Day 3 YueYang Reunion

Day 3 -- The final day of the YueYang Reunion

The day started around 10 am for us by getting up and going to get My Darling from her sleep over.  

They were all up and moving -- some were VERY tired!!!  My Darling was the 2nd one in her sleeping bag and out at around midnight!  Well, it was hours later before the last one was out!

Thankfully, the big event of the day was not scheduled until 1:00 pm.  So, we took it easy the rest of the morning.  

We took the French Lick Scenic Train Ride.  Today was another VERY hot and humid day -- around 100 degrees.  Thankfully, we got into one of the two air condition cars -- there were five cars besides the engine.

All of the girls decided to sit on the upper deck of our car.  This was a nice relaxing ride.  This was a good time for the girls to chill -- they were totally contained and could only relax.  It was good for them :)

 When we arrived back at the station it was raining -- but we just had to snap a quick - cute - picture of My Darling with two of her 'sisters.'

Next, the girls went in different directions.  Some went to the pool, some to the basketball courts, others took a rest and some to the arcade.  Yes, mine decided to go to the arcade.  SO -- dad did this activity and mom went back to the -- cold -- room and relaxed!!!

Before dinner we had the 'professional' session for the girls.  Unfortunately, right when we arrived at the gardens a thunderstorm rolled through -- we made it work in the gazebo until we could get back outside!  Thankfully, we are all flexible :)

 They are all growing up to be AMAZING young ladies!!!

 ONE of our beautiful daughters!!!

Gorgeous!!! 

 This was an awesome opportunity we had to make this trip with just My Darling.  It was a very special time for her with her YueYang sisters BUT also a special time with just us. I am thankful the other children were well taken care and had a great time as well while we were gone!

Next, we were off to dinner -- Chinese food.

This was an interesting experience as this is a small town and this restaurant does not usually have this many guests.  Yes, we had reservations and gave weeks of notice.  BUT it is just a husband/wife restaurant.  The food was good BUT it took FOREVER to get the food.  We were there over 2 1/2 hours!! 

 Cute selfie I found on my phone tonight -- this was taken at dinner!

After dinner we had a couple of girls perform.  

 S. did a classic Chinese Fan dance.  Absolutely, lovely -- My Darling LOVED this!

P. performed a ballet dance she designed herself based on her adoption.  Again, amazing.  She also sang beautifully a song from Annie which was pretty emotional for the moms.

Other girls did a few gymnastic things.  Unfortunately, we did not come prepared with the violin.  Although, everyone knows this is on the agenda for next year.  We will have a mini talent show to give each of the girls an opportunity to showcase what they are working on.

YES -- it is getting late -- BUT we had to just have more time in the pool.

AND to finish the night off --

My Darling had a mini-sleepover with S.

I am guessing we will have a VERY sleepy girl tomorrow -- She will fall asleep in the car within 30 minutes of leaving the resort!  

This has been an amazing time for these girls.  Many live so far apart yet we feel like we are a part of their lives.  The girls get along and enjoy being together.  They have vast areas of interest. Yet, they all try things and have fun together.  

We are looking forward to next year already -- it is looking like the East Coast next year!

Day 2 YueYang Reunion

Day 2 -- French Link, Indiana

First off -- we are staying at a beautiful resort.
French Link Resort

Front - main section as you are driving in 

Back of the main hotel from the Gardens

There are so many things to do, included in the actual room price PLUS there are many things to do for an additional charge ;)

Yes, there is a trolley and a shuttle service to get around at the resort.

Cool bikes as well!

We decided to start the day with a pony ride.  My Darling and her YueYang sister M. thought this would be fun.

My Darling and her pony Spice.

M. and her pony Little Sam.

My Darling thought the pony ride was 'AWESOME!'

M. is the youngest of the YueYang sisters :)  She is just 20 some days younger than My Darling.

Next, we did a scavenger hunt throughout the resort.  We were placed in groups of 5 -- NOT by families.  ALTHOUGH My Darling and I ended up on the same team :)

Getting everyone organized!

