GOTCHA DAY Party!!

The long awaited day finally arrived!  In April, we went to court and finalized Landrie's adoption.  

On that special day, Landrie officially became a LONG!!  Last weekend, we celebrated this big occasion with lots of family and friends with a GOTCHA DAY Party!!

Bethany and Dave are our good friends who adopted Isaac at the same time we adopted Landrie.  We've walked through the many ups and downs of infertility and adoption together.  God knew what he was doing when he gave us friends going through the exact same things at the same time!  We knew that we wanted to throw a BIG bash to celebrate the finalization of our babies' adoptions, and the end of a long infertility journey from broken hearts to hearts overflowing with love for our babies!  We could not have made it without the prayers, support and listening ears of all of you!!!

Bethany and I have been planning for ages, and loved every minute of it!  One of my favorite parts was their matching outfits!  Mark's sisters made and embroidered them for the little ones, and I don't think they could have been any cuter!

The outfits said "Forever a Long" and "Forever a Rinn"!

We made these photo collage posters at Sams for each baby.  We had to tie them to the brick columns at the pavilion because it was crazy windy!

So many sweet family members and friends came to celebrate!  We loved that Brianna and Brynn made the drive!  Without Brianna, there wouldn't be a party!  (or a Landrie Long!)

Landrie's great Granny loved on Landrie. 

I love this shot of great Aunt Judy!  Granny, Judy and Steve got up at 3:45am to drive up for the party!!

My parents were able to come too.  We couldn't have pulled off the party without them!  They helped with the 200 cupcakes and all the details!

Amber, Bethany and Isaac, me and Jenny- I wish I would have gotten more pictures of everyone there!

Misty works at our adoption agency.  We were so glad to see you and Judy!

Judy (also from our agency!), Landrie and Brianna

Jenny, me, Brenda and Bethany with our stairstep babies!  The babies were all born just weeks apart.  I love how the boys are checking Landrie out!!  Her daddy better not see this one!  :)

Bethany and I with our little miracles!!  Mark and I were talking after the party about what a great time we had.  We decided we should adopt baby #2 together too and do another party!  :)

After the party, we had a fajita lunch back at our house for our family.  Here's Beth and Rusty with their boys Gramm and Jaxon, Granny and Landrie and Mark.  

Mark and me with Judy and Steve and Granny and Landrie.  Thanks again for making the drive up for the party!!

Landrie and her P-Pa with their matching outfits, matching blue eyes and matching grins!

Of course, there are about 200 pictures from the weekend, so I made a collage of a few more favorites!  Landrie with her cousins, Abbie, Adelynn and Gramm.

Landrie and Isaac with Landrie's cousins, Jaxon and Anna.

This poem sums up the weekend:

The Rinns and the Longs are longtime friends

Each thought the waiting would never end

Last winter both couples chose adoption

Everyone was ecstatic about this option!

In September, Landrie joined the Long family

Just one month later, Isaac added to the Rinn family tree

These babies have brought us all so much JOY!

Let's celebrate the "GOTCHA DAYS" of this sweet girl and boy! 

We loved celebrating with you all!!!

(Check out Bethany's blog post about the party here!)