tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29354324836987836932024-02-20T00:53:42.580-08:00The Andrew Lifebrandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-71820492038194473672019-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:002019-03-15T09:30:11.655-07:00Winter Bucket ListThe last few months we have been trying to be more intentional about creating memories with our kids. In January, I printed a really cute winter bucket list poster for our fridge. We decided that we would take it a little slower and put a few ideas that were at home and a few others outside the house. It has made winter bearable by being able to look forward to time together without wondering what we are going to do.<br />
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<a href="https://wildlife.utah.gov/about-the-hardware-ranch-wma.html">Hardware Ranch</a> is an area pretty close to where we live that is a habitat for all sorts of local wildlife. Most people go in the winter to see the elk population. They put you on a sleigh and drive around the property. It is a pretty short ride, but you get up close with these giant creatures! I was really excited to go. We had to wait in a long line, like over an hour, with two toddlers who desperately wanted to get down and run around in the snow. The wait was miserable. But worth it in the end.<br />
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<b>Monster Jam </b>was something Brandon and I were really excited to take Brecken to. He knows and loves monster trucks, their names, colors, everything! Leading up to it we tried to explain he was going to go see Grave Digger or Max-D, but he didn't really understand. Brandon took Brecken and it went okay. Brecken loved seeing the monster trucks, but he did not want to wear any headphones. If you have never been to an event like this, it is ear shattering loud, so you have to have some ear protection. Like all things with little kids, it wasn't perfect. I just kept telling Brandon to remember one word: memories. When you look back on things you don't remember the tantrums -- you remember how big their eyes were when they saw that giant monster truck they talk about all the time.<br />
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<b>Sledding</b> -- It is no surprise that I am not a big fan of snow. I took the kids over to Brandon's sister's house and did a little sledding in their backyard. My kids don't really last too long in the snow either. It takes us about twice as long to get them ready as the amount of time they actually play outside in it. Later in January, we got together with Brandon's family out at the farm and did some sledding there. Again, my children did not really care to sled, but we were all out in the snow playing. Maybe next year?<br />
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<b>Bounce & Slide</b> is a local indoor park that we really enjoy going to. They have all sorts of inflatable bounce houses and slides (obviously). But they also have a toddler area with a lot of toys and it is a giant place where our kids can run around and be loud (without being judged by other parents because they are always high energy). Anyway, Lizzie LOVED every bounce house and every trip down the slide. Brecken was really hesitant at first, not really wanting to go on them, but we got him to try and he had a blast too! Easily one of my favorites on our list.<br />
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<b>Build a Snowman</b>. This was an easy task for us because we have been dumped on with snow this winter. We built this giant guy in our backyard. Lizzie decided it would be more fun to lay on her belly and eat the snow instead. When she was over it, I took her inside and Brandon helped Brecken build another small one. They lasted about a week before someone bulldozed them.<br />
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<b>Fun Park</b> -- This place is our local arcade, roller rink, bowling alley, and they also have a giant padded jungle gym. We decided to go on a whim and it was a hit. Brecken and Lizzie loved climbing all over it and Brandon and I had fun chasing them around. We played some games and got a few tickets too. Brecken also decided that climbing into the arcade games was an acceptable thing. Bless his heart.<br />
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<b>Bowling</b> -- I feel like a party pooper because I really do not enjoy bowling (or snow, blah blah blah) but we went to breakfast and bowling on New Year's Day with Brandon's parents and his sister's family. I have not bowled in years and rarely have I ever not used bumpers (lame, right?). We all had a lot of fun. The kids bowled on their own lane and Brecken loved rolling the ball down the lane --- he almost took a trip or two down the lane himself.<br />
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<b>Movie Night at home </b>-- We are a movie family, I will admit that. For our movie night we watched the newest Grinch movie (I know Christmas in February). It was really funny and cute! Brecken and Lizzie both watched it and stayed snuggled up with us almost the whole movie, so we take that as a big win! No pictures from this night because that is just how it rolls sometimes.<br />
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<b>Service Projects</b> are important to us. I won't go into detail with the different ones we did, but I have to give Brandon a shout out. He was willing to go up twice and plow the ridiculously long driveway at my Mom and Dad's house. The snow was crazy deep both times. The second time he even had to walk up the driveway to get the plow. Great guy, right?!<br />
