Year of the Snow

Screw being the Year of the Horse, 2014 is the Year of the Snow.  So.  Much.  Snow.  These pictures are from the first snowpocalypse and extreme cold we had this year.  The cold and blustery winds are upon us again and quite frankly I (and the little long dog Simon) are sick of it.  I hope it's warm wherever you are, like really really warm, and Simon wishes he were with you...  

clean slate.

With every fresh start (aka a new year), there’s the incessant need to make a drastic change in your life.  This year, I have three specific hopes and goals that I want to achieve…slowly.  Like a tortoise.  I know that if I jump in head first with all my might, it won’t pay off in the end.  I need to take my time, listen to myself, and reflect – a lot (because Lord knows I learned how to do that in college – better put that to use). 

My three main goals are… *drum roll please*

1.    Love myself.

2.    Love Lee.

3.    Love Jesus.

I’m not saying I don’t do any of those right now, I just know that I could do all those far, far better.  I want to learn to recognize my flaws, understand how I can change things about myself (and do it!) and set myself up for a positive outcome (ya know, instead failure – because everyone hates failure). 

I want to focus on listening to my body and giving it good things to eat, moving it, and loving that its mine.  I want to plan my life so that it can be as stress-free as possible.  I want to embrace lists.  (They help, Aubrey, don’t try to deny it.)

I want to be a better wife to my husband.  I want to work towards being the best team we can be, because let’s face it – we are a team.  I need to stop trying to be so individualized. 

Lastly, I want to know that I am doing my part to have a healthy relationship with Jesus.  I don’t do much now.  I have a lot of room to grow.  I am so looking forward to that growth. 

I’m really excited for 2014.  I’m excited for the possibilities, for the fresh start that we get every 365 ¼ days.  And please don’t worry, I’ll fill you in along the way. 

(Image via Pinterest)

so long '13.

Guys, the end is here.  Again. 

It’s amazing to think that 365 days have just flown by me us in what feels like a blink of an eye.  Gosh, it’s true what those old people say, isn’t it?  Now I feel like an old person.  I am already PUMPED for 2014 (it’s destined to be my jam), I thought it’d be a great cliché idea to look back at ’13 for just a second, to say goodbye and to remember all the good times that really did happen.

January:

We rang in the New Year with friends at our place.  My sister was still in town and when everyone gets together it’s always fun. 

I started my last semester of college (before student teaching) and observed in a 6^th grade class in a very urban elementary school and holy cow, it was an eye-opening experience for this small town girl.  (Like kids getting in fights, running away, smokin’ weed, stabbing each other with pencils…uh, say what?)

I also helped my grandpa and dad deliver a calf on the family farm.  It took two days of intense cow watching, some subtle cow chasing, and a heroic father to the rescue to pull that calf out in three seconds flat.  Best story of my life.

February:

I turned 23.  Dang, son.

We saw the Avett Brothers in Ft. Wayne on Valentine's Day! 

March:

I had my last college spring break…in which I did nothing, just like every other college spring break I’ve ever had.

I drove this beast successfully!

Passed three parts of the Praxis (only one to go!)

April:

I finished Block 3, passed the entire Praxis, and prepared to move on to student teaching.  I learned to love a whole lot of people and found “my crew”.

May:

I got my tattoo finished in Chicago (at Insight Studios).  So, so painful but so, so awesome. 

We roadtripped to Detroit to Ikea, Zingerman's Deli, and to see Vampire Weekend.  

My dude and I saw the Avett Brothers in Columbus for the fifth time.  Favorite town of all time.  Favorite band of all time.  Favorite show of all time.

I celebrated one year of marriage with my dude.  In Ohio.  Because…where else?

June:

We attended my five-year reunion.  We all got kicked out of the restaurant.  We stole some glasses as retaliation.

This...did not happen.

July:

We all celebrated the 4^th of July waiting in a hospital for the coolest kid on the planet to be born (aka lil baby E).  He’s the cutest thing ever and our (extended) family got ten times more awesome because of his arrival.

August:

I started student teaching (in first grade) at an amazing elementary school with my BFF.  I got to realize that “Holy shit, this is the end.”

Coffee shop closed forever and ever (it was the end of an era).

September:

My dude and I saw the Avett Brothers (time number six, yo) in Cleveland.  We ate at Melt Bar and Grilled.  And we were still lovin’ Ohio.

I got new glasses.  I get complemented on them daily.

October:

I switched to third grade for the last half of my student teaching placement.  I didn’t think I’d love them as much as my first graders but in reality those kids had my heart from day one.

My grandma had surgery, was super out of it for a while, and fell down one morning which was one of the biggest scares of my life.  We figured out she was hopped up on pain meds and Ambien and had a bladder infection - talk about a triple threat.  (She’s better than ever now, because I know you’re on the edge of your seat.)

The little long dog Simon threw up for 10 days straight.  We thought the world was ending.  Thankfully, on the day that surgery was going to be necessary, he straightened that shiz out.  Thank tha LAWD!

November:

Student teaching came to an end.  Talk about a whirlwind of emotions.  And a lot of autographs – I’m like a celebrity!

December:

I got a job for a medical leave at an elementary school nearby.

I celebrated eight years of making out with my dude.

My college career officially ended with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a concentration in English (which will do nothing for me in life, I’m sure.  Thanks REPA).  Boom city!

We rang in the new year with awesome people and this total cutie!

Minor details...

+ Started Project Life.

+ Had Photoshop revelations.

+ Got new furniture and renovated my craft room.

+ Enjoyed the little moments in life with my dude and fur babes. 

So long 2013, you definitely weren’t the worst year but you sure weren’t the best.  2014, I welcome you.  I’m ready to have my socks rocked off. 

this makes me smile.

i love...

my little hometown.  it's true.  you can go through it with a long blink of the eye and everyone knows you. your name, your face, and your business.  but i like that.  i like that everyone knows that i got married, who i got married to, and who my grandparents are.  i used to think that i'd escape this place for good, but i left and ached for home so i (we) came back.

i am going to start pointing out everything i love about this place so get ready.  it's going to be a wild ride.  

first we're starting with the pumpkinvine bike trail.  this bike path was created where the old railroad tracks used to be so most of it is flat and shaded and allows you to see some pretty awesome scenery.  it starts about two miles from my house, goes on a hill right next to my dad's house, and the first leg ends at a dairy queen.  what more do you need?

when our entire families were here for the wedding, my momma, oldest brother, and sister went on a little ride.  it was an awesome spring/almost summer day and i had a lot of fun with my family.  we only went eight miles or so, but that's always enough to make my butt sore.  

can you spot the stuffed animal hiding in the trees?

my brother rode his longboard!

this is supposedly a legit camel dairy at an amish farm on one of the backroads.  

they've got all sorts of camels, even babies!

the one below is the dude, i think.  he was by himself in an pen up by the road at the front of the house.

xoxo,

aubrey e