Backing up a little bit first. We ended up extending our time in Hawaii (because "Do you want to stay longer?" yes please!!) until mid-November, right before Thanksgiving. It was incredible, and if you ever get the chance to go- do it! I'll tell you anything you want to know! (Go to Kauai or Maui. Don't take small children. Try the local food. Take lots of sunscreen.) Staying an extra two months allowed for lots of extra adventuring and guests! We got to visit all six of the Hawaiian islands, including day trips to the the smallest islands- Lanai and Molokai!
On our "way home" from Hawaii, we did a 5 day road trip up the California coast. To help ease us back into fall weather and not having an ocean view everyday ;)
However, we were both more than glad to to be home for the holidays! I got to spend quality time with the family, take a short trip to Charlottesville, and an quick overnight to Nashville to see the college roommates!
Right after Christmas, Karyn came down to Knoxville to pick me up and we set out to Seattle. An epic snowstorm was hitting the midwest, New Mexico, and North Texas, so we took the most southern route. We spent New Year's Eve in Vegas- they have a pretty great fireworks show at midnight!-, saw the occupiers in Burns, OR when we stopped for a bathroom break, and got stuck in the snow during our last two hours of the drive.
The first two weeks of Seattle have been...rainy. Not as much as I would have thought, actually. We have had a few good days, seen the sun a couple times too! We live close to Pike Place Market and downtown so we take advantage of dry days and explore the market and several of the great restaurants close to us. We've also ventured a little outside of Seattle to do some hiking! The Pacific Northwest is definitely beautiful.
Of course, with the new year comes new goals and new resolutions- to cook more, to exercise more, to read more. To enjoy each day more, even the ones where I am acutely aware that this is temporary- these cities, these homes, these work places. To remind myself that this temporary life I've chosen is full of adventure and beautiful stops on the way to where I'm going.
