Alan's Family

Alan has two younger brothers, and between them they have five children, so it's tons of fun when we get together because the kids love playing together and hanging out with their aunts and uncles. When he was growing up, vacations always meant family, so Alan and his brothers and parents would drive across the country from their home in Washington, D.C. to Wisconsin, and spend a week running around with their cousins on a farm. Now that his parents are retired in California, and his brothers and their families live in separate states, his parents traditionally host a week-long summer family get-together for everyone. The kids splash around in the pool, everyone eats hamburgers and hot dogs, and the adults all get a chance to catch up. This photo was taken at one of our recent family gatherings, and just before the last cousin was born, and before Ethan's adoption.

Margaret's Family and Friends at Ethan's Baptism

Margaret’s younger sister Teresa lives in Maine, not far from her parents, who live near the coast in a community called "Hope," with beautiful views of mountains and a horse farm. Margaret grew up spending childhood summers in Maine, so it was her parents' dream to retire there, and spend summers sailing Penobscot Bay. Fortunately, they live within driving distance of us in Connecticut, so we take turns visiting each other several times a year, and hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, which have always been a big tradition in Margaret's family. Her mother is Scottish, and Christmas and New Year's Eve are especially big holidays in her family, celebrated with a special recipe for stuffing the turkey, Trifle for dessert, and a unique celebration on New Year's Eve involving bringing "Good Luck" to the first person who steps foot in your door in the New Year. Two summers ago we vacationed in Scotland, and this year we hope to travel to England with Ethan.

Home Sweet Home

We live in a comfortable Colonial style home on 1 ½ acres in a friendly suburban neighborhood with families where there are a lot of stay-at-home moms. We have four bedrooms and three bathrooms, but most of the activity takes place in our kitchen and family room, where Ethan likes to race his cars across the floor or watch cartoons on Saturday morning while Alan makes his famous blueberry pancakes. We also have a living room, dining room, library and spacious finished basement.

Playing on a Slide in Our Yard

In the summer, we play outside and enjoy barbecues on our deck with family and friends. Our house is on a quiet cul de sac, so it's very safe for kids to play ball and ride bikes. Within walking distance are two fun playgrounds and a Nature Center and farm. In the winter, we sled down small hills in our yard and make angels and snowmen.

Ethan's nursery school is close by, and when he gets older there are excellent choices for both public and private schools. Our church is close by, too, and has fun programs for kids. We live one hour's drive from New York City, so we are lucky that we can get tickets to many events for kids and families, including live shows and theater, concerts, museums, and an exciting planetarium.