Now that it’s finally starting to feel like fall, we’re excited to be able to take Isaac to all the fall festivals in the area. He loves to get his face painted (as seen in this photo!) and he’ll be excited to pick out a pumpkin and play with other kids on the carnival rides. Read more »
The bond between a boy and his dad is so special. I just love watching Isaac and Joel interacting with each other. I can see Isaac looking at Joel and mimicking what he does—like wearing his Marine Corps hat in this photo! I am so glad that Isaac has such a great role model in Joel. Read more »
One of the ways we really enjoy bonding as a family is spending time together outside. The fresh air, getting some good exercise together as a family, and putting our screens away to enjoy the natural beauty of this world… it’s so rejuvenating! On the trails that allow dogs, we try to bring Scruffy, because he Read more »
We’re a family full of people with sweet tooths, so it’s always fun to find ways to enjoy sweet treats together. This photo is from a summer visit to the Turkey Hill Experience factory in Pennsylvania. We took a little road trip and then had the ice cream experience of our lives! Isaac still talks about it to this Read more »
We went for a family hike this past weekend on the trails near our house, and brought Scruffy with us. Isaac loved climbing around and I loved this photo that Joel captured of Scruffy looking majestically off into the distance. You’d think he was a professional dog model! Read more »
Family fun night at the Blippi concert. Isaac had the time of his life clapping and singing along with all the other kids and families at the Blippi concert. He didn’t let his face mask stop him from singing his heart out! Hopefully as things settle down, we’ll be able to go to more events like this as a Read more »
This photo is from a family vacation we took to San Diego a few years ago. I have always loved the look of laughter and happiness on Isaac’s face and how much fun we had together. With school having just started, it’ll be a little while before we can take another family vacation, so we’ll have to treasure Read more »
This is our first photo with Isaac right after he was born. You can see the delight and pure joy in our faces as we held him for the first time. It’s been an honor and a privilege to see him grow up into the fun, silly, monster truck-loving kid we love so much over the past 6 years. Read more »
Feeling a little emotional this week because I can’t believe Isaac is already six years old! I feel like I blinked and he went from being a tiny baby to this six year old boy I see before me. Here’s hoping his 6th year on this earth is a great one, full of love and happiness! Read more »
Lighting the unity candle at our wedding. This was one of my favorite rituals that we did during the ceremony. To us, it represents joining together as one unit to love, respect and cherish one another. Grateful for this marriage that God has blessed us with. Read more »
This photo was from a couple of years ago when we were visiting a historical site that took old time photos. Joel was teaching Isaac how to play Texas Hold’Em. Teaching Isaac about different time periods throughout history is important to use and we hope to instill in him a love for history, people and culture. Read more »
While we always love the fun summer months of laying by the pool, eating ice cream on the back deck and spending time with cousins, I always look forward to the changing seasons and the cooler weather that fall brings! Here’s a photo from a couple years ago where Isaac and Joel built a funny snowman in our neighborhood. Read more »
Family time is so important to us! Here’s a fun picture at Red Rocks from our recent vacation to Colorado, with Isaac’s uncle Todd and cousin Sophia. The kids enjoyed running up and down the stands and I got tired from just watching them! Read more »
This is such a fun picture of Isaac and me enjoying kayaking while in Colorado. He loved being out on the water and getting to paddle in the water, and it was so nice to enjoy the beautiful weather together as a family. Read more »
We didn’t let a little wind stop us from taking a selfie together in Colorado! Looking back at summer vacation memories is so fun, especially now that we’re getting back into a normal routine with Isaac back to school. Read more »
Flashback to 2019 when Joel and I rocked out at the Kenny Chesney concert at The Anthem! I miss going to concerts and hope to go to many more once concert halls are reopened. Read more »
Isaac loves a merry-go-round, so we had a lot of fun riding this one as a family on a recent vacation! This time we sat together on a bench, but Isaac usually opts for riding the zebra or whichever animal he’s currently obsessed with. Love spending time with these two! Read more »
There’s a special bond between a boy and his dad, and I love seeing how much Joel and Isaac enjoy spending time with each other. Joel loves to golf, so Isaac loves to go with him and hit balls around the course. Maybe we have a future golf pro on our hands! Read more »
How can you tell that the boys are sick of me taking a bunch of pictures of them? I think this photo says it all! Even the silly moments are worth capturing because it shows us all having fun together as a family. Read more »
While we love our home in Northern Virginia, we enjoy getting out of the house and doing different activities together as a family! Whether it’s traveling on a big vacation, hiking around Virginia, or going to eat at a restaurant together as a family, these little moments help us build memories to carry with us through Read more »
A few weeks ago, Joel and I took a cruise down the Potomac together. We had a quiet dinner alone (good thing Isaac loves his babysitter!) and enjoyed spending some quality time together. I love this shot of us with the Washington Monument in the background! Read more »
Isaac loves spending time with Grandpa! Here they are playing with a model train set, one of Isaac’s true passions in life. Things might be changing constantly, but it’s heartwarming to see different generations as they come together over a shared love that transcends the years. Read more »
We love living near DC because having access to the wonderful (and free!) museums downtown is a great way to spend time as a family, and get Isaac excited about learning. He loves to visit the Air & Space Museum because he loves to see all the airplanes and changing technology. It is really cool to be able to see and Read more »
Throughout our relationship, Joel and I have always enjoyed date night at Nat’s park. Baseball season is one of my favorite times of the year, and although it’s been pretty hot in DC this week, it was nice to get back out and spend some time together enjoying one of our favorite pastimes. Read more »
Can’t believe it’s back to school time already! We brought Isaac in to meet his new teacher, and he couldn’t be more excited to be back in a classroom. While we’re all a bit sad that summer is over, it’ll be nice to get back into a good routine, and for Isaac to spend more time with kids his Read more »
Joel loves to golf and has passed on that love to Isaac in the form of family putt putt outings! I love that the boys get to spend some quality time together, getting some fresh air, and making memories. Here’s hoping we can continue this after school starts back up! Read more »
Beach hair don’t care! A little time out by the ocean breathing in the salty air and putting our feet in the water does a lot to help[ us rest and recharge! So grateful that we were able to have a little getaway before Isaac goes back to school. Read more »
The weather in DC has been absolutely gorgeous lately, and Isaac and I were happy to take advantage by having a picnic outside. These mommy-son dates are so special because it really allows me to get a chance to spend some quality one-on-one time with him, building a bond that I know will last a lifetime! Read more »
My heart is so happy every time I look at this photo. I just love the pure look of joy on Isaac’s face, and how much Joel loves being his dad. I am so grateful to have such a supportive partner in this adventure, and I know God has great things in store for us in the future! Read more »
While I always love a big, elaborate family vacation to Disney or abroad, there is something really special about a simple family trip to the lake. Joel and I relish the opportunity to unplug our phones and just hang out next the lake. We cook do some hiking in the morning, cook some burgers on the grill during the day, and Read more »
I came across this photo of baby Isaac on the White House lawn in 2017, and it brought such a smile to my face! It feels like just yesterday and 100 years ago at the same time. It’s hard to believe he was ever so small! He still has quite the love of sunglasses and is just as quick to smile as he was back then! Read more »
We built our home just a few years ago in a great neighborhood in Northern Virginia. Although we sometimes miss downtown living, I wouldn’t trade our backyard for the world! Our backyard has lots of space for trees and grass, and Isaac and Scruffy both love playing out there on summer afternoons. When the weather is Read more »
Summertime is such a magical time for children. Long days spent by the pool, eating icecream and learning new things at summer camp. This summer has been especially refreshing for Isaac as we strive to spend as much time outdoors together as possible. Thank you to our friends who invited us to join them on a boat over the Read more »
Yep! This photo just about sums up life with this fun, rambunctious and energetic 5 year old! Read more »
Enjoying our beautiful neighborhood in Northern Virginia as we wait for the 4th of July Parade a couple of weeks ago. I love watching holidays through the eyes of a child. Every parade truck that drove past was a source of pure delight for Isaac. I love how fully he embraces life (and of course all of the free candy Read more »
We have a family tradition called ‘Just do it July,’ where in the month of July we indulge our impulses and try to be the most fun versions of ourselves. Want ice-cream on a Tuesday night? No problem! Spontaneously go to a water park with Isaac? Sounds like a great idea! Plan a last minute get away to Cape Cod? Read more »
It is so hot here in northern Virginia and the humidity feels relentless. As a joke, Joel sent me this picture this morning saying “don’t forget your coat today!” Everyone loves a good dad joke, and I think Joel’s are the best. Read more »
We have been doing some fun traveling this summer. Visiting family, exploring our local area, going to the beach, and even doing some quick get away for just Joel and me. All of the travel has made me think about some of our past travels like this one to New Orleans! Joel and I are big concert goers so it was really fun to Read more »
Isaac enjoyed his time exploring all of the big trains but his favorite part was driving his own wooden train. Watch out world- conductor Isaac is behind the driver’s seat! Read more »
This photo reminds me of two of my favorite bible verses about fatherhood: Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from Read more »
Friday, selfie picture with my love while spending the day touring historic trains. Not the glamourous date nights that we used to have but our hearts (and hands) are so full of our love for Isaac that we don’t miss those fancy nights… too much. Read more »
As I mentioned in my previous post, we recently visited the HQ for Turkey Hill Ice cream. Isaac wanted us to take a family photo with this funny cut out. I always feel so goofy doing things like this. But it’s a good reminder to me that it makes Isaac happy and it’s good for him to see mom and dad letting loose Read more »
Happy 4th of July weekend from our loving family! We spent the weekend going on an adventure to visit neighboring towns including a visit to the Turkey Hill HQ- yum! We enjoyed the factory tour where Isaac learned about how they make ice cream and develop flavors at the Turkey Hill taste lab. His favorite part, of course, was Read more »
I have shared before my love for baseball. I just love this photo of me and my little baseball buddy. Can’t wait to go to another Nationals game soon! Read more »
Sharing another post from Fathers Day. Isaac was so proud of this grill spatula that he picked out for Joel. One of Isaacs favorite things to do is “Help” Joel when he cooks dinner so this felt like an extra special gift for him. Now that Isaac is getting older, we actually are teaching him how to help out in the Read more »
Now that things are opening back up it has been so fun to revisiting some of our favorite places like the Air and Space Museum. Did you know that the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is one of the most visited museums in the world? It is certainly one of our favorites. There is so much to explore, great exhibits to Read more »
Weekends in the summer are our favorite. As soon as work is over, Joel will usually start the grill for burgers, hotdogs, wings, ribs or steak. Isaac will help me make some corn on the cob or make a salad and then we spend the evening on the back deck enjoying a slow dinner. Joel and Isaac usually end up playing catch or Read more »
What a fun crew this was! It’s hard to beat summer vacation with all of your favorite cousins. Especially when mom and dad let you stay up late, each ice cream every day and be spoiled by your grandparents. Read more »
Happy Father’s Day to Joel! Sometimes it’s the simplest photos that say the most. I think this is such a perfect picture to capture how great of a dad Joel is. His hands are full, the house is messy, Scruffy is in his face, Isaac is missing his shirt, yet Joel is so happy. To have such a loving and supportive Read more »
Isaac is in heaven and I’ve never felt more like a boy mom! Grateful for sweet time with family and for this amazing train collection. Isaac spent hours playing here. It’s so fun to see his imagination run wild. Read more »
Don’t tell our dog Scruffy- but Isaac might have a new favorite animal friend, this sweet kitten that we met several weeks ago! Isaac still brings her up, “Hey Mom, remember that kitten we saw? I wonder what she’s up to now?” Or, “Dad, you missed it! We met the cutest little kitty, playing in the Read more »
This summer, Joel has decided to spend some time teaching Isaac how to golf! We bought Isaac a set of tiny golf clubs (so cute) and some golf clothes so that he can fully play the part when they go out to the golf course. I love seeing his hobbies and passions develop and It’s so fun to watch him learn and try new Read more »
Every year my girl friends and I go on a “boy mom” trip together. This photo was from several years ago when we spent a long weekend on a beach enjoying the sunshine, playing in the sand and ocean with the boys and enjoying good food and wine . It’s been an unexpected gift that most of my girl friends here Read more »
Yesterday we spent the pool with sweet friends complete with a towel nap, ice-cream snacks and playing with water toys. I love the magic of summertime for kids. Longer days, sunny weather, days by the pool and splash- pads there really isn’t anything better! Joel and I always have such fond memories of summer with our Read more »
Isaac and Scruffy have the sweetest relationship. I have really enjoyed watching their friendship grow over the last 5 years. Scruffy is protective of Isaac, following him around the backyard and wanting to sit right next to him on the couch. Isaac is always trying to sneak Scruffy food from the dining room table. It is such Read more »
Baseball season is one of my favorite seasons every year. Several years ago I had the opportunity to wear Two Cubs World Series Rings and it was such a fun moment and is now a great memory! Last year we weren’t able to attend many baseball games. But this summer we are looking forward going to as many games at the Read more »
Joel and I love spending time on the beach. If we are able to sneak away just the two of us, it’s the perfect getaway spot to rest and recharge. If Isaac, friends or the broader family joins us, it’s perfect too because there is something for everyone to do. Everyone can find their happy there and, honestly, Read more »
This past weekend we had the privilege of celebrating Isaac’s preschool graduation. Thank you to all of his teachers and educators who helped make this a great year for learning, building friendships, trying new experiments and going on school time adventures. Being entrusted with a young mind, is one of the greatest Read more »
Amazing flyover by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. This photo is almost a year old but wanted to share as we head into Memorial Day weekend. Grateful today and always for the men and women who have served on the frontlines working to protect our country. From healthcare workers, to truckers and of course our military Read more »
Snapped this great photo of Scruffy stretched out under a beautiful rainbow. A sweet reminder of God’s promises over us, ever watching and present even in the midst of storms and difficulties. Hope this Scruffy appreciation post and beautiful rainbow brings you joy today! Read more »
Today was the first hot day of the year! Thankfully the splashpads and communities pools are reopening up in our neighborhood. With the hot Virginia summer and the pools open I know there are many pool days ahead for these two guys! Read more »
Remember the first picture challenge from last year? Well, Joel and I have a picture of the very moment we met at a wedding in San Miguel. I guess it’s one of those incredibly rare moments made possible by the fact I was at a photographers wedding, meeting a photographer, surrounded by other photographers, ha! What a Read more »
A man and his camera… one silver lining of the pandemic is being able to have such a great set up at home. It helps if you live with someone who actually understand how all this equipment works. Thank you Joel for all the hard work you’ve put in to making me look good on Zoom over the last year! Read more »
It is unseasonably chilly here in Northern Virginia. had to pull out a sweater from the back of my closet to wear to work today. Sharing a favorite picture from a fall photo shoot that Joel and I did years ago (back before Scruffy had a grey beard!) Ready for the sun to come out and for summertime to begin! Read more »
Looking forward to the upcoming baseball season and especially now that more things are opening back up! It will be fun to return to the National Ballpark in Washington D.C. after not being able to attend last season. Isaac is looking forward to it too! Read more »
Isaac helped Joel pick out this beautiful bouquet of flowers for me over the weekend. I love how they look in this simple vase on a corner of my desk. Sometimes Isaac will go into the front or back yard and pick a couple of flowers for me. Or if he is out on an adventure with Joel they will stop on their way home and get a Read more »
Does anyone else miss going to indoor performances? Taking Isaac to see Sesame Street live was such a fun activity for our family. Elmo is his favorite character and he was so happy to take this photo. Can’t wait to do more activities like this again soon now that things are opening back up. Read more »
Found this photo on my phone tonight and wanted to share it with you all. It’s a favorite of mine. Looking at this photo I am reminded of how far we’ve come as a family and for all of the wonderful things ahead. Read more »
Our week days tend to be pretty busy. Between juggling school and work we usually don’t have much time to spend outdoors. This past year in particular we have felt cooped up during the week. That’s why we’ve made a conscious effort to spend most of our weekends outside! Whether its just a walk down a nature Read more »
Here we are enjoying a ride on the metro. Isaac loved being back on the metro for the first time since last year! Read more »
Several weeks ago for our wedding anniversary, Joel rented a boat for us to spend the day on! In the middle of our time, it broke down! This is our “hmmmm not sure what’s happening” face! Ha! It’s always an adventure with him. Fortunately we made it back to to dock and enjoyed the rest of our day Read more »
Posting this throwback photo from a trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Travel looks a lot different these days with a busy five year old, but I always cherish these memories that Joel and I made before we had kids. Now that the weather is warmer we are starting to talk about what we want to do this summer and are considering Read more »
Happy Friday! It’s been a busy week here in the Fagen household. Both Joel and I have been busy with work and Isaac has been at school. Wednesday’s in particular are always really busy days for us. So this week, instead of crashing into the couch at the end of the day to watch some TV I decided to look through Read more »
This weekend, Joel and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with a date night out. One of my favorite things about Joel is his adventurous spirit. He is always up for a night out, a quick get away, a board game at the end of the day or a spontaneous BBQ in the backyard. He would say one of his favorite things about me is Read more »
This morning Isaac walked into the kitchen and said “Mom! Remember that one time dad buried me in the sand? That was SO cool!” I love his precious memory and so happy he is old enough to start remembering all of the fun things that we do as a family. Although, that memory is a blessing and a curse- if I tell him Read more »
School starts back tomorrow so we are soaking in the final moments with a yummy dinner at a Japanese Steak House! Isaac loves seeing his food cooked right in front of him and of course loves the chef’s big, impressive hat! Fried rice for Isaac and delicious beef teriyaki for me and Joel. We made some great memories on Read more »
Of all the trips, vacations and memories we try to do each year, Spring Break might be our favorite! January-March always feels like a sprint, a long, cold sprint. So we make sure to build in a break mid-march to refresh, spend time in warm weather and sunshine and focus on making memories as a family. This year we are Read more »
So many favorite memories to share with you guys from this trip to Disney! Highlights include seeing all kinds of animals (Isaac loves the Giraffes!) the beautiful Florida weather, and of course some quality time with Joel after Isaac goes to bed. So nice to step away from our work and spend time together as a family. More Read more »
Happy Good Friday! In remembrance of today and the sacrifices that Christ made on the cross for us, we are doing fun Easter activities like dyeing eggs for our big, Easter egg hunt on Sunday! From our family to yours we hope you are looking forward to a wonderful weekend with loved ones. Read more »
Sharing this throwback picture from Easter several years ago. Isaac always enjoys dressing up for church on Sundays and especially when he gets to wear a bow tie! He thinks they are so funny and sophisticated. I think they are adorable and love seeing his face light up when we get dressed for church. Read more »
Easter is a very special holiday in our home. Not only do we enjoy a yummy Easter lunch and a fun Easter Egg hunt, but also we take time to reflect and express our gratitude for the larger meaning of the holiday. This year as we are hopeful for another child joining our family we are reminded of how how we are adopted into Read more »
Spring is here! It has felt like a really long, cold winter and we are so excited that the flowers are starting to bloom and that spring is here! Every year in DC we try to get outside as much as possible during spring. This year, we are excited to take our family on lots of outdoor adventures to enjoy the beautiful weather Read more »
Every year Isaac’s preschool celebrates St. Joseph’s Day with Donuts for Dads. Today, we honor Joel the best dad who, everyday I am so grateful to have for our child. This year looked a bit different but drive thru from Duck Donuts, but both Isaac and Joel said they were just as tasty! Read more »