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<b>House Project</b> -- Since we moved into our townhouse we have been trying to do some small projects to make it the best house for us. We have painted, got carpet, etc. This winter we did two things that are small but have made a big difference. One is we put new LED light bulbs in our living areas and hallways. Eventually we will do the rest of the rooms, but it has made it so much brighter and nicer in here! My favorite project is the toy closet. Our hall closet downstairs was a cluttered mess. We also had a billion toys all over the living room all the time. Brandon cut some shelves for us to put toys on and then use the space at the bottom for other bigger toys. It isn't completely finished yet, but it has made our downstairs so much cleaner and clutter-free. The dream would be a whole toy room, but we don't have the option for that right now, so this has been perfect! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU7hz83rqNYLMMbzWEE26fpRsBwb6s690rgJJmCjPXbBrKX1fZPXWt0LvQlFS_IgJdYk6PY6laB2erjDRDytcBlC6c2tCljc1aoZoywrn7hXJp6R829eo6bjVXce8gjQ7bczbHled6ien/s1600/IMG_5121.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU7hz83rqNYLMMbzWEE26fpRsBwb6s690rgJJmCjPXbBrKX1fZPXWt0LvQlFS_IgJdYk6PY6laB2erjDRDytcBlC6c2tCljc1aoZoywrn7hXJp6R829eo6bjVXce8gjQ7bczbHled6ien/s320/IMG_5121.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr8wgaH_I1mISSwZHl8Wb2Vs5HEqeO7See7u3sFoE-_JeKCPWWYc9fsrxgDUtEUVpPFyn9SzuGLHiljeNKTZP4YGiteZjetJxLp4fLmdRvlLkTLGLygEs00Rmk0H7KqUCp8vUE6H3dEeJ/s1600/IMG_5261.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr8wgaH_I1mISSwZHl8Wb2Vs5HEqeO7See7u3sFoE-_JeKCPWWYc9fsrxgDUtEUVpPFyn9SzuGLHiljeNKTZP4YGiteZjetJxLp4fLmdRvlLkTLGLygEs00Rmk0H7KqUCp8vUE6H3dEeJ/s320/IMG_5261.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress: One more shelf to build.<br />
Also-- can you tell the lighting difference? LED bulbs for the win!</td></tr>
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<b>Go to the Movies </b>-- we weren't sure if we were going to do this as a family or a date. We chose the latter and went to see <i>Captain Marvel</i>. It was so good! Brandon is a huge Marvel fan, and I really enjoy watching the movies too. Thanks to our brother-in-law we splurged on luxury seating and I honestly don't know why we never tried it! Who wouldn't want to sit in a recliner with heated seats? It was a great date and an amazing show!<br />
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<b>Valentine Dinner</b> -- we had our second annual family Valentine Dinner. I won't go into all the details about it because I wrote all about the logistics here. The kids love that I decorate the table and we keep it simple with pizza and cookie/ice cream dessert. I looked forward to this because I felt like it was one of the first traditions we put in place last year. I am excited to keep this as our Valentine celebration.<br />
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We did a lot this winter! Okay, it is still winter and probably will be winter weather around here for a while longer (see the pile of snow that came yesterday), but we are moving on to our spring list!
It has been great to help us plan our time as a family and create some pretty fun memories! I say pretty fun because it is with toddlers, so you could flip a coin to decide whether or not we leave crying or happy.<br />
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Below is my attempt at a bucket list poster for spring. Feel free to use it.<br />
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-59025265060294004502019-03-07T06:43:00.000-08:002019-03-07T13:41:54.355-08:00My Go-To Retailers<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19834157/?claim=ynsb6kgwkgs">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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One year ago I jumped into the life of simplifying. This all started when I read one of my favorite bloggers share what she was doing in her closet. It rang true with me. I decided that creating a capsule wardrobe would be ideal for me. <a href="https://brandonandlaurenandrew.blogspot.com/2018/02/transitioning-to-capsule-wardrobe.html">Here</a> is how I got started.<br />
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After four seasons of capsules I am so grateful that I decided to go down this path. In the last year I have rarely, if ever, had a time where I couldn't find anything to wear. Everything I own is something I love to wear, so it is easy to get dressed. When I go shopping I am really particular about what I put into my closet. I wanted to share with y'all my favorite retailers (not sponsored)! I browse and occasionally purchase from big names like Target, American Eagle, Old Navy, etc. but mostly I stick to the small businesses that I feel represent my style and values more.<br />
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1. <a href="http://i.refs.cc/WYFlCP0v">by Beck</a><br />
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These three sisters have an online shop that always has something I love! They also sell their pieces at really great price points. I have found that they sell similar styles to other boutiques, but often cost less - a big win! They also have free shipping in the U.S. so that is another perk of shopping with them. I love every single piece I have purchased. They always have a deal going on and some end of the rack sales.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB86MiVOlbjScCHyRcG261pDOV-DbYapsBqvAQ93WTPTLiAgsI5MXdLQzRnOuLQUT1-MBKlJzvYzoMhU0v09HdQj-buXYQ3b0tuXueyse_ehcE38v_P4cX4poNI7y_OFEaPATRsEdSeJqr/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3678.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB86MiVOlbjScCHyRcG261pDOV-DbYapsBqvAQ93WTPTLiAgsI5MXdLQzRnOuLQUT1-MBKlJzvYzoMhU0v09HdQj-buXYQ3b0tuXueyse_ehcE38v_P4cX4poNI7y_OFEaPATRsEdSeJqr/s320/fullsizeoutput_3678.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of their denim is amazing -- the Jolene Crop is my favorite.</td></tr>
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2. <a href="https://www.poppyanddot.com/"> Poppy & Dot</a><br />
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I am a new lover of this amazing shop. I have purchased a couple of tops from them over the last few months and LOVE them both! The BEST white t-shirt right <a href="https://www.poppyanddot.com/collections/basics-collection/products/product-234?variant=22660548689978">here</a>! One thing I really like is they always have basic items for sale, like tops, skirts, etc. as well as some amazing unique pieces. Their prices are really reasonable. Free shipping in the U.S. from these ladies as well!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFctM4x4WPG_BNPmdvBCPau6vmjjVhgT_4XfrSTXzo0iBfuCd4pimkQhKS3T28sxuV7Zd7fX7BITzcaX9lY1IKZNKmJWD1OyFDvVckrZHq4nCiFBGdOYUcp4PMhbHbxyDZayuVWFSH62wE/s1600/file.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFctM4x4WPG_BNPmdvBCPau6vmjjVhgT_4XfrSTXzo0iBfuCd4pimkQhKS3T28sxuV7Zd7fX7BITzcaX9lY1IKZNKmJWD1OyFDvVckrZHq4nCiFBGdOYUcp4PMhbHbxyDZayuVWFSH62wE/s320/file.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard print pullover is so soft! </td></tr>
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3. <a href="https://www.sexymodest.com/">Sexy Modest </a><br />
