Trampolines, cup cakes and dragon boats

Last week we visited our friends - Ken, Jamie and their daughter Kyra. After dinner we all jumped on their trampoline. It was so much fun. Ruby just loved the trampoline. I think we may buy her one eventually because she enjoyed it so much. It was also a positive outlet for her high energy :)

Yesterday we made cupcakes. It was the first time Ruby had a cupcake. She really thought it was good. We also rented and watched the movie Spiderwick Chronicles. She loved the movie so much she has already watched it 2 1/2 times in 24 hours. I'm not sure if she realizes we are only renting it. The movie needs to be returned tomorrow, so we'll see how she reacts. The good thing is that she'll also realize there are 1oo's of movies to rent in the future! I think she'll really like movies that have magic because she has shown interest in these types of things since we were in China.

Today we visited the Dragon Boat Festival in Denver. It was a good time, but very hot. Ruby became moody and complained about the heat often. We were hot too. We enjoyed the dancing and entertainment. Unfortunately, we only caught 2 boat races. After leaving the Dragon Boat Festival, we drove to Costco to become members, but didn't realize they only took American Express. We don't use American Express, so we drove across the street and joined Sam's Club instead. Ruby was amazed at all the huge bulk items. We were amazed too! Someone can drop some serious dough shopping at one of these places. I realize you ultimately save money, but there are many temptations.

And the beat goes on...

Ruby the fashion Diva
Relaxing on the couch

This past week has been amazing. We have a couple of challenging days, but most have been just wonderful. Ruby is adjusting well. She has a very high spirit. Today we looked at the photo book we sent to Ruby while she was in the orphanage. This is the third time I've looked at it with her, but the this was the first time we looked at it as a family. She expressed how we looked different in person on the first day we met her compared to the first photos she saw of us in the photo book. Mommy's hair was much shorter and Daddy's hair was long (it was pulled back in the photos). She also mentioned how Daddy's tattoos scared her. This was such a wonderful moment for Ruby to open up like this to us. Ruby is starting to be more open about her feelings and how she felt on certain days while we were in China.

A quick cute story: As we were shopping for food this past weekend and a boy came up to us and said "Hola". It was so cute. I told him he can say Ni Hao because Ruby is from China. We didn't have time to talk because his mother called him over right away. Today we visited the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Vista (this is the town she will attend school) and we saw the little boy at the Club. I asked him if it was him at the store and he said yes. Come to find out he is learning Spanish at Club program. How cute!

Home Safe & Sound

My favorite family photo in China

At home w/Mommy, Ruby and Grandpa

Ruby with her Asian doll from Grandma. My mother bought my
sister the same doll when she went to China in the 80's - too cool!!!!

Ruby and Mommy taking a cat nap with Mimi

We are home safe and sound. The plane ride was long but Ruby did very well, even with her high energy. Ruby loves home, the dogs and cat. She and Dad went fishing and she caught four fish, but two got away. It seemed like she was the only person catching fish at the lake. She also loves to catch bugs in her bug farm- she even caught a hummingbird....with her bare hands!!!! Mom made her let the bird go ...poor bird - it lost many of its tail feathers. Ruby went swimming for the first time. It was a new experience for her and she liked it a lot until she slipped under the water, but Mommy was next to her and grabbed her right away. Her English is coming along. She completed her first ABC workbook this week. She catches on fast and completed most of it on her own. We are trying not to push learning too much right now because she has only been home for one week. We found out fast that she likes to learn on her own terms - and accomplishes much more this way too. Sometimes her skills are beyond her age of 10. I think she helped a lot with the cooking and planting with her foster family. I really look forward to her being able to open up about her past.

It is so amazing to finally be parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Post in China

I am using the hotel computer, so I won't be able to post any photos.

We made it to Guanzhou safely. It is much more hot and humid here, but the city is very nice. We are staying at the Victory Hotel, not the White Swan. The White Swan is more popular with adopting families. We are staying at the Victory because the rooms are bigger, there is a very nice computer in each room and it is less expensive. We really like the Victory. There are still many adoptive families staying here too and the free breakfast is very good. It is also very close the White Swan, so if you want the Red Couch photo - it is within walking distance.

Yesterday we had the good news of receiving Ruby's visa one day early. So, we went to the US consulate and had our oath taking ceremony with only a few other families. The adoptive family numbers were low yesterday so they bumped a few families up a day. Two guides said that adoptive family numbers are low now because of the low numbers of visas they are issuing due to the Olympics. I'm glad we were able to travel when we did because tourist visas are almost non-existent as well. This makes sight seeing destinations less busy :)

We were on a mission to find Ruby new shoes yesterday as well. Her sandals are too small and she has been very reluctant in letting us buy her new ones. While on our mission, we walked through a huge food market. I've never seen so many starfish, sea horses, rose buds, mushrooms and roots for sale in my life. All of these items were dehydrated, so there were 100's of these bags everywhere.

China in review - Logistically everything has gone very smoothly and in some cases much faster than expected. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Our guides have been terrific and so accommodating. Ruby is doing well and has taken to us more than the first week. Mike and Ruby joke around quite a bit now. Ruby is competitive just like her BaBa (father) and they have more in common than they realize! I look forward to seeing their relationship grow even more back home. Ruby looks to me for reassurance mentally and physically. Her English is also improving every day. I think she knows more than initially she led on. This morning she named almost all the body parts on her face and arms. We haven't taught her all these parts yet. Maybe she was holding back because she was embarrassed to speak or just didn't have an interest...or maybe even denial? We play Go Fish almost every night and it is great to see that she can just name the cards now and we don't have to show cards when asking for them. Ruby also says "Go Fitch" instead of "Fish" ....too cute! Her pronunciation will improve over time, but we just love her accent.

We'll post again after we are home.....USA - look out, here comes Ruby!

Happy July 4th!