Ryan – Orthopaedic Surgeon at OI
Kristen – Nurse Anesthetist and Founder of The Moses Basket
Paxton 13 – student at PMS
Bailey 9 – student at St. Mary
Cora 5 – pre-k at St. Mary
Tell us how you and your spouse met and how long you have been married.
Ryan – Kristen and I met when we were 15 during our freshman year of high school. We each showed up to Sadie Hawkins with separate dates, ended up leaving with each other, and have been together ever since! Twenty-three years total. We dated for eight years and married in 2006. We celebrated our 15-year anniversary this past June.
Tell us about where each of you grew up and how you landed in Paducah.
Kristen – We were both born in Paducah (even delivered by the same doctor) and raised in Marshall County. We left for college knowing that we wanted to return and raise our family here one day.
What is your favorite holiday?
Kristen – Christmas, hands down for us both. We are “that” annoying family with a tree in every room and Christmas music playing before the leaves fall. I’m not surprised to see Ryan pulling our tree boxes out of storage by early October. We had so many exterior lights up a few years ago the microwave wouldn’t work if the washing machine was running!
What is your favorite thing about Paducah?
Ryan – From a personal perspective, it’s the connections since childhood for both of us. Nothing gives me more pleasure than having a longtime friend bring their own kid into the clinic to be seen or getting to fix one of my elementary school teachers.
Kristen – From a professional vantage point, I have been blown away by the generosity of our community since we started The Moses Basket. There has never been a need we have requested assistance for that has gone unanswered. It makes me proud to call Paducah home and provides a sense of hope knowing the individuals in this community are who our children are watching as examples as they journey into adulthood.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
We have been going to 30-A since high school, so it’s always been a special place for us. It was important we made this a part of our kid’s upbringing as well. We try to go down at least once a year. If we are lucky, we can squeeze in 2-3 short trips.
What does your spouse do to make you feel special?
Kristen – He loves planning surprises and is really good about blocking off date nights for just the two of us to get away. He can frequently be found taking Cora into Midtown Market for her to pick out flowers to bring home and is always the one who remembers the anniversaries and birthdays. Most importantly, he lets me know I’m his person. It’s small things, but I’ll get funny texts throughout the day or a call at lunch to vent, and whether it’s 5 pm or 11 pm, I’m always met with a hug and “I’ve missed you” when he walks in the door.
Ryan – On any given day, there are literally dozens of things Kristen does with the sole purpose of trying to make my life a little better. She is absolutely an ‘everybody else first’ kind of person. Her wants and needs are the last things that ever cross her mind. She doesn’t just tell you she loves you – she shows it with deed and still takes time to tell me she sees how hard I work and how proud she is of me. Ultimately, the one thing that makes me feel more special than anything else, though, is just knowing that she’s got my back and is always in my corner. It’s a guarantee. Since we were 15, she’s been my other half.
How do you manage work and family time?
Kristen – It consists of organized chaos and my mom on speed dial! The nature of surgery leaves little room for predictability and structure on Ryan’s end. Thankfully, I’m with a group that allows me to continue working in the profession I love while keeping the day-to-day logistics of our family a primary focus. Ryan’s dad frequently reminded us, “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” It isn’t going to be the expensive vacations your kids remember as much as the small, everyday moments that you showed up, loved, and invested in them. We try to spend a few times each week one-on-one with each kid, whether it’s a haircut, quick run for ice cream, a game of checkers, helping cook dinner, or an episode of their favorite tv show.
Does your family have a motto? If so, what is it?
Luke 1:37 “For with God, nothing is impossible.” Each morning on the way to school: Be respectful. Be kind. Have fun!
Do you have any family traditions?
Our main Christmas tree goes up on Halloween night. We take the kids out trick or treating and return in time to decorate. We love Thanksgiving too… with a tree in the background. A “future” family tradition we have decided on is allowing each kid to pick an international vacation for the entire family for their 15th birthday. The caveat being, they must plan it all from start to finish, including flight schedules, lodging, itinerary, must-eat restaurants, etc. Paxton will be first up in a year and a half and already has started planning our trip to see Big Ben.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
Ryan – Knowing that no matter how much we screw up and get it wrong, they still seek us out to snuggle, search for us in a crowd, readily hop in the car for errands just to talk, are eager to share their day and with us, and always trust we are their safe place. They give love so freely.
Kristen – I love how you can parent the same way, yet each kid turns out so uniquely different.
Tell us something interesting about your family that we may not know.
Since leaving Western Kentucky after high school graduation, Ryan and I have lived in 3 states, seven cities, 11 apartments/houses, and are currently building what will be our “final” home, God willing.
Do you have nicknames for your kids?
Paxton – Noodle or Pattiwhack
Bailey – Moose or Biscuit
Cora – Coco or CoraBora
Questions for kids:
What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?
Paxton – Brunch after church on Sunday
Bailey – Movie night
Cora – Playing Candy Land
