[Sherry]

We're nearing our finalization date and talking about plans for a party. 'A' wants a cake and we were discussing what to put on it. His idea? "Finally You're Adopted By Us" :-)) What a hoot. But seriously, what would you put on a cake?

Our good friends are coming to the courthouse with us and we want to celebrate afterwards so I'd love to hear how others have marked the big day.

Sherry

[danibanani]

We adopted our 11 year old son in January, 2002. We had a cake made by our local bakery and they put "Happy Adoption Day!" We rented out a pizza parlor and had an open house, it was a ball. We still celebrate his adoption day

[shells]

Our son was 8 when the adoption was finalized. He knew his mom, loved her but she passed away. The way I explained the whole adoption finalization to him was that another set of parents was getting him - similar to getting a new baby, only that he is 8 and not a baby. I told him that his first birthday was when his first mom got him, and now that he is becoming our son, we have to have another 'birthday' for him.

So it was kinda like a birthday party, complete with cake, gifts and all - lol. So in our home we have to celebrate two 'birthdays' for him every year. We wrote 'Happy 2nd Birthday' on the cake. He had so much fun, of course the birthday gifts played a big part in that.

Anyway, soon after that he started calling us mom and dad, before it was aunt and uncle.

[Peggy]

I put my daughter's new name on the cake.... and flowers.

[crick]

After our court appearance, we took our kids out for a nice lunch and then we had a portrait taken together. For that day, we celebrated on our own.

Later we had a little party with friends & family and I had their scrapbooks out for everyone to write a little message or their favorite quote. I'm hoping the books will be a treasure for them when they are older.

I actually think "A's" idea for the cake is great and if he's at the age where it's important to him to have his opinions counted, then I think you should let him have that. It's his celebration too so why not let him decide some things?

Congratulations!