A Little Piece Of Thailand

No, this picture wasn't taken in Thailand. It's actually a beautiful bit of Thai loveliness practically planted in our backyard. Only 10 minutes drive from our home.  It was built in the same fashion as the Wat's in Thailand. A walled in compound - this one walled in by trees and hedges - with several buildings and beautiful gardens.

We sought out and found it last summer, hoping to learn more about Thai and Buddhist culture in order to infuse it into our lives and add to our customs. What we found was so much more. A very large Thai community, a place for Ruby (and us) to make new friends, and some great Thai festivals! Not to mention some really great food!

Our friend Anna - fromThailand - was amazed that we have such a large Thai community here in Pennsylvania. Honestly, I am too. It's such a great thing for Ruby to have wonderful role models and to grow up knowing about her culture. It is always available to her there and she can even be taught Thai language. One of the monks is going to translate something for me which is great and a friend is going to help translate a kids kareoke video that I have for Ruby that I am dying to be able to sing along with her and teach her. I couldn't wait to go yesterday on such a beautiful sunny day and take some pictures for Anna.

The grounds outside the Wat are so beautiful! I love those bright colored flowers.

Ruby seemed to like them as well.

Inside the main building monks enjoy their lunch. Every Sunday they have a feast. First for the monks, and then for everyone. It is quite yummy! Aroy Mak!!! We try to go once a month and/or on special holidays. We've been pretty busy lately and hadn't been since April so I was glad to have time yesterday.

Also in the main building, people pray in chant form. It is all in Thai so I'm not sure what they are saying. Ruby was rather restless as it was a bit longer today, so we spent a good amount of time outside exploring the grounds. Pictured above is a typical alter type front with many beautiful Buddha statues. To the right of them are two famous monks. One for which the temple was named and another still alive (far right). I need to find out a bit more about them and their story.

This is the new building (also pictured above in the first shot). They don't use this one much except on special holidays. I suspect it is a place the monks use for meditation. It is really beautiful though. Much thought was put into the details...

...from the roof design, the colors, the position...

...to this ornately decorated door.

Even the back view is beautiful.

Ruby particularly liked climbing up all the stairs and checking out the red doors. :-)

The grounds were also well thought out. New trees will supply a nice shaded area in years to come.

New flowers were planted this Spring to line some of the walkways.

Lots of paths for walking amongst the trees.

And my favorite is this beautiful wooded picnic area. Such a peaceful little oasis in the middle of North East Philadelphia! I like to sit out there with Ruby for a bit while she discovers sticks and rocks and spider webs (which of course we do not get too close to!!!), etc. When the weather is nice, they have their big festivals out here and it is really fun.

Back inside, Ruby got to know her new friend Tinha a little better and I with her parents. We have seen them here a few times before. Such a nice family! I couldn't resist a shot of the girls together and someone suggested we take it up front and decided I needed to be in the shot as well. So here we are together just before we all left.

It was a nice day and we will go back again on the 25th for a big celebration they are having. I am so hoping Ruby & Tinha will really get to be good friends. And with the other children we see there, too. There is another girl named Tinha and 2 sweet boys that she also knows there and plays with. The other Tinha came to her birthday party but we haven't been able to get together since. So busy all our lives are sometimes! Anyway, we are so lucky we are to have this community here! 

Oh Happy Day!

Finally...FINALIZATION! I can't tell you how great if feels! To know the long process is over and our daughter is legally ours...it's a beautiful, beautiful thing. A very special day. 

We kept it low key and only invited the parents along. We didn't want anyone to feel obligated and also wanted to keep it simple. Our family and friends have done so much for us and her already. But my Aunt Lu and her daughter showed up with my Mom and it was a real nice surprise. After the proceedings, we walked to a nice little cafe 2 blocks down and had a great lunch together. It was 104 F Wednesday and kinda ironic that is was as hot as our first big day - the board meeting in Bkk on Sept 23rd. However, unlike the DSDW lobby, the courthouse was air conditioned. This, too, was a beautiful thing! :-)

Mommy & Ruby before we left Grammy & Pappy's house.

