Who We Are

Rebecca and Richard

Richard is a computer programmer for the Navy. He loves programming so much he has a project he works on just for fun. His favorite things besides programming and our boys are whitewater kayaking and mountain biking. Clearly, these sports are not for the faint of heart. Richard enjoys taking the kids places whether running with the stroller or walking or bike riding. He plays games with Dalton, helps him set up his Dominoes, and reads endless books to both boys. He can’t wait until Dalton is old enough so he can start him on Lego robotics. Richard is always thinking of ways to teach our boys, especially things not covered in school.

Rebecca teaches chemistry at a small college. She loves getting students involved in her research on snow and ice.  At home, whether it is  paper airplanes, wooden trains or “experiments” in the kitchen, Rebecca enjoys playing with the kids. This spring is her second time coaching Dalton's soccer team. She especially cherishes the quiet moments of snuggling or reading books together, simply watching their little faces while they concentrate on a puzzle or playdough creation.

  

Brothers

Like any older sibling, Dalton will occasionally do things for the sole purpose of annoying Cedar. And Cedar is a passionate 3 yr old who doesn't communicate with words much yet, so he’s already frustrated. But Dalton is also a sweet older brother. Recently, Cedar was crying because I took his pants off when he spilled fried egg on them (and the  chair and floor). Dalton heard me say, “It’s OK Cedar, I will get you clean pants as soon as I clean up the rest of the egg.” So Dalton ran upstairs, got a pair of pants for Cedar and helped him put them on. It was so sweet! I heard him saying, “Here Cedar, it’s OK, I have pants for you. Sit down. I can help you put them on. Here, give me your leg…” Cedar, for his part, adores Dalton (when not annoyed) and will do whatever Dalton is doing – run through the house, make funny noises, go for a bike ride, try to play Monopoly, you name it.

Dalton is an extrovert who makes friends everywhere he goes. He is having a blast at kindergarten, and especially loves playing basketball at recess.

Cedar is more shy than his big brother, and super affectionate. He adores cars and babies. A favorite game is to say, "I love you!" and then after you respond, he says, "NO, I love YOU!"

Childcare

We have chosen for our childcare to host an au pair. Au pairs are young women or men who take a year to live in a family's home in another country caring for their children. We love having au pairs from Latin America because they teach our kids Spanish and some Latino culture. Our first au pair, Ana, opted to stay with us a second year. Sadly, Ana had to return to Colombia to finish her degree. We are welcoming a new au pair named Milena. Not only do we love the cultural and language exchange, but also the fact that one person, who adores our boys, is caring for them.

Extended Family & Community

Our families live outside of Virginia but we still see each other several times a year.

We live in a cozy neighborhood in a town that is small enough to walk to the library and the fountain, etc. Dalton has started making friends with kids in the neighborhood. We also attend a small supportive church nearby, and sometimes travel to a Latino church that's a bit farther away. 

[more pictures coming soon!]