not knowing if we would ever hold her in our arms, all that we went through, now a faded memory. I would have waited forever for her.

Happy 2nd Birthday Our Sweet Baby Girl!!!

2009-11-28T22:11:00.015-05:00

Our sweet Savannah turned two today!! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating her first one and now number two has came and gone. We had a small party featuring who else but Kai-Lan on her cake. She also had a little lady bug cake that was hers to eat all by herself, and boy did she. We had a wonderful time celebrating, she received lots of great gifts from friends and family. Savannah also received cards in the mail from her Uncle Bruce and from her very special friend Sophie who was Savannah's crib mate in the orphanage, the card had a beautiful picture of Sophie in it and Sophie's tiny little hand was drawn onto the card, it was so sweet. As I always do I thought a lot about Savannah's birth mom on this day wondering if she is thinking about Savannah. It was through her decision to give her up for a better life that we were blessed by being chosen to be her parents. My prayers go out to her tonight, we are truly thankful. Her sacrifice became our blessing.

"Happy Birthday" Baby Girl we love you so much!!

Savannah's Ni Hao Kai-Lan cake

Her own little lady bug cake

Sweet Baby Girl

Blowing her Candles

Of course she wanted to blow them out again and again.....

One of the beautiful musical birthday candles we bought in China for her

She loved that cake

Feeding her baby that Uncle Kevin gave her

Opening gifts

Her beautiful plate Papa Sonny and Mama Carolyn gave her

Her new baby Daddy and Momma gave her

Sporting her new pajamas after the party

The Big Game

2009-11-19T18:45:00.007-05:00

Jordan's football team, the Wahama White Falcons finished the season 8 - 2. With only 2 losses they made the West Virginia State playoffs. We traveled to Nicholas County High school in Summersville to play the Fayetteville Pirates. All of the fans were pumped up for the game with most everyone dressed in red and white. Savannah and Haleigh, Jordan's #1 fans enjoyed the game and was ready and dressed for the occasion. It was a great game, and the game wasn't decided until the final minutes. Unfortunately, Fayetteville won 23-20. We were proud of the boys for playing the way they did, and Jordan did a great job finishing the night with 2 sacks and several tackles. It was the last game for 7 young men as the will be graduating in May, Jordan being one of them. Well, football is over and now we start the wrestling season. This is Tannors first year of wrestling, we'll let you know how it turns out.

Jordan #79 and the guys are ready to play

Patiently waiting on the sidelines.You take the guy on the leftLets go Wahama!Lets go Jordan!

The bandannas we wore for the game got some more use as Savannah tried one on a few days after the game. She is starting to let me take her picture without a fuss and she actually smiles now.

Savannah with the bandanna we wore at the game. She loves Pizza

Another Birthday Bash!!

2009-10-17T22:38:00.011-04:00

Yesterday we celebrated Haleigh's birthday, she turned the BIG 13!! She is an official Teen. WOW three teens in the house now, will someone please wake me up!! It is hard to believe my baby girl has grown to be a young lady now in junior high school, she has changed so much over the year. She is doing very good in school and made a lot of new friends. She is a very caring, loving person, and we are so proud of who she is and who she is becoming. We had a small party with family and friends, everyone had a good time celebrating her special day. Next big thing for her will be contacts, she is constantly reminding us of that. I can't believe how blessed we are!!

"Happy Birthday Pumpkin" We love you very much!!

Taken just hours after she was born, daddy had to go out and buy a bow

Haleigh Age 4

Our cowgirl at Age 8

Our beautiful princess

Haleigh with her baby goat Hannah

What a head of hair!!

Haleigh this past July in Tennessee

Her beautiful necklace she received from her Pa Pa Sonny and Carolyn

Of course she had to have a horse cake, she's still a cowgirl at heart

Lots of changes!

2009-10-13T22:00:00.010-04:00

It's been a while since our last post, so I thought I'd post some new pics. It's been an amazing last few weeks, it seems like Savannah has just blossomed into this little independent person who's speech has just amazed us! She is saying things more clearly now and is getting good at demanding what she wants. She has started to want to feed herself more, she can put her jeans on all by herself, they may be on backwards but she can get them on. She can put her shoes on by herself, they may be on the wrong feet but she can do it! She likes to bathe herself now, not happy when Momma wants to clean her. She buckles herself into the stroller, shopping carts and high chair. She likes to fold clothes with Momma, and does a pretty good job with the washcloths. She has just started to sit still and want us to read her books to her, her favorite book is wacky sheep, given to her by a cousin and she points to everything on the pages that you ask of her. She can make the sounds that animals make like sheep, chicken, doggy , kitty, piggy, horsey and of course we have a field of cows across from our house so she can definitely make the cow sound. She is getting really good at saying grace with us when we eat, and saying Amen really loud at the end. When it's time for her brothers and big sis to go to bed she goes in their rooms and gives each one a kiss and a hug and tells them night-night and then leaves the room waving goodbye, it's so cute. It just seems like within the last few weeks she has grown so much and becoming our little big girl!

