Emily Hurd

And just like that—after 9 years—my girl is moving on from the Children’s Hospital in Madison. I get all choked up thinking about the weeks we spent up here with the badass craniofacial surgeons & staff. I’m gonna miss this magical place.

Also, I have a favor to ask. Right now, there is a bipartisan bill that has been reintroduced to congress. It’s called the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), referred to as the “happy smiles” bill, and it would require private health insurance plans to cover medically necessary dental and reconstructive services for congenital anomalies or birth defects.

Please join us in calling your congress person and asking them to push this through. Families shouldn’t have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to help their kids with syndromes get a full set of chompers.

Keep fighting the good fight.
❤️ Em (& Jo)

I got some incredible gifts this year, but two that made me cry.

1) “The Official & Entirely Legitimate Christmas Rest & Musical Creation Agreement” from my son hereafter referred to as Party A. The “Gift of Time” with a “Non-Interruption Clause” & “Restaurant Amnesty” is amazing. Best contract ever, Party A.

2) A cutting board made by my brother-in-law Matt that I’ll cherish forever. 10/10 wood species choice & craftsmanship.

Cheers to more creativity in 2026! Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, everyone. ❤️

Happening right now in Rockford Illinois! Go get your friends or your babes or just yourself & head outside!

Watch out boy she’ll chew you up.

Chilly day for a boat ride, but here we are celebrating 11 years by cruising up the Rock River on our 65 year-old wood boat. I love doing life with you . Let’s keep on making magical things.

Joy is a form of rebellion.

I just got home from camping in the U.P. & am already dreaming about going back. Feeling grateful to be a part of an accepting family that does nerdy things like painting lake rocks & auctioning them off to each other. (My cherry pie rock art went for $9.10).

Hope you’re hanging in there.
❤️ Em

I love the ocean.

Just got back from a week away in South Carolina. It felt like every minute was a highlight, but at the top: sunrise walks, moonlit walks, visiting the Mitchelville Freedom Park, trying the great Gullah cuisine, deep sea fishing (we released all 12 fish we caught), shore crabbing (we ate all those), playing in the sand, parking my bum in the ocean all day, finding shells, & having long conversations that went by in a snap.

Enormous hat tip to the restaurant crew for carrying the ship so well while we went away. ❤️💪