Congratulations!!!

*KNUCKLEFUCKINBUMPAWESOMENESS*

What a wonderful announcement!! Congrats to you and your FAMILY!!

Congratulations!

Congrats

Congratulations!!!!! Wishing your family many years of happiness love n togetherness! :x

Congratulations!

Thank you! It has been a fabulous day! Sooo happy these boys are now in our lives forever. oUR boys!

Here's what happened ...


We arrive at the courthouse, it's quiet and empty. Hmmm. I ask someone, we are at the wrong building! Lol. So with just minutes to go, we go to the right place where everyone is waiting. Imagine that!! Haha. So we chit chat, then I ask ... Do you think the judge will let me get a picture of him with the boys? The room fills with laughter! Are you kidding? It's judge so and so, he's (can't think of the word they used, but kind of like a stick in the mud). Oh, well it wouldn't hurt to ask, would it? This would be great for the boys memory books. A few chuckles and they (boys' lawyer, our lawyer and the social workers) all agree to have someone ask. They approach the judge's assistant. She disappears then comes back and said, he said sure, after the proceedings! Woohoo! Boy, was everyone shocked! Lol. So, we go in and sit down ... there are 11 present plus the judge and his assistant. Two attys for the Ministry, two social workers, the boys' atty, our atty, us and a social work student. Phew! The judge was very pleased to see the boys! He commented on how nice they looked in their 'where's Waldo' outfits! Lol. They had on black pants and black and white striped matching shirts (their choice!). Anyway, the judge asked J's about his trip with us to the US and all the places he visited. I drip fed him a few of the states (there were 26, so I kept it to about six) then just added'and lots of other places'. The judge chuckled and said it might have been easier to ask where he didn't go! Lol. So, he talked some more and said how he'd read about all we've been through and how pleased he was that we had made a commitment to these boys and on and on. I was getting teary! It was all a bit much.  About twenty or so minutes later he makes his rulings (8 of them), declares us a legal family and announces photo time! The bys go up to the bench and stand on either side of him. I go up and take a picture. He asks me if it was ok, I said I'm not sure, I don't have my glasses on! Everyone laughs and I pass the camera to the judge. He said, do over! A microphone was covering D's face! Lol. So DH comes up and he takes over photo duty. All good. Phew! Lol. The judge had earlier asked if we wanted the picture because we knew he was presiding. I answered with ... I've never been here before and have no idea who any judges are in Tauranga! He just laughed. And to think everyone thought he would say NO to pictures! Lol. I guess no one has asked before. So, we left the courtroom and went to the hall for more pictures with attys and social workers. The boys were on a high and so were we. Actually, I think everyone was! It has been such an incredibly fabulous day!!  Would have been perfect if my DD and SIL could have been there as well. We have now completed our perfect family! ♥

:)

Awesome! Congratulations :)

Congratulations! So haopy for your family :)

I am SO SO happy for you!! @four_winds and I were talking about how exciting it is yesterday! Well done mama :) 

So very happy for you!!!!! I can hear the excitement in your post.... Made me teary!!!' what a great day for you all :-)

Congratulations momma!! As much as these boys are a blessing for you, you are a blessings for them. So happy for your family :)

That's wonderful. Congrats!

Geez guys, now you're making me all teary again! Lol. It was such an amazing day ! The boys were all excited as well. DS6 kept asking, when are we going? at 9am, 9:30am ... After lunch! When are we having lunch? At 11. Can we have it now? Lol. Go play playstation! Lol

At dinner their social workers joined us as well as two other CPS staff and we got flowers and a card and the boys each got a card and a game. Very unexpected! We decided not to rush into getting anything for the boys that day but take them out one weekend and get something together ... they have been hinting at iPods! Lol

And last night at bedtime, the two were just nuts! Lol. They were laughing and being silly and had been calling DH and I by our first names (as normal) and also mum and dad! Lol. It's amazing to see and experience this in our lives! :D

\o/ 

SO excited for you and your story was amazing too!!!  Just goes to show that sometimes the Judges we think are so scary are actually really nice friendly people!

Congrats!!  What a wonderful day for your new "official" family!  Sounds like a happy beginning for all of you!

Thanks chickies! It was definitely better than I ever imagined possible! And we're all still buzzing! Lol