Education is very important to us, and we consider education to encompass not only academic skills, but character development and overall critical thinking as well. Shannon's mom is very creative and artistic, so Shannon and her mom love giving our kids access to many art materials and crafting opportunities! We find that this helps our kids view the world in an open-minded and enriching way. George is a talented musician and loves to make music with the kids. We have a piano, multiple guitars, and lots of children's instruments and always welcome the noise!

Our kids attend an independent private school that we chose for its academic strength, arts program, diversity, and character development. In addition to setting them up for success as professional adults, the school nurtures all children's interests as essential to their happiness and development.

We view the infant, toddler, and preschool years as formative for our children's development and Shannon looks forward to staying home with our child to give them the time and space to explore, learn, and be loved! Our local Montessori preschool has an excellent program and it would be a joy to have our child attend.

We cherish our family time, and fill it with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. We love to hang out in our cul-de-sac with the neighborhood families while the kids scooter and play basketball. Shannon is a talented home cook so we often find ourselves hosting family and friends. On Saturdays, we usually visit our local farmers market and stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables - of course, we also harvest a lot of that from our garden!

We are both very active and enjoy rock climbing, pickleball/tennis, going to the park with the kids, biking, and swimming at both our neighborhood pools and the beach. Our kids help direct us in activities, too - our younger son loves to be with animals, paint pottery, and check out new playgrounds, while our older son is a thrill seeker and loves amusement parks, all sports, and reading spy novels.

Shannon is a frequent volunteer at our kids' school and has held various volunteer leadership positions over the past few years. George is an adept pianist and guitarist and enjoys playing music with the kids and in an unofficial neighborhood 'garage band.'

In preparation for the possibility of a transracial adoption, we've been educating ourselves on the topic and continuing to build a diverse community of friends and role models. We live in a very diverse town and our children attend an independent private prep school known for its cultural and socioeconomic diversity. We seek out family activities that cross gender and racial lines, and our family friends are ethnically diverse.

We understand that our child may have hair and/or skincare needs that are different from our own, for example, and have identified subject matter experts and service providers to help us learn and care for our child. We do not tolerate racism and while we know it exists, we purposefully live in a community that values all races and ethnicities.

We live in beautiful coastal California. Both of us grew up in California and we're happy to live close to both of our extended families. Our neighborhood is a family-friendly suburb and our house is at the end of a cul-de-sac. Afternoon and weekends are full of kids (babies up to tweens!) coming and going from one another's houses and backyards. At the top of our street is a community hub with a pool, sport courts, and all-purpose common space. We spend a lot of time there, as well as at our neighborhood swim and racquet club. The kids love playing with friends on the mini golf course, playgrounds and fields, and pools. Every holiday is a celebration in our neighborhood, and it ends up feeling pretty festive year-round!

Our home has four bedrooms plus a bonus room. We love the open floor plan and big kitchen. Almost the whole back of the house has windows looking out on our yard, garden, and open space. We can walk out the back door and be in nature, and our kids love building forts in the shared green space with their neighborhood friends. There are fish in our small pond and lots of fresh vegetables and fruit growing around the property.

We are fortunate to have both of our families nearby. Shannon's parents live in our neighborhood, and we see them often. As a result, our kids have a close relationship with their grandparents and enjoy a lot of activities together - such as crafting, taking the dog for walks, sharing family meals, and riding bikes.

Both of our brothers live in our town and have families - with kids - of their own. We spend holidays together as one big family and on the weekends meet up for family park dates, hikes, pool time, beach walks, and more.

Our kids see their cousins as both close friends and family, and we build on these relationships by taking family vacations together and celebrating all of the little things. Everyone gets a family birthday dinner with their favorite meal, and it wouldn't be a proper family party without the entire extended family in attendance!

All of siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, and grandparents are excited to welcome a child to our close knit family, and thanks to everyone being local, will play a large role in our child's life.

We feel so honored to have you reading our profile. We've been together for 14 years and married for 12 years, and over the years we've found that our family is our greatest joy. Choosing adoption for your child is undoubtedly a selfless and love-filled act, and it would be our privilege to adopt your child into our family. Our two children, ages 9 and 5, are creative and kind, and look forward to having a younger sibling to dote on and protect.

Over the years we've faced some challenges, and are unable to have any more biological children. We feel in our hearts that adoption is the right choice for us, and would raise your child alongside our existing two kids with bountiful love and affection. Both of our extended families live in our town and are excited to welcome a new child!

Raising children is at the heart of everything we do. Shannon has been fortunate to be able to stay home with our two children until they started school, and George's flexible work schedule means that he's often home in the afternoons and evenings for some quality family time. We look forward to giving your child an enriching, fun, and secure childhood full of all the opportunities our beautiful town has to offer. Shannon thrives as a stay-at-home parent and will be eager to spend these formative years with your child.

Our children attend a diverse, independent private school for grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. It's a vibrant community and all students have access to incredible academics and activities. Since they stay together for so many years, they form strong friendships with their peers and valuable connections with their teachers. Their school days are nothing short of magical and it would be a joy to have another child experience this special place!

We understand that this must be an incredibly difficult decision, and we thank you for your consideration. Please know that we would love to stay in touch with letters, pictures, and videos. We'll respect your boundaries and ensure that your child knows that they are loved not only by us as their adoptive family, but also by you as their caring and compassionate birth family.

With our two kids both in elementary school, we have the time and resources to devote to raising your child through the baby and toddler years. We know from experience that while the nights may be sleepless, the days are filled with wonder and love. And even during those sleepless nights, there is truly nothing better than being the person your baby wants and needs in their toughest moments.

We've come a long way from Shannon's mom teaching George how to change a diaper after Shannon gave birth to our first child, but one of the most beautiful things about having children is how much they've taught us. We know we will continue to learn and grow as parents, and - most importantly - love your child, should we be lucky enough for you to choose us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

George & Shannon