Kate & Nick In Pennsylvania

Nick and I are on the brink of celebrating a fantastic milestone: six years of marriage this January and over eleven years together! Our love story began in our hometown, Doylestown, PA, where we both went to CB West High School. Funny enough, our paths didn't cross until later on. Now, we're happily nestled in the stunning Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, sharing our home with three adorable dogs and our lively red-bearded dragon, "Clark."

Nick is rocking it as a Piping Coordinator, but guess what? He's also back in school going for his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. As for me, I'm the Director of Employee Experience. Fancy title, right? It basically means I'm the HR Director focusing on making sure our team members are thriving in their roles, staying happy and charting their career paths.

Nick and I might be amateur bowlers, a bit of a rarity these days, but we've been part of a league for over three years now, rolling strikes and spares with gusto. Beyond the lanes, we share a passion for hiking and exploring new places. As big animal lovers, we make it a point to give back whenever we can. Our love for technology and video games is no secret. We find joy in the latest gadgets and virtual adventures. When it comes to sports, Nick proudly wears his Eagles colors (and I've reluctantly embraced it as part of my marriage vows, being a Bengals/Steelers fan). Game days are a big deal in our household!

Our journey to becoming parents has been a rollercoaster full of twists and turns. Despite trying various paths to conceive, we hit a bit of a roadblock. But, you know what? In that pivotal moment, we followed our hearts down a new and incredibly meaningful path to parenthood. And we couldn't be more excited about it!

We have an immense love for our current home and the community that surrounds it. Both of us grew up in small town settings, and with each move, we found ourselves gravitating closer and closer to nature and the mountains. Our present abode is in a lake community, a place that stole our hearts. The private lake, within semi-walking distance (depending on eagerness), adds a touch of serenity to our everyday lives.

Our neighborhood is a diverse and welcoming melting pot filled with friendly and kind folks. Despite not being in the hustle and bustle of a city, we're still close to nearby cities of historical significance, offering the best of both worlds. Our current residence sits on a little less than half an acre, fully fenced in, with only one neighbor to the right. Fortunately, they rent their home as a vacation rental, resulting in a peaceful and quiet environment with minimal light pollution. The starry nights up here are nothing short of spectacular.

Our lovely, two-story home, a three-bedroom, 2 ½ bath haven, has been our sanctuary since 2019. Over the years, we've invested time and effort into making it uniquely ours. From adding new hardwood floors and a fence to updating the additional bedrooms, we've created a warm and inviting space that truly feels like our dream home. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to live in such a beautiful and peaceful corner.

Nick and I hail from completely different family styles, but the love in both is equally immense. In my smaller family, my mom resides close to my Pop-pop in Bucks County, PA. My father lives with my stepmother, Wendy (who just recently retired YAY!) in New Jersey, and we make it a point to get together very often. Recently, my half-brother (Chris) graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and we all gathered to cheer him on. Even though we're small in numbers, our love runs deep.

Nick's family is a bit larger. His father, TH(Tom), recently retired and now divides his time between his new beach house in Maryland and part-time work. Nick has two siblings: Brian, his older brother, is married to Katie, and they just welcomed their first baby, "Owen." Kelly, Nick's younger sister, has two children with her husband, Collin, Henry (12) and Nori (8). These kids are amazing, bright, and eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new cousin. Our extended network includes cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who form our incredible tribe.

Sadly, Nick's mother, Betsy, passed away a few years ago due to cancer. While she may not be physically with us, we honor her every day by embracing her core values of honesty, family, and love.

Both of our families have a tradition of coming together for every holiday and birthday; a practice that has been ongoing for over a decade. The real blending of our families began at our wedding. In 2018, we took our friends and family on a destination wedding to Mexico creating lasting memories that solidified the bond between both sides of our family.

We cherish spending time with our "framily"; a delightful blend of friends and family members who make our lives richer. Our passion for fostering these connections led us to start an 'Annual Frousins Fest'. It's a cousins campout at our place bringing together the younger generations to strengthen the family bond through shared experiences and laughter. Whether it's strikes at the bowling alley, cheering for our favorite teams or camping under the stars with our framily, every moment is a chance to create new memories.

Our hearts have always yearned for adoption. Our family is a beautiful blend of individuals who share a deep bond, not blood. We believe in expanding our family to provide a loving home for a child in need. We want to show them that family comes in all forms and that every family is special and amazing in its own way.