2012 has been a good year for us. We have been settled into our house for almost 2 years now, I'm done with my education, Blake accepted a new position in his job (moving on up!), and we've just enjoyed being together.

To cap off our year of travel we decided to go with our ECU Pirates to their bowl game in New Orleans. I went to NOLA 18 months after Katrina on a mission trip so I was really excited to go back. Blake had never been. Plus we just purchased a new Honda Civic (ballin' gas milage!) so we decided we'd have one final trip before the new year.

There was definitely a party-like atmosphere all throughout the city. Even though we lost we had a great time. The people of Louisiana were so welcoming and happy to have us. The other team was only 1 hour away so of course we (14 hours away) were at a major disadvantage. Their fans didn't treat us like crap though... almost all of them stopped us on the street and said, "Thanks for coming!" Like really?!? That's awesome. I wish I could say ECU would be that gracious hosting a bowl game but I'm not so sure. 

This caps off our year of travel. In 2012 we've visited the following states:

1) North Carolina

2) Virginia

3) Washington, DC 

4) South Carolina

5) Nevada

6) Utah

7) Colorado

8) New Mexico

9) Arizona

10) Washington

11) Alaska

12) Georgia

13) Alabama

14) Mississippi

15) Las Vegas

16) Florida (Blake - Daytona 500 trip)

Whew! 2013 looks to be a little calmer. My brother is getting married in April and I'm sure we'll be going to visit them several times. We don't like to sit still long so I'm sure we'll have some kind of trip going on. Stay tuned!

On to Alaska!

I told you this was a year of travel! In June we joined Blake's parents on an Alaskan cruise. His dad got the trip through his work and we decided to join along! I'm so glad we did. We had an awesome experience.... minus the seasickness....

We started off in Seattle. We went out the day before the cruise left with intentions of going to Mount Ranier. Our flight got delayed so we ended up touring Seattle. This was a great summer to read Fifty Shades of Grey AND be in Seattle ;)

So we did what we love best... catch a baseball game!

Our first glimpse of snow on the ship!

Now doesn't that just scream ALASKA!

This doesn't... but it was super cool to find rainforests in Alaska.

Mendenhall Glacier

So I created a cairn here too.

Taking the train up to White Pass (Canadian border)

Snow packed on either side of the train. I had never seen so much snow!

Iceberg!

HUGE glacier! It was awesome to hear the ice falling into the water... sounded like thunder.

Bald eagles were everywhere!

Victoria, British Columbia.

We had a blast! We loved our trip to Alaska and enjoyed spending time with Blake's parents. 

Southwest Adventure

2012 is going to be a year of adventure and travel for the Smiths. We started off a few weeks ago spending 10 days traveling through the Southwest US. We had a BLAST! We cannot wait to go back but there are a few other places in the US we want to see before heading back.

We started off in Las Vegas and visited the Hoover Dam -- Awesome!

On the way out of Vegas we happened upon this -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Of course Blake had to go check it out. He thinks he's going back to catch a race here.

We made it to Zion National Park -- my favorite of them all!

Then we visited Bryce Canyon National Park -- Blake's favorite!

And Capitol Reef State Park - Worth the visit!

Living on the East Coast we have no idea of the vast openness of the West. You could literally go HUNDREDS of miles without a gas station. We simply loved being able to go 80 and that was the speed limit... otherwise you'd never get there!

Arches National Park

This is a cairn. We saw them popping up at Arches and Momma told us that people made these when they felt God's presence at a special place. Definitely true here.

Because we're cool.

We snapped this shot on our epic off road adventure. 43 miles of "scenic" driving. Yea. Right. I'm just glad I survived.

Driving along the edge of that cliff... ugh.

You had to be this close to the mountain otherwise you'd be falling down the side.

All the way from the river to the top of the canyon, or mesa.

Super sized cairn when we made it!

Mesa Verde National Park - Really awesome place to learn about the cliff dwellers.

Painted Desert

Petrified Forest

Crystals in the petrified wood. Hard to believe this was all a forest and swamp one day!

Four places at once! - Four Corners (a tourist trap but SOOO worth it!)

Went from warm to super cold when we visited the Grand Canyon.

Visiting by car does not do this place justice. It is huge!

Sedona - Church in the rock. This was an awesome city too. We took a quick drive through on the way back to Vegas.

And back to Vegas. 

We had such an amazing time and cannot wait to go back. As soon as we got back I told Blake that we'd have to make a trip when we are more fit so we can do more of the hiking to see the awesomeness of all those parks!