We moved to I’On last July, and from the moment we arrived, we felt incredibly grateful for the decision. Relocating a family of five, plus a dog, is no small undertaking, especially with three children under five. It meant stepping away from a comfortable routine and everything familiar. That wasn’t easy. But within minutes of driving through I’On, we knew this was the place. It offered something we didn’t even realize we had been missing - a sense of community and space to truly build our family life.

Ariana and I met in high school in Los Angeles, California. Ariana later attended Chapman University, where she earned a BFA in Screen Acting. At the same time, I began my college career playing basketball at the University of Colorado Boulder before transferring to UC Santa Barbara, where I finished out my playing career. We dated for ten years before getting married in 2017 in Santa Barbara, California. Our greatest adventure began shortly after: Theo was born in 2021, Hudson in 2022, and our daughter Sofia in 2024. Life has been beautifully full (and very loud) ever since.

Before diving headfirst into life with three little ones, Ariana worked in marketing in the beauty space as well as performed original music and covers throughout the Los Angeles area at various venues. In fact, back in high school, she sang the national anthem before the state championship game - the very game I was playing in. After college, I coached high school basketball, channeling my love for the game into mentoring young athletes. Eventually, I transitioned into a new profession and now work as a Financial Advisor.

My older brother, Mike, was the first in our family to make the move to I’On. From the moment he arrived, he began - subtly and not so subtly - recruiting us to join him. When we finally came to visit, it didn’t take much convincing. We saw what everyday life here could look like: walks along tree-lined streets, sunsets by the water, evenings on the porch, and spontaneous trips to the park. The idea of raising our children in a place like this - in the same neighborhood as family - felt almost too good to be true.

Now, as we approach our first anniversary in I’On, we still feel like we’re just getting started. There’s so much to see and to experience. Like most families with three children under five, we’re often tired and always busy. But the pace of life here has been exactly what we hoped for - relaxed (as much as it can be with three toddlers), welcoming, and deeply community-oriented. We treasure our evening walks, exploring the parks, time at the I’On Club, and simply soaking in the charm of these picturesque streets. 

Back in California, we were always the neighbors who waved, stopped to chat, and offered to lend a hand. One of the things we love most about I’On is that this spirit feels shared. We’ve felt welcomed from day one.

So if you see us out on one of our daily walks, you’ll probably hear our kids before you see us - please say hello. We promise we’re friendlier than we sound. We’re still the “new” family in town, grateful to be here, eager to learn more about our neighborhood, and excited to continue building our life in this very special place.