Five Things to be Happy for this Friday

Well, that it IS Friday. The last day of the week with a glorious view in to wonderful Saturday (even though my oldest has SATs tomorrow at 8am) and a three day weekend because of 劳动节 or 五一节, Labor Day or May 1st Holiday. It's also an absolutely lovely, warm, sunshine-y day. I am happy that May is so close at hand which means the end of the school year is fast approaching, as well as our visit to family and friends in the states. And finally, I'm glad to be home from my travels and with most of my boys (though, I have to miss my dearest friend).

Besides, Uri-Grace finally has a "do" and some very sweet clothes.

She's here!

The much anticipated Uri finally arrived a few days ago. She came well protected against injury with what my husband fondly calls her accident victim head device. Even though I have admired BJD's for years, I never thought I would be able to own one. But Christmas money went a long way towards bringing Uri home to live with us.
What is a BJD?
BJD stands for Ball-Joint Doll. Ball-joint dolls have articulated ball and joint sockets which means they can be posed in very life-like attitudes. They are cast from a hard, dense plastic (resin) and can be customized with painting and changing their eyes, hair, and clothing. These dolls are mostly produced in South Korea and Japan, but China has also entered the BJD market.

Uri is a Custom House Ange Ai BJD. She is about 25 cm or 10 in.
Right now she has lovely blues eyes, but I'd like to switch to brown and a black wig, in the hopes of making her appearance more Chinese. You might have noticed from the pictures that Uri lost an eyelash some time between box opening and photo shoot. Amazingly my husband spotted it on our blue carpet. I guess my first task will be learning to attach eyelashes.

I have dressed Uri in a pink bandanna à la Hitty Preble* until I can buy or make her some clothes. She is truly a delight.
*Hitty Her First Hundred Years (Chapter 8 - "In Which I Am Lost in India") by Rachel Field, lovely illustrations By Dorothy Lathrop