Today was a whirlwind. I need sleep!
We started the day in Guangzhou at our favorite breakfast place in the world (besides home). Kyle and I felt very sentimental about leaving China. We cannot wait to see loved ones, but a piece of us and of our children remains in this beautiful place. We just love it.
Then we said goodbye to sweet Grace, and hopped in a van to drive to Hong Kong. You actually have to go through customs when driving across the border.
He is fascinated by one of Willow's baby dolls. It took him some time and watching big sister to kind of understand how to play with little stuffed animals and things.
They zonked out...
Back at the hotel, we got settled in and Jonas fell asleep immediately. Kyle and Willow grabbed some lunch and brought it back to the room. Kyle said we should go to Disneyland. At first I dismissed him, but he brought it up again, telling me the cost and the ease of going from our hotel. The thought of sitting around in our hotel room again was not fun, and our flight doesn't leave until the afternoon tomorrow...
Okay. Never in a million years did I ever think we would do this! However, this whole thing has been so hard on our daughter and if there's one thing that fills her love bucket, it's Disney. If Jonas Tian Ze were not the kiddo God made him, we wouldn't have done it. I still feel guilty he may have been overwhelmed occasionally today, but we tried hard to keep him away from too much noise or lights. We also held him very close! When you've been doing all the stuff we've been doing over here, you kind of think you can do anything. We got bold!
Quick taxi ride...
Because we arrived later in the day, we walked right in to a parade! Willow was amazed and also held her ears. I promise she was happy! Ironically, though she can produce the very loudest of noises, she doesn't like to hear them.
"Cinderella!! My favorite!"
Quick bite...
She was proud of writing big and little letters...
Delirious at this point...
Sleeping Beauty's castle!
Since it was around Easter, the park was decorated for a Disney character Easter Egg hunt.
We did two rides, saw two parades, & walked through several immaculate and cool gardens (my favorite). Here we are in line for Winnie the Pooh. So cool to describe it to Willow as taking a ride through a book.
She got a little nervous...
My favorite... this awesome park with miniature scenes and music!
Mystic Manor and dinner (a very weird looking hot dog with white meat and corn on the cob). We didn't do the haunted house, needless to say.
Parade!
Tink! When it looked like they waved right at Willow, her day was more than made. Precious!
Ariel waved at us and was flapping her tail. This was about the only float I held her for; she was wiggling like crazy and my back couldn't take much of it! I've never seen her so excited.
Jonas danced often at Disney, Jonas style. He gets tired but is way too curious for sleep until he's in a boring place. So, not Disneyland.
Waving. As we left the park, she danced wildly with her arms flying everywhere while sitting on Daddy's shoulders. That's my visual memory of her carefree happiness from this quick trip.
Quick run to the Buzz Lightyear ride to beat the crowd.
Willow took over my gun...
The girl who won't sit on a carousel horse was shouting "Let's do it again," and pretending to shoot alien robots afterward.
Both kids fell asleep on the shuttle bus on the 15 minute drive back to the hotel. It was a quick but amazing visit to Disneyland Hong Kong! I'm glad we did it to soothe our homesick selves. Hong Kong is the perfect transition-to-home place.
She LOVES making her Stitch growl and give Stitch kisses. I think he's helping her express some frustration!
We are so excited to fly back to Texas today and see our family and friends!
