Happy Father's Day Adam!

So grateful for their "Dada", my sweetheart, and our best friend + protector. And I enjoyed every second making him this video of memories with him from the past little while (October 2015 - June 2016)...we love you Adam!

Dear Brooks,

Left: In my arms, the day after you were born

Right: In my arms, this past January while we were reading a book

I've shared this quote with you before, but I really can't help it... J.M. Barrie (the brilliant man who wrote Peter Pan) said, "Young boys should never be sent to bed...they always wake up a day older." And you, my big boy, woke up yesterday a THREE YEAR OLD. It's equally awesome as it is tragic for my mama heart to think about. Goodness, you grow so fast. I am so proud of the boy you're becoming. Even though you have sneakily escaped out the front door too many times to count (yep, unlocked the door and everything) and you sit on your sister, you are my boy and I love every bit of you. Your Dad and I were talking yesterday about some of our favorite things about you. He mentioned the way you talk...you are so animated. And he loves dancing with you. You two are the craziest dancers with rhythm that just won't stop, neither of you can resist good music. Seriously has me smiling just thinking about it! We both agree that it's incredible watching you care more and more for your sister...you're still pretty little to be thinking of other's feelings, and we're working on it, but lately Ava will be crying and you'll say, "Ee-va, oh Ee-va is okay. Don' cwy." And you'll pat her head or give her a toy. And every time she gets up from naps or when I'm done nursing her, you get so excited, "Ee-va! Goo' morning Ee-va!" Even if it's 7 o'clock in the evening. ;)

Brooks I hope you know your zest for life is contagious. I'm so lucky to be your Mama. You're napping right now and I'm already excited for you to wake up so we can go on a treasure hunt outside because I think the Easter Bunny left us some eggs for a little practice run. ;)

Love you always,
Mom

Perfect Picker-Upper

That was a little Vine video from earlier today. :) We had a fun, family lunch date at Kneaders after stealing Adam away from work...wish we could do it more often. Fantastic food with my favorite people, it was the perfect picker-upper.

While there, Adam snapped a picture (right photo) of me getting an extra sweet kiss--as he had blueberry lemon loaf crumbs on his lips--from Brooks. And it's almost identical to one he took of us at Kneaders almost two years ago on Brooks' 1st birthday (left photo). Love that boy! Can't believe he will be three (three!) in less than a month.

Memory Lane

Brooks, January 2011  //  Ava, January 2013

Recently I went on a little mommy-daughter trip to the store...and Ava and I spotted Cadbury Mini Eggs!! They're the only seasonal candy I crave year-round, so I was giddy to see those Easter goodies on the shelves in January. From the store, I texted Adam the picture on the right saying, "Look what we foooouuuund!" And when we got home I was proud to tell him we only bought 3 bags. Ha! ;) I couldn't help but think of similar pictures I took of Brooks 2 year ago...so fun to compare them side-by-side. I could gobble up those sweet littles, and those Mini Eggs, for every meal. :)

Flashback Friday

 My sister Celeste posted these pictures on facebook a couple weeks ago...oh they gave me some good laughs! And made me all sorts of happy. Isn't it so fun to see old photos with people you love!? Here are a few details/memories from each one:

(1) I loooved that leotard top!

(2) That tiny little hammock Corrie and I were cheesin' it on was hung on the branches of two apple trees in our backyard.

(3) It was "Sports Uniform Day" at school so the shirt I was wearing was my Dad's old motorcross jersey. :)

(4 & 5) My sisters and I were hooligans, and sure knew how to make each other laugh.

(6) We scored in the Dad department. xo

College memories & best friend's upcoming wedding

College days with those ladies above were some of the funnest of my life!

I'm so grateful I was able to attend BYU-Idaho...I experienced so much personal growth (both spiritually and academically) and I was introduced to Adam, thanks to his sister Sharla! :) But before that sweet man came into life, it's where I met and became life-long friends and sisters with some of the most incredible girls I know! I went knowing my room-roommate, a friend from home, Shauna...she's pretty much the sweetest person with a heart of gold, lovely inside and out. And we happened to room with two awesome girls in the dorm, one of whom was Alyssa, this gorgeous and hilarious girl from Connecticut. She quickly became another sister. With them I scored the roommate jackpot. :) We shared clothes, went to dances together, took mini-road trips, stayed up late watching Fresh Prince of Belair while eating countless bowls of cold cereal, we "studied" together, met boys together, and shared so many laughs and hilarious moments that when summer came I don't know why I didn't go on strike and say I'm living there with those girls forever. Haha! But the next year managed to be just as awesome. Shauna, Lyss, and I lived off-campus in an apartment with 3 other girls...one of which was Kersie who had lived a few doors down from us in the dorms, and who happened to have grown up in Vancouver with Shauna and I but we had never really met. Kersie has the most giving heart, and always knows how to have a good time! Shoon, Lyss, and Kers made my college experience what it was. I'll treasure the memories we made f o r e v e r.

