Family Photos...

A couple weeks ago, we had our family photos taken by my wonderful friend Shannon Morse. She is such an awesome person and excellent photographer. I will so badly miss her when we leave.

All copyright/credit to Shannon Morse Photography.

San Fransisco...

So my secret birthday destinations was San Fransisco. Shannon is such a wonderful friend. She brought me there for my birthday and we had a great time. There are some unusual people in that city and it smelled like fish. LOL but I really enjoyed myself and her company! We rode on a ferry which scared me at first but after a bit I was ok with it.

Cousins...

There is a saying I found that I absolutely love and it is sooooo true.

"Cousins are usually our first friends we have as children. No one will ever understand your crazy family like your cousins do, even if you have talked that much lately."  -Unknown

I love this quote because it is true for me and so true for my children. My little girl and her cousin Emma, run into each others arms when they see each other after a break from seeing one another. My son and nephew only four weeks apart and a few months old, love to "talk" to each other. Today I had my camera while my niece and nephew were visiting Grandma, so I definitely had to get photos of them.

Here are a few of my Favs:

2011 In Review...

So this last year has been so up and down. So many highs, too many lows, but God is good and gives us hard times so that we grow. I am so thankful for this year to have past us. I've really grown. The beginning of the year started the same as every year. Resolutions no one ever keeps, tax preperation, yearly plans, etc. My birthday came around and Kris got me my camera that I love sooo very much. I learned to use it in less than a week. I took photos of EVERYTHING. I hit a rut and am trying to get back into it again. I am trying really hard to get the need to photograph back.

April I went and saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. I went with my wonderful friends Shannon and Katie. Love them so much. It was a great day we went all over the place. I had so much fun. It was great burrowing Shannon's lens on my camera. So I know that I eventually want to buy one of my own and be able to get some excellent shots. I really want to go to the zoo again with the bigger lens so that I can get better photos while there. I love the ocean and want to go back with my family.

Then I got some great news in July, after 10 months of trying I finally got a positive pregnancy test. I was sooo super happy. I was convinced that I was gonna have another little girl. I went for a ultrasound in November and discovered "BOY". I was soooo happy. Though this pregnancy has been super tough physically, emotionally and mentally.

Then a rough patch kinda took hold of our family. I thank God for our friends and family who helped us through all of that. Our entire family also had a hardship but God again has helped us through.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful this year. Ryan and Cassie were able to move back home so that all of our family was together again. Cassie and I got to help with Thanksgiving dinner this year which was fun. Then Kris and I were able to have a Christmas like no other and help others in need. I was so happy that I was able to help.