To many people, having sixteen family members stay at their house over Christmas may seem a little scary, but when we did it this year we had a blast! The nieces and nephews from colder climates thought it was amazing to be able to swim outside on Christmas day. Sharing good food, playing games, talking, laughing and having fun is what our family gatherings are all about. Both of our families are extremely excited about our decision to adopt again and cannot wait for the new bundle of joy to arrive!
Laine’s Family at Christmas
Blake is the older of two boys. His father is a retired bank manager and his mother stayed at home and took care of their two "very active" boys. His brother is a police officer in Canada where he lives with his wife and two children who are 7 and 10 years old. Blake's parents live in Canada in the summer but are "snowbirds" and spend the winters near us to spend more time with our family. They are looking forward to being grandparents again.
As the youngest of four children, Laine grew up in a very busy and energetic environment. Both of her parents are retired university professors but somehow seem busier now with all their hobbies and volunteer work. They live two hours away and are excited about more babysitting opportunities! One sister lives very close and owns an adventure travel company. Her other sister lives in Canada with her husband and stays at home with their four wonderful children ages 2 to 10 years. Laine's brother owns a computer consulting firm and lives in Chicago with his wife and 8 year old daughter. They have all enjoyed getting to know Jaxson and are excited about our decision to adopt again.
Although our family members are spread over a wide area, we often visit by telephone and share photos and stories by
e-mail. We get together as a group whenever we can and always have a great time!
Our House and Neighborhood
Our Home
We love living in Arizona, where we moved over five years ago. In summer's heat we love spending time in our pool. During the rest of the year our weather is perfect for just about any other outdoor activity. Not far away from us are mountains where we like to go for weekend getaways. The weather is cooler and there are great hiking trails, parks and other family activities. The city has many things for families to do including water parks, museums for kids, a zoo and numerous sports teams. We live in a family-oriented neighborhood complete with a "Boys and Girls Club", many walking and biking paths, and a public recreation complex. There are several parks nearby, one of which is within walking distance. The school system is considered the best in the state, with an elementary school only one mile away. There is little to no crime in the area, making it an ideal place to grow up. The community is very friendly, everybody knows one another, and there is never a shortage of playmates for the children.
Hanging Out in Our Backyard
Our house has lots of open areas perfect for play. We have a large backyard with a swimming pool complete with a safety enclosure. The house has extra bedrooms to accommodate our new arrival as well as the numerous family members who come to visit. We can hardly wait to decorate the new nursery! It will be a child's dream come true.
American Adoptions, a private adoption agency founded on the belief that lives of children can be bettered through adoption, provides safe adoption services to children, birth parents and adoptive families by educating, supporting and coordinating necessary services for adoptions throughout the United States. For more information on American Adoptions please call 1-800-ADOPTION (236-7846).
