Kids, Pets & Community
Hello, Queen Creek!
My name is Kris Ann Valdez, and I'm honored to serve as your new editor. As an Arizona native and regular contributor to City Lifestyle magazines, it's a privilege to help tell the stories of this community.
Over the years, I've seen Queen Creek evolve from farm country into a thriving city. It reminds me of my childhood hometown, where Target replaced cow pastures and cotton fields gave way to neighborhoods. Change can bring exciting opportunities, but I think many of us also feel a sense of nostalgia for the slower pace and rural character that once defined us.
Today, I'm a wife, a mother of three children, ages 13, 8 and 3, and a pet mom to a wheaten terrier named Maple. It feels fitting that my first issue is our annual Kids & Pets edition, as family life is a subject close to my heart and one I frequently write about as a journalist.
In this issue, I wanted to explore some of the conversations many parents are having today. I was honored to speak with Newbery Medal-winning author and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina about raising lifelong readers in a distracted world.
Closer to home, I spent a morning at Aimee's Farm Animal Sanctuary meeting rescued animals, hugging cows and feeding a three-legged baby goat. I have a feeling your children will be just as charmed by Aimee's work as mine were. It's a special place that offers opportunities to visit, volunteer and connect with animals in a meaningful way.
You'll also meet Julie Matheson, a local mother of seven, who shares her perspective on why education isn't always a one-size-fits-all journey.
And, of course, we couldn't forget our furry companions. We've rounded up some of the best pet-friendly patios in the East Valley, so you and your furry companions can enjoy the fall weather.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Our team has worked thoughtfully to create stories that celebrate the people, places and experiences that make Queen Creek special.
Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. I look forward to sharing many more stories with you in the months ahead.
Warmly,
KRIS ANN VALDEZ, EDITOR
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Jackson York | jackson.york@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Kris Ann Valdez | krisann.valdez@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Camilla Richardson, Gretchen Pahia, Michelle Talsma Everson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kaylee Chelsea Photography, Timeless Vision Media, Jayleen York
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Macie Smith | macie.smith@citylifestyle.com
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto
LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
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city scene
Photography by Ashley Blake Photography
1: Guests enjoy our Sip & Connect at the Queen Creek Olive Mill. 2: The Ozuzuns from the Local Jeweler with the Bests from Paladin Sports. 3: Team members from Radiant Marketing.
Livewell Animal Hospital Opens in Queen Creek
Livewell Animal Hospital recently celebrated its grand opening at 23021 E. Riggs Rd., Suite 100. The full-service veterinary hospital offers comprehensive medical care, including wellness exams, vaccinations, nutritional counseling, urgent care and advanced diagnostic services such as X-rays and ultrasounds. The facility also features state-of-the-art surgical suites designed to provide high-quality care for pets. Learn more or schedule an appointment at livewellanimal.com or by calling 480-716-3352
Modern Grace Laser and Aesthetics
Modern Grace Laser and Aesthetics, where luxury meets real life, just launched its services inside the ARTISTIC UMBRELLA Studio Suites at 40975 N. Ironwood Drive. Here you’ll find a comprehensive range of services, including skin rejuvenation, correction and long-term skin health. The services are available to both men and women in an environment intended to make them feel comfortable and valued. To schedule an appointment, visit moderngracelaser.com
Burros and Fries
Burros and Fries, a fast-casual, fromscratch Mexican-food chain, is now serving customers at its new Queen Creek location. Enjoy its signature stacked burros, loaded fries, tacos, bowls and tortas. To learn more or place an order, visit burrosandfries.com
Want to be featured?
ARTICLE BY KRIS ANN VALDEZ
CREATING LIFELONG Readers
AUTHOR MEG MEDINA ON NURTURING READERS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD
Newbery Award-winning author and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina remembers how her mother bought a set of encyclopedias from a traveling salesperson in the 1960s, one installment at a time.
In Cuba, before the revolution, Medina’s mother had been a college-educated teacher. But as an immigrant living in Queens, New York, she worked a minimum-wage job in a transistor factory’s packing and shipping department. Unfamiliar with American children’s books, she invested in those encyclopedias because she believed in the power of education.
