Time Marches Forward

Yes, time wait for no one. Lots has happened since December.  I'll start with the most exciting.  Our adoption was finalized on February 22nd!!!!!  Here are some photos to commemorate that occasion.

Here we are waiting for the hearing to start.  Harve got to test the microphone. 

Charles and I, Laura, Brok, Westley, Christian, Harve, and Audrey drove over the night before.  Grandpa and Grandma Gladden came to the hearing with us (Grandma is taking pictures) and the kids Guardian ad Litum Therese Yanan came, Sue Mills from CYFD and I'm sorry to say I can't remember the nice woman she brought with her also from CYFD. 

Here is our nice attorney Patricia Simpson.  She and her assistant put everything together and represented us well.  Patricia made double-triple-quadruple sure that we understood what we are getting ourselves into and reminded us of our age.  Thanks a lot! (tee-hee)

Nancy promising to tell the truth

Signing the document at 2:40 p.m.

Charles taking the oath with Audrey's help and Westley in the background

Charles signing with Christian looking on at 2:43 p.m.

Judge Karen Townsend coming to congratulate the kids and us.  Judge Townsend had the difficult task of removing the kids from their original home and overseeing and ruling at all of the hearings leading up to this moment.  The adoption hearing is the moment that makes the process worth it - seeing a good resolution.

Congratulations Christian - you have a family that loves you and will take care of you and your brother and sister forever.

Here we all are with Therese Yanan, Judge Townsend and Grandpa and Grandma

Ms. Simpson was kind enough to take the picture

After we received the copies of the adoption decree, we went to the CYFD building and they had a candle lighting ceremony for the kids.  Laura was the appointed pyro which made her happy.  It was a nice ceremony honoring the kids, their birth parents, all who have cared for them and helped them through their journey and our new family.

Another picture of the group of us and then cake and juice for everyone!

Everyone that was in the office that had anything to do with the kids came and celebrated with us.

Those who drove them to and from appointments,

those who did paperwork,

those who walked us through the hearings and meetings,

anyone that knew the kids in any way - it was great to meet them all.

Some couldn't attend because they were out of the office.

How do you thank everyone who helped in any way - we have no way of knowing who you are. 

The few that we do - THANK YOU! 

Thank you Deb Yost, Terese, Judge Townsend, Patricia Simpson, Sue Mills and your intern, Brandin, Pam Bent and Ernest, and truly to everyone else in New Mexico that helped in any way.

No words can express our gratitude to Grandpa and Grandma Gladden, Vernon and Rosemil, JoGina, and the support of both the Bott and Gladden families.

As for Colorado - Thank you to Joni Bedell, Sarah Hall and Debra Mapp and to all the class teachers!

Well, that makes it official- One great big HAPPY family.

Oh, and the mailman - and yes he was a man in this case - just dropped off the new birth certificates. Hooray for us!