One of our most memorable moments is picking up our son, Kane, from the hospital. We had been waiting for weeks to get a call for our first foster placement. One afternoon we got that special call. We scrambled to get set with a pediatrician and gather the items we'd need right away to pick him up. It was the middle of the pandemic, so Craig waited in the car as Maria went up to get him. After learning a little more about him and getting tips on his care, they helped bring him out to our car. We were nervous and excited to be bringing home this sweet baby. We had no idea at that time how long he'd be with us, but we were prepared to love him and care for him as our own. In the end, we were able to adopt him and we cannot wait to see him as a big brother!

Kane is a very sweet, inquisitive, and active little boy. He has had a love for sports from a very young age and will play a variety of different sports any chance he gets. We spend a lot of our time playing with him, whether that's pitching baseballs in the yard or playing defense when he insists he needs it.

Kane has lots of cousins, including some younger cousins that he got to hold as babies. He very much loves holding babies and being a helper. In his excitement to be a big brother, he says he's ready to change diapers and help with feedings. We're sure it'll be an adjustment from only child, but we just know he's going to be a great big brother!

Sports plays a large part in our leisure time. Our son has always enjoyed sports and both of us grew up in families that loved sports. That includes getting together to watch games on TV, going to games in person, and playing sports.

We also enjoy playing board and card games. We play a cooperative card game based on Harry Potter together. We occasionally have card game nights with both our families where we play games like Rummy 500. At home we've begun teaching our son games like Sorry and matching games.

We look forward to sharing activities with our next child. That could be playing sports like we do with our son today or it could be more artistic activities, like drawing and painting. We also look forward to seeing how our son will play with a younger sibling.

Maria is a caring and nurturing woman. Throughout her life she has cared for younger siblings, elementary school students, nieces, nephews, and our son. Children often go to her to be comforted. She also excels at teaching children. She has taught in the classroom and looks for ways to teach at home.

Craig has a calm demeanor. He can be counted on to keep a cool head in stressful situations. He is comfortable with numbers and with researching topics. During playtime he often handles physical activities like playing sports with our son.

In our lives we have strengths that complement each other. Maria is project focused, driving us towards larger goals and coordinating our efforts. Craig is more focused on day-to-day tasks, doing the little things that need to be done in the house.

Together our strengths make us a good team in parenting, housework, and handling life's challenges.

We love living in Wisconsin and embracing life in the Midwest. Our seasons bring the best of both worlds: mild summers perfect for running around outside and snowy winters made for sledding and building snowmen. We live in a cozy, family-friendly suburb with little traffic, making it safe for children to play in the yard and explore outdoors.

Our community offers plenty of activities for families. Our preschool-aged son is already involved in sports classes, and we frequently visit different parks and playgrounds, all just a short drive away. Our neighborhood is filled with other young families, and it's common to see and hear children running between houses, knocking on doors, and asking to play together. Our son has built great friendships with the neighbor kids, and it's a joy to watch them grow up together.

Our home itself is warm, inviting and designed for both togetherness and comfort. It has an open-concept layout, with the dining room connecting to two living areas, making it easy to host gatherings and spend quality time as a family. A hallway leads to our bedrooms, our son's room, and Craig's home office, where he works during the day. Whether it's hosting family events, enjoying a quiet evening, or simply spending time together, our home is a place filled with love, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

We are fortunate to live close to Maria's family, which includes many siblings, nieces, and nephews. Our son absolutely loves spending time with his cousins, whether they are older, younger, or the same age. Family gatherings are a regular part of our lives; sometimes as a large group, and other times in smaller, more casual visits to each other's homes. One of our favorite traditions is gathering to watch the Packers play during football season. It's wonderful to have the family together enjoying each other's company with the house filled with laughter, good food, and plenty of excitement.

Craig's family is more spread out, but we make regular trips to visit them as well. We split holidays between both sides of the family and take additional trips throughout the year. One of our favorite visits is to Craig's hometown for its annual festival, where we enjoy local traditions like eating cheese curds, going on carnival rides, and attending the parade.

Both of our families love our son deeply and are overjoyed at the prospect of welcoming another child into our lives. Maria's family is excited to embrace another little one into their close-knit group, while Craig's family is eager for another child to love and cherish.

Thank you for taking the time to consider us as a potential family for your child. We truly cannot fathom what you are going through right now but we are eager to listen and hope we can support you. We know that you love your child and want what is best for them. If you choose us, we would be honored and excited to share in that love and provide a safe, nurturing, and joyful home.

Your child would be joining a warm and welcoming family. We have been married for nearly ten years and have built a stable and loving home where children can grow and thrive. We have lived in our house for about nine of those years. Maria has a lifetime of experience taking care of and teaching children. She has been staying at home taking care of children, both our son and her siblings' children, for almost seven years. Craig has been employed at the same job for over 10 years, which has provided stability to our family. This job also allows him to work from home and step out to see the rest of the family during the day.

Your child would join our four-year-old son, Kane, and our dog, Louie. Kane is an energetic boy who loves all things sports. He loves playing with other kids, bigger and smaller. Besides sports Kane also enjoys board games and music and would love to share that with a younger sibling. Louie is a tiny dog who has always got along well with children. Kane loves playing fetch and tug-of-war with Louie and his toys. Louie is so small that every child very quickly outgrows him!

There is a lot for children to do around here. The suburb we live in offers tons of activities and classes, including swimming, basketball, and a twice-a-week preschool class. There are many kids in the family close by; we make frequent visits to each other's houses so the cousins can play together. There are a lot of great parks nearby during warmer months and indoor playgrounds and sledding hills for colder months. There are a lot of sports fans in both our families and we love taking our son to nearby sporting events.

Our house is part of a thriving, kid friendly community. Many of our neighbors have children and Kane has become friends with the neighbor kids. Maria's parents and siblings all live close by and many of her siblings also have children. We often get together, such as for Packer games, and the children running around span from ages 1 to 13! Craig's family lives further away but we travel to see them regularly. Everyone in both our families was so supportive when we adopted Kane and they are thrilled for us to add to our family!

You will always be an important part of your child's life. If you are comfortable with it, we would like to continue contact with you after the adoption. We would be open to ongoing visits and/or calls and photo/letter exchanges. Our son Kane knows he is adopted and what his story is. It has been exciting as he gets older and asks more and more questions. Your child and their story are, of course, unique and we would adjust to what you and this child are comfortable with.

Our family is beyond excited to welcome another child into our home. We deeply appreciate your consideration and respect the difficult decisions you are making. No matter what, we wish you and your child all the best on this journey.

Craig & Maria