The BLACK team!!!

We had to look for clues all over the resort and answer questions by finding items around.  It was lots of fun.  Matt's team came in 3rd and our team came in 4th.  It was a fun way to see all the resort has to offer AND to be mixed up and work with others from our group.  

Finding the next clue.

Next, the girls all had a final clue they had to solve.  It took a bit BUT the end result was a large suite where they would have a sleep-over tonight.  
WOW -- were they excited.  I am so glad my room is not next to THAT room ;)

We also had group photos before dinner.  The girls all have matching shirts and the other family members are in matching colors.  We are a BIG group!!!
Unfortunately, only the photographer has the FULL group.  I will post when I get it.

After pizza there was lots of fun in the pool.  Many of the girls with some parents played lots of water volleyball.  They had so much fun!

S'mores were made out on the deck at 8:30 -- everything was so organized for us. 

Wonderful music on the front wrap-around deck.

Finally,

to finish off the night for the girls ---

A sleep over in a suite!!!

Doesn't this look fun??!!!

They had some fun activities, movies and LOTS of yummy snacks!!!

Hmmmmmm.................I wonder how all of these girls will be tomorrow??????

Beginning -- 10th Year YueYang Sisters Reunion

Can you believe it??!!!

This is 10 years!!!  
10 years ago we went to China to grow our family!

This very scared little girl became a Woller ---

AND

By God's wonderful plan our family grew not only by a daughter BUT by an amazing group

--- 18 families who also added a daughter to their family  -- all girls from YueYang Hunan China.  We traveled together for 12 days through Bethany Christian Adoption Agency -- touring, receiving our daughters, paperwork, meals and flights.  YES, this has bonded us together for life :)

The girls (and their families) are forever linked!!!

The first FULL picture of the girls together in China -- about 4 days with their forever families.

So, each year we have committed to work together to have a reunion.  Since all of these girls came from the same area in China -- 12 of the 18 came from the same room in the same orphanage -- we consider them 'sisters' and thus family!  These reunions are important!

This year we are in French Link, Indiana with 12 of the 18 families.

This year we decided to just take My Darling to her reunion.  We usually make this a family vacation but .... we decided it would be good for My Darling to just spend time with her YueYang sisters.  

AND

Yes, she is VERY happy about this choice :)

Unfortunately, Matt woke-up Thursday morning with a terrible migraine.  SO -- we left much later than expected and I drove most of the way.  BUT thankfully, he is doing better!!!

We had about a seven hour drive -- thankfully, a pretty easy drive!

Some of the girls have not been to a reunion in a few years so all the girls were introducing themselves and their families.

The 12 girls who arrived for the 10th Anniversary Reunion!

Each year the moms (some with their daughter's help) bring something to give each of the other girls.  This year the mom's planned a bit before hand and each family brought something to put into a bag (that one family brought for each girl) 

SO -- when the girls all left for a bit, all the moms got the bags put together 

AND...........

WOW!!!!

look at these bags --- There are SO many awesome items!!!!

The bag, shirts, jewelery, notebooks, jump rope and Frisbee, panda bear, custom water bottle, Vera Bradley purse, memory book -- and more WOW!!!

These are AWESOME custom water bottles!

The memory book -- 

There are pictures of the group for each reunion AND pictures of each of the 18 when we got them AND now.  The girls will fill in the information about each other at their sleepover on Friday night.

A cool custom notebook

My Darling and I customized frames for each of the girls.

We added last years picture to the frame UNTIL this years is created :)

AND then when they came back we let them 'dig' in!!!!

It was like Christmas!!!

We finished off the evening with a swim in the beautiful pool area.

My Darling was EXHAUSTED!!!

What a sweetie with her new panda bear -- sound asleep!

We are so excited to spend the weekend having fun together!!