Greg’s Extended Family-Annual Reunion

Our families/backgrounds are very similar. We are fortunate to both have experienced such a loving, ethical, faith-based lifestyle, where hugs and kisses are easily exchanged, with an emphasis on respect and trust. Both families are very excited about the arrival of another child.

Greg is one of five children. He has an older sister (who lives out of town), two older brothers and one younger brother----his brothers and their families live close to us. They are all married and have nine children among them. We gather for all holidays and birthdays and the summers are filled with many pool parties and BBQ's. Greg's sister visits several times a year and keeps in touch. We all take turns hosting the holidays.

Greg's family has a great sense of humor. He and his brothers are always playing pranks on the kids---but the kids are starting to get revenge as they get older. You never know who might have the squirt gun, or steal your food when you're not looking, or wait around the corner with a monster mask to see how loud you scream. Sometimes we just sit around the table telling stories and laughing so hard that our sides ache.

Robin’s Extended Family at Her Dad’s Birthday

Greg's family is very supportive of each other. Unfortunately, he lost his Dad to a sudden heart attack last year. He was 81 and led a very happy life, but it was difficult on everyone. Knowing we had each other to lean on helped us through. Now every Saturday morning we gather at his Mom's house to help with yard work and household chores. The kids earn a little money and love visiting with Grandma. She spoils them rotten with sweets and lets them win at card games.

Twice a year (February and August), Greg's large family has a reunion with all the aunts, uncles and cousins----and lots of children. We all bring food and catch up on each other's busy lives.

Robin has one older brother and a younger brother and sister who are twins. Her younger siblings are both married and have four children among them. Her younger brother and his wife recently adopted their adorable daughter from China and credit Alex's adoption as inspiring them to do the same. They hope to adopt again.

Most of Robin's family live very close to us---her sister and family only recently moved out of town but plan on making many visits back home. We also gather for all holidays and birthdays and go on many outings with our kids to the local zoo, museums, parks and playgrounds and amusement parks.

Alex enjoys visiting his grandparents at least once a week and playing with their Schnauzer puppy. Robin's parents also do most of the babysitting for us and look forward to spending time with Alex and Alayna at our house. Robin's stepdaughter, Alayna, has been warmly welcomed into her family and is dearly loved by everyone. Every opportunity is made to schedule events around when we have Alayna with us so that she can be included.

Robin's family members know they can depend on each other. We celebrate our victories together and support each other in need.

Our Home

We live in a two-story brick home with three bedrooms, two baths, a sunroom, two fireplaces and a large fenced back yard with a basketball court and many toys. Our home is "fun"---full of laughter and music, tickling fights, playing with our two dogs we adore, making puzzles, playing board games, doing the Hokey Pokey, or just relaxing with a book by the fire or a video and some popcorn. There is never a dull moment with a four year-old boy---and that's just the way we like it! Since life can be so busy, we try to make the most of the time we have at home. Evenings and weekends are concentrated on spending quality time with Alex and with Alayna when she is with us. We try to include plenty of physical exercise and quiet time to talk, play scrabble or just draw pictures together.

Our religious beliefs are extremely important to us. We attend church regularly and participate in many functions (carnival, fun/run and walk in the park, trivia nights, nursery, progressive dinner, donut Sundays, musical review and cooking food for the homeless). We can walk to our church and school (where Alex will attend soon). Our faith has helped us struggle through our infertility issues, a miscarriage, a job change, the loss of Greg's father and many day to day challenges. We hope to instill a strong faith in our children too.

Alex and Neighbors Sledding in the Park

Our home is only a block from a large park with several lakes, ball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and trails. We belong to the neighborhood YMCA that has children's classes, an indoor pool, an indoor basketball court, fitness center and many other activities. We live close to excellent hospitals (two children's hospitals), museums, a wonderful zoo, theaters, and many major sporting events.

We live in a friendly, close-knit neighborhood with many children. Our summers are full of running through lawn sprinklers, setting up lemonade stands, chalk drawing contests, water balloon fights, chasing fireflies, and sharing ice cream/popsicles on our front porches.

On snowy winter days we all bundle up the little ones, fill our thermoses with hot cocoa and head to the park across the street to sled the hills and have snowball fights. After building snowmen in our yards, we head inside to dry and warm by the fire---roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

But, our favorite time is autumn. We close off our street for our September block party and each neighbor shares a favorite dish. The kids play games (musical chairs, a piñata, bobbing for apples, a scavenger hunt). This is a good time to socialize with new families on the street and just to chit-chat. In October, we host our annual chili/corn bread dinner. Greg loads his truck with hay bales and the kids pile in for a hayride. We hear laughter and singing as they pass by while the rest of us warm ourselves near our outdoor fireplace sipping hot apple cider.

We also celebrate birthdays with BBQ's or pizza parties, have an Easter egg hunt, a Halloween parade and an outdoor Christmas decorating party.