Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Here we are!

What a night. Arriving at the airport was the best part of the trip by far... But first, the getting there.

We headed out to breakfast this morning, which took forever and turned into lunch. We did some browsing and Mom bought the kids some slippers, then we headed home to finish packing. We tried to catch some of Julie's game, but we were way too late. Julie is Super Human. After flying home from China last night, she played three baseball games and a hockey game today and has at least one baseball game tomorrow. We arrived at the airport "about" an hour before the flight. The attendant was rude and nasty, which made me rude and nasty, I'm fun like that. Next at security they tried to take my peanut butter and chocolate spread that we carried all the way from Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Apparently we got to keep it because AW is not 3 yet, whatever that means. As we found the elevator down to the floor where the gates were, I heard them make the last call for boarding - we were supposed to be ON the plane. I ran ahead while Steve held back with Wen to make sure they waited for us. We were the last on the plane, and tried to be quick to put our things away, but we had a small suitcase, three backpacks, a computer bag, a camera bag, a long tube, two ziplock bags of muffins, and a kid with a stuffed puppy to sort out. The suitcase wouldn't fit and they said we'd have to check it (also carry on since Lanzhou), but finally found a spot for it under another chair (which meant I didn't get to read my book). While all this happened Anna managed to push, pull, grab, touch, throw anything in her reach. UGH.

We had a great flight, AnnaWen was full of attitude. I told her not to pick her nose, which resulted in big tears and an evil glare. I told her three times not to put the safety brochure in her mouth before taking it away and that resulted in big tears and an evil glare. She crossed her arms, glared at me then turned away. Maybe she's older than 2, like 14 or something.

Getting off the plane, we waited until it was clear before trying to gather everything up. We could see them through the window before going downstairs - they were jumping up and down and calling "ANNIE! ANNIE! ANNIE!!!". We went through security and were met by the Munsters, Ron and Diane, Rick and Shulilah, Kelly, Sean and Lily and Shirley and Big Lily (AnnaWen's Gansu sister and her mom). As requested, everyone held back and let the Munsters meet Anna (thanks guys). They were so sweet, coming up gently and touching her hands, bending to her eye level to gaze at her, and saying "Ni hao, Annie, ni hao". So sweet. Gradually, she was introduced to everyone, and seemed quite happy to see everyone. She and Paxten rode the suitcases out, grinning and laughing at each other.

In the car, the boys sang a song that they made up and practiced every night (to the tune of Frere Jacques":

We have Daddy, we have Daddy,
Mommy too! Mommy too!
Now we're all together, now we're all together,
Like a family! Like a family!

On the third or fourth time through Paxten joined in, then AnnaWen "sang" along too. Mostly "ma maaa aaah maaa", which Jack explained to Elliot is Chinese. I looked back and Paxten and AnnaWen were holding hands. She stayed up playing "throw the dog" with Paxten all the way home.

At home we had a welcome home cake and icecream, and the five kids ran wild. AnnaWen kinda kept to herself, exploring the toys. She hopped in the coupe and liked the trike. About 930 we packed it in and took them upstairs. I think two shifts will be good, girls then boys. I took the girls up and brushed their teeth. AnnaWen who has fought us every day on brushing, put the tbrush in herself, once she saw Paxten doing it. I read them two quick stories each, and tucked them into bed. Wen was nervous at first, but I turned her and Paxten around so their heads were at the front of the truck, where the side lowers, so they could see each other. We kept looking in on her, but she was quite happy to be there with PJ.

We've done well, so far I think the jetlag is too bad. We're all tired, but we've been up since 9 with little trouble. Wen had a 15-20 minute nap on the way to the airport, but was awake the rest of the day. Steve just checked in and they're out already. I hope she sleeps well.

Anyways, thanks for following along. Here ends our adoption journey, and starts the great adventure of being a Family of Six.

N

PS. I just realized we left the fucking fan (the long tube) on the airplane. Steve thinks it's labelled, so hopefully it's not gone forever.