new trails

We've been exploring lately, using up the last days of warm weather to check out some of the different areas around town.  We're discovering new parks and trails and little hideaways that we've never yet seen, despite both of us having grown up here.

This is what Avery does if I ask her to "stand right here and smile".  Thanks Avery.

This is what Ella does when she's left alone in the woods for a minute and then returned to full protection.  Isn't our baby getting big?  She's going to be one year next month!

In other news, things have changed around here just a bit.  We just wouldn't be 'us' if big curveballs weren't thrown our way and opportunities provided to us that require quick decision making.  Levi has been offered a full-time job here in town to work 'behind the scenes' in the office of a friend of ours who's a mortgage broker.  It's a full 180 from the route we were currently working on for him to get his education degree, but we felt it was a good decision considering it provides some financial stability for a while and maybe even a chance to catch up a bit.  After a lot of discussion and seeking input from family, he withdrew from college on the last day to drop with full refund.  While it felt weird to put that step into motion, it's a relief to not be looking at 4 years of being utterly tanked financially and having to each work several jobs just to get by.  We're feeling hopeful!  

 Onward and upward!