Today, our sweet Elise turns 12. It’s hard to believe she’s just one year away from being a teenager. As our busy summer starts to wind down, Elise got to do something on her birthday that I’ve never done—take a flight. She and her siblings spent the weekend in Iowa with Jessica, visiting family and exploring the places where Jessica grew up. I dropped them off at the airport early Friday morning, and since then, they’ve been soaking up time with relatives and learning more about their mom’s hometown. Today, on Elise’s birthday, they flew back home.
It’s been a packed summer for Elise, and the fun isn’t over yet; tomorrow she’s celebrating her birthday at the water park, with a few of her friends. Just last month, she, Ava, and Enzo spent two amazing weeks on an RV trip with Grandma and Grandpa Martin, exploring Utah and Colorado. They visited several national parks in Utah, then stopped back at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Colorado to pick up their cousin Cole, who was visiting from Houston. From there, the adventure continued with a trip to Colorado Springs and a stop at the Great Sand Dunes (the tallest in the country). It was the longest the kids have ever been away from home, but they had an incredible time. Jessica and I are so grateful they get to make these kinds of special memories with their grandparents.
More recently, our good friends the Palmers came for their annual summer visit from Washington, and as always, it was a blast. We probably did more swimming this year than any year before, and shared some great meals and meaningful conversations. I’m so thankful for their visits; they’ve become a tradition we really look forward to. And this year, we get to see them twice! Jodi and Miles are planning to come back and spend Halloween with us, which we’re all excited about.
The 4th of July was another highlight. We made plans with two other neighborhood families, and everyone chipped in for fireworks. I volunteered to handle the shopping, so Ava, Enzo, and I made the drive out to Pahrump, Nevada, to pick up the good stuff you can’t get in Clark County. Let’s just say it turned into the best neighborhood fireworks show I’ve ever been part of, and I’m officially making it a yearly tradition.
One of the biggest changes for me this summer has been starting a new job as a Principal Engineer at HealthEdge. I’ve been there just over a month now, and I genuinely love it. It’s the most senior role I’ve had in my career so far, and I’m really embracing the leadership and responsibility that comes with it. I report directly to one of our VPs, who’s actually an old friend from my Amazon days, and our CTO was my very first manager at Amazon, so it’s been great to have some familiar faces around.
During my second week, I flew out to Alexandria, Virginia, for an off-site Q3 planning session, which gave me the chance to meet more of my team in person. I’d been to Virginia once before as a middle schooler on a school trip to D.C. and New York, but this was my first time experiencing it as an adult, and I loved it. Our office is in Old Town, right near the Potomac River, and the whole area is full of charm and history. The trip home was less smooth; I got stuck overnight at the Detroit airport thanks to some nasty thunderstorms and ended up sleeping on the floor during my layover. But even with the travel hiccup, the trip was worth it.
All in all, I’m so grateful to be in a role that feels stable, fulfilling, and full of opportunities to grow. I’m excited about what lies ahead and really looking forward to a long future at HealthEdge.
Jessica continues to crush it in her Master’s program at UNLV; she just earned a perfect score in another class. Her dedication and hard work are not only inspiring but also set such a strong example for our kids. On top of school, she’s been pouring her energy into getting her classroom ready for the new school year, which is now less than a month away. She’s definitely feeling a mix of nerves and excitement about her first year leading a classroom, but the amount of effort she’s putting in speaks volumes. I couldn’t be more proud of her. No one sees the sacrifices she’s making more clearly than I do, and I’m so excited to see everything she’s been working toward come to life.
The kids have one more surprise to wrap up their summer; our good friend Avery from the old Mill Creek neighborhood is coming to visit. I think this is her third summer in a row, and the kids are always so excited to see her. It means a lot to me that they’ve stayed so close over the years, even though we don’t live near each other anymore. Once her visit wraps up, we’ll officially be on the countdown to the start of school in early August. The kids might not be completely ready to trade in their summer freedom, but I think we can all agree that this has been one of the best summers yet. From our trip to Mexico, to the RV adventure with Grandma and Grandpa, to all the time spent with friends and family, it’s been full of fun and unforgettable memories.
To wrap things up, I just want to say how proud I am of the young lady Elise is becoming. She’s always been my sweet little girl, and it’s such a joy to watch her grow into such a kind, confident, and thoughtful person. She has a big heart, a strong sense of self, and a bright future ahead. Jessica and I feel incredibly lucky to call her our daughter. Here are a few of my favorite recent photos of Elise.
