Disney's Hollywood Studios & Happy Birthday Gabe

Today was our DHS day and Gabe's 14th birthday. I could write a book about Gabe. I love this boy so much. He has the best heart. He is an all around awesome son, brother, and friend.

Gabe knew we were going to WDW for his birthday so he was not expecting any additional gifts. It was fun to surprise him with a completely inappropriate video game. I usually don't let the kids do violent video games, but this was The Walking Dead, so an exception was made.

On the "Mickey Bus" to DHS

Gabe and Dex sat all the way at the back by them selves. They were super tight the whole trip. 

Q sucking his thumb while he rubbed his own arm. 

We had a minor crisis when we got to DHS. Gabe forgot his ticket. Of all the parks, DHS is the MOST high stress "rope drop". There is no such thing as getting there too early. Not a good way to start the day. Gabe and Jason were going to take a cab back to the Poly to get it, but a security guard told them guest services may be able to reprint it. I normally always take a picture of the back of the tickets for just this type of thing. In fact, I had taken pics of mine and the little boys that morning but not Gabe's since he was carrying his own. Obviously, he was not carrying his own ticket.

Long story short, the fabulous guest services cast member was able to reprint his ticket. Disney Magic. 

At the new turnstyles. Disney is going to all RFID, you just put your ticket by the Mickey head, fingerprint, and you're in. This is in preparation for the new Magic Band system. We say guests who were testing it while we were there. Looks very cool. 

We normally go directly to Toy Story Mania, what is likely the most popular ride in all of Walt Disney World, but we had other plans. Quinn wanted to do the Jedi Training Academy. Basically your kid get to have a light saber fight with Darth Vader. You have to sign up first thing in the morning so we went there first while Jason and Gabe rode Rock n Rollercoaster.

We successfully signed Q up to fight the forces of evil. Dex had no interest what so ever in participating. Then we headed over to Toy Story Mania and rode stand by. Meaning we waited in line like everyone else. Boo.

It was still early enough that the line wasn't terrible.

This is ride where you wear 3-D glasses and play carnival style games all Toy Story themed. It's VERY fun. Dexter does not do 3-D glasses. 

We met up with Jason and Gabe after that and rode again. 

Next we did Legend of Jack Sparrow. Q LOVES anything Pirates of the Caribbean and we had never done this. It's kind of an interactive show. It was very cute. We all enjoyed it. 

 Quincy was chosen to play a role, he had to hold the "Skeleton Key." There was a spotlight on him at some point. 

By the way, if you are interested in Disney touring, this is NOT how you should plan your trip. We were more into doing our favorites and things we haven't made time to do in the past. If you're planning a Disney trip let me know, I'll help you with how you should REALLY do it.

Green Army Man! 

Up next we were Supposed to be doing Q's Jedi Training Academy. We reported back to the designated location and Quincy chickened out. I felt so bad for him, I know he wanted to do it. He's watched you tube videos of it over and over, but he was too scared. I didn't push it. Maybe next time. 

Instead we rode Star Tours! It's a Star Wars themed simulator ride. Very fun. Dexter wore the 3-D glasses! A big step for him. Each ride there is a "Rebel Spy" that Darth Vader is after. Quincy was the rebel spy! Of course we had to buy him the "I am the Rebel Spy" t-shirt.

Gabe's B-Day lunch was at Sci-Fi Drive in. You sit in cars and there is a huge drive in movie screen that shows old movie clips. You can't tell in this picture but its so dark in there we had to use our iPhone flash lights to read the menu!

We had some more fun after lunch then Jason took the little boys back to the room. Gabe and I rode Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster.

After that, it was back to the Poly for more sun and swimming! 

I-800Aaaaaaahhhhhhh

Finally, some action. 

Adoption has a lot of hurry up and wait.We have been in "wait" mode for a while. Waiting is not fun.

Adoption is marked with many hold ups and many small victories. Today was a good day. 

     We had our last home study visit in early July. Since then, we have been waiting for our social worker to write up our home study. This is the physical document that talks about Jason and I, our relationship, our kids, our jobs, and our families. It says why we want to adopt and what type of child our social worker says we are qualified for. In other words, its super important. We couldn't go any further without it. 

     In the state of Illinois, after the social worker approves you, your home study still has to be approved by DCFS. Illinois is the only state that has this extra step. Unfortunately, there is only one lady in the entire state that does this job. What we thought would take less than a week ended up dragging out for what felt like forever. 

     Finally today we got it. The golden ticket. Our home study and DCFS approval.

So what does this mean? Now we can move on to the next step. 

Now we can apply for our I-800A. So what's that? According to our agency the I-800A is approval from the US Government-specifically the FBI, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-for us to adopt internationally. 

We filled out more applications, made more copies of our passports, birth certificates, and marriage licenses and wrote another check. 

Oops, didn't realize I was wearing my F*CK cancer shirt. I think Big Jim would have wanted it that way.

I rushed home as soon as I was done with my last patient (sorry kid whose stitches I took out too fast) to make it to the post office before it closed. 

