Garrett's Forever Family Day Celebration

Sunday we celebrated Garrett's Forever Family Day. This was the first year that Chris was home to celebrate with us (he's been deployed to Iraq the last two years at this time of the year), so it was even more special. We'd like to think that Momma Olga, Garrett's foster mom, and his birth mom were there with us in spirit too, and we pray that they know how very loved he is.

Momma CiCi and Jack, and Angel and Zach came over to celebrate with us and enjoy a Guatemalan dinner. I think that I finally have the recipes for Pollo en Pina, Arroz Guatemalteco, and Fried Plantains down. They turned out very yummy (the key to the fried plantains is very, very ripe to brown plantains). The cake was yummy too, but I over beat the batter so it came out a much denser cake than for Elena's celebration in February. I think the secret to Pastel de Tres Leches is to add the milk and flour mixtures to the butter mixture at the same time then mix, versus add the flour mixture then mix then the milk mixture then mix etc. It still tasted good, but it didn't soak up the three milks like I wanted.

Garrett told me Monday morning that it was the "best burfday evert". I tried to explain that it wasn't a birthday party, but he corrected me saying "but I had cake!" Guess that Chris and I still have some things to learn from our kids -- like how the best celebrations involve spending time with our best friends and cake. Gosh, how I love that little man so.

Here are some photos of our fun time together:

The kids (Zach, Jack, Garrett, and Elena) playing in the backyard

Pollo en Pina

The kids enjoying dinner, take 1

take 2

Bubby and Sissy snuggles

The Zach man, or "Zachy" according to Elena

Pastel de Tres Leches

Thank you, God, for sending us this angel boy!