Vacation is over, we are back to the same old, same old.....or are we?
Saturday morning three of the girls got all dolled up and did a cheer for us. Zora and Tessa even applied their own makeup!
Then tonight after work I found these kids hanging out on the bathroom floor. Seems that is where their "Mom's" left them after giving them bottles.
Yep, that's our kind of normal.
I know....behind as usual! Recovering from travel lag!
One of the girls asked me how long it was going to take to get back home from Wisconsin. Since I just happened to be sitting at the computer I showed her the route home on Map Quest. While looking at the map...I realized that we could actually take a different route home AND meet one of Tessa's "sisters"! I replied to a comment that Amy had left me on our blog. She then sent me a message on FB and the trip home was planned! Amy then let me know that there are two other LongGang kids who live in her area. How wonderful!! I showed Tessa Shaling's photo and asked her, "Do you want to see your sister?" She got a big smile on her face, giggled and said, "Yes!"
We arrived in Springfield and while checking into our hotel one of the most scariest things happened. Our rooms were on the 5th floor. We were getting things out of our vehicle and there were a few more items to get. I told the girls to stay in the room while Dad and I went back for the stuff. It all seems like a blur now, but three of the girls did NOT listen and came downstairs. Somehow Tessa was separated from her sisters and us. We arrived up to the rooms and Tessa was not there!!! My heart dropped!! I immediately picked up the hotel phone in the hallway to call the front desk while Dad went downstairs to look for her. The front desk clerk said to continue to look for her. And I told him..."You have security cameras in the hallway...GET ON THEM NOW AND FIND HER!!" I had just hung up the phone when Dad and Tessa stepped off the elevator. She had went back outside to our car and was standing out there when Dad found her. The other scary part...there was a guy in a car that had just pulled up to her when Dad walked outside!! Amy, Preston and Shaling arrived just a few minutes later. I don't think I was myself for a while...I was still shaking inside thinking of Tessa missing!!
Of course, at first Tessa and Shaling were shy around each other, but in no time at all they were visiting like old friends! They both spent time in the whirlpool together.
Lynne and her two boys soon arrived and the kids all enjoyed swimming while the adults quickly became acquainted. It was great to see the kids playing together! Amazingly the kids tired out very soon. Amy and her husband, Brock, suggested that we all go out to eat and they recommended that we try a "horseshoe" which is a local dish. Amy found a great little place not far from our hotel and we filled our tummies with good food. Mark tried the horseshoe and found it was far too much food for him to handle!! But he gave it a two thumbs up! The kids had a great time in the game room and Kendalan won herself a bear out of the crane machine.
All the kids minus Preston who was checking out the broken escalator!!
For some reason my photos inside the Top Cat were very dark :(
All the girls!
All too soon it was time for us to hit the hay. We are so excited to have found new friends and it is really not too far for us to drive for a long weekend so the kids can spend more time together. Thanks Amy, Brock and Lynne for the fantasic time! Hope to see you all again soon!!
I am NOT ready for our vacation to be over!! We have had such fun filled, but hectic days! It has been so much fun seeing the Fabulous Foursome back together again! Of course, it has reminded us that our girls are growing up WAY too fast!!
Here they are as babies
And here they are today
Even though we meet up with these families only every other year, we always seem to start back up where we left off. Our families bonded from the start. Our girls were together for less than one year, but our families will be bonded for life.
One of the families had to leave today after the photo session. Every time we say goodbye it brings me to tears. It seems like we just don't have the time to catch up in a few days and the girls just start to remember each other and it is time to go.
The remaining Mom's took the girls to Bay Beach after the photo shoot. What a fun place to go....just wish it had been cooler and/or more of a breeze! As usual, I roasted like a beet! 
All too soon it was time to go. We are already planning a reunion in two years. It can't be soon enough.
Started the morning off with more swimming....again!! This time Mom actually put her swim suit on and showed the girls that she really does know how to swim!!
In the afternoon the last family arrived from Michigan!! The Fab Four is finally back together again!! And WOW have these girls grown up!!
Then the fun began! Water balloons and popsicles for the kids and conversation by the adults.
ZoraLin and Brenna enjoy popsicles!
Christen and RaeAnne enjoy snow cones!
Then the water balloon blast began!
Things became more wet as the girls got the hang of filling the balloons with water. And the parents were kept busy tying the balloons for the kiddos. When the water hose started to be sprayed on everyone...we decided it was time to eat!
The kids went through the wonderful spread of food first. Jean and her family out did themselves with food!
Then it was time to come back to the hotel...this mom was exhausted! Four of the girls swam for another hour or so with their friends...but no photos as I went to bed!!
I woke up at 8 am this morning and told the girls we better get a move on or we would miss breakfast. Three heads popped up out of bed and said "I'm hungry Mommy!" We met up with our friends and decided that we would make a trip to a grocery store to get snacks. After that we spent almost 4 hours at the Splash park. The girls had a wonderful time! Just watching them run around exhausted me in no time!
Traveling with 5 girls has increased not only the noise, but hotel accommodations. Most hotels will not allow over 5 people per room. Yes, we could fudge a little and sneak in a couple of girls, but then that makes for 7 people in one room with one bathroom. Not my idea of a vacation! I am also not the camping out kind of girl...not that I can't or won't do it....I would just rather have more comforts of home and more stretch room!
We have decided that when we travel it would be easier for all of us to get two rooms. Yes, it does cost more, but Mom and Dad get their rest that way and less grouchy parents=happy girls! This is our home sweet home for the next 5 days. And it is divided up...Dad with ZoraLin and Tessa in one room, Mom with Rae, Jordis and Kendalan in the other. Not saying that is how it will be the whole trip, but for the first couple of nights it has worked.
We arrived in Green Bay mid-afternoon after a stop over in Oshkosh to visit with Daddy's family. The girls were chanting "Can we go swim?" "Can we go see the water park?" So after a very quick job of unpacking things and getting reorganized...it was off to Splash!
I was thinking that because I don't tan...just burn, peel and repeat...that an indoor water park right at the hotel would be a great idea. Unfortunately I was not thinking how hot and humid an indoor pool/water park would be! If I don't sweat off a few pounds on this trip something is seriously wrong! But the girls had a blast for an hour at Splash and since it is just a short walk from our room there, I am sure that they will be spending quite a bit of time there! Guess Mom will have to break out the swimsuit that I have a hate/hate relationship with!!
We are anxiously waiting for the rest of our travel group to arrive! There were five other families who traveled with us in 2000 to China when we met RaeAnne. This was our first trip to China and first baby for each family and we have bonded so well with these families. We have had a reunion every other year since we arrived home with our beautiful girls, but life happens and this will be our first reunion in four years. We are so HAPPY to meet up with them this year again....FINALLY!!! Bring on the reminiscing!!
Tonight we were impressed that "Jimmy Johns" delivered our supper in 20 minutes and it was WONDERFUL!!!
Now bring on the sleep!!!
Yepper....we are in Wisconsin! Left home about 7:30AM and drove to Sun Prairie. Staying at a very nice Quality Inn. The girls swam for over one hour and they are now supposed to be sleeping!! Only two are doing that....Jordis Li
And Kendalan....I think she may be faking it!!
RaeAnne is still getting in game time on her Nintendo DSi....Mom is ready to drop!
They had all sorts of things to do in the Suburban today to keep them busy...
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Tomorrow we will arrive early in Green Bay. Can't WAIT to see our travel buddies again!! It has been four very LONG years!! Let the reunion begin!
