I think we are having an unusually cold and long winter.  Now, I know that folks in the NE or NW or NCentral US will say I am a real whimp, but it's darn cold here in the desert.  We have had rain and cold temps since early December and tomorrow is the first of February.  The days are only in the 50's and the nights in the high 20's or low 30's.  We are covering plants and water faucets.  I know I am a whimp...I admit it.  I am ready for spring.  However, our water table is still low here in the desert, so I guess I will still be happy with a little more rain.  It should make for a glorious spring display of color with wild flowers though, so it will all be worth it.

 

What is definitely worth it, is seeing Sojo's reaction to the cold and snow of Shanghai.  China has been being slammed with winter weather of snow and ice.  They are not at all prepared for it and it has slowed and stalled travel in the country to almost a stand still.  And, it is the beginning of the Chinese New Year celebration, which means many of the poorer Chinese are traveling home to see family from the city.  This is the sad part of it.  They are stranded.  Many US and European families wanting to travel to get their babies they are adopting have been delayed as well...or, they are stranded in one part of China and the babies are in another part.  However, the cute part is still Sojo...but, then isn't it always.  I will say a prayer for those stranded that they will soon get where they want to go and have fun family times.  For us, I will just bundle up and snuggle down in a blanket and just smile at the cuteness of this sweetie.Here she is on a "snow day" for Mama and Baba wanting "bup" as she says for wanting up.  She wants none of this snow thing.  Here she says, "none  for me, thank you".  Funny how she enjoyed sand and water not that long ago while in Thailand....And even enjoyed grass and dirt  in WA when she was just a wee bit of a little one...and while in Tucson loved sitting in the desert scooping up dirt (no pics of that one).  She has always been into texture and touching and feeling...I can only guess that cold snow is not a texture that she enjoys.  I am thinking she is going to love Thailand.  I am thinking I am going to love showing her the garden dirt this summer and the fish in the pond and helping her pick blueberries and cherries.  I have a feeling her Mama's flowers will get picked more than usual.  And oh, she will love going to the Lavender Festival again.  Won't she have fun?  Won't we have fun?  Children open doors we have closed and they allow us in to explore and enjoy with them all over again.  Thank you God for the gift of children and then grandchildren.  Aren't we blessed:)

     While Sojo was here we decided that a drawer in the kitchen, just for her was in order.  We had this floor level drawer that only had a couple of things in it (that was a miracle), so we put plastic measuring cups and other unbreakables in it for her to play with while in the kitchen.  As you can see, she got right into it.  I am not sure the Arizona Board of Health would think highly of her little mouth on cooking utensils, but...hey... 

 

Today, I was looking for something in the "tuperware lazy susan" right behind her here and could only find part of the salad dressing shaker I was looking for.  I searched and searched and finally thought...maybe it is in Sojo's drawer.  Sure enough...there it was to bring back memories of her cookin' up memories in the kitchen with us. 

 

Here's one of her at home in Shanghai...hanging out in another cabinet.

 

 

 

  Here she is with her favorite mylar baloons.  She loves those things and would carry them around with her or just leave them in a random spot around the house.  She had 2 while here.  One her Nai Nai Patsy got for her that was a dog and it said Merry Christmas.  The other, a friend (Rosemarie) from Green Valley gave her that said Feliz Navidad.  Rosemarie and Tara met on a plane coming from Europe and Ecuador one time and the friendship blossomed from there.  She came up to see Tara and Dale and meet Sojo.  We are all friends with her, so it was great to see her. 

 

And so...today...the two mylars went into the trash.  They have been floating around the house for a month now reminding us of that wonderful 9 days we had.  However, the air had slipped out of them and they were at floor level now.  They were tripping us and we decided we should maybe remove them from the house.  Sorry Sojo...wish we could have kept them until your next visit.  Until then sweet angel...we love you.

 

 

 

This was our first sighting of Sojo.  I remember that very early morning call as if it were yesterday.  The call we had been waiting for.  The phone rings and I hear Tara saying, "Hi, Grandma... go to the computer and see your grand daughter."  I have tears running down my face right now as I think of the pure and precious joy I felt as we ran to the computer to see our first picture of our precious little Sojo. 

 

How does one describe seeing a picture of your daughter with her daughter for the first time.  Tara has been so good about blogging and sending pictures on this journey with Sojo.  This is when they first received Sojo.  This is probably my favorite or one of them anyway.  WHen she was placed in their arms for the first time.  Check out Sojo's face as she looks at her Mama and Baba for the first time and sees them kiss...Note how all three of them are connected by the kiss...Tara's one hand around Dale's neck and the other holding Sojo's hand.  The three become one as a family. 

