Homecoming Day

January 23rd--Oliver's Homecoming Day. 

This kid. What would we do without him? It's hard to even imagine not having him with us. 

Remembering the day he came home to us always leaves me feeling overwhelmed with thanksgiving and hope, and also a little sad for all the things he must have been feeling but couldn't express. It was a huge day for our family, but an even bigger day for him--and the magnitude of the losses he endured and the transition into our family is not lost on me. 

We celebrated the day with one of his favorite meals--"sauce noodles" (fettuccine alfredo) and a cake that Ada and her friend Gabby made during their snow day  (to be truthful, the cake  was in part an effort to recreate "Cake Wars" and not wholly a selfless act of love. But it did take a lot of time and work, so whatever). And since it was a snow day, we also went sledding as a family with lots of other friends and Oliver had a blast. Then we watched the video of him arriving at the airport (cue the tears) and another video I made when he had been home a year. Hard to believe it has already been 4 years!

Oliver likes Kevin to talk to him at bedtime and sometimes they fall asleep together. I hope he always feels as loved and secure as he does when he falls asleep holding his Dad's hand. 

 U of L also played a big game on the 23rd, so Oliver got in some more guy time watching the game with Daddy. 

THE CAKE--a lot going on there. I'm not sure Ada is ready for Cake Wars just yet. 

Oliver Nokomoto Brown, you are so so loved and we are in awe of the privilege it is to raise you and be your family. Happy Homecoming Day!