Happy 2 year Gotcha Day Anniversary

I can remember July 11, 2006 like it was yesterday.... Jeff and I woke up at some odd hour (still not on China time and nervous as all get out) in our hard Chinese beds (I actually missed those hard mattresses when we came home)..... we knew the day ahead of us was going to change everything.

We ate the delicious buffet breakfast at our White Swan Hotel (I miss that hotel and buffet so much)... although I can't remember much about breakfast that day. After breakfast we met our guide Lucy in the hotel lobby, got into a HOT taxi, and made the "are we going to die because they drive so crazy in China" drive to the government office.
As we exited the taxi we both looked at each other and didn't have to say a word... we both knew that life was going to change 100% in just minutes.

When they brought Feifei around the corner I could hardly believe this little person that we carried a picture of was right in front of us. She was so tiny, so precious, and so beautiful.
She was so wonderful and we were so in love with this little lady.

I can't believe that day was 2 years ago.

We can't imagine a second without Miss Lily Feifei. What a blessing she is! She is our spunky little angel and we thank God for allowing us to be her parents.

GOTCHA DAY July 11, 2006

2 Years Later

ON TO THE CELEBRATION....
Gotcha Day is right up there (and maybe a little more) with birthdays. So a celebration is in order.
Knowing how much Lily (and Ty) LOVE Dora we thought paying Dora a visit would be a fun way to celebrate. So off to King's Island Amusement Park we headed.
The day started off with a character breakfast.... Lily and Ty didn't eat much but they were shocked when they saw a larger than life Dora right there in the same room.
The minute they saw her the marathon to reach her began.

They both grabbed her and hugged her. Lily commented that Dora couldn't talk because she didn't have a real mouth.
Hee hee

Breakfast was followed by a few rides in the kids part of the park.... all Nickelodeon stuff.
Lily and Ty had SO much fun and so did mom and dad.

Many of you know that I (tiffany) LOVE thrill rides, roller coasters, and anything that doesn't spin. I haven't met a roller coaster or thrill ride that I won't ride. I love them! The higher, faster, and crazier the better. I must mention that I owe this to my dad who made me ride an upside down roller coaster once upon a time... the alternative was to ride the coaster or go home. That is where it all started.
Aside from going as a child this was the most fun I have ever had at an amusement park. It was SOOOO much fun to see how excited Lily and Ty were.
I felt like I was going to the amusement park for the first time.

DORA

King's Island

Dora and Boots (or as Ty says Dorla Boots)

Sportacopter ride..... Lily is still talking about riding the pink helicopter roller coaster.....
not quite moms idea of a roller coaster but it was so much fun

The Big Yellow Station.... if you don't watch Dora this is the train station in the show....
Lily and Ty both recognized it and it was all we could do to keep them in line when they saw the train Azul at the station

This is Azul ..... the train....
Lily, Ty, Mom, and Dad all fit into this small train. I am pretty sure Azul was at capacity.
Jeff couldn't move an inch and I had to buckle him in. He mentioned to the ride attendant that he could waive the seatbelt rule. Lily, Ty, and the attendant looked at him like he was from another planet. SOOOOO... I had to buckle him in. I laughed so hard I was crying.

Their little jaws just dropped from the excitement of being on Azul

Driving the Diego cars... this was the only ride that mom and dad didn't have to ride with them. They sure didn't miss us.....