Changes....

Per tradition, I’m sitting in the river, reflecting on the year—letting go of the hard stuff, the things I didn’t get to, and holding onto the sweet memories. This year hits a little differently, though, because change is happening.

After 11 amazing years at Longs Peak, I’ve decided it’s time for a new adventure. This place has been my second home. The friendships I’ve made, the students and families I’ve connected with—it’s all shaped me in ways I’ll carry forever. I’ve laughed here, cried here, and maybe eaten more than my fair share of donuts here.

A little voice has been nudging me toward something new, and I’ve decided to listen. Next year, I’ll be part-time with LaunchED (yes, I get to join some friends and amazing staff), and the other half of my time I’ll be starting my own therapy practice—with my newly certified therapy dog, Kevin. He’s the real boss now.

I’m scared. I’m excited. I’m sad. I’m hopeful. And I’m really hoping I can still play in the LPMS staff student basketball game, jk…..kinda:)

Oh—and because why not do all the things at once—we moved, too. So stay tuned for our new address. I owe you all one final Rolodex update.

Thanks for being such a beautiful part of my journey.

-Meg

Always up to Something!

I’m not sure we’ll ever fully settle—we always seem to be up to something! This spring, we made a big decision: to move into a new house closer to town. While we loved our land, the pool, and the wide-open space, we were feeling a little too isolated. Carpools were tricky, the kids couldn’t just roll over to a friend’s house, and let’s not even talk about the gas bill.

Our new house has been a great fit. The yard is a good size, we have an amazing group of neighbors, and the best part? AJ can walk out the back gate and be at school—literally right in our backyard. Moving was no small task (moving never is), and we’ve promised the kids we’re staying put for at least eight years. We mean it this time!

Huge shoutout to the grandparents for all their help getting our old house ready to list. The market’s been a bit tough, and it’s still sitting there... but hey, we’ll enjoy that pool a bit longer in the meantime.

Other Highlights Lately:

• Golfing Crew: Russell has been pretty successful at getting the whole family out for rounds of golf—even Dempsey! We keep tossing around the idea of lessons, but haven’t quite committed.

• Easter Joy: We took one of my all-time favorite family photos this Easter—everyone is smiling, and there’s a lot of pink!

• Birthday Picklefest: For my birthday, Russell invited some of our friends to celebrate at the first-ever Loveland Picklefest! The place was packed and it was such a fun time.

• Lake McConaughy Camping Trip: Our annual camping trip was a bit soggy—mid-50s and rainy—but somehow still a blast. The kids built their best fort yet (complete with a fire!), we played a can jam tournament, and plenty of other games. It’s always a treat to reconnect with the other families and watch everyone’s kids grow up.

• Escape Room Pros: We took the grandparents to their very first escape room—and either we’re getting smarter or that room was too easy, because we escaped with time to spare. It was so fun introducing them to something new!

And now, summer is here! We’ve got some great plans ahead—including finishing the basement in the new house because… well, why not?

Here’s to another season of adventures, memory-making, and probably not sitting still for long.

Love,
Mom

Ryker’s Trip to Worlds—Making It Worth ItRyker’s team qualified for Worlds at multiple points this season—an exciting accomplishment! But like many things, it came with some challenges. Team dynamics made it a bit stressful for Ryker, and although he was initially really interested in going, his enthusiasm started to fade as the trip approached. We’ve always emphasized the importance of following through on commitments, so we encouraged Ryker to think about ways we could make the experience feel fun and meaningful. In the end, it was just me, Russell, the grandparents, and Ryker making the trip together. And we made it count. One night, we introduced the grandparents to Top Golf, which was a hit. Another evening, we went out for a nice dinner and capped the night with a chilly—but not too chilly—dip in the hotel pool after a family basketball game. It turned out to be a really sweet memory. Ryker got plenty of one-on-one (okay, one-on-four) attention, and I think, in the end, he didn’t regret going. We even had perfect weather—at least when we managed to escape the walls of the convention center! Cheers to showing up, to finding the joy, and to making it all worth it. Love, Mom

Ryker’s team qualified for Worlds at multiple points this season—an exciting accomplishment! But like many things, it came with some challenges. Team dynamics made it a bit stressful for Ryker, and although he was initially really interested in going, his enthusiasm started to fade as the trip approached.

We’ve always emphasized the importance of following through on commitments, so we encouraged Ryker to think about ways we could make the experience feel fun and meaningful. In the end, it was just me, Russell, the grandparents, and Ryker making the trip together.

And we made it count.

One night, we introduced the grandparents to Top Golf, which was a hit. Another evening, we went out for a nice dinner and capped the night with a chilly—but not too chilly—dip in the hotel pool after a family basketball game. It turned out to be a really sweet memory. Ryker got plenty of one-on-one (okay, one-on-four) attention, and I think, in the end, he didn’t regret going.

We even had perfect weather—at least when we managed to escape the walls of the convention center!

Cheers to showing up, to finding the joy, and to making it all worth it.

Love,
Mom

Dempsey's Seasons of Firsts (and Lasts)

Dempsey is growing up—and I (don’t) like it. Okay, I do like it. I really do. It’s been so fun watching her come into her own this year, but whew—so many lasts, and just as many firsts. It’s a lot for a mom’s heart to handle.

One of those big firsts? Her very first school dance! And in a surprising twist, she actually let me be there—running the photo booth, no less. At one point, she even pulled me aside to do her hair and snap a picture with her and her friends. Before the dance leaned in and said, “Don’t tell Dad, because he can’t come—he’s cringe.” I don’t think she really believes that (those two love to roast each other), but it definitely gave me a laugh.

This year also brought some real growth moments. Dempsey applied for stage tech for the school talent show and followed through on every commitment—until the final performance. She was so nervous, she wanted to bail. But with my pep talk and Russell’s physical presence, we gently encouraged her to finish what she started. And she did. Seeing her up there, conquering stage fright and sticking with it, was an unforgettable moment.

She also marked a huge milestone—her continuation from elementary school! I thought I’d be more emotional, but honestly, her excitement made it easy to lean into the celebration. She’s found her spark in student council, stage crew, and just generally being her smart, creative, hilarious self.

Now we’re staring down middle school. I’m excited. Maybe a tiny bit nervous. But I’ve got some experience in this department—and I’ve got a brave, capable girl leading the charge.

Oh—and she got her first phone. We signed the contract, and she’s already been adorable with it. Not sure there’s enough storage in the Google cloud to hold all her selfies and pictures of her dog, but we’ll try.

Love you so much, Demps. Keep being exactly who you are.

—Mom

AJ is a Rockstar

AJ wrapped up his first year of high school, and honestly, he made it look effortless. He earned his very first letter—an academic letter—and maintained a GPA over 4.0. We often find ourselves wondering if he’s being challenged enough, because he absolutely crushed it.

This spring, AJ continued to play Ultimate Disc. He continued his role as team captain! It was such a proud moment to see him take on a leadership role and thrive in it.

On top of all that, AJ began driver’s ed and will take his official driving test tomorrow during his final class. He’s definitely ready for the road—and we’re just grateful there's no “failure to launch” here!

AJ continues to stay close with his awesome group of friends. During the academic awards ceremony, his name—and many of theirs—were called again and again. It’s such a gift to see him surrounded by peers who are hardworking, kind, and driven.

Summer has officially begun, and AJ has fully embraced the chance to sleep in—he can snooze until 11 a.m. without missing a beat. He’s also already hit the disc golf course with his friends. Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. Love this kid!

—Mom

Ryker's Seasons

This spring, Ryker stepped up and tackled not just one, but two new(ish) sports! He joined Erie Elite’s Hybrid Football team and also gave middle school track and field a shot—literally and figuratively.

Football season was a blast. Ryker embraced every element (snow, sleet, rain, and finally sunshine), and he loved every second of it. He played center—likely thanks to his spot-on snapping skills—and really held his own. His coaches were a highlight: tough but incredibly encouraging, and they helped push the team to grow. With three practices a week and games on top of that, Ryker built not only strength but also some great new friendships.

Track added another layer of fun. He competed in the 100-meter dash, shot put, high jump, and long jump. He’ll tell you he joined mostly to hang out with friends—and isn’t that a huge part of it? For a while, he was juggling both sports, heading to track practice from 3:00–4:30 p.m., then going straight to football from 5:30–7:30 p.m. It was a lot, but all that movement clearly paid off—he’s grown taller, stronger, and leaner this season.

Ryker didn’t waste any time jumping into summer either—he kicked things off with a football camp and is already focused on staying in shape. He’s gearing up for his first tackle football season this fall. Gulp!