American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency
 The thought of adding a new baby to our bustling family of four makes our hearts burst with joy. We have two little boys who are bright, funny, and thriving. We have a rock-solid marriage--a true partnership. And we all have so much more love to give, laughter to share, and comfort to provide. We would be so honored for you to consider us to be your child's parents.  |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Like many families, Saturday mornings are our absolute favorite time of the week. We can start the day slowly and reconnect after a long week of work and school. Though we have chores to do, Saturday morning definitely has a feel of relaxing and playing at home. JoAnn starts the day with a big breakfast of homemade waffles (Mitch calls them "soft waffles"), sausage, juice, and fruit for her hungry boys. Robby, Mitch, and Rob often like to make Saturday a "pajama day" for as long as possible, until we venture out. What comes next depends on the season of the year. In spring, we usually take the boys to their soccer games. In the summer, we pack up a picnic lunch and go swimming at JoAnn's parents' pool. Weekends in autumn bring enjoyment of the beautiful fall weather with a mountain hike around our cottage or more soccer games. In the winter, we stay cozy playing at home indoors or pack up for a short weekend trip of skiing and sledding at the cottage. In addition to spending time with the boys, Rob and JoAnn have their own hobbies. Rob likes to read and enjoys watching and playing sports. He is a big Virginia Tech fan and likes to attend football games when he can. He also enjoys refereeing the boys' soccer games. JoAnn enjoys creative projects in her craft room and likes to knit and bake.
Our family traditions celebrate the beauty of the seasons of the year. We are also from different racial backgrounds--Caucasian (Rob) and Hispanic (JoAnn)--and we celebrate and honor each other's culture. Throughout the winter, our family enjoys skiing and sledding at our mountain cottage. As spring approaches, we set a trap for the pesky leprechaun who visits on St. Patrick's Day to keep him from creating mischief in our home! Then, at Easter, JoAnn shares a childhood tradition by creating "cascarones"--confetti eggs--that Robby, Mitch, and all the neighborhood children enjoy smashing over each others' heads after our egg hunt! Each July 4th, we join Rob's extended family at our mountain cottage for a festival, swimming at the lake, and fireworks. Robby and Mitch love visiting with grandparents and cousins and getting into the patriotic spirit. Fall brings Halloween, when all the neighborhood kids go trick-or-treating and then gather for a Halloween party. For Thanksgiving, our family, and our dog Henry travel to Pennsylvania for dinner with Rob's extended family. We also attend a local Thanksgiving Day football game that Rob attended as a child. Robby and Mitch now enjoy the game and tackling their cousin Lincoln on the sidelines. As Christmas approaches, JoAnn, Robby, and Mitch make scores of beautiful sugar cookies. On Christmas Eve, Rob reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and we put out cookies for Santa and reindeer food. JoAnn's parents sleep over so they can experience the avalanche of presents that Santa leaves for our two good little boys.
We have unique strengths that, when combined, make our family click. This has a lot to do with Rob, who is an incredible man and role model for our boys. He has a strong sense of responsibility, but also a silly side. Rob encourages Robby and Mitch to work hard in school, and is loving and supportive, too. He is also a willing playmate--out in the freezing cold, building snow forts with the boys or giving their sleds a good push! Rob also has a calming presence that makes everyone feel safe. Though he excels at his career, he strives for balance to ensure enough time at home with his family. That sets the tone for how important everyone is to him, so we know, in a deep way, how much we are loved. JoAnn complements Rob by being an amazing woman who holds down a part-time professional job while never selling the family short. She is kind, caring, and sweet. Her greatest strength is fostering a sense of "home" that our whole family enjoys. She is creative and goes all out for the boys' birthdays, making fancy cakes and decorating our house beautifully. But it's not just the special occasions when she shines. She brings warmth and love into our daily lives. Whether it's baking cookies with the boys or providing a shoulder to cry on for a neighbor, JoAnn is always there. And she knows how to have fun, too!
