I remember well, many morning sitting with Sojo at her little table, enjoying a bit of "Peanut Butter Toastie" with her.  I think the E family went through more peanut butter while I was there than usual, because I love it too.  It doesn't seem that long ago that Sojo could not even say peanut butter.  During the summer, she would say, "be-o be-o" and we knew that meant she wanted peanut butter.  Now, she is very clear when she says, "peanut butter toastie, please".  And so, this morning while I enjoyed my very own peanut butter toastie and a banana, sitting alone at our kitchen counter, I smiled thinking of those mornings she and I shared at her little table.

  This wasn't peanut butter toastie, but this is her eating at her little table. 

And a little banana chocolate chip muffin that her Mama made for her.

And a special little "bento" lunch that PoPo made for her.  She was unimpressed with the "bento", but liked it just the same.

"Bento" presentation.

Recent photo of Sojo with a banana in hand.  Something I did not see while I was there.  Could it be the influence of "Big George" (Curious George) in her life?

More table fun with her friends.

Could have sworn I had a pic of Sojo and me on the back patio with her eating one of her "nana pops", which was the only way I saw her eat bananas while I was there.  But, oh my goodness, how she loved them.  There was always a stash waiting in the freezer for her that her Mama had made.

I love shoes.  Maybe it is because as a child I only had two pair of shoes at a time.  One for school and church and the other was for gym.  In those days, you had to wear a special pair of shoes on the gym floor and NO others.  When I got my first job and was able to actually buy a pair of shoes because I LOVED them and not because I had outgrown them or worn them out, I was in heaven.  I remember buying a pair of red, white and blue Stride Rite shoes with a matching purse.  I don't even remember the dress I had to go with them.  I think it was a navy and white dress.  It was the shoes that I remember.  Anyway, I am embarrassed to even think about how many pairs of shoes I have in my closet and most of them sit collecting dust.  At my age and the state of my feet, it is all about comfort, not style.  And so, I pass the shoe baton onto my precious grand-daughter Sojo.

She loves shoes too.  It could be that each pair of Crocs that I send her are in different colors.  It could have been those pink sparkly shoes I bought her last year.  Maybe she was just born with a love for shoes.  Who knows, but it sure brings a smile to my face.  It may not to her parents as she gets older.  And so, the story about her choosing 2 different shoes in 2 different colors goes like this.

While I was visiting, we were going to go out to dinner at Que Pasa.  That's right...a Mexican restaurant, right smack dab in the middle of a Thai neighborhood.

Decorated like one of our Chuy's.  Good food...from Mexican to Thai to Italian and Burgers and Fries.  Anyway...Tara had been unpacking things from their shipment and found a couple pair of shoes that had been too big for Sojo when they lived in China.  One was silver and one was pink sparkly.  Sojo was so excited that she couldn't decide which pair to wear, so wanted one of each.  Her Mama thought that was a good idea, so we were off to Que Pasa with Sojo dressed to the "nines" and enjoying the playground just outside.  Great idea for restaurants. Now tell me, could you have chosen just one color?

And so began, Sojo's love of two different shoes.   

And maybe the beginning of a love for hats too.  I wouldn't doubt that some day, she will be the trend setter of playgrounds around the world. Note the happy face sticker in lieu of a tattoo. 

I read Tara's blog and hear and see how much Sojo changed while she was gone.  I think about how much she has changed since I left.  My heart swells at the memories of my trip and it skips a beat when I think of how much I miss not being with her.  I have to remind myself to hold the memories tightly against my heart until we are together again.  I am so blessed to have had that time.  I am so thankful.

More playground shots.  This girl can balance herself, jump, run, swing and slide.  She dearly loves the playground.  I will hear the echo of "sojo, playground" whenever I see a playground.  One of her favorite pastimes. 

London Bridges Falling Down.  Sojo at Toddler Time.  Every Monday morning, Sojo joins about 10 other toddlers in the neighborhood for Toddler Time.  Karyn opens her home and brings lots of fun to the little ones.  Music, books, games, dress up, water play, play dough, art, snack time.  Tara knew Karyn years ago when she taught in Ecuador.  Small world.  Sojo loves it. 

Just taking a little walk. Ah, the touch of a tiny foot on mine. 

Patiently waiting for "movie time".  Sojo doesn't watch TV, but she does get to watch Baby Einstein, Curious George, Horton Hears a Who, etc. once a day and maybe again at bedtime.  She dearly loves those special times and it is obvious that Baby Einstein has taught her a lot about ABC's, Colors, Shapes, etc.  Playing a chase and hide and seek game with her Mama. What fun!

Just thought I would try to go back to a few pictures that should have been including in the few blogs I did from Thailand.

