Our Home We live in rural western Washington on a 5-acre place we call Paradise Ranch, surrounded by pine forest and friendly neighbors.  Our best friends, known to Rogan as “Auntie Angel” and “Uncle Daryl” live just a half mile down the dirt road from us.  In 2007 we finished construction on a big two-story farm house with plenty of room for kids and pets.  Rogan spends lots of time outdoors helping “Poppy” with chores, playing on the big Rainbow play structure, or climbing on bales of hay in the barn.  Our family includes two charming cats, a pack of three goofy dogs, two paint horses named Rocky and Spiderman, and about 40 chickens.  Rogan is the proud owner of a sweet Shetland pony named Tonto that he’ll be happy to share with his sibling.  We love animals and think they’re important to kids, because they teach empathy and responsibility better than Barney and Mr. Rogers put together.