Our family is going through a lot of changes this year. I am very excited about it, looking forward to it. I feel like the little irritating piece of sand inside a clam that gets worked and worked until it becomes a pearl. I am so grateful for my beautiful family, Michael, Evan and Cora Grace. If I had my way, there would be more so we'll see. ;)
We had a good 2013. Really good. Our favorite thing was getting to go home to California on a driving trip that I never blogged or posted pictures for (yet?). We loaded up our trusty CRV and took a week to stop in St. Louis, the drive through South Dakota was my FAVORITE, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Rexburg, Idaho for Cora Grace and my baby brother Isaac to finally meet (he was on his mission when she was born then went straight to school), Salt Lake City Utah to visit with and stay with amazing friends, a last minute stop in Las Vegas and got to see another great friend then California finally. It was great traveling with the kids, once we got to CA, we were there for a week, helping my parents pack up their house of 33 years to move. It was very rewarding to help alongside my brother Jesse. The kids cooperated perfectly at my parents house and loved jumping on their trampoline till their hearts content. Let's not forget all the cousins we got to visit with! Aunts and Uncles were everywhere and Cora even finally got to see the Ocean (she preferred the sand with cousin Adelle). Evan and Stewart made up for her by playing in the freezing ocean enough for all of us. :) On our way back to Tennessee we stopped at the Grand Canyon and it was so beautiful. I look forward to going back and taking more time there. We also got to go to Gatlinburg with the kids in December. I hope we take other trips this year, even for a couple days. Even more fun, we started camping this fall with the kids. We kinda got addicted going probably 4 times in a two month period? The kids LOVED sleeping in a tent, with Smokey, with mommy and daddy, Evan got to pee on trees! lol. We just had a great time being together, we just focused on enjoying each other and the moment. It payed off and we are going to focus in 2014 on doing more things like this as a family. Two of our camping trips took us down the road to Cedars of Lebanon State Park. The first time we went, I saw their lodge that they use for group parties, events and weddings. As soon as I saw these doors I knew we needed to take our Holiday pictures there, so we got dressed up on a cold cold day, set up the tripod and timer. All we did was press the button for the family shots! I took the rest and just love my hobby of photography, especially when we capture something like this. Here you go... Happy 2014: a year of JOY, positive changes- inside and out for all of us. Love to all.
These trouble makers love each other so much AND argue with each other so much! ha ha ha. Cora tattles with a smirk on her face, Evan is genuinely concerned about what trouble Cora get into. ha! Then they play together again like nothing happened.
Our Christmas/New Years Card this year.. in front of 'the doors'. Everyone loves my new boots. Me too! I got them through Zulilly! I will email you an invite if you ask and want to find unique finds. xo
I just love this slightly different shot with Cora hugging me that I couldn't leave it out. <3
Our babies, best friends. Evan is 5 now, looking forward to Kindergarten in the Fall. More like OBSESSED with Kindergarten in the Fall. Every night he asks if he can go to Kindergarten yet. Its so sad and sweet at the same time. Cora Grace will be 4 in JUNE! I can't even say 3 1/2 because she's such a big girl, acting 4. Both of these crazies have grown 2 inches since the summer. That is amazing.
