meet the family behind the chaos curated blog! since you're becoming part of our story, you need to know the characters... and boy do we have some characters!
Buckle up - here we go:
Laura
Day (and sometimes night) job in Finance. Went from strategy consultant —> financial operations at her client —> financial system implementation. Loves to add some creativity to corporate too - like making a kayaking outing a mandatory team building event for her 40+ accountants, instituting an annual cube decorating contest (people delivered!!), and setting up a free “pet shop” (including real fish) for her employees in the office…. things like that.
Lucky to truly enjoy work (all work… except admin tasks…so very bad at admin tasks). But also sometimes has an urge to go big with her creative side stuff - like launching a corporate program for service and diversity, starting a nonprofit, owning a coffee shop + kids play space, and….. starting a blog. ;)
Loves kids (prefers 6+ months), dogs, and plants. Lukewarm on bunnies. Aspiring to get into better shape (but can usually be found either running a half/marathon without proper training or just buying exercise equipment). Hates miscommunications. Early riser. Didn’t drink coffee until she was pregnant with her second kid - now can’t go a day without it. Likes to solve problems and resolve issues. Avoids unnecessary drama. Not into designer stuff but loves beautiful things. Has a huge (like deep!) respect for small businesses after running one. Gifting is her love language. Overthinker. Not a fashionista. Loves reading and crosswords. Highlighted her hair blue for the last 3 years (but made sure no one in her office knew); is finally over it (for now). Always has thousands of unanswered emails (and an equal number of draft emails). Food is life - eating mediocre food because of lack of planning is her biggest pet peeve. Takes at least 10 minutes looking at the menu at every single restaurant. Loves to share info - all the details. Talks too much. Loves to write. And deeply passionate about all categories you see on the blog (holidays, travel, play, cooking, etc.) - all of them. Wants to do it ALL. Oh and loves to tease Bill.
Travel style: (Obviously) LOVES travel and food. Searches entire internet for a good deal. Jam packs that itinerary and doesn’t let a minutes go wasted. Can we see the highlights across the whole country of Jordan on a two day layover while 5 months pregnant? We tried! It just means: lots (and lots!) of planning, hotels are for sleeping, just in time airport arrival, only carry-ons are permitted, and international trips must have at least one long layover (bonus city)! Itinerary is often food-driven. Doesn’t have to be fancy, but every meal must aspire to be delicious (traveling or otherwise!).
Bill
Lifelong consultant. Kids describe his job as taking planes to dinner… which is not far off. Earns all those miles for the family though!
Runner. Like a real one. At 40 he can still run a mile in under 5 minutes… and keep running. Loves to track his stats, and does whatever it takes to get his (almost) daily run in.
Has zero emails in his inbox at all times, as he always responds nearly instantly or files them away neatly. Loves kitchen appliances… especially the large and highly specific ones (snow cone maker anyone?). Into admin tasks and the instant gratification of completion. Also owns every obscure techie gadget. Knows everything about planes. May seem grumpy in passing but probably just on a work call. Keeps his to do lists on tiny note pads (and actually completes them). Calls his parents at the same time every single Sunday. Not into sharing on social media but mysteriously is on to every TikTok trend. Can find him making the rounds at Costco and Walmart every weekend (and loving it). Carried William around for his first 3 months of life while his wife opened a new coffee shop. Loves to shop - online and in store. Dislikes meandering and tangents… likes people to get to the point. Loves to cook, grill, and bake. Not a reader (even with a mom and two sisters being teachers and his dad being a lawyer).
Travel Style: Must arrive at the airport 2 hours before flight. Must be first on the plane. Not in the first group… first. If free upgrades are available, he will find them. Handles all electronics for the family (and the associated 50 pound bag). And sometimes gets stuck with the other bags too.
Andrew
Started talking at 8 months and.... I'm not kidding here... hasn't stopped talking since.
Talks to strangers. Can’t remember to put his socks on each morning (even after the 11th reminder), but holds literally thousands of names (and pieces of personal info) and his head…your cousin‘s neighbors girlfriend? They may have no clue who he is but he remembers their name and will remember to ask about their pet rabbit's lost tooth from 2018.
