We are very close with both of our families. Our child will have 2 sets of grandparents, a great grandmother, aunts and uncles, as well as great aunts and uncles in their lives. Our child will also have 10 first cousins to play with and learn many things - whether it is how to throw a football or how to do a cartwheel.
We cannot wait to teach our child everything that we have learned in life. We hope that we can instill the values that our parents' instilled in us. We hope to have fun watching our child grow into the person they are meant to become. We hope to encourage our child to try to experience new things. We hope to be able to take lots of family road trips and go to lots of soccer or baseball games. We hope to encourage our child to follow their dreams.
** Michael **
Michael's Family at his cousin's wedding 2010
Michael is the youngest of four - he has three older sisters. He grew up in a Chicago suburb in the same house that his parents still live in to this day. His dad is a Civil Engineer and his mom is a school teacher. Growing up, he played sports and hung around the neighborhood with family and friends. His paternal grandfather would come every Thursday night for dinner. Holidays were spent at his aunt's and uncle’s house with all of their extended family. They also went camping with his grandparents in the spring and fall. Summers were spent swimming and boating on the lake.
Michael has 4 nephews and 4 nieces who we spend a lot of time with. We are invited to watch lots of football games, soccer games, dance recitals and cheer competitions. Summers are still spent with his family at his parents' cottage boating, swimming and making lots of s'mores.
** Michelle **
Michelle's family at her mom's house 2009
Michelle is the oldest of three girls. She grew up in Chicago until her family moved to the suburbs when she was in sixth grade. Her father worked in the music industry so she always had the Top 40 records before anyone else. Her dad and uncle purchased a bowling alley in 1997 and her dad has since retired in Arizona. Her mom stayed home with the three girls until Michelle's youngest sister was in school full time. Michelle's mom is an Accounts Payable Manager for a company she has been with for over 20 years. Although her parents divorced a couple of years ago and her dad moved away, she gets to see her dad a couple of times a year and she talks to her mom just about every day. Growing up, she went on family vacations and spent Sunday afternoons at her grandparents’ house. Her parents taught her to be honest and hard working.
Michelle has 1 niece and 1 nephew who can't wait to have a cousin to show the ropes to. They can't wait to tell our child about Disney World, going to White Sox games and how to dance in the living room!
Pictures of us with our family
Our friends and family at the Walk for Adoption Chicago 2011 - everyone came out to support us!
Michael feeding our niece Hayley
Aunt Chel watching our niece Hayley at her Grammy's house
Waiting for the Hayride to start with our niece Victoria
Michael with his Dad at the Master's Practice Rounds in 2005
Michael with our nephews Alec and Danny on Christmas
Michelle with our niece Lauryn and nephew Griffin on a Chicago River tour
for Michael's dad's B-Day
Michelle playing with our nephew Ryan
Michelle with our niece Lauryn as we celebrate Michael's Birthday
Mike with his dad and brother-in-laws celebrating his birthday
St. Patrick's Day (and Michael's Birthday) with his niece Katie
Easter Brunch with Michelle's mom and niece Hayley
Celebrating the January birthdays with Alec and Katie
Michelle and her mom at Michelle's cousin's wedding
Michael with his sister Carolyn and Suzanne
Michelle with Michael's sister Michelle
Celebrating Hayley's birthday
Michelle with Michael's mom and aunt at a family bowling outing
Michelle and her mom and sisters celebrating Easter
Michael and Hayley celebrating his birthday at the bowling alley
Michael and his brother-in-laws at a family gathering
Michael and 3 of his nieces showing off one of his birthday presents
S'mores at the cottage
Michael with Victoria at her gymnastics meet
Michael with Michelle's mom
Michelle with Michael's sister Suzanne and cousin Dawn at his surprise birthday party
Michelle with Michael's mom and sisters at Michelle's birthday party
At the annual charity dinner dance with Michael's parents
At the cottage with Victoria
Campfire at the cottage with Zachary, Victoria and Griffin
Michelle with Michael's sister Suzanne
Casino night party with Michael's dad and brother-in-law
Michael with his dad and sister Michelle at a family birthday party
Another family bowling outing
Dinner Dance at the Country Club on the lake
Michelle with our niece and nephews (and Michael's mom making s'mores at the cottage