“She wanted us to know that it mattered what you knew — that it mattered to have facts and information,” Medina says. Medina also remembers the Troll Book Club orders, similar to today’s Scholastic flyers. Her mother set aside money so she could order a few paperbacks each month.
“Every month this wonderful plastic bag would come and it had my name in it,” Medina says. “When you’re that age, it just feels good to have agency. To pick what you read, to pay for it, to get it delivered with your name on it.”
And, of course, the library was a big part of her childhood, especially the Queensborough Public Library.
“It was especially wonderful because it was across the street from Jack in the Box,” Medina says. “So I could go to the library and make a side trip to get my plain hamburger, small french fry and Coke. It was a wonderful thing.”
Medina’s love of reading eventually led her to become an author. Not just any author, but one who championed diversity so more children might recognize themselves in the stories they read.
As the first Latina National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, appointed by the Library of Congress, she traveled the country speaking about the power of books.
Today, Medina acknowledges that reading faces stiff competition.
“It’s undeniable that a lot of things compete for our kids’ attention,” she says. “It’s the busyness of life that has sort of pushed this quiet thing that we do to the side.”
Research suggests our attention spans are shrinking. Books require us to wrestle with ideas, unfamiliar vocabulary and complex emotions, Medina says. In a culture of quick swipes and instant gratification, that kind of sustained attention can feel counterintuitive. Even so, Medina believes parents can still raise children who love reading.
CREATE A FAMILY READING LIFE
The first thing Medina wants to know is whether books, magazines and reading are visible in your home. Do your children see you reading? Do you talk about what you’re reading? Do they hear family members discussing books, articles or ideas?
Those conversations signal that reading matters. Much as her mother did by investing in encyclopedias and monthly book orders, Medina encourages parents to demonstrate through their actions that reading has value.
“When you’re thinking about your family life,” Medina says, “be thinking about your family’s reading life as a whole, not just your kids, but everybody’s.”
RAISE CHILDREN WHO VALUE THE LIBRARY
Medina encourages families to think of libraries as much more than places to borrow books.
Many offer makerspaces, films, guest speakers, language classes and even lending programs for items such as musical instruments, sewing machines and kitchen equipment. When children experience libraries as vibrant community spaces, they’re more likely to return.
WHEN IT COMES TO SCREENS, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EITHER-OR
“The Wild Robot” is a beautiful book. It’s also a wonderful film.
“I don’t feel like we have to be completely militant because the fact is screens are a part of their lives,” Medina says. “That genie’s out of the bottle.”
Instead of treating books and screens as opposing forces, she encourages parents to think about how technology can coexist with a love of reading.
“How do we use screens for the positives and still hold on to the really beautiful thing about books?” Medina asks. “It’s not a clean answer because the problem’s so thorny and thick.”
One answer, she says, is to rescue reading from feeling like another school subject. At home, reading should be low-stakes. No book reports. No quizzes. No forcing. Give children permission to find joy in stories and choose what interests them.
Sometimes what adults dismiss as “junk reading” serves an important purpose. It helps children build confidence, fluency and comfort with books, often leading them to tackle more challenging literature later. “Respect your children’s role as a reader,” Medina says. “Reading is a place where it seems so vital to provide them that.”
READING CAN BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER
As ambassador, Medina traveled the country talking with families about reading. One memory stands out. During an officehours session, a family of five visited her.
The father talked about how he became an avid comic book reader as a child. His children are now graphic novel fans as well.
“After a while, that family forgot I was in the room,” Medina says. “They were talking about what they were reading next. And it was amazing.”
For Medina, the moment captured what reading can become at its best: a way for families to connect, exchange ideas and build a life of curiosity together.
MEG MEDINA
Meg Medina’s Library Challenge This month, visit your local library and let every family member check out something they genuinely want — no requirements attached. A cookbook. A comic book. A mystery. A magazine. Then spend one dinner talking about what everyone chose.
THE HEALING HERD
A Queen Creek sanctuary invites visitors to connect with rescued farm animals.
ARTICLE BY KRIS ANN VALDEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLEE CHELSEA PHOTOGRAPHY
Stepping onto Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary, you might be greeted by a three-legged baby goat. Nearby, you’ll meet founder Aimee Takaha, beaming like a proud mother at the kid’s impressive dexterity and speed.