Total baby whisper. We've had lots of babies in this house (including three foster babies not pictured), and this boy can pull out their sweetest smiles every time.
Team captain (for better or worse) of the family. Brings allllllll the drama. Shares everything. Big imagination. Pushes all the limits. Almost never gets sicks (probably partly due to his aversion to germs). Great in an emergency. Full of affection. A main source of energy in our house (which says a LOT)!
Travel Style: Lives for his occasional business class upgrades (and allll the movies and Sprite)… also always the first to try something crazy (except when it comes to food… as much as it kills me as a foodie, he must be persuaded to try new food!).
Molly
Carried her own diaper bag once she turned 1… seriously (pictured at 371 days of life above)!
100% rule follower but also 100% wild child. Really just has to take everything very seriously. Broke three bones before she was four. Once ate an entire ball of wasabi just to challenge us. Now on a competitive gymnastics team… stay tuned.
Master builder. Applies to dozens of huge Lego sets but also assembly line style projects with mom – valentines, baby shower favors, craft kits for the nonprofit donations… She’s on it.
Obsessed (!!) with pandas. Loves homework. Has disliked princesses since she could talk. Always wondering how things work (sound, color…the questions I can’t answer). Perfectionist. Sleeps in a bed of no less than 50 stuffed animals. The best patient (flushed her own IV by the end of a long hospital stay). Hoarder. Can spot the biggest dessert serving from across the kitchen. Has her entire future (including lots + lots of pets + several careers – planned in detail).
Travel Style: Lives for planning and always overpacks. Is the one kid to use the workbooks during flights. And she says traveling is her favorite thing to do, but we all know she’s really in it for all the souvenirs… and the fooood!
Emily
Princess of the family (human version). Give her all the shine and sparkle! (And she’ll give it right back!) The world is her stage. She bring so much joy (and also so much drama!).
Never met a kid that can match her commitment to independent imaginary play. Get her in front of a doll house or dream house or castle or sensory table… And you won’t hear from her for hours.
Great dislike for stickers. And doctors, nurses, and dentists. Loves pizza but only “New York style“. Although she loves to dress up as a princess, she can (and does) flex to superhero (and gets into character real quick too!). Has performed in the Nutcracker ballet since she was 2. Is always listening in and then asks lots and lots (and lots) of pertinent but usually socially unacceptable questions. Hell on wheels on her scooter. Thinks "true love" is disgusting but dying to wear a wedding dress. Appreciates interior design. Screams when getting her hair brushed but also insists on elaborate braids most days. Often ignores rules. Documented her favorite toy as “ Barbie choking hazards“. Asks to return to Paris at least once a week.
Travel Style: Her imaginary play style is a great fit for airplane activities. If she’s got a couple toys, she’s golden. On the other hand, her dislike of public bathrooms and strangers can be… a challenge. But she still says the monuments make it all worthwhile (just ask her about the Statue of Liberty, Reclining Buddha, and the Eiffel Tower).
William
A sensitive little dude. Gives the best hugs. Has shown empathy for everything, even before he could talk – his siblings, the pups, even the plant in his room (telling me it needed water before he could talk by pointing to it and saying ”awww” with a frown).
Always looks a little confused, and we thought he was just happy to be in the mix… But he’s turning into a little spitfire too. Recently a big fan of the phrase “right now“… Which is added to all requests… if he can’t get it “right now“, he’s often found climbing on something to help himself to snacks in the pantry.
First word was Google. Second was dummy (and it’s well-used). Will do anything for a Reeses or McDonald’s “eye” (fry). Loves dogs even though he’s technically allergic to them. Thinks that Bill is on every plane that he sees in the sky. Can be found playing Barbies with Emily, building with Molly, or fully costumed up (with weapons) with Andrew – really does love to be in the mix. If he could pick a dinner guest, it would be Cookie Monster. Spent the first year of his life being 100% dada’s boy… mom has edged in a bit here (but only about 30%). A lover of international cuisine, especially within the soup and meat categories.
