Dear Kidlets,
Well, it goes without saying that this year's picnic was not as eventful and fun as last year. I mean jeeze! It is hard to to top linking up with a woman looking to make a plan for their baby and matching a week or so later. So the 4 of us were there last year, only Hazelita was still growin' warm and snug inside of Wendy! So grateful for the opportunity to be your mama. This was a great picnic, complete with lots of playground time, your best buds the twinks, and a big sugary Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cake. We had a great time laughing at the kids watching the animal show, hanging back with hesitance at first then crowding in for a closer look by the end.
The presenter from Silly Safari's was sensational with the kids keeping them engaged the entire time. The twinks got to handle the gator!
Henny, you were able so feed a kinkajou a fruity snack but was not down with silly guy making kinkajou's tail a mustache on your face!
Nick, Hazel's birth sib, got to touch a giant, powerful looking owl! So much fun! We enjoyed visiting with WW! and the McKeon's too. There were many new families and newly waiting families there this year, which made it very exciting and you quickly found several new kids to play with.
WW gave Hazel lots of snuggle and kisses but we need to visit soon as we didn't get to talk to each other a lot and I missed that part.
Love, Mama
Dear Kids,
If there is any lesson we want you to learn at an early age it is self confidence in who you are and that you have a place in this world. Not everyone you come across will support this notion, some will even directly try to tear you down and pull that awareness from you. It is our goal to start young with the two of you establishing that everyone has a fit in this world. This is why we support the rights of others to be happy and share love with their soul mate, no matter what package he or she may come in. These first years of your lives our nation has been debating the rights of same sex soul mates to marry. Daddy and I can't really wrap our heads around why it is a debate. We have people we love who have found their soul mate in a same gender partner and we can't imagine them with anyone else. At the very least the supreme court recently decided to support unions of same sex partners in part to protect children and give their families equal benefits under the federal law. There are many mom, mama/ papa, daddy homes out there and if their parents' rights aren't protected than neither are their children's. Now it is up to the state debates for what they each will allow. Unfortunately, here in Indiana it is a depressing outlook thus far, with Mike Pence saying, "it is my belief that the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman should stand." There has also been the grave sadness at the idea a couple of the same sex could be fined up to $10,000 and taken to jail (up to 2.5 years) for filing a marriage license on grounds the license only allows a blank for a male name and female name, thus filing the license with two male or two female names could be illegal fraud, a class D felony. It goes further to prosecute a clerk or clergy member that would except the "fraudulent" license. Really you ask? Really! I hope that by the time you read this our federal attitude toward this issue trickles down to our individual states and your response will be, "REALLY Mommy?! People did that?"
All of this gave us cause when the IAC asked us to participate in the annual Indy Pride Parade we did! Not only was it fun but we were treated awesome and had a great time. Possibly demystifying how hard many same gender couples feel it is for them to become parents, we spoke with many couples about your adoptions. We walked in the parade behind the IAC banner supporting all families so that ours in turn could be honored.
Henry, you thought we were at circus, due to the super duper pink group behind us. You enjoyed collecting the necklaces and all the candy people threw at us. Hazel sat in the carrier on my chest smiling and waving at all the people yelling at her, "OH MY GOSH! BABY WITH GLASSES!" Hazelita, you really have a future in parades.
We ate lots of bad food and Henry got to jump on the trampoline contraption for the first time. So cool!
On returning from getting a snow cone I found Hazel surrounded by some adoring admirers from Ohio.
We were honored to be there and are excited to attend again next year. We want you both to be tolerant and loving toward other people. We hope this is a good start.
Love, Mama
Dear Peep,
We've had some great times with friends this summer. I've really enjoyed our times in the creeks around Bloomington. One day we hiked up the waterfalls at Cascades Park and you played for a couple of hours with a group of boys there redirecting the water down to the small stream. I felt like a kid along with you, helping with the heavier rocks and log moving. The boys, a few years older than you, thought you were really cool and puffed up your chest by commenting on how strong you are at only 4. Before they left the oldest requested you all get a picture together. We've spent a couple of afternoons in Sylvie and Etienne's creek with Keegs and Lily. That was a fun day.
You were all turning over rocks trying to find new creatures. Searching for tadpoles and little salamanders made you all hungry and tired.
You enjoyed making and sharing banana bread with your buds and playing crazy kids on the deck. I can't look at these pictures without smiling or laughing out loud.
We've also returned to Olcott Park a couple of times too.
We even bumped into JoJo, Tommy and Jacob, a birth cousin at Cascades one afternoon and you all played together in the water there. Luckily JoJo had an extra life jacket in her car.
I love these times of pure discovery and excitement. I am grateful we have such wonderful friends to enjoy it with, and when they can't be their you easily make some new ones.
Love, Mama
Dear Peep and Peach,
On the morning before our trip to Michigan City and Chicago I came into Hazel's room to wake you. I found Henry with his hand on top of your head (Hazel). I thought this was incredibly cute so I ran to grab my camera before I woke you. I took one shot and I gave you a little shake, saying, "Wakey, wakey, it is time for our trip!" Unexpectedly, the two of you did a 10 to 15 second coordinated dance of sorts. You pulled the exact same moves and I quickly snapped the few shots and then you both slipped back into your gentle snores. It was a special way to start our trip. Most times Peep you try to act like you just can't sit next to your little sister. This was so sweet. Glad I had my camera on hand.
Love, Mama
Dear Hazel,
We took you to the splash pad for the first time. We didn't keep you in the water long but you seemed to like it and get really stimulated by it. You tightened up and your tongue started moving and you looked all around. We enjoyed watching you experience it. We will go back when it is hotter out and you won't get so cold. Can't wait!
Love, Mama
WW gave Hazel lots of snuggle and kisses but we need to visit soon as we didn't get to talk to each other a lot and I missed that part. 
