I'm a happy RN married to a hardworking resident. We have recently become Carolina fans and are adding the color "carolina" blue to our wardrobe and home. I love the east coast and couldn't be happier living in hot, sticky climate. I was raised on a farm/ranch with two wonderful parents and three fun loving older sisters. I went to a one room country school house down the dusty dirt road with grand total of three in my class. Life in the country was rich, meaningful, and simple, just the way I like it. So from country farmgirl to coastal bell, here I am, living life and loving it!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Cherishing These Days

As I look back at all these pictures I am can't help but smile.  It's been a long year with many ups and downs.  Some days I didn't think I could go on, but somehow by the grace of God and lots of prayers he pulled me through.  Since it is the Thanksgiving season I did take a look back at the year and though we are missing our sweet Ellie Catherine, as I always will, I have much to be thankful.  Parents and in-laws, sisters, bros-in-laws, nieces,  and nephews all in good health and warm happy homes.  A husband that works so hard for our family and honestly never complains.  Those early morning alarms that go off at 5 and days he doesn't get home until 8pm.  He just does it.  Jonah, I'm so thankful for my sweet Jonah.  Oh that boy gives me such great joy.  There are days that are trying, days of frustration, days he won't eat. But I love every minute of every day I get to spend at home with him.  He is such a blessing. A healthy pregnancy.  So far things have looked good on ultrasound and baby seems to be growing strong.  I continue to pray for a healthy baby and that everything will continue to go well.  And I am so thankful for my Lord and Savior. I don't know where I would be today without Him.  He has stood by me through some of my darkest days and has pulled me out of the pit of sadness and has shown me that he cares.  I am thankful that he was born in a manger, lived on this very earth, took all my sin and ugliness, and lives today.  Because of him there is much to be thankful and look forward to.  The birth of our third child, our big move, a new town, seeing my Ellie again.  I can finally see through the clouds and look ahead with joy and a smile on my face. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 So exhausted on our way back from Montana.  One thing I will not miss is all the flying we have done.  I used to love flying, but now that I kids its just gives me great anxiety.  Jonah did great and Tim is always a huge help so the trip went pretty good. This was after a two hour time change and then day light savings!  We were getting up at 4 am all week.  Oh the joys of toddlers:)
 Cold Montana weather!


 Jonah loved getting the eggs with Papa.  He could hardly wait to Papa to get home and head outside.  This is one thing I'm looking forward to when we move back, fresh eggs, can't wait.  I think between me being pregnant and wanting eggs every morning for breakfast, and my husband just loving breakfast in general we ate all of the eggs they had, like three dozen!  Sorry Joe and Chris!



 Holding cousin Grant for the first time, and a very quick and blurry picture with Papa and Muzzie.  They were able to come up for a couple of days along with Julie, Jenny, and their boys.  It was so nice to have them.



 Just enjoying a nice movie, warm fire, and time with Mimi!





Loving these days with my baby!  He is not really my baby anymore, almost 28 months.  I can't believe it.  I just love the things we are doing now and the excitement about life he has.  Love you Jonah!








Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The End of Summer

We are gearing down toward the end of summer pictures and onto fall and the nice weather. Now its cold and rainy:(  I really don't like winter, especially with a two year old to entertain.  It's hard being contained inside all day, but we do the best we can!  I am wrapping up the pictures from fall now and all I have left is our trip to Montana!


Waiting to pick Mimi up from the airport.  He was pretty excited to see her so we sat on the step, had a snack, and waited!

He loves spaghetti! And it's always a huge mess, but oh well he eats it!!



A day at the museum.  We rode the train which Jonah thought was pretty darn amazing.  And while the conductor was talking he listened very intently.  He was into it!





The awesome train table Daddy made for Jonah.  He was very excited about this little project!





Taking pictures with Joshua!



My sweet cow for Halloween!  He was so into Halloween this year and it was so much fun to watch him.  He was a trooper and kept up with the big kids most of the night.  His little legs walked up and down many hills and he walked the whole way without being asked to be carried once!  "I do!"



Monday, November 25, 2013

We continue

And the pictures continue.  I am waiting for something exciting, like um Thanksgiving, to come up with some more recent pictures!  So until then lets dream of summer and warmer weather...


 We were able to take a family trip to Blowing Rock this fall to visit Tweetsie Railroad and Tim was able to do his first bike race in North Carolina.  I love blowing rock and what a neat little quaint town it is!


 Pretty exhausted from a fun filled weekend trip.  He slept the whole way home!


Our favorite place to be, the park.  He is so fun to take to the park now because you can just let him go and he goes up and down the slide and stairs all by himself.  Oh and everything these days is "I DO."  Sometimes its cute and sometimes he just can't do!!


Jonah learned that you can reverse the camera on my phone so we took some self pictures.  He was enjoying this very much!
 A day with his cousins.  When mom and dad were here this fall we went over to Kurt and Laura's and had some great games of Mother May I.  Her kids are at a great age for this game and had so much fun.  I took about 10 pictures and its so funny because in each picture there is a progression of Jonah starting at the back and then pretty soon is somehow in the front with Joshua.  He had fun playing the game his way!





We finally made it to downtown Durham to eat some ice cream and the Ice Cream Parlor.  It was a neat place with some very delicious options.  We went to Mark, Julie, and Lillia and had a great time out together.  We are so thankful for dear friends like them, that's another things I will miss about North Carolina. Saying goodbye to precious freindships:(

 More trains.  Jonah is at the perfect age for trains so we took him to the Hope Valley Train yard.  It was a great family outing.  And Jonah loved every minute of it!



A sweet Sunday afternoon hanging with Daddy!