Our Kaz friends

Memorial Day weekend found us up in Cleveland for the EAC adoption picnic. EAC was the agency that I used for Leah's adoption. Every Memorial Day, they host a picnic at the zoo and invite all past, present and future EAC adoptive families to reunite. During our stay in Kazakhstan, there were four other families adopting at the same time. Three of them were single moms like me. The 3 single moms and myself have gotten together each Memorial Day at the picnic to catch up on the past year and have out Kaz kids play. It is a powerful weekend. They estimated that there were 900 families at the picnic this year. To see all these families with children adopted from all over the world is an amazing experience.

At the picnic, the Kaz coordinator is in attendance and usually brings along a guest. This year she brought the director of Almaty Baby House #3. This was the baby house that Leah and Jade were adopted from. (see next post) She could not believe that Leah was Nurzhamal (Leah's birth name). She said she looked nothing like she thought she would. Jade on the other hand looks exactly the same. She remembered both girls well as they were essentially crib mates.

Leah had fun at the zoo with her Kaz friends, but what Leah really likes is hotel rooms. I opted to get a junior suite for a little more room for Emme's bed. The room also came with a fridge and microwave so we could eat in the room. Leah and Emme swam like fishes after the zoo and as well the next morning before we checked out. Emme loves the water. She loves to splash herself and others as she squeals in delight. The beach will be so much fun this year.

The next post has more pictures from the weekend. Enjoy.