[6furbabies]

Hey everyone,

I'm adopting my FD on June 20 & was just wondering about adoption parties. I've gone to an adoption party before, but it was for a couple who adopted a newborn, and was very much like a baby shower. I am adopting my 3 year old FD who's been with me for over 2 years... I'm not sure about the adoption party bit - it's not as if I need a baby shower at this point. I definitely, definitely feel as though it's worth celebrating, but I just had a birthday party for her a couple months ago, and a birthday party for my FS a couple weeks ago. Just not sure what's appropriate at this point. Any suggestions/ideas?

Thanks!

[NewMom259]

Before my dh and I got our foster license, we had a "baby shower" like party and entitled it as a foster shower. I think it is a GREAT idea. You will need the gifts and it is kinda fun! GL with the planning details!

[princessmommy2two]

We are definitely going to throw a huge party when we adopt FS, who is 12, this summer. But you're right...it's a bit different when they're older.

What we are planning is a celebration with cake and snacks in our church gym on a Sunday afternoon. We will invite all family and friends, especially his friends from church (lots of boys his age). That way it's low key...no organized games or anything. The kids can free play in the gym and the adults can hang out in the lobby.

I am going to put on the invitations that no gifts are expected, however there will be a box for cards and if anyone would care to, they can donate towards a family vacation to Disney that we are planning to take in the spring to celebrate. That way the "gift" focus is less on him getting tons of stuff and more on us as a family, which is how it should be, I think, at his age.

[MamaPenny]

It's summer anyway--a great time for a barbecue, yard party, or pool party! And finalizing your adoption is definitely cause for celebration!

If you are iffy about your daughter receiving gifts for this occasion, set up a fund drive for a children's charity and ask people who wish to give gifts to donate in her honor. Or have a close friend, your sister, or similar, suggest to people that they buy savings bonds or give cash to bulk up the college fund (asking for gifts directly--especially cash--is tacky, but in this way it's kind of more like a "college fund shower" which can be thrown for you by a friend without beings something Miss Manners would frown about).

Or just have the party and simply put "No gifts please," or "Your presence is the present!" at the bottom of the invitation. My family are big "No gifts, please" people; my kids only got birthday gifts from us and their grandparents until they were well into elementary school and I caved to pressure from the other classroom parents!

[csutliff]

First, congrats! We finalized on our two fs last week. They are two and four so I had many of the same concerns/questions about what our party should look like. We rented out a room at the children's museum (surprisingly was cheaper than even using the park!) I really didn't want to feel stressed about having to clean, cook, plan activities and try to enjoy the day so our house was not an option. Plus, we wanted it to be clear that this was special in a different way than birthdays or other get togethers that we have at home. The museum was great because the exhibits kept everyone busy and entertained! Some people brought gifts but we didn't make a big deal of that like a shower or bday party might. We brought gifts for them as well. We had cake and ice cream. We also did a simple sand ceremony. Everyone had fun and the focus was definitely on family rather than gifts or food which was great!
Congrats and good luck!

[6furbabies]

Thanks everyone! Good ideas! Now, I just need to think of somewhere to have it. lol I agree - I don't want to deal with the preparations/cleaning up part of it - I've already done that twice in the last couple months!

[onhazier]

We are throwing a party to celebrate C's pending adoption. We want to say thank you for all the support we've received during C's time with us.

The party is scheduled for the end of this month and yet we don't have a court date for finalization. Our lawyer has been pretty darn slow and just filed yesterday. We are hoping for an August 5 finalization but it could go into September at this point.

We decided to go ahead with the party because Grandma will be visiting from out of town and it is hard to reserve a spot to host something in our area. Because we have big dogs, we decided to not have the party at our home. We know that a significant number of people who may come would be uncomfortable with the dogs. So, here's our plans:

We've rented a picnic shelter at a local county park. The park also happens to be a functioning farm. Kids will have lots of space to run around and can go into the barn to see any young animals which have been born this spring.

We'll have our favorite bakery make a huge sheet cake in a Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish theme. I'm going to have them make some shortbread cookie pops that are decorated to look like the fish and have them sticking out of the cake. We'll be serving cake and cold drinks at the picnic shelter starting at 11am.