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The name may make you skeptical, but seriously Brigette has gorgeous pieces that are sexy and modest! I have several dresses from her collection and they are all amazing. I attended her annual pop up shop on Friday night. It was a blast! I snagged a pair of her infamous street joggers and OH MY GOODNESS they are the softest, most comfortable pants I have ever owned. Get yours <a href="https://www.sexymodest.com/collections/bottoms/products/brigitte-brianna-street-joggers">here</a>.<br />
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4. <a href="https://www.practicallywholesale.com/">Practically Wholesale</a><br />
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I found this store through Instagram and instantly loved it (no pun intended)! She always has super cute pieces at almost wholesale prices (hence the name). One thing is that she doesn't keep a ton of inventory, so if you find something you love snag it right away! As of this blog post she is doing 50% off her entire site!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qEKstEphu6fd3URPzzqdAiQn1B8Uj8bu0RJpUB7ZhRT2PJiXC4tIJVW87w4W-YYb7eVsJ3a5RK7NRFIBWfgUrYxMETWlYfDy2mYM3qQVj2V76wCN1SA8hyphenhyphenJb-Q7BaITYHchROx6IUkf0/s1600/fullsizeoutput_49ba.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qEKstEphu6fd3URPzzqdAiQn1B8Uj8bu0RJpUB7ZhRT2PJiXC4tIJVW87w4W-YYb7eVsJ3a5RK7NRFIBWfgUrYxMETWlYfDy2mYM3qQVj2V76wCN1SA8hyphenhyphenJb-Q7BaITYHchROx6IUkf0/s320/fullsizeoutput_49ba.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linen jumpsuit that I LOVE.</td></tr>
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5. <a href="https://www.roolee.com/">Roolee</a><br />
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I live in Northern Utah, home of Roolee! I have shopped there since it first opened and even before it was called Roolee. They have amazing pieces and have grown to be a huge name. The only drawback is that they don't always have the cheapest prices compared to other boutiques selling similar items. That being said, Roolee originals are amazing and their Mom dresses were my saving grace while nursing my babies. The dresses have zippers on the sides or under the chest that make it easy to nurse and are hidden otherwise. They have a great website and if you can ever get to their store, it is to die for!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtweUckL5Fscth-bB4mPjHbbOVgZ_chyphenhyphenlI3kP25ZiRRzKc2S02AgJ3RepZcHRDZEiLU1XUcuP3MCNve7mAobxFllZXgIb4jcm3-_t8z0tiSmn0pHRaT4PWsWRY0RMkwIwc003HhFX-Joi8/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2e50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtweUckL5Fscth-bB4mPjHbbOVgZ_chyphenhyphenlI3kP25ZiRRzKc2S02AgJ3RepZcHRDZEiLU1XUcuP3MCNve7mAobxFllZXgIb4jcm3-_t8z0tiSmn0pHRaT4PWsWRY0RMkwIwc003HhFX-Joi8/s320/fullsizeoutput_2e50.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roolee Mom Dresses are a game changer.</td></tr>
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I am always on the lookout for new places to find treasures! Recommendations are most definitely welcome.<br />
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Until Next Time,<br />
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Laurenbrandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-32086639756058860572019-01-12T08:43:00.002-08:002019-01-12T08:43:31.745-08:002018: Year in Review<br />
2018 was a year of changes for our little family of four. I can not believe how much we accomplished and survived together. There have been plenty of happy times, as well as sadness, loss, and frustration. I love looking back on all the growth we have seen this year.<br />
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1. We moved into our new house in June. Since then we have been working to make it a home: new carpet, new paint, some new appliances, and a whole lot of cleaning and decorating. We have a few more projects ahead of us this year, but it has been wonderful having our own place again. I don't really have a lot of pictures yet. The first time we actually took a family picture in front of the house is above, at Christmas. You win some, you lose some.<br />
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2. We braved traveling a few times in 2018. <br />
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In February, we went with Brandon to California to attend the World Ag Expo. It was a lot of driving, but we had fun getting away for a few days together. Lizzie slept so much during our time there that I don't really have a lot of pictures of her. Brecken was in tractor heaven!<br />
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In August, we spent a week together at the beach. The kids and I had an additional week before Brandon got there. We were surrounded by family, friends, the ocean, and had amazing weather.<br />
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We also spent Thanksgiving at the beach. It was a lot of traveling, but fun to spend an actual holiday with my family out there. My brother and sister both had babies in September, so I FINALLY got to hold my adorable niece and nephew for the first time. <br />
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All the holidays were so fun with two kids! It wasn't always easy, as you can see from our Easter pictures. We focused on traditions and I think we found a great way to celebrate as a family of four.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsznmkgafmqX8N4ZiRV9FekqM8hTGKTzhWVu_5NxxWk6gF8axlbX55Zhl_V8YCUizRbQCEaVJaR5pvY5Ijfh3UJ4bTW5J8iJ0draXisGPYiYPQKAxWBDVEf7dFrPx1ZNnJmSdXxtrg9xb/s1600/DSC00468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsznmkgafmqX8N4ZiRV9FekqM8hTGKTzhWVu_5NxxWk6gF8axlbX55Zhl_V8YCUizRbQCEaVJaR5pvY5Ijfh3UJ4bTW5J8iJ0draXisGPYiYPQKAxWBDVEf7dFrPx1ZNnJmSdXxtrg9xb/s320/DSC00468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentine's Dinner </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Sunday. This is reality.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNOkeot4hYbJt3Sw5jM7J6d9_RnWymFVp_QYckR7ihTkfqrL-SBUUfKbckTqlNbRxIf58m-tpp5AcSmFbbfYb86U0YmR7tWLMeuLbed6kP5a3OGyYguxtGb7DxwD6RZRZhfbZhU_BkZoA/s1600/y0%25255ncdiQ8SdsCg0YOJRng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNOkeot4hYbJt3Sw5jM7J6d9_RnWymFVp_QYckR7ihTkfqrL-SBUUfKbckTqlNbRxIf58m-tpp5AcSmFbbfYb86U0YmR7tWLMeuLbed6kP5a3OGyYguxtGb7DxwD6RZRZhfbZhU_BkZoA/s320/y0%25255ncdiQ8SdsCg0YOJRng.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Father Like Son.