Enjoying time outside

This is as good as place as any for a nap!

Hanging with cousin Maverick

Moments after Jordan handed down his rocking chair to Savannah, it was given to him when he was two years old

Of course Savannah had to share this moment with best friend in the world "Panda"

"The Girls Club" Alyssa(niece), Savannah, Mikayla(niece), and Haleigh

Our beautiful Little Big Girl!

Forever Family Day Celebration

2009-09-18T13:36:00.021-04:00

We celebrated having our beautiful daughter in our lives a year now by taking her to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. Those helping Savannah celebrate were Brian, myself and the kids, my mom and dad, my sister, niece and nephew. Savannah had a wonderful time looking at all the animals. I remember when we were in China we toured the Chongqing Zoo, so I thought this would be a wonderful way to celebrate each year on Forever Family Day. While we were there we gave Savannah one of the many presents we had purchased from China to give to her on each Forever Family Day. This one was a little Chinese hand drum we had bought from the Zoo in Chongqing. Savannah loved it! Within the last few years the Zoo in Columbus opened an exhibit called Asian Quest, it had Asian elephants, Amur tiger, Malayan sun bear, etc. And of course knowing we would be touring this exhibit Savannah was dressed in one of her silk dresses we brought home from China. We also had the chance to meet Jack Hanna!! Jack is the directer of the Zoo. We had met him once before when Jordan and Tannor was just little and he posed with them and gave them autographed photos of which I still have today. He and his camera crew were actually filming some segments about the Zoo but he took time out to talk with us and pose for some pics. and of course you can see by the pictures Savannah was completely out and missed her moment to meet Jack. On the way home we stopped to eat Chinese. We had a wonderful time seeing the sites and remembering back on the day Savannah was handed to us and our hearts just melted. We were instantly in love and always will be.

Savannah, Jordan, Tannor, Haleigh, (niece) Alyssa, and (nephew) Hunter
Ready for a day at the Zoo

Savannah sleeping right through her visit with Jack Hanna

Haleigh and Jack

Grandpa George and Savannah helping Momma feed the Lorikeets

Nap time!

Whatcha lookin at?

Savannah playing with her drum

Savannah looks like she's getting licked by the Amur Tiger

Momma and Baby Asian elephant baby Beco born on March 27, 2009

My niece Alyssa and Savannah sitting on rickshaw

My sister April giving Savannah some love

a puma snoozing the day away

a bear joining the Puma for some zzzz's

Savannah loved grooming the goats

Can I take this one home Momma?

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

2009-09-16T00:27:00.002-04:00

It has been exactly 1 year since Savannah Jiang Yu was placed in our arms. Our lives has not, and will not ever be the same. Savannah has changed so much in the past year. When she came home she would not leave her Mama, and Baba had limited time with her. We could not leave the room without her screaming at the top of her lungs. And she would not let anyone hold her. Now, she will go to just about anyone. She still prefers Mama unless Baba has been at work then she waits for him at the door and gives him a big hug and kiss. She doesn't cry when we leave the room anymore. Most of the time we have to go find her as she will leave the room and get into things she knows she's not supposed to, and when we find her she always has a big ornery grin. We love Savannah very much and will never forget that moment on September 16th, 2008 when she was placed in our arms. Congratulations CCAI Group 1409 on our 1 year Anniversary.

Gotcha Day 09/16/08

Mama and Baba with Savannah

Savannah's (very hot) first bottle

Baba with Savannah

a year ago on Sept. 11th

2009-09-12T01:53:00.006-04:00

One year ago we stepped on a plane for a trip that would change our family forever. We left our house for Yeager Airport on Sept. 11th, 2008 at 3:30am, our flight left at 6:21am bound for Chicago's O'Hare. After a 5 hour layover and lunch at McDonald's, we were off to Beijing. We had never ever been on a plane before. WOW! What a long and somewhat rough ride. I guess 75mph head winds will do that to a plane. We then made it to the Beijing airport where we met our guide Helen and 17 other anxious but tired CCAI families. All week I have reflected back on those first few days in Beijing, it was absolutely AMAZING to be in our daughter's homeland, to take in the sights, the smells, and the culture. It seems like yesterday. I miss China, it's people and our wonderful group of families who came together to share the most personal, magical moment in our lives, the moment we met our beautiful children for the first time.

