Interesting couple of days...

We finally got home....Power went out at 12:00ish pm on Saturday....we just got home and have power tonight.... Caleb told me "Mom I can't sleep with my sister one more night"...love...

October 19th 2011......Love Day!!!!

I have so been trying to get back here.......I have just been crazy busy.....needless to say!!!
Since I last posted I have yet another kid.....Noah Hutson Farr....our angel the child we never were supposed to have....Life has been awesome, crazy, busy.....but we are loving it....therefore all the more to write and talk about....so tonight on my 15th wedding anniversary to my wonderful husband I am finally finding the time to start posting again.....yes, he is out of town and missing all the fun!!!
The main reason I want to get back to this is to document all the fun!! All the kiddo's are doing great....I have nothing to complain about....Life is good...the kids are wonderful!!! it doesn't suck....
We will get back to this soon.......I promise!!!!

Summer is going Fast!!!!

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….

All I can say is Wow!!!

Eating spagetti and meatballs with chopsicks

Jacob continues to do well.....needless to say since my posts get further and further apart!!! we have been busy!!! So many things have happend...Jacob has gone to school with Jade the past two Thursdays...he loves it!!! He fits right in and has already made some friends...He has skyped with his friend Braydon (Ji Ke Ping who is from his room in the orphanage and who lives in TX now)  twice...it is funny because Braydon has been home for almost a year and won't speak Chinese to Jacob and yet Jacob doesn't have enough English under his belt yet to keep up a conversation....so they pretty much make faces at each other!!! In talking to Braydon's mom I found out we are all going to be in Maine this summer at the samet ime and only like 45min. apart...We are going to get our families together....I can't wait until the boys see each other again!! Jacob talks quite a bit about China thru our interpeter Ling Sun....he says the most random things...one day we were riding in the car and he told Ling Sun that his one friend in the orphanage peed blood!!! That was an interesting comment....I bet there are some pretty sick kids there....how sad....
I have been planning the kids summer activities so I asked Jacob what he used to do at the ophanage when they had summer break...he said he was very bored and they would watch TV sometimes or play games...
I am going to keep the kids pretty busy....we have many visitors coming (which I love), we are going to Maine and RI over 4th of July, we are going to WI in Aug. I am going to fill in a few weeks with summer camps and swimming lessons....speaking of swimming lessons...Jacob has had 3 lessons so far and loves it!! he is becoming a good little swimmer and what a water lover...Now that our pool is open I keep a VERY close eye on him....We are in the process of planting a garden...I want Jacob to know where food really comes from!!! it is funny because I am sure he is used to being fed in a big dinning room type situation....he is always very impatient for food to come....because I am actually cooking it he needs to understand it takes time and you don't always eat at the same time every night....
Today...I took the kids to Dorney Park!!! Jacob has never been to an amusement type park before...He LOVED it!!! I started him out on the small rides but soon he was fearless and soon going on rides with Caleb...the joy I saw today come out of him was priceless!!! I think we have a little daredevil on our hands!!!
I have caught Jacob calling me Mama or Mommy a few times...he still points and grunts at me most of the time but atleast I know it won't be long before he calls me Mom all the time....It is funny because if he says Mama and one of the kids are around and hears him they make a big deal out of it...
Paul has been gone the last 3 nights traveling for work...and all the kids talked to him on the phone last night...when it was Jacob's turn he talked to Paul then said "I love you daddy"...so cute again I don't know if he means it or if he is just saying it because the other kids said it...but we will take it either way...
I think having Jacob around has sparked an interest with Lily atleast about being adopted...she said to me the other day..."Mom was I adopted like Jacob?" I said yes but you were a little baby and you don't remember...she then said "is my China Mom dead?" I said no but I am sure she is still in China and probably thinks of you everyday....she was happy with that explanation and walked away...
I am sure over the years these 3 children of mine will have many questions that I won't have answers for...but I will always try to give them a positive response...Have a great Memorial Day weekend.....enjoy some recent pictures...




The slip and slide
 

Computer kids

Love the roller coaster ride!!!

Jacob's very 1st amusment ride

Things are going good....

