I love getting mail- especially when it contains books! I love how our 2011 family photo book turned out (it was made from here). Although i take lot of pictures (like 12,000 from just last year)- i'm really bad at printing them. So i figured a book from each year was the best way to go. I included all our big events like vacations, family parties, holidays, births of new nephews etc- but i also included little events like our lazy sunday afternoons together, yard work, and adventures. I love looking back though it and remembering how much fun we have together- it makes me want to be even better at documenting/photographing 2012! And don't you love the name- it's kinda perfect!

I'm a mountain girl- born and raised. I love the trees, the dirt, the wide open places and the freedom. However there's something enchanting about the beach- almost bewitching. It's calm and beautiful but you can see the raw power behind every wave. Its amazing. I have found that the beach is absolute best place to read a book. I loved getting lost in the story with only the sound of the waves in the background- ahhh deep breath. Our few days spent on the beach in the luke warm water were just what we needed- slow and relaxing. 

Have you read the enjoying the small things blog? If you haven't you are defiantly missing out. She is a wonderful photographer and writer but she also finds beauty in all parts of life. Her blog inspires me to document more of our life (so we never forget these moments) and to really find the beauty in life- and enjoy it. So yesterday when i was involved in a car accident (which was not my fault) and things could have been much worse then they are- i'm fine, mr. dog is fine, the other driver was fine, and the car- well not so fine. But it shook me and made me realize there are some very important things in life... like the drover who shows up unannounced to scene of the accident even after assuring him multiple times that we were ok and could handle everything (i tell you that man makes me weak in the knees). And dog seat belts- even though mr. dog wasn't wearing his we learned an extremely valuable lesson about taking the time to buckle him in even if it is a quick trip. And a doctor coworker who came to get mr. dog check him out because he knew thats what i was most worried about. Life is unpredictable and scary but i have so much to be grateful for so i'm going to take the time and enjoy the small things. So tonight when the drover asked if i wanted to go hit a bucket of golf balls I typically wouldn't have gone (golf is not really my thing) but tonight i said yes and i'm really glad i did.