Montana 2012

Wow. I have been horrible at catching up on here... i was on a blogging kick for awhile than it went on a downward slope quick haha but i am back! 

So as some of you may know, my sister Chelsea moved for a year, to Billings Montana in September of this year. With her move it has been difficult for all of us sisters to adjust to having her gone, when we have never been separated for a long period of time. So Jesse and i planned a road trip up there for Thanksgiving as soon as we found out she was moving. Knowing that i would see her in a couple months, took the sting out of saying goodbye to her in September. Sort of. 

On November 21st after getting off work, we packed the car and pup and started our long adventure up to Montana! My awesome husband drove the whole way nonstop! I offered to drive half but he told me to sleep. Best husband ever right? :) I get so tired when its dark out that i wouldn't trust myself driving anyway, and Wyoming is the most boring state to drive through ever.

 Layla was pretty uncomfortable most of the trip haha she was tossing and turning trying to adjust  But we kept telling her she was going to see her best friends (my sisters dogs) and that made her happy haha

                                         

Around 3 am we finally made it to Billings and Chelsea had my favorite stuffed jalapenos and rice waiting for me! Best sister ever. We stayed up a few hours than went to sleep so we could start our Thanksgiving festivities a few hours later haha. We made an awesome Thanksgiving meal, our men were very pleased :)

After eating we did what Chelsea i do best and is our yearly tradition together, Black Friday shopping!! We went to Walmart first because they had an awesome deal on a Ninja blender i needed. Next we went to the mall and stayed there the rest of the night, until closing. 

The Next day Jesse and i decided to go on a mini adventure to The Pictograph Caves State park. It was a good hike and Layla loved running around. 

                                           (We took a few family photos while we were there)    

Johnny took us around the town later and we went to Cabellas which is a huge sports store i have never been too but it was awesome inside! 

We relaxed alot this trip and spent time at Chelsea's together which is what i wanted to do, just chill. Than on Sunday we left Montana and went home. We left in perfect timing because a big snow storm hit and we drove in some of it. It wasn't fun! But  we arrived safely and i miss Chels already :) But it was an awesome trip!

Trick or Treat!

 This year has flown! its crazy to think the year is almost over!

In Colorado it is very rare to have a snow-less Halloween, and we got lucky this year! The weather was perfect just a tad bit chilly, but with all the walking it felt nice.

 I picked Lacy and Brad up right after work than headed to my parents to eat some dinner than hit the streets for some Halloween treats! Jesse had school work to do so he coulndt join this year. :( I couldn't stop taking pictures of Colton and his awesome Spiderman costume! 

 Before we headed out We Played outside a little and my youngest sister Hannah taught Colton how to ride the scooter! I know I know I should have takin the lollipop out of his mouth before... woops :/ He had a blast! Hannah dressed as a zebra and looked adorable! She always has fun creative homemade costumes. 

Colton did so good at saying "Trick or Treat" and "thank you". And he wanted to grab the candy himself, which for some reason he always picked butterfingers... yuck. Some of the houses were a little too scary for Colton so we skipped a couple. 

He loved having his daddy being there, the daddy son bond between them is so precious to see!

LOVED this Potato head style pumpkin! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Fall Pictures.

On a hike with Jesse and Layla yesterday I decided to bring my camera along to see what i could make of the fall leaves. Never a bad idea :) The leaves pictures were from outside my apartment, the rest were from the hike!

 I have been obsessed with the new lens my awesome husband got me for my birthday this month! The lens is used for closer shots, and it does an awesome job! I hardly ever use my other lens anymore.

 Does anyone know what the weird  plant is in the second to last picture? haha i must know!

                           

All moved in!

     
 We recently Moved apartments this month and we are loving it!

We were previously living in a one bedroom apartment that was ridiculously overpriced, so when our lease was up we started looking for houses to rent. Our goal was to hopefully buy a house by the end of this year, but things don't always work out as hoped for. Reason being, my credit, or lack there of postponed those dreams haha. Why is it that you need a car payment, credit cards and overall debt to build any credit?! its nuts! ever since we payed our cars off, our credit seems to be dropping a little. lame. Jesse's credit is great but not enough to fully get approved for what we need in a home loan by himself. We definetly did not want to settle on a house that wasn't what we always hoped for.  After finding this out we started looking for houses to rent, we couldn't find anything suitable for us so we settled on a two bedroom apartment that is significantly less rent wise, than our previous one bedroom! So hopefully by this time next year we will be fully equipped for buying a home.

God Has a Plan for your Life. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

        The best part about moving where we did is, Jesse's work is moving right across that street in a couple months! Hello saving money! His Jeep is a gas sucker so this will be awesome. The area we moved to is attached to some awesome hiking trails! Our backyard has trails for miles and Layla is the happiest little pupster ever!

                                    Jesse looking fabulous toting around my camera bag haha

        All in all, we are happy with our new little home!

        All you need is love to make anywhere you live, feel like home :)

Photography!

 This blog post is going to be completely dedicated to my new found love of PHOTOGRAPHY! 

A few months back, Jesse and i decided to purchase a DSLR camera. After extensive research by my awesome husband, we decided on a Nikon D5100!

My husband is slightly obsessed with researching products before purchasing, and that goes for anything haha! No complaints here because i know we are getting our moneys worth. My Sister Sarah is also a Nikon shooter, and we have been teaming up on photo shoots! Sarah is a big reason i started loving photography, she takes amazing photographs and she has taught me alot! After taking pictures with my dinky little Sanyo digital camera for awhile, we decided it was time for an upgrade. Its super fun that Jesse is just as much into photography as me, even though we snatch the camera away from each other alot haha!

 Family photography is what i find to be most enjoyable, i just wish i had more time! Working 40+ hours a week and trying to squeeze in computer time when Jesse does online school is almost impossible! I hope that one day when im a stay at home mother i  can expand my business and have it as my main focus. I have been more intrigued to shoot outdoors lately, especially flowers and sunsets/rises! here are a couple of my favorite shots!  

Some of my recent family portraits. I am SUPER excited about the two weddings my sister Sarah and i have booked for this summer!

I hope to keep learning and improving in the future and to keep this dream of mine alive! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Pumpkin Patch 2012.

OCTOBER is such a FUN month! Halloween, My birthday month and also my sister's Sarah, Chelsea and Katy's birthday month! The smell of pumpkin candles in the air, breaking out the boots and scarfs, The leaves changing and falling. There is not a season prettier in my opinion! Cant forget the pumpkin patch! 

Jesse and i have been loving our go to pumpkin patch every year which is none other than the awesome Happy Apple Farm! This pumpkin patch is in Penrose Colorado and is such a fun and happy place, I highly recommend you go with your family next year! The owners of the farm always do an awesome job at decorating everywhere around the farm!                        

 We Have brought our awesome nephew Colton the past two Halloween seasons and he has a blast! I mean what kid doesn't like hay rides and pumpkin picking??  

                                     Of course Jesse had to put him in the pumpkin box! haha

We went a little late this year and the majority of pumpkins that were left were white ones, or "albino" as i was calling them haha they looked strange to me but of course Jesse finds the biggest, weirdest looking pumpkin and buys it... haha i think that's his goal every time we go!

The Happy Apple Farm always is a great time and they usually have berry and apple picking, but with the hail we got, most of the berries were ruined. Hopefully next time we make it down there earlier!