GUATEMALAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!

WOW! What an amazing day today was for soooooooo many reasons. First and foremost...Mikayla is home and in my arms for the holidays this year. I can't tell you how many times I have cried over that fact in the past few weeks. It's just so emotional for me because we are a COMPLETE family and Christmas last year just felt so wrong to me...it was just so sad...to celebrate with our daughter thousands of miles away in an orphanage. But, here she is, and here ALL the kids are....with the exception of ONE who SHOULD be home by Christmas too!!

It was one year ago next week that I posted on adoption.com asking for other mommy's to meet up with me for lunch out at Max and Erma's. I thought maybe a few people would respond and hey, misery loves company, and I needed to be with people who understood what I was going through. Much to my surprise about 12 girls responded and thus the "NEO (North East Ohio) Group" was formed. I never, ever thought it would grow as it has, we now have WELL over 25 families that are a part of it, and I never thought that my simple plea for "friendship" would turn into something so amazing that has touched to many lives. But it has! And this party was proof.

Today we celebrated. We celebrated friendship and we celebrated our children. ALL of our children, whether from Guatemala or not. We had over 20 wonderful families come today to the party that I planned. Well, I stand corrected, because honestly it was Gina and I both that planned it. It was a lot of work I will not lie...but today was well worth all the hours spent on planning, cooking, preparing, and shopping. Seeing everyone together, with their children, laughing and smiling was such a reward to me. I love all of these children!! Many of these children stole my heart through monthly update pictures while they were still in Guatemala....and now they are HERE....in freezing, cold Ohio.

Adoption is a bond that few people have. Few people can understand the hardship, the emotions, or the joy that go along with International Adoption. Few people understand what PA is or the importance of PGN or what's is like to get a KO. Few people understand what it's like to watch their children grow up in pictures month after month. But the few that DO understand, like those at the party today, all share a bond that will never be broken.

For those of you reading this that were there today, and actually, I know pretty much ALL of you do, I want you to know that it was honestly my PLEASURE being able to do this for all of you. I hope that you had as wonderful a time as I did and I hope that you made memories today that will last a lifetime. I know that for me, within this group of people, I have made friendships that have changed my life. Adoption has changed my life...and all for the better!

So here are the pictures and I have TONS more. I will post more tomorrow but this is for tonight! I am surprised I have the energy left to even blog! LOL!

Mommy is THRILLED I am home for the holidays....even though I don't smile for pictures!
Party Time!
Just some of the Yummy Food!
Some of the guests:-)

The gift table
The cookie table complete with Christmas Music!
Another "table" shot

Miss. Sophia with her sub
My girl Devon with her AWESOME hair-do after pulling out her bow
Tony and Alec having a GREAT time at the craft table
Miss. Izzy hanging out by the gits table
Ana...Tony's Sister

Christian loving his balloon
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that a SMILE!? And did I actually CATCH it!?
CRAFT TIME!
Chasing Balloons
Daddy with Izzy

Sweet Camille
OMG!!!!!!!!! Another smile??? Could it BE!?
And what is this? Is Mikayla actually SITTING with Devon? Trust me, she got up before I could take another picture!
Devon with her forever friend Isabelle (and yes, Isabelle has on the same dress as Kayla...what can I say...we are some Gymboree-Loving Guatemalan Moms around here!)
SANTA MAKES HIS APPEARANCE!!!

The kids did two things....ran screaming or flocked to him.
Alec and Santa....the first year he has EVER sat on his lap!
Mikayla was MESMERIZED by Santa!
This is Santa's DAUGHTER...she didn't know it was him and she was scared. She is a SWEETHEART!
Devon and Santa

Joseph and Santa
Christian and Santa
Santa....have we been good this year? We DID come home!?
Daddy's girl...what else can I say?
Awwww....sweet Christian and Mommy

Well...let's just say Sophia doesn't like Santa!
Jennifer and her sweetie Isabella...who wasn't too sure of Santa either!
Christian and Alec holding hands and taking a walk
Gina...seriously...what can I say. I could have NEVER EVER planned this party without you. Seriously. I think we did a great job and we are one heck of a party-planning team. You know you are my girl:-)
Christian, Gina, and Joe...this is what adoption does...it bring GREAT people into your lives that you never thought you would meet.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!