2 Yr Seanniversary

This week marks 2 years of living in the Seattle area! I'm feeling sentimental about that, so why not pay tribute to this beautiful area where we live??

Let me be clear... this was not "love at first sight". My relationship with the area kind of started out as a friendship... but oh my goodness. You have stolen my heart! I'm not sure when it happened... probably not in June (aka still freezing cold and rainy June-uary) but perhaps more like August. Long story short, I adore living here. The rainfall is less than I pictured, the sunshine occurs more frequently...and it really is so green. And everything is so fresh! The air, the food, etc. People always ask me if it gets depressing and honestly, for me, it doesn't.

Growing up I never pictured myself in the Pacific Northwest... but it has been great for me in so many ways. I care more about the environment-- because the earth here is insanely gorgeous. (Have you been here? You should visit us.) I care more about what foods I'm putting into my body, and whether or not I am exercising to take care of said body. (Well, I am trying...it's a work in progress :) ). I have a greater appreciation for different cultures and religious backgrounds. Basically I think I have been changed for the better (Wicked anyone?), if not in the tiniest of ways. No city is perfect, but Issaquah has been a great match for us.

So Seattle, (more specifically charming Issaquah), here's to you. Sit back, relax, and enjoy more pictures of my town than you ever cared to see.

Disclaimer: Don't worry. I haven't lost my roots. I still LOVE steak and all things BBQ.

Pike Place Gum Wall

snowshoeing expeditions

Snoqualmie Falls

Mercer Slough

my favorite- picking raspberries!

Alki Beach

Mercer Island

Poo Poo Point (not kidding)

Space Needle

Bainbridge Island

Seattle LDS Temple

But really, I could probably move to the middle-of-nowhere Antarctica with this boy and still be the happiest.

Christmas 2013!

OK so I am finally catching up to the end of 2013! We had a wonderful week in Arizona celebrating Christmas with the Moss family. As always, lots of photos...and heads up the children are adorable. And did I mention the weather? Christmas in warmth and sunshine is a new concept to me, and one that I think I could get used to. So here we go!

We started out the week with some shooting! The shot-putting of the pumpkin was pretty noteworthy. 

 

Another highlight of the week was riding the Polar Express. We drove up to Flagstaff and enjoyed playing in the snow for awhile. That evening we got to board a train that served hot chocolate & cookies and see Santa as we drove past the North Pole. Lots of people wore their pajamas- so fun!

Chelsey is such a kid-magnet! This picture is adorable!

they even punched out our ticket stubs! No words, though..

checking out the north pole.

And soon it was Christmas Eve! There was delicious food and lots of excitement.

missing Hermana Moss already!

check out the elf socks! the best.

 

waiting at the top of the stairs Christmas morning! I think they had to sing a song first, haha :)

 

 

 

We got to go to the LDS Mesa Temple with Kacie for her first time as she prepared to leave on her mission for Mexico City. This is such a gorgeous temple!

 

Oh, and one more...because we miss all of your kids! Maybe one day we won't live so far from family.

And that wraps up our Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Pre-Christmas

This past Christmas I caught the bug super early. I've always been pretty adamant about keeping Christmas in December...but let's be real. With all these beautiful pine trees and my husband far away I just wanted the cheer to start ASAP!

We really were able to celebrate Christmas lots of different ways, in lots of different places, and with lots of family. Even as we were in Tokyo (not a Christian city in the least) for Thanksgiving,the city was decked out already! So I guess I will just highlight a few of our favorite parts of the month.

it was kind of "Thanks-mas-y" here for awhile.

kids got SO excited about the "frosting"

 We got to attend the Bellevue Festival of the Nativities that our LDS Church puts on every year. There are hundreds of nativities from all over the world, tons of  lit Christmas trees, and beautiful live musical performances. It's become one of my favorite Christmas traditions we've developed while here.

School ended about December 7th for me which meant a few things...#1: Christmas came EARLY! This is just a taste of the generosity of the sweet parents & families at the school where I work. They were so thoughtful, sending gift cards, homemade goodies, scarves, lotions, and more chocolate than I'd dreamed possible.

Okay and the #2 thing school ending early meant was....lots and lots of babysitting! Haha

Aaaand next thing you know we were headed to see our fabulous families. We were in Kansas with the Pridays last year so that meant it was time for Arizona with the Moss family! We were both very excited to see everyone, especially the two new babes. But first, we were super lucky and able to stop in Utah for a 48-hr pit stop. We got to see some people we miss dearly since having left BYU and Provo. And bonus, it was Grandpa Lee's 88th birthday!

the campus that holds my heart! Go cougars.

 

 these 2 pictures are huge so you can really soak in Paul's (above) and my (below) facial expressions...we don't see the sun much, OK?? These make me laugh so much.

Grandpa Lee turned 88!

I love my momma!

 

Goodbye, Provo! Til next time. In our next post I will share our wonderful week in Arizona! Stay Tuned :)