Category Archives: family

Finally sharing…we’re engaged!

September 9, 2014

walker and jessica engaged 1 walker and jessica engaged 2 walker and jessica engaged 3 walker and jessica engaged 4

And it’s a bit of a funny story. Remember when we tried to go to the hot springs in Oregon? Turns out that is where Walker was planning to propose. Let me go back a bit though. So I knew the ring was around because I sort of, accidentally picked it out myself. My mom was in town back in March and we stopped into an antique shop just to look around. When I put this ring on my finger (it fit perfectly by the way) I loved it! I loved it even more when the woman told me the stone in the middle was a green garnet (garnets are my birthstone!). So yes I had Walker come look and we decided to get it. Finding the ring was a bit spontaneous so I told Walker he could wait until he was ready.

So that brings us back to the weekend of the hot springs fail. When Walker’s initial plan didn’t work out he was trying to figure out the best time to ask. We were in Oregon for another day and with friends but the timing didn’t seem right (so he told me). So on Sunday, Mother’s Day, we arrive home. I had to check on the garden so I headed out back and Walker went inside. A few minutes later he joined me and started saying a bunch of sweet things. I was like oh no! I said wait you’re not asking right now are you?! He was like uh what. I was said um it’s Mother’s Day, I haven’t showered, no one is hiding in the bushed to take our photos, and also I have to use the restroom (we had just gotten home from a road trip).

So I ran back inside and collected my thoughts. When I came back out I was like ok and also I had grabbed my phone because someone needed to take pictures. We sat down on the swing but some kids next door came out in the backyard to play. The moment didn’t seem right so we decided to take a walk to the park. In the park is a water tower with a great view so we hiked up all the stairs to the top. We waited for it to clear out and finally the moment arrived. Walker got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes and there were some tears. Confession though? For the first couple weeks I was in more shock than anything. I had the super excited moments but they didn’t happen right away. Perhaps it’s just my practical nature and not being so great with change. I am and was excited but I also needed to process.

So I waited forever to share publicly because at first we wanted to tell as many friends and family in person or over the phone as possible. Then I just got sort of lazy about it and I felt like I had waited to long and should I even do it now. But I did because I’m excited and I wanted to share and I want to stop cropping my ring out of photos. So there you have it!

Camping in alabama

August 28, 2014

alabama camping crazy fire alabama camping fire alabama camping kittie alabama camping kitties 1 alabama camping shower alabama camping sparklers alabama camping trash can warrior

During my first visit to Alabama we also went camping on Walker’s sister and brother in law’s land. This was a slightly fancier version of camping. They installed an outdoor shower with privacy on one side and the other side it open so you can look at the trees and feel at one with nature while showering (it was pretty cool). They also set up a cooking and sink area (where the sink has running water and a filter). All these things combined made it just a little easier to be out there for 3 days.

We spent most of our time around the “living room” of camp-the fire. When I wasn’t there I was in my hammock reading and napping-I did a lot of that. The weather was a bit cooler than expected so it was pretty comfortable in the mid 70’s. We did swim a couple of times but with small children it didn’t last long.

We were actually there for the 4th of July and I really wanted to do one of those word pictures with sparklers. I was really bad at it either going to fast or too slow. The one above that says Walker was one of the best and it was maybe outtake 5 or 6.

My favorite part about the camping trip was having 4 kitties along! It was so cool because they wouldn’t venture far but you’d see them jumping around camp and hiding in the wood pile or cuddled up on a chair. Walker and I got pretty close to one of the small black ones because we’d bring him in our tent to sleep and he was the sweetest. Kitty cuddles are the best and I highly recommend kitty camping.

 

My first trip to birmingham

August 26, 2014

birmingham brewery
birmingham brewery beer
birmingham beer garden birmingham bonsai birmingham botanical gardens walker birmingham brewery 2
birmingham sloss

Back in July Walker and I headed to Birmingham to visit his sister and family. It was my first time there and I was super excited to visit a new city and of course be in the south. People down there are so, so nice. I just felt so welcome and taken care of the entire trip. We visited a few local breweries (one of our favorite things to do when we travel), the botanical gardens, and a few popular sites around town.

If you remember I also got to meet with the fine folks over at State Traditions which was so crazy because they contacted me about working with them just before our trip. The timing couldn’t have been better!

We spent most of our time camping while in Alabama (more on that later) but I’m excited for our next trip out because I feel like we have a lot left to see. If you know of any must see places in Birmingham or the surrounding area let me know! I like to keep a list of places to see for next time.