Occupation 

Software Development

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Hobby

Running, hiking, reading & weightlifting

Favorite Family Activity

Hiking

Favorite Food

Asian street food

Favorite Holiday

Atlas's Gotcha Day

Favorite Place to Vacation

Lake Superior

Occupation 

Human Resources

Education

Master's Degree

Hobby

Hiking, yoga, traveling & kayaking

Favorite Family Activity

Going to the beach

Favorite Food

Black bean burgers & apple pie 

Favorite Holiday

Atlas's Gotcha Day

Favorite Place to Vacation

Anywhere warm with a beach

Our Story

Our real beginning, when we fell in love, was a cold, crystal-clear night in February 2009. We walked down to the local beach as we often did and often still do. Everything was ice and snow and moonlight. We stood looking out over the frozen beach, and held each other close, and we knew. We knew we are meant to be together forever.

Our wedding was a reflection of the values we share and the elements we hold dear. The venue was outside on the water overlooking the city in which we met and both love. Attendance was small by design - we wanted to share the most important day of our lives with our closest family and friends.

Atlas is growing into his own little, wonderful person. He's curious, and he loves to join in our outdoor adventures. If Atlas is moving, he's in a good mood. We have a kid-carrying backpack, and we can spend a couple of hours hiking around while he takes in his surroundings, a smile plastered all over his face.

Atlas loves to read. His favorite author is Dr. Suess, but he also really enjoys all the Magic School Bus books, Winnie-the-Pooh, and any book that has great pictures.

He recently started swim lessons, and while the other kids are a bit all over the place, Atlas takes it all in stride. He has a big smile on his face, and unlike the other kids, he doesn't cry or mind when the water splashes on him. He's a tough, stoic little guy.

Atlas also hasn't seen anything he doesn't want to climb. We spent a lot of time babyproofing our house because he would climb on everything – the TV stand, bookshelves, coffee table, you name it. We had to buy him a soft, modular gym made specifically for kids to climb over and through obstacles so that he could get his energy out.

Simply put, Atlas is the best thing that ever happened to us. His smile is all it takes to put a smile on our faces. His laugh is the greatest sound in the world.

Our family's love has grown exponentially with the addition of Atlas. He's filled our hearts with so much joy, and we can't wait for him to become a big brother!

Our Home

We bought our charming, cozy house in 2011 and have spent the last several years making it our own. It’s a tri-level home and is perfect for our growing family. We love our fenced-in backyard which has a patio and vegetable garden in the summer. Education is very important to us and we're within walking distance of some of the best schools in our state.

Walking distance from our home is a 125-acre park with multiple playgrounds and paths, a bike path that circumvents our entire county and takes us straight into downtown, a beach with a playground, and two picturesque village districts that offer unique, family-friendly opportunities for entertainment in addition to quiet streets.

Zack's Family

Growing up, my parents worked, so my grandma quit her job so she could take care of me and my brother. I am fortunate to have my grandparents and parents as strong influences in my life. My paternal grandfather grew up in an orphanage and was an army veteran, and my grandmother is a Korean immigrant who loves to cook and tell me what to do.

I get my love for learning, sports, the outdoors, and work ethic from my parents. They love being grandparents! They are so excited to add another grandkid and take them swimming, hiking, kayaking, hunting, and fishing.

My mom is building a new house and talking about adding a pool so they can come over to swim in the summer, and in the winter, she can pull them around on a sled. And my dad is, of course, already planning future hunting trips. They both live nearby, and they’re so excited about everything they want to do with another grandkid; I’m starting to worry they will want to spend all their time with them, leaving little for us!

   My brother, Nick, and I are very close in age. While we liked to argue as kids (as most siblings do), we have a good relationship as adults, and I'm very proud of the fact that he recently became a firefighter and purchased a farm. He's great with Atlas and loves showing him around the farm.



