Seasons Come & Go

As your bones & dead lawn are telling you, & with the blizzard we just got, the seasons have changed. Autumn doesn't last long on this side of the mountains for us. But when it shows up for its fifteen minutes of fame it's beautiful & crisp. Fall has always been a great reminder to start packing up the shorts & start settling into a season of calm days & hearty meals. I love how with seasons changing, we also change.

As soon as the first snow hits the cold ground we start preparing for the holidays. In the last few years my holidays have been turned upside down. Not only was I away from my family & younger siblings for a few years, but my parents have divorced. Last year was the first year I experienced separated holidays. I have mixed feelings about what the holidays bring. 

With Blake's family everything feels normal with little kids running around & uncles & aunts & grandparents all talking at once & needing their five'o'clock beverages. We are lucky to watch a marriage survive the chaos of life & even luckier to have family who is close & eats holiday meals together. 

My siblings & I have always remained close. Even through my moving & the divorce we remain one another's strongest supporters. I love both of my parents & only want them to be happy, whatever paths they need to take in this life. But juggling who has the kids which week & who won't "get Christmas next year" is all too overwhelming for me. There seems to be pressure put on us to make each parents' holidays go smoothly for them, because who knows what next year will bring. My parents are both children of divorce so they understand what we must be seeing & feeling. We grew up driving all around Colorado to visit aunts & uncles & grandparents. For a while it was great to have at least three Christmas' every year. But after a while, as time can pull families apart, it's become a little more hurtful around the holidays. Being an adult in a newly separated family is rough. I'm not sure if I over-analyze the situations or am seeing love for one reality it could be, but it's hard on me. 

The good news is things are ever changing! Seasons come & go. As time moves on we will get used to our new version of holidays. My brother is in his freshman year of college in Santa Fe, NM, which will add a new dynamic for us siblings. My other brother has a serious girlfriend with a son who is good friends with my little sister, and this adds more kids & more love to our family. Each of my parents now have the opportunity to do the holidays how they wish. I now have my own little family with Blake & Kingston. Blake lost his grandma this year & we will be missing her laughs during the holiday visits. Kingston has his cousins to grow up with & a new cousin, Ivy Sage, whose so close in age that experiencing these moments & holidays together will hopefully enable them to be great friends throughout their lives. We are still staying with Blake's parents which means Kingston gets lots of grandparent time! Maybe this year I can help decorate for the holidays ((wherein our years away didn't call for too much decorating.))

As life moves forward & years pass I'm learning there is more opportunity for hurt & indiffernces. But there is equally if not more opportunity for growth & forgiveness. And with the pain & grief of loss, there is also overflowing joy in new life. 

You don't get to choose your family, but I think God knows what he's doing when he places you there. And I am grateful for all of my family, whether it's my related family or my  in-relationship family, or my friends in other states family. This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for being home ((even if it's too cold & long for us,)) for a warm home to have & raise my baby in, for full bellies of delicious & nutritious meals & for the opportunity to get our feet under us after living a few years of adventures & making memories. 

Cheers to the Holidays, family & staying warm! 

Christmas Eve /// 2011 in Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Christmas /// 2012 in Dana Point, California /// this was our second month in our apartment; we didn't have furniture 

Christmas /// 2012 /// ugly  sweater party with new friends

'Friendsgiving' /// 2013 /// lucky enough to have friends who were also living away from family so we became holiday family 

Christmas /// 2013 in DP, CA /// Skype with the family & opening up presents while Blake was in Baja 

Halloween /// 2014 /// last holiday just the two of us 

Our baby announcement /// 2014 

Christmas with the Morris' /// 2014 /// four generations & two babies on the way

New Year's Day /// 2015

Halloween /// 2015 

A Shower for the Baby

Saturday, February 21st
Monument, Colorado

We had a party for baby! Blake & I had such a great time catching up with new and old friends, and family. We discussed all things babies, names, personalities, the birth, our move back home, working, and the future business we are about to start up. There was support and encouragement from every person who came to wish us well. We are so lucky to have these people in our lives! From the new ones, to old middle school friends, to best friends from different states, to parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nephew, and niece, to friends who have watched Blake & I grow up in our town and grow up together, they all were smiling with positive stories and offers to babysit at any time.

