July 2025
A Family Adventure to Remember
Hunting East Coast Waves…
Shelbs and I recently packed up the whole crew and flew to North Carolina—with a special guest: Aunt Cindy. Having just retired, she bravely joined us on this adventure as an extra set of hands, and truly became the MVP of the trip. That extra help made such a difference: it let Shelbs and me relax just a bit, even sneak out of the Airbnb during naptime for some almost uninterrupted adult conversation.
It took a lot of effort to get there—Shelbs had activities planned for every fifteen minutes on the flight, and the packing was nothing short of heroic—but in the end, it was so worth it. There are moments I know I’ll remember forever: watching the twins transform into fearless “water boys,” soaked head-to-toe as they sprinted through splash pads and charged into the shorebreak at Carolina Beach.
One of my favorite moments was when we sat down at a restaurant together as a family of six—for only the second time ever. Like much of the trip, it went better than expected: minimal mess, and the grown-ups actually got to finish lunch. The blue-green water and white sand of Carolina Beach were stunning, but what stuck with me most was seeing our kids bond—sharing rooms, giggling after bedtime, and just being together.
Not everything went to plan, of course. One day, a huge crack of thunder shook the ground just as we were walking into a park, and we had to skip it. But the kids’ disappointment quickly turned into joy when we surprised them with ice cream before dinner. Standing there in the rain and humidity, eating ice cream turned out to be one of their favorite memories—something they still talk about.
I understand now why my parents always asked what my favorite part of the trip was: they wanted to see it through my eyes and know that the effort, money, and planning were all worth it. I read somewhere that most of the memories kids keep are from family trips, and I think about that every time Shelbs suggests a new one (which is often—basically weekly!). I do my best to say yes, or at least seriously consider them, because the truth is: I want to go too. Of course, real life means we can’t say yes to everything, but after making two five-hour flights with Aunt Cindy’s help, we’ve built up the confidence that—even if it’s not easy—we can do it.
We’re carrying that confidence into our next trip to see Shelbs’ family in Kansas City. I hope it goes just as well, but either way, I know this: we’ll never regret the money spent, the hours planning, or the disruption to our schedules. That time away together—where we’re focused on each other and having fun—is priceless. It reminds me of team-building retreats that take coworkers out of the office so they can come together. For us, these trips do the same for our family.
I hope we never shy away from putting in the work—especially for our family. Because if they’re not worth it, what is? So, if you’re reading this, I hope you find a way to gather your people and do something different—even better if it’s away from home. And remember: sometimes ice cream before dinner can be the memory that keeps on giving.
Wishing you all a great summer. Here’s to making the most of this fleeting season of life—because we don’t get do-overs.