Arrival of the China Express!

Home again!!! At least I consider that the Swapps have made it back home again when they finally get to ME. And what an adventure (but then their lives are constant daily adventures!) it has been to get here.

Paul & I have been so anxious for our time with them ever since they landed on US soil on Jan. 29th. The original plan was for them to pack up their car yesterday and drive up from Phoenix with an overnight stop in St. George. We expected them some time around noon today. Heidi called me yesterday afternoon about 3 pm and said they hadn't left Phoenix yet... yikes! They were having car troubles and the car had been in the shop for 2 days and it could take at least another day before they could get going.

An hour later Heidi called again and threw out the idea that perhaps she and the 2 babies would fly up last night and then Eric would drive up with the 3 older kids when the car got fixed. OK... so I'm thinking: good luck on a flight by yourself with a 7 month old and an 18 month old. Then 15 minutes later she called again and said that now the plan was for her AND Eric to fly up with the babies and then Eric would fly back down this morning on a 5:30 am flight and still drive up with the kids when the car got fixed. After considering this solution for 45 minutes or so I called her back and suggested that they just get EVERYONE on a flight and get up here ASAP -- we'd be happy to pay or whatever it took... just forget the torturous drive, we'll give them our big car while they are here and we can't wait any longer!!! So with literally 2 hours to go before the flight left, they booked 5 seats (thank goodness the babies can still fly for free), threw their clothes in 7 duffle bags and got to the airport with minutes to spare.

Paul and I each drove a car to the airport where we waited anxiously for over an hour in the park and wait lot. I guess their plane had some headwinds and the jetway wouldn't work when the plane landed at the arrival gate. Finally we had a wonderful reunion of hugs and kisses and squeels of delight at the curbside pickup zone as we loaded up their 7 pieces of luggage, 1 stroller, 2 car seats and 5 excited grandchildren and 2 exhausted parents and got to our house at about 12:15 am. Of course, the kids weren't the least bit sleepy. Their little body clocks are still trying to figure out what time zone they are in (thank goodness Phoenix and Salt Lake are on the same time right now). We watched Baby Einstein, played with all grandma's toys, fixed snacks and just relished being together again. Finally about 1:30 am everyone was in bed and most of the lights were out.

Katie and Aspen came over first thing this morning and the cousins have had so much fun running around the house and searching for goodies in the pantry. LaRane and Cache came over around noon and the Swapps got to meet baby Cache for the first time (Heidi did come up to see him when he was about a week old, before she went to China). Cache and Connor are only 2 months apart in age so it is fun to compare what they are doing and how they are developing: Cache just learned to roll over and Connor just got his 2 bottom front teeth. Aspen and Capri are only 5 months apart in age and they are both into dolls and cell phones, binky's and blankies. Colton and Cory gave us demonstrations of their skills at myachi (a totally awesome new sport using kung fu-like moves with a rectangular bean bag -- similar to hacky sacks only with hands instead of feet). Both boys are very accomplished and have intricate, tricky, smooth moves. Very fun to watch; next to impossible for me to do! Quincy is way into cooking and helped me make waffles for everyone.

Heidi gave us girls a sneak peak of her new products that she is releasing at CHA next week. She always comes up with the most exciting, innovative, unique new products. I am always so amazed that she can continually think of things that haven't been done before. Whenever I go into a scrapbook store I think "wow, everything has already been done" and then Heidi comes up with more new and improved designs and ways to use them. Her samples are stunning. I'm so proud of her and how she stays true to herself in this complicated and demanding aspect of her crazy life.

It is really hard to have this sweet family live so far away (and I used to think Phoenix was far away) and not get to spend time with them very often but it really just makes these times that much more precious! I don't have a lot of things planned for while they are here. There are just 2 things that I have my heart set on: 1. booking our flights to Beijing and 2. taking a family photo! The rest of the time we will just hang out and try to get our fill of each other.