September 21 is a special day in the Kieffer-Pier family. It’s Tom and Russell’s dating anniversary (they’ve been together 26 years!) and in 2008 when it became legal for them to get married they did so on September 21. And now they’ve added another special anniversary to that date, the adoption day of their children.

After more than 20 years they decided together to open their home to foster care and adoption. Only expecting one boy, and considering two boys if they were siblings, it turned out that the universe had something else in store – two children, girl and boy siblings. The children were 3 1/2 and 13 months when they found their way into their home and their hearts. Angelina and Isaiah have been with them since early June 2015 and and now over two years later, they are officially adopted. They acknowledge that it’s not all rainbows and lollipops. “It’s hard. And it’s sad, and there are a lot of losses, but we cherish what is beautiful, and joyful, and hilarious, and wonderful. And we are family. It has taken more than two years, but the kids now are noticing the ways in which we are family.” Here are some of my favorite images from their adoption day last week.

All of my adoption sessions are through Red Thread Sessions, an organization that provides discounted photography for newly adoptive families. If you are a newly adoptive family looking for photography visit Red Thread Sessions website to find a photographer in your area. And if you’re a photographer please consider volunteering with us!