Spring Break

We spent the first part of our spring break visiting Shannon, Linds, and Griff in Oregon. It was a long, but beautiful drive. We stopped along the way to put pennies and quarters on a rail road track. I had always done that with my Dad growing up, and I guess just assumed everyone else did too. Kyle had never, so he was quite excited about it. The flu was going through the house when we got there, but we still had a few really fun days with them. Griff has grown into a toddler so fast, and he has the best facial expressions. We drove to the coast on Sunday. Shannon created his own way there of course.

me and griff

uncle kyle

griff

Kyle slept a lot of break once we got home to Bellingham, so I used my time to catch up with two of my best friends, Stephi, and Jaylin. I miss home a lot, but one of the biggest parts I miss about it is spending time with Jaylin! We use to have family nights (myself, Kyle, and Jaylin) once a week. Kyle didn't have much choice because Jaylin was a part of the package of dating me, but he can't deny that he loves his "gooch". We stayed with Eric and Bridget and spent lots of time with baby Cohen. He has gotten huge too!! He smiles and tries to talk non stop. The first night we got home I had about a two hour conversation with him. Definitely not in English, but he totally knew what was up. I met baby Hunter (Stephi and John) and took a few pictures of him. First newborn I have ever seen smile that much. I know, it was probably just gas, but his gas made him SO PRECIOUS. Kyle got to hang out with one of his best friends (Robert) and they went to Glenns. Our schedule always gets a little crazy when we come home because there are so many people we miss and love to see. In the last few days we spent a night with Tammy and Ryan, and then a sunny afternoon with Kate and Nick. My mom was in Oregon watching Griff through the weekend, and my Dad has been working, but we spent as much time with them as we could. We also went to dinner with Kyle's parents and spent some time with his family. It is always so refreshing to spend time with friends and family from home. I always feel like I'm finally catching my breath when I am home. “Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has a place within your heart.”

kyle and cohen

jaylinagain 

nieces and kady

Thanks for making time for us, Love Us

Hunter Nicholas Murray

I have seven older brothers. I grew up in a big house, with an even bigger yard. I loved being barefoot, climbing in trees, and trying to keep up with the boys. I have been told so many times over the years that God gave me brothers to make me stronger, protect me, or whatever other reason people conjure up in their minds. What many people don't realize is that one of the biggest blessings God gave me growing up was my Stephi Kay. I have known her my entire life, and we have been best friends through everything under the sky. We may not have the same blood coursing through our veins, but in every other sense of the word we grew up as sisters.

I am about nine months older than Stephi, but she always did everything first. She lost her first tooth before me. She had her growth spurts before me. She learned how to ride a bike, pogo stick, and do flips on the trampoline before me. She got the chicken pox (and my mom made her hug my brother Daryn and I but I never got them) before me. She started shaving and got her first bra before me (sorry stephi haha)...she had her first kiss, got married and had a baby before me. Some girls might have been jealous of all these things, and I'm sure a few of them I was upset about when we were younger, but I'm so thankful now. I am the luckiest girl in the world because I have a best friend that will have my back through all of these things. Stephani and John welcomed baby Hunter into the world on February 28, 2012. Now they have a sweet girl, and a handsome boy. I don't know what it is like to be a mom, but I definitely know how to spoil nieces and nephews with love. And I know what it's like to be sitting in the middle of dinner with your best friend on the other end and listen to her newborn baby cry. My life is made up of a million moments. They flash in front of my eyes from time to time. Some make me cry, and some make me feel overwhelmingly happy and blessed. So many of them have been shared with you. You have become a beautiful woman, and an amazing mother.

baby hunter