We're back...

and we had a great time in Florida! Spending the day at Epcot with our bloggy friends was GREAT! There is some kind of special connection between waiting families that I can't really describe. We share a very special bond and truly know all the feelings (good and bad) that happen during this whole process.

It was great to spend time with three other families who will be traveling with us to China (same agency and same LID): Evelyn & Jesus, Stephe, and Karen. I put a little yellow star to show our China travel group in the photos below...



Here's a shot of our group all together.

This was taken at the end of our Epcot day, so we are all a little worse for the wear. It was overcast most of the day, but still hot and HUMID!! Now I know why I live in Phoenix. The humidity in Orlando is pretty miserable and doesn't make for good hair days!

Hey, can you guess what's being demonstrated here??


Needless to say, we were a pretty rowdy group and got a few strange looks here and there. Oh well, we had FUN!

After Epcot, we made our way back to the home of Lori & Andy, who were GREAT hosts, and spent the night chatting away. Towards the end of the night we had a champagne toast...


and a very yummy and pretty cake.



This time with bloggy friends was just what the doctor ordered and I'm so glad that Joe was able to come along and meet our future travel buddies. This wait has been long, but we are certainly making the best of it and enjoying all the good times along the way!

On Sunday, Joe and I spent the day at Disney's MGM Studios. It rained on and off all day, but we still had a great time.

Can you guess who the dummy is in this shot??



On Monday and Tuesday we drove up to Jacksonville to visit with family. I have an Aunt & Uncle and three cousins who we haven't seen in years. My three cousins have seven kids in all who we have never met. We have a GREAT visit and a lot of fun with the kids.

Here's my Aunt and Uncle with cutie pie Veronica...



and Joe throwing his back out playing horsey with the kids...


Here's me with my cousin Karlene. I have no doubt that if I didn't live so far from Karlene and her sister Kelly we would all get along great and be close friends as well as cousins.


This is Veronica (Karlene's daughter) and Emily and Jacob (Kelly's kids). Karlene's son, Colin, is the one in the bright blue shirt in the horseback photo above.



Joe made fast friends with Bailey and Frankie at Kelly's house. I think he was missing Addy and Lucy a lot.

We also met my cousin KJ, his wife Odessa, their beautiful twin boys and daughter, but it was a quick visit and I forgot to get the camera out at the time.



I am so glad we made the trip up to Jacksonville to reconnect with everyone. Thank you all so much for opening your homes to us! We had a great time visiting with everyone and LOVED playing with the kids, who by the way, are ALL just GREAT!

On the way back to Orlando to catch our flight back home, we stopped by an outlet mall for some shopping.

Here's our OshKosh finds for Lauren...


we also found a few things at Gymboree (you have to double click this photo to see how cute the mouse and cat barettes are)...


and a Coach bag for me. I know, it's a sickness and it's GOT to stop.