thanksgiving

I don't know what it's been about the past few months that has kept me from posting an update.  A good mix of work and play, I suppose.  We have been working our little hearts out (big hearts... they are big) preparing for Christmas and our upcoming ten days home.  As Vince wraps up primary flight school, I've officially "retired" from my Pensacola post at the law firm.  So many unknowns lay ahead and while we've had to pray about it (a whole, whole lot), we feel more and more at peace that the good Lord has an exciting plan in mind for us.

This time last month, we were in Kentucky enjoying the quickest holiday yet.  Our three days spent at home were long overdue.  How I have missed these three beautiful ladies!

The visit was so wonderful but it was really such a tease.  Words couldn't tell you how much we can't wait to be home in just one week!  There are plenty of exciting things to celebrate: Christmas, the New Year, GUS AND ALLISON'S WEDDING!  If we stand to wait the next couple of days out (so Vince doesn't go AWOL), we'll see ya in a week!

Merry Christmas from the Murrays!

LATEST on INSTAGRAM: Gonna miss her so ❤and her momma too @jen_and_livie

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/fIn2KgxMql/

so many adventures

Carli Jo and Cam got a good little surprise when they opened the backseat of my mom's car two weeks ago to find a road trip survival kit.  It didn't take long for them to realize that they were going on a special little vacay to the beautiful Pensacola, Florida to visit their big sis Court!  I had looked forward to a visit from my little sisters pretty much since the day I moved away.  I could hardly stand keeping it a secret but was so, so glad that it all came together so perfectly.  Caitlin and her friend made the twelve hour drive to bring the girls and we all had the greatest time, despite the unfortunate weather!

Vince has gotten several flights in since primary started and is loving every minute of it.  I got the chance to join him in one of the simulators for a practice flight and it was truly amazing!  It was so realistic and really reassured me that the training he gets will keep him safe and teach him to be the best possible pilot.

Despite my hesitations,I officially announced Courtney Murray Photography on the Facebook page and have been so excited about the response.  I feel so glad to be growing as a photographer and for the opportunities I've had to get more and more experience.  Jen Bothel has been my greatest advocate and I couldn't thank her enough for her encouragement and support!

We celebrated sweet Tuck's first birthday over the weekend and even though he was totally uninterested in the giant bone we got him as a gift, he was glad to be allowed on the couch for a night :)

So looking forward to a visit from friends {Kayti and Lindsey} in two weeks.  Wishing the very best of luck to Jess as she starts her adventure in North Carolina.  We will be missing you, too, Megs and Micks!  

a vacation to remember

this post is belated but not one i was ready to forget to write!  over memorial day weekend, the murray family paid us a visit for a family vacation.  we had looked forward to that week for so long but it surpassed our expectations.  we enjoyed our time under the florida sun but most of all, our time spent together.

here are some of our favorite memories:

nick didn't know it at the time but there's a 6ft hammerhead out there!!

they swear this cooler weighed 2 tons!

happy memorial day!

they even helped us move!

saying goodbye is no fun, huh boys?

thank you to the wonderful Murray family for joining us for this unforgettable week! we love and miss you so much :)

{happy friday}

just wanted to pop in and wish a happy belated easter to all our family and friends! it was hard to be away from home for the celebration but we had a few visitors who made it one of our best pensacola weekends yet.  jeff battipaglia {in town from his duty station in okinawa, japan} and tyler simmons {graduate of the infantry officer course in quantico, virginia -congrats!} came down for a short trip.  the weekend was absolutely gorgeous so we spent our time on the boat and at the beach.  we even shared the most delicious easter dinner at shane and jen bothel's place.  we hold on to our time with friends like these because we know how precious it is. what would we do without it?!

jason wright just missed seeing jeff and tyler when he was in pensacola two weeks ago for a short training trip.  so good to catch up with him as always, too!

vince is still studying a bunch of his day away and learning all about the nuts and bolts of flying.  i have been feeling thankful for my job, too, and that it keeps me busy and productive while v is at school.  i especially love lunch breaks downtown with sweet friends who come to join me- thank you jen, liv and michelle!

and the weekend is back again. we are looking forward to this one spent celebrating livie bothel's first birthday. tonight, we joined her and her momma and pop at the blue wahoo's game here in pensacola.  she had the most delicious froyo treat post-game ;)  tomorrow is her birthday party and we cant wait to play and visit with friends.  happy birthday sweet girl!

hope to see you all soon.  all our love!

adventure at sea

we had an exciting adventure on the water today when we took the boat out for its first spin!  it was a beautiful day for everyone... except poor finny who got sea sick :(. we hope this is something he will overcome soon because we plan on spending the summer at sea!

the weekend was the perfect way to celebrate v's completion of ifs {initial flight screening} and his first solo flight!  it's just the beginning of the training ahead but i'm still so proud of his hard work so far.  now he gets a short break before picking back up at api {aviation preflight indoctrination- i had to google this one-ha!}.  i'm looking forward to a few lunch breaks spent with him on his week off!

i had another exciting photo shoot today of an adorable couple expecting a little one in just a few months- pictures of this coming soon to the website!

january in the sunshine state

v has finally started flight school and i feel so proud!  he is studying his life away but is so glad to be on the road to becoming a pilot at last.  we're trying not to rush our time here in pensacola because it's just so beautiful but we're excited for the day when he gets those wings :)

since soon tuck will be staying home by himself for a few hours every day, we decided that he really needed a friend so we pulled the trigger and bought little pup #2.  crazy, i know.  but he is just so cute and the perfect playmate for tuck.  he can't wait to meet john and ann when they come to visit this weekend!

life for me is going great.  work is keeping me busy while vince is studying and i've even made some friends at bible study.  it's been great to get into a routine- it seems like it's been so long since we've had one of those! counting down till the next time we're home...

p.s. congrats to gus and allison on their engagement!! this means we're sisters, right? ;)

24

v is 24 today and we're off to applebees (his favorite) to celebrate.  seeing jack reacher is on our to-do list, too.  we're both tom cruise fans- fans of his movies, that is. i guess you know you're growing up when your birthday celebration is a simple dinner and a movie :)

we took tuck on base with us earlier today and headed over to the track so vince could go for a run. i thought i'd just play fetch or take him for a little walk.  since no one was around, i let him off the leash to play and as soon as vince took off running, sweet tuck followed right behind- for almost two miles!  he's napping the day away now, of course, but what a good boy he is!

our time home for christmas was, like always, so much fun.  we didn't catch up on much sleep but only because we'd way rather be spending time with both of our wonderful families.  it was harder than usual to leave this time and maybe because it was such a good visit but we are already talking about when we can make it home next. the twelve hour drive is well worth it! we love you and miss you, family and friends!

till next time :)