We are transplants to the Cincinnati area. Chris is from Akron, and Kelley is from the greater Pittsburgh area. Our closest relatives are in Columbus, Ohio. Despite the physical distance, our siblings, parents, Kelley’s grandmother, nieces, and nephews are a big part of who we are. Also, because of our chosen careers and their locations, we have friends who are family. With our friends, we believe that blood doesn’t make family; commitment does. We are fiercely independent, but we also acknowledge that we couldn’t do this without the love and support of our friends.
Family
Kelley used to love going to her grandparents' house. She especially loved going there around the holidays. Grammie, now known as Great-Grammie, was big on doing all the holiday meals. What was especially memorable was making kolache- Slovakian nut, poppy seed, and apricot rolls. Kelley's grandmother influenced her love of cooking and baking. When Kelley was little she had her own rolling pin and her Grammie would tear off some dough so she could "make" her own. Kelley feels responsible for carrying on those traditions of her ethnic foods. She can't wait to pass a part of her onto her children.
Our friends, Dan and Gina, and their two children live right down the street from us. They are truly the best and have been such a blessing to us! Many times we have swapped holiday gatherings at each other's houses or have participated in events around the city. One year during a fireworks display on Independence Day, our three children were happily watching the fireworks. There we realized that Dan and Gina's children were cousins to Henry like his biological cousins were. Our extended families are far, but we're lucky to have the loving support from our wonderful friends.
One of the fondest memories Chris has of his father was when he would need to make something down in his home workshop. Chris' father traveled during the weekdays, and they had to wait until the weekend to spend time together. After Saturday breakfast, his dad would say, “Who wants to make some sawdust?” They end up making things from bookshelves to a rope and dowl ladder for their tree house. Chris' father loved sharing his hobbies and interests with his children. On those special weekends, those activities allowed them to get to know their father in a fun way, this continues today as we, as a family, have fun with small home renovation projects around our house.
