First trip to Graceland (And Memphis, for that matter)

Two weeks ago Mimi and Paw Paw came for a visit and we headed to Memphis so we could go see "Elvis' house". This was Garrett, Avery, and My first time there! It was quite impressive. I think I would like to go back again and experience the tour at a slightly slower pace, i.e without my kids in tow. Love them, but they rushed me and I missed a lot.

The tour is self service. You put on these headphones and listen to this audio as you walk room to room, or anywhere on the grounds of Graceland. It synced with each area you went to. Garrett thought that was pretty cool!

The livingroom. It was impressive. The peacock stained glass was beautiful!

I am pretty sure when we got to this my mother in law shed a few tears. I'm pretty sure she did. ;)

Avery was in love with this car! She SWORE to us afterward that Elvis is not dead. That she saw him driving his "pink car". Little did she know she was renewing hope for silverhairs everywhere! :D

Elvis' favorite. Fried Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich!

We ended our afternoon in Memphis at Marlowe's. Best BBQ I have EVER had!

The outing was fantastic and full of fun! We are only 2 hours from Memphis so we WILL be back! I am determined to walk on Beale ST. Just so I can say I have! :D

Vows in Arkansas.

Who knew a little walk down memory lane via our family blog would inspire a new post... nearly 1 year after my last entry? It also inspired the tears to flow. Tears of the joyous memories penned out to be forever remembered within the "walls" of this cozy little blog. I am sick to my stomach that I have not kept up and documented every tiny moment and milestone (big and small) of our lives, of my babies lives. In a world that seems so cluttered for me at times, something had to give. I had to simplify and regrettably our blog was the casualty. Between my photography website and blog, photography fan page, and Facebook in general, it took a back seat. I was achieving personal business goals one baby step at a time, but forgetting to nurture and keep alive where it all began ... "Our Little Coastie Family". The fact of the matter is that this blog is the simplest spot I know.

We recently moved from FL to Arkansas. We have been here almost two months. I have had LOTS of downtime from the business side of things. I think this "calm" was exactly what I needed to regroup and re prioritize. As I type this I am anxiously awaiting the approval of my business license here in Arkansas. We are living on base and because of that I have to go through extra steps before I can even submit it to the county. The base commander as well as AAFES must approve this. I had a few moments of fear that they will not pass it through. But after almost two weeks of waiting for an answer I have decided that business license or none, I am and always will be a photographer. It's in the depths of my core, and no piece of paper can ever change that. It will change whether or not I am open for business in the state of Arkansas though. And if it is not approved, I am ok with that. Sure it will be disappointing, but I know it is not permanent. So with that said, I am going to vow to spruce this place up. To nurture it. To keep documentation of the tiny moments and milestones-- big and small. I am going to put this out there as plainly as I can. I actually believed that if I posted non professional or artsy looking shots of the kids on here I would disappoint our followers. But right here, right now I vow to begin a new relationship with my point and shoot camera. To learn to love the everyday snapshots of my babies. Imperfections and all. I don't know why I would be bothered by my own? I love to look at everyone elses. (Is "elses" a word?) Just promise me if a shot looks "snapshotty" y'all will just assume it's from the point and shoot and not judge me, k? It's time to get back to my roots on the web. Momma is comin' home! :)