Meeting Ruby Mei {part 2}

 Here are some more pictures of Ruby's "gotcha day"- some are still in the room where we met her and then some are in the hotel, outside, and in our room.

 I just love these- I wonder what her little baby brain was thinking?  She studied us so carefully and thoughtfully.  She didn't cry or whimper- she seemed so content and peaceful.  I had prayed for her heart for so long before this moment- that she wouldn't be scared or worried.  That she would somehow be able to feel how much we loved her right away and know that we would always protect her.

Can you even imagine what it would feel like to be taken away from the only home you had ever had and be placed into the arms of strangers one day- into a whole new, different life?  We didn't talk the same, smell the same, look the same, touch her the same way... we were nothing like anything she had ever known!  This can obviously be extremely scary and traumatic for a child- plus it was pretty chaotic in the room- but Can Can just remained calm and took it all in in her own little way.  I will always be thankful that she had this peace.

 Here they had to take our picture for some documents.

 Sisters meeting for the first time and holding hands.  Mary Beth has been sleeping with Ruby's pictures since January and cried almost daily for her baby sister.  

Her sweet heart was so full of joy at this moment.  They will always share a special bond.

 These are a bit blurry but so sweet and special I had to share them.

I thought my heart would actually explode I was so happy on this day!

Adoption Update: State Seals from Secretary of State... DONE!!!

YAY!!!!  Today we received our dossier documents back from the ND Secretary of State office.  They had to go there so that all of the notarizations could be certified.  I also had to send my birth certificate to the Wisconsin S. of S. because the documents have to be certified in the state where they came from.
So why are we so excited about this?  It means that now we can mail off all of this to Washington DC where a courier service(that we have to hire) will hand deliver our 13 certified dossier documents to first the US Department of State and then The Embassy of the People's Republic of China.  Once it is done at those two places the courier service(we are using The Assistant Stork) will pick them up and overnight everything to our agency in California.  Next step... it will all go to China!!! Which is a very good thing.

To celebrate we had everyone's favorite meal!
Happy Day around here!

Island Park Show and a Squirt Gun Fight {today was HOT}

We knew today was going to be hotter than blazes(as my grandpa used to say)... but the Island Park Show could not be missed so we tried to go as early as we could.  Mary Beth brought a spray/fan bottle that didn't sell at our sale and we made it without melting.

There was some really great music and we sit and listened to the Irish band until the heat overcame everyone and that was that.  I got to walk around the whole show so that was good- didn't buy anything like usual!  I pretty much never do at these things but I still like to go!

The afternoon was in the upper 90s so we skipped out on Streets Alive(sadly too... we've yet to go to one!) and John had a brilliant idea.  He filled up a bunch of buckets, told the kids to get their suits on and initiated a water fight.  They had the time of their lives out there!

 

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd better show everyone Boo's buzz cut.  Those ears!!  I don't even recognize her now and she's running around like a nut case.
I guess it probably feels good to finally be able to see! Ha!

Memorial Day at the Farm

there was a lot of tree climbing,

fun with grandparents,

crazy dogs,

geocaching,

 

a special hidden present,

 

 

skipping, and running,

 

 

 

 

 

treasure finding,

 

and cousin fun!

 

another fun year!!!
always chilly and windy but the fun times and good food make up for it. :)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day {clay hearts at Plains Art Museum}

Today we headed to the Plains Art Museum to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
There are a fantastic opera singer(pictured above)- he made me cry it was so moving, and there was some recitations from a couple of actors.

 Our friends showed up, met us for some lunch and then we all headed over to the creativity center for a special project we had signed up for.

 

 

 

 

We made clay tiles with hearts that will be donated for a large project for Giving Hearts Day and then we got to make another clay heart project for us to keep.  It was really fun!  I love how there are so many free art opportunities for kids that are offered by the museum...
and adults get to join in the fun too!

January Kid Quest {Plains Art Museum}

Today was the day for January's Kid Quest at the Plains Art Museum.
If you live in Fargo and you aren't going to these- please give it a try!  They are so fun and their free!

I love this hallway...

Our usual Kid Quest gang. :)

Two peas in a pod.

 

Today was about making imaginary creatures out of clay- which of course they LOVED!

 

BFFs.

 

 

Aren't these amazing?
I'll let you guess who made the 3 billion baby penguins.