Rose's 7th Family Day

Rose - It has been 7 years since we stepped foot into FANA to welcome you, our first baby girl, into our family. We had waited 4 long years for that day - the day we would finally wrap you up in our arms. The wait was a long and difficult one with many twists and turns along the way. There were times that we wondered if this day would ever happen. But happen it did! When we got the call that we had a baby girl waiting for us in Bogota, all those fears and worries melted away. One look at your photo and we knew all was as it was meant to be. And you were well worth the wait.

The morning of March 20, 2015, we had arrived to FANA dressed in our Sunday best to meet you, our little princess. Even the boys were decked out in suits. This was back in the day when they actually wore what I picked out for them. 

We stood in the Green Room at FANA, anxiously waiting for your arrival. Soon a vision of pink appeared around the corner carried by a FANA adoptee and accompanied by Adriana and Elena. 

I scooped you up into my arms. My little baby girl. You were simply precious. The sweetest little peanut. You looked at us, taking in these new faces that were smiling back at you. You were very content, soaking in the moment. You must have known that we were the family that you had been waiting for.

I still remember clear as day Owen telling me as we drove back to our hotel, "Mom, we got the best one at FANA!" He was so proud to be your big brother. Now your relationship may be a bit more like one of cats and dogs. You and Owen sure do like to butt heads and bicker. I attribute it to you both being much too alike.

We celebrated your Family Day a couple days early while on vacation in Panama City Beach since your big day would fall on the same day we'd be making the long drive home. The Florida weather was a bit iffy that day with rain in the forecast so you choose a day at a local arcade/amusement park. You spent the morning swimming and then we were off to Race City for a fun-filled afternoon.

Our first stop at the amusement park were the go-karts. You and Pa rode in one kart and Uncle Jason and Cole in another. Around and around you went on the track speeding by with a big grin on your face. 

Next you choose a ride on the 'Wild Bears'. It was basically a tilt-a-whirl with a strange bear theme. They even had a bear statue that you thought you should climb on but instead opted for a silly photo op instead.

No other rides interested you so we headed indoors to hit up the arcade. Everyone had a blast running from one game to the next. By the end of our adventure, we had racked up quite the pile of tickets to exchange for some fun goodies.

But the most exciting part of the afternoon was the claw machine. You insisted on playing it despite everyone else warning you that it was a total scam. Well, lo and behold, you WON! We were all shocked. Of course you wanted to try again and everyone stood around you telling you how and where to position the claw. You listened to us and lost every time. I finally told everyone to just let you do it and...YOU WON AGAIN! 

After everyone was arcaded out, we headed to the restaurant of your choice for dinner - Wendy's! For some reason, you love Wendy's. You always order the same meal - a hamburger, chicken nuggets and a lemonade (hold the fries). You gobbled it up in the car on the drive back to the rental house.

Your actual Family Day arrived two days later. We had spent all day in the car driving home from Florida and pulled into our driveway just in time for dinner. It was your Family Day after all, so you got to choose whatever you wanted for dinner (although Wendy's had already been vetoed since we had just eaten there a couple days prior). So you chose your second favorite restaurant - Noodles and Co. You sure do love their butter noodles!

A Family Day celebration wouldn't be complete without dessert. Off to Dairy Queen you went with Pa to pick up a yummy treat for all.

Rose, you are quite the creative little soul. Always drawing master pieces or writing little notes. I'll find your notes scattered throughout the house, sometimes with the sweetest of messages like "I love you Mom. I rile rile riiile love you." (Awe...so stinkin' sweet! I 'rile' love you too, Rose.) You love practicing your newfound skill of writing. 

You have been over-the-moon to be attending school in-person this year. Distance learning was definitely not for you. You happily race your brother to the school bus every morning. You just MUST be the first one on the bus, and of course, the first one off every afternoon. You sure do have a competitive spirit. 

You love being active and would happily participate in every possible activity - from golf to soccer and everything between. You are quite the go-getter on the field. You have no fear when your determination kicks in. You go, go, go after that ball with everything you've got, even when your competition is bigger and stronger.

You are a natural leader - guiding your siblings and directing them as you see fit (at least when they allow it!) You and Kate are pretty much inseparable. You do everything together. Your baby sis sure looks up to you and wants to be just like you. 

You are our little socialite. You've made such a wide group of friends from school and activities that you can barely go out in public without bumping into someone you know. And you have no qualms walking up to someone you've never met and introducing yourself. You make friends everywhere you go.

You still love your elephant lovey that you affectionally have named Tutu. Poor Tutu has seen better days and often in need of a bath, but you don't care. You love that raggedy Tutu and have spent years cuddling with him at night. In fact, it's the very same Tutu that we brought with to Colombia when we traveled to meet you. You have a couple newer options of the EXACT same lovely that I purchased after realizing just how attached you were to Tutu. But those loveys simply can not compare to your one and only Tutu.

You are a bit of a dog fanatic. If you see one, your instinct is to get as close as you can as quickly as possible. You can't help yourself. Dogs are like a magnetic to you. Even though you adore those furry four legged friends, you have a fond appreciation for the more unusual, creepy critters as well, like frogs and worms! You love digging for worms and searching for frogs hiding in the nooks and crannies of the big outdoors. You are sure brave! One never knows what creepy crawly creature may be lurking in those crevices - spiders, snakes, and yes, even worms and frogs - EEK!  

You LOVE snow. When you wake up and see a fresh snow fall, you shout YAY! Even snow in the spring makes you smile while the rest of us are grumbling about the weather. It doesn't matter how cold it may be, you will bundle up from head to toe and make a cannon ball right into the snow pile. You relish being outside on a beautiful winter day exploring, sledding, ice skating - you adore it all! 

But once the snow is gone and the warm weather returns, you will be sure to be found splashing away in water. Whether at the beach or in the pool, you love to get wet. You are a natural and even taught yourself how to swim. You love jumping into the pool and diving for whatever toys end up sinking to the bottom.

Rose, we have been blessed to watch you grow over these past 7 years - from the tiny little 6 month old baby that was first placed into my arms into the little young lady you have become. We are forever thankful to have been chosen to be your family. A very happy 7th Family Day to you!