One year ago today, a Russian judge officially ruled us parents of the bwins.
We were not allowed pictures in or near or anywhere around the whole courthouse, so this is a picture of the proud new parents in front of our hotel after court.
We didn't get to see the boys that day. This is a picture of them on July 5, the day after court.
This is a picture of them today- one year after becoming ours.
MeMa and PaPa brought them new bubble mowers to help celebrate!
(Now if only the yard was dry enough to mow!)
Here's some of our celebration food!
I made lifebooks for the boys and gave them to them today. This is L, Z, and J looking at L's book. I was amazed at how much they remembered. The books are not fancy, but they have my heart in them. 
We debated about our "Gotcha Day". We really felt like today was the day that they really became ours, whether we saw them or not, whether we actually brought them with us or not. This was the day that the judge said, "Yes". After that, it was relief and celebration. I'm really glad we went ahead with today. We have had a lot of fun celebrating and getting to celebrate the Fourth along with it just makes it more fun.
Happy Gotcha Day, L and El! We love you more than you will ever know!
congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. the bwins are adorable. you have to feel comfortable with your "gotcha day". everyone does it differently. Happy 4th.
ReplyDeleteThe SMILES!!! Oh how the smiles on their little faces today makes my heart warm with thanksgiving for how God has blessed all of you!
ReplyDeleteHope you guys get a break from the rain soon!
Happy Gotcha Day! I can see how much they grown in the year. Maybe not much in size but they look older now.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good celebration. And what a great idea to give them their lifebooks on this day.
Happy Gotcha Day!
ReplyDeleteWow, look how great they look after a year! So happy and full of smiles! Congratulations on your Gotcha Day. I think it's perfect that it happens to be Independence Day... it's another wonderful event to celebrate.
ReplyDeletewow, i can't believe it's been a year already! it doesn't seem that long... i remember the picture from "court".
ReplyDeleteOne whole year already! Congratulations. You've survived!
ReplyDeleteIt's been so much fun to follow your journey this year! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete