Summer at the Smith House: Family, Fun, and a Few Surprises

Hey there,

Well, summer has officially landed in full swing here at our house—and honestly, it feels pretty great. Both boys are home from college, and that always brings an energy shift we love. The house feels more alive, the fridge empties faster, and the laughter around the dinner table is louder. There’s just something special about having everyone back under one roof, even if only for a little while.

Sam is here and has jumped right into something he’s truly passionate about. He’s volunteering again with one of our favorite local animal charities. We’ve supported them for years, and this summer he’s been helping them hands-on—walking dogs, helping with intake, and doing all sorts of behind-the-scenes work. He’s always had a heart for animals, especially dogs, and it’s been really rewarding to see him dive in with so much enthusiasm. You can tell he's excited to be part of something meaningful—and as a parent, that’s just a joy to watch.

Noah, on the other hand, is in recovery mode from his first year of law school—and that’s no small feat. He won’t get grades back for about a month, which feels like an eternity when you only get one grade per class and it’s based almost entirely on your final exam. That’s a lot of pressure to carry each semester. But he felt pretty good going into finals and afterward too, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed. Either way, we’re proud of how hard he’s worked and how well he’s adjusting to the intensity of law school life. First year down!

This past weekend, Holly and I got to do something we hadn’t done in a while—we took the whole family out to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Peachtree City. Simple as that sounds, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do that together. The food was great (as always), but more than anything, it was the feeling of togetherness that made it special. And now that the weather’s warmed up a bit, we’ve got a lot more options for eating outside and spending time around town. It just makes everything feel a little more relaxed and enjoyable.

We're also gearing up for a jam-packed summer schedule. I’ve got a business conference coming up next week that’ll keep me away for three days. These are always a mix of learning and long hours, but I actually enjoy the chance to connect with other folks in the industry and step back to think strategically about the big picture.

After that, it’s on to something a little more fun: UFC Atlanta! This is one of the events we’ve been really looking forward to—especially since it’s local this year at State Farm Arena. The boys are going, some of their friends are going, and I may tag along too. Should be a high-energy night. We’ve followed UFC together for a while now, so it’s always fun when the fights come to town.

And speaking of unique experiences—we saw there’s a rodeo coming to Atlanta, too. Now, I’ve never been to a real one before. Not just the bull riding, but the full event—with horses, roping, barrel races, the whole nine yards. I’d really like to go if we can fit it in. There’s something iconic about a good old-fashioned rodeo, and it’s the kind of thing that makes for a fun, out-of-the-box summer night.

We’ve also got a family reunion on the horizon, and later in the season, we’ll be joining the extended family at a resort for a few days. It’s shaping up to be one of those “blink and it’s gone” summers, so we’re trying to soak in the time together as much as possible.

Atlanta itself has a lot going on right now. Comic Con is coming up soon, and while we usually just pop in for a day, it’s always worth checking out. The boys love it, and it’s become a bit of a tradition. We already made our annual pilgrimage to the comic book shop this week, and I’ll tell you—it’s always a trip to see toys and comics from my childhood selling for serious money now. It makes you wonder what could’ve been if you’d just kept a few of those in mint condition, tucked safely in a box instead of letting them disappear into the attic abyss.

While all this is going on, I’ve been doing my best to stay consistent with my fitness and diet plan, especially with Dragon Con coming up at the end of August. I’m hoping to run the Spartan Race again this year and want to improve on last year’s showing. That means starting a little earlier and staying on top of things, even during trips and events. At this stage, I’ve found that it’s not the workouts that get tough—it’s the recovery. Those big highs and lows are harder to bounce back from as we get older, so I’m trying to keep it steady and stay in the zone.

Meanwhile at home, Luna is still settling in. She’s doing great, but we’ve had to be extra cautious about mushrooms popping up in the yard. Holly’s become our official mushroom patrol—she does a sweep one or two times a day, and one day found 41 mushrooms out back! Apparently some types are dangerous for dogs, so we’re staying vigilant. And in the spirit of household harmony, our cat Ivy continues her morning tradition of trying to shake me down for treats when the dogs get fed. She's got her routine, and she usually wins.

Before I wrap this up, I have to share a little PSA for anyone into supplements like me. I usually take creatine, but instead of the powder, I use gummies—easier on the stomach and way more convenient. I recently found a new brand I liked, they tasted great, and I was excited to reorder them… except they were gone. Not on Amazon, not on the company’s site. I dug around a bit and—get this—turns out the company was pulled from Amazon because a competitor tested their product and found no creatine at all in the gummies. Not even degraded creatine. Just flavored sugar cubes pretending to be a supplement. So that explains why they tasted so good and why Amazon shut it down. Just a reminder to double-check where you’re buying from, especially when it comes to health products. It’s a weird time for supplements.

So that’s the scoop from our house. A full summer, a lot of good things going on, and a few curveballs thrown in for flavor. Hope you’re enjoying your own summer just as much—and we’ll be in touch again soon!

Take care and as always—if you’re in pain, call Shane!