This is little Miss Muffin Face.  Treats are hard to make for this little one with her allergies, so she really appreciates them when she gets them.  She has a Mama who makes her banana and chocolate chip muffins and as you can see by the face, she is one happy little girl when she gets a muffin.  Tara bought some mini muffin tins via Amazon.com and had them shipped here, along with some mini muffin papers, so now Sojo will have lots of mini muffins to enjoy.

Helping Mama make homemade play dough.  Where did this domesticated Mama come from?  Funny how we don't see our children as domesticated.  Or, does that come with motherhood?  I remember not wanting to do any of those things while still a young woman at home, yet when I had children, my creative side developed.  However it comes, Tara does a wonderful job of creating things for Sojo to enjoy.

   Ah, the playground!  And what a nice one it is.  Just out the door, down a short sidewalk and there it is.  Green grass to run in, a large sandbox to play in and lots of swings and slides to whoop it up on. 

Note the same shirt in these 3 pictures.  This was all the activities of one short morning.  Now I know why I was tired at the end of the day.

   An Afternoon swim with the next Olympic record breaker...move over Michael Phelps.

Making us a little snack in her little kitchen that two parents (one especially) could not wait to give her for her birthday, so this was a few days early and what fun she has with it using her little imagination.  She pretends to push buttons on the microwave and then makes a ding sound when it is finished. 

This was the day that Tara and I left Baba and Sojo home and took a morning to explore downtown Bangkok.  We first went to an amazing Fair Trade Thai Artisan Craft Fair.  Wonderfully made items that will not exploit the people of Thailand, but will help them better themselves.  Most were from other areas of Thailand beyond the big cities.  This was an amazing little restaurant that Tara found.  Outside porch, weather beaten teak wood, cushions on the floor, orchids everywhere and food to die for.  Yummy, fresh, healthy and inexpensive.  The entire morning alone with my daughter...PRICELESS.  I cannot remember the last time I had more than 3 minutes alone to just be with my daughter.  What a gift that was.  Thank you Dale.  And, thank you to that hubby of mine who unselfishly let me go on this trip alone.  Note the PINK taxi in the background of downtown Bangkok.  Most are pink in honor of the king, whose favorite color is pink.  On Tuesdays, lots and lots of people wear pink in honor.  Tara and I had a pedicure one day and I chose pink and it matched my shirt too.  The pedicurist made a comment on that (with a smile and pointing...no clue what she said).  I love the color too, so I am assuming the king would be pleased.

That is enough catching up for now.  Stay tuned to more Popo's Adventures With Sojo.

I have been on the go for over 3 weeks and it is hard to pinpoint at this moment where to begin.  It has been one big adventure after another.  So, I think I will work my way backwards and begin at the end of this adventure, which would be the marriage of my youngest child and my second son.  That would be MMR who married his beloved CMC.

Would anyone expect less than something original?  I think not.  Would anyone expect tradition?  I think not.  Though, there were some surprises on that count. 

On Thursday the the 16th, the caravans began their way south to the border and over into Mexico.  Traveling down to Puerto Penasco, Mexico or what we southern Arizona folks affectionately call Rocky Point.  If all systems are go and traffic flows smoothly, you keep the pedal at a steady pace, there is no road construction, you don't have to make too many potty stops and the border moves quickly, I am told you can make it in 4 hours.  We never seem to be able to do that.  Yet, it is still the closest beach to us and we love it.  We have stayed for years at a lovely Villa in a gated community called Las Conchas at Madre Del Mar (the lovely Villa) and this is where Matt and Cathy chose to get married.  We had a couple days to relax and get the plans into place.  Matt and Cathy had it all arranged and we just had to be there.  What fun.  Lots of friends and family from Tucson and Phoenix area and beyond...California, New Hampshire and North Carolina and who could forget the sister from Bangkok, Thailand.  Friends from long ago and new friends too.  Music was played and libations were flowing as we all relaxed in the sun and surf.  Sunday, the 19th...12 years to the day that Matt and Cathy met was the day that the event was to happen and here are a few pictures to document it all....

The siblings enjoying special time together before the big day.  Lots of memories of years gone by when they hung out at the beach together...starting when that youngest one, the groom to be was only about 4 years old.

All good buddies who have been there through the years.  A beautiful sunset to an a beautiful day and then.....

Dad, Uncles and Friends...Quatro Amigos.  All men wore Guayabera Shirts (Mexican Wedding Shirts) in honor of Cathy's father who passed away and "always" wore a Guayabera Shirt. 

The family shot before the event

Barley the ring bearer and his assistant Sean

The groom arrives on horseback

Mom escorts and gives away the bride

It is about to become official..."will you grow old with me?"  "I Will"....

A sand ceremony where we each put a bit of sand in a jar and Matt and Cathy did too...representing how all who were there are connected to one another.  How each of were there as a witness to their sacred love. 

One Big Happy Family and One Wonderful Day