We Believe in Nashville

Before we took them to the airport, we snuck in one more walk around the neighborhood. We entertained ourselves with dandelions, a classic Nashville backdrop, a quick pitstop at i+w, and a run-in with another doodle twice Otis' size. It is really special and crazy to think of how seldom all six of us are able to spend moments like this where we are all together, but it sure makes me appreciate it more.

B-cycles

Thanks to Nashville's new citywide bicycle rentals, we were able to cruise around downtown with enough wheels for all six of us. After stuffing our bellies with Barista Parlor for the second time that week, we were happy to have a warm enough day to go for a bike ride. It definitely provides a great new perspective on the city and a reason not to feel quite as bad about having to sit in a classroom for three hours later that afternoon.

Game days

When Jason arrived, I realized that his presence literally completed the happiness contained in that week. Every time my parents and sister have visited, we always say, "the only thing that could make this better is if Jason were here". It's pretty great to have an immediate family that can enjoy each other as much as we do.

And when the weather was not conducive for walking or biking, we were content to stay indoors. We played all sorts of board games and watched my dad accomplish is most recent life goal of beating Ski On Neon. My sweet mother proved herself to be just as loving and nurturing towards our puppy son as we expected her to be to our future children. 

Family stroll

For only the second time since I moved here almost three years ago, my ENTIRE family came for a visit. My mama, papa, and Jess arrived first and we picked right back up where we left off.

We've always been fond of taking walks so having a dog gives us an even better reason to get outdoors and enjoy our neighborhood's very own Sevier park. It was Ryan's favorite time of day, when the shadows are long, and a perfect way to soak up some rays even if it was still slightly more chilly than we would have liked.

Another wedding, another reunion

In March, Ryan had the opportunity to shoot another wedding in St. Petersburg, Florida. This time, it was one of our dear friend's weddings, meaning that many of our other dear friends were also in attendance. The groom's neighbors were nice enough to put us up in their beach house, which was actually on the inner coastal AND across the street from the beach. As if getting to lay by the ocean, cook fresh Mahi Mahi, watch dolphins out of our bedroom window, soak up warm sunshine, and stay up way too late dancing weren't wonderful enough, we were so grateful to be able to do all these things with some of our very favorite people.

Christmas, revisited

I finally had some time to update the blog, but I couldn't stand to skip over all that's happened in the past 4 months. So getting back to Christmas 2012--

Since it was my year to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we had a lovely intimate celebration at home with our little family of three. We attended the Christmas Eve service at church, and snuggled up each night by our first full-size tree filling our bellies with warm, delicious, homemade Zuppa Toscana. 

Then we hopped in the car the very next morning and made an unusually long, dangerous trek to Chicago, passing over 45 vehicles on the side of the road. Once we got there, we were so excited to see what our little Otis thought of the snow that not even the miserably cold weather could keep us indoors. The Bernals were kind enough to save their Christmas festivities for us and we got to ring in the new year there too!