Open to see our 2013 in photos.

Starting with 2013, I'm starting a tradition. Each year, I'll make a photo book that encapsulates our year in photos. I take tons, but people don't always have the time to troll thousands images, or care to like I do. . . .

Creative cheering section.

Each fan roots for their team in their own way: a lucky shirt, free throw ritual, ceremonial meal, crossed fingers and toes. Me, I cheer at the screen and most recently, draw. By combining my new love of calligraphy and my irrational love of the Jayhawks, I created these two basketball pieces. Thankfully, both of these loves continue regardless of, oh you know, don't make me say it. Let's move on. . . .

Days with calligraphy are pretty happy.

Pretty. Pretty. Pretty. I'm trying to get those words, or their likeness, to flow from my fingers. Back before Christmas I decided I would like to try my hand at calligraphy and put a kit on my wish list. I unwrapped a book, ink and paper, and brought them back to Virginia. I had a slow go, but finally, lots of letters line my once blank sheets. . . .

Just practicing with my pen set.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I am dabbling in calligraphy. I asked for a set for Christmas and have invested my evenings in it the past few weeks. I'll start posting my work on my blog to document this learning process. The more I dive into the art, the more I realize there is to learn. So many different pens and styles and, whoa, the list goes on and on. I look forward to getting better. . . .

The Nature Conservancy's trail loops from right to left, stretching all the way to the mountain tops.

Let's go back two days. The sun shone through a leaf-less forest. I rolled up my wind pants because I had toasty legs, and cinched my jacket around my hips because the temperatures hit the 60s. Today ... snow. This place is covered in snow. Cole got a snow day. What is happening!?! . . .