“Would you like to feed her?” she might offer, extending a bottle. “Her name is Clover.”
“When they’re raised with love and kindness, this is what you get...Just being in their presence is healing.”
Clover will hungrily (and happily) agree to the arrangement.
On this 5-acre nonprofit farm in the heart of Queen Creek, covered in mesquite-shaded areas, grassy stretches and large arenas and pens ideal for roaming, bottle-feeding a three-legged baby goat is only one of many opportunities to interact with rescued animals. Give belly rubs to a pig. Pet a miniature zebu. Brush a rescued pony. Feed the animals a smashed watermelon or pumpkin, depending on the season.
But perhaps the most enticing draw of all: participate in a cow-hugging therapy session, where children and adults alike are welcome to snuggle Moona Lisa, a gentle Spanish Corriente cow whom Takaha affectionately refers to as a “big grass puppy.”
Visitors can sit on a blanket beside Moona Lisa and lean against her while she relaxes on the ground. Takaha says guests sometimes arrive skeptical, but more often than not, visibly settle into the experience.
“There’s actual science behind snuggling next to a cow,” she says, including lowering blood pressure. “It’s like her head is a warm weighted blanket and she’ll make these deep sighs, and she’ll purr like a cat, and it’s just so good. You can’t help but feel happy.”
The sessions can be emotional, too.
“I would say the majority of people cry,” Takaha says. “It’s so good.”
The main mission of Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary is to “rescue, rehabilitate, re-home and spread awareness of farm animals in need while creating a healing environment for differently abled humans.” Every rescue, tour and volunteer shift helps bring that mission to life.
On Mondays, Takaha welcomes groups from facilities across the Valley for free tours. Many visitors have autism, Down syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other physical, developmental and emotional challenges. The tours give them an
opportunity to experience the farm firsthand. Takaha notices how the animals have a centering and calming presence.
The sanctuary also calls on a local senior living community each month, bringing chickens and other gentle animals to residents who may no longer be able to experience the farm themselves.
“The seniors love to snuggle the chickens,” Takaha says.
Members of the general public are also welcome to explore the farm. Guests can book a one-hour private tour through aimeesfarmanimalsanctuary.org, with proceeds going directly toward feeding and caring for the animals. Children 18 and under are free with a minimum of two adults. During the summer months, tours are limited to one per day because of the heat, but availability increases as temperatures cool.
Many of the animals here are friendly and engaging because Takaha and her volunteers have nurtured them to trust and interact with humans.
“When they’re raised with love and kindness, this is what you get. They are healing. Just being in their presence is healing,” says Takaha.
Some of the animals are a bit more skittish or unsure due to years of neglect, abuse or special needs. Takaha and her team provide safety guidelines for interacting with them and remain vigilant during visits.
On the tour, you’ll meet Mootilda, a cow rescued from a slaughterhouse after her 3-mile escape went viral online; Jennyvieve the donkey, who made a miraculous recovery after a terrible facial injury; and a steer named Adorabull, who was found in a ditch.
Each animal has a story. Some arrived frightened and wary of people. Others required extensive medical care. Today, many of those same animals approach visitors looking for treats, attention or a good scratch behind the ears. Their transformations are a testament to the dedication of the sanctuary.
“We make them better. And that’s everything—to see them better,” says Takaha.
“Takaha believes it’s also important for children to understand how animals can overcome challenges. It reminds them that difficult circumstances do not have to define a life.”
She believes it’s also important for children to understand how animals can overcome challenges. It reminds them that difficult circumstances do not have to define a life.
Children,too, might start a trip to the farm feeling overwhelmed by the animals, especially the larger ones, but within an hour, they’re usually comfortable and enjoying the experience.
Many families return again and again, Takaha says, often developing favorite animals and lasting connections to the sanctuary.
And for those who can follow directions—typically ages 8 and up—volunteering around the farm is a great way to get more involved. They can help with simple chores like making salads for the chickens, walking horses and assisting with daily routines.
It teaches them empathy, patience and responsibility, Takaha says, along with basic animal facts and husbandry skills. For many children, those lessons begin with a chore and end with a lifelong love of animals.
