Legal!

This morning we finally got to take our children to court and a judge declared us the legal parents of Emil and Colin!  Last night the babies deviated from their usual routine of sleeping through the night and each woke up twice for some food and love.  (And in Emil's case, his stinkiest diaper yet.  That is saying something.)  We've had three children for six months now, so even being exhausted we are a well-oiled machine.  We got everyone out the door right on time. 

Worst family photo ever, BUT! we had to get one in front of the court house.

We met our lawyer, Gary, at the court house and he reviewed the questions he'd ask us while we were under oath.  He asked Bridget if she is a princess (she was not under oath, but curiously the judge asked the same thing) and she answered, "Yes."  The boys were pretty squirmy, but smiley and happy. Brian and I answered the same questions separately - when the twins were born, when we were married, if we are more than 10 years older than the adopted children.  All very basic questions.  Then the last one choked me up a little, something about if we feel like we are the right family for Emil and Colin.  It was easy to go through whatever we had to in order to get Emil and Colin because they are our family.  It is a straight-up miracle that we were connected with their birth parents in the first place.  I'm still surprised sometimes when I think about the fact that we have three children.  They were all worth waiting for and our suffering is minuscule when compared to the pure joy they give us every day.  Happy! 

That's our lawyer holding both babies.