Brian and I waiting for our next flight out of Chicago O"Hare

Haleigh and Brian playing Nintendo DS to pass the time

Our Chariot awaits us heading for China

Back to School!!

2009-08-26T21:43:00.006-04:00

Today was the first day of school for the Decker bunch. It was a good thing and a bad thing. It was sooo peaceful around the house today, well except right up until my little energizer bunny with the beautiful almond eyes awoke! I was so glad not to hear the I'm bored there's nothing to do bit, but yet they did help with Savannah a lot and kept her entertained. It was so hard for me this year to see my baby girl Haleigh start her first year of Jr. High School. In our area we have a grade School k-6th and a Jr./Sr. High School 7-12th, so no middle school. Haleigh is growing up so fast as is the boys too. She's a 7th grader, Jordan is a senior, and my Tan-Man is a sophomore. She was so excited this morning to be at the same school with her brothers. It saddens me to think they are going to be leaving the nest sooner than I think, but I find great comfort in knowing that the Lord will watch over them and keep them on the right path he has chose for them. I thought Savannah would look for them and ask for them today but she was way to busy getting into things as usual. And to think we don't have to worry about grade school again for another 5 years!!! lol

Savannah waiting to see them off to school

Triple Decker Threat!

My beautiful young Lady

Great week!

2009-08-17T13:09:00.007-04:00

We had a very busy but great time attending our county fair this past week and Jordan's scrimmage game on Saturday. I can't believe football season is here already! Savannah had a good time at the fair. We put her on the carousel but she wanted nothing to do with it, or any of the rides for that matter. She did like the music entertainment though and danced to it. We have always entered our kids in the pretty baby contest, it started when we had Jordan and kind of became a tradition with all three kids, so this year keeping with tradition we entered Savannah. Savannah's good friend Leila was also in the contest. Neither of them placed but that's ok, we already know we had beautiful little girls. Leila lives about 15 to 20 minutes away from us. One day when we were getting ready to travel to China for Savannah, we had to go to our board of education office to get a form for Haleigh to miss 2 weeks of school to go to China. While we were there we found out that another local family had came there to request a form for their two children to miss school for a trip to China to adopt also. We had no idea! It was amazing to find out that through our three years of waiting for Savannah, another family in the next town over was waiting to be matched with their little one. We kept in touch through e-mails the next few weeks while getting ready for our travel and met them at the airport on Sept. 11th, the day we left for China. They were with a different agency and we went our separate ways after that but seen them again while both our agency and theirs were on a tour of Tienanmen Square. If you know anything about Tienanmen Square it is a huge place filled with thousands of tourists, and amazingly we found each other while touring. they then went on from Beijing to Guangzhou to meet their beautiful daughter, who was from the Guangdong district. We still keep in touch with them through e-mails and met up with them a couple of nights of the fair. and plan on getting the girls together as often as we can. When they are together it is so cute.

Savannah and Leila trying to buckle and unbuckle the stroller belts

Friends for life!

Savannah sporting her ladybug swimsuit at the contest

A year ago today on august 12th 2008, we fell in love!

2009-08-12T18:11:00.019-04:00

Our Beautiful Savannah's (Qian Jiang Yu) referral picture sent to us on August 12th, 2008!

A couple more pictures That were delivered to us the next day by the Stork!

(You guessed it) the Stork!

