Happy Adoption Day!

One year ago, yesterday (July 8, 2005), we went before a judge, and Collin and Cayla legally became Melnykowyczs. It was a pretty powerful day. We were allowed to choose whether or not we wanted a court date, and of course, we decided the more 'pomp and circumstance' the better - bring on the hearing! Our adoption worker told us the hearing would be quick and routine. Our friend Katie told us it would be nice and that the judge had a thoughtful, scripted speech. So, we called up some friends and family a few days prior, pulled out fancy clothes, bathed, showed up . . . and were blow away by the hearing. It was not quick and although it may have been routine, it was shaped by everyone in attendance. Everyone there got a chance to speak. Luckily no one told us this, or we would have been up for hours thinking of what we wanted to say. On the spot, in the courtroom, we stammered out some small speech that probably didn't come close to explaining how amazingly wonderful our children are and how grateful we are for the opportunity to be moms to the BEST (sorry everyone else) kids ever. It is reminiscent of our wedding - friends and family whom we love so much standing before a judge to affirm Collin and Cayla's adoption.

So, to celebrate, we spent Saturday morning with friends: kayaking, playing (on the playground), and eating lots of yummy food (Julie said the muffins were divine!). After a refreshing afternoon nap at home, we went off of to another lake to swim, kayak, and eat some more (black bean salad, cheddar scones, fancy olives, cherries, potato chips . . . ). It was a splendid day, marred only by the fact that one of the straps holding the kayaks on top of the car snapped on the way to the evening lake. Well, and the fact that Cayla pooped in her bathing suit at 7pm (not in the lake!!!). And also, after Flannery had cleaned her up (as well as you can clean up a pile of diarrhea "contained" within a drippy one-piece bathing suit at a lake with only an out-house, and not even a garbage can - Thank goodness for those scented wipes I saved from my plane ride home from Poland in 2002), Cayla, standing naked in the parking lot, pooped again.