Forty.Five

 My Parents celebrated forty-five years of marriage. Almost half a century of being best friends, adventurers, travelers, partners in crime and laughter. I truly cannot imagine either one without the other...that, to me, is a marriage worth having. They have set such a beautiful example for all of us. You two deserve the absolute world. Thank you for loving all of us unconditionally. Hope you know how much we appreciate and love you both!

You Got My Sunshine

Mallory Anne Ingram: welcome to the world sweet baby girl. 

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for"

Mallory and her great-grandma (91)

any day now

My world is about to get a little more estrogen. I have had nephew after nephew, so to finally be getting a niece is the most exciting thing. I am very close with my two oldest nieces, and they have had me wrapped around their fingers literally since the day I met them. I cannot wait to meet Mallory Anne. She already has my heart and I haven't even met her!

Something I've done since my best friend had her first baby is nursery art. I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. It gives me a chance to be a part of it while I have been away at college. Even though I'm not there, a little piece of me and some love from me is. Here is what I made for the newest addition to the Ingram Family:

almost done with the small ones

love you to the moon and back

always have me

Don't even try argue with your dad...he enjoys it

When I was making this and thinking about who Mallory will be and how Linds and Shannon's worlds are about to change so many memories flooded my mind. I wondered what kind of dad Shan would be to a little girl, and thought about how nervous he must be. It's one thing for a father to have a son, and a completely different life event for a father to have a daughter. Then it hit me, tears and all, he is going to be an AMAZING dad because he has been the most amazing brother to me. I couldn't have asked for a better big brother. We laugh a lot and tease each other, but when you boil everything down he is my one brother that has been there for me from start to finish. He loved me a crazy amount when I was growing up. He spoiled me, invested in me, and included me in his life...all crazy adventures included. He traveled a lot, but he called. And strangely when my world felt like it was falling apart or I didn't know where to go he was the person I called. He has always hugged me. Seems simple and maybe even stupid, but if you know my family you know we don't hug a lot. He always does. I never have given him near enough credit for the brother he has been. He taught me how to swim, dive, snowboard (if I can call it that), attempted to teach me how to drive a stick, and so many other things. He never walked away, and he treated me like a princess. I have had my brother wrapped around my finger my whole life. So Mallory, I'm passing off the torch...he will be wrapped around your little finger the second he lays eyes on you. Trust me, it's easy to do with him. He will teach you so many things and probably a few things your grandparents will say he shouldn't. You are in amazing hands and will have no shortage of love.
                                    Now you just have to get here so we can all meet you!
                                                          Love Always, Aunt Lisa

Photography

In the last couple of years I have really developed a passion for photography. I'm not overly talented or skilled at it, but I absolutely enjoy capturing moments with people I love. The majority of my pictures have been for family and some close friends. My favorite have been babies and family shoots so far. I didn't think I could really capture other moments that well, but I recently had the privilege of taking some engagement pictures with a friend who has a photography business. I have to admit that I am slightly proud with how they turned out! I have a lot to learn and a long way to go, but I think I have found what I truly love doing with my time. There are almost 200 images from this shoot, but here are a few that I played around with in Lightroom. Since I do this as a hobby I don't have a signature look to my pictures yet, but I think that's the best part because I can really mix it up. Congratulations again to Linds and Damien. You are going to make a gorgeous bride, and one happy and loving married couple. You have the most amazing adventure ahead of you! Take in every moment, because this time in love and life goes by so quickly.

            

Late Night Laugh

Turn up your volume and enjoy. 

Our life is busy and hectic, but every once in a while we try to slow down for a night and take time to enjoy each other. Tonight we made dinner together, then we were getting ready to watch "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Kyle was changing and I had finished making icing for a cake. I was planning on letting Taylor lick the jar as a treat, but I think she knew it was coming. She came running around the corner and before I could hand it to her, her face was shoved into the jar! 

It might just be funny to us, but hopefully you all get a good laugh from it too. Love, US

Three Days Off

Being a teacher has some perks, like getting holidays off. Since we had a three day weekend we decided to go spend it with Kyle's family in Spokane. Colin and his new girlfriend Carleigh drove over from Bellingham for the weekend as well. I normally get very nervous when meeting new people, but I loved spending time with Car! We come from similar backgrounds, and had a lot in common...not just surface level. Colin, you better keep this one around because I finally have someone in my corner. Friday night we stayed at our place then drove up to Charlies Saturday morning. 

Charlie has meant so much to Kyle and I and I'm not even sure she knows how much. She is one of Kyle's family that didn't ask any questions or make any judgments. She hugged me the very first time she met me, and treated me like family. Charlie has been there for Kyle and always loved him no matter what. Everyone should know what it's like to feel like they are part of a family regardless of how they came into that family. The majority of the weekend we spent laying on a dock and hanging out with family. Uncle Bob and Aunt Debbie came out. Bob reminds me so much of my Dad and it always makes me smile. Mark and his wife were there too with their new addition. I haven't spent much time with them, so it was so much fun getting to know them better and meeting their sweet boy. Growing up the majority of my extended family lived in Texas, so it is really fun to have all of Kyle's aunts, uncles, and cousins and know that there will always be family that love us.  

Thank you for an amazing weekend and more importantly for giving us a huge sense of family. 

                                              Love, Us

kyle and I enjoying some sun

car & i

                                                                       

tired baby

obsessed with Kota

August

The month of August has been a whirl wind for Kyle and I. Now that we are settling back into our routine here in Pullman, I hope to catch up with some posts. Firstly, for those of you who have not heard, we are moving back to Bellingham in December! It was a toss up between moving away and having a couple of years to be somewhere totally new, or putting down some more permanent roots. My entire family is in Bellingham for the first time since I was very young, so I cannot wait to spend time with everyone. But the most important and exciting reason for the move home is that Kyle got a job offer. He signed a contract and made it official during his last weeks with Granite. He is very excited, and I am incredibly proud of him for making such an impact during his internship. Life is changing so fast and so many things have been falling into place. It is both an exciting, and nerve wracking time for us. Thank you so much for loving and supporting us along the way.  Love Us.

Enjoying our final days in Bellingham