I know it has been awhile since my last post....but needless to say I have been busy!!! Having Jacob home with me during the day has been somewhat of an adjustment for me....I am used to dropping the kids off at school then having the next 7.5 hrs. or so to myself...I really haven't been getting much done!!! but that is ok..I am trying to keep him busy....He started swimming lessons on Monday...and what a fish he is!!! He was basically swimming by himself...he has no fear of the water and puts his head under and everything....he will be swimming in no time!!! Ling Sun tutor's Jacob Monday thru Friday....for about 2 hrs. a day...she is working on his English and Math....He is a quick learner and I am sooo happy we have her to help!!! It is good that I am the Mommy and she is the teacher!!! I also think he likes having someone to speak Chinese with...Jade and Lily like to draw alot...so Jacob has been joining them...Most of his pictures consist of his house, him and Packer airplanes and trees....all good things I guess I would be concerned if they were of war and bad stuff....Last weekend we had a fire outside and Paul and all the kids went in the hot tub....Jacob saw his first rainbow and loved it!!! I mentioned Packer....Yes, Packer our dog....Jacob was deathly afraid of him at first but now.....HE LOVES THE DOG....actually I think he is driving Packer crazy because he follows him around all day long....he even tells Packer in perfect English "I love you Packer"....and is always kissing him...I caught him rubbing noses with Packer the other day....Speaking of Love....Jacob loves Lily...him and Lily are making a special bond...he is always carrying her around...I know he also loves Jade and Caleb...his eyes light up when the kids come home from school....I cannot thank Caleb, Jade and Lily enough...they have been so good with him....they really engage Jacob and play board games, put together puzzles, play outside and just really keep a close eye on him....they are also a big help in the keeping him line as they reinforce the rules of the house....It is better than me saying no all the time!!! Jacob is a really social kid...he has a good friend in the neighborhood, Nolan...they are the same age and have been having alot of fun together!!! Jacob has gone over to Nolan's house and has no problem fitting in...So far everyone that has met Jacob thinks he is a really good kid....he is very easy going and really has no problems fitting in...We have been trying to teach him how to ride a bike...but he just can't stop yet!!! Jacob continues to be a good sleeper and eater....He is pretty much eating anything we put in front of him....he sleeps well...today, after lunch he actually took a nap...so did Mama....We are having fun figuring this all out and I couldn't do it without Caleb, Jade and Lily...they are great!!! I go back to the reason I decided to do this in the first place!!! I love my kids!!!

First Day Home with Mom....

Monday morning the kids had to go to school....Jacob was up and said his good bye's.....then he continued to work his way through cartoons, toys and games....I didn't sit still....I think I have to say Bye Bye to the kickboxing classes for awhile...Oh, well I guess now that the adoption is over I can always get the fat sucked out...Paul's Mom was in town and was scheduled to leave later that afternoon....Jacob pretty much bounced around the house and kept himself busy...I did play a few games with and tried to keep him busy I don't want him to get bored...We got home from the airport and he was ready to see the kids....His face lit up when they got off the bus!!! Jade had a Spring concert that night at school....the kids and I went (did I mention that Paul was in Boston overnight) anyway Jacob seemed to like listening to the music After the concert because Mama was VERY tired we all went to McDonlads....I haven't eaten at a McDonald forever....but you know what tonight it was ok.....

Fireworks and Sooooo In Love!!!!

You know when you have the first kid and you wonder when you have the 2nd kid how you could ever love anything like you already love the first!!! Well....with adoption it is the same only scarier (Ok I just asked Paul how to spell it and he doesn't think it is a word...but in Klose language it is) because this child did not come out of your body....I have experienced this now 3 times....and everytime the love just happens and it really doesn't matter where the child comes from, all that matters it that they are with you and you love them!!! So I am again in LOVE....I have to admitt the first few days were different in this adoption because Jacob was older and I couldn't shower him with kisses and hugs and hold him and stuff!!! Not that I haven't loved him since the minute I layed eyes on him!!! but once I actually had him I had to restrain myself because I knew he needed time to learn to Love me....with Caleb and the girls it was just an instant bonding experience because they were so young (and didn't know any better). And believe me he still isn't showering me with kisses....but things are looking up!!!
Needless to say so many thing have happend in these three short days since we have gotten home....
We arrived home on Saturday night around 8pm.  as the car pulled into the driveway Jade and Lily and Gabby (the neighbor girl and best friend of Jade) were all sitting at the end of the driveway waiting for us....on the fence the welcome home sign and balloons were there (thanks Dick and Donna)...I thought he was going to be ok....I jumped out of the car crying to see my girls...Jacob stayed in the car and started to cry this pretty much was the moment he was not looking forward to!!! Him actually being in the US with a family who didn't speak Chinese!!! He cried really loud and didn't want to get out of the car...once we got him out of the car he didn't want to go in the house...After sitting with him in the driveway for about 20 min. we were finally able to get him to come into the house.....We had to kinda drag him into the house like the way he was dragged out of the orphanage...We showed him his room and where everyone's bedrooms were then the main living area....then we showed him the BASEMENT!!! that is where all the fun is....the toys and the media room....the crying seemed to get softer when we were down there...We went back to the kitchen and at this point all the kids including the neighbor kids came running over....before we knew it Jacob was running around and laughing and happy!!!! at this point he was just another kid in the neighborhood!!! We then called a few neighbors over ourselves and had a few glasses of champagne...And before I mentioned that I am a big believer in signs...well,our first date was to watch fireworks...and we have had many displays of fireworks in our lives and alway appreciate a good firworks dispaly....Well here we are sitting in little bitty Center Vally, PA and off went the loudest fireworks....it was crazy none of the nightbors expected it!!! I told Paul "it is a another sign" and he said what that we are adopting another child....and I said NO "God has given me everything I could want and more"...Everyone then went to bed...
The next morning Jacob woke up early....then woke up ALL of his siblings...future note "Don't ever wake up Jade early" but she was actually ok with this-this one time!!! He was sooooo excited...he ran around the house looking at everything checking the pantry and the cupboards...He went downstairs and played with
every toy...We had a good day a nice dinner and early to bed!!!!

Our first breakfast as a family of 6

Welcome home Jacob Shi Zheng Farr!!!