Summer is going fast!!! Jacob continues to do very well… He is speaking more and more English everyday and he understands pretty much all we say. Communication with him has really not been a problem. I can tell he becomes more and more comfortable every day. Caleb, Jade, Jacob and Lily continue to act like full fledged siblings and fight one minute then love each other the next.
After school let out the beginning of June we had some company. My Mom came out for about 10 days. Then my nephews Sean 15 and Dylan 12 came out as well as my sister Kelly and brother in law Cory. Jacob enjoyed meeting his new family members. We had a great time with family hanging out in the pool and going to Dorney Park. Jacob and the kids spend their days swimming and playing. Keeping all the kids busy is a full-time job!!! Jacob and Jade attended a wilderness camp for a week in June. They really seemed to like it. They spent the week tubing on the river, looking for creatures in the woods and water, making crafts and taking hikes.
In July we took the kids on vacation to Maine. We drove which wasn’t that bad a total of 7 hrs. We drove the first 3hrs. and spent the night in MA then drove the rest of the way the next day. We stayed at a beautiful resort that was right on the ocean. It was Jacob’s first time seeing the ocean. Jacob enjoyed the ocean (however, it was COLD) and the sand. We spent the week swimming, playing in the sand and eating. We pretty much ate lobster everyday!!! One late afternoon we took the kids on a lobster boat excursion. The kids baited the traps, pulled in the cages, measured the lobsters and banded the pinchers. They had a ball!!! They all got right in there and were not afraid of getting dirty!!! After the day was over we took 6 of the lobsters to the restaurant next store and they cooked them for us for dinner. The highlight of our trip was getting to meet Braydon and his family. Braydon and Jacob were roommates in the Beijing orphanage. Braydon’s Mom and I have been in touch since we got home from China. Braydon who is 8yrs. was adopted a year ago in July. It was a HUGE coincidence that Braydon’s family and ours would be in Maine on vacation at the same time staying only 40 min. apart. Braydon and his family drove down to our resort to meet with us. We spent the day swimming and had a nice lunch together. I am sure the boys were glad to see each other however, you wouldn’t know it. They acted like typical boys and just wanted to wrestle the whole time. I kept telling Jacob that someday he will be glad that he has a good friend from Beijing, Maria and I will continue to keep in touch, skype and will get the boys together again in the future. We left Maine and drove to RI where Paul had a conference. While Paul attended meetings the kids and I enjoyed the pool. One night Paul and I attended a formal dinner at one of the famous mansions and enjoyed a night out without children. After 2 nights in RI we headed for home. What a drive….the drive from RI to PA ended up being 6 1/2hrs. we got stuck in bad traffic while going thru NY. Wouldn’t you know it we were stuck in dead stopped traffic and Jacob got car sick and puked all over the backseat. After traffic let up we could finally stop at a rest stop to try to clean up the mess…however, we ended up driving the last 2 ½ hrs. with the windows rolled down because of the bad smell….Looks like the first and last Farr Family Road Trip!!!!
We will continue to have a busy summer!!!! This week we have multiple sleepovers planned, a trip to Dorney Park and Color Me Mine….Then Saturday the Birthday Party!!! I am having a pool party to celebrate Caleb and Jacob’s birthdays. There will be swimming and lunch…Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Next week all 4 kids are going to camp…yes, 9-3pm Monday thru Friday!!! Yes, Mom needs a break!!! And I need some time to get something done around the house…Thru out summer we have more visitors coming and the kids and I are going to make a quick trip to WI to visit family. Jacob has multiple doctors visits scheduled as well….
Good news!!! Jacob went for school testing yesterday and did very well!!! He is going to be put in 3rd grade next year….Caleb will be in 6th, Jade and Jacob in 3rd (different classes) and Lily in 1st grade…Paul and I are really happy with Jacobs progress so far…he continues to get more comfortable calling us Mom and Dad and doesn’t fight off our kisses anymore….
It has been a fun summer so far….
