2015 was a GOOD Year!! {part 1}

Even though I wasn't blogging last year, I want to take some time here to remember some of my favorite times of 2015! 

I'm not going to get into details here but because of his career, for the last couple of years our time with John has been very limited.  We cherish any time we have with him and make the best of the time we are apart!  Last year we were able to take a couple of vacations with him and we had the best time!!  The first of these was Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte, NC!!

All my favorite guys!!

 

Sweet boys!!



We love LOVE love Great Wolf Lodge!!  We've been to 3 different locations and my boys talk about going back regularly!!  If you haven't ever been, I highly recommend it!!

 

Next up was a girls trip to NYC for me!!  I went with a group of girls from church and we had the best time!!  We spent the first couple days sightseeing and then we attended a conference called She Is Free!

 

the 1st day we landed, dropped stuff at the hotel, & spent the whole day exploring! Such a super fun group!

The cutie in the middle of that group on the right is Kristin, our women's leader & pastor! She is such a strong, successful, beautiful friend and inspires & encourages me so much!!  And?  She was part of a panel at She Is Free!!

What to do when the subway is empty? Get crazy of course! ;)

There was so much laughter, fun, and so many memories made on this trip!  Some of these girls I barely knew before this trip and you wouldn't have known it!  She Is Free was such a powerful conference and I left there so on fire to seek God and to see God's daughters rise up, encourage one another and be a force for change in this world!

 

 

A couple months later it was birthday time for my boys and because of John's work schedule, he wasn't going to get to be home for them.  So we decided instead of parties, we would plan a trip when daddy could be with us!  We decided on St. Augustine, FL and had such an amazing time!!  We did some research and let the boys each choose one activity to do while there!

 

Colby is an animal/reptile lover so it was no surprise that he chose the alligator farm!

Brayden has a never ending sweet tooth and so by no surprise chose a tour at the Whetstone chocolate factory tour!

Dylan was so so excited about his choice to visit the carousel!!  I think he rode it atleast 10 times, each with the same enthusiasm & excitement as the first!

and what is a birthday without presents?! one night back at the condo we opened presents!

some good friends of ours that happened to live nearby came over one afternoon for swimming and then pizza & cupcakes! It was fun to see them and catch up!

and one of my favorite things about this trip was sunset walks on the beach as a family!
 

I absolutely loved St. Augustine!  The condos we stayed at were perfect, there was so much to do, and it was a such a sweet, enjoyable time with my family!!

 

One of my favorite holidays is the 4th of July, so I have to include it in my fave memories!!  Each year, our best friends and us would plan a party.  And every year it grew!  Last year it was an all day event and our whole block was invited! (and most showed up!! so fun!)  My best friends smoked pork butt all day and everyone brought sides, desserts, & fireworks!

 

just a few pictures from the day!

each year, the week before the party, we all head to Alabama to shop for the good fireworks! I love me some fireworks!!

 

There are a lot of things that I miss about Pensacola but at the top of that list is our friends and the beach!  And those two things combine to make up more of my favorite memories from 2015!  It doesn't get much better than beach days with friends!!

 

 

kiddos checking out a baby shark we caught!

beach football!!

my people. and the beach. LOVE.

the littlests rocking their boogie boards! =)

my lil blondie beach babe!

love these kiddos!

just some of the best kiddos in the world on one of the most beautiful beaches!



 

So much fun to think back and reminisce on such a great year!!  I'll be continuing with my favorite memories from the second half of the year next week!  And 'Menu Monday' will be back as well so be sure to check back!!  Hope everyone has a fun Superbowl weekend!!

 

XOXO

Aubs