Daddy & Ruby's turn.

The Grandmoms walk Ruby in the Courthouse. She was so excited to see everyone she kept switching holding hands with all the grandparents. When we got in the room, she walked over to every one there individually to say hi. It was so sweet.

Happy -freshly legal - family with the judge. Nice guy.

Another shot without the lollipop in Ruby's mouth! As soon as the judge came in we had to be all quiet and of course THAT'S when Ruby got the hiccups. Mommy (who ALWAYS has water in her bag) had none that day. Luckily, Grammy produced a lolly from her bag and saved the day. Rubes turned around and gave her a very quiet and sweet little "thank you" then happily settled into my lap.

Our sweet pea on her special day.

Ruby kissing her new Thai Barbie we gave her. Since she is so into Barbies and her princess dolls lately I wanted to make sure she had a Thai one. She loved it and we talked about it being from Thailand and having beautiful eyes and hair and skin like Ruby. She seemed pleased with this.

Ruby plays peek-a-boo with Grandma at the restaurant window. Such a sweet moment.

Hanging out on Jeff's parents patio later. They surprised Ruby with a special present. A beautiful gold and diamond necklace and earring set that was a gift from Pappy to Grammy many years ago. They had been saving it for the first Grandaughter. We were very touched at their thoughtfulness and love for our daughter and Ruby was very excited to put the necklace on. 

Mommy & Daddy looking on with admiration.

Grammy and Pappy have a moment with Ruby.

Such a great family we have. A wonderful immediate family and big beautiful extended family. We get to see some of our cousins at the beach next weekend and are really looking forward to it. But most of all, we are grateful to have our sweet little girl home with us...forever. We are blessed beyond measure.

Now and Then

Our first shot together as a family...10 months ago, Sept. 14, 2009. Tomorrow we finalize and legally become a family forever. I am overcome with emotions. GOOD emotions. Relief. Gratefulness. Soooo much love and happiness! This sweet and (at first) shy little girl has blossomed before our eyes. She has lit up our lives in a way we could have only dreamed of. And yet here she is...every day!

Here are 2 more photos from that first meeting day -

Mommy and Ruby's first minutes.

Her personality already showing.

So those are the "THEN" pics and here are the "NOWS". She is wearing the same dress she wore that first day. The orphanage let us keep it because our friend Anna bought it for her. Oh, how she has grown and come into her own in such a short time! Ruby is such a silly little bug and loves to make faces. I took her picture then she wanted me to take another. She said "MOMMY! Happy face!"

"Happy" lead to a bunch of other silly faces and how fun the next few minutes were as she posed for the camera.

Kissy face

LOL, she is trying to do her "sad" face but the smile comes through

Same with the "mad" face. Too darn silly to pull it off.

I think this was a surprised face

And this is just plain cute whatever it is.

Sleepy face

and last, 2 takes of what she calls her "silly" face.

How we love this girl and all that personality. 

Ruby you are the greatest joy of our lives. We are proud to call you our daughter and feel forever blessed to be finalizing your adoption tomorrow! Life is beautiful!

First Day of Summer Camp!

Well, come ON, Mommy! I'm ready! And she was. We talked about school and summer camp there and how it would be. She got it and seemed excited. She remembered the school (from our visits) when we got there and was happy to run in. But once there, she clung to me like a vine. I had to really fight hard to keep the tears back. I had never left her anywhere before - aside from home with Jeff or my Mom. It was so hard to have her holding me tight and know she may be crying for me and fearing my not coming back. However, I didn't need to worry at all. The kid is really a trouper!

