City of Brotherly Love.....Philly

Shiyu's mama, Shiyu, Hayden, Auntie

Mama and Hayden in Philly for St. Patty's day

Liberty Bell

Much smaller than I was expecting

Pat's Famous Cheese steaks.....I think our Chinese visitors were pretty grossed out....but they were good sports about it and ate lunch anyway.

View from our room.....who would guess this was Philly??

Waiting for Miss Heather and Hsin to pick us up.  Hayden loves her sit and stroll:)

Philadelphia has the best children's museum.  It is the Touch This Museum.

Hayden, Hsin-Hua and Ruby had a blast:)

Look at how full Hayden's cart is....she picked up one of everything.

Hmmm?? wonder where she gets these shopping tendencies:)

Hsin and Hayden picking up some produce.

Ruby and Hsin ringing up all of Hayden's groceries

Dr. Hayden checking the baby's ears.

Ruby and Dr. Hayden weighing the baby

Planting some carrots and Hsin watering

They make a great team!

Oh the beloved harp.....H was thrilled to find a harp, but she kept telling me it didn't have any strings:(

A vespa ride thru the city(I love this pic Jen took)

Hayden and Ruby K, riding the carasaol

Look at these girls!!!  Heather claims that most of that "bank" in that pond is from their house....They eat here every Friday and Hsin throws $$$$.  Look hard and you will see that is a lot of "bank" in that pond:)

Is this not the cutest picture EVER???  We went out for sushi and after we  finished Miss Heather had brought "bank" for the girls to throw in the pond.  Look at how much fun they are having.

3 best friends having a blast!!

Hsin and Hayden discussing their money situation

I wish this was just a tuckered out girl on her way home to her daddy.....but instead it was a REALLY sick girl who threw up just before we got on our train to head to the airport.  She continued to throw up thru the train ride, thru the airport, 2 flights, a mechanical delay and a creepy guy who had a ridiculous list of things to say one of which was "WOW she is a really calm baby for an adopted child" WTH???  I was secretly hoping H would throw up on him, but my little rock star became a professional puker and made it in the bag EVERY single time!!!  It was great to get home. 

We are on the upswing of feeling better, but let's just say that the last 3 days and nights have been long.

We went to meet Shiyu and her mom and auntie in Philly during springbreak.  The weather was amazing and it was so good to see our China family.  Auntie and Mama had not met Hayden yet, and let's just say it was a total love fest!!!  They taught her so many Mandarin words and just played and loved on her!!  We can't wait to go spend an extended trip with them in Chongqing next summer. 

We saw all the sights and enjoyed a wonderful St. Patricks day. 

Shiyu and her family left for DC and H and I stayed on Friday to see our friends.  Heather, Paul and Hsin.  They were the most gracious hosts(as always) and we spent the day at Philly's children's museum.  It is an amazing place and we had so  much fun.  Hsin-Hua is also from Taiwan and her mommy and I became fast friends while we were waiting and then during our court process'.  We met up shortly after they returned home with Hsin and well the rest is history.  They are a very special family to us and we hope to have many memories with them.  I think Hsin and Hayden will always be friends.

We also met up with our friends Jen and Ruby.  Ruby is from Thailand and is just as lovely as can be....she has an amazingly sweet mama too.  Jen and I have been on-line friends for what seems like forever.  I knew instantly that we would be such good friends....especially if we met in person.  I am thrilled that they were able to join us and they even came home and went to sushi with us.  The girls had a blast together and I think the 3 mommies had a pretty good time too. 

Hayden and I are so lucky to have the opportunity to go visit our friends all over the country.  I hope as Hayden gets older she will appreciate all the ties we have made thru adoption.  Our friendships are incredibly special to me, and I hope that Hayden will feel the same way. 

Thanks to our friends in the city of brotherly love....we came, we saw, we ate and we enjoyed. 

We will be BACK!!!