Our sons, Gio (7) and Bodhin (6), bring so much joy, curiosity, and laughter into our lives. Gio is our thinker and inventor — always building contraptions, writing stories, or diving deep into new interests like mushrooms and cats. Bodhin is our helper and builder — happiest with Legos or Magna-Tiles in hand, creating something new or finding a funny joke to share. They both love biking, swimming in the bay, and family game nights that always end in laughter.

Gio first came to us as a foster placement and later reunified with his biological mom and three siblings. When the COVID lockdown began, his mom asked if Gio could quarantine with us while she worked two jobs and cared for her other children. During that time, she made the incredibly loving decision to ask us to adopt him. We have a beautiful relationship with her and still share meals, calls, and updates regularly. Gio loves to say, “I made the family bigger,” which perfectly captures his empathetic spirit. Bodhin’s journey began when his birth mom, feeling overwhelmed and unprepared, made the hard and loving choice for him to be adopted. Because a family wasn’t chosen right away, he entered the foster care system and spent his first year with another family before joining ours. Gio and Bodhin wanted to share a message with you about our family: “We are kind, we are helpful, we love to play games, we go to beaches, and we are ready to be big brothers.”

To us, being parents means creating a world where each child feels seen, valued, and free to become who they truly are. Parenting is about offering love, safety, and space for curiosity — the kind that lets a child explore the world knowing they’ll always have a soft place to land. Whether we’re adventuring outdoors or curled up for a game night at home, we want our children to grow up surrounded by laughter, connection, and trust. Our parenting approach has been shaped by years of caring for children through foster care and now raising our two little ones who joined our family through adoption. Those experiences taught us the importance of patience, flexibility, and meeting each child exactly where they are. Since we didn’t experience parenting from birth, we’re deeply excited for the early moments — those tiny, everyday memories that build the foundation of a lifetime. Alex’s background is in early childhood education and child development, with over 20 years of experience as a preschool teacher and hands-on work alongside therapists and specialists. That knowledge has shaped how we parent — with empathy, curiosity, and respect for every child’s unique needs. Together, we see parenting as a partnership built on love, humor, and learning as we go — always striving to raise kind, confident, and emotionally secure kids.

Both Ali and Alex work remotely, which gives our family a lot of flexibility during the week. We do school drop-off and pick-up together whenever we can, and since the kids attend a school that encourages parent involvement, we volunteer in their classrooms regularly. On Fridays, Ali helps lead a mini-class while teachers use that time for planning — recent classes have included cooking, gardening, art, and a Lego build group that’s become a favorite. Alex volunteers during classroom work time, using her education background to support kids during math and writing or help teachers prepare for lessons. Every Monday is early release, which we’ve lovingly named “Adventure Day.” We pack up the bikes and head to a trail, meet friends at the park, grab ice cream, or stop by the library for new books. The rest of the week, we intentionally build in “home days” — time to relax, decompress, and enjoy simple routines like walking our dog, Wilson, or cooking together with music playing in the kitchen. Fridays are for movie or game nights, and weekends usually include one big adventure — a trip to the children’s museum, a pumpkin patch, or a ferry ride to a nearby town — followed by a Sunday of slowing down, working in the garden, reading, or catching up on a favorite show. We love balancing the excitement of adventure with the comfort of home and time together.

Ali is originally from Ohio and part of a big, close-knit family of six siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins who love spending time together. When we visit each year, everyone gathers for a backyard BBQ where the kids splash in the pool, take turns on the homemade slip-and-slide, and soak up the attention of their aunts, uncles, and cousins. These get-togethers often double as birthday celebrations, complete with cake, singing, and the happy chaos that comes with so many people who love one another. One of our favorite stops is Ali’s sister’s flower farm, where we ride the cart trails, make art with blooms, and end the night watching fireflies. Ali’s family also loves visiting us in Washington, where we spend our time adventuring to the ocean, riding ferries to small towns, and exploring the local forests and hiking trails together.

Alex’s family is rooted in Washington, with two sisters and several nieces and nephews who live close by. Alex’s mom recently moved to Scottsdale, which gives us a sunshine-filled visit each winter, and she still spends summers here, joining family hikes and adventures with the grandkids. Our families are overjoyed about our adoption plans. They can’t wait to welcome another child with open arms, laughter, and the kind of support that makes home feel grounded and full of love — a love that both of our families see as the foundation of everything we do.