And while I am heading to Washington to spend time with Corrie before she leaves on her mission, I'm also going to see Kersie marry her best friend!! His name is Kyle and she says he is incredible and has such a good heart. I canNOT wait to meet him. :)  And before the wedding this weekend Shauna is throwing her a bachelorette party for her and to say I'm giddy about it is an understatement. We'll miss Alyssa though (living in Boston)!

The moral of the story is those girls have blessed my life...and I'm so glad we've all found such wonderful men! So, when are we going to plan that couples-campout ladies?? (teehee!)

Laundry Day Flashback

Brooks was 2-ish months when I took that first photo, and Ava is almost 4 months...oh how I love my little laundry-helpers. :)

Kisses in Belize

Today is International Kissing Day...and Adam will definitely be getting

the-most-mind-blowing-welcome-home-kiss when he gets back from work tonight. ;)

That photo above is one of my very favorites. It was taken when we went to Belize 2 years ago with two of Adam's brothers and their wives. It was such an incredible trip! I couldn't help but reminisce and turn a few of my favorite photos from our travels into some fun polaroids. Someday we'll go back...

A sunset walk and a quote

{ These pictures are from June last year...Adam and I had put Brooks in his PJs, then cozied him up in the stroller for a little family walk to see the sunset on the mountain just east of our home.  The view was breathtaking. I was pregnant with Ava then, but don't even think we knew it yet. }

The past few Sundays I have been teaching Sunday school at church to the 16 and 17 year olds in our ward/congregation.  I have loved it! And today I thought I'd share a quote that really touched me from a lesson a couple weeks ago about having a change of heart and receiving Christ's image in our countenances. 

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. … The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” 

-- Ezra Taft Benson

Happy Sunday everyone!

Dear Ava,

Hi baby girl! I love recording "firsts" and little milestones, so I thought I'd share some photos from your first "bath" at home when you were almost a week old.  After experiencing your little brother as an infant, I know how strong and resiliant healthy infant bodies are...but I still felt like I needed to be oh-so careful with your delicate frame and tiny features. I'm so glad Grandma Stum was there to help. :) Before making sure the water that was running in the sink was just the right warm temperature, we got our little station ready to get you all fresh and clean...

Bath tub thing-a-ma-jig, check.

Baby wash, check.

Wash cloths, check.

Soft sponge/scrubber, check.

Towels, check.

Baby lotion, check.

Aves we did eventually take off your diaper to wash your cute little bum...but that didn't happen until half way through, whoops. ;)  Overall you were great, and absolutely loved having your head massaged with the little scrubber given to me at the hospital.  It was after I dried you off and was lathering you up with lotion that you started crying. Nothing that few of Mama's kisses couldn't fix though. :) I then dried your "baby chick" hair (a lot like mine when I was a babe!) and swaddled you up. You were so tiny. And you smelt like heaven.

Comparing then, and now with your chubby rolls, your strong neck, and your smiling face...I can't believe that was just 2 months ago.  Now when I give you your baths I have to make sure to wash in between the rolls of your ADORABLE, chubby thighs. I love it. :)

Love always,

Mom

PS - You had your 2-month wellness check up earlier this week. You are doing stellar sweetheart! Here are your stats: you weigh 12 lbs 15 oz (88th percentile), you're 23.5 inches tall (81st percentile), and your sweet head measures 16 inches (85th percentile). I was so excited to text Daddy the picture below and tell him how good you're growing! We both love you to the moon and back.  :)

BLT memories

So, remember that last time I wrote about how the taste and smell of food can bring back such sweet memories?? Well last night I made some TBLTs (turkey bacon, lettuce, & tomato) on toasted english muffins. They were amazing!! And while enjoying our dinner, Adam and I couldn't help but smile and remember the last time we enjoyed some good BLTs...almost 4 years ago (!) on our very first date :) After being introduced by his sweet sister, Sharla, Adam came back to the place I worked and asked me to join him for a fun group date. The men made BLTs and then we headed to Porter Park in Rexburg for some good ol' game of couples Frisbee Golf. Adam and I won (holler!) and then we headed back to my place. We stayed out on the balcony of my apartment and talked for hours...I couldn't get enough! I wanted to learn more and more about this Adam Kjar ("care" not "k-jar"...that's a story in and of itself;) and I'm so grateful I get to keep learning about, and growing more in love with, him for the rest of our lives and forever.

Goodness, all that from a TBLT ;)

And I thought I'd share a picture of us from around the time of our first BLT together ;) The picture below is from right after we started dating (Oct. 2007)...he looks a bit banged up because, well, he was. He had just finished and won a wrestling tournament that the BYUI Intermurals program had put on :) I was so proud of him!

*cheers* to a happy weekend for everyone! Filled with lots of good food and the people you love :)