We made it! That is one important envelope. On its way to Texas. 

So what happens next? I wish I could say we're getting close, but the truth is we're not. Now we wait for this I800-A approval. That step has been taking on average 55 days. So we wait again. 

Here's what I know so far- This is hard. Really, really hard. It takes one million times more patience than I have. It takes 100 times more organization than I usually have. This is NOT for wimps. 

Here's what else I know- It's worth it. SHE is worth it. I am already head over heels in love with someone I've never met. So really, it doesn't matter how many times we have to sign our name. It doesn't matter how many copies we have to make at 9:00 at night. It doesn't matter how many checks we have to write. All I've seen is 5 little pictures. All I've read is a few translated words written by someone who doesn't love her. 

IT'S ENOUGH. 

I KNOW she is worth it. No matter what. 

August Care Package

Last week we sent Zi Shu another care package. I had thought we would send her one every month. I'm not sure if that's what we should do or not? My practical side wonders where she could put "her" stuff? I have no idea if she has a cubby or a locker or really anything that is just hers.  

So the care packages may be as much for me as they are for her??

Regardless, care package #3 is on it's way to Luoyang, Ch*na.

I managed to fit a lot into that box. 2 outfits, another disposable camera, a princess play phone, a Minnie Mouse, chex Mix and Dove chocolates for the nannies, suckers for the other kids, a nanky, and a photo book. Aunt YaYa snuck the tiniest little purse in for her too.

Her nanky. I got her bedding on Etsy and had the same lady make matching lovies. It is so soft! I did get 2 of these made in case she doesn't get home with this one.

The photo book turned out SO CUTE. It's a chunky board book. 

Who Loves Zi Shu? In English and Chinese.

I pray she gets it and her nannies read it to her. I have to hope that seeing pictures of us in advance will help prepare her. 

Can you imagine what those Ch*inese nannies must think when they see our family? I have visions of her nanny taking it around to show all the other nannies. I know I totally would! Or maybe Ch*nese nannies aren't snarky?

Magic Kingdom part 2

 

After Dumbo we were out to meet some characters. New Fantasyland holds Pete's Silly Sideshow where you can meet Daisy, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald. The boys love meeting characters. They don't say much, but neither do the characters so it works. We brought Penelope's picture with us.

 

I think Daisy was excited. Daisy's handler was a super sweet girl. She told us she was adopted and thanked us for adopting our kids. Believe me, no thanks needed, it's our pleasure

Mam-Minnie has poodles too!

 

Goofy is very tall!  

 

 

 

I was super excited to get Zi Shu her first Mickey ears.

 

I have bought the kids so many different versions of these over the years, but this was the first time I got to buy pink :).

 

I decided we will wait till she is with us to get her "Penelope" ears.  

 

We are lunch at Be Our Guest. We had eaten dinner there at Christmas and loved it, but I wasn't able to get a reservation for this trip (hangs her head in shame). Lunch is counter service so no reservation needed. Honestly, the food was too fancy for the kids, but still very cool to eat in the Beast's Castle.

 

Not sure what Dex was doing here? 

 

Just hanging out at Gaston's Tavern

 

We rode the Little Mermaid Ride. Very cute. Quincy Loves it.

 

Tea Cups! Jason doesn't do these. 

"Those tea cups messed me up right here" Jason Fulton, 2006

 

The Carousel was closed. Boo. We still got to try to pull the sword from the stone. Denied. 

 

We met Mickey and some princesses before we left for the day. 

 

 

The Princesses all got new dresses. They were beautiful! Luckily Q didn't tackle Cinderella (he has before)

Aurora was beautiful. Very chatty. 

Rapunzel was hilarious. She played with Dex's glasses for a while. 

 

Penelope, all the princesses said they can't wait to meet you! 

After this is was back to the Poly to SWIM!!

 

We had dinner at Ohana. We love Ohana, in fact we love it so much that we ate there twice this trip. It's another "hard to get" reservation. All the salad, noodles, pot sticker, veggies, wings, and meat on a stick you can eat.

Top it off with banana bread pudding with ice cream and caramel sauce. I've never sent anyone there who hasn't loved it.

We headed back to the MK after dinner.

Jason, Quinn and I rode TTA. We LOVE this ride. It's slow but its one of my favorites. I'm guessing Gabe and Dex were riding Space Mountain while we rode this.

After that we did Monster's Inc Laugh Floor. No pics, but believe me, its really really funny.

 

 

Off to Adventureland for Q's FAVORITE ride... 

 

Pirates of the Caribbean. The line was 20 minutes long. For us, that's really long. No fast pass so we waited. That's how much we love Quincy ;). We could see the boats when the line broke down. We waited at least another 15 minutes there. All the while, the guy in line behind us was talking REALLY loud on his cell phone. In another language. I think it was Portuguese?? He was face timing so every once in a while he would show whoever he was talking to what was going on around him. His wife didn't look nearly embarrassed enough.

 

We all loved POTC, worth the wait.

 

After that we headed back to the Poly. We watched wished from the beach and went to bed. Great day with the people I love the most in this world!