Quick Recap, 2015

First of all…..drumroll, please…I'm Back!

The hiatus was too long and, especially as of late, I have longed for a space to clear my head and share the joyous moments of life (and those really tricky and hard ones too). 

With yet ANOTHER 365 days gone with the wind, here are some of the highlights from 2015. 

FEBRUARY  SNOW DAYS.
FOUR.POINT.FIVE of them to be exact. Hallelujah!!

FEBRUARY
When it's too cold for snow…you get ice.
And more snow days. 
#CanIGetAnAmen?!

MARCH  
Roommates reunited.
Milkshakes for old times sake.  

MAY
Swinging from ropes in Costa Rica.
Living that #PuraVida life. 

JULY
Traveling with these two is nothing but headaches and belly laughs.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 JULY
Seeing my grandpa and his siblings makes my heart SO happy.
They bicker and talk trash to each other...and love so, so hard!  

SEPTEMBER
And water gushed through my kitchen to…
everywhere else in my place.
#LongNightOfCleanup

SEPTEMBER
It even managed to leak through the exterior door/wall and made puddles outside.
Those water molecules won that round. But I got the victory!
SIX days later when it was finally dry.

OCTOBER
Same costume, 10 years in a row.
Still haven't repeated the same combo of clothes.
#winning!

OCTOBER
OC to Rocky Top. Kristen visited over her fall break!
#SisterSister

NOVEMBER
My birthday brunch.
Didn't even know I knew more than 10 people in Knoxville.
(Pleasantly) Surprised myself. 

DECEMBER
Surprised my family & flew home to watch Lewis' last H.S. football game.
 Winning the State Championship made the rain wayyyyy more tolerable!

Plus, Christmas in California with family and friends is never a bad thing. May the joy of the Lord be with you throughout 2016!

Peace and Blessings, 

Xx Kayla

Reflections

A Simple Life. 

That's what I like. 

To wake up in the morning with a purpose. 

To conquer "something."

To smile.

I choose to praise Him.

All day long.

While thankful for family.

And the friendliest of friends.

I choose to love.

A Simple Life.

My life.

While I have the mic (ehmm I just gave it to myself) I have a couple things to say. At times I find myself reflecting on life and most times I end up thinking about my family and friends one by one. After hearing from my grandpa this evening, who called for my address so that he can send me Valentine's Day chocolates, he wrapped up the call by saying, "I'm going to go fix myself a sandwich and something to drink (most likely a beer and then scotch) but I wanted to say that I love you." 

I love that sentence. Because it is so him! He eats dinner pretty late and on Sundays my grandma doesn't cook. So he's on his own. He loves his dranks, and that is not a typo. Beer in the evening and scotch for his HBO movies. And the love…well of course I love him too. xoxo

I don't want to forget the "little" things. That's why I'm writing them down. Because they mean a lot to me. I want to remember that at 8:25pm on a Sunday in January 2014 my dear Papa hadn't eaten dinner but didn't hesitate to write down my address, even after I offered to email it to him. 

And I cannot forget that just the other day my grandma called and left a message that was very similar. She was just calling to check up on me and to say that she was thinking about me. How sweet is she? I really do love her. I don't want to forget that she picked up the phone and gave me a call- because I was on her mind. 

And while I'm at it, just last week my other grandma called to thank me for a gift she received from my sister and I a couple weeks earlier. She had opened it and loved it! #winning! And somewhere in that voicemail she said, like she always does, "and that's it…I didn't want anything." Man oh man I wish I would have been able to answer that call to hear her excitement for myself. <--she had a stroke two days later and her speech just isn't the same…yet! Prayers, please xx

I am blessed. 

I think I'll be taking these thoughts to paper (or keyboard) more often. 

Love to all,

July Photo Dump

It's that time of the month where I haven't blogged in a couple weeks and I look at my phone that now has more than one post worth of pictures stored on it. 

So here it goes. 

Pictures for you and some words to connect the dots. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

1. After graduating from UCSB with my master's degree...

Master's Graduation Ceremony!

2. I traveled to and from home on the weekends for some family time and relaxation

I ventured home to find a room waiting for me. My grandma is precious.

3. After church one Sunday my Aunt, Uncle, cousins and myself decided to try Cafe Rio. They just opened up one close by and I would definitely recommend this place.  Great atmosphere, quality food, spot-on prices, and a great portion size. Win, win, win, win....if you ask me!

My Salad :) With fresh-made, hand-made tortilla

Sweet Pork Barbacoa was SOOOO good

4. And back in Santa Barbara I have been keeping busy outdoors. Just the way a summer should be spent. 

Hiking in SB...gotta hike UP to see OUT. So incredibly worth it.

5. And getting back into a workout routine...

Bikram Yoga for the first time!

6. And working. Duhhh. Bills don't get paid on their own. It does help when your work has "recess" with a bounce house, ice cream sundaes, zumba, and a variety of other fun activities -- like UCSB! 

Bounce House at Work :) 

 7. One last picture from the lagoon on campus today. That's the pacific ocean just beyond the lagoon. Our afternoons have been glorious!

SB Gorgeousness and "Gaucho Recess" activities on the right!

#instagram

Someone told me recently that I needed to get a twitter and instagram account. I am not one for all of the social media stuff but thought that I would add one at a time. After all, it is the 21st century and we are only becoming more tech savvy as time goes on. 

So here it goes. I'm on instagram. KLAGALE. follow me. I'd love that :)

2 grams down, a lifetime to go... 

#firstgram #travel #sbbound

The tallest is off to college tomorrow.
#soproud #goodluck

And on that note, I will elaborate on my second gram. 

Lenny is on his way to college, right now! The little Lenny that used to be a bit chunky, loves meat, hates vegatables/fruit, and enjoys time on the couch will attend South Dakota State University starting...today! He is taking summer school classes to get ahead and work out in the athletics department. Why? Because he's going to play football, 

Can't wait to see him out there on the field in blue and gold (and in South Dakota in the fall, spring, and summer). 

That's it for now. 

A Birthday Shoutout

To celebrate the 27th birthday of my most-awesome sister, I bring you pictures from the past 10 years or so. The baby ones are way too cute and I think you might spend all day looking at those. These are fun and sassy, just like they should be. Lots of pictures coming your way...

Kristen - I love your personality, encouraging words, and heart of gold. You are the best sister for me. And that's what makes our relationship unique. Love. Love is the answer. 

Enjoy today and the rest of forever!

You will always find more drinks than food in the fridge

She's got a great niche for decorating 

We love Lil' Lenny (and try to take a siblings pic every time we're together)

Visiting SB last summer :)

3 Generations

#1 Fan. Always.

Smile with your eyes :D

Just the 3 of us. ATL trip :)

...with Green Apple. Our beloved rental car for the week

Partyyy time

Such a good big sistahhh 

Comforter. Supporter. Friend. 

"A" for awesome. That's what you are!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU!!!!!