Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Christmas Festivities 2017

Holiday Market with our Crazy Crew!! So much fun going all together!!

Every year after Christmas, Rich buys more clearance Christmas Lights to add to our display! This years addition, were these Blue lights all over the bushes! The kids loved it, and everyone wanted to play in the "boo lights" every night!

Blakely at her Christmas Concert!

Super proud of this little cutie!!

We usually celebrate Monk Family Christmas on New Years, but this year we had a trip to Disney planned... so we got to celebrate before Christmas this year! Turned out great, and we got to go to the Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo!!

Katy Ellis Just loved Baby Harrison!

12 Days of Christmas Magic! Thank you GG and PopPop!!

Baking with Grandmom!

Because we planned to spend New Years in Epcot, I had my mom make our Christmas Shirts- Disney Christmas Shirts!!

Decorating the Christmas Tree in our "classy" jammies!

Family Tradition: Turning on the Christmas Lights and then dancing in the glow in our jammies!

This year Christmas wrapping took FOREVER!!!! But we made some sweet memories- the girls wanted to help me wrap everything! Blakely was in charge of cutting and labeling; Katy Ellis was in charge of the tape. They loved being Mommy's Little Helpers!!

Thanksgiving 2017

Thanksgiving 2017

EVERYONE planned to be out of town this Thanksgiving, so I thought me, Rich and the girls would be on our own... but then at the last minute mom and dad's plans fell through! It couldn't have been more perfect if I tried. This was just the best Thanksgiving ever! Relaxing, fun and above all DELCIOUS!!!

Started our day off right with the Turkey Trot 5 miler!!

The girls packed their purses full of little toys to play with during the ride!

Then we headed over to GG and PopPop's! I helped mom put together a delicious meal, and then we enjoyed a big walk as a family! Just a perfect day!

Zoo Race 5K

2017 Zoo Race

I have been running for over a year now, but my very first race ever was the 2016 Zoo Race with my Daddy. This race will probably ALWAYS be one of my favorites because of the memories I am getting to make with him. This year was even MORE amazing, because I got to run it with my Daddy and my sister, Alyssa!! We had a great race, and my dad even finished FIRST in his age group! Super proud of him! He totally inspires me to keep running!!

Alyssa and I's Bestie Lindsey finished 1st in her age group!

My dad finished first in his age group!!! Way to go Daddy!!

This was Alyssa's first race with a Sub 30 minutes finish!! She is so amazing!!

So to sum things up:

Dad- 1st Place Finisher

Lindsey- 1st Place Finisher

Alyssa- HUGE PR

Me- I met a llama (LOL)

Camping in Charleston

November 2017

This year our nephew Harrison turned 1! So we decided to rent and cabin and enjoy a weekend with the whole Monk clan!! We had a great time, and we got to enjoy some extra time with our cousins!

We spent our evenings by the campfire- making smores and catching up with Grandmom and Grandpop!

Cold November day- but our girls loved getting hot chocolates on Sullivan's and checking out Station 22.

Lunch at the Pub!

Sunday morning we got to explore the Yorktown. I lived in Charleston for a decade and never went, but we thought it would be cool to explore it with the girls for Veterans Day! It was way more interesting and emotional than I could have imagined. I left feeling very grateful and awed by the men and women who have served our country. Thank you for your service.