Day 6: Finally Packed

January 6, 2011

Tomorrow we leave for Washington to spend the weekend with Greg's family. His dad (Aaron), stepmom (Valera) and sisters (Mikayla and Rosalie) live in Vancouver; and his Uncle Mike, Uncle Steve, Aunt Maria, Nancy (his mom) and Valera's parents are also going to be there. It is Rosalie's 13th birthday on the 8th and everyone was able to get amazing deals on tickets, so we were all able to come up and celebrate her special day!

We will miss those that couldn't make it: Scott (Greg's dad), Uncle John, Uncle Greg, Aunt Teri, Jamie, Ryan, Justin and Kassidy.

We are definitely excited to see everyone and spend a few days as a family. This will only be the second time the majority of the family has been able to get together for a HAPPY event. The last time we all were together was for Tim and Randi's funeral service (2008) and the trial (2010).

It is great spending time with Greg's family...we are definitely a dynamic group and have a lot of fun together...it seems we are always goofing off and causing a scene! We always manage to make a ton of wonderful memories!

Today was a busy day at work and when we got home we had to finish washing some laundry and pack for the trip.  I was worried it would be a late night, but we managed to make it to bed by 9:30! Can't wait to fly out tomorrow! Let the family circus begin! LOL :)

Day 5: To Aunt Becky's House He Goes!

January 5, 2011

Friday we leave for Vancouver to visit Greg's family. My sister-in-law, Becky, was so sweet and offered to take care of Ranger while we are gone. She is amazing with animals of any kind: dogs, cats, horses (I think she is an animal whisperer!:)

Ranger knew something was happening-he was all excited and kept going from me, to Greg, to Becky, not knowing who to pay attention to first. I love how great Becky is with him and know he will have a great time with her. She and my brother, Sky, have a couple of corgis who will keep Ranger company.

Whenever we go anywhere it is always hard for Greg to leave his baby! Before Becky left with him, Greg was cuddling and playing and getting some extra lovin' from his puppy. After he left, Greg was a little sad and the house seemed very empty without our rambunctious 8 month old pup running around.

Becky told us that after they got to her house, one of her dogs, Bob, was chasing Ranger around the yard and Ranger was in heaven! Bob couldn't figure out why he wasn't able to catch him! :)

I know Ranger will have a marvelous time having a 5-day sleepover with Aunt Becky, Uncle Sky and his corgi cousins! Thanks so much, Becky and Sky for helping us out! XOXO

 Some cuddle time.

 Playing like boys do!

All loaded up and ready to go!

Day 4: These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

January 4, 2011

I love Willow Tree statues. They are so poetic, the simple features, the soft and beautiful lines...everything leads you into the heart of the statue and makes you feel the beauty of the moment it is made to represent.

This particular statue is titled "Promise."  I remember first seeing this statue shortly after we were married, and I fell in love with it. We were preparing for our wedding celebration and I knew I wanted this to somehow be a part of the decorations.

I wanted fresh flowers on top of, and flowing down our cake, but I felt inspired to have the statue be a part of the cake table. I knew it would look perfect next to the amazing cake Shawn Uhland was going to make for us.

I think what I loved most, was the fact that after the wedding it could also be a decoration in our home that we could enjoy for years to come.

Valera, my (step)mother-in-law, surprised me and bought this for us as a wedding gift! I was so thrilled and loved her thoughtfulness!

The frame in the background has the front of our wedding invitation in it; it says "Two Friends. Two Hearts. One Promise. One Love."  A friend was so thoughtful and saved the invitation, framed it and gave it to us.

I still love the statue, and find strength and peace when I look at it. I know that even when we have rough patches, we have something more than those times...we have the Promise of our love, our marriage and being each other's best friend for the rest of our lives.

So, all this to say...the statue and framed invitation are definitely a few of my favorite things (that decorate our home)!

Day 3: A Day Full of Words

January 3, 2011

The past few days, Greg and I have been addicted to "Droid Words"...our phones' version of "Scrabble" or "Words With Friends."  I hate to admit it, but of the 6 games Greg and I have played, he has won most of them. Which is odd becuase he says I am a dictionary...but it isn't my fault I keep getting crappy letters. Haha.

Greg helped me with the idea of using the Scrabble board game and box in the pictures. We used this specific Droid Words game not only because it was one of the few I have actually won, but because my Daddy's nickname for me (Keno) is in it...and I was hoping it would make him smile. Love you Daddy! :)

                                                           My photo                                    

  

Greg's photo

Day 2: He Flies Through The Air...

January 2, 2011 (Two pics today...couldn't pick just one! :)

Today we went to the park with Ranger...he loved climbing all over the jungle gym and playing fetch. He was a little hesitant to go through the tunnel, but finally he maneuvered it like a champ!

Ok, so he was scared of the tunnel, but had no fear or hesitency when he randomly decided to JUMP OFF the platform for the spiral slide! Greg and I were quite surprised and a little worried because the platform was so high, but Ranger was just fine and would have probably done it again if we had let him! 

Day 1: A New Year Voyage to Narnia

January 1, 2011

Today Greg and I went and saw The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was awesome, as all the movies have been. Both of us have read and loved the books and are glad the movies closely follow them. C.S. Lewis was an amazing and imaginative author, and such a great Christian man...his books really portray the story of Christ, the battle of good and evil and salvation. I love how Aslan is so powerful, yet so loving and gentle...a very true representation of Christ.

The Reason Behind the Blog

For 2011, I have decided to take a photograph every day and record it on a blog (shout out to Christy S. for inspiring me with her 365 photo blog:).


I have always found emense joy in taking photographs and I love to write and scrapbook...so this will be a fun and easy way to do it all! It will be awesome to look back over the year and remember what happened!


I know that some days will be easy...a big event will happen, something interesting will occur or there will be unmistakable reason to take a photo; other days I know it will be a stretch for me to find something to photograph...but those are the days I am looking forward to because they will help me to be more creative, more artistic and fall even more in love with photography!

Let the blogging and picture-taking begin! :)