“We’ve been here since February 2020,” says Jess Larsen, who resides in Oak Creek with her husband, David, and their three children: Cameron, 12; Claire, 10; and Jack, 8. “Before moving here, we lived in a small rental townhome where everything was old and brown. One day in January 2020, I told David my wish list for a house: open concept, a big kitchen island, white walls, a homeschool room, and a neighborhood with sidewalks.” The next day, David told Jess he found her house. They met with a realtor, saw it in person, and put in an offer that weekend. 

Neighbors might know the Larsens from their frequent walks, either to the club or on the trail. They live across the street from the club, so a Larsen is always walking to or from the facility. Jess says when she meets someone new from the neighborhood, they usually say they’ve seen her out walking. She also says that if you wave and she doesn’t wave back, she’s very sorry; she’s “in [her] own world with a podcast in [her] ear.” 

Before they made their home in Oak Creek, David and Jess had to make their way to each other. David grew up in Sunnyvale, Texas, near Dallas, while Jess was raised in Orange County, California. They met their first week of college in Utah and were best friends their freshman year, while also playing together as cellists in their college orchestra. “The story then takes a bit of a detour; we didn't see each other for 3 1/2 years,” Jess says. “We were both doing mission work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David lived in Germany for two years, and then I was in upstate New York for 18 months. We wrote letters to each other the whole time.” Jess got back home in August 2010, and they married in May 2011. After that, they lived in Arizona while David attended medical school before moving to Tyler in 2016 for David’s medical residency. 

Following his medical residency, David’s professional path evolved through a unique combination of disciplines. He always wanted to be a physician, but during his final year of medical school, a mentor inspired him to investigate healthcare leadership. This led David to earn an MBA at UT Tyler during his residency, followed by a master's degree in informatics after another mentor introduced him to the intersection of medicine and technology. Today, David works as a doctor and a vice president of operations at CHRISTUS, utilizing his background in medicine, leadership, and technology to help build a stronger healthcare system for local patients and providers. 

Before having children, Jess worked as a copyeditor for a children's magazine and later spent a couple of years freelancing, primarily writing magazine articles and personal histories. For the past seven years, her focus has shifted to educating her children at home. "We've been homeschooling since my oldest was in kindergarten," Jess says. "I love the flexibility and the time together. My homeschool motto is three words: books, warmth, experiences." 

That motto heavily influences the family's approach to learning and travel, which has become their latest shared hobby. Because they homeschool, the Larsens spend a few months studying a destination before they visit. While Jess loves the educational read-aloud books, the children's favorite part of the trip preparation is watching movies tied to their upcoming destinations. They watched "The Lord of the Rings" before traveling to New Zealand, "Paddington" for London, "National Treasure" for Washington, D.C., and "Ratatouille" before visiting Paris. 

Even when travel plans do not go smoothly, the family makes the most of the experience. "We happened to go to Washington, D.C., last November when everything was closed for the government shutdown," Jess recalls. "We had to replan everything last minute, with no Smithsonian museums, Capitol Building, or Library of Congress, but we had a fantastic time anyway." 

When they are looking for a true vacation rather than an adventure, the Larsens head to the beach, frequently spending a week in Cancun with David's parents. They also enjoy major cities like New York and San Antonio, alongside lower-key traditions closer to home, including camping twice a year at Tyler State Park. 

At home in the neighborhood, the three Larsen children keep busy with a variety of distinct interests. Cameron enjoys computer coding and is currently reading his way through Brandon Sanderson's novels. Claire spends her time crafting, dancing, and hosting her friends, while Jack loves playing with stuffed animals and drawing, with a particular preference for Vikings and dragons. 

Games are another major staple of the Larsen household, heightened by a recent addition to their collection. "Our latest splurge was an electric card dealer, and it makes game night so much fun," Jess says, noting that Cameron loved the device so much he even packed it in his suitcase for a recent family reunion. All three children play tennis at the club alongside David, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery but hopes to return to the court this fall. Jess stays active with the group fitness classes at the gym, and the entire family plays the piano. 

Jess also keeps a busy schedule with seasonal traditions and community involvement. Every season, she creates a "live list" of fun activities and foods to try. This summer's list includes picking blueberries, eating peach BBQ, swimming at Lake Hawkins, and biking to Fresh for pancakes. In the autumn, the family looks forward to pumpkin carving, camping, and spiced cider. Around town, they enjoy attending plays at the Tyler Civic Theatre, listening to live music at Fresh or Sola Bread Co., and participating in community events like the Fresh 5K, summer fireworks at South Spring, and the Rose Festival. Jess also enjoys thrifting at Clothes Mentor when she finds a free hour. 

Giving back is an essential piece of the family's life. They spend a significant amount of time serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jess has spent the last six years working with the church's seminary program, teaching early-morning scripture classes to high schoolers. "Every year we focus on a different book of scripture; this year it's the Old Testament," Jess says. "I love seeing how these kids grow up and learn to rely on Jesus Christ and know He is their Savior." The family also participates in the annual Run for Autism, an event close to their hearts because Jess's nephew, Ezra, attends Monarch Prep, one of the organizations supported by the fundraiser. 

For the Larsen’s life in Oak Creek, walks to the club and on the trails, space to roam, and friendly neighbors have provided the perfect backdrop for this chapter. "I am most grateful for this stage of life," Jess says. "The kids are funny and interesting, and I love that they're young enough to want to hang out with us but old enough that David and I can go for a walk by ourselves. It's fun to see the people they are becoming, but also to know they will drop anything to play a round of Phase 10 with me." It’s those little moments for the Larsens, a card game, a family meal, a movie night, that make this phase and stage truly magical.