special day

April 4th is the day we celebrate our Forever Family Day with Kate. Dave and Will traveled to China to bring Kate home 7 years ago.  They met sweet Kate at the end of March 2007 but we were all together for the first time as a family on April 4th.

Over the years, I have struggled with how to honor this day (or whether to honor it at all). In fact, in 2010 we opted not to do anything as I was feeling really conflicted about celebrating. See, while it was a very happy day for us, the process of adoption can be so painful for the adoptee.

In the end, I have let Kate decide.  And she wants to celebrate.  She calls it her "special day."  We used to call it Forever Family day but I like Kate's title better.  I let Kate choose whatever she wants to do on her special day (within reason of course). Some years, we have gone for ice cream or a cupcake.  Some years we've had a cake and Chinese food.  It is up to her.

This year, Kate asked to go to a fancy tea at a hotel.  I thought that was a GREAT idea.  The problem was this was decided the day before her special day.  I called The St. Regis Hotel (where we go for Teddy Bear Teas each year) and they were booked solid.  They suggested another week.  I explained the special occasion and the gentlemen repeated that they were booked and there was nothing they could do.  There are not many places that serve traditional tea here in town. At that point, Kate and I really kind of had our hearts set on this so I politely asked to speak to a manager.

I told the manager what we were celebrating and that we come there every year for the Teddy Bear Tea. I told him we'd sit anywhere if the tea room was full and that we're small so surely they could squeeze us in somewhere in that big hotel.  He was happy to help us and offered us the bar or the conservatory.  The bar is quite dark, so I of course, choose the conservatory.

So, they led us to a beautiful light filled room ann we had it all to ourselves.  It was gorgeous.  They immediately brought us champagne and sparkling cider so we had a toast.

Then they brought the teas out for us to sniff and choose.  

My girl is not a fan of tea, so she she choose hot cocoa.  I had a delicious tea.

Kate is such a ham with her pinky up!

Since it was a Friday during Lent, they were kind enough to offer me salmon and other meatless tea sandwiches (children are allowed meat and Kate desperately needs the protein for her 4 hour gym workouts).

We had two managers serve us and they gave us the royal treatment.  I truly cannot say enough about how fabulously Corniche and Jeffrey treated us.  We felt so pampered. 

The clotted cream was a huge hit!

We LOVED the sweets!!!





As the tea was coming to an end, sweet Corniche brought out a little something for Kate.



{I know it's blurry, I had put my camera away and had to quickly pull it out!}

  The gave her a beautiful handwritten note thanking us for celebrating such a special day with them.






They also gave her a sweet bear and yo-yo. Kate loved this thoughtful gesture.

It was such a special afternoon that I will never forget.  Kate and I had a delightful time together. It was so nice to just sit and spend time with no one else around and enjoy each other.  Kate is funny and charming and really good company.  Not one day goes by that I don't thank God for bringing Kate into our family. She has changed all of our hearts in ways that none of us could have imagined. We all love her so much. I also pray for Kate's birth family and wish that I could tell them just how incredible she is.

P.S.  Just before the tea, we snuck out of school a little early and got mani-pedis too.  We only do this once or twice a year and she loved it!!!