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqmckcgw-xCmJRZgYrE1X3ItVyykyBNgBaOM-I1MAO8nhHHHPXmvVg7mHHJ-7OfDGhvsTMr7TqnHWHh-4-r-czZiLxUfPX-kftt7I4GOGLXurEiRrJ97aB9Vh_U8WKkvOt0fVUT5073te/s1600/IMG_0854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqmckcgw-xCmJRZgYrE1X3ItVyykyBNgBaOM-I1MAO8nhHHHPXmvVg7mHHJ-7OfDGhvsTMr7TqnHWHh-4-r-czZiLxUfPX-kftt7I4GOGLXurEiRrJ97aB9Vh_U8WKkvOt0fVUT5073te/s320/IMG_0854.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture of Lizzie and me this year.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlQ4ZaSOnko8_Zijzi00zVo9hZ64XhDxKdRtP9-xHoDiFPXBh82Iwgn65s1akyAtUwfsDbSaWFn93jQGoAykRTOR8kydycXn9v-Qrl30IoFv80PXeJSirqiCtz6Gr2hrCxm-7URzJdcT9/s1600/IMG_0858.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlQ4ZaSOnko8_Zijzi00zVo9hZ64XhDxKdRtP9-xHoDiFPXBh82Iwgn65s1akyAtUwfsDbSaWFn93jQGoAykRTOR8kydycXn9v-Qrl30IoFv80PXeJSirqiCtz6Gr2hrCxm-7URzJdcT9/s320/IMG_0858.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July Parade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqGLyaJGaLrO-gjWd7erucIHJ6qMs_pN1VnyAmD9u_x-GRYZUjB-ELqr9XIjq0j1PmjnD4-iAHJivfg6DJuIEbtRpzdoA7L5Dx6OExlPnUccrxniaQaTFFXylTDMX75AQgDLOeVp3h-Xa/s1600/kIBxCp9kRiu3dt1LYL4%252BfA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqGLyaJGaLrO-gjWd7erucIHJ6qMs_pN1VnyAmD9u_x-GRYZUjB-ELqr9XIjq0j1PmjnD4-iAHJivfg6DJuIEbtRpzdoA7L5Dx6OExlPnUccrxniaQaTFFXylTDMX75AQgDLOeVp3h-Xa/s320/kIBxCp9kRiu3dt1LYL4%252BfA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24th of July in Trenton</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOouD9HlFlWBHnuQIgjqkPdFl71zuHJEcDixUcUNyGDVC1GKhdq0zAAxizdrZLNSS2CdJExiybVYwlWvqnpQaAMSO0WqNa5itfopdHbCZPVWPMTdB1hBOv9uEudZjPOXqEDpRow7yfCo2d/s1600/KV1kMyP%2525RmSULXeOdNhe9Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOouD9HlFlWBHnuQIgjqkPdFl71zuHJEcDixUcUNyGDVC1GKhdq0zAAxizdrZLNSS2CdJExiybVYwlWvqnpQaAMSO0WqNa5itfopdHbCZPVWPMTdB1hBOv9uEudZjPOXqEDpRow7yfCo2d/s320/KV1kMyP%2525RmSULXeOdNhe9Q.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night out roasting s'mores</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzFqTC3llNc6oc4PHT66l3j_i139LyeogOx3rvwEvQroMko1tS2AN5Y5pzl0e0QK3As8PfykzOS8CqReePAGcd8nSjQg98LfwkiQxT1kN8g3sq84jlNYmxmSMX-EuQ4gf1gxwJFCsZXOH/s1600/QMzssRZVT%252B2XxcMQleJe8g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzFqTC3llNc6oc4PHT66l3j_i139LyeogOx3rvwEvQroMko1tS2AN5Y5pzl0e0QK3As8PfykzOS8CqReePAGcd8nSjQg98LfwkiQxT1kN8g3sq84jlNYmxmSMX-EuQ4gf1gxwJFCsZXOH/s320/QMzssRZVT%252B2XxcMQleJe8g.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to turn 31 this year, so we had cheesecake</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaG7Eyu95ddn3Pal5K0X9ktsMu0MzqjuMOg2_UmJgw6adIFXYBYf6fizoG3-Vc1Hcc0aL0Ab-wpEt-tdm8RieXfvmo2tLXzpVQzNY4P8nE0B0h21h7Upp4eTzefWFcfEDShxAq2MC8oRD/s1600/FxzfcydSRc67NbL4wGrfvA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaG7Eyu95ddn3Pal5K0X9ktsMu0MzqjuMOg2_UmJgw6adIFXYBYf6fizoG3-Vc1Hcc0aL0Ab-wpEt-tdm8RieXfvmo2tLXzpVQzNY4P8nE0B0h21h7Upp4eTzefWFcfEDShxAq2MC8oRD/s320/FxzfcydSRc67NbL4wGrfvA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin Walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC2uiK5jPGLfyXfFsjmNzsS1UN9EpHyRkiRhJJAJLZhUjt5f3100gwyo3Q7TWvlN5AoLlHjxnRTcdyvDFihKbgoFx-vo0Lhu8NGatsNA-gK5NF2PCYau8m1YGv161s-rDhGTFlQWzv3Jx/s1600/y87r6t51S7iuEbWlhqwU9g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC2uiK5jPGLfyXfFsjmNzsS1UN9EpHyRkiRhJJAJLZhUjt5f3100gwyo3Q7TWvlN5AoLlHjxnRTcdyvDFihKbgoFx-vo0Lhu8NGatsNA-gK5NF2PCYau8m1YGv161s-rDhGTFlQWzv3Jx/s320/y87r6t51S7iuEbWlhqwU9g.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow White & The Hulk</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmTQxk6bsWh8atB-_4qxqDP-GSpLw2i_AV8Do1An2eBueqI3kmi0ivekCPmbwXlnarWmuVG0HSgx4a8Rrch2_vB2w1QM81nG7I03ze-rmO7vJ4FPSVE9F1O6mQtRy6ndl-L8iwKUDSgK/s1600/s9ISu6JjTm%252B%252501iT%2525TdWIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmTQxk6bsWh8atB-_4qxqDP-GSpLw2i_AV8Do1An2eBueqI3kmi0ivekCPmbwXlnarWmuVG0HSgx4a8Rrch2_vB2w1QM81nG7I03ze-rmO7vJ4FPSVE9F1O6mQtRy6ndl-L8iwKUDSgK/s320/s9ISu6JjTm%252B%252501iT%2525TdWIA.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvOsw10eM3L4oQPwHlG1VuGFJ2wiwdix3oclzkRReI2cFDaYVgrkTxV9qTUFRH4mUIVe48kEUuh5ykk1qZfvTpeOR61uRI4EdfYB9XZ7j1ckt5r2H9FHVBs_sb3voZzDMYPC_uy0Dii0-/s1600/IMG_3557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvOsw10eM3L4oQPwHlG1VuGFJ2wiwdix3oclzkRReI2cFDaYVgrkTxV9qTUFRH4mUIVe48kEUuh5ykk1qZfvTpeOR61uRI4EdfYB9XZ7j1ckt5r2H9FHVBs_sb3voZzDMYPC_uy0Dii0-/s320/IMG_3557.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies for Santa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fH3NYtPYp2UZCgmAYtB5oeW8jALgU-j50pSD7lrTEgT8kVsKce4YI8vgtrVUE1VNEQd3unTkx5-D7YcA1L-4oLxFB7xGJwj0W6Qr7F0Gd6mUeyOUjD471ALuz01J3CtSb0U91euh2JyQ/s1600/IMG_2634.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fH3NYtPYp2UZCgmAYtB5oeW8jALgU-j50pSD7lrTEgT8kVsKce4YI8vgtrVUE1VNEQd3unTkx5-D7YcA1L-4oLxFB7xGJwj0W6Qr7F0Gd6mUeyOUjD471ALuz01J3CtSb0U91euh2JyQ/s320/IMG_2634.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Morning</td></tr>
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3. We celebrated Lizzie's first birthday! I have a whole post on her big day <a href="https://brandonandlaurenandrew.blogspot.com/2018/09/lizzies-first-birthday.html">here</a>, but it was such a sweet time for our little girl. She has gone from barely sitting up in January to running around and talking up a storm in December.<br />
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4. We celebrated Brecken's third birthday! Our boy official entered the stage of Threenager. He has continued to entertain us and test us throughout 2018. He tackled potty training and traded in his crib for a twin bed. He loves Cars, Monster Jam, Avengers, and makes the best vehicle sounds out there.<br />
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5. Brandon has kept super busy working on the farm. He filled his small moments of free time with a lot of play time with the kids, football, and running. He and I ran a 10K right before Thanksgiving. He placed 2nd in his age group, and didn't really train. We hit the jackpot with this guy! So grateful he has put up with me for 6 years!<br />
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As for me, I met a lot of my 2018 goals. I started a healthier lifestyle with eating and exercising (see more here). I found myself being at peace with things that I had really struggled with, like accepting the fact that I will always live far away from where I grew up and my family. I also was able to take social media breaks and read The Book of Mormon twice. I found a better balance and a lot more happiness.<br />
