Another family photo shoot

Just before leaving California we were able to get one last shoot in with our FAVORITE photographers and good friends, Hayley & Travis Collins. They do amazing work & we are definitely going to miss their talented picture taking skills. Hayley took our pictures down by the beach, because we figured it would be awhile before we would be living so close to the beach again. There were so many good pictures that I loved them all (along with my new blog pic)!! But here are a few of my favorites....

My 25th Birthday!!!!

(Forgive me for being two months behind! lol) On October 28th we celebrated my 25th Birthday!!!! Since Brian had to work until the afternoon, the girls and I went to one of my favorite places....shopping on Del Mar street in downtown San Clemente. We had fun walking around and shopping in the little boutiques. Then, after Brian got off work we enjoyed a nice family dinner at Selma's, which is one of our favorite pizza places in San Clemente (its Chicago style pizza-go figure!) Oh how I will miss Del Mar :(

My family has always made a big deal out of birthdays. So, when we got to Chicago we went out to a local Mexican restaurant and celebrated my Birthday with my family. They put me in a sombrero and everyone sang to me! lol

The joy of moving

Moving is quite the process and I have been dying to get back to my normal organized ways (lol). I have been so BUSY between unpacking, Christmas shopping, & preparing for Brooklyn's 1st Birthday party that I haven't had any time to keep up with blogging so forgive me for my excessive posting in order to catch up on the last couple of months. Brooklyn is growing like a weed!! She is walking and talking now!! It is crazy how fast time flies. I have a lot of pictures and videos to post from the past two months, but in the mean time I just had to post this picture....

We were literally living out of suitcases! lol

So long California

After 6 long months of waiting and trusting in the Lord, we found out....WE WERE MOVING TO CHICAGO!!!! On October 4th, we found out that Brian was chosen for the MECEP program of the Marine Corps. It is such an accomplishment for Brian to be one of the marines chosen out of hundreds of applicants who applied for the program this year. Now that he was selected, we will be moving to Chicago for about 3 and a half years while Brian attends college before moving again to his next training school and duty station where he will then be an officer. He was also accepted to Loyola University and will be majoring in Theology. We are so proud of Brian!! We are so excited to embark on this incredible journey that lies ahead.

Olivia & I baked Brian a cake to celebrate his achievement:)

For the past 5 and a half years, I have lived in California and it has been amazing!! It's where Brian and I lived together for the first time, had both of our children, and made many memories together as a family. I am so excited to move back to the Midwest and be close to our family and friends there. But, it is going to be sad to leave the life we have built in California. We are going to miss all of our friends....we love you guys~keep in touch!!