Occupation 

Design and Sales

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Hobby

Hunting, fishing & golf

Favorite Movie

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Favorite Food

Steak on the Charcoal Grill

Favorite Holiday

Christmas

Favorite Place to Vacation

North Woods of WI

Occupation 

Lunch Coordinator

Education

Some College

Hobby

Reading, playing piano & crafting

Favorite Movie

Hocus Pocus

Favorite Food

Sushi

Favorite Holiday

Easter & 4th of July

Favorite Place to Vacation

Anywhere with a beach

Our Story

We met in 2007 when I was working as a waitress at a local restaurant. Josh was out with a friend who was dating my sister. She insisted that he meet me. It was very busy that night, so I didn't pay much attention to him. Eventually, Josh took the hint and slid me a cocktail napkin with his name and number, saying, "Balls in your court"! I crumpled it up and stuffed it into my apron, thinking, "Yeah, right, buddy!". Later that night, I called my sister after work, and Josh answered the phone. They were all watching a movie together. That call lasted through the night, and a week later, we went on our first real date. And now, 17 years later, I still love to tease him about his terrible "pick-up" skills.

We were married in 2010 on a beautiful day during peak fall colors, surrounded by laughter, friends, and family. Throughout the day, we were encouraged to capture snapshots in our minds, and now, years later, we still remember every detail. From the heartfelt walk down the aisle with my dad to Josh's lively beer barrel polka dance with his mom during their mother-son dance, it was truly a day we will never forget, and we felt incredibly loved and supported.

Otto Joseph is our fun-loving, vibrant, energetic toddler who brings so much joy and laughter into our lives. His enthusiasm is contagious, and he is always up for an adventure. He is our little sports guy and loves basketball and baseball. He enjoys being outside, and watching him explore the world is a joy. He loves water, whether it's at our local pool, the lake, or just in the bathtub. Ottos is captivated by stories and music and loves to listen intently as we read and sing songs to him. One of his favorite movies is "Sing 2". He is mesmerized by the colorful characters and catchy tunes, and we love to dance along to the spectacular songs.

Otto loves people and animals. We often see deer and birds in our backyard, and he lights up with excitement whenever an animal is present. Another special aspect of Otto’s life is his relationship with his cousins. He cherishes the time he spends playing and bonding with them, and their laughter and fun fill our home with warmth and happiness. He will be a gold-medal winner when it comes to being a big brother!

Our Home

In 2019, we were blessed to build our dream home. It’s tucked away on five acres, surrounded by peaceful woods and wildlife. Our home is a single-story with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Our basement has been turned into the ultimate kid's play area. Our screen porch overlooks a huge yard where the beginnings of a tree fort are taking shape in the woods. The view from the porch is a delightful mix of bikes and toys scattered about and a serene outdoor space. The porch also features a kids' basketball hoop and water table, adding to the fun. Just beyond, there's a beautiful fire pit, ideal for a cozy evening roasting marshmallows under the stars. I enjoy reading on the porch while Josh and Otto watch baseball, and we both laugh about how we've unexpectedly become bird-watching enthusiasts. Josh has also made a snow tubing hill in the woods of our backyard that Otto and our nieces and nephews look forward to zooming down every year.

Our community is very family-oriented and offers a variety of fun activities. Many parks, an outdoor swimming pool, and a new splash pad are also in the works. Otto is especially excited about this! Our downtown area is loaded with places to eat, coffee shops, live music, and various farmer's markets and fairs.

Josh's Family

I'm the youngest of three boys, raised in a loving home where our interests were always supported. My dad was a coach and biology teacher, and my mom stayed home until we were all in school—keeping things cozy, organized, and always making sure we ate dinner together. They just celebrated 50 years of marriage and now live on a lake, perfectly located between all their kids and grandkids. They see Otto often—Grandpa’s eager to teach him to fish, and Grandma loves spoiling him.



My oldest brother has two teenage daughters, and my middle brother has a teen daughter and son. His son was especially excited to have Otto as his first boy cousin. They love coming over to play or watch shows with him. Our families are fully behind our adoption journey, and we know this child will be welcomed with endless love and support.

I'm the oldest of four and grew up surrounded by love and countless joyful memories. My siblings and I spent hours playing pretend—circus, house, school—you name it. My parents still live just 15 minutes away and are very involved with Otto. My mom helps with daycare when she’s not running her boutique, and my dad and stepmom cared for Otto during his first year and a half. He absolutely adores his grandparents.



Two of my siblings live nearby. My sister has two kids in middle and high school, and we love cheering them on at concerts and games. My brother has three younger kids, and his son and Otto will start school together. We often plan fun cousin outings. My youngest brother, the “silly uncle,” lives about 1.5 hours away and is known for gifting the noisiest toys! The kids love swimming in his pool and playing outside. Our whole family is thrilled at the thought of welcoming another child.

Josh & Michelle - A Look Into Our Life

Fun Times Ahead

We are a family that loves to have fun! One of our new favorite spots is the Children's Museum, where Otto loves to run off all his toddler energy. There is a beautiful state park, two miles from us, with great hiking, swimming, and panoramic views. During the summer, we love going to the circus in town, which is very close to our house. In the fall, the local apple orchard is our go-to spot for the best caramel apples ever! The winter months offer beautiful snowshoeing trails, ice skating, and sledding hills. One of Josh and my winter traditions is attending the annual Holly Jolly Light Parade around the downtown square. We've enjoyed sharing this tradition with Otto.

Lake Life & Camping 

We LOVE the water! Grandma and Grandpa live on a lake, so we try to spend most of our summers there. Days at the lake are always filled with friends and cousins coming along and tons of food! Otto loves to ride on the pontoon and swim on his big raft. Josh can't wait to teach him how to water ski one day.

Our very best friends of 20+ years have created many memories camping with us. Their family has grown by four kids and ours by one, and the adventures just keep coming. We all eagerly anticipate our trips together to swim, tube, fish, and find cool new towns to explore. With the addition of their cabin, our "camping" is quite a bit easier these days!

Holiday Traditions

Christmas Cookies, sparklers, pumpkin carving, and decorating eggs. We love all of the holidays and traditions that go with them. We get together with both sides of our family for most holidays.

We love cutting down and setting up our Christmas tree, then adding 1000's of lights for the most miraculous sparkle. Josh and I have been exchanging ornaments since our first year dating, and we love that our tree tells a story of our years together. We have been happy to add Otto to this tradition as he starts a box of ornaments that he will someday hang on his family tree.

Ottos's first year carving pumpkins looked a little funny, but he was a great sport. We went trick-or-treating for the first time this year, and he loved waving to all the silly people walking around.

We celebrate the 4th of July at the lake with all the cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. Birthdays are one of our favorite holidays, and we try to make each one special with a house full of all our friends and family.

We are fortunate to have a strong support system of friends. We try to get out and about to enjoy all our sweet little town has to offer, and that usually involves meeting up with our friends and their kiddos. We are also very involved in our church and love our church family. We are the youth leaders for the Middle school and High school kids. Michelle also plays piano in the praise band.