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

Second Anniversary

A long time ago, or what seems like it now, Kyle and I use to sit up in a tree on squalicum beach and talk about our goals and dreams. In a scrapbook we made a list of places we wanted to see together, and adventures we wanted to go on. I called them "Kyle's Firsts" but as the years have gone by I have definitely been on some "firsts" of my own with Kyle too! Last year for our first wedding anniversary we went skydiving in Hawaii. That was one of the most incredible things we have done. I always tell him it's up there with the wedding day. This year for our second anniversary we went bungee jumping in Whistler, B.C. I told Kyle that was one thing I would never do, no matter what. Then I realized something...or rather a few things. First, I made a vow to be by Kyle's side through all of life's experiences (which doesn't exactly mean jumping off a bridge, and I realize I could have just been there to witness). Second, if I didn't bungee jump with Kyle he would still be going...without me. He would have that memory with someone else and I would probably regret it. Lastly, I thought about it and the one thing I'm terrified of most is dying. BUT maybe, just maybe, if the only thing I have left to do at the end of my life is die, then dying won't be quite so scary. So I decided to face my fear and take a risk. It's not something that I am itching to do ever again, but I am really glad that I did it. We had another first together and lived to tell the tale. For our next anniversary maybe we should just relax on a beach...

We have shirts to prove it.

Two going on Forever

This summer has been a busy one for Kyle and I so far. It has been so nice to be back in Bellingham and closer to friends and family. Strange to think that this chapter of our lives is slowly winding down as we get ready for the next. We have a lot of big decisions and changes in the not so distant future. Being a 'real' adult isn't always all it's cracked up to be, but our childhoods are surviving and thriving somewhere inside us still.
Two years ago Kyle and I said our vows. We wrote our own, because although we love traditions, we tend to go with the nontraditional. We vowed to be by each other's side through all of life's experiences, and share this crazy adventure called life together. The past two years have not been perfect all of the time, but to be honest, they have been pretty amazing. People told us the first year would be the hardest and the worst...we had the time of our lives and enjoyed being married an absurd amount. Our second year of marriage a lot of people listed off a lot of statistics and told us the second year would be our worst. It was a little more challenging because we both had very busy class schedules, but...we still made amazing memories and had a lot of laughs. We made our apartment into a home, and tried a lot of new recipes together. Sorry to break it to you, but kitchen hugs, dancing in the dark, forehead kisses, Sunday adventures, and TLC beat all the statistics. Life isn't a fairy-tale, or a Nicholas Sparks book, but sometimes it still turns out pretty extraordinary. Sometimes two people's lives intertwine and in this perfectly ordinary life we get swept off our feet. So Kyle Mathew Aamot, thank you for two incredible years on this adventure. Sometimes you still even sweep me off my feet.

odds and ends

Dad's 72nd

makeovers

cohen's first "rib"

bein cute

uncle kyle

family bbq

eric...ha

kyle and seth

bridget and co