The Hughes family brings adventure, service and animal love to the Lochmere community. Lauren Hughes, a house-call veterinarian, and her three children have made their mark on the neighborhood since moving from Michigan. With backgrounds spanning from Connecticut to Florida to Philadelphia, this well-traveled family has found their home in Cary.

"The community here in Lochmere is amazing! We've really enjoyed getting to know the people, discovering the hidden playgrounds, and spending time at the pool during the summer," Lauren shares about their experience in the neighborhood.

Lauren, 46, runs a veterinary practice that brings care directly to pets' homes. Through a grant from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation, she provides services ranging from wellness care to international health certificates, making veterinary care accessible even to families facing financial challenges.

The Hughes household is bustling with activity, largely centered around the children's diverse interests. Fifteen-year-old Kora practices karate and serves as Executive Officer of the Kraft YMCA Leadership Club. She also enjoys creating art and reading in her free time. Thirteen-year-old Liam has been practicing karate since he was five and loves exploring outdoors, particularly searching for lizards and frogs. The youngest, 9-year-old Parrish, is an enthusiastic athlete who plays goalie for his youth hockey team and also participates in baseball.

When not shuttling her children to their various activities, Lauren enjoys mountain biking, helping coach hockey and baseball, and — by her own admission — napping whenever possible. She also treasures quiet moments with a good book.

The family's home wouldn't be complete without their four-legged members. Rocky, a 4-year-old rescue dog, bears a striking resemblance to his namesake from the children's show "Paw Patrol." Their other dog, Eevee, is a 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles rescue. Lauren notes that the pair looks like the dogs from "Lady and the Tramp," and the family has playfully attempted to recreate the famous spaghetti scene with them—so far, “We have not been successful yet.”

Travel forms a cornerstone of the Hughes family traditions. They've explored across the United States and recently ventured internationally to Greece and Santorini. Every summer includes a special trip to Connecticut, where they watch Fourth of July fireworks from Lauren's parents' boat — a tradition Lauren has maintained since her childhood and now shares with her children.

Closer to home, the Hughes family enjoys biking together, playing games, and spending time at the Lochmere pool. The boys particularly enjoy fishing at the neighborhood lake. They also venture out for Hurricanes games, skiing trips, camping excursions and beach getaways.