Our sweet Savannah Jiang Yu today at 2o months

It has been one year ago today, on August, 12th, 2008 that we met our beautiful baby girl and it was love at first sight. I can remember every second of that day as we waited for that very special phone call from our agency telling us they had our referral. We had already decided that if the call came and Brian was at work that I would take down all the info but wait to open the e-mail with her photo when we could all see it at the same time. If the kids were back in school when we got the call then we were going to take them out for that day, so they could share that moment with us. It was so important to me that the whole family be together for this special moment. God answered my prayers and we were all home for the call. We were all huddled together around the speaker phone, the camcorder was focused on us to record every second of our call, and of course we had a voice recorder for back up setting by the speaker phone to tape the conversation, let me tell you we were prepared!! When the phone rang at 1:00pm it was Kimberly from our agency CCAI. I will never forget her words "Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!" Then while she gave us some of info she wanted to send us her picture by e-mail, as we waited for the picture to download my heart was beating so fast. The picture came up and as you can see on the video below I LOST IT, which was something I promised myself I wouldn’t do but when I saw her face my heart just melted. And what a head of hair she had and still does. I know some people might not believe it, But I instantly fell in love with her. This was the daughter I had prayed and dreamed about for three long years, the little sister that Haleigh had longed for, and she was everything we had wished for and more. She was exactly the daughter God intended all those years for us to have. He had hand picked her before she was ever born to be placed into our family, and for that I am forever thankful to him! We are truly a blessed family!! Kimberly then finished sharing all of info with us. I had e-mailed and talked on the phone with Kimberly a good bit through our adoption process and was so excited she was sharing this very important and special day with us. It was a day our family will never forget and we will share it with Savannah when she is old enough to understand. It was a day that changed our family forever and brought us even closer together.

Another Birthday Bash!

2009-08-06T10:16:00.013-04:00

My sweet Tan-Man is growing up! Tannor turned the big #15 yesterday!! Tannor was born August 5th 1994 and weighed a whole whopping 6 lbs, 14 ounces. He was small and had very long little feet and big hands. I went into preterm labor two months before my due date and was in the hospital several times, and put on meds to stop it and then finally had to deliver due to developing toxemia. It was so scary but when I held him in my arms, all of that was forgotten. Tannor has always been a Ma Ma's boy from day one, he is so sweet and loving. He always has a smile and a big hug waiting for you. It's is so hard to believe he will be getting his permit now and I'll have two of them on the roads! He has had so many obstacles thrown at him through the years but by perseverance and his faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ he has overcame everything. He has always been in the gifted program at school and has always been advanced one grade level. (I know It sounds like I'm bragging but I'm his proud Mom).

Tannor, Mom and Dad love you sooo much!!!

Our Tan-Man's very first Christmas

Always had a smile waiting for you

Picking the guitar and singing with Ma Ma Tweet

Tannor's fifth birthday with the king and queen from Medieval Times

Tannor at ten years old (only five years ago, WOW he has grown so much!)

My poor baby after splitting his toe in half at youth camp this year :(

Wonderful pics we took at Tennessee this year ( very handsome)

To my sweet young Man "Happy Birthday" Tannor!!!

Savannah's first time on Broadway!!..........Broadway at the Beach that is.

2009-07-23T11:37:00.013-04:00

Savannah blowing up her ladybug for the pool

A very nice lady offered to take a family photo at Broadway

Ma Ma and my very tired little ladybug watching the fireworks display

Beautiful

Jordan and Haleigh having fun and being silly

Ok, Mom and Dad too!

Savannah building her Panda

Haleigh and her new doll named shelly

Savannah and her new Panda friend whom she named Qian Jiang Yu

We have had such a good time on our vacation. Tuesday we went to Broadway at the beach which is huge place with lots and lots of little specialty shops including restaurants, candy, ice cream, and fudge shops. We try and go on Tuesday night when we come to the beach because they have an awesome fireworks show. Of course they also have a Build-a-Bear store. Haleigh has always made a bear every year and now she got to share the fun with her little Mei Mei. A couple of years ago I went in with Haleigh and made Savannah a rabbit dressed in a Mulan type outfit, it is sooo cute. It was so exciting making one for a daughter I'd never even seen yet but loved so much. This year Savannah got a panda made, I think I enjoyed it just as much as the girls!

2009-07-20T10:42:00.003-04:00

First I want to say happy 10 month anniversary to CCAI'S group 1409!! Can you believe it, we have had our beautiful babies for 10 whole months. The time I have had with my sweet little angel has been priceless. The three years of wait to to get her was very difficult, a lot of crying, praying, and wondering at times if we would ever have her in our arms. All of that is behind us now and I would do it all over again in an instant. Savannah is everything I dreamed about in those three years and more. All four of our children are such blessings, I can never thank or praise God enough for what he has done for me.

Second of all I want to say we are on VACATION!! Yippee we needed this so bad! With Brian working 12 hour shift work, there are a lot of days where it seems like we hardly see him, so we treasure vacation time. We try and go to to Tennessee for two or three days and then travel to the beach for a week every year. Mountains and Beach ahhh it's the best of both worlds. We had made plans to visit with one of our good friends Tonyia who adopted beautiful little miss Sophie in our CCAI group. Sophie was Savannah's crib mate in the orphanage, but due an emergency with another family member they were unable to make it. We were heartbroken but fully understand. We hope to try and meet up maybe once a year or so, to get the girls together.