 

This was Dale's First Father's Day and is one of my very favorite.  I think it should be a contest winning photo.

 

Just a couple favorites that hang around our house or GongGong's office.

 

Just a few of my all time favorites of my all time favorite girl.  Thank you God for moments of pure bliss.  This little girl knows how to share joy.  What fun to go back to the beginning and see how she has grown and changed in such a short time.  From a fragile little one who could hardly hold her head up, hated "tummy time" because it was such hard work and now she is running and playing and changing daily into the fun and loving little girl we all adore and love to pieces.  Bless you sweet Sojo for all you are to us.  I hope someday you enjoy looking back as much as we do.  Looking forward to what you will be doing tomorrow and the next day....

Well, it was quite obvious last summer and again this Christmas that Sojo's --- JoJo and MoJo think she is pretty neat.  They look a little taken in by her.   Jo Jo is the Chinese word for Uncle.  So, Sean is JoJo #1.  Matt chose to be called MoJo.  We think that is a cross between Matt and JoJo, but with Matt...it could mean something completely different.  It will make it easier for Sojo to tell who is who though.  Cathy is YiYi, which is Aunt.  Matt calls her CuJo, but I am not sure about that.  I haven't heard Cathy tell us that's her choice.  They all seem to be taken with Miss Sojo...now that's a surprise.  Ha! Ha!  That little girl just walks into a room and she has the entire place at her little feet.  I suppose first grandchild, first niece...does that.  I don't mean to de-throne you Sojo, but I am sure your siblings and cousins will be welcomed and adored just as much as you are.   

 

 

Here is the monkey herself...making her monkey face:     She loves her JoJo, MoJo and YiYi too.  I look forward to watching those relationships grow over the years.  I can't wait to hear her call them and light up when she sees them coming.  I think about summer's in Washington, Christmas' in Tucson and trips around the world to visit her wherever her parents travels take them.  What fun for all of us to grow up in Sojo's world. 

As much as I would love to stay in the Christmas mode and keep those memories fresh, Miss Sojo has moved on and is exploring her world away from Tucson.  I must go with her.

 

Now I know she saw the beach at Waikiki when she went to have her US Naturalization process, but doesn't this look like her first experience with touching sand?  Look at her intense little face as the grains of sand sift through her tiny little fingers.  Is there anything better than the beach?  I think, not.  Look at that little squat.  Why can't I do that anymore?

 

Isn't this just a piece of sweet sunshine?  Pure innocent joy.

 

Now here is my girly girl with her pink fuzzy purse that Sue (Cathy's Mom gave her for Christmas).  Is this just the cutest, or what?  I guess she takes this with her wherever she goes with her little Fisher Price People in it.  Too cute!.  Be still my heart!

 

What do you suppose is going through that little head as her Baba plays her a song?  Is he singing his famous "Sojo, I think I Love You".  Maybe not...that usually makes her dance and she looks unusually quiet here.  Must be something mellow and peaceful.  "Baba, we think we love you too".  "Mama, we think we love you too".  Looks like a family that loves the beach.  I'm with you on that one.  I remember our best times as a family have always been at the beach.  The mystery...the sounds, the smells, the feel of the salt air as it lingers on your skin each day, sand between your toes.  I can't wait to experience the beach with that little girl and explore tide pools, sit and be mesmerized by the sight, sound and call of the sea, to see the sun rise and set together (I know she is up before the sun rises).  Sojo...there is a beach just waiting for you and me.

It was really hard to put away all of the Christmas decorations.  I always hate taking it all down and packing it away.  It is such a festive time and the air seems filled with love.  The reds and greens and glitter seem to spread like wings around the house.  The house looks so bare when it all comes down...like something is missing.

 

Ron did most of the taking down and packing, as I was down for the count with a doozy of a cold.  One of those sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, just want to crawl into bed kind of colds.  I did attempt to help him off and on when I had a moment of energy.  However, he did the bulk of it and God bless him for it.  Yet, now as I look around and see the barren look of the house...I hunger for the next time that Christmas feeling enters this house.

 

It was truly a special Christmas with Tara home for the first time in 12 years...with Dale, his mother Patsy and especially that sweet and precious grand-daughter Sojo.  We also enjoyed Christmas Day with Sean...with Matt, Cathy and her mother Sue.  It was one big happy family and the most treasured gift we could ever have received. 

 

Some of the things I hold close to my heart from memories of this Christmas: