ABOUT US
We met when Bob went to watch a friend’s volleyball game and Coleen was the coach. After the game, we quickly realized how much we enjoyed each other’s company. We both have a silly sense of humor and are easy going. We are always making each other laugh out loud. We married two years later with a great celebration, and organized Ireland versus USA volleyball and waffleball games the next day for all our friends. We live in a suburb of Boston with Coleen’s Dad in the home she grew up in for part of the year. We also own a house in Dublin, Ireland where we enjoy the Irish weather. We love to have picnics in the local parks and race to take turns on the slides. Our summers are spent on the beach with Coleen’s family, where we spend most of the time playing games and eating ice-cream. We have a long running Bocce tournament and Coleen currently holds the title of Bocce Queen! Bob was born in Ireland but Coleen quickly taught him about American sports. Now he proudly wears his Red Sox cap when we watch the game and loves to go to Fenway Park! Bob has learnt to love the New England seasons. Last year he went to his first pumpkin patch and carved a great Jack-o-lantern. He never had snow growing up so we all got together for his first snowball fight too. On a quiet night we might watch a video or curl up with a book by the fire. We really like to organize activities with our friends and entertain at home. We have lots of BBQ’s when the weather is nice or game nights when the weather is too cold. We also like to play games when its just the two of us – our air hockey competitions can get very heated! We enjoy travelling to new places and meeting new people. We can easily be found drinking hot chocolates in a café in Italy and laughing with the locals. We are lucky to have friends around the world.

ABOUT COLEEN - Written by Bob
Coleen is a beautiful woman who is smart and very funny. She is the “cool” aunt in a very close family who’s always found in the middle of the fun and practical jokes. As her nieces and nephews grew up, Coleen became the aunt they could confide and trust in. I think she would be a mom that your child could be best friends with. Coleen is a grammar school teacher who is always making games and treats for her kids. She teaches 4 and 5 year olds and just loves teaching them how to write their names and to help them find their independence. Anytime we go away we always end up picking up shells or leaves so that she can bring them into the kids the next day. She has a child’s imagination and I am waiting for her to write a bestselling children’s book. Coleen loves sports and was an all-star high school athlete. Her passion is volleyball and she went on to coach kids, college and the Irish team. When we are on the beach in summer she is all the time making up games everyone can play. The best thing about Coleen is her sense of humor. She makes me laugh so much and is so fast with a joke or a funny line that the house is always full of laughter. It is impossible to be around her without being in good form. Even when things get tough, she manages to keep the mood light. Coleen plans to stay at home when we have a child. I know that focusing all the energy and love to our own child that she now saves for her students will make her a great mom. I look forward to coming home to see them at the kitchen table painting sea shells!

ABOUT BOB - Written by Coleen
The first thing you notice about Bob is his friendly personality. It seems he is always smiling even at his own bad jokes! He really enjoys meeting up with friends. In college Bob organized a Sunday Night Club to make sure they got together at least once a week. They are still going strong. The next thing you notice about Bob is how caring he is. He started his own company to provide caregivers to older and disabled people after his own dad needed extra care at home. He has a great business mind and now has offices all over Ireland. He works hard because he finds it very rewarding to help those in need. Bob is happy whether he is reading the paper on a Sunday or travelling the world. After graduate school he took 15 months off to see new places. This time also made him adventurous and he is not afraid to parachute or bungy jump off a bridge! Luckily he also enjoys spending a quiet night in with me. Bob is loving in so many ways. He is very close to his family and sees them often. He loves to have sleep over parties with his nieces and nephews. Bob starts and ends my days with a great big hug. He comes home from work if I am not well to take care of me. If I have had a really tough day Bob treats me to a “tuck in” – he tucks me into bed with a teddy and a kiss on the forehead! I guess the best thing about Bob is that he makes me feel so loved.

WHAT WE WILL OFFER YOUR CHILD
We both come from large families with lots of love and laughter and this is what we will offer your child. We believe that children learn the values that their parents show by example. We are both active members of our local church. We hold very deeply the values of love and respect for one another as well as pride and confidence in yourself. It is through these values that we will raise a family. We love spending time with our families and fun family gatherings are a huge part of our lives. One of our favorite things to do is family game night with Coleen’s nieces and nephews. Our home is often bursting with friends and family for a BBQ or sleep over. As well as enjoying life in Boston your child will live in Ireland. Ireland is a small country with a beautiful landscape. It is known for the friendliness of its people. The children here walk safely to school and play with their friends in our quiet road. Education is important to both of us and we will ensure that your child has the funds to go to college.

THOUGHTS ON ADOPTION
Before we were even married, we had discussed our desire to adopt a baby! We have been given an approved home study and really enjoyed the process as it was the first steps to becoming parents. We want you to know as much about your child as you wish. Letters, photos and updates will be sent regularly so you can see your child grow and be as proud of them as we are sure to be. We feel it is very important that your child knows of their own heritage. Therefore we plan to celebrate your cultural traditions with them, as well as our own. We hope to show your child how lucky they are to have two families who care about them. We have so much respect for loving people who are willing to place their child with adoptive parents like us. We will share this value with your child and tell them all about you. We want you, their birth mother, to have a special place in their hearts. If you would like to learn more about us or speak to us on the phone, please contact Cindy at A Loving Alternative, 800-556-5635.

With respect,
Coleen & Bob