Life Lately

4/52

{ Slurp! } 

{ Her tongue and her reflection...two of Ava's favorite things }

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Bits & Pieces of my 25th Birthday

I turned 25 on Saturday, I felt so loved and here are a few things that made me smile especially big....

Enjoying a lovely night at our favorite Indian restaurant with Mama and Papa Kjar on my birthday eve.

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Sleeping in.

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A fun girl's lunch date, thank you Kira!

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Cookies from my sweet sister in-law Shar.

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Cards in the mail.

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The circus!!

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Turning the cookies into an epic gingerbread-brownie-lemon-peanutbutter-mexican-wedding "birthday cake"...the 2 and 5 we wrote in candles turning into two tiny bonfires. ;)

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My boys making a waffle breakfast the morning after.

^^ Adam let me sleep in and went to work early Saturday, but left a candle for me to blow out and a sweet note. :) "Haychan" is a Japanese nickname Adam gave to me after serving his mission there. ^^

^^ Adam said he'd love one of those spinning, metal death-machines that guy is jump roping on...love that crazy daredevil of mine. ;) ^^

^^ I. LOVE. COTTON CANDY. ^^

^^ My favorite act was probably this simple, but hilarious, act...a clown came out and was being silly with three stuffed animals...suddenly a stuffed panda hopped up and started tromping around on all fours! Then it played dead, and jumped up again, then played dead (all choreographed to music). And suddenly the clown pulled off what was a panda bear costume to reveal a cute little poodle!! It was so trippy and made for a good laugh...I'm such a kid. ;) ^^

^^ Brooks was giddy about the Mickey Mouse waffles ^^

Looking forward to see what year 25 brings!! :)

So proud of him...

I saw this quote the other day and it was just what I needed:

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."

Earl Nightingale 

The next three-ish years for our family are going to be a bit different than the last three. Adam has started up school again. To say I am excited and so proud of him is an understatement. To say I'm anxious and dreading the time it will take is also an understatement. 

Rewind almost 5 years...January 2008, we were both sophomores attending school at BYU-Idaho, head over heels for each other, one day away from from being engaged. Even though we hadn't tied the knot, we had discussed and researched plans for housing together in the fall.  We were married in May (can I please marry that sweet man again, and again? Pretty please?) and then we were welcomed by Adam's parents to live in their basement apartment for the summer. We both worked and saved up money, with the mindset of heading back up to Rexburg in September to hit the books and continue our education as newly weds. :)  In July, Adam's brother offered him a position in his company, but that would mean we'd stay in Utah and put off school. I must admit, I was very resistant at first. But we prayed about it and felt that road was the one we should take.

Since then, we've been blessed more than words can say. Adam loves the people he works with, he has learned a ton while on the job, and he works hard to provide for our family. We've seen the Lord's hand in our lives...first and foremost our children. I'm not sure they would have come when they did if we were up at school. And the people we've met and grown to call friends here are such blessings.

A few months ago Adam got in touch with counselors at BYU-Idaho and did what he needed to line up a plan for getting his undergrad. He is continuing to work full-time and is doing school part-time online. Slowly but surely accomplishing a life-long goal. We aren't needing to move and there's no commute, both huge blessings in my book! He does have tons of homework to make up for time otherwise spent in a classroom...that's not so great. But the last few weeks Adam has done an awesome job juggling work, school, his church calling, and his ultimate roles as husband and father. Words can't express how much I appreciate that he puts family life first. I know Adam is working hard at his education to better himself as an individual and as a provider for our family. I love that man and we're in this together. 

Life does not always pan out the way you expect, or happen in the order you may want...but it all works out. And I'm grateful I know it's working out with Adam by my side. So proud of him...

{ This picture was taken in my college apartment the night Adam proposed and asked me to be his...5 years ago tomorrow! }

The jar was almost empty...

...so I let her go at it.

Ava loved squishing the smooth peanut butter between her chubby fingers, and then licking it off and smacking her lips. And that perfect, little peanut butter handprint on the floor stole my heart. I had a hard time cleaning it up, I'm hopeless. ;)

Just a day in the life...

DIY Valentine Garland

Christmas came down and was put away in record time this year due to our tree tuckering out...so to cheer me us up after saying goodbye to the glow of the white lights in our living room, I made and hung a little garland to get us in the mood for the next holiday. I love me some love.  

I scored the red doily hearts at my local grocery store near the hot cocoa and tea. :) But my friend shared her beautiful white Valentine's mantel here and said Hobby Lobby has darling little white ones too. You could also make the garland with hearts cut from paper and get the same, festive feel. 

Just please tell me someone thought of Brian McKnight when you saw Step 4...

I couldn't resist. ;)

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I'm sharing this over at Whipperberry! Go see what others are sharing, there's all sorts of good stuff, promise. :)

3/52

{ Big smile after trying mango...that boy is a fan }

{ Happy to be rescued from her carseat...that girl is not a fan }

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."