Introducing Us
Welcome to The Everyday Expedition
Hello, and welcome to The Everyday Expedition! I’m McKenna Hope, a mom to three sweet girls, a military wife, and the writer behind this blog. Here, I’ll be sharing stories from our life as a family of five as we navigate parenting, military life, and the adventures we find both close to home and on the road. Each day in our family is a new opportunity, an “everyday expedition,” and I’m thrilled to invite you to journey with us.
Why The Everyday Expedition?
As any parent of young kids knows, some days feel long, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the little things. For me, the name The Everyday Expedition is a reminder to embrace the opportunities for joy and learning that each day brings—whether we’re exploring nature trails, tackling big hikes with toddlers, or simply finding ways to connect at home. You don’t have to go far to find adventure, and I hope this blog shows other parents how to create rich, memorable experiences with their children.
Meet Our Family
I feel so grateful to share life with my wonderful husband and our three daughters. My husband is my biggest supporter and an incredible father, who balances the demands of military life with endless love, humor, and resilience. He’s away for stretches of time, but his dedication makes our family life—and my journey as a stay-at-home mom—possible.
Our eldest daughter, Arbela, is a brave, kind-hearted three-year-old with boundless energy. She’s the best big sister, always encouraging her younger siblings, and I admire how she faces new challenges head-on. Valletta, our middle daughter, is gentle, funny, and full of curiosity. At just one, she radiates happiness wherever we go. Then there’s Verona, our littlest at five months, who is already so full of joy, eagerly watching her big sisters and exploring her world more every day.
We’re an outdoors-loving family that finds joy in nature and encourages our kids to take on challenges at their own pace. Recently, we tackled the Ha Ling Peak hike in Alberta, where Arbela and Valletta, with a bit of teamwork and encouragement, climbed higher than I thought possible! Watching Arbela reach for her sister’s hand to help on a steep part of the trail filled me with pride and reminded us of the strong bond we’re building together.
Why I’m Sharing Our Story
I started The Everyday Expedition because I want to help other parents feel empowered to get out and create meaningful experiences with their kids, even if they’re just starting. There’s a lot of information out there, and it can be overwhelming. I’m sharing our story not because we have it all figured out, but because we’re learning as we go and making it work. I hope that by sharing our journey, other parents feel encouraged and confident enough to start their own adventures.
This space is about building a community where parents can find practical advice and reassurance, whether they’re looking for ideas for their next family outing or trying to navigate the everyday joys and struggles of parenting.
Our Family Values
At the heart of our family life are a few guiding principles. We love and enjoy our kids deeply, and we try to be as present as possible in the time we share. You could call our style “mindful parenting,” which is less about labels and more about embracing our role with intention. My husband and I research parenting approaches and development practices to be as informed as possible in raising our little ones. We want our kids to feel understood and encouraged to explore the world with confidence.
Our adventures often take us outdoors, where we learn from our surroundings, whether by identifying local trees or playing games to stay observant on the trails. As a military family, we cherish our time together even more, making the most of my husband’s time at home with memorable experiences and new explorations. These moments remind us of what really matters.
What You’ll Find Here
On The Everyday Expedition, you’ll find a little bit of everything—from practical travel tips to navigating “solo parenting” when my husband is away, to ways we budget for and plan our family adventures. I’m excited to dive into the nitty-gritty of making travel work with little ones and share the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
More than anything, I want you to leave here feeling inspired and connected to a community that “gets it”—a place where we can learn from each other and find support.
Let’s Connect
If you’d like to stay connected, you can find me on Instagram at @mckennaonthego, and I’m thinking about setting up a newsletter soon. I’d love to hear from you on Instagram or through comments here. Feel free to reach out with questions, thoughts, or just to say hello!
Thank you so much for being here. I hope The Everyday Expedition inspires you to embrace adventure, whether it’s in your backyard or across the country. Here’s to making the everyday an expedition worth celebrating!