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We are all decked out in our green gear. Isaac’s shirt says Mr. Lucky, in true holiday spirit. But we are the lucky ones to have had the opportunity to adopt him and create our family. We look forward to an opportunity to grow our family again through adoption. Read more »
I love this photo of Isaac and I wearing green and visiting the White House! Thought I’d share this great Irish Blessing today. “May Your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. Any may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” -Irish Blessing Read more »
We have recently launched our own website! I hope you will consider visiting SaraandJoelAdopt.com to check it out and learn more. Our prayer for this website is that it would showcase our love for one another and our heart for adoption. Read more »
Even though we live in Virginia now, we always make time to go into DC to visit our favorite monuments and museums (Air and Space Museum for Joel and National Gallery of Art for Sara). It is truly a gift to live so close to our national Smithsonian’s and monuments, there is always something new to discover and learn. I Read more »
Sundays are our favorite days. Even before becoming parents it was a day for rest, food and family. Now as parents, it’s a day for us to unplug and spend a lot of down time together. We cherish these days! Read more »
We rescued Scruffy in June of 2010 and our family has never been the same! A 10-year-old, red, Irish terrier and coonhound mix, Scruffy is quite a character. He’s fiercely loyal, smart, and very opinionated, but he’s also very sweet. Scruffy loves to chase squirrels, go for hikes, and eat human food. He can’t wait Read more »
Now that it’s March, we are officially looking forward to Spring! Every year, the cherry blossoms bloom all around town. They are stunning. This view from the tidal basin is my favorite place to go to capture a beautiful moment among the cherry blossoms. Read more »
Date night might look a big different these days (masks, outdoor seating) but I always love spending time with my best friend. Enjoying a meal together is one of our favorite ways to slow down and connect, we cherish the time together! Read more »
Today marks the 7th day of Lent and although it’s been a hard week with no sweets, we are humbled to have a small, daily reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us. We are in a hard season of waiting. Yesterday, one of the adoption professionals partnering with us reminded me \that even in this season, the Lord Read more »
We have a fun box in our mudroom that Isaac calls his “prize box.” Every time he does something that makes us proud he earns points until he can cash in his points for a fun prize. Positive reinforcement is so important for toddlers and preschoolers and this is a tradition we plan to pass down to our next child. Read more »
Brrrrr! We are sitting here by our fireplace dreaming of sunny days and warmer weather like this day that we spent together by the ocean in Italy. Can’t wait to go back! Read more »
“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.” - A. A. Milne. Happy Valentines Day to my love. Each year with you gets sweeter and sweeter. Read more »
Happy Birthday to our rock and the best Daddy! We are so grateful for you everyday, but today in particular, we celebrate you! Read more »
In recent years, it is not too often we get a substantial amount of snow in the winter. But when we get enough snow, we don’t hesitate to get outside and play in it! We love to go sledding, make snowmen and Isaac especially loves to collect it in his big yellow dump truck. Read more »
One of the great things about living in northern Virginia is that there are so many great hiking opportunities. We love to check out local nature centers and see the hawks, owls, frogs, and snakes! Isaac loves to rock scramble in the creek bed and look for interesting things along the way—tiny fish, shiny rocks and Read more »
Today it’s a marble run, tomorrow who knows what Isaac and Joel will build together? The two of them love to spend their afternoons working on projects together. Read more »
We are thankful this year to spend extra time together during Christmas to focus on what’s important: family. Isaac was very excited to Santa’s visit and was counting down the days until Christmas. Here is picture of us on Christmas day! We wish you a blessed, happy and healthy New Year. Read more »
Hope you explore in for a little sneak peak into our life. It's full of unconditional love, fun, messes, and good food! We Welcome you into our hearts and home.
“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.” - A. A. Milne. Happy Valentine's Day to my love. Each year with you gets sweeter and sweeter.
