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 am the youngest of 3 boys. My parents raised us in a loving home with support for any adventure we were interested in. My dad was the head baseball and football coach and a biology teacher. My mom stayed at home till all three of us were school age. She kept our house cozy, the calendar organized, and always made sure we ate dinner together. Both my parents are now retired and just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They live on a beautiful lake right between where all their kids and grandkids live, so it’s a short 15 drive in each direction. They love to spoil Otto and see him often. Grandpa can’t wait to teach him about fishing, and Grandma 

My oldest brother is married with two teenage daughters, and my middle brother has a teenage daughter and son. His son was thrilled when he found out that Otto was going to be his first boy cousin. They may be older than him, but they love to come over and play with Otto or snuggle up with him during his favorite show. Both of our families are very supportive of our adoption journey, and we know this child will have no lack of love and acceptance in our families.

I am the oldest of 4 children. We were raised with lots of love and millions of great memories. My siblings and I would spend entire days playing pretend - whether it be circus, house, or school. My parents both live about 15 minutes from us, and they are very involved in helping with Otto. My father is remarried and his wife is a welcomed addition. My mother assists with daycare when she is not running a boutique clothing shop downtown. Between the three of them, they cared for Otto for his first 1 ½ years of life. He loves his grandparents so much.

My first two siblings live in the same town. My sister has two children: a son in middle school and a daughter in high school. We love to attend their band concerts and sporting events to cheer them on. My brother has three children: two daughters and a son. They are younger, so it’s always exciting when these cousins get together. His son and Otto will be starting school at the same time! My brother and I try to get the kids together for special outings as much as possible. My baby brother is definitely the silly uncle. He lives about 1 ½ hours away and enjoys his Uncle role by always selecting the loudest, most outlandish toys he can find to fill our home with. He loves to play outside with the kids, and when they get to visit him, they love to swim in his pool! Both of our families can’t wait to welcome another child into their lives.

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.