4years and then 4ever

Happy Anniversary to the man I love.

I am so lucky to share my life with you.

Some days are like this...

ha!

But most our days are like this...

And every day is like this...

...even when we're apart.

Thank you for coming home to celebrate with me.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Well, it's that time of year again...the time of year to make fun of Zack for being so old - ha!

Happy Birthday to this guy.

isnt he handsome?

Your last year was filled with... a trip home to Washington, SERE training, a babymoon in Charleston & Savannah, becoming a father, moving to Albuquerque, exploring New Mexico, buying our first house, and kinda sorta finishing mission qualification training and moving to LV. Big year last year, and I know God will be blessing you all this next year, too.

Thank you for all you do for your family. We love you and miss you. Wish we could celebrate with you on your special day. Come home soon!

Love,

R, E, H&H

your chubby kid says "happy birthday!"

Rendezvous in Sedona

Since we've been missing Zack for the last month+ we decided to meet up in beautiful Sedona for the weekend. So we packed up the car and hit the road again. 

First stop - Flagstaff. We enjoyed walking through downtown and stopping for lunch.

Next up - Sedona. When I drive into Sedona I am always in awe. Even if you've seen it before, there is something grand and majestic about it that kind of makes your jaw drop each time.

We ate in our room and enjoyed the hot tub the first night. Then we got up and out, determined to find a great hike for the day.

someone was a little afraid of smokey

Aunt Tavia and Mike met us for the day!

Our last day we enjoyed another hike with the girls and a great meal in Flagstaff before we parted ways.

my goofy boys

Our Journey Home

Exactly one month ago Elliott, H&H, and I left our beloved ABQ. We said goodbye to Zachariah and our dear friends and ventured to our new home. It was probably the most stressful trip I've ever had (lots of tears!) but I survived to tell the stories!--barely...

In Vegas I did the final walk through of our house with the builder, then waited three days to complete the closing paperwork. I got the keys, dropped off my carload, and headed home to Reno.

There we had the most wonderful visit with family and friends. Elliott learned to crawl, went to Tahoe for his first time, and spent lots of time being loved on and spoiled!

Now we're settling into our new home and unpacking all the household goods we haven't seen for well over 7 months. Most everything is damaged in some form...so, that's been frustrating. But we are blessed with our house and excited to start life here in Vegas.

Fun With Friends!

dinner with brittany and sandy
PS-we may have eaten at buenos like...a LOT of times!

getting robs real good at deli towne

selfie fun with miles

loving on auntie zan

ah! a daisy!

sweetness & love with auntie m

ellie and elliott sittin' in a tree!

At the Top of Squaw

e & i hung out at the wanderlust pool party
good people watching + we got to watch a storm roll in

Glenbrook at Lake Tahoe

e loved the beach! he ate lots of sand & played all afternoon

We Love Family Time

aw! e loves Q-ma

happy 8 months!

i don't think there is a cuter uncle/nephew combo

We really did have the most wonderful visit in Reno! Lots of swimming, yummy meals, fun with friends, and, of course, sushi :) 

Then someone was so happy to be in his new nursery!

8 months - crawling, cruising furniture, refuses spoon-only wants to feed himself
oh, and cute as ever!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bugs!

For the 4th of July and a very special 21st birthday, we got a visit from Uncle Bugs!

Here's a couple pictures from camping. We had some rain...but we had lots of fun hiking, going to the hot springs, watching lightning storms, and hanging by the campfire.

P.S. - not sure Elliott could get any more 'Merican!

the boys and their UNR hats

the flash kind of took out the double rainbow behind us...
but you can admire the double Simmonds beauty in the foreground, instead!

Next up, celebrating a 21st birthday and getting ready to move tomorrow!

Brian, thank you for wanting to come and celebrate your birthday with us. We love the time we get to spend with you, especially watching you and Elliott. Thank you for adoring our son and becoming the best uncle our baby could ever ask for. We cherish the memories we have gotten to make with you in Albuquerque...from our very first day we moved here to our very last day we lived here. We're so glad we get to move closer to you and see much more of you in the years to come. Happy 21st Birthday! You deserve a fun celebration and we wish you well on your next year! All our love, your sister, your brother, and your nephew (and, who could forget, H&H who love you so much, too!)

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from my Airman and our Airbaby!



Since we're going to be out of town for the fourth, I thought I'd share some pictures (and hopefully put a smile on your face) today. We were supposed to see some fireworks tonight, but sadly we have quite the cranky teething baby. So...I'm looking at these pictures to remind myself of my cute happy boy.

This weekend we're headed out camping again and celebrating Uncle Bugs' birthday! It's our last hoorah during our last few days in Albuquerque.

and because this one makes me crack up every time...

Photo Credit: Haas Kiekkies Photography