Reunion of LongGang kiddos

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!!