The Nelson family, who live in Highland Meadows, share a strong bond. Ryan and Tammy have raised three sons, Brody (18) and 15-year-old twins Riley and Kasey, while successfully balancing careers in education and finance. Sadly, the family was deeply impacted by the recent loss of their beloved dog, Shar, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. Shar was nearly ten years old and was rescued by the Nelsons in 2015. Despite this sorrow, the Nelsons continue to cherish the countless memories Shar brought to their lives.

Ryan, who was previously a stay-at-home dad, now teaches technology at Harris Bilingual Elementary School. Tammy, a CPA, retired from her accounting career in 2019. Originally from North Platte, Nebraska, Ryan earned his B.S. in Political Science with a minor in Economics from CU Denver, later earning a Master of Education from UNC. Tammy, originally from Greeley, Colorado, graduated from UNC with a B.S. in Accounting.

 

The Nelsons have many activities and hobbies that keep them active and engaged as a family. They enjoy spending time outdoors, whether playing tennis or pickleball, running, hiking, bike riding, or boating. Their favorite local spots include Aberdour Circle Park, Windsor Highlands Park, and the Highland Meadows Racquet Club, where they often gather for fun and some spirited tennis and pickleball games. As for dining out, the family loves a variety of local restaurants, with favorites including Roma’s, Palomino, Sala Thai, Hunan, Doug’s Diner, Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, and Chick-fil-A.

Travel is another passion of the Nelsons. After Brody’s high school graduation, they plan to take a family trip to Europe, including destinations like Italy, Germany, France, and England. One of their most memorable vacations was a trip to Maui, Hawaii, in 2022. They also love visiting family in Orlando, Florida, where they enjoy the theme parks, water parks, and sunshine. Cruises are another favorite way for the family to explore new destinations and create lasting memories.

 

The Nelsons are avid fans of several sports teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Nebraska Cornhuskers, CSU Rams, Denver Broncos, and CU Buffs. They share their love for sports with an equal enthusiasm for TV shows and movies, with favorites like Modern Family, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, and The Office. They gravitate toward iconic franchises such as Harry Potter, Marvel films, and Star Wars for movie nights. Playing board games and attending live theatre performances rank high on their list of fun things to do as well.  

 

The Nelson family is deeply committed to their community and school. Ryan says, “We have been very involved in our community through scouting. Twice a year, we volunteer our time as a family to collect food for the Windsor/Severance Food Pantry. In addition, all three boys are Eagle Scouts. Brody received his in 2021, and Riley and Kasey just received their Eagle Scout ranks last summer in 2024. Each of their Eagle Scout projects made a meaningful contribution to our expanded community. Brody built a nine-square game for Briggsdale School, providing students a fun way to stay active. Riley built a gaga ball pit for Harris Elementary in Fort Collins, giving kids a new place to play. Kasey designed and built a volunteer trailer for the Town of Windsor, helping the community transport volunteer equipment. Each project reflects their dedication to giving back and making a positive impact. Brody also actively participates in community events through his honor societies at Fossil, volunteering at the Equinox Races, Garden of Lights, Hack-a-Thon, and various school activities.”

 

Brody is a Cross Country and Track and Field team member at Fossil Ridge High School. He was awarded Academic All-State First Team and received the Coach’s Award in Cross Country this season. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Coding Club, and Chess Club.  He has been a member of the Ambassadors Leadership program at Fossil Ridge for the past three years. He plans to major in Computer Science in college but has not yet decided where to go. He has been accepted to the School of Mines in Golden, CU, DU, CSU, UCCS, and UNC.

Riley and Kasey are on the Fossil Ridge High School tennis team and plan to join the track team in the spring. In addition to tennis, Riley is part of the Science Olympiad, while Kasey enjoys soccer. They also love pickleball and recently won a Highland Meadows Racquet Club tournament. They also enjoy hanging out with neighborhood friends and playing ping-pong, card games, and video games.

 

While the kids stay busy, so do Ryan and Tammy. Ryan enjoys working on smart home gadgets and tinkering with his Jeep Wrangler, always looking for ways to improve or fix things. “Whether he's setting up a new device, fixing something that's broken, or experimenting with new tech, he loves figuring out how things work,” Tammy states. Tammy’s passion is creating annual photo books for each of the kids, preserving special memories with photos and captions for them to cherish in the future.

 

Ryan and Tammy share the following family tradition: “We love the holiday season and kick it off with Brody's birthday at the end of October, followed by celebrating Halloween with our neighbors at a community party and decorating our house for the trick-or-treaters to enjoy. Since Brody was a baby, we've made it a tradition to get matching holiday pajamas yearly. As the season progresses, we enjoy baking cookies, sending Christmas cards, watching holiday movies, playing board games, putting together holiday puzzles, and coloring a giant tablecloth poster, which adds to the fun and creativity of our celebrations. We also play ultimate frisbee on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve with our neighbors.

The Nelson family’s story is one of dedication, community involvement, and a shared love for making lasting memories together. From their active lifestyles and commitment to their neighborhood to their deep family bonds and traditions, they truly embody the values of togetherness and giving back. Whether through their volunteer work, athletic achievements, or simply enjoying a fun evening at home, the Nelsons are a family with an enthusiasm for life.