2013 Year in Review

Feeling blessed to live a life of love and color. I enjoyed sifting through photos of last year, reliving sweet memories and learning from heart-breaking moments. Overall, so happy to say that 2013 was a good one!

See past "year in reviews" here:

2011

2012

Love at first sight...

My number one, my better half, my very best friend, my forever love is Adam. It didn't take long after we met that I found myself falling head over heels for him...but it was my children that made me a believer in love at first sight. The first time I held Brooks, and two years later little Ava, was beyond incredible. Their tiny bodies and big spirits took my breath away. In each of those moments my heart made room for another person that I would do anything and everything for. Without doing or saying a thing, they stole my heart and gave me a glimpse at just how much my Heavenly Father loves me.  Thinking about it puts butterflies in my stomach and tears in my eyes. The night of March 14th, 2010 and the morning of March 21st, 2012 changed my life and heart forever. With every kiss good night and, "Sweet dreams little one," I have found that I love Brooks and Ava more than the night before. Sure we have our difficult and crazy moments...but easy or hard, I'm grateful I get to spend my days with those two littles. My children make me a better person. I am so blessed to call them mine, and that they call me "Mama." 

They'll always be my little Valentines.

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. :)

2012 Year in Review

>>> My baby belly was ever-growing.

>>> Grandpa & Grandma Stum came to visit and we built snowmen.

>>> I turned 24.

>>> Brooks practiced being a big brother when cousin Wesley came to stay.

>>> We made heart-shaped pizza and a lover's tent for Valentine's Day.

>>> Adam turned 26.

>>> Brooks turn two years old!

>>> Our BABY GIRL AVA was born.

>>> Ava's newborn & our new-family-of-4 photos were taken.

>>> We had family and friends over for a lovely Easter.

>>> We watched magic happen as Brooks took on his role as sweet, big brother.

>>> I shared Ava's birth story.

>>> I enjoyed the best Mother's Day yet.

>>> Played with cousins and painted wooden spoons.

>>> Adam and I celebrated our 4-year Anniversay!

>>> Celebrated our favorite Daddy on Father's Day.

>>>  We had fun at the Smoot family reunion at Lagoon.

>>>  Adam's brother returned from his LDS mission in California, "Welcome Home Elder Kjar!"

>>> We painted "bobby" houses. 

>>> Enjoyed every minute of the Stum Reunion at Bear Lake.

>>> Our sweet Ava Lu was blessed at home. 

>>> Took a trip to the PNW...visited my brother in Seattle, and spent a day at the Coast.

>>> Had a blast in my old stomping grounds, Vancouver & Portland.

>>> My sister Corrie left to serve a mission for our church in Chile, saying goodbye was hard.

>>> Adam taught Brooks how to blow milk bubbles. 

>>> Had a lovely time on the Annual Kjar Sister's Retreat.

>>> We caught Ava's giggles on camera. 

>>> Enjoyed lots of fall-time walks.

>>>  We went to a pumpkin patch.

>>> The kids wore their skeleton jammies all month and we dressed up as Clue characters for Halloween.

>>> Counted our blessings.

>>> Brooks' love for reading grew and he learned to count!

>>> We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the Kjar cabin.

>>> Adam and I enjoyed a night of pizza and outdoor iceskating...my kind of date night. 

>>> We picked and decorated our first real Christmas tree. 

>>> We had a lovely Christmas!

Goodbye 2012!! You were a very, VERY good year.

May all your Christmases be whi-i-i-ite...

I shared this video two years ago...it was taken three years ago, when our little Brooks was in my belly and my family was at our home for Christmas. SUCH good memories! And seeing as my sister Corrie (she and I made up this little duet) is in Chile serving her mission and I miss her like crazy, I have watched it, and laughed at us, three times already today. Enjoy some festive lip-syncing by two of the goofiest sisters on the planet. Next time Natalie and Celeste will join to make it a quartet!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Nostalgic Oranges

I can remember making clove-studded oranges many Christmases growing up. As a family we'd decorate our oranges in creative designs with our cloves, and then put them in the middle of plates filled with sweets (now I'm craving chocolate-covered pretzels and banana bread) that we'd deliver to neighbors and friends. Today I made some and the citrus/spice scent was oh-so nostalgic...I could barely smell it because I'm so congested (we've got a sick house over here) but it made me happy. The rest of our day hasn't been nearly as productive as it was supposed to...we pretty much been drinking tea and watered-down hot cocoa, watching 'Finding "Meemo"', blowing our noses constantly, and now the littles are asleep and I'm about to join them. Thank goodness my favorite chicken noodle soup is on the menu for tonight.

And just 3 more sleeps 'til Christmas!

Sunday was the birthday of these two gorgeous gals...

I couldn't help but share these photos and enjoy a little blast from the past...my Mom is dancing with her Papa in the first photo (puts the biggest smile on my face!) and my sister Corrie wearing her little denim jumper-dress in elementary school (first grade I think) is just too cute to resist. ;)

Happy Birthday Mom and Corrie!

The world is a better place because you two are in it. We love and miss you both!!

5 years ago at a smoothie shop...

"Life's all about moments of impact and how they change our lives forever. ... The moment of impact proves potential for change and has ripple effects far beyond what we can predict."

-- via

One of the greatest moments of impact in my life was while I was blending smoothies at work my sophomore year of college.

It was five years ago today, while working at the pastry/smoothie shop on-campus at BYU-Idaho, that a friend stopped by to say hi. Sharla is one of the sweetest, most outgoing people I know, and I'll be forever grateful that she took the time to stop by after purchasing her books for the semester, and introduce her mom and brother to me. I honestly don't remember much, I was doing my best to blend those smoothies like a pro, ya know? ;)  But I do remember her mom being so genuinely happy to meet me (she is an angel woman and is like that with everyone she meets) and that her brother was pretty easy on the eyes. ;) Moment. Of. Impact.

Little did I know that day at the smoothie shop Adam would become my best friend, my caring husband, my protector, and the sweetest father to our children. So today we celebrated this special anniversary with lunch and, of course, smoothies.

I love you Adam. *Cheers* to our forever together with more awesome moments of impact. And if some happen to include smoothies, right on.

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!)

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...