Natalie and Ryan and Kids
Dear Birth Parent(s), Thank you for reading our profile, and for opening your heart to our family. We can only imagine how overwhelming it is to look through all of these profiles. Hopefully you know how brave and admired you are for putting this adoption plan in place for your child. We are Natalie, Ryan, AnnaBelle, Michael and Abigail. As we share our story, we hope to give you a glimpse into our lives so you can learn about who we are. We are also so excited to hear your story, and to find out more about you and your baby!
About Us:
- We have been married since November 2018
- Ryan is Dad & Natalie is Stepmom to 3 awesome kids, AnnaBelle, Michael and Abigail
- We are of the Christian faith
- We love to cook and bake together as a family
- Travel is a big love in our house, earlier this year our whole family traveled to Japan and South Korea!
- Our family hobbies include art, board games, video games, going on walks or bike rides, and enjoying our favorite holidays which are Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Favorite foods: Pizza, cheddar & broccoli soup, Korean beef with rice, taco soup, banana bread, brownies, and ice cream!
“As I’ve gotten to know Ryan and Natalie I’ve seen first hand how compassionate and service oriented they are. They always make those around them feel seen and valued. They have a natural gift for connecting with children, showing patience and understanding.”
- Whitney, Family Friend
We live in Utah and love to look for adventure! Family is important to us and we make a point to spend time together eating meals at the table, and doing family scripture study and prayers. We enjoy each others company and find fun things to do as a family, like carving pumpkins in the Fall, going to lantern festivals, traveling, riding go carts, playing BINGO, taking eggs to the neighbors, or shooting hoops in the driveway.
Our kids love having the park just steps away from our house. The park is where we have been able to enjoy a movie in the park, the annual trunk-or-treat, volleyball, capture the flag, a carnival with face painting, and other activities.
We also enjoy and welcome the more quiet days, where we all just hang out at home and relax. We know that life is what you make it, so we make sure to have that healthy balance of adventure and rest.
About Natalie
Natalie grew up in Upstate New York. After she met and married Ryan, Utah became her permanent residence and where she calls home. Natalie graduated from UVU and has a degree in Business Management with a marketing emphasis.
Natalie is an aspiring actress. She’s also had a successful career in modeling for the past 22 years. Her work has been featured in the U.S., Italy, France, Japan, Australia, Iceland and many other countries.
Natalie loves to travel. She has been to 25 countries and counting! In her free time, she enjoys gardening, DIY projects, and spending time with her fur babies - she and Ryan have five dogs.
“I am very grateful for Natalie and all she brings and does for our family. I am very happy for our partnership in creating a safe and happy household for our family. I feel very blessed and love my marriage, and am very excited to expand our family together. I think Natalie will be an awesome mom and can’t wait to see what our future holds.”
- Ryan about Natalie
About Ryan
Ryan is an Utah native and grew up in Pleasant Grove. He is from a big family and has always cherished those close relationships built with his family members. Ryan loves spending time with his wife and kids. As a father of three, his children are one of his greatest joys and highest priorities.
His favorite hobbies include going on walks, reading, and traveling; or if he wants to unwind then you will find him listening to music, watching movies, or playing video games.
Ryan is also a tech enthusiast who loves building his own computers and staying up-to-date on the latest gadgets and innovations.
“Ryan is a dynamic and loving individual who embodies the qualities of a devoted father, husband, and friend. He's a hard worker and a fun person. His vibrant personality and sense of humor make him a magnet for children, who adore his playful and fun nature. With his big heart, Ryan is always looking for ways to make a positive impact on those around him. I’m thrilled to have him as my partner in our journey to growing our family.”
- Natalie about Ryan
AnnaBelle, Michael and Abigail
Ryan has three kids from a previous marriage. Natalie has embraced and really loves the role of stepmom. The kids are so close and do a lot together. Here is a little bit about each of them:
AnnaBelle- Anna, as we call her, loves anything related to art. She is an amazing artist herself, and even has a social media page dedicated to her drawings. Anna is into manga and reads all of the books as well as watching the shows.
