The thrill and spontaneity of a snow day is something the Kenning family looks forward to every winter. While some may find the logistics burdensome, Laura Kenning says her two daughters have no problem filling their schedules as they team up with neighborhood kids for an impromptu day of good old-fashioned fun. “It’s exactly the childhood we wished for our children,” Laura said. “The kids gather to go sledding, then move as a group from house to house and eat every snack in sight until a parent has to jump on a zoom call, and they move to the next house. We are truly raising our children in a village.”

Laura and Troy Kenning moved to Glen Oaks in 2019. They, along with daughters Claire and Lily, are heavily invested in the community.  Laura is the team manager for the school’s cross-country team and has helped organize events like the Fund Run and Daughter Dance. Troy is the social coordinator for neighborhood events like the Sac-to-School Party and adult pool parties, and he’s been known to DJ swim team events as well as celebrations and fundraisers at Goshen Elementary. “Troy picked up DJing as an hobby in 2022 and now classifies himself as a world-traveled DJ,” Laura said. “He’s a hit with the elementary school circuit, military retirements, sorority parties and regularly tells people about his pop-up poolside gig at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.” Claire, 10, and Lily, 9, are his number one fans and wear his “DJ T-Roy” swag often. 

Claire is a 5th grader at Goshen Elementary. Her parents describe her as a leader who’s never met a stranger. She runs cross-country, competes on the Glen Oaks swim team and loves to dance and socialize with her friends. Lily is in the 3rd grade and always has a smile on her face. Like her big sister, Lily also runs cross country for Goshen and is a member of the GO swim team. “The girls regularly invite the entire school bus over for playdates, which often includes setting up lemonade stands with girl scout cookies,” Laura said. 

Troy Kenning is a Lieutenant Colonel at the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron in the Air National Guard. He previously served 17 years in the U.S. Air Force, during which he was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the UAE. 

Last year, Troy was presented with an opportunity to take a year-long assignment in Stuttgart, Germany. The whole family jumped on board and moved overseas. Their home in Stuttgart was a three-hour drive from France, Switzerland and Austria, and the Kennings took a trip nearly every weekend. “The experience was incredible,” Troy said. “We were so impressed with our kids' resilience as they learned new cultures.” The family took ski trips, attended local festivals, went on scenic hikes, and immersed themselves in German heritage. 

Before returning home to Glen Oaks, their final week of adventure was beyond bucket-list-worthy. The Kennings scored tickets to the coveted Taylor Swift Eras Tour and spent the evening dancing in Munich before heading to Paris to watch Olympic Volleyball matches under the Eiffel Tower. “We love to travel, and we have a blast anywhere we go,” Laura said. 

Troy and Laura met on a co-ed preschool soccer team in their hometown of Villa Hills in 1988. “Neither of us were ready to commit,” Laura joked, but the two reconnected in 2002 as sophomores at the University of Kentucky. Laura lived in the apartment directly above Troy and remembers, “he would throw basketballs at the ceiling when he wanted me to finish his history homework.” The two married in 2008. 

When Troy took a job with the Air National Guard in 2019, the family decided to put down roots in Louisville and find a forever home. Troy’s sister lives in Moser Farms and Laura’s cousin lives in Glen Oaks, so the Kennings were familiar with the subdivision. “We've lived in many places during our marriage, but the community feel of Glen Oaks made us want to establish roots to raise our family," Troy said. 

In addition to his military career, Troy has established a non-profit called Discover Service. The mission is to increase the willingness of the country’s youth to consider service-oriented professions like police, fire and military. He hopes to build interactive military-themed playgrounds and develop curriculum for youth. Laura is the Director of Operations for Amplify Louisville, is an entrepreneurial support organization for founders and startups. She plays tennis, sand volleyball, and manages the busy schedules of a young family.

In six short years, the Kennings have become integral players in creating community-based fun here in Glen Oaks. If you’re lucky enough to know them, you’ll find they’re always ready for a good time, and they really are the life of the party.