Forever and Always

Monday, July 22, 2013

Kadence Jae Foundation

For the past couple months, Jason and I have been working collectively with a small group of people on forming a foundation in Kadence's memory. We have been having monthly meetings and have officially filed the paperwork to be a tax-exempt organization which is a huge step.

One of the members of the foundation had a friend make the logo for the foundation, and it looks awesome!

One of my main jobs has been the Social Media end of the foundation. The first thing we started with is the Facebook page, which can be found here

The next step was to create a website. Who in the world knew how hard that was? I bought the domain name and that was about as far as I could get without some help. After many, many, many hours followed by many more hours, the website has been launched.

Felicia is still working on Kadence's official story, but the majority of it is complete!

I encourage you to check out the website and spread the word! The foundations purpose is on the site, and one of the main purposes is to spread awareness about HLH since she did suffer from such a rare disease.

You can find the website here

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Ocean City, New Jersey Trip

As I mentioned before, each year, my family on my Dad's side takes a trip together to Ocean City, New Jersey. We have gone from needing two houses to now three, and next year it will be four! As the family grows, so does the need for space. While we are then separated between houses, it's that much more exciting that we need that many houses because there are that many people down there with us! When we missed the annual beach trip in 2011 due to the wedding, it was very sad, because this trip is one of the highlights of our summer!

This year, there was a "kid" house that we stayed in. This house had four bedrooms that were occupied by Jason and I, my sister Meghan, her friend Steph, my cousin Tyler and my cousin Brie. Being on our own time schedule was definitely different, but it was nice to be able to stay up late playing Cards Against Humanity and not worrying about waking up other people in the house.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the beach itself from the trip:

While I was in New Jersey, I met up with my friends Colleen and Ashley for lunch in Atlantic City and we had a great time!!

Later that night, we went out for our yearly dinner that Grandma takes us out for

The group at dinner

Here are some pictures from our trip to Cape May one night

Had to include this one since Jas is trying to ruin their picture

Made it in time to see the sunset

And the funniest moment of the trip? Playing L-C-R while drinking out of the Pick Your Nose Cups that Aunt Amy brought... they provided many laughs!!

We had a great time and I am already looking forward to next years trip! I'm sure all of our future children will enjoy the trip just as much as we do each year!!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Anniversary #2

Today Jason and I celebrated anniversary number 2. We had a relaxing morning, watched our favorite show The Price Is Right together, and then had a great lunch at Heritage Hills Golf Resort. Other than Jason leaving his credit card there (love you honey) the day couldn't have been more perfect.

Speaking of perfect, I really did marry the guy who is perfect for me. He loves me unconditionally, even when I don't deserve it, and he truly is my best friend.

We started the tradition when we got engaged to take pictures in an old Photo Booth in Ocean City, New Jersey so I thought I would share those pictures in honor or our anniversary. We plan on taking the pictures every year we are down there on vacation and adding any family members that join the Kelly family throughout the years.

For your enjoyment...

Our Engagement, 9/26/2009

Sorry for the split up pictures, we scanned them in individually for a project for the wedding

Year One of Marriage, June 2012

Year Two of Marriage, June 2013

And many more to come!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Top 5 Pictures- Gary and Sue

I've always heard horror stories about getting married and then not getting along with your in-laws, but that couldn't be more far from the truth in my life. Not only have I been blessed by wonderful, supportive parents, I married into a family with another set of wonderful, supportive parents. From going to baseball games together, to sitting on the back porch in Harrisburg for dinner (and running from bees) to playing horseshoes in the backyard, to relaxing on the beach, to seeing the amazing mountains of California, we've done many things together.

Way back in the day watching..... you guessed it, a baseball game!

Visiting St. Louis, Missouri for the College Baseball World Series! An experience I'll never forget! Here they are with the St. Louis Arch. We even went the whole way to the top of it!

The first vacation I took with the Kelly's- to the Outer Banks in North Carolina

Right after we got engaged, we spent a long weekend together down in Virginia Beach

Visiting the old ships in Virginia Beach

Our first whole family trip to California in July 2010. This is after dinner at the Hogs Breath Inn- the restaurant that Clint Eastwood owns

Our Wedding- June 25, 2011

How great do they look?!

Thanksgiving 2011

I wasn't able to narrow it down to only the top 5 pictures (what's new) so sorry about that!

Friends may come and go, but family is forever!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Gone Too Soon

Yesterday, we celebrated the May Birthdays at my Gammy's house, and even though it has only been Karli and I celebrating for a few years, yesterday, it hit me worse than normal that Jesse wasn't with Karli and I to celebrate like we always had.

I can still remember where I was and how I found out that we lost Jesse, who was like a second brother to me. He moved into our house when I went to college and since our families were inseparable, it was like there were two older kids, Drew and I, two middle kids, Eric and Jesse, and then two youngest kids, Karli and Meghan.

Since his 24th Birthday was yesterday, I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures since you know that pictures are so meaningful for me. I truly think a picture is worth a thousand words, especially when a precious life is cut short.

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