Thanksgiving 2019

 "If we don't start eating now, someone is going to die..."

Annual Camping 2019

For Labor Day, we spent another year camping in the mountains of North Carolina. This year, Kellie and her family were able to join us (I'm pretty sure for the first time), and of course, my parents were there. The campground that we stayed at was just a step above a KOA, so not as fabulous as other places we've camped, but it did have a nice river for tubing and good hiking nearby. I really love the photos I took, so prepare yourself...

Summer 2019

In the summer of 2019, I was in the middle of a two year long master's degree program, and I was spending a minimum of four or five hours a day on my classes (though sometimes as much as a full eight hours). That meant no epic summer travels, but we managed to squeeze in a few quick trips and activities.

Of course, we spent a week in Kentucky visiting family, including a zipline tour so my mom could cross that off of her bucket list.





The boys did a mud run with the youth from church, and Rylan went to Scout camp.





And at the end of the summer, we rented a beach house for a few days in the Outer Banks. The last day there, Michael had to work, so while he chilled at a Starbucks all day, the boys and I did a ropes course. We were too slow to make it all the way to the top, so goals for next summer!

Two Big Milestones

Eli graduated from middle school.



And wittle baby Ry graduated from elementary school.

Massanutten 2019

We have reached a point in our lives where living is cyclical; we do the same things every year, wash, rinse, repeat. If you look back at the history of this blog, you start to notice patterns: every year a post about Massanutten, then our epic summer travels (including a trip to Kentucky), then Labor Day in the mountains, than the obligatory Halloween post, followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I am writing this in April of 2020, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, which has finally given me the time and space to update this blog after nearly two years. One reason I fell out of the habit of blogging was the feeling of redundancy as I blogged about the same things over and over again, year after year. But this week we were supposed to head to Massanutten for spring break, and instead, we are trapped in our home, afraid to get within six feet of people, afraid to touch anything. Suddenly, when our tradition has been snatched from us, the repetition of our lives feels special. My backyard, where I'm sitting as I write this, is beautiful, but it's not the mountains.

How many years have we been married?

Michael and I were geniuses when we decided to get married right after Christmas. At the time, the reasoning was that we'd be on Christmas break (we were both still in college), and we'd have time off for our honeymoon. We didn't realize the true benefit of a Christmas anniversary: a built in babysitter for every anniversary date since we're already spending the holidays with our parents.

We spent this anniversary in Nashville, not doing anything special, but we did take a good photo!

Erin at 40

For my 40th birthday, I rented a cabin in my favorite place in the world: Chimney Rock. Mika and I enjoyed a couple of days by ourselves...



...before Michael joined us. It really was the best of uneventful birthday celebrations. I read a lot, watched some movies, sat in the hot tub, hiked to the top of Chimney Rock, walked with my favorite dog, and ate out with my favorite person.

Erin at 40 Years Old (er, technically 41 since I wrote this a year later after I'd already turned 41)

• favorite color: Is grey a color? I really like grey.
• favorite food: alfredo with broccoli and tomatoes
• favorite dessert: cheesecake
• favorite thing to do: watch Korean dramas
• favorite video game: Just Dance
• favorite subject in school: English
• favorite book you read this year: Born a Crime (2018), Beartown (2019)
• favorite music this year: Twenty One Pilots (2018), Sebastian Yatra (2019)

What is the meaning of life?

• “We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won't do harm - yes, choose a place where you won't do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.” - E.M. Forster, A Room with a View

What do you want to be when you grow up?

• Retired. I do not like working. Being a stay at home mom was the greatest job I've ever had.

What makes you happy?

• When my family spends time together happily without fighting. Also traveling.

What are you afraid of?

• I live in constant fear that something bad is about to happen to my kids. My life has been too perfect; I can't have the perfect life forever, right?

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

• That the thing I'm afraid of never happens.

What is the funniest word?

• perspicacious

What is the hardest thing to do?

• be a teacher

What is the easiest thing to do?

• lay in bed all day and watch K dramas

What is the best thing in the world?

• chocolate

What is the worst thing in the world?

• people

What makes you mad?

• electric fences for dogs

What is the meaning of love?

• Being with someone who makes you feel like you're good enough the way you are.

If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it?

• Finish fixing up my house, save for retirement and college funds, make sure my family has enough money to be comfortable, then start a bunch of non-profits or give a bunch of money to charity.