Adoptive Families Reunion 2012

Dori and Maya, Archana and Maya Lee, Lori and Kayley, Val and Rebecca, Anne and Evie.

Five families out this year, for a weekend at Stoney Lake.  This is the Moms and Girls, out on our picnic, set up by the Inn on their own little island.  It was a lovely afternoon, with nice swimming, lunch, beading and face painting for the kids.  

The girls are all three now, almost four, and it is still difficult to get them all together for a photo, hence the Mom presence.  But they have a lot of fun together.  Having meals together and playtime on the beach or playground is a blast with other little people your own size!

For us parents, it is a treasured time too.  We can share stories of our children, and compare experiences.  It is fun, informative and as time rolls on, will be so important to our girls (and one boy in the group, but we don't see him a lot at these gatherings; he probably will find it much more interesting when he's a teenager and that boy/girl ratio means something!).  I cannot stress how vital it will be for them all to know other children exactly like them, with the added link of having been adopted at the same time, and from the same places.

It is difficult though, to pull 18 families together, with geographic differences that now span the world, as two of our group now live in China.  I don't think we'll ever get everyone together again in one mass, but will continue to try to do summer gatherings in various places, to try and accomodate as many as possible.  Ultimately, it is for the children, but we adults and siblings get a lot out of it too.

The majority of the gang arriving at the island for the picnic.  (The Camerons went ahead in our own boat, hence my ability to get these shots).

A beautiful little island.

Big brother helping.  I guess this was just after he slipped on a rock and got Evie a little wet, but she didn't seem to mind.  (And he cut his foot in the process).

Bathing beauties Ingrid and Kim.

The picnic lunch in the great outdoors. Pete, Rebecca, Val, and Dori in front, Maya, Karl and Andy behind.

Face painting time!

Making a bracelet.

The latest in 3 year old outdoor wear modelled by Rebecca.  She later added a pirate face to the ensemble, but I didn't get a picture of that.

Our own girl LOVED her butterfly face, and couldn't stop staring into Mummy's sunglasses to see her reflection.

Back at the Inn, some beach fun.  Evie and Jacob.  I can't believe no one was out on the trampoline at this point; usually it was pretty popular!

Like this.

Evie made it out there too, with help.  Sean, even though he doesn't look thrilled, actually had a wonderful time bouncing around.

The playground was a favorite gathering place too, mostly for after-dinner fun.

The kid's table.  Usually a few adults ended up here also.  Evie, Maya, Maya Lee, and AshaLin.

Skyler joined the kids too.

And he was pretty popular with the girls, here bringing them a plateful of veggies and dip.  Maya Lee, in particular, kept asking her Mum, "Where's that big boy?"

Jacob and Sean.

The adjacent TV room was great for keeping kids occupied while the adults chatted leisurely over dessert.

Maya Lee, AshaLin, Evie, Skyler, Jacob, Maya, Rebecca.

Evie kept calling the mounted deer head a "reindeer".

Evie was also looking for Maya Lee quite a bit.  "Where's that pink girl?" she'd ask.  (As one day it was Maya Lee in pink).

Lots of girls in pink though!

Dori and Maya.

Dads got to have their fun too.  Hemant, Andy, Bob, Karl (I think) and Pete.

Dori whipped up a seafood stew for our Sunday lunch.  She's good at that!

Our boys, out in the boat.  There was some fishing accomplished, with Jacob catching one out on the lake, and AshaLin landing a 5 lb bass off the dock!(with her Dad's help, just at the end though).  Next year, a fishing tournament?

The end of another nice day at Stoney Lake.

And some visiting time with Tante Ingrid.

And then crash time.  This is the position in which she fell asleep that night!  (Leopard print pillow from Skyler's collection at home).

Nighty nite.

And one last attempt to get all of the girls together for a picture on our last day.  As you can see, the Mums are more into the idea than the little ones....maybe next year!

Looking forward to getting together again!