Hoda Kotb reunites with her daughters after flying home from Tokyo with Simone Biles

Hoda Kotb has reunited with her daughters Haley and Hope after returning home from Tokyo, and the family celebrated with a spaghetti dinner and plenty of fanfare.

The Today co-anchor arrived in New York on Wednesday after spending a week and a half covering the Olympics, a whirlwind trip that ended with her coming home on the same 14-hour flight from Japan as star gymnast Simone Biles. 

Fresh off her flight, Hoda, 56, opened up about her experience during a behind-the-scenes special that aired on Today AllDay Thursday. The mom told Al Roker all about the heartwarming welcome she received from her daughters Haley, four, and Hope, two, when she returned to their Long Island home. 

Special dinner: Hoda Kotb, pictured with her two-year-old daughter Hope, had a heartwarming reunion with her children on Wednesday after returning home from Tokyo

Aww! The mom, pictured with her four-year-old daughter Haley, shared spaghetti with her kids Lady and the Tramp-style while dining al fresco at restaurant near their Long Island home

Aww! The mom, pictured with her four-year-old daughter Haley, shared spaghetti with her kids Lady and the Tramp-style while dining al fresco at restaurant near their Long Island home

‘I had a ticker-tape parade. It was like a mini ticker-tape parade with these two kids,’ she said. ‘It was amazing to come home.’ 

The journalist’s daughters were so excited to see her that they made signs and sat by the front door while awaiting her arrival.   

‘They had two chairs out, pulled up to the front door, they were waiting when I got there,’ Hoda explained. ‘It was the cutest, sweetest … I just hung on last night. I just hung on tight last night.’

The mother of two shared photos of their sweet reunion on Instagram on Thursday, including snapshots of Haley making her a sign and waiting by the door with her little sister.  

Ready for mom's arrival! Hoda shared photos from the reunion, including a snapshot of Haley making her a sign

Ready for mom’s arrival! Hoda shared photos from the reunion, including a snapshot of Haley making her a sign 

Too cute! Haley and Hope pulled chairs to the front door and waited for their mom to come home

Too cute! Haley and Hope pulled chairs to the front door and waited for their mom to come home

After a welcome home that likely included plenty of hugs and kisses, the family enjoyed an al fresco dinner at a nearby restaurant. 

Hoda shared photos of herself sharing spaghetti noodles Lady and the Tramp-style with each of her daughters

Although Hoda’s fiancé Joel Schiffman didn’t appear in any of the photos, he was likely the one behind the camera documenting the reunion. 

Haley actually helped her mom pack before she left for Tokyo, and the little girl sweetly added her own dress into the mix. 

Time to leave: Hoda, who spent about a week and half covering the Olympics, waved goodbye to Tokyo before flying home

Time to leave: Hoda, who spent about a week and half covering the Olympics, waved goodbye to Tokyo before flying home 

What luck! The gymnastics fan was thrilled Simone Biles was on her 14-hour flight to New York and snapped a selfie with the Olympian

What luck! The gymnastics fan was thrilled Simone Biles was on her 14-hour flight to New York and snapped a selfie with the Olympian 

Candid: Hoda opened up about her reunion with her daughters during a behind-the-scenes special that aired on Today AllDay on Thursday, saying it was 'a mini ticker-tape parade'

Candid: Hoda opened up about her reunion with her daughters during a behind-the-scenes special that aired on Today AllDay on Thursday, saying it was ‘a mini ticker-tape parade’

‘When ur daughter packs one of her dresses in your bag! Xoxo,’ captioned a photo of herself holding the surprise addition up to her face.  

Hoda considered Haley’s star dress to be a good luck charm, and she carried it around with her while cheering on Team USA. 

The Today star waved around the dress in excitement while watching U.S. gymnasts Simone, 24, and Sunisa Lee, 18, compete in the women’s gymnastics balance beam finals on Tuesday. 

Simone ended up winning the bronze in the competition, while Suni placed fifth. During an interview with the team after the competition, Hoda showed them what she had been waving in the stadium.  

‘So this is what I was waving. This is my daughter’s dress,’ the mom explained. ‘She put it in my luggage for good luck, so I took it to the meet and I just started twirling it around and it gave me good luck for all of you.’

