Growing Our Family

For a couple of years, Megan and I have struggled with infertility.  After lots of consideration, we have decided to start the process of adopting a child.  At this time, we are taking classes, filing out tons of paperwork, having home inspections before we seek the right child for our family.  

There are lots of questions you may have about adoption and here are some links that may help:

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/ - The award-winning national adoption magazine is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption. 

http://www.creatingafamily.org/ - A blog that provides education and resources for infertility and adoption

http://www.representmag.org/ - The Voice of Youth in Foster Care 

http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/ - Adoption Learning Partners offers an array of interactive, e-learning courses that will increase each participant's understanding of the joys and challenges of adoption.

http://www.adopt.org/ - Their inspiration comes from the belief that "there are no unwanted children, just unfound families" 

Once we have finished our classes and inspections, we will re-evaluate our situation.  If we decide to proceed, the waiting period can range from a couple of months to a few years for us to be matched.  In the meantime, your support will mean a lot to us.  We're excited about starting our family and hope you'll welcome our child when he or she finally arrives!

If you have any questions for us, please feel free to contact me at: MikeKKraus@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Mike and Megan

A Horse Is a Horse Unless of Course

I think he thought I had food for him.  The disappointment he must have experienced when he realized it was only a camera...


Heeey Wilbur...


Deer were celebrating President's Day in my back yard.  Nothing like making a pot of coffee and having nature come to you.


My neighbor is my inspiration.  He builds all of these snow forts and other creations.  It's only a matter of time before our yard looks like it's from Calvin & Hobbes.


Mural on the backside of the Catholic Family Center building in downtown Rochester.  I couldn't find anything on it.  Not sure if it was commissioned or anything.  Anyone who knows about it can put it in the comments.


That's all I can really report at this time.  So it goes...

It's Snow Problem

SNOWSTORM NEMO!  This was on my very, very slow commute home.  I think I counted 4 separate car accidents (including a semi vs ambulance).


Lots of pretty trees...






Ugh...  Shoveling...




First shovel break:  Let me take a second to snap a pic of the house


Second shovel break: Another shot.  Man, how much snow is there.  I am literally only cleaning out a one foot clearing around my subcompact...


In the pine, in the pines...


Megan and I didn't realize this when we bought the house, but we are in the township of Narnia.

Speaking of which, I just finished the epic Harry Potter collection.  I have to say that it was better than I expected.  But, I didn't realize how much I didn't really understand from the movies.  I guess you have to leave some stuff out when you write 1,000 page tomes.  

Thanks to Pete and Simon for fulfilling my need of hanging out playing video games and eating junk food.  It is truly the only way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Master of the House... Doling Out the Charm

"Are you going to eat all of that?"


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"


Please check the recycling before placing it at the curb.


Checking out the Mexican restaurant, Itacate, at the end of our street.  I have to say, great location.

Some kind of pork thing.  Don't remember what, but it was good.  I had a burrito that hit the spot.  A nice way to start a date before watching Les Misérables, which was pretty good even if Megan didn't care for Russell Crowe.


St. Joseph Church ruins in downtown Rochester.  The facade was preserved after a massive fire.  It's one of my favorite buildings in the region.  Something unique and saving a piece of local history.


From preserving the past to promoting the future.  The ground has broke on the new Regional Transit Service (RTS) Transit Center and will open in 2015.  A way better land use for downtown than a black tar desert surface parking lot that it replaced.  


Master of the house, keeper of the zoo
Ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two
Watering the wine, making up the weight
Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight
Everybody loves a landlord
Everybody's bosom friendI do whatever pleases
Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!

"So, that's the song George Costanza sings in that episode of Seinfeld..."