We live in beautiful Washington State and still pinch ourselves that this is home. During a time when it felt like everyone was buying houses, our offer was somehow chosen, and it truly felt meant to be. The town already held special memories for Alex, who grew up boating here with family and exploring the harbor’s small shops surrounded by mountains and sea. We reached out to a local real estate agent who told us about this home before it even hit the market — and from the moment we pulled into the driveway, we knew it was ours.

Our house sits on nearly an acre surrounded by tall evergreens, open sky, and the sound of birds in the morning. It has four bedrooms filled with natural light, a large playroom, and our favorite space — an art and exploration room that doubles as our home office. Outside, we have a playground in the backyard, a vegetable and flower garden in the front, and a wooden staircase that leads to our pirate ship treehouse. There’s also a small pond that Alex has lined with twinkle lights and a fire pit where we love to roast marshmallows together.

Our neighborhood is warm and close-knit, with families who truly care about one another. The local school community is full of parents who volunteer for cooking classes, the garden, and robotics club. Weekends are spent exploring nearby beaches, forests, and ferry towns — always finding new adventures close to home.

We can’t imagine the weight of this moment, but before anything else, we want you to know this: you are seen, valued, and respected. Whatever brought you here, please know that you are not alone. From early on, we knew adoption would be part of our story. We’ve walked the path of foster care and adoption before, and it taught us that family isn’t something you build alone. It’s something that grows through love, courage, and connection. To us, adoption isn’t about replacing one family with another; it’s about expanding love so there’s room for everyone who matters.

Ali and I are married and have been together for more than 3 years. We started as friends and knew almost immediately that something rare and steady had found us. Not to sound cliché, but it really was one of those “when you know, you know” moments, and it’s been true ever since. From the start, we’ve been true partners and co-creators of this life we love, rooted in kindness, compassion, and showing up for each other through both the simple days and the hard ones. Our family includes our two incredible boys, Gio and Bodhin, both adopted from foster care. They are the heart of our home: curious, funny, and full of imagination. Gio is our thinker, always building or inventing something new, and Bodhin is our helper, a whirlwind of energy and kindness. They’ve been asking for a sibling for a long time, saying they want someone they’ll “never have to say goodbye to.” We had some hard goodbyes during our time as a foster family, and that longing comes from love and from wanting to welcome a sibling they can grow up with and keep close forever.

We talk often about what adoption means and how love can stretch wide enough to hold grief, joy, and everything in between. Our children know their stories, and we speak of their “tummy mamas” often, sharing the love, strength, and hope that shaped their beginnings. Their birth moms hold a special place in our hearts and in our family, spoken of with warmth and familiarity. Those relationships have shown us how sacred openness can be and how healing it is when love and truth are both honored. If you choose us, we will honor that same connection. You will always have a place in our story. Your child will grow up knowing about you, hearing your name, and understanding how much love and bravery went into your decision. We are open to sharing updates, letters, photos, calls, video chats, and visits. For us, openness isn’t an arrangement; it’s a relationship and a promise that you’ll always belong here too.

At home, our life is simple but full. We both work remotely, which allows our days to be woven with time together, from school drop-offs and volunteering in classrooms to family dinners that usually end in laughter. Mondays are early release days from school and have been lovingly dubbed our “Adventure Day,” when we pack up bikes or sand toys and head out to explore something new. Fridays are game nights filled with giggles, and it’s often the everyday moments like bedtime stories, walks with our dog, making dinner together, or a dance party in the playroom that bring us the most joy. We are choosing adoption because we have so much love to give, and because we know what it means to love not just a child, but their whole story.

Gio and Bodhin wanted us to tell you this: “We are kind, we are helpful, we love to play games, and we are ready to be big brothers.” If you choose us, please know that your child will always be surrounded by love, not just ours but yours too. They will grow up proud of their story and deeply connected to the love that made them who they are. From one mother’s heart to another, thank you for taking the time to see our family.

With love and gratitude,

Alex & Ali