So sweet: Haley actually helped her mom pack before she left for Tokyo, and the little girl sweetly added her own dress into the mix

So sweet: Haley actually helped her mom pack before she left for Tokyo, and the little girl sweetly added her own dress into the mix

Doting mom: Hoda considered Haley's star dress to be a good luck charm, and she carried it around with her while cheering on Team USA

Doting mom: Hoda considered Haley’s star dress to be a good luck charm, and she carried it around with her while cheering on Team USA

Precious: Hoda showed the dress to the U.S. gymnastics team on Tuesday, explaining that was what she was waving around at the balance beam finals that day

Precious: Hoda showed the dress to the U.S. gymnastics team on Tuesday, explaining that was what she was waving around at the balance beam finals that day 

The gymnasts were touched by the story and let out a collective, ‘Aww.’  

Hoda told Al on Thursday’s special that Haley would see the dress when she was watching her on TV. 

‘I took it everywhere with me,’ she said. ‘Haley kept seeing the dress, and she was like, “That’s my dress! That’s my dress!” And she was asking about if Simone [Biles] got to see it, did Simone see her dress, and yes, she did.’

And that wasn’t the only surprise Haley had in store for her. The little girl also took to Hoda’s Instagram account ahead of her trip to Tokyo to post a video of herself saying, ‘Congratulations USA.’ 

‘She goes, “I may have posted on Insta.” Well, she don’t know Insta. She’s four, so I was like ha ha ha,’ Hoda explained on the Today show at the time. 

Best mom ever: Hoda said Haley kept asking her if Simone saw her star dress, and she confirmed that the gymnast did

Best mom ever: Hoda said Haley kept asking her if Simone saw her star dress, and she confirmed that the gymnast did 

Tech savvy: Haley also surprised her mom by taking to Hoda's Instagram account ahead of her trip to Tokyo to post a video of herself saying, 'Congratulations USA'

Tech savvy: Haley also surprised her mom by taking to Hoda’s Instagram account ahead of her trip to Tokyo to post a video of herself saying, ‘Congratulations USA’

Support system: Hoda was one of Team USA's biggest cheerleaders in Tokyo, and she yelled support to Simone when she withdrew from the women's gymnastics team final last week

Support system: Hoda was one of Team USA’s biggest cheerleaders in Tokyo, and she yelled support to Simone when she withdrew from the women’s gymnastics team final last week

It was Hoda’s colleague who alerted her to the adorable post when she arrived at the airport before their departure. 

‘I look, she figured out to, boop, post it, so now Mama’s going to have to crack down on the phone usage,’ she said, laughing. 

Hoda’s incredible trip to Tokyo came to a special end when she arrived at Tokyo International Airport for her return trip to New York and realized she was flying home with Simone and the rest of the U.S. gymnastics team.

‘As I am getting my bag and getting on there, I see Simone. Simone Biles was on my flight,’ she said on Thursday’s special, as the crowd at the plaza cheered. ‘I see Grace [McCallum]. I see Suni. I see Jade [Carey]. I see Jordan [Chiles]. 

Back together: Hoda and her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie reunited the the U.S. gymnastics team in Studio 1A on Thursday morning

Back together: Hoda and her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie reunited the the U.S. gymnastics team in Studio 1A on Thursday morning

Emotional: Hoda's eyes welled up with tears as she watched Sunisa Lee hug her father after seeing her family for the first time since she won gold in the all-around final

Emotional: Hoda’s eyes welled up with tears as she watched Sunisa Lee hug her father after seeing her family for the first time since she won gold in the all-around final 

‘Like the whole crew was on our flight. They were adorable. They were like little girls with huge bags getting on the flight. It was amazing. It was really fun.’

Hoda took a selfie with Simone on the flight, writing on Instagram: ‘Looky looky who is on my flight… lucky me! Welcome home @simonebiles.’ 

The Today star also saw the team on Thursday’s show in Studio 1A, where Suni had an emotional reunion with her family for the first time since she won the gold in the all-around final at the Olympics. 

Hoda’s eyes welled up with tears as Suni hugged her parents after weeks apart. 

‘I haven’t seen them in so long,’ Suni said. ‘To see them here with me in New York is absolutely amazing. I feel so proud. I’m so happy to see them.’

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