Once again, our extended families came from all over the U.S. to join in the fun, sun and good times...from Louisiana and Texas... from Nevada and Arizona...all gathering to share in the laughter and family spirit. This year we were blessed to have welcomed several newborns as well as some kids that represent some of our very first successes.
About 250 attended ANLC’s 2006 Annual Family Picnic at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. Although the weather was unseasonally humid, everyone managed to cool themselves down with plenty of ice cream, cold sodas and even the occasional water balloon fight.
The heat didn't stop the kids from jumping in the bounce houses or running relay races with some of their new “best friends”. While the kids performed wild aerobics in the three-legged race and the potato sack competition, the parents competed in their own private “cutest baby contest”. (By the way, there was no clear winner).
Two face painters were busy all day painting butterflies and fairies on beautiful young girls and pirates, snakes and spiders on rambunctious little boys. There was a full staff on hand barbequing hot dogs and hamburgers, swirling mounds of pink cotton candy and popping fresh pop corn!!
While blowing bubbles with her toddler son, one woman was overheard saying that she’d "always remember today because it was then that I finally felt part of this loving community".
Phone calls and thank you notes poured into ANLC in the days that followed. One of the cards stated that during the ride home that day, a mother asked her worn-out 4 year old son, "Did you have fun today?" The little boy responded with, "Mommy, I had more fun than at Ryan’s birthday party". Apparently this was quite a complement to the staff at ANLC.
Was it the pop corn? Was it the ice cream? Was it the group of families with so much love? We may never know what it is that makes this event such an amazing success, but it is astounding how a few little extras can make something ordinary feel completely extraordinary.
View Picnic Photos
"Thank you all again for making our dreams come true. We will forever be grateful to you for bringing our birthmother to us, and to her for giving us a joy we would have never known."
- John & Sandra
