We met in college and have been married for just over a decade. Jeff works from home as a software developer, and Megan is a homemaker who loves to volunteer at the local library. As a couple, our favorite things to do are play games together (video games or board games—we aren’t picky) and going on long walks exploring our city. We also like to go to local events, usually something educational or geeky. When we aren’t spending time together, Megan likes to work on various DIY projects – she sews, crochets, and paints and is trying to get into gardening. Jeff, on the other hand, you will most likely find playing video games, usually with at least two cats vying for the best spot on his lap.

When we moved cross-country to our current city, we knew living so far away from our families in the Midwest would be tough. We do miss them, but we’ve learned to truly appreciate the time we do get to spend with them – whether it’s a visit, family (video) game night, or just a simple text message.

We also really enjoy going on family vacations. Jeff’s family are big fans of Disney World – they’ve gone almost every year since Jeff and his sister were kids. Jeff, his sister, and his dad all love roller coasters, while his mom likes meeting characters and making the whole family go on the “It’s a Small World” ride at least once every trip. Meanwhile, Megan’s family prefers camping. They’ve taken their camper all over the Midwest, but the best trip is the annual family reunion. The whole extended family shows up to the family lake house with campers and tents, and five generations of aunts and cousins and grandkids spend the week together.

We are lucky to own our own home: a townhouse nestled in a residential area of our city. We love our neighborhood. All of our necessities (parks, the library, our excellent schools) are within walking distance, but we live on a quiet, tree-lined street. Our home is our happy place, and we’ve worked hard to make it a reflection of our personalities. It’s colorful and nerdy, with probably too many cat toys. Jeff works from home in the downstairs office, and Megan usually has at least one craft project tucked away somewhere. We spend most of our outdoor time at the local parks, but we do have a small outdoor space at home. It isn’t much, just a small patio, but Megan has big plans for a family container garden.

Our relationship began with our mutual love of books – our first date was at a café in a bookstore. We both grew up voracious readers – Jeff spending his money at the local comics shop, and Megan practically living in her town’s tiny library. We can’t wait to share our love of books with a child – we want to read to them every night, and we’ve already started a small library of our favorite childhood classics.

We also care deeply about education, and not just academics. Education is a lifelong process, and we strive to constantly learn new things and acquire new skills. We both love solving problems and figuring out how things work, though Jeff prefers computers and Megan likes to work with messy art supplies. We believe education starts in the home, with parents that foster a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. We want our child to ask questions, try new things, and be unafraid to take things apart to figure out how they work.