Much needed VACATION!

So the day after graduation we hopped in the car and drove 10 hours to the most BEAUTIFUL beach ever - Destin, FL. We've been going there as a family every summer since I can remember and it has been fun the past few years to keep the tradition alive. It's so great because it's so close but feels like a world away whenever you're there. Everything's just better in Destin!

Of course Jared had to represent and built a sand replica of Kyle Field.






Kellye and Sean - so cute.






Beautiful Paige - who literally just got back from being in Europe for two months, and Italy and Greece for two weeks with my parents. She hadn't even been home yet, that stinker!




Melissa and Jason - we love him!! They are so perfect for each other.






Marissa and Ryan, friends of ours from A&M. They are expecting their first little one in March!!






And us, I was 6-1/2 months here.






What was crazy to think about is that next year we'll have a little Brody with us on the beach! It was fun to watch all the parents with little toddlers running around in the sand, it made it so real to us that he's actually coming and that EVERY aspect of our lives is about to change. Which is really exciting and terrifying at the same time actually. The fear of the unknown is the scary part but thinking about being on the beach with our little family next year is SO exciting.

Update- Graduation!

*tap* *tap* Is this thing on? After sufficient slacking I've finally gotten it together enough for an update on the past month at our house! Hopefully this will be a trend to more frequent posting, I cross my fingers. How can it be that I feel like I have less time and less motivation WITHOUT a full time job than with one!? I think I just need to get it together!

So here it goes - Aug. 14th - GRADUATION! This was one of the most exciting and fun days ever, I was so so proud to see Jared in his cap and gown walking across the stage. It really was overwhelming - just thinking back on all the hard work, late nights, and stressful finals that Jared's been through the past three and a half years. This has been the day we've been looking forward to since we got married and it was finally here, and he earned every bit of it.

I just can't put into words how proud I am of him and how much I love the man that he is and has been through it all. I married a hard worker, Grandma Miller told me that he was and asked me if I was ready for it when we were engaged! I always knew he loved to clean on Saturdays and organize the garage until it is magazine worthy, but as I watched him walk across the stage it made me realize how hard of a worker he really is. When he makes his mind up to do something he does it, even if it's not easy or fun, and I'm thankful that I'm the lucky one that gets to be his wife.





Isn't that cake awesome!? Jared's mom, Lori, ordered it from a local bakery and it was so cool! So the next day we jumped in the car with my sisters, their husbands/boyfriends, and some friends of ours and headed to Destin for a week on the beach. Pictures of that tomorrow!

Dear H-E-B,

I love you.

For everyone that lives outside of Texas I'm sorry that you can't experience the amazing-ness that is H-E-B. It's a good reason, among many others, to move here! When we moved to Houston three weeks ago and were driving around trying to find our way around we passed this beautiful new H-E-B (in the picture). It's not the closest grocery store to us, I actually pass a Kroger and Super Target on the way, but it is SO worth it to drive the extra bit.

Not all H-E-B's are the same, they just started building these new Central Market style ones that are seriously beautiful. They have the best produce, amazing meat and cheese departments, and pretty much anything else you could ever want. Some of our favorite recipes have come from their cooking stations they have throughout the store. Love it!!

But the best part of H-E-B really isn't the selection, the awesome layout, or the freshness of everything - it's the people. When I went today I was really blown away by how nice everyone was, just plain nice! The guys stocking the fruit were happy and smiling, the meat counter guy was friendly and helpful, and the checkers asked me at least three times if they could take my groceries out to the car. (I don't think it's because I'm huge pregnant or anything :)

I don't say any of this to try and change where you grocery shop or rub it in your face if you don't have an H-E-B, when I left there today I was just overwhelmingly thankful for the little things like nice people. It's sounds so silly. But with moving to a new city, a much much bigger city, going from working or being in school full time for the past nine years to being a stay at home soon-to-be mom, missing family and friends, and feeling a little overwhelmed in general it's just really nice to go somewhere that feels like home, where you always know what to expect, and where people are nice to you for no reason - even if it is a little out of the way.

New email address

tyan@tinybirdphotography.com

If you've sent an email to my tamu account the past few days please resend to the email address above since I can't get them. Thanks!

What the freak man

I know, I'm a huge slacker. I apologize for the lack of posting, the past few weeks have been RIDICULOUS!

Ridiculous in good and bad ways, the two weeks of vacation was pure bliss. The white sand in Destin is my favorite thing in the world. What was not so glorious was coming home to boxes upon boxes in our new loft in downtown Houston, having no internet the first week of moving in, and having to switch to Comcast (oh how I miss you, DirectTV).

We've gotten through most of the boxes with just a few more to go so that is happy news. I'll be sure to put up pictures of the trip, Jared's man trip to Utah, the new loft, and the growing bump asap. It's still touch and go as far as free time to post but I promise I'll be better! And to my clients who are waiting on their galleries and orders - I love you and totally understand if you hate my guts! I would be saying "what the freak man" as well. But they are coming, I promise!

Moving to a new city and Jared's new job are the two things that are most exciting right now. We LOVE being in downtown Houston around tons of new shopping and restaurants. It's a really fun adventure since it's the biggest city either of us have lived in. Jared is doing marketing for a medical center and is LOVING it. I think he's loving the position as much as he's loving not starting class this week with the rest of A&M. I really couldn't be more proud of him and am so so glad that he loves his job.

So that's the update for now, life is crazy but good!