Finalization "Documentary".

Believe it or not, there really is a few pictures from Monday April 25th that I did not post. ha ha ha ha. Monday, we woke up like any other day. I decided not to even bother attempting a nap for Evan so it was stress free. :) Mike went to work and I attempted to stay sane while showering, doing my hair and make up, ironing my clothes and the kids, carefully and methodically packing the diaper bag, methodically packing an activity bag for Evan so he could be entertained should there be a delay, feeding and diapering them both while trying not to make the house look like a cyclone hit it. I was not sure I would be ready when Mike got home to get us but I pretty much was! I'm impressed with myself! First order of business was to meet our friend Brianna to take a few pictures before we had our 230p court time. We started taking (windy windy) pictures and Grandma Jennie came to tell us there was a definite sign and she confirmed that we could have no purses or diaper bags! What?! I had a stroller, HUGE diaper bag, Evan's entertainment bag, my purse and camera. I was a little panicked since I obviously planned to move IN. I was able to let it go and thankfully our friend Mama Mary was parked near by and volunteered her van for our storage locker. :) Whew! Crisis averted. You know, you just want your day to go perfect or at least well and 2 kids in diapers with no diaper bag??? Let's just hope we go quickly..... no. As I mentioned in the previous post on the subject, we rode the elevator where suddenly Evan was obsessed with the "Alligator" and kept running back to it hoping to ride it. rrrr and cute at the same time. I don't blame the poor guy, he had to leave his snacks and entertainment in the car and had to 'sit still' and WAIT for over an HOUR!! In my eyes, though he was in time out 2-3 times, he was a trooper. In the mean time, there was a steady line of volunteers to hold or entertain Cora Grace. She was so tired but you would never know it. Finally I couldn't take it anymore, I needed a diaper for CG and as you may have read on my other post, Mary left to get it (and made it back 3 seconds after we were DONE! boo boo boo! She was a good sport and did not show her disappointment but it was frustrating for me that anyone would wait that long with us and miss it. I wish I could have stalled them? I don't think it's an option). Five minutes after Mary left, they called us in, hoping she would be right up and they would take a few minutes, we all went in and settled down. I handed my friend Cammie my camera to play with to support Brianna's photography and then anxiously waited for the judge to come in. He came in so fast! :/ That was the last tug at my heart for Mary to get there in time and now I focused on what I had to day or do. Our attorney (and friend) Chris was great. He's been very supportive through the ups and downs of our adoptions and attentive to our needs and desires. It helped it all go so smoothly and we appreciate that. As we came to the 'pulpit', I wanted to make sure Evan wasn't going to loose it so I was ready with a sucker. It was a success. Literally the case took maybe 5 minutes and we were done! She was ours! It was so much faster than Evan's I think. I didn't realize it was over when it was over. ;) As Chris predicted, it took more time taking the schmoozing pictures that the judge likes than to finalize. he he he. We had a great time once it was final, breath of fresh air. We went on to take more pictures including the shots re-creating the special picture of Evan on the window sill. That picture is maybe THE picture of Evan that I enjoy the most. My friend Mari took the original and I know she thought  I was a little weird wanting to take a picture of him there but when she saw the outcome became a believer. Evan was so over it now that he's 2 1/2 that I couldn't 'really' get him to cooperate but you see what I got in the Monday post. I do love it and it accomplished my desire. I love, love, love that Brianna captured me photographing Evan. It's just one of those things that feels like home as far as my photography desires go. Thank you for that shot in particular Brianna. :) As you look at the pictures they are all by Brianna Fisher of Fisher Fotography. She did not however edit or enhance these, I did that (she will edit much better than me and I can't wait to see them!) and if it looks bad, I don't want her to be blamed and I hope she is not embarrassed with what I've done to them. I was sooooooooooooooo tired last night by the time I finished that I was doing the minimal amount to them and my creativity was dead :). So, with no further adieu... Here's our little Rock Star's very important day:



Did I mention "windy"? :)



This is the bracelet my friend Penny made. She also made Evan's cuff bracelet he wore for his finalization.
 She is very talented and they are very special to me. Thank you Penny.

She ain't my girl with out her 'pearls'. :) he he he.

She gets a picture by herself with Mommy and Daddy.

Grandma Jennie SAVED me! One of the many volunteers let poor CG crawl away unsupervised and Jennie captured her. Thank you GJ!

And Papa George spiced up the dreary wait with some classic... Peek a Boo. He's the best.

Goodness gracious. This is my friend Ambers son Henry. He just can't resist a pretty lady. :) Adorable.

And she can't resist a quick snack of shoe. LOL.

We did some spinning to pass the time.

"Cora, I think it's FINALLY about to happen."

Oh, it's definately happening.

... (3 minutes later) and were done. We're an official family of FOUR! Whoo hoo!

Judge Corlew
(same judge who heard the local Mosque debate and who did Evan's finalization)

All the amazing people who were able to make it. Thank you: Raquel and Azyria, Chris, Amber & Henry, Mary, Jennie & George, Drew & Cammie and Brianna (I'm so mad we didn't get a picture of just us with you!!! :( boo!). You made our day way more extra special, we love you. xo

*New Official Family *

Now we have our temple sealing this Saturday and Cora's blessing on Sunday.

 Ahh... that will feel so good, the best part actually.