First Night with all 4 Kids under the Same Roof!

We touched down in Orlando just before midnight - almost 30 minutes early.  Wondering if anyone would be there to meet us yet, we made our way slowly to baggage claim.  But as soon as we exited the gates, 20 of our friends and family were there to meet us with Nathan, Julia and Katherine right out front!

Wen Xin passed out bags of Skittles to his new brothers and sisters and even gave away the bag I bought for him.  He played.  He allowed himself to be photographed.  He smiled and spoke to all his new grandparents.  It was perfect!

I've been thinking about who came.  Three new brothers and sisters and three new grandparents.  A family from our school with two internationally adopted children.  Hallie and Karen, my long- time friends who are both adoptive moms.  I was privileged to be at the airport when their kids came home and they were there for me.  Brings tears to my eyes.  Karen left an event where she was working as a photographer to come over to the airport and photograph Wen Xin's homecoming.  Hallie's whole family - husband, kids, grandma- drove in from St. Augustine and stayed at the airport hotel just to be with us. 

Mike's team from work was there.  Ann, who speaks fluent Mandarin, knelt down and talked with Wen Xin for a while.

Not sure what time we got home - but we let the kids play for a long time.  Nathan and Julia went to bed first.  We forced Katherine and Wen Xin to go to bed at 3:30 a.m.  Mike and I turned in at 4:30 a.m.  At a little after 7, Wen Xin was up --  going strong.  Since I've been writing this, he's successfully woken up the girls.  He shook their bunk beds until they got up.

Favorite quotes from the night:
Nathan - "Laughing is international."
Julia - "This is the best day of my life."
Katherine - "Wen Xin, we don't stand on the furniture.  Bu Yao! (not good)"  and "Sometimes kids know better than parents."  The latter was spoken in objection to being made to go to bed at 3:30 a.m. as opposed to continuing to play with her new brother.

So I'm working off 2 1/2 hours sleep and wondering how I'm going to keep up with this little Asian tornado today.