She colored awhile with Gwen (the very sweet director of the place) and then I tried to go. She clung to me again so I let Gwen know we had raisins in her bag. All she had to do was ask Ruby if she'd like some and off they went hand in hand. Mommy slipped out the back and didn't let the tears out till I got in the car. I waited anxiously by the phone and it rang exactly 20 mins after I left. She was fine! They were keeping her busy and said she didn't cry at all and was doing great! Such a relief!

I finally had some free time to clean around the house and get things done. But do you think I did any of that? No. I sat around missing her like crazy and wondered how the rest of the day went. When I went to pick her up I was greeted by the sweetest girls. They have a few teenage volunteers and they all came rushing up to ask me if I was Ruby's mom and tell me how sweet she was and how cute. They obviously doted on her and she was loving all the attention. She said goodbye and gave hugs to each one. It was so sweet! The little miss was in such a good mood and quite chatty. Gwen said she had a lot of fun at the park and was singing songs in the van with all the girls. What a wonderful report of her first day! Although this is only summer camp it is held at the same place she will have school this September. A great lead-in to her going there 4 times a week this fall. I am thrilled she did so well. Maybe next week I will actually relax and get some things done around here! :-)

Heck of a 4th Weekend!

Mommy and Ruby heading to a 4th of July party at our friends house on Saturday. I've had Jeff take a lot more pics of Ruby & I lately so I can make a "mommy" book similar to the one I made him.

I look like a dork in this photo but she looks cute so I had to post anyway. This outfit was in the closet waiting for her for 2 years and I just remembered it while looking for something red, white, & blue.

Love this one. She just hugged me like this unprompted. How it melts me every time when she does that!

Silly girls Ruby & Ava getting ready to hit the pool. It's so sweet to see them together. Ava runs up and hugs her every chance she gets. Ruby spent the 2nd half of the day following her around yelling "Aba! Aba!" They had so much fun!

Daddy & Ruby in the pool.

This was one serious pool party! Our friends Charlesy & John have an INCREDIBLE back yard as you can see. Huge pool and a big swing/fort/play area that the kids love. We all had such a great day. That's my handsome hub in the middle with our very wet little miss. She was in there FOREVER. Daddy & I took turns getting dry. LOL. Ruby begged us (well, rather CRIED) to go down the big slide they have. Jeff stood in the deep end and caught her while I (nervously) took her up all the steps. It's the sort of slide I wouldn't have gone down till I was like TEN and here she is having a fit to go down at 3! This daring child is gonna toughen me up, I'll tell ya. I have to be able to keep up with her! :-) We had a life vest on her and down she went. Loved it, of course, but the 3rd time she went down a little fast and I think it scared her a bit. She got out all smiles but said ALL DONE! And that was that. Didn't ask again and I must admit I was glad!

Later on, a dry and clean little miss discovers Ava's pirate-in-a-box and thinks it's the best thing ever.

My fabulous, fun, friend Charlsey (in purple wig) and their good friend Darrell get silly with a bunch of wigs. Charlsey runs promos for 3 Olives and always has fun swag from light up bracelets to wigs to pop rocks! Such fun!  (And NO, Ruby didn't get any 80's flash-back sizzly pop-rocks. Only Mommy can eat chemicals & perservatives every once in awhile. LOL.

The kids were far more interested in the wigs, anyway. They tried them all on and were dancing around.

Rubes looking like a little Supreme in the pink wig.

Ava dancing cute in the pink while our little rock star is grooving in the orange.

Here's a short video of the fun...

We spent most of yesterday chilling in the backyard. Jeff & I soaking up the sun and Ruby having a ball in her new blow-up pool. Such a relaxing day! Ended the day with fireworks. Ruby really enjoyed them. "Lights! Lights! Look!" she'd say. Or "There's another one!" It was real cute and the best fireworks I ever watched. Not because they were any more or less spectacular from years past. It was the magic of seeing them through her eyes. Eyes so full of wonder and excitement. Funny how many moments are magical now. Of course, the view I liked best at the fireworks was this one:

Hope everyone in blog land had a happy weekend!