With a shy smile and a glance at his new mother, Joshua Tapia, 7 explained why he loves his family.

''They're nice and they let me play games sometimes,'' said Joshua, who has lived with foster parents Joseph and Katherine Tapia for much of the past 5 years.

But this month, Joshua became an official member of the Tapia family in a ceremony honoring National Adoption Day at the Miami Children's Museum -- an event that finalized the adoptions of nearly 100 children in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

The event, which took place Nov. 14 at the Watson Island museum, was crammed to capacity with public figures, social workers, judges -- and many beaming families.

''Today is a great day, where the dreams of children who have longed for a home, or a person to call mom or dad, come true,'' said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, who addressed the families. ``I know we will bring lots of families together today. But I hope we can shed light on the thousands of children still in foster care in our community.''

There are currently more than 4,000 children in foster care in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The Watson Island event was organized by Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, a child welfare agency that partners with the state.

The event finalized the adoptions of 98 children, the most adoptions finalized in one sitting in the state of Florida, according the event organizers.

Amid the chaos and clamor of 98 separate celebrations, children, siblings, and parents squeezed together in the halls of the museum as if forming one oversized group hug.

The Tapias, who live in Southwest Miami-Dade, consider themselves doubly blessed.

While Joshua was adopted by the Tapias, his sister Jada, 3, was adopted by Joseph Tapia's sister and brother-in-law, Danny and Jackie Rivera.

''We live about 15 minutes away from each other,'' said Katherine Tapia.

The Riveras were ecstatic about their newly adopted daughter.

''We have always wanted a little girl,'' said Jackie Rivera, with a smile.

Joshua and Jada will now have the unique experience of growing up as biological brother and sister as well as adopted cousins.

Another little girl, Natasha Low , gained more than just four older brothers and sisters.

Her new parents, Army Sgt. Steven Low and his wife Rebecca, were joined by their extended family -- a half dozen sergeants from Low's military unit which were there to share the happy occasion.

The Lows, who live in Virginia Gardens, had been Natasha's foster parents since she was 10 days old.

''We first met her at the hospital,'' said Steven Low, watching his daughter play with a balloon. ``We took to her like she was one of our own.''

The Lows were soon whisked away to a makeshift courtroom set up on the second floor of the museum, where a judge presided over the final details of Natasha's adoption.

Around each corner of the museum, new parents posed for pictures with smiles and joyful tears.

Joseph and Katherine Tapia were no exception, beaming with pride as they publicly welcomed their former foster son into the family. The ceremony was simply a formality, though, said Joseph Tapia.

''He has always been a part of the family,'' he said.

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