My friends Kelsie & Lauren offered to throw my baby shower. They knew I'd be heavily involved because I just love throwing parties. When I was up in the night (I blame baby) I'd get on Pinterest and search for inspritaions that would show who Blake & I wanted to be as parents. There were a few guidlines we needed to stick to in order to make this party ours; recycled, borrowed, and thrifted items as much as possible, casual and relaxed games and atmosphere, gender neutral as we do not know the sex, a delicious vegan lunch spread, and to accomodate the possible cold weather Colorado might give us.

And man did Colorado give us some cold weather! The only storm the town talked about since winter started was supposed to fall on the day of the shower. As it quickly approached, Kelsie, Mary & I were  running around picking up last minute decorations and trying to turn an old, dirty barn space into something suitable for a baby shower. On a pretty good budget and praying for the storm to hold off a few more hours, we pulled off a better baby shower then I ever could have asked for. I was so happy with how it turned out. I think everyone had a good time, and they even said they enjoyed the vegan food! Catching up, laughing, and smiling with everyone was the best part of it all! The three of us are so loved.

The invitations I designed. I liked the camping theme because of all the camping Blake & I have done in the last few years with Blake's trip to Santa Fe, our West Coast trip, and Blake's Baja trip. Camping is very much a part of growing up in Colorado & being a part of nature. We hope that baby will have the same adventurous interests. 

The happy soon-to-be parents

This girl's heart is so giving and selfless. She was my rock the last few weeks in getting things together and making this party work. Thanks for your time & love, Kelsie! 

Terry, my beautiful Mom, and Bonnie

Kelly, Emma & Renee

Stacie, my brother Matt, my sister Bella, my brother Anthony, Treven, and my Dad, Bob

My brothers & Blake

Melanie & Jimmy are due with thier first, a boy, in July

Blake's parents, Mary & Shawn, and Grandma Great Benny

My bestest, Lauren, is visiting from Georgia, which is why we had the shower so soon. We knew she needed to be a part of this day & we were lucky enough her sweet boy, Luke, came out as well. Thanks for crafting & coming to the shower Lee & Lauren, my baby's Twiaunties! 

Shawn, Grandma Great, and Blake's uncle, Max

Future cousins Cash & Marley

Sister-in-laws Jessica & Kelsie. Jessica was the awesome photographer. Thanks for all the great pictures, Jess!

Danielle's due six weeks after I am. We can't wait to have cousins so close in age

Corey & Kelsie

Stacie & Matt

My sister, Bella, told me a few years ago that she wanted to be an aunt when she was nine years old. She's now nine years old

Blake's Aunt Karen

The gift table filled up quickly with amazing books, blankets, onesies, diapers, wood toys, personal notes & so much more

Our wonderful rocking chair from Blake's parents. I'm so excited to rock baby to sleep in it

Grandma & Marley

Blake & I when we were babies

Blake's hat when he came home from the hospital

We had the clothes pin game, advice cards, and baby prediction pool cards

Some of the name suggestions were: Maverick, Jade, Clementine Penelope, Summit, Gilbert Kale, Annaleigh, Tristan, Regan, Zaccheas Shawn, Lulu, Nolan, Micheala, Stone, & Bartholomew

We made a kids' corner with a tent, chalkboard, fire pit, and some books

Grandpa reading to Marley

Bella & Cash drawing on the chalkboard

Grandma reading to Marley The Bernstein Bears New Baby

Happy Campers

Blake & decided we wanted to stick to vegan food for lunch. We wanted to represent who we are & offer what we like. I made sweet potato, quinoa & three bean chili with guacamole, cilantro, and limes, mini corn muffins with butter & honey, an organic veggie tray & fruit bowl, and a s'mores cassarole. We also had lemonade, iced tea, and hot cider for beverages. 

My friend Stacey donated the beautiful flowers

At the end of the day I am happy to be going through this crazy life with this guy. He loves me for who I am while challanging me to be a better person each day. We aren't even close to figuring any of it out, but I can't wait to see what the future holds. Becoming a parent with him is my greatest joy. Love you, Blake Alan Morris!

Thank You to everyone who made this incredible day happen and for everyone who showed up during the blizzard!!

Dream Big Ride Far