Raising Children, Not Report Cards
Mother of seven and registered nurse Julie Matheson shares wisdom for parents this school year
As another academic year looms, parents are feeling the pressure to set their children up for success and pick the perfect school. We spoke with Julie Matheson, co-owner of Matheson Dentistry & Implant Center, mother of seven and a registered nurse, about choosing what’s best for your child’s education. Matheson, who can relate to the strain, says to lift the weight off.
“People are so diverse that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all clothing store,” she shares. “Education is no different… It’s ok to change your outfit or put on or take off a coat as the need arises.”
After raising seven children, currently ages 11 to 25, Matheson says the biggest lesson she learned wasn’t which school was best. Her most important takeaway is that the relationship she built with her children shaped them more than any classroom ever could. School became one tool. Her job was raising people. She often returns to a quote by Goethe: “The way you see [a child] is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is [who] they [will] become.”
When her oldest was entering kindergarten, the family lived across the street from Los Angeles’ highest-rated elementary school. But when she learned its ratings dropped after third grade, she realized the change coincided with many UCLA graduate families moving away.
ARTICLE BY CAMILLA RICHARDSON
“It wasn’t the school or the teachers,” she says. “What you value is what your children will value.”
When the family later moved to Queen Creek, that realization eased the pressure to find the “perfect” school. They chose a charter school, but Matheson no longer viewed any educational setting as the destination.
“There’s a lot of factors to consider in a child’s education,” she says. “I look at setting up their education like a recipe. Sometimes when you cook dinner, it looks totally different day to day.”
As her children grew, so did their needs. One son struggled with long classroom days and homework. A daughter eagerly devoted hours each day to gymnastics. The family transitioned to homeschooling, a decision Matheson says terrified her.
“[I was] sure I was ruining everything in life and my children,” she says. “[But] when we get to the root of our fears about our children,
we often have to admit that the fear isn’t about them, it’s almost always about us.”
The extra time together transformed the family. A son who had struggled under constant deadlines flourished once he had room to think and be a kid. Another daughter later chose a charter high school because she thrived around people, while a sister found her fit in a microschool with time for creative projects.
Those experiences reinforced what Matheson now believes most strongly: children aren’t products to be perfected by a certain age. They are people discovering who they are, and parents have the opportunity to shape them through connection.
“I would much rather have a child feel safe, nurtured and connected,” she says. “Always choose the option that builds them as a person.”
To parents in the middle of school decisions, she says not to “be afraid to scrap it all and start again.” Patience is needed for both children and adults. “It’s a process, and there are seasons to life. You are teaching your children how to live a good life, and this includes learning to roll with the punches and get back up again.”
No school decisions need to be permanent. The most important thing Matheson has learned after seven children and two decades of parenting is to look for the best in her children and herself.
ARTICLE BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
SAFE
Spaces, Fewer PESTS
PARENTS WANT CHILDREN TO PLAY FREELY IN THE BACKYARD. PET OWNERS WANT DOGS AND CATS TO ROAM THEIR FAVORITE SPACES.
For many Queen Creek families, pest control comes down to a simple question: Can it protect the home without disrupting everyday life?
Parents want children to play freely in the backyard. Pet owners want dogs and cats to roam their favorite spaces. And few people want to spend the day wondering what was sprayed around the people and animals they love most. Those concerns are becoming increasingly common, says Aaron O'Brien, owner of Pro Strike Pest Solutions.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY PEST CONTROL HELPS PROTECT HOMES, CHILDREN AND PETS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SEASON.
“As a dad of four kids and a dog myself, the biggest concern I hear is whether the products being used around the home are safe for the people and pets living there,” O'Brien says. “Parents want their kids to be able to play on the floor, run around the backyard and not have to worry about what was sprayed.”
To help address those concerns, Pro Strike Pest Solutions offers a nontoxic treatment option designed to target common household pests while providing families with an alternative to traditional treatments. The product uses ingredients derived from natural sources, giving homeowners another option when deciding what feels right for their household.
For O'Brien, offering that choice was personal. “I wanted to offer something that I'd feel comfortable using around my own family,” he says.