Travel Style: Has recently discovered the iPad for flights. Paired with a snack, he’s good to go. Like to think he’s absorbing something as we drag him around… so for example, he usually struggles with “I Spy”, but he was always the first to spot Buddha wherever we went to Southeast Asia... so maybe something is sticking! Also still does the full on baby pass out (where we try not to touch him or move a muscle in fear he’ll awake!).
Sabrina
(Update: Former nanny turned global flight attendant + family friend!)
Thrives in chaos. Very creative and enjoys cleaning and organizing so much it’s considered a hobby.
Cat mom to two cuties! Will be seen carrying around a water bottle everywhere but will probably be the least hydrated in the room. Interior decorator brain - can style a series of shelves in 5 minutes flat. Desserts are a must and will probably eat it before dinner. Ready for anything and plans for everything. Perfect teacher handwriting. Thinks her work ethic comes from being midwestern, but we all know it’s pretty unique! Honest advisor on all mom outfits and finder of the most comfortable loungewear. Super resourceful in repurposing home items for crafting. Lover of hot yoga, baking, travel and spending time with family!
Stronger than she thinks, living with a rare cancer diagnosis. She also enjoys vlogging her journey on YouTube and creating content that will help other survivors in the future.
Travel Style: Over-packer who’s always subtly anxious so always prepared for any situation. Examples may include keeping movies and games on personal devices for emergency situations or engaging kids on the ground of an airport with random backpack items and snack stash when parents are dealing with an epic missed connecting flight. Also always seems to find the best photo spot (and knows the importance of getting the shot!).
LaSalle
(Update: LaSalle died in 2023 but will introduce you to her spirit animal, Madison, soon!)
Queen of the house.
Started as a scruffy little street pup trying to fight all the bigger dogs at the animal shelter and made a slow transition to walking around on her tip toes poo pooing the world (and thinking she’s above the chaos that is this family - wants to run away to attend a liberal arts college).
A cat in a dog’s body… meaning she adores a couple people and otherwise gives no shits about anyone. Literally pretends she can’t hear you when being disciplined.
Lays down in protest when we try to walk her around the block. Also insists on being lifted into the car… but ALSO every single day JUMPS ONTO OUR KITCHEN ISLAND to eat leftovers (!!!) so is now nicknamed “Gorda” by our house cleaning team.
Oddly does love infants though. Very strictly only infants. Lays under the bassinet during naps, puts her head on the breastfeeding pillow, licks their hair into a part… but it’s all over once they can crawl. Then they’re dead to her.
Van Buren
Only dog to put up with being dressed up or letting kids lay on top of him. Also always wants to be in the room, no matter what kind of chaos the kids have going on.
Always anxiously protecting his big sister from the world. Has adored her since he was a puppy. (And does his best to protect the house too, but can usually be found barking into an empty room. Trying to say this in the nicest possible way…)
Our main caregiver when the kids are sick. Although makes himself sick if Bills gone too long (daddy’s boy!)!
Must bring something everywhere he goes. Often something far too large to fit through walkways and doorways, resulting in his need to call to assistance from a human.
Kedzie
Princess of the family (well, the dog version).
Will sit directly on top of another dog (or baby or grandma) to sit in a lap. Zero personal space. Very vocal, too. And a close talker (nose to nose) when she has something important to tell us (it’s usually “pet me”).
Makes sure she’s always in the action. Is someone getting a pet? Getting a treat? Getting in trouble? She’s there within 10 seconds. She’s also literally always everywhere else we are…. wherever that is.
She might be the smallest in the pack, but she thinks that she’s a real guard dog. Dislikes anyone in a hat or mask or with a beard or… just anyone that’s not in the family who is trying to get near the family. And always trying to rile up the other dogs to help in her protection efforts.
A real bundle of energy. Never tires of playing ball. Spins at least 180 degrees when airborne catching balls. And she’s got no shame when trying to get someone to play - garnering pity, dropping a ball in the middle of your project… whatever it takes.
To be added eventually - the bunny (Bowen) and the fish (Ocean, Panda, Diamond, Diana)... the 87 plants... otherwise, there you have it! Consider yourself part of the family now!
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