Savannah wasn't sure about her first time on the beach, she didn't want her feet to touch the sand, it was so cute. Now she is getting used to it and loves using her shovel to put the sand in her bucket. She adores the pools, but not to sure about our tradition of crab hunting in the evening. I just can't believe that summer before last, when we sat on the beach Brian and I were talking about what it was going to be like having our new little one with us and now here she is. God is good!

Melinda

OMG did someone say Krispy Kreme

Yes they did, yummy!

Daddy sticks don't belong on the beach

ok, maybe it's not that bad after all

Babewatch, not Baywatch

Ma Ma and Savannah

Waiting to go down to the beach is REALLY hard

Haleigh and little ladybug enjoying the hot tub

Baby bear spotted while on a nature hike at Cades Coves Gatlinburg, TN

Big Buck

Really big snake, looks like it just finished dinner

One of the many beautiful streams we visit every year

Nap time before the hike ever started

Starting point of hike

Once Ma Ma's baby boy, Now my sweet young man

2009-07-11T10:49:00.014-04:00

We recently celebrated my first born (Jordan) turning the big 17! I have had such huge mixed emotions about it, so excited about his graduation this senior year, so excited about his last year of football, so excited about his future, but also very sad that my little boy is all grown up. I pulled out all the old photos of him, reminiscing all evening trying to recapture the past, indulging myself in memories. From the time he was old enough to talk, his Grandma Tweet had him singing gospel and hymn songs in church. He would go to other area churches and sing sometimes by himself and sometimes with Tannor along side him. People would always beg them to come back. I am so proud of who he has become, he has made some really good choices. I am proud of his growing faith in God, and his hunger to continue to learn God's word. His youth leaders have always complimented on having him as their student. I can't wait to see what God has in store for him. Jordan you are such a blessing to us. You are a wonderful son, and big brother.

Jordan we love you with all of our hearts, your Ma Ma Tweet is watching down on you so proud and all smiles, for the young man you have become.

I have an angel watching over me from Heaven, I call her "Ma Ma Tweet"

Jordan at age 2

Making noodles with Ma Ma Tweet

First big day of kindergarten

Loves his Bass

Loves fishing

Happy "17th" Jordan

Jamming with Tannor and cousin Ryan

My sweet young man

Proud to be a Falcon

where has the time gone?

2009-07-10T02:24:00.011-04:00

Our Qianjiang Spicy Girl

Did someone say "CHEESE"?

Savannah stealing a kiss from best friend Noah

All smiles

It will soon be 10 months since we have brought our little spicy girl home, where has it gone!
Savannah has grown so much and in so many ways, she only wanted Ma Ma in the first few months we came home now she will put her arms out to anyone she sees, including the lady behind me in the Wal-mart checkout line! She says so many new words now like, Jesus, bible, bath, baby, doggy, bub, ball, num- nums, drink, love you, bye, maw maw, paw paw, nan nan, and a few more. I love watching all the facial expressions she shows in everything she does, it's sooo cute. I can't believe it has went by so fast, sometimes I just want time to slow down so I can take in every second of every memory that I have with all four of my blessings.
Little miss spicy girl, Ma Ma and Ba Ba love you so much!

Youth Camping Trip

2009-07-01T15:20:00.006-04:00

We recently went on a camping trip with our youth group. The youth leaders have a place on the Greenbriar River. It is located close to the Great Bend Tunnel which John Henry built. The river was too muddy for fishing or swimming due to all of the recent rains we had the previous days, but it was a lot of fun just being outside.
Before we even made it to camp, we had to stop at the ER and pick up our son Tannor. We got a late start due to Brian's work schedule and got a phone call on the way saying that Tannor had been chopping wood for the fire and, yep you guessed it, he hit his foot with the ax and had to get 15 stitches. He is ok but had to sit out all of the fun due to his foot. I think he learned his lesson.
The main event was corn hole from daylight til dark. I'm not sure the grass will ever grow back. Savannah had a lot of time getting to know our youth leaders and the youth, she had a blast. She had her own pool to play in and loved being able to run everywhere. We went for a walk by the river and saw something neat. Someone had built something that resembled a pagoda, It reminded us how muchwe miss China.
Our youth leaders, Scott and Shari brought some beef from a recently butchered cow, the youth cut it up and added spices then hung it over the fire for about 16hours. The boys took shifts tending the fire and when it was done, it was the best jerky I've ever tasted.
During our last nighe there, we had a walk through the old train tunnel, it is a little over 1 mile through the mountain and this particular night the mist was comming out of it made it look spooky. The girls were scared and the boys loved scaring them every moment of the walk.