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I remember January 2018: a five month old who was barely getting a handle on sleep training and a 2 year old wild child. I was struggling to balance having two kids. I was not in a good place mentally and emotionally. I am so grateful I set goals for myself and worked hard to transform my mind, body, and soul. I cherish 2018 for all the growth we experienced as a family and look forward to what lies ahead in 2019!<br />
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Can you believe how different they look?! The pictures on the left are from January and the right are from December (except the one of the two of them hugging. It was just cute).<br />
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-83199621196845537292019-01-04T11:25:00.002-08:002019-01-04T11:25:48.346-08:00Reaching Goals in 2018<span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Here we are in the first week of 2019! I have done a lot of reflecting on 2018 and all that my family and I were able to accomplish. It is truly amazing the growth that takes place. I set some goals in early 2018 and I met them. I am sharing them because I am always looking for inspiration and recommendations. </span></span><br />
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1. Read </h3>
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I read so many amazing books and surpassed my goal of 12. There is a wide variety here. I will list them below with links if you are looking for some good reads! Currently taking recommendations for 2019! My love of reading is BIG and I am so glad I took the time to read more last year. </div>
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Fiction: </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609077059/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_43tkCb1MPZYMC">The Rent Collector</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061950726/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_u5tkCb06VB5YQ">Orphan Train</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416547819/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_38tkCb00DQ9XM">Plain Truth</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FA0U3G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_t9tkCbXBVXZVW">Keeping Faith</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743296427/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_79tkCb71JJ8K8">Handle With Care: A Novel</a></div>
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Fiction (Christian):</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615276067/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_X6tkCbRPQEA3D">Remembering Isaac: The Wise and Joyful Potter of Niederbipp</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615333133/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e7tkCbM6SSWEP">Discovering Isaac - The Beloved Potter of Niederbipp</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G6AYNL0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_v7tkCbJG5K420">Becoming Isaac: The Next Potter of Niederbipp</a></div>
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Non-Fiction: </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400201659/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_w8tkCb6QCCX4J">Girl, Wash Your Face</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/052565030X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D-tkCbSZQHMT0">This is the Day</a></div>
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Christmas: </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C2B63JP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4-tkCbY75Q1NP">Christmas Camp: A Novel</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1476798842/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_w.tkCb6DZWTZT">The Immortal Nicholas</a></div>
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Religious:</div>
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<a href="https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon">The Book of Mormon</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1629723967/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_47tkCbS5P3CRK">The Gospel at 30,000 Feet</a></div>
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2. Cricut </h3>
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I made a lot of progress in learning and using my Cricut. I do not claim to be crafty or have any master skills in anything that involves creativity. I made well over 12 projects and I have most of them shared on my Pinterest, so I will just link that here.</div>
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<a href="https://pin.it/iilifnj3f6puqy">https://pin.it/iilifnj3f6puqy</a></div>
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Some of my favorite ones were the signs I made for our home. It is an amazing way to have a creative outlet. It also saved me money on buying decor and other things that were just a few dollars to make myself. </div>
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If you are a Cricut or craft person, I have to share my favorite place to get vinyl — <a href="https://expressionsvinyl.com/">https://expressionsvinyl.com/</a></div>
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We had an amazing 2018, and I will get a Year in Review up soon! </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-85751891623528124232018-11-20T08:53:00.003-08:002018-11-20T08:53:50.025-08:00Keep Going<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 14px;">Fitness. It’s a total buzz word and has a lot of feelings surrounding it. For me, I have always been a pretty active person. I played sports growing up and found an off and on love for running and going to the gym when I was in college. </span><br />
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After I had Lizzie in August of 2017 I hit this weird place. I didn’t have time or energy to work out because instead of trying to find a time when one baby was asleep I was now searching for a time when both kids were asleep. Let me be real when I say that those times were the only times for me to sleep! I found myself just feeling bad mentally, physically, and emotionally. March rolled around and I knew I needed something. </div>
