We are a family of 6 that call the Pacific Northwest home. We love water and mountains and do as many activities as we can to appreciate and help preserve these gifts. In 2020 we plan to move onto our catamaran and sail south and west to explore more of the world together.
Mike: I grew up in Michigan, was completely ordinary, didn’t get my first passport until after college and have spent the last twenty years trying to make up for all of the above. I first met the Cascade mountains in Winter 1998 and immediately fell in love, and I finally got to move to Washington permanently in 2008 after surviving 10 years on the east coast. I was lucky to meet Laura Jean in 2010 and life has been a sprint ever since — three careers, 4 kids and many, many trips. “Why not now?” is her default response whenever I mention something I’d like to do when I’m retired… I never imagined having a big, chaotic family but now I wouldn’t want any other life. In a past life I was an experimental particle physicist and, before that, a philosophy major. My favorite place is our cabin on Orcas Island, and one of my dreams (that scares the crap out of me), is for our family to sail out of our cove, out the Straight of Juan de Fuca and across the Pacific.
Laura Jean: Hi, I’m LJ: aka mom, daughter, first mate, hydrogeologist, builder of things, adventurer, climber, musician, etc. I was born in Maine to adventurous parents who took me along on a six year sailing circumnavigation on a Whitby 42 ketch between ages 6-12. My days were filled with snorkeling, searching for waterfalls, playing with locals, reading, crafting, legos and homeschool. After returning to Maine I spent my teenage years exploring the mountains and woods of Maine and trying to catch up to pop culture, sports and hobbies that didn’t exist in pre-internet 1980s cruising life. In my 20s I pursued a career in hydrogeology specializing in aquifer storage and recovery and numerical modeling. I was lucky to work in amazing parts of the world, but as I turned 30, I felt the Pacific Northwest calling my soul and I moved there where I currently reside as the wife of a physicist turned software start-up founder turned amazing dad and the mother of two sets of twins.
Forrest: I am 5 years old and I like to ride my awesome green mountain bike on single track trails, skiing and sledding with my twin sister, building big mega airplane cars with legos, playing with my friends, adventures on our sailboat and exploring the beach at our cabin on Orcas Island. Sometimes my dad will let me drive the Whaler boat there and I love that. I sing in our churches childrens choir and every week I get to rock climb, draw, play soccer and dance with my friends. I also like sleeping in, snacks at bedtime and movies with my family. Take a look at my personal blog here!
Sierra: I am 5 years old and my favorite thing is doing puzzles. I could do puzzles all day every day, and sometimes I do. The last puzzle I put together was 500 pieces and my mom helped a little. I also really like to be outside in the snow where I can ski or sled with my younger sisters and twin brother. I like crafts, riding my mountain bike, helping my mom with anything, picking out my own clothes, dance class and above all other things going to the rock climbing gym. I really like rock climbing. Take a look at my personal blog here!
Aurora: I’m 2 years old and eating is my favorite activity. I will eat at any time of day. I’m also really fast and like to run around the house making sure everybody can hear how much fun I am having. There is a closet in our house that is really fun to play peek-a-boo in and I do that a lot. I am a good sleeper but have a hard time if I don’t have my favorite soft purple hippo blanket.
Coral: I’m 2 years old and I like to laugh. I also like to throw tantrums if I don’t get what I want. My favorite things are singing baby shark, wearing my shark slippers, sitting at the piano with grampy, running with my sister, and exploring new places with my family.
Meet the Millers 