Meet Our Circus
(We’re only one elephant short of a traveling show)
If you ever feel like your house sounds more like a roadside attraction than a home, you’re probably one of us.
Doors opening.
Feet running.
Someone calling “Mom!” from three different rooms.
Music playing.
Animals making noise.
Life happening all at once.
Welcome to our circus — the heart behind Everything Starts with Mom.
This blog might look like recipes and stories on the surface, but underneath it all is a family that is learning, loving, growing, and building something steady in what feels like a fast-moving world.
Let me introduce you to the cast.
David
David is my literal favorite human on the planet.
We’ve been married for 18 years, and he is still my ride-or-die, ice-cream-at-midnight, “you should probably go to bed” kind of love. He is the one who never lets me question how deeply I am loved — even when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or not particularly charming.
He’s the steady provider, the fixer of all things, and the calm in my storms. When something breaks, he fixes it. When I’m spiraling, he grounds me. When life gets heavy, he somehow makes me laugh.
We have definitely figured this thing out together along the way; we have had our fair share of obstacles and failures. But by the grace of God our love story is still unfolding and all of the heart work along the way makes this season of harvest and celebration so so so much sweeter.
This family stands on the foundation of his faithfulness, humor, and quiet strength.
B is our guinea kid — the one who came first and has been helping us learn how to be parents ever since.
He sees the world a little differently, and in that difference lives so much beauty. He’s creative, thoughtful, and always observing. He’s cautious in a way that feels wise, even when he was small.
These days, he’s a towering gentle giant — capable of protecting his siblings while also pestering them in the exact same breath. He keeps us curious. He keeps us honest. He reminds us that there’s more than one way to see the world.
G lives life with a “how hard could it possibly be?” attitude, and somehow… he’s usually right.
He has never met an instrument he couldn’t play or a sport he couldn’t figure out. He is endlessly curious, always asking thoughtful questions, always wanting to know how things work.
Anything with sugar in it is absolutely his love language — but just as sweet is his heart. He’s the first one to notice when someone feels tender. The first one to check in. The first one to care deeply and quietly.
E has the heart of a hostess.
She creates spaces wherever she goes. You can always tell if she’s been in a room — things are just so, and everything feels warm and welcoming. She thinks about people in everything she does, whether she’s setting a table, planning a girls’ day, or simply making sure everyone feels included.
If you’ve met her, you’re her people.
She has taught me more about belonging than any book ever could.
C is pure, joyful chaos in the very best way.
She has never met a stranger. She has never skipped a chance to dance or sing. And she can usually be found covered in paint, surrounded by markers, or creating something that makes absolutely no sense — and somehow makes perfect sense all at once.
She has taught me how to let go of perfection and how to be present in the moment. Life is happening right now, and C makes sure we don’t miss it.
And Counting…
Remember how I said we were done?
Yeah… maybe not. 😊
This old circus still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
And we cannot forget the pets!
Elvis
Elvis is our very forgiving — and very anxious — geriatric dog. He will be 19 in February 2026, which means he has quite literally seen it all.
Wedding planning.
Moves across the states.
New babies.
New businesses.
Home renovations.
Every season of our life.
He has adapted through all of it, right alongside us.
These days, his nights and days are a little mixed up. He can’t hear anymore. He absolutely has opinions about everything. But he is still a very good boy.
Pepper & Milo
Also known as “Not David’s Cats.”
Even though they love him the most — especially Pepper.
This brother-sister tuxedo duo came from a litter of six black kittens we fostered during the pandemic when our local shelter called for help. We brought home a pile of tiny kittens and, unsurprisingly, fell in love with the two in fancy coats.
They are mischievous, dramatic, incredibly vocal, and endlessly entertaining.
Why Our Family Is the Heart of This Blog
Everything you see here — every recipe, every story, every reflection — comes from this circus.
From our loud, loving, messy, beautiful life.
This blog is about creating peace and solid ground in the middle of all of it. About gathering at the table. About remembering these years. About building something steady for the people we love most.
So if you ever feel like you’re one elephant short of a traveling circus too…
You’re in the right place. 💛