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I found a free, amazing workout program by <a href="https://www.bikinibodymommy.com/" target="_blank">Bikini Body Mommy</a> . She has several 90 day programs, all free, and the workouts are only about 20-30 minutes each. That was doable for me. I committed to it. Once I got about 3 weeks in I realized I was making progress and decided to try to find a healthier way of eating. I follow fitnesscarli on Instagram and love her! She had a super simple, realistic <a href="https://shopfitnesscarli.com/" target="_blank">meal plan</a> and so I started doing that. It was quick to follow the formula and I was still eating normal, yummy food. The basic philosophy is nourish your body first — that means veggies! For me, that totally worked. Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, etc. were my go-to and the rest of my meals worked around eating a balanced amount of the rest of our food groups (grains, fruits, lean protein, etc. This was not a diet plan but a lifestyle change. </div>
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Y’all for the first time in forever (Frozen sing a long with me) I could see my abs. Now I am not boasting, but this was a big deal for me. Anyway, I finished my 90 day program, was eating way better, and then I joined an amazing local studio. My friend and I started taking barre classes and they were the best workout!<br />
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Insert annoying injury. I had been feeling some shoulder pain off and on. I gave myself a week off and it felt ok so I jumped back in. Bad idea. It got worse and worse. Like a really big dummy I just kept pushing through the pain. One day I was telling my mom about it and she said it sounded like her when she had torn her rotator cuff. I freaked out and called my doctor. She saw me right away (end of July) and in her opinion the rotator cuff was messed up. Great.... Now if you have had experience with getting permission from insurance you know the nightmare I am about to share. I had my first appointment, an X-ray and started at home rehab the end of July. She told me to stop working out my arms until we could get an mri. Goodbye Barre class. I basically started doing <a href="https://www.kaylaitsines.com/collections/guides" target="_blank">BBG</a> with a lot of modifications and skipping arm day (mostly) and running a little. I was pretty upset about the whole thing. The insurance would not give me an MRI in September (that long!!!!) without a follow up appointment and a cortisone shot. So, in early October I got a shot and felt great for 3 weeks. My doctor said to work my way back into my normal routine. Hooray! Until later in the month, I did a BBG arm workout and I thought my right arm was going to fall off. Pain was back and I was miserable. My doctor is STILL trying to get permission for an MRI — it’s the middle of November. We started this process in July. </div>
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Why am I sharing all that? Well here I am today. I am still continuing with my fitness journey. My 6 days a week are more like 3-5 and I am running a lot. To keep my spirits and motivation up I decided to sign up for my first 10K run. I’ve been training for a little over a month using <a href="https://theivorylane.com/running-guide" target="_blank">Emily Jackson’s Running Guide</a>. It’s really for a half marathon, but I have just taken the first few weeks and tweaked them/repeated them to get to the 10K status. It has been a challenge for me. I have concentrated on sprint work and trying to keep a faster, steadier pace. My shorter runs of 3 miles have gotten so much faster and my endurance has increased. I have never loved running as much as I do right now. </div>
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I ran my 10K Saturday morning. It was snowing and freezing cold. I was really anxious. I am super competitive. Not with other people necessarily, just myself. I did not want to stop. I wanted to run the whole time, no matter what. Y’all can’t even imagine the hill we had to run. It lasted about half a mile and it was straight up. It came at mile 3 and guess what ... I ran it. I ran all 6.2. Almost everyone around me walked at some point on that hill. I was probably running just barely faster than their walk but I didn’t care. I kept going. Crossing that finish line with my family cheering for me was such a wonderful feeling. I finished under the time I had set for myself. Even if I hadn’t, I would have been satisfied with finishing. I showed myself that it was possible to do hard things. I freaking love Rachel Hollis and in her book she shares a little about her distance running. She said when she gets down that she tells herself, “you have done harder things that this.” I kept telling myself that, not just during the race, but those sprint runs where one minute at 8.5 miles an hour felt like 25. </div>
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I am putting this out there because it is living, breathing proof that I and anyone else can do this! My kids have seen me working out and working hard for my goals. They have seen me persevere despite injury and setback. Brecken loves to do exercises with me (jumping up and down while I do burpees). I want my daughter to see that it’s not about being skinny, it is about taking care of her body, being balanced, and striving to be healthy that is most important. Yes all my baby weight plus some has come off throughout this journey, but more importantly, my mind, body, and soul feel like me again. It helps me combat the anxiety and depression I struggle with daily. It is “me” time in a world where I rarely get to go to bathroom without another human following me in. </div>
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What is next: hopefully answers to my shoulder disaster and a half marathon. I’m just going to keep going y’all!<br />
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-49017936410737497742018-10-18T05:51:00.000-07:002018-10-18T05:52:33.497-07:00Four Takeaways From My Social Media Fast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 14px;">President Nelson issued several challenges during his address at women’s conference. One of them was to partake in a social media fast. He said “I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted--even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.” </span><br />
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When he shared this I was immediately relieved. I had taken a break from social media this summer when he issued a week long fast for the youth of the church and I was starting to feel like I needed to pull back again. Over the last ten days, small moments have produced great change in my heart and hopefully will continue through my actions. </div>
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I wrote down things that stood out to me during this time and some of them were obvious while others were things that surprised me. I realize everyone has a different opinion and experience, this is just mine. </div>
