Once again, in my home we're celebrating Dependents' Day!

Dependents' Day is the day before Independence Day.  On Independence Day, we celebrate the founding of our nation.  On Dependents' Day, we celebrate the founding of our family...

July 3, 2003:  We cried a little as the judge declared that we have now officially adopted our first two children.  they had been with us for a year as foster children, now they were legally and officially our sons.  They were now our dependents.  Hence, Dependents' Day!

After the adoption was complete, the judge invited us up to his desk.  He let the boys sit in his chair for a family photo.  I saw my youngest playing with some sort of button on the edge of the desk...I saw the judge yell and pull his hand away from the desk...I saw the court officer's hand reach for her gun...Yeah, my son hit the judge's panic button.  He made us so proud.  That should have been a warning...

July, 2004:  We cried a little bit more as the same judge, in the same courtroom, declared that we have now officially adopted our third child - their younger brother.  On that day, as we arrived at the courthouse, it was evacuated due to a bomb scare.  That should have been a warning...

July, 2005:  We're the greatest parents in the world.  We know everything.

July, 2006:  Maybe we just don't know as much as we thought we did...

July, 2007:  Wow.  Do we know anything?  Why am I so tired?

July, 2008:  We know nothing.  Nothing!  I'm exhausted.  Always tired.  Kids are expensive.  They always need us to buy something else... We're broke.  Did I say we're tired, too?

And, I wouldn't change a thing.

Happy Dependents' Day!

UPDATE:  I went out early this afternoon to show a home.  When I came back home, this is what I found drawn in chalk on the driveway in front of the garage:

Say it with me:  Aaaawwww.....