Michael - Lovingly called Mikey by those close to him, he is our social butterfly. Mikey is our least shy kid and has friends everywhere he goes. He likes to build legos and play video games. He wants to join the track team this year.
Abigail - She has a nickname too, we call her Abby! Abby is a little baker. She loves spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes with Natalie or her Dad. She even goes over to her Aunt’s house to bake! She likes watching funny YouTube videos, and also enjoys watching The Mentalist with her Dad and her sister.
Our Adventures
We love to explore new places and try out new activities. We have gone looking for wild horses (and found them!), done axe throwing, sand boarded at nearby sand dunes, gone camping, collected shells on the beach, visited a mini pig cafe, hosted a “bring your own pool, Pool Party” at the park, and gone on a head or tails road trip - which determined which turns we would take to get us to our end point.
We put on an annual Slip N Slide Kickball game in our neighborhood each Summer, where all the kids come together (as well as the adults!), and try not to slide to their death or tweak their backs while they steal home base.
“I've had the privilege of knowing Ryan and Natalie for several years. I have seen first hand, how they raise, teach, mentor, love, and parent Ryan's 3 kids and feel that they would be great parents for any other kids that need a good loving home. Both have worked with youth in our church programs and have been so kind and loving even to the youth and kids that aren't their own. I feel they would be great adoptive parents.”
- Scott, Family Friend
Family Bonds
As a family, we prioritize building strong relationships with our extended family members. We have so many fun memories with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews.
Every Fourth of July, we spend the day swimming in the pool and watching fireworks at Ryan's sister's house. And every Christmas Eve, we gather with Natalie's family for a fun-filled day of games, food, and merriment. These are always special times of year that brings us closer together.
Natalie’s Family
Natalie is the fourth of nine siblings. Family has always been at the forefront of her life, with annual traditions like camping trips, holidays, and family gatherings.
Her parents, who instilled in her the importance of hard work and family connection, modeled these values for her. Her mom, a dedicated teacher, pursued her teaching degree, demonstrating the power of perseverance. Her dad, a travel enthusiast, took her and four of her siblings to Puerto Rico to visit his sister's family, sparking a love for adventure in Natalie.
Having eight siblings has been an amazing thing that Natalie has always loved and cherished. She is close with her siblings and grateful for each and every one of them and the place that they have in her heart.
Ryan’s Family
Ryan is the second youngest of eight. He loves his siblings and keeps in close contact with them; they all live close in Utah. They have regular holiday and other gatherings throughout the year, every year.
His Mom was a Registered Nurse for over 20 years and his Father was a CPA. They have a big extended family with over 40 nieces and nephews and around 15 great nieces and nephews - family is a big part of his life.
Hogle Zoo, bread making (or any baking), Lagoon, Disneyland, family Halloween party, Summer Carnival, and cousin Christmas candy exchange are some favorite pastimes and traditions in his family.
Our city is so beautiful and full of life! It is the most amazing place for a growing family.
Our house is situated on 1.23 acres of land, which provides us with endless opportunities for outdoor fun and exploration. We live in a comfortable and spacious house with plenty of room for a growing family.
What we love about our neighborhood is the sense of community and camaraderie that's palpable. Whether it's helping out a neighbor in need or trading fresh veggies from our gardens, everyone looks out for one another.
“I am honored to express my recommendation for Natalie and Ryan to adopt a precious child. I don't know if all parents could adopt. But I have watched Natalie with her stepchildren and I can tell you she loves them with all her heart and even though they are teenagers, you know they feel loved and accepted by her. They are great kids and so respectful. Ryan is a loving and very involved father. He is gentle and kind.”
- Gail, Neighbor
We're a family who loves to play together! We enjoy playing board games, video games, getting creative with fun projects, or just settling in and watching movies together. We plan exciting things with friends or with relatives - like an annual Spook Alley for Halloween complete with actors that usually go by the name of “Aunt” or “Grandpa”; or a NYE party with karaoke and sparkling cider when the clock strikes 12! All of this is made so much more fun with children in the mix. We cannot wait to see what our family will look like years from now!