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First, I realized how much time I spent with social media. I don’t just mean the scrolling part. I mean the time I spent thinking about what others might think if I shared this or that (crazy, right?) or comparing myself to what I saw on my feed. Social media brings out all the insecurities in me! I probably knew that deep down, but it came to the surface big time. It hit me that so much of social media was truly wounding my spirit. </div>
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Second, lack of connection. I used to think that Instagram was a way to stay connected to people who lived far away, family, friends, etc. FALSE. Maybe people will see kid pictures or Instagram stories and know a little clip of my life and vice versa but that isn’t quite a genuine connection. Getting away from social media helped me realize that the time I was spending there was disconnecting me from my kids and those in my life that I had real relationships with. I reached out and talked more to people instead of a “like or comment” here and there on a post. My kids and I played more. I was present with them. Real connections were made. </div>
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Third, I had time. I used to think I didn’t have enough time to get everything done: cleaning, cooking, scripture reading, time for myself, etc. WRONG. I was wasting time on my phone. When that went away I was able to read, not only my scriptures, but books I thought would never get read. Try three. In 10 days. None of which took away from time with my kids. I got things done and my kids got more time with me. Time that I am ashamed to say I would sometimes waste on social media or my phone. </div>
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The last thing I want to share about is the spirit that I was able to feel. Removing social media and other negative media influences allowed the spirit to be with me more. I was able to be a little more patient, calmer during times of struggle, happier, and I received more promptings that were small whispers from the Holy Ghost. My heart was full. I found myself being more grateful and kind. </div>
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Was I perfect? Absolutely not. Is social media the reason for all my struggle? No. I learned that like most people these days, technology and media has a greater influence on me than I ever realized. My priorities have changed. I don’t know exactly how much I will participate in social media from now on. </div>
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I needed this. I am grateful for this. Now it’s up to me to take all these things and put them into action. </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-31291672728436977112018-10-05T06:20:00.001-07:002018-10-05T06:40:32.361-07:00A Season For Everything <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody";">You know those days where you feel like they drag on forever and you wonder if you’ll ever get through it? Like, I remember the first few newborn months. Days where I felt like I was never going to sleep again. Ever. And then things would slowly start to click. The baby would nap or take a little longer stretch at night. I remember with Lizzie that I felt like her 30 minute cat naps would be the norm and one day she took two naps for an hour and a half each. She pretty much does this every day now. Anyway, my mom has always told me that “this too shall pass” during all those pull your hair out, scream into your pillow moments and quoted one of my favorite verses from the Old Testament: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) </span></div>
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A few days ago it hit me like a ton of bricks. Lizzie and I were looking at books. She isn’t an avid book lover like her brother, but she grabbed a book I hadn’t touched in probably a year. It was one that I have had memorized forever because Brecken wanted to read it 85 times a day—that is not really an exaggeration. My mind instantly remembered those days, ones that seemed to drag on and I actually felt sad they were gone. Brecken is three and Lizzie is one. So basically tomorrow they’re going to college. Each stage with kids has its benefits and challenges and we are getting to the point where we get to sleep at night and our kids can eat and play somewhat independently. We are also to the phase of tantrums, time outs, and fighting over toys. It hit me how fast this season of life as a mom of young kids is passing by.<br />
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I will be completely honest and say that I did not savor or enjoy the first several months of Brecken’s life. I loved being his mom and him. I really struggled with post partum depression and it brought my lifelong anxiety to a whole new level. I was also still teaching. Once I got help for my depression and anxiety, it helped. A lot. When I was able to sleep a little more, I felt even better. I hated being away from him and missing those little moments. Sometimes I just felt disconnected. For me, the day I was able to stay home was the day I started to really enjoy motherhood. That sounds awful as I type it. I just struggled as a new mom and always felt like I was just barely keeping my head above water. With Lizzie, I made it a point to slow down and because I was home, I didn’t miss those little extra bonding moments that I had with Brecken. I was able to give both my kids consistency. Now I know many working moms who handle new baby life way better than I did. I envy you! Each story is different and one day I may rejoin the ranks of working outside the home. For now, this is my season at home. </div>
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I look back on some of the different seasons I have had: high school, college, married life with no kids, first baby, and now staying home with two. I wish I could help that girl avoid bangs or feeling less than because of fear of what others might think. I’m grateful for all the experiences I was able to have. I laugh at how I used to think I was tired before kids and I really can’t remember what I did with all that free time?! All I know now is that I am striving each day to be present. In the moment. Love on my kids and enjoy them at each stage. It’s a blessing and a curse, this whole growing up thing. </div>
