2014 in Review

                            

                

In January we decided in would be  fun to stay at an old farm house for  New Year's Eve. It ended up being really creepy, in a horror movie sort of way. Like waiting for "ghost" granny to be sitting in her rocker in the living room. Well, it was definitely unforgettable!  We got to experience what it feels like to be 80, prematurely.

 

Our county actually achieved having more snow/ "ice" days than actual school days during winter 2014... The first 5 days were fun, the next 10 were just annoying. We did have one really fun day of sledding, while others where trapped on major interstates (the news warned ya!)... Although, losing power in the "Polar Vortex" was not fun though. Good thing we have Jason, "Super Fire Builder" to the rescue!

In March, Jason made me buy a car. Seriously. I am so glad he did because I love my car! It fits my "cheapskatedness" very well- 55 miles per gallon.

                        

For Spring Break, we went down to Wilmington for the weekend. We LOVE Wilmington - minus the traffic. We love the town, definitely the people, and HATE the traffic. Anyway, we had a margarita or two... At Tower 7.  Visited a few of our favorite places and people, and  had some much needed beach walks. Just the refreshing break we needed!

In May, we went down to our favorite spot in the North Carolina mountains and camped for the weekend near the Nantahala river. We did some flat water kayaking and we zipped lined! Usually we white water raft, but last summer I almost flipped my kayak over a in a rapid. Now I have PTSD of sorts, so flat water kayaking it is, at least until I get over myself. 

Sorry no photo :(

In June, after surviving an incredible exhausting school year, although each year is uniquely exhausting in it's own way.... I went to Texas for some much needed R&R. I sat by the pool, had fancy drinks with my aunt. Saw lots of family and played with my adorable nephews. It's always nice to go home and have a break from being a responsible wife, teacher, daughter, adult....Sigh.

This was actually July 4th, not at the beach. I wanted to get Jason in here. :)

In July, we traveled back to our old stomping grounds on the Crystal Coast of NC. We lived in the Jacksonville area for around 5 years, so we always feel at home when we get a chance to go back and visit! The Kindles from Ohio came down for a beach vacation at Pine Knoll Shores. We soaked up the sun, had a shrimp and fish fry, swam in the ocean and the pool! We kayaked in a rain/wind storm (sorry Luke!) and I had a famous shrimp burger, yum!
 It is always nice when we get a chance to spend some time with everyone. We hope they come back soon!

July was also time for some quality Waylon time! Waylon loves when I am home from school! We go on walks, take naps, and play in the park. He is a very happy boy when mom is home! I envy his lifestyle....

In August I turned 27... Oh my gosh how time flies, I still feel 17...except with better decision making skills...We went to a Science Museum in Durham which was pretty cool----if we had children. It was actually a Science- Kid museum... We were those creepy people for a day, but we had a good time. We followed up with a nice picnic and a natural walk with mom at Eno River State park. Such an Amber day, love it!

August means back to school, which carries such bittersweet feelings. Goodbye naps, staying in pajama until noon, and basically any freedom to do anything from the hours of 7:00-5:00. Hello 50+ work week, and lots of noisy children.... It also means new school supplies and new room decorations, and meeting new students and families. It's an exciting, exhausting, and sad time all wrapped into one package.

In September, We saw Jason Aldean. He put on a really good show! The most memorable part of the night was when Jason outsmarted the thousands of people trying to leave and we got out of the parking lot in 5 minutes flat, it was so funny! We love defying crowds.

Spending time with little people, making circuits!

In October, we saw Luke Bryan (again..... :D) in Columbia, SC. We did the same thing last year, but there were WAY more people this year. It was insane! And it was super dusty, we had to leave early because we could not breathe!  Luke Bryan "Woodstock" style is not my thing...

This kids at school made this really cute spiders for "Harvest" can't say Halloween.

Dressed up as Johnny and June Carter Cash. Jason looked great I could not find a wig so I did not really fit the part, but it was fun. Did I mention that it was 50 degrees and our outing was outdoors!? I froze. Johnny was jacketless for the evening.

We went to Ohio for Thanksgiving in November. Every year I have to drag mom and Jason, kicking and screaming to take our Christmas card photo. We tried to be "unique" this year. We're keeping it "cool" this holiday season. Such nerds...

Made some gingerbread houses with the kiddos before heading to Texas

We ended our year in Texas, well almost. We're home now, still recovering from the Texas trip. Thanks for the respiratory-whatever, everyone was passing around by the way... :) We got everyone together for Christmas and made an untraditional- gasp! Lasagna dinner that we prepped the day before. All day no one was cooking, everyone could just visit! I got to finally use my birthday camera to take some family photos and actually got about 20 minutes of good shots before everyone started to shut down on us.

It is so nice to feel so loved and to have so many people to love. Now everyone is patiently waiting for Jason and I to add a bundle of love to the family---- Sorry to say not in 2015 everyone! Maybe, 2017, 18.... Can't go much further than that. Pardon my slang,  "I ain't no Spring chicken anymore!"

I hope everyone's 2015 is better than 2014. I hope you meet your goals, travel, love more, laugh often, and take the chance to savor every single minute.

Happy New Year everyone!