I've ordered 5 pounds of customized M&M's which are red, yellow and blue. They say "One Fish, Two Fish", "Red Fish, New Fish", "C is a S". The S is our last name. The M&Ms literally just arrived this morning and are sitting on my desk next to me. M&M's had shipped the original order over a week ago but FedEx and I are having a disagreement over their supposed delivery. I had to call M&M's to get them to file a claim with FedEx. While I was on the phone with them yesterday, I asked if I could reorder and they overnighted them to me!! I'm thrilled with them and need to call M&M's to compliment them on their customer service. The M&M's will be scooped into little favor bags for our guests at the cake party.

I mailed the invitations this morning. I designed those myself and had them printed through inkgarden.com . Let me just say that Ink Garden's customer service was also great! I ordered the invitations over the holiday weekend when I had received the permit for the shelter reservation. They printed and mailed them on Tuesday. I got them yesterday and am mailing them today. I left one at C's daycare for all the ladies who have been so good, kind and supportive of C and us.

The day before the cake party is my birthday. My mom has asked us to roast a pig because she'll be in town. So, between the reception and pig roast, I'll be partied out that weekend.

[mykids1027]

My Mom says I am nuts, but we are going all out for our party. We have a very large family and close friends and this is the biggest day of our lives. We are having it at a County Club with approx. 120 people. DJ, Balloon Man, a bouncy on the deck for kids and so on. We are having a family portrait done on adoption day to give as a favor. My oldest wants to wear a tuxedo, so all three of my boys will be in one at the courthouse. Have know idea what I'll wear We are so looking forward to celebrating this exciting day with everyone we know and love and who truly adore our boys.

[LaceyGirl]

We had a party for each of our children. We reserved a room at a restaurant (very kid friendly) and invited those who we wanted to thank the support they had given us over a 3 year period. Our pastor also did a dedication/baptism for our children at the restaurant. I believe everyone brought presents (which we did not expect) however there are many gifts that will be treasures to our children later in life.

[mommyof2miracles]

We had a birthday party/adoption party for our AD back in April. Unfortunately we didn't finalize as scheduled so it was before she was actually adopted. I had already pushed her birthday party to 5 weeks after her birthday so I didn't want to change the date. We had a huge party celebrating both and on the weekend following finalization we just did dinner and a cake to celebrate with immediate family and friends.

[6furbabies]

Thanks everyone! I was talking to my sister about the party & she asked if she could take over and have it at her house. Works for me!

[takingtheplunge]

Hello, I here are some hightlights that I did, that I'll do again if the op. ever presents itself:

Custom invitations: Got pic of her w/ fairtale background. Had it put on custom invitations. I used the words "Cherish every moment" under her photo to communicate idea that this is a special moment not just a bday. Inside, I used formal verbage that sounded similar to a wedding invite.

Invited family and three close friends w/ their families to court and lunch afterward. Judge was great. He made it like a little wedding with the type of speech he gave.

At dinner handed out scrap book paper cut in 1/4ths and narrow colored sharpies. At the event, I had guests write a memory of her and/or a future wish.

Custom ordered two tier cake with stars on it and her first & new last name. I put a small disney-type of wand on it that lit up. After she blew out the long candles, the wand was hers (idea: make a wish).

Have fun planning your event!

[arubagirl]

we are having my daughters party on 6/11.... people who are important to her including case workers, teachers, etc. pool party picnic. about 70 people total... ( what was i thinking). I am having guest sign a tree , painted on canvas. . using an ink stamp they will thumb print a leaf on the tree and sign their names. Also a little book they can write her a special message. Also taking pictures form her actual adoption and hainging them on ribbon so everyone can see. I will post pictures when its all done!!

[kxl164]

We had an Adoption/Christening Party and since so many people were wanting to celebrate with us we rented a hall and did a dance party, it was great fun. We had craft tables for the kids, tons of food, and an open bar!! They had already been part of the family years before the adoption was final so we wanted something a little bigger!!

[Sharedthejourney]

Kids love to look at pictures taken of their special parties as they flip through their growing picture album over time. Pictures purposely capture and solidify the images and memories of life's moving great events!