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I guess I just needed a reminder that there is a season for everything and I am going to enjoy them.<br />
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-4419348705192327682018-09-28T07:00:00.000-07:002018-09-29T13:33:24.884-07:00Living That Beach Life, Our Best LifeIt is no secret that I am a proud southern girl and I love going home every chance I can. We spent two glorious weeks in North Myrtle Beach with my family and some great memories were made. The kids and I flew out for a week and Brandon joined us for the second half of our trip to celebrate Lizzie's Birthday and vacation as a family.<br />
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Typical "traveling" pictures: not seen -- the epic meltdowns that were had by both children!<br />
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What is your perfect vacation day? Adventure? Relaxation? Sleep? I'll tell you what we did pretty much every single day and it was heavenly.<br />
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I would get up early before the kids and workout. My parents live in a neighborhood perfect for running, so I took full advantage of that. When the babies were up we would either go straight outside to the pool or head out to the beach. After a few hours we would grab lunch at the house and it would be nap time. My amazing parents would usually watch Brecken and I would go sit outside at the pool. Alone. ALONE!!!! I know, a miracle. The late afternoons were always out at the pool. We sometimes went out to dinner, but mostly cooked at home. I told y'all, I am a lazy vacationer. Give me sunshine, the beach, and I'll be one happy girl.<br />
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I have pictures to share below, but I will say that my intent on this trip was to be present more. I didn't capture every moment because I was making memories with my family! I will never forget them, photographed or not.<br />
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My kids thrived on vacation. Lizzie and Brecken both love water! Brecken became really comfortable swimming around on his own with his puddle jumper. As a former lifeguard/swimmer I was so proud of his progress. Maybe the olympics will be in his future. HA! I don't have many photos of him swimming because a lot of days he would just jump in the pool. Naked. Yeah.<br />
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When Brandon joined us, we were all beyond ready to see him! We celebrated our Lizzie girl's birthday (see this <a href="http://brandonandlaurenandrew.blogspot.com/2018/09/lizzies-first-birthday.html" target="_blank">post</a>) and had more days like the ones I described above. Out of the two weeks we spent there, there was one day of rain and we spent it out shopping at the outlet mall. Perfect vacation, right? Well, maybe not exactly a vacation. I am a firm believer of the word trip when it comes to travel with children. A few of my friends came down and one of them told me, going on 'vacation' is simply taking your children to a new location to watch them. Nailed it. Sometimes it is nice to get a change of scenery, but it also comes with time change, new sleeping arrangements, etc. </div>
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The last thing I have to share about our trip were the gorgeous family photos that my cousin Paige took for us. If you live on the coast of NC/SC please look her up! (IG: psinkphotography) She took these beauties in about 20 minutes of complete chaos and wind that seriously could have blown me over.<br />
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We are lucky to be able to travel to my childhood vacation spot each summer. I love making memories and creating traditions with my kids. They love going to the beach!<br />
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-87265285301772958062018-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:002018-09-21T09:25:12.593-07:00Lizzie's First Birthday <br />
We were so lucky to be able to celebrate Lizzie's first birthday at the beach. The kids and I had been out for a week before that and Brandon flew in on the day before. We wanted to do a Minnie Mouse theme, but kept it pretty simple. So many family and friends made the drive to the beach house to show their love for our little girl. We swam in the pool, had a big lunch, cake, and presents. The typical birthday party.<br />
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Her cake was from Publix Bakery. Publix is seriously the best grocery store out there. I always shopped there when I lived in Florida and I WISH they had them out west. They give you a free smash cake as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publix Bakery</td></tr>
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In addition to cake, my amazing and talented Aunt Sheri made cupcakes and cookies to go with the Minnie theme. She also created a really cute banner. I made Lizzie's onesie using my Cricut machine. </div>
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This girl was all in on her smash cake! She loved all the attention and wasted no time digging in. I have to also thank my cousin Paige (IG: psinkphotography) for her insanely talented shots you see below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bib: Disney Baby</td></tr>
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I am still in shock that this girl of mine is ONE! She is truly a joy. Always happy and smiling, she has been the perfect addition to our family. We love our Lizzie Jane!<br />
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-60034077021619541342018-06-04T08:13:00.000-07:002018-06-04T08:16:42.593-07:00Mommy Style Monday: What's For Lunch? <div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; text-size-adjust: auto;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What's for lunch? Mommy Style Monday for June is all about my go-to lunches for the babes and me! I will start with the kiddos and then share some of mine. We don't have a huge variety, but they are quick and easy. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brecken usually eats turkey, cheese, fruit and sometimes crackers. Below you will see a few of the lunches he had last week. Lizzie gets some of the same things, just fed by me. We also do Spaghettios and sometimes leftovers (especially pizza). </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leftover pizza</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey, Graham Crackers, Cheese, Carrots<br />
Dollar Store Frozen