Still, effective pest control involves more than the product itself. O'Brien notes that long-term results depend on a broader strategy that includes inspections, sealing entry points and reducing access to food and water sources that attract pests.
“The biggest thing is that effective pest control isn't just about the product,” he says. “When you combine those things together, you can often achieve great results while being thoughtful about the people and pets that live in the home.”
That balance becomes especially important during the height of summer. As temperatures climb, Queen Creek homeowners commonly encounter scorpions, ants, crickets, spiders and earwigs searching for water and shelter. Roof rats and occasional termite activity can also become concerns.
“Living in Arizona means pests are part of life,” O'Brien says. “But staying ahead of them with regular service can prevent a small issue from becoming a bigger problem.”
prostrikepest.com
BEST PET FRIENDLY PATIOS IN QUEEN CREEK
DINING WITH Your Dog
ARTICLE BY GRETCHEN PAHIA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAYLEEN YORK
For many Valley pet owners, dining out with their four-legged friends brings them joy. Fortunately, Queen Creek is home to several restaurants and destinations welcoming dogs to their outdoor patios while serving everything from brunch favorites to craft beer and Italian-inspired food. Whatever experience you are looking for, these pet-friendly patio spots are well worth a visit.
UNCLE BEAR’S GRILL & TAP
One of the favorite spots for dog lovers in the Valley has a home right here in Queen Creek. Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap has a great reputation for welcoming pets on spacious dog-friendly patios. Guests can enjoy burgers, sandwiches, salads and craft beers. This laid-back atmosphere is perfect for your furry family members, offering refreshing water bowls and a dogfriendly menu.
Queen Creek is home to several restaurants and destinations welcoming dogs to their outdoor patios
If you bring your dog on Saturday or during happy hour Monday through Friday, they eat free (with the purchase of a human meal). And if you are worried about the heat, there are plenty of shady areas as well as a state-of-the-art misting system to keep doggie guests comfortable. Located at 21151 S. Rittenhouse Road.
OVER EASY
Outdoor dining isn’t just for lunch and dinner. Known for made-from-scratch breakfast and brunch menus, Over Easy has become a dining hot spot. Guests can enjoy omelets, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and more as their pets relax beside them.
Those looking for a midday dining experience can take advantage of the Weekday Social, offered Monday through Friday from noon to 2 p.m. The special includes $12 lunch items, $2 off certain appetizers and $5 mimosas. Pets are always welcome on their outdoor patios at both their area locations at 37584 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 107 and 21152 E. Rittenhouse Road, Suite 102.
QUEEN CREEK OLIVE MILL
There are very few dining spots that offer the type of picturesque outdoor setting that the Queen Creek Olive Mill offers. Founded by Perry and Brenda Rea, the Olive Mill has become one of the most unique dining destinations in the Valley. Visitors are welcome to bring their dogs to enjoy the outdoor spaces while exploring the olive groves, marketplace and of course, Italianinspired dining options. Guests can also relax on the patio at Di Oliva Italian Bistro & Bar while noshing on award-winning olive oil.
If you are looking for something a little more personal, there are special events held throughout the year including Pizza Date Nights and Sangria Socials. This combination of open-air dining and a pet- and family-friendly atmosphere makes this a must-visit destination for pet lovers. Located at 25062 S. Meridian Road.
Queen Creek offers plenty of opportunities for pet owners to enjoy a meal without leaving their four-legged friends behind. Whether you are searching for breakfast with friends, catching a game with the guys or looking for a family-friendly atmosphere, these options will be sure to leave any human or pet full and happy.
UNPLUGGING THROUGH FAMILY CREATIVE TIME
FOR 30 YEARS, THE COMMUNITY HAS GATHERED HERE MAKING MEMORIES
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIMELESS VISION MEDIA
Long before Jared Neff became the chief operating officer for As You Wish, he was a young boy painting a picture frame for his father at one of the company’s studios. Across the top and bottom, in bold red letters, he wrote: “I Love You Daddy.”
More than 25 years later, the frame still sits on his father’s desk.
Michaela “MJ” Jaskowiak, As You Wish’s social media and PR director, has a keepsake of her own. A snowman ornament she painted when she was five or six years old at an As You Wish studio still hangs on her family’s Christmas tree.
