Tacoma Polar Bear Jump

All photos by the amazing Kelsey!

While we were visiting Garrison's family, we got to see his sister and dad participate in the Polar Bear Jump. Henry was really confused watching so many people ring in the new year by jumping into the icy water. His eyes were HUGE and he kept saying, "Nnnn people nnnn jump water!?" Sometimes I wish I could read his mind, I bet there's some hilarious stuff going on up there.

This year, for the first time ever, I could kind of picture myself doing this. I think it's because sometimes I just feel so bored with how routine things get, especially once we're back in our own little city. Doing something so uncomfortable just seems like a good way to mix things up. Don't quote me on this though, it's still just the tiniest glimpse of a thought and next year I'll probably be standing again with a huge cup of coffee, shivering, and thinking that everyone has way more guts than I do. Actually okay, quote me on that!

Henry's First Snow

A few days before we left Washington, we took Henry up to Mount Rainer so he could experience snow. We get snow occasionally in Savannah but it's the kind that's made from a machine and spit into a huge pile that quickly turns to mud. This kid needed the real stuff! He went crazy the entire time we were there, running all over and trying to throw snowballs which were really just the tiniest handfulls of powder. Halfway down the trail we made a small Frosty the "Po-nan" and he demanded we carry it the rest of the way back even though we didn't have gloves.

Having only known this warm southern heat, I get really nervous that H will be afraid of cold weather so it was awesome that he was all about it. He's so adventurous and usually up for anything! The entire time he was tromping through the snowy trails I kept thinking how amazing it is that we can do stuff like this with him now. Where has the time gone? I mean, this time last year he wasn't even walking and now he's going nuts all over a mountain? Crazy! Also crazy...the snowsuit he wore was mine when I was his age!

Thanks Marrs for such a great day, these memories are for sure some of my most favorite.

Tacoma

We're in Tacoma hanging out with Garrison's family right now, having a ton of fun. Henry finally recognizes presents and has been frantically yelling "PRESENT!...PRESENT!" at every empty giftbag he sees, it rules. He's also been walking up to everyone and saying, "Hi! How ya doin'?" Super cute! We've been driving all over the Seattle area catching up with old friends, family, and places from Garrison's childhood. And tonight...I barely believe it but Garrison and I are going on a freaking date. We're actually going out without Henry! This is a big deal guys. BIG. Wahoo!

i could stay here forever....

Henry buried his aunt megan under all of this random crap from around the house!

dress up the baby

playing tinker toys with papa

playdate with liam (yee-um)

sick & watching 101 dalmatians for the first time with his aunt carly

when you're on vacation you can spend an embarrassing amount of time creating pictures like these! livin' it up! WOOT!

gingerbread house

Garrison's plane just landed and he's coming to stay with us tomorrow, I'm really excited! We're keeping crazy busy around here, the house is always full of family coming in and out and animals running in between your feet. Literally. This little kitten here will sprint out from nowhere and trip you as you walk. Also? It farts. Have you ever even heard of a cat that farts? I hadn't. It's weird, incredibly deceiving, and really gross!

Last week I bought Garrison a really cool gift that I was super stoked about and left it on the roof of the car. Five blocks later and I'm frantically searching the streets, ducking into random bars to ask people if they had seen my gift. Oh and two days later I was stocking wood for my parent's fireplace and the front of the wheelbarrow hit a rut. The entire thing flipped forward and upside down and I landed belly first on the bottom wheels. It was totally ridiculous because I had just been thinking to myself, "Someone should get this on tape. Look at me being all county! I'm really doing it!" CRASH. Last night Henry pooped in the bath for the first time ever and my family has been making him say, "Mustache!" because it comes out as something babies aren't allowed to say. Sooooo obviously lots of funny/cool/ummmm? stuff happening around here too!

Farm Life.

when we were little kids, we worked for weeks to clear this patch in the woods into a "secret garden". we'd bury treasures in the ground, plant flowers, build benches, and just hide out there. eventually it became a pet cemetery too! that's not taking a cute story and making it way creepy at all....right?

gettin serious with "papa"

this was my car when i was in highschool! i lovvvved this car.

my parent's house

I came to Washington expecting some serious winter weather since it was obvious we weren't going to get any in Savannah but it's been so warm! What's up with that WA? I'm trying really hard to not think about the fact that this means no snow this trip. Poor southern Henry! He's destined to be a complete weather wimp.

Henry's been having a ton of fun running around my parent's property and playing with their animals. Today he rode the tractor for half an hour with my dad, threw some grass at the horses, stomped through my mom's garden, and followed the dog around as it chewed up an old can of Chef Boyardee Spaghettios and Axe deodorant. That's so farm life Y'ALL!