Having a snowday at the beach was one of the wildest sights. Ben moved up to Virginia Beach for a course at the beginning of January. A few days later I drove up, just in time, to spend the weekend getting snowed in. We watched more movies than we could count, took a few walks through the snow, and devoured a whole lot of pizza.

These pictures don’t really do the beach justice. The blanket of white meeting the water with the sand filled in between was beautiful. 

It was such a fun way to spend the weekend before spending a few weeks apart. Excited to keep visiting Ben here these next few months!

JANUARY

After spending Christmas in Cartagena, we headed home to ring in the new year. We spent most of the month planning for Ben’s deployment and my move to Nashville!

FEBRUARY

Ben had a lot of long days, especially since he was driving to Camp Lejeune each day, but we were able to sneak away to celebrate my birthday in Savannah. It was extra special to celebrate my birthday in a place we have so many sweet memories in.

APRIL

April was quite the month! Ben and I drove out to Nashville and moved me into my new home. There were a lot of tears, but it was also paired with one of the greatest days exploring my new city with my best friend.

MAY

Ben and I celebrated three years from afar, but he surprised me with the most beautiful flowers accompanied by a Facetime call.

We had the best White House reunion at Steph and Ben’s wedding!

AUGUST

Finally time to reunite with Ben! But first, a stop in Paris, a picnic with Kat and JD under the Eiffel Tower, and a sunrise styled shoot.

Then it was off to Spain for the best long weekend of my life. The sweetest reunion in the most perfect setting.

OCTOBER

Ben came home and all was well again! We spent a weekend in Wilmington for Ben’s Ironman race and hit the road for a few weddings in Virginia!

NOVEMBER

Another Thanksgiving in the books with all our favorite Roanoke activities.

DECEMBER

We hopped on a flight for a snowy weekend in Boston. I think we were both surprised how quickly we fell in love with the city!

 

2017 was a year of milestones. We got through our first deployment, celebrated three years of marriage, I kicked off my wedding photography, and even got a new job! We spent the majority of the year apart but can both confidently say we truly made lemonade out of the lemons life threw at us. I fell in love with Nashville and Ben thrived in his deployment. We both pursued our own dreams, but always remained one another’s biggest fans.

At the end of 2016 I had no idea that a lot of the above was about to happen. It wasn’t even on my radar.  Here we are at the end of 2017 and I’m not too sure what 2018 has to bring. But I do know that I am beyond excited and ready. So, bring it on, 2018. Bring every little thing that isn’t on my radar right now on.

In case you want to see what we were up to in 2016, 2015 and 2014, you can do that too!

Christmastime this year was so sweet. We aren’t used to spending Christmas in the same place two years in a row so it was a treat to have little New Bern traditions. This year we really decked the halls with our slightly larger tree. I was dead set on going to this Christmas Tree farm about an hour away. We hopped in the car (sporting our red and green Christmas attire), grabbed lunch in downtown Kinston, and just before arriving at the farm it started pouring rain. As the rainfall crushed all my Christmas hopes and dreams we drove right on back to New Bern. Thankfully we arrived just in time for the Christmas parade and floatopia along the river.

We drove right on back to the trusty Christmas tree lot on the side of the road (we’ll chock it up to wanting to keep tradition?) to pick out our perfect little tree. 

It was perfect.  We set our Christmas day for a week before Christmas and it was perfect. We started our morning with coffee and french toast and then exchanged gifts. This year we were actually able to surprise one another. I’d say it was a roaring success. I’m so thankful for the little traditions Ben and I have created over the years. We’ve spent Christmas in London, D.C, Cartagena, and now New Bern and I’m just so thankful. No matter where we live or where we travel to, it is so sweet to share the holidays with him. Also, let it be known that Ben is seriously stepping up his Christmas spirit game. I am one proud wife.  This year we traveled back to Roanoke for Christmas and I sadly did not pull my camera out once. But, I did snap a few pictures on my polaroid and goodness I cherish these snapshots of time. Christmas was filled with so much family time, a lot of “unwrap the saran wrap ball dice game”, and even more food. Having both families in one place has been so sweet and I love that we get to spend so much time with each. Here are just a few little glimpses of our time at home.Honestly, I’m obsessed with this child ^

The best brothers. We had a cajun Christmas and dad finally taught Ben all the steps.
He makes Christmas all the merrier^Mom nailed Garrett’s ornaments this year^She’s the best!
It’s been nine years with this guy. Thankful that high school Ben decided to say hello to high school Carrie.

To celebrate New Year’s we took a day trip to Raleigh. It was spent shopping around, reading at a favorite coffee shop and then most divine dinner at Brewery Bhavana (who new a brewery/dim sum/bookshop/plant shop fusion would be such a perfect combination?!). 

New Year’s is such a sweet time to talk about the past year and chat about our goals for the next year. I just adore getting to walk through life with Ben. I’ve got a good feeling about 2018 and can’t wait to see where it takes us.