Like attracts like and people that grew up around water gravitate towards it for life. Canterwood resident Kevin Smith (no, not the guy from “Clerks”) is originally from Lakewood. He grew up on Lake Steilacoom and graduated High School from Bellarmine. His wife Diana is from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, a small town on the Jersey shore, and graduated from Kean University in New Jersey. They met each other through [Diana’s] twin sister, whose husband, Diana’s brother- in-law, was stationed with Kevin at Fort Lewis. If this wasn’t coincidence enough, the two men also attended USMA at West Point together.

Love and the Army brought Kevin and Diana together, and brought them to Washington state. By relocating here, Diana was able to be with her husband and close to her twin sister. Today, Kevin is an active duty Army Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon, while Diana is a stay-at-home mom to their three children – twins Scott and Grant, and daughter Bridget. Since the end of June, they and their pet, Darby, have lived in a house on Foxglove Drive.

As a graduate of West Point, Kevin relishes watching the Army beat the Navy football team at Christmas-time. He also follows USMA soccer. Together, the family roots for a slew of local sports, at both the state and city level, from the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, and Thunderbirds, to the Tacoma Stars and Rainiers. They also like to catch a good Packers game.

The Smiths are sportive. “As a family, we love to hike, ski, go boating, crabbing, camping, skeet shooting, and hunting.” The kids play soccer, and during the summer, their life consists of soccer fields. “Bridget plays for Sparta and the boys play for University Place FC,” the shared. Both Kevin and Diana like to work out and Kevin will play soccer with the kids, while Diana might go for a run or “try to improve my tennis game.” Their favorite way to spend time together here in the beautiful green and blue western part of our state is by “boating on the Sound or exploring and skiing in the Mountains.”

In the winter, they always cut down a Christmas tree and go skiing over the school break, then join together at the table for a home-cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. “We do all the family traditions!” they said. That includes watching all of the holiday shows, like the Peanuts TV show and the many seasonal movies – “there are too many to list!” They also watch survival shows. If it’s nice out, they’ll take their meals on the patio. “The boys love to help Diana cook dinner.” If a night out is warranted, they might choose Red Robin, Il Lucano, Dukes, Ram, or local restaurants in Gig Harbor.

The Smith’s love to travel to such scenic locations as Cancun, White Pass, Bend, Lake Chelan, San Juan Islands, Lake Tahoe, and Victoria BC. But just as valuable is time with family boating on the Sound or watching a movie, inviting friends over, or quiet time with a book by the pool. If they put on some music to help conversation sparkle, or ease into relaxation time, it will likely be something from the 90s, a country tune, or ole blue eyes, Frank Sinatra.

 It’s also important to Kevin and Diana that they do work that impacts the community. Kevin participates in some volunteer activities related to Army Rangers and West Point, and also joins a medical/surgical group that travels to poor countries, while Diana volunteers with the kids’ school and their activities. They love living in our neighborhood for the “freedom it gives our kids,” who have already made new friends in a short time. “We are very happy to live in this beautiful neighborhood!”