Every year our adoption agency hosts a huge picnic. Adoptive families come, birth families come, even friends of either side come. Bounce houses, grilling, a clown, and lots of chasing of children provide entertainment. This year we went with Sadie's birth father and his parents - her Nana and Tata. Sarah, our fabulous adoption facilitator (she helped with three of our kids), is in the pink shirt.
Sadie and Benjamin were first in line to get painted by the clown.
Benjamin told the clown that he wanted to be "gold." What? "Just gold." The clown, who had already made fun of Sadie Eloise's name (I know, right?), acted like he was a real weirdo. That's OK...we can deal with a cranky clown.
I'm pretty sure I know what happened. Our boy who likes shiny things and sequins probably thoroughly looked over the paint kit and decided that nothing looked more fun than that glittery pot of gold. He's no fool. He asks for what he wants, even though he marches entirely to the beat of his own drum. (I pray he never loses that innocence, but I also ache for what challenges that might bring in today's world.)
Oh, Bella. Sitting on a serape.
Oh, Oli. Playing with your lei.
So then the clown started her show. For being such a cranky pants, she was pretty darn funny.
And here are my kids. The only ones who get up and run toward the front when she asks for a volunteer. They are having so much fun they can't contain themselves. I really should teach them to sit down.
Poor Oli was sick and spent a lot of time lying on Papa. And while this was going on, Sadie had the urgent need to pee. In the middle of a huge crowd in a huger park, girlfriend just kicked off her panties, hiked up her dress, squatted and did her thang. Free Range Kiddos are big time awesome, even when they are embarrassing.
We'll end with The Papa and his sense of humor. Sitting on hot coals was all his idea.
