Seven Eleven

We will always remember this day, July eleventh, 2012, because Eden and Bereket became "official" Crawford's even though they already have social security cards and birth certificates with their Crawford name.  In some states (such as California) you are required to readopt in your state and this is the very final step in their adoption process!!!  That was a lot of reason to celebrate.  

I explained to Eden what was happening (again, I always just give her an idea what to expect because she doesn't do well with surprises but not too much detail to give her more to worry about!!)and we all put on nice clothing for the special occasion.  Eden seemed a little uncertain during the hearing, even though I explained there was nothing to be worried about.  We were happy to have some family and friends to witness the special occasion as well!  Then, after Cade and I signed some papers and swore that Eden and Bereket would be raised as our own blood children, the judge declared that everything was in order and that she would declare the adoption approved.  She also mentioned that cases such as ours are always happy times in her career!

The judge posed for pictures with us and I had made sure my battery was fully charged (smile) but when Grandma Sherry tried to take pictures for us, the flash wouldn't go and was showing error on the LCD screen!  Figures, right?!  So, after trying several more times, we decided that others with their phones would just take some pictures for us.  That is when I remembered that my camera accidentally got sprayed with sand at the beach (how odd, huh?!!  Especially when you have a lot of kids around!)  Cade took a look at it and fixed it just as the judge was leaving the room but she looked back and asked if we wanted to try again!  Thank goodness she was patient!  She was more than happy to get more pictures for us!!
    

Bella (showing some leg) and Eden posing in front
 of the Courthouse.

Bereket and Eden, our Ethiopian Crawfords.

A time to remember!

Our family with the judge.

After we were outside and everything was over, I asked Eden if that was hard?!  I knew she was a little uptight.  She admitted that she had been worried about the policeman sitting in the corner in the court room!!  It was a very happy moment outside of the courthouse when we hugged Eden and told her we were very happy she was a part of our family!!!