home for the holidays

 I cannot even begin to explain to you how excited I was as I drove up the driveway to the familiar farmhouse on the hill. I cannot even describe the excitement that was flowing throughout ever inch of my body when I finally saw the friends I hadn't seen since the summer. Our screams and shouts left no one in doubt of what had just occurred when we hugged and jumped around. If you asked me to tell how I was feeling in that moment, I wouldn't have an answer. Seeing these people who know me so well, these people I've known for years now... I was beyond excited. I was equally excited to see my family. They are what makes "home" home. Hearing kids running down the hall way and jumping on my bed to wake me up in the morning, is just pure happiness. I know these next few weeks of christmas break will go by so fast. Now more than ever I wish I could slow down time, but I'll take what I can get. The partying is just getting started. Here's to a phenomenal christmas break.

-m

photo set: christmas break.

thursday the 22nd

Thanksgiving this year was a little different for me. I wasn't at home for the week long preparations or the shopping trips. Barely made it home due to a cancelled flight, the thing I was most thankful for this year was just to be home with my family. Thanksgiving day was spent cooking, which filled grandma's house with wonderful smells. Stories were exchanged during meal preparations, at the table and in the living room. I think this is what I enjoy most about thanksgiving. The conversations and time spent with family. The day ended with a photo session with my adorable sisters and twin cousins. Thanksgiving this year was different, but I am so thankful I was able to spend it with those closest to me.

 -m

home.

HOME.
It's an interesting experience to go home after being away two and a half months. It's almost like I never left, yet it felt like I'd been gone for so long. It was as if I had been picked up from my life in oklahoma, and put down in my life in Iowa and I just picked it up again. Megan and I stayed up late talking like the good old days. I missed talking to that girl. She's pretty cool.
I took my camera out for the first time in weeks and it was like we'd never been apart, we'd just taken a break for a while.
I was able to meet up with my friend Krista for coffee, which was beyond wonderful. I've missed good coffee.
The fact that it actually looked like November in Iowa made me love the seeing the state. Bare trees, cloudy skies, the land waiting for snow. Oklahoma still looks like September, and cloudy days are rare. I loved seeing Iowa again. It might be ugly to some people, but I love it.
I really can't wrap my mind around being at home. It was strange, yet normal at the same time.

-m.

road trip: st. louis

[ ALL OF THE ABOVE PHOTS WERE TAKEN WITH IPHONE 4S. ]

St. Louis has a special place in my heart. As a youngster we would always pass by the arch city on our way to visit family in Missouri. We always left in the evening after dad got off of work. I would keep myself awake just so I could see the city at night. It was always my favorite part about driving. Once, about four years ago, we took a three day family vacation to St. Louis. Spending the whole day at the science museum and another day at various other museums since the rain cancelled some of our other plans (like going to the zoo). This year we decided to repeat our trip to St. Louis, only it was different than before. I drove my own car, with Megan as a companion, while our family drove ahead of us, leading the way. It was a blast. We sang along to songs on my twelve hour playlist. We ate way to many teddy-grams and to much snapple. We accidentally got lost once, because I missed the exit. We drove into St. Louis at night and it was as if I was a kid again looking out the widow. The lights, the buildings, the cars going along the interstate, it was all beautiful. And "beth/rest" by bon iver was the perfect song to drive in this city with. We all knew this was going to be a fantastic road trip.

xo.
--m

p.s.- notice the new design? That was down my megan. She's pretty cool. 

pss. I don't know what happened to my scheduled posts.... for some reason they didn't work...