For shame.

I know.. I know.. I'm a sad disappointment to you all (I'm looking at you, Pep, mama, and meghan) BUT! I'm determined to get caught up! Like now.. we'll just think of it like a nice summer break?
I've decided to start up a 365 project and take a picture everyday starting TODAY! I actually already took my pretty picture and am already worried about the prospect of running out of ideas for the next year. However there's no better way to be held accountable than to proclaim it to the internet and also my family. Since you all have bugged me so much about my lack of actual blogging I know I can count on you to keep me going for my new venture. ;) I hope you guys are up to the task.
I'm hoping to post these photos here weekly.. that's the hope!

And I've already taken my first picture but I'm making myself blog about my summer first. So-- you've been warned. You're about to get bombed with some blog post.

Until then here's this sassy pup for you :) 

colorado.

Thomas and I flew out to my home state of Colorado during August. It was so much fun showing Thomas Colorado-- he loved it. I mean how can you not? It has perfect weather, NO BUGS and beautiful mountains!

We had such a great trip. We stayed with my Grandparents where I found out I come from a long line of night owls, and further confirmed my suspicion that I'm not (nor will I ever be) a morning person. 

While we were there we got to see so much of my family! It was perfect. Thomas and I also snuck away for a couple of days so that we could drive up to the mountains. I can't tell you the last time I was in the Rockies but we had such a blast. Even with the lack of oxygen! :) 

I had so much fun playing with my camera while we were there but I am seriously.. and I mean seriously disappointed at the lack of pictures I took of my family while we were all there. The balancing camera act is a hard one, my brain is constantly torn between, "CAPTURE EVERYTHING! Take all the pictures!!" to... "just live and be in the moment, don't worry about saving this moment to a picture." 

It's a constant struggle. 

Anyway.. here are some fun pictures from our trip out west! 

I'm so stinking proud of this picture!! We took this at 11pm!! It was pitch black dart 

but with a 20second exposure? Magic. 

Also we stood reallllllly still.  

My manly man carrying my turquoise backpack.

hi thomas!! 

He did beat me to the top.. 

(lack of oxygen is no joke)

Which made me sad since this is my home state, but apparently I've grown accustom to this thick heavy southern air.. boo.  

Let's just blame it on me wanting to take my time and take pictures instead? 

but I made it!!! And added my rock to the pile :) 

I'm so happy we got to take Thomas down to the Springs as well! Pep drove us around and gave us the grand tour of the area which included a drive through Garden of the Gods. 

He also drove us by the areas that were hit hard by the forest fires, and I was in disbelief at how much burned. It was insane. 

yeaa.. that would be rain. 

Our last night, my Uncle Steve treated us to some amazing seats at the Rockies game! 

It was a blast! And since this was Thomas' first professional baseball game, he's now spoiled and his standards are set pretty high for our next professional sport outing. ;) 

We had such a great trip. Although there was a little sassy fur ball we were both missing.. 

And clearly she missed us and was in need of some major love. 

 

yeaa... I live with that fur ball. 

our fourth.

We had sucha a great fourth filled with friends and family-- both mine and Thomas' family!
On the 3rd we went with our friends and their little one to watch some fireworks from afar. The little one was mesmerized by it all.

as was Thomas. ;) 

We were lucky enough to have my parent drive down for the weekend and then we all had a fun cookout at Thomas' grandparents house. Where Pa-Paw gave the city folk the grand tour of his "garden" (which is really a farm) and sent us all home with so many tomatoes! Seriously in his "garden" he planted 1500 tomato plants this year alone. Fifteen Hundred! Yes he sells them at the farmers market and I'm dying to drive up there one weekend and see him in action selling his tomatoes.

       

 

taking pictures in font of "chigger weed" as I was told.. ;) 

(I think they're too pretty to have such an awful name) 

While Thomas and my mama investigate other wildflowers.. or weeds. 

we'll go with wildflowers. 

 Told you. So many TOMATOES. 

 

and potatoes too! :) 

 

And the tour wasn't complete without a stroll through the orchard. 

 

Sadly they've been having issues with their apples for years, they've even had the University of Tennessee Agriculture Department up to investigate. Something is causing the apples to rot from the inside out-- some kind of fungus. It's so sad because this orchard is so pretty. 

And I want all the apples! 

However we wouldn't have had room for them in our trunk!