Dan’s Family at Jillian’s Baptism

Dan grew up in a large Catholic family. He is the sixth of eight children. He has six brothers and his sister Megan is the youngest! Can you imagine having seven older brothers? To date, Dan has nine nieces and nephews who are looking forward to having another cousin to play with.

Dan's mother was of Irish decent. She was the eighth of ten children. She was an elementary school teacher but most importantly a loving and supportive mother. Dan's father's family immigrated from what is now Slovakia. His father was the second of four children. A World War II veteran, he worked in labor relations and education during his long career. Sunday trips with Dan's family to visit his grandparents constitute his earliest memories. Other wonderful memories include summer family picnics and vacations, baseball games with his father and brothers and large, family reunions. Dan has 43 first cousins!

Dan's immediate family is very close. Not only are they siblings, they are best friends. Whenever they can they find an excuse to get together whether it is a birthday, hockey or the Super bowl. We recently hosted the entire family to celebrate the high school and college graduations of two of Dan's nephews. Dan has always enjoyed the unflagging love, friendship, kinship, loyalty and support of his parents and siblings.

Dan's family is thrilled that we have decided to adopt another child and they're excited to learn that hopefully soon Jillian will have a new brother or sister.

Andrea’s Family Gathers for Her Brother’s Wedding in Ireland

Andrea grew up in a small Catholic family. She is the oldest of three children and the only girl - quite the opposite of Dan's family! Andrea's oldest of two brothers is 13 months younger than Andrea and is a computer engineer. Her youngest brother is 6 years younger than she and is a sports medicine doctor. He married an Irish bride in a charming castle on the west coast of Ireland. They have a little boy who just celebrated his first birthday. Jillian loves playing with her newest cousin. They both giggle and laugh as Jillian pushes him around inside her pink wagon.

Andrea's mother, the first of two children, is of Italian and Polish descent. Andrea's mother is a retired schoolteacher who taught both in Europe and in the United States for 28 years. She has been a strong role model in her family's lives. Her patience, love and generosity make her a special person and a selfless mother. She has an amazing, resilient spirit. She anxiously awaits additional grandchildren to spoil.

Andrea's father, an only child, was of Spanish and Italian descent. After serving in World War II, Andrea's father was an attorney in New York City for 50 years. He was warm and generous, the life of the party and always telling a joke. He very much wanted grandchildren.

Andrea's grandmother came to live with her family when Andrea and her brothers were young. Her grandmother played a significant role in their lives. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She was Polish and was very proud of her heritage. As a result, Andrea and her brothers learned Polish nursery rhymes and ate traditional Polish food. Her religious and moral values had a strong, positive influence on all of the family.

Everyone has been supportive and excited about our decision to adopt again. There are only two grandchildren on Andrea's side of the family so there is a lot of anticipation for the next arrival.

Our “Hansel and Gretel” Home in the Spring

We currently live in an older and charming, tree lined neighborhood in Maryland, near Washington, DC. Our home is an English style, stone, Tudor in a neighborhood of approximately 30 other Tudor style homes. We enjoy spending time in our yard and garden, planting and maintaining our flowers and shrubs. In the spring, the entire neighborhood brightens up as the azaleas take bloom…. every home has brilliant colors (pink, purple, white, red) flowing from the yard. In the fall we enjoy a presentation of color as the leaves change and fall to the ground. Recently while we were gardening, a woman walked by our home and stopped. She said that our house looked like a "fairy tale" home, just like Hansel and Gretel. It was funny because we thought the same thing when we first found our home.

In Our Backyard Near the Tree that was Planted for Jillian. The Leaves are Heart Shaped.

The neighborhood families gather together annually to celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the children dress up as Shepherds, the Three Kings Men, Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus to re-enact the birth of Christ. Everyone sings Christmas carols and Santa comes via a fire engine with presents for all the good little boys and girls.

We are fortunate to have excellent elementary and high schools (both public and private) within walking distance from our home. Our neighborhood is the ideal place to raise a family.