“It’s fallen off the tree a few times and been glued back together, but I still have it and put it on my tree every year,” Jaskowiak says. “It’s really sweet.”
For more than 30 years, As You Wish has served as a gathering place for Valley families, friends and multiple generations. Today, it operates eight locations, including one in Queen Creek.
Friends gather to paint gifts and keepsakes. Grandparents bring grandchildren for one-on-one outings. Families preserve handprints and pet paw prints on mugs, plates and ornaments. Even grown children return with their parents for an afternoon of creativity.
Fostering creativity, Jaskowiak says, is a great way not only to unplug but also to work the muscles in our brains. For younger children, painting can help strengthen fine motor skills while encouraging self-expression and problem-solving.
“I think everyone is looking for a reason to put their phone down,” Jaskowiak says. “And, you know, as cliché as it sounds, we all want something tactile that still keeps our hands busy and keeps us focused on something that’s better for us.”
As You Wish staff regularly witness the kinds of conversations that are easy to postpone in everyday life. Friends reconnect over a shared project. Grandparents share stories with grandchildren. Families carve out time to be together amid the busyness of everyday life.
In an era dominated by screens, those moments matter.
Whether guests leave with a hand-painted mug, a holiday ornament, a pet paw print dish or a gift for someone they love, the finished piece often becomes a reminder of the time spent creating it.
Perhaps that is the real appeal of As You Wish. It gives people the chance to slow down, create something with their hands and spend a few uninterrupted hours with the people who matter most.
That could be why a picture frame painted by a little boy still sits on his father’s desk more than 25 years later.
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
AUGUST 1ST
Chill at the Mill Happy Hour
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Until September, escape the summer heat during Chill at the Mill Happy Hour at Queen Creek Olive Mill. Guests can enjoy seasonal drink specials and discounted appetizers in the air-conditioned Del Piero Bar Sunday through Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. queencreekolivemill.com/events
AUGUST 1ST
Queen Creek Feastival
22300 S. Summers Place | 5:30 PM
Make Friday night dinners easy at the Queen Creek Feastival, a weekly gathering of local food trucks and family fun. Here you’ll find a rotating lineup of food vendors serving everything from tacos and barbecue to sweet treats. Bring lawn chairs, gather friends and neighbors, and make this community favorite part of your summer routine. azfeastivals.com
AUGUST 7TH AND 14TH
BR Diamond Spur 5D Summer Nights Barrel Racing
20464 E. Riggs Road | 5:30 PM
Arizona's equestrian culture is alive and well at BR Diamond Spur 5D Summer Nights Barrel Racing at Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre. These evening competitions bring riders and spectators together for fast-paced barrel racing action in a family-friendly atmosphere. racebrds.com
Karen Cummings Radiant CEO
Stacey Siewert
AUGUST 20TH - 22ND
Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical
22149 E. Ocotillo Road
Queen Creek Arts Center is bringing Disney’s musical “Camp Rock” center stage Aug. 20-22. The story follows a teenager who is eager to spend her summer at a prestigious rock camp but is permitted to attend only if she works in the kitchen. When she is overheard singing by a teen pop star at the camp, he becomes desperate to find the owner of the beautiful voice. It is a heartwarming story about confronting fears in order to step into the spotlight. qcpac.com
AUGUST 26TH
Olive to Paint & Sip
Queen Creek Olive Mill | 6:30 PM
Get creative during Olive to Paint & Sip at Queen Creek Olive Mill. This upscale indoor workshop for those ages 21 and older includes a glass of prosecco, all art supplies and step-by-step instruction from a professional artist in a relaxed setting. Guests will also enjoy private shopping opportunities and exclusive discounts on Queen Creek Olive Mill merchandise. queencreekolivemill.com/events
AUGUST 27TH
Business & Education Summit
ASU Polytechnic Campus, 5999 S. Backus Mall, Mesa | 7:30 AM
Business and community leaders will gather for the annual Business & Education Summit hosted by the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce at the ASU Polytechnic Campus. The event explores partnerships between education and industry, including workforce development, economic growth and the future of business in the Southeast Valley. queencreekchamber.com
Building Smiles Building Smiles