My grandmother now lives with my aunt and uncle, about a 15-minute drive from us, and you can usually find us there on weekend afternoons talking, relaxing, and eating. My dad and my brother will usually swing by, too, and we all spend time talking about the old days and what we’ve been up to lately. Everybody is so excited for the new addition to our family to join us in our get-togethers!

My family lives within a short drive of us. My parents are retired, but they stay busy traveling and volunteering. They taught me the importance of a good education, having strong values, and being a good person. My parents are excited to share their stories and experiences with another grandchild!

My brother is a big kid at heart - he's the one to throw a snowball or the first to jump in a pool. He has a son who is a mechanic and loves what he does. They are both going to make sure the new family addition has tons of fun and lots of laughs! My sister’s compassion, patience, and fun-loving attitude make her a great aunt!

My sister fostered a child who our family immediately welcomed and is also in the process of adopting.  Both of my siblings are always there to listen, provide great insights, and have huge hearts. My aunt and cousin also live nearby, and they are immensely encouraging of our adoption.

We enjoy spending the holidays together with my family - my mom's side of the family is Greek, so gatherings can get loud, and there is endless home-cooked food! We have our annual traditions of pumpkin carving and holiday cookie decorating. We also like to travel together. Each year, we plan an annual winter weekend getaway in the northeastern part of our state - where we play games, hike, and cook. It’s nice to spend quality time together during our long Wisconsin winters.

My family is extremely welcoming and supportive, which has been and will continue to be key in our adoption journey. They can’t wait to welcome a new addition to the family!

Zack & Lindsay - A Look Into Our Life

Best Dog Ever

Everyone thinks their dog is the best dog, but Gertrude actually is the best dog. We adopted her from our local humane society, and we've been inseparable since day one.

She comes with us everywhere we go. She's as willing to run 10 miles as she is to nap on the couch. But what really makes Gertrude special and dear: we have never encountered a gentler soul.

Gertrude has a big personality and a kind heart. She's great with kids. And she's as tough as they come when it comes to outdoor sports and physical activity.

She loves spending time with Atlas in his room. When Atlas wakes up in the morning, one of the first things he sees is Gert’s wagging tail because she, of course, has to see him right when he gets up. And she follows us into his room each night when we put him to bed.

Gertrude loves Atlas not only because he’s fun and they can play together but also because Atlas drops a ton of food that Gert loves to eat!

Make Every Day an Adventure

Our favorite place to be is outside! Mountain biking in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, hiking the quiet, wooded trails of our home state, kayaking Lake Superior, canoeing the Boundary Waters, backpacking, and backcountry camping, then after a long day of outside fun, curling up as a family to read a good book before bed. 

We sometimes wonder if there's a hobby we DON'T have! The moments outdoors under a starry sky, picnicking in the park, playing at the beach, or on big water are the moments that draw us closer together and demonstrate the love and beauty that exists in this world. We love sharing these moments with Atlas and are so excited for another child to join us!

Our Travels

Travel, especially international, is critical to who we are and to our identities, and we can't wait to share the wider world with our children. We have dear friends who live in Beijing, and our first experience traveling abroad together was to visit them in China. Culture shock is an understatement, but experiencing the food, people, and culture hooked us, and we haven't looked back.

Atlas’s first big adventure came when we drove from Texas to Wisconsin after the adoption, and he hasn’t stopped traveling since! We’ve taken him twice to Door County with Lindsay’s family. We also took him camping in Marquette, MI, where he could “swim,” hike, and ride in a pull-behind bike trailer. He has so much fun when he’s pulled by a bike! He also traveled with us to visit Zack’s grandma in northern Wisconsin and, from there, to Duluth, MN, where we spent time hiking, climbing waterfalls, and swimming in Lake Superior.

We feel travel is so important for our children to experience, and we are excited to be taking our first international trip together as a family to Greece in October.

Milwaukee is right on Lake Michigan and offers many opportunities to hit the beach, run and bike along its shores, picnic in the park, and boat or stand-up paddleboard. It is also home to Discovery World, Mitchell Park Domes, a zoo, and Betty Brinn Children's Museum—all great places to take kids!