Ree enjoys cooking and feeding others, most often it's more of an excuse to invite family and friends over so their bellies can get fed. Depending on the season will be subject to what activities we will engage in. We like snowshoeing in the winter and hiking and long walks in the summer. Seldomly, we ski and snowboard while bicycling outdoors when weather permits. Our longest bike ride was 72 miles around Lake Tahoe for a Leukemia charity event. Often times we cherish our quiet quality times together by cooking a nice meal and relaxing with a TV series or movie while cuddling with our cat Perla. Camping is a favorite activity we really enjoy as well because it allows us to get away and be one with nature. We feel as if we have a good balance with being at home and going out exploring surrounding areas seeing what's new.

Ree's family is from Cambodia with a little bit of Chinese origin. His paternal grandmother is half Chinese and half Cambodian. He speaks fluent Cambodian (Khmer). Most of his family members fled the Khmer Rouge war in the late 1970's, however some of them unfortunately did not survive. They made the trek to the Philippines where Ree was born and 6 months post birth, we were sponsored to start a new life in America.

Jennifer's family is of Caucasian descent. Her dad is Norwegian, German, and Welsh. Her mom is Irish with little Chinese stemming from her great grandparents. Attending Sunday church services and celebrating common Christian/Lutheran holidays is a tradition she participated during her entire life.

We feel culture and food go hand in hand as we enjoy making dishes and sharing it with friends and family. Ree's culture dish includes items such as banana wrapped sticky rice desserts and noodle curries while Jennifer's culture includes things like Jello salad and bratwurst. Exploring other cultures through food is one of the many ways we like to connect with people giving them a sense of comfort and love.

Like all parents, we want the very best in everything possible for their child. We hope for our child to be resilient, independent, kind, compassionate and above all, be caring. Our dream for this child is happiness and fulfillment to find joy in their pursuits, whatever they may be. We hope to teach strong character morals and values to guide this child to make ethical decisions and contribute positively to society. We understand that this child is not be a carbon copy of us and we will attempt to make sure they acknowledge their biological mother if agreed upon. They will be a part of our immediate family, and with their extended and biological family as well. Being surrounded by extended family and friends provide a large network of additional support, cheering them on in all they do. Our job as parents is give the best life as possible and to become a responsible adult in society.

We take great pride in our house, a charming one-story single-family home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The fenced backyard provides an ideal space for hosting gatherings with our family and friends. Its size is perfect, striking a balance between not being too large or small, creating a cozy atmosphere. Our family includes an adorable adopted kitten named Perla, who particularly loves playing with her cat Dad. Together, they enjoy constructing indoor blanket tents, while cat Mom takes pleasure in cuddling with our feline companion. Maintaining both our front and back lawns during the summer and tending to a small garden in the backyard is entertaining and relaxing. Our neighborhood is fairly flat with a few gentle hills. We frequently explore the area on our bicycles, often ending our rides at Jennifer's parents' residence, which is approximately three miles away.

Residing only an hour from Lake Tahoe gives us the option for many outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, or just relaxing on the beach staring at the crystal blue water.

The size of our families varies significantly, with Ree's family being large and Jennifer's family relatively small. Jennifer is an only child, and her parents live just a short distance away, making it convenient for us to visit them by foot, bike, or car. They are semi-retired and we make it a point to gather for a sit-down Sunday dinner at least once a week.

On the other hand, Ree's family resides on the east coast, specifically in Virginia and Maryland. Every year, we plan trips to Virginia to reconnect with them through shared meals and various activities. Ree has an older brother and two younger brothers. Additionally, he has numerous first cousins, who we consider the second generation American, as his father was one of eight siblings, making them Ree's aunts and uncles.

During Ree's childhood weekends, and sometimes even on weekdays, it was common for a family member to join us for dinner, as there were always open seats. Food played a central role in our lives, as it brought us together and influenced our activities. In fact, Uncle Sontho owns a farm where we would spend our summers camping with around 30 family members. These gatherings involved enjoyable activities such as grilling, watching movies on a projector screen, and playing games. This outing eventually turned into a family reunion tradition.

It is impossible to fully express the difficulty one may feel when making the decision to consider adoption. Choosing a family based solely on a video and written profile requires a great deal of faith and trust, and we can't imagine the weight of that decision. We want you to know that if you choose us, your child will be loved and supported through all of life's challenges. They will always be our top priority, and we will strive to provide them with the best life possible.

Our own journey began in 2015 when we met online through Match.com. After three years of getting to know each other, we got married with the hope of expanding our family with a biological child. One advantage of meeting online is the ability to filter the qualities we were looking for in a partner. As we got to know each other, we discovered that we had both attended the same culinary University, just a year apart. Our loving and quirky personalities weren't captured in our dating profiles but became evident once we met in person. Our love for each other has only grown stronger over time. We mention this because we believe being chosen as parents based on our profile alone; is a similar situation.

Fast forward to 2018, we tied the knot and made many attempts to get pregnant and grow our family. It has been an emotional rollercoaster with many ups and downs during the process. Still to this day, we have no living children even after going through IVF. Since we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to conceive, we are moving towards adoption as a natural progression.

We purchased our home in Northern Nevada with family in mind. A few years ago, a new Elementary School and Middle School was built into our community. With the many parks that are within walking distance from our home, we feel like this area is the perfect place to raise a child. Going out for walks around the block or bike riding and playing outdoors are just a few routines we hope to engage in. Jennifer can't wait to read bed time stories and Ree is excited to teach them how to cook while being creative. The memories captured will always be special and your child will live a very happy life.

In regards to contacts, we are open to what you're most comfortable with. Who knows what the world will be like in a few years with social media apps and such. But right now, we're ready to send letters, emails, pictures, or occasional meet-ups too if that's preferred. Your child will always remember you and how you brought him/her into this world. Our duty as parents will be to raise them into the best human possible and to someday better shape the world, we all live in today.

Thank you for opening your heart and reading our profile. As you consider us to raise your little one and wish to know more about us, please reach out.

Sincerely,

Ree & Jennifer