Sweethearts on the Hill

We spent Easter Sunday out at Grandma's house again this year... always guaranteed to have some yummy food and a good ole Easter  egg hunt.   The big boys still find great pleasure in running around the yard to pick up a bunch of pastel colored eggs. Sneaking in a photo op with my handsome little man ~

Occasionally, you find yourself rushing out of a horrendous meeting at work so you can drive like a maniac to Nashville and join your lifetime best friend in a meet and greet with your favorite musician on the planet...     This really does happen   You might not look the way you want to look for the occasion... but the world doesn't stop for shitty days at work. And, of course, there's sound check And front row seats at Ryman Auditorium   And she sings Hallelujah for you for the very first time... The night was surreal... spiritual... in a way I can't even describe. Her voice in that venue, sitting so closely, hearing the entire soundtrack of the first album which made me love her...  There. Are. No. Words.

So, I got a little too eager for my annual hike up Mt. LeConte with Sam and Charlie this year.  I sent us up the mountain in March... when it was way too cold to be climbing up 7,000 feet...     Flat Stanley got to join us on this trip... he helped keep the mood light when we were all freezing our bottoms off.   Sam and Charlie were troopers as always.   We sang our song about "...always keep hiking and never give up!"   We passed gloves around since we were a little short on supplies... but overflowing with love :)   There was a gas heater inside the lodge... we all sat around it and thawed off for about 30 minutes while we ate our lunch. Another 6,493 feet in the bag! Sadly, I was kinda glad to see this one come to an end. It was pretty cold and miserable the whole way...  Next year, I will choose our day more wisely!  Still love these guys for being my happy hiking buddies!

When you live in Tennessee, there are winters that pass by with barely a dusting of snow...    This was the story of the winter of 2017   So you quickly learn to never let the moment pass you by... get outside as soon as it falls and make some memories   It wasn't much, but it made for a fun day ... a little bit of sledding   Some big smiles...   A few moments of terror...   And lots of opportunities for mommy to capture some pictures Perhaps we'll have better luck in 2018!

Life is flying by. Really.  I can't believe another year has gone by. It's baffling to recall moments that feel so close in time and realize they are years in the past. When I pause to think about 2016, I'm left with nothing but a smile.  I see flashes of faces... of scenery... landmarks... smiles... accomplishments... surprises... hard work... and lots of love. It's all really good stuff. My life is good. To reflect on some of my favorites... On a whim, I had one of the coolest experiences of my life with my friend, Marie. We decided one evening that we would go hike Mt. LeConte the following day (this is a big deal for two moms with 5 kids between us!) So we did it. It was January. It was 65 degrees in Knoxville. And it was this in the mountains...    All 10 miles of it. It was truly a glorious experience. It was difficult and slippery and at times even a little scary... but it was so breathtaking and such a rewarding experience. I truly covet ...