merry christmas from the hills!
images created by Katierose Beaudet
2020 was one for the books for us, just as we know it’s probably been for your family, too. But there were also so many blessings that came out of quarantine, too. We never want to forget the 6 precious months we spent at home together. We’re also grateful that we’d finished a huge project in our home just days before we went into quarantine. We were able to enjoy an almost brand new office, living room, dining room, and kitchen by the time we were in lock down mode.
We had time to eat together, to play board games, to go camping, and to just enjoy each other’s company! We cooked and baked way too much delicious food this year so we need to find a way to lose a few pounds. Brian had lots of extra time for mountain biking and bike packing while I enjoyed just staying at home, reading, and opening a new business!
We greatly missed seeing Chey this year, but we hope to see her in December. There was too much to share in our little Christmas card so we made this website to share some of our favorite photos from this year! Above all, we’re grateful for this season to reflect on God putting on flesh to come into the world to redeem His people. We’re thankful for every single one of you and we love you dearly. Merry Christmas!
Brian’s Favorite Photos from 2020
Just a picture with my smokin’ hot wife
Bucket list trip with Julie to Bentonville, AR- the mountain biking Mecca of central USA, where I rode my first 7-foot drop on a bike
She said “I wish we had a bench here instead of crazy bushes,” so I removed all the shrubs, installed a bench, and planted herbs.
One of our favorite hobbies- finding a hidden park in our city to hammock
My wife spying on me at Isle Du Bois at Lake Ray Roberts State Park
Me (in grey) with some fellow shredders on a pre-COVID mountain bike trip to Spider Mountain Bike Park near Austin
Day trip to a state park on our 14th year anniversary
That time we saw Aubrey in Arkansas but couldn’t hug her. Because, #COVID-19.
My work-from-home setup for about 9 months, going strong. (Regretting that I downsized our desk to this tiny thing a couple years ago.)
First mountain bike ride in the wilds after emerging from lockdown
Dohhhhhhhhhhhh my sweet thang
Me, making sure you can easily see my double chin after doing a 50-mile bikepacking ride with my homie, 4 hours before a monsoon
Our first (and pretty much only) post-lockdown restaurant experience on the patio. Not surprisingly, it was Tex Mex.
Dang, we look good
More hammocking. We are working professionals so we can try more and more each day to become professional bums.
Dang, we STILL look hot.
Found these two baby yodas behind the liquor store. But actually, being a fun uncle is hard during a pandemic.
I thought it was important to society that you all saw this gem from the drive-thru State Fair of Texas
Camp cheffing in my stylish polar bear onesie
Proof that we have friends, but not proof that we act normal around them. (Look how socially distanced we are. Be proud of us.)
I left on my 100+ Mile solo bikepacking trip to Caprock Canyon State Park, only to return and find out the world was ending. Great mountain biking, though.
A cold night on the trail, joined by grunting wild hogs and bright stars
This beautiful desert ALL turned into a soupy red mud fresco that ended up in my tent and all of my bike gears 1 day later, but Tragedy + Time = Comedy.
We know how to wait in traffic in style
My officemates since March
Such a rough life
Julie’s Favorite Photos from 2020
We didn’t know this would be one of our only visits with our girl this year. We’ve missed having her around so much!
I set out to read all of the Psalms this year with some friends in The Psalm Project. I’m still plugging away at them.
I spent New Years Day in the hospital having an appendectomy. I was very grateful for incredible nurses and care.
You’ll find out who your real friends are when they hang out with you in your bedroom and don’t judge all your real life messes!
One of the last events I coordinated at school before lockdown: the spelling bee!
Little did I know we were about to spend a lot more time at home.
Hanging out in downtown Dallas with the coolest 13 year old we know!
Valentine’s Dinner 2020 at home. Kinda wished we’d enjoyed eating at a restaurant one last time before the world closed down.
I flew to Portland just a few days before we knew what “COVID” was.
I stayed in this gorgeous AirBnb by myself for about 5 days to spend time alone with Jesus.
AND got to meet my Insta bestie, Brittney! She lives close to Portland so we met up and toured a castle.
These two were NOT disappointed with quarantine. They loved having mom and dad home everyday for 6 months.
We finished part I of our home renovations just days before quarantine hit.
We spent hundreds of hours on our new couch that was delivered 2 days before the lockdown. We are very grateful that we finished all of the renovations before quarantine hit.
In April, I signed up for SkillShare and started learning how to water color.
It’s a long story, but basically God taught me how to paint/draw. It was pretty amazing.
This was the first piece I created (a gift for Bry.)
This was my weekly setup for recording vocals for the worship team at church. It was pretty difficult to record in each of our homes, but we made it work!
Infertility Awareness Week 2020
I launched my new business on May 20, 2020 (the same date as our 14 year anniversary!)
I spent countless hours designing stickers, magnets, and greeting cards. I’m so grateful for this creative outlet and for the support I’ve received for my new business venture so far.
We left Dallas for about a week in July to vacation in NW Arkansas. We stayed at an AirBnb and were careful to obey all the CDC regulations. Bry spent most of the week mountain biking and I enjoyed reading inside the quiet house.
Bry planted three types of cactus for me. I love cacti!!!
We (and by we, I mean Bry) finally painted our music room. These walls were orange for the last 9 years. I’m so grateful for this man!
Our dining room and my “office” for quarantine.
We spent a few nights camping at Eisenhower State Park in September.
Enjoying “Wine Time” on our new bench in front of the house. I love spending time with Bry and watching the sunset from here.
It wouldn’t be “2020” without a drive-thru State Fair!
Our school reopened at the end of September and it’s going really well!
We only have about 20 students per grade on campus so it’s very manageable and the kids are loving being back at school!
Marriage retreat in October in Broken Bow, Oklahoma led by Eric and Sarah Hinton. It was an amazing retreat!
Some people came alone and some together. We chose to do some of it individually and some of it together as a marriage retreat. It was perfect.
We setup Christmas early and our tree didn’t fit downstairs with the new couch so it had to go in the bedroom. And I love it. We’re going to have to get another tree for downstairs because I want this tree up here always.
2020: The year I started taking care of my skin and healing my rosacea! I’m 8+ months into treatment and have seen a lot of growth!
We spent part of Thanksgiving Break at Dinosaur Valley State Park near Fort Worth. Brian mountain biked and I tucked away in this hammock for the day.
This was definitely a Thanksgiving we’ll never forget! We were as careful as possible and so happy to see family!