Christmas Eve Firetrucks

On Christmas Eve we partook in a fun tradition in a little town just up the road. Every year they get out the city fire trucks and let all the kids (and adults) ride. The trucks go up and down main street with the lights flashing and sirens blaring. Santa rides on a vintage fire truck at the end of the line. This first photo was taken toward the end of the ride, just as we were about to get off but I'd say a good time was had by all.

The Beach

After we left Ohio, we had about a week to get settled before Jared started work and the weather was sunny and pleasant so naturally, one of our first stops was the beach! On our

way, we made a quick stop at the home of "Grave Digger" for a photo-op and then we went on to Jockey's Ridge State Park. Jared and I both agree, it is the best place to let kids run free. It is a huge sand dune so they can't get lost, they can't drown (or get hurt really) and there is nothing

for them to break. After Jockey's Ridge we went to Nags head to see the ocean and our last stop was an Aquarium on Roanoke Island. It has since cooled off but I'm excited to make some more day trips to the beach when the weather warms up again!

The Making of an Easter Portrait

Spring

As it turns out, the fat robin I mentioned in my previous post sat in my tree and mocked me while the forsythia shivered and the daffodils and I cried for the two weeks following that blessed first day of spring. It was cold, gray and rainy. Almost worse than February, if that is even possible. It snowed a little on April 1st! Mother Nature's cruel prank, I suppose, but I wasn't laughing. Spring has finally shown up the past several days (thankfully!) and here are a few pictures to prove it.

Caroline sporting dandelion earrings. (A gift from Mitchell):
Beautiful Magnolia trees in full bloom at the city building:Tree buds in my backyard:
Caroline and I enjoying some fresh air and sunshine at Austin's farm:
Caroline and Grandpa in matching outfits, coincidentally!

Camping Trailer

Image

Just before Thanksgiving, Jared and I became the proud owners of a vintage (late 70s) Tag-Along camping trailer. It's in great shape and it even has a cute stripey awning! We're hoping to take it on a maiden voyage before the New Year (hopefully somewhere a little warmer than Ohio.) I've already started planning some epic family road trips for the future in my head: Yellowstone, the Pacific Highway and New England are high on top of my list.

Update: The trailer pictured is not Jared and I's camper. (Ours isn't nearly as cute...yet!) However, the one pictured is available for rent in the UK. :)

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part II

Sunday, we blessed Caroline at our church and celebrated Mitchell's 5th birthday! Here are some photos of the fun:

The best picture I could get of the entire family.

After 3 hours of church it's an almost impossible feat.

The birthday boy, who requested spaghetti for dinner.

(He is a picky eater and likes his spaghetti straight - no sauce.)

The spectacular rally car cake, made by Jared.

Cake number two, provided by Mitchell's grandpa (my dad)

You know it's going to be a good year when it starts out with two cakes.

Happy Birthday Mitchell! And happy blessing day Caroline!

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part I

On Friday we attended a wedding celebration for our nephew Luke and his wife Nyla who were married in the Columbus Ohio Temple the week prior. First, the happy couple:

The weather was perfect for their backyard reception. The boys had fun dancing with their cousins...

and I had fun hanging out by the trifle buffet (yum!) and admiring all the twinkling lights they decorated with. These hanging votives made from baby food jars were my favorite!

Congratulations Luke + Nyla!

Sweet Caroline

Our little lady has arrived!
Caroline Elise made her world debut Wednesday morning, June 30th at 7:34 am.
She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
She is really soft and she smells really good and we just love her to pieces.

Tickled Pink

Jared and I weren't going to find out the sex of our baby until he or she arrived, however, we had an ultrasound this week and we just couldn't resist the opportunity. As it turns out, we are having a little girl! (We didn't find out with either of the boys until they were born and we've always enjoyed the surprise in the delivery room but I must admit, a little surprise mid- pregnancy is also pretty fun too.) I would have been just as pleased with a boy but I am excited to even things out around here. I was beginning to feel a little out numbered. :)

Also, this bird stack print is now reminiscent of our family with one little pink birdie on top! (More cute prints in this Etsy shop, Printspace.)

A New Year, A New Baby...

Yep. We're expecting! Baby number 3 is set to arrive this June. Mitchell is really hoping for a girl, Spencer is pretty much oblivious and Jared and I will be delighted either way. Right now I'm just happy to be out of the cruddy morning sickness stage. What will you be up to this year?

(Photo of Mitchell's feet by Summer Potter.)

Merry Christmas To All!

Our family enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home with simple festivities that included reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas before putting two cute boys to bed in their new Christmas pajamas, Jared and I staying up late to wrap presents and then watching It's a Wonderful Life together (love. that. movie!), waking up for lots of paper ripping and present opening, followed by homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. My sister and her family also came to visit us later in the day so the boys had fun showing off their new toys and playing with their cousins. All in all it was a very fun holiday. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas too!

Tuscora Park

Over Memorial Day weekend we had a chance to take the boys to Tuscora Park. It's a small scale amusement park with various rides including a ferris wheel, a small train and an antique carousel with hand carved, solid-wood horses. It is really close to where I grew up so I made many happy memories there as a child and it was fun to go back as an adult with my own children. The boys absolutely loved it and I crossed number 23 off the list!