Savannah having fun in her own pool

The boys playing a little corn hole while Tannor watches from the sideline

The boys doing their part with the jerky meat

The girls doing their part too.

Sitting around the campfire waiting on the jerky

The pagoda along the river reminded us of China.

The Great BendTunnel

Jordan's first diaper change

2009-06-14T21:22:00.002-04:00

We thought this picture of Savannah's first diaper change by her big brother Jordan was pretty funny.

Savannah though so too.

Pool party, graduation and a fishing trip with the girls...

2009-06-13T10:57:00.006-04:00

We had a cook out at Maw maw and Paw paw Deckers on Memorial day and all the kids had fun in the pool, well almost all of them. Then a graduation for Haleigh, this was her last year at New Haven Elementary School. Next year, Wahama Jr. High. And last of all, dad took the girls fishing at the local area ponds, one of them fished, the other did not. I Can't imagine who didn't.

Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.

This is how you do it.

This isn't so bad, I kind of like it.

I changed my mind, get me out of here.

All smiles as she graduates from elementary school.
Haleigh with the boys minus a not so happy Savannah.

Who wants to fish when there is plenty of rocks to play with.

A lot of flowers keep me busy too.

More flowers, I'll take this one home to Mama.

The award for the biggest fish of the day goes to Haleigh.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-05-21T20:49:00.005-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since the last post. We don't get much time to sit down at the computer. Mostly just to check emails and look at other blogs. Here are a few updated pictures of all the kids. We will try to update more often from now on.

Jordan with Savannah @ Easter

Tannor with Savannah @ Easter

Haleigh with Savannah @ Easter

Mama and Baba

I Like Ice cream, Savannah @ her cousins birthday party

Mama's birthday cake is good.

A bubble bath to get the cake off.

A stroller ride is so relaxing.

Haleigh ready for her spring dance at school.

6 month anniversary

2009-03-16T21:50:00.006-04:00

Wow,
Has it really been 6 months already? Time sure flies. We often look at the pictures and videos we took while we were in China and thank God for the wonderful blessing he has given us. We hope to be able to take Savannah back when she is older.

Things are going great with Savannah. She is adapting very well. We have been really busy with Jordan and Tannor in after school activities, throw in Savannah who I know can out last the Energizer bunny and the day is suddenly over. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Here is an old picture and video followed by some new pictures.

Savannah with Mama & Baba for the first time.

Gotcha Day 09/16/2008

I just love the outdoors

Sitting pretty

Catch me if you can

Whoa, you scared me there for a second

Future "Dancing with the Stars" contestant?

2009-02-17T19:01:00.006-05:00

Ready for Tannor's concert

Savannah loves music, especially Third Day. I think that's why God picked her to be our daughter. Our whole family have always loved music! Brian and I were in our High school choir and show choir, and Jordan, Tannor and Haleigh are all in choir at their schools, so she fits in well. You can't tell by the video that she has double ear infection, she doesn't let it slow her down a bit. She is also getting two of her first year molars. It is hard to believe it has been five months since she came into our family, it has went by so fast. I treasure each second I have with her, each day she is learning something new. I also love it when I rock her each night before bed, it's just Ma Ma and Daughter time and she snuggles up close and just stares at me with those beautiful deep dark eyes until she finally closes them, it just melts my heart. I want that special little bonding time between her and I to last forever. Today when Brian arrived home from work and came in the door she screamed "Hey Da, then ran to him and wrapped her little arms around his leg. We attended Tannor's all county choir concert this past Thursday and little miss Savannah got really vocal during the quiet times of the concert, everyone was watching her instead of the students! She is Amazing, a true gift from God, and we love her so much.

A Few More Pics

2009-02-06T23:24:00.011-05:00

Cheese!!!

Say What?
Here are a few more pictures, will write more later.

Our Baby Girl

2009-02-06T02:39:00.003-05:00

Sshhh, Tannor doesn't know I have his Ipod

I just love the snow

Our first post

2009-02-06T02:38:00.001-05:00

This will be our first post on our first blog. Here are some pictures of Savannah.