On a balmy day in the height of summer, you’ll find the Tobbe family basking in the peaceful sunshine at Nolin Lake. As the saying goes, Life is better at the lake! It rings true for Kyle and April Tobbe, who bought a lake house there in 2018. “The lake is our happy place,” Kyle said. He, April, and their four energetic boys now spend nearly every summer weekend on their boats—water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and fishing. “We love being active at the lake, hosting and sharing our love for the lake life with family and friends,” April said. 

The Tobbe family moved to Glen Oaks in 2012.  It was a homecoming for Kyle, who grew up in Jeffersontown. April was raised just upriver in Northern Kentucky. The two met at the University of Louisville in 1999 while living in the same dorm, but they didn’t start dating until nearly a decade later. “It was after we both attended a mutual friend’s wedding in Destin in 2008,” April said. The couple then moved around the country together following April’s career to Chicago, Houston, and Louisville, where they planted roots to raise a family. 

The Tobbe kids are independent, athletic, kind, fun, and intelligent—all excelling at something different. The oldest of the bunch, 13-year-old Evan, is in 7th grade at North Oldham Middle School. He plays football and club lacrosse and enjoys studies in Math and Chinese. Owen, 11, is in 5th grade at Goshen Elementary. He also plays lacrosse, runs cross country, and was chosen to participate in Oldham County’s gifted and talented program. The third Tobbe boy, Drew, 8, is following in his older brothers’ footsteps. He loves lacrosse, basketball, school, and playing with friends. Finally, 5-year-old Jaxon loves Legos, puzzles, and is starting to participate in sports. 

Jaxon was a surprise and welcome addition to the Tobbe clan. “We thought we completed our family when our third son was born,” April explained, “but the universe had bigger plans.” Jaxon was born their nephew, and after a series of events, April and Kyle stepped up to provide family custody to keep him out of the state Foster Care system. “It was a long, emotional, and very complicated legal process, but we were blessed to officially adopt him into our family in May 2023,” April said. The Tobbes now work to help other Kentucky families navigate similar custody situations and are hoping to be a voice for change in what they call an outdated system. 

The Tobbes have more pets than you can count on your hands. First is the family favorite mixed-breed rescue dog named Ellie. She might bark at you as you walk by, but if you approach, she’ll quickly roll over for belly rubs. They also have a Leopard Gecko named Leo and at least 20 fish between the multiple tanks in the boys’ bedrooms. “In the summer, they always find a way to fill additional aquariums with lizards, turtles, snakes, and anything else they can find while exploring the woods and creeks,” Kyle said. 

If you’re noticing a theme, the Tobbe family has an inclination for the great outdoors. They recently checked off a few ‘bucket list’ adventures, exploring the Northeast and hiking out West. During Fall Break, the Tobbes traveled through Utah and Arizona. “It was an amazing experience to explore Zion National Park and hike the Narrows, but our favorite part of the trip was our stay in Page, Arizona, where we went sand surfing, boating on Lake Powell, and hiking,” April said. Before that trip, the Tobbes explored Boston, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Maine. “We went to a Red Sox game, stopped at every lighthouse on the trip, caught and ate our own lobster, and enjoyed the rocky beaches on the coast.”

April excels at planning epic family vacations—and she is equally as eager to plan neighborhood events. It’s thanks to her, Glen Oaks has several annual events like pumpkin carving at the park, golf cart parades, egg hunts, monthly ladies’ outings, and more. She is best known for hosting a Favorite Things Holiday Party in December.  “Ladies, if you haven’t joined the Ladies of Glen Oaks/Moser Farms Facebook page, here is your sign,” she said. “Each year our festivities get bigger and better.” April and Kyle also sit on the Sac-to-School Party committee each August and actively support the Glen Oaks Swim team, attend as many Glen Oaks Country Club events as possible, and are always catching up with neighbors at the pool. “We often host events at the club and create fun, community events to help drive business to Glen Oaks,” April said. 

Professionally, Kyle finds fulfillment in the health insurance industry, working to ensure patients get the care they need. April stepped away from corporate HR when her second son was born and enjoys “retired” life with the boys.  The busy parents stay active—April plays club tennis, and Kyle coaches several of the boys’ sports teams. He’s coached cross country for the past 6 years and lacrosse for 4 years. The Tobbes plan to manage the North Oldham Lacrosse Club when the Spring season concludes. “The club teams play fall, winter, and spring seasons, so it’s a big commitment,” Kyle said. He’s also the family handyman and enjoys home projects. Kyle can do anything from remodeling their Glen Oaks kitchen to building a tree house at the lake. 

This summer, the Tobbes look forward to splitting their time between their homes in Glen Oaks and Nolin. Between their hectic schedules for the Glen Oaks Swim Team, club lacrosse, and lake life on the weekends, it’s sure to be a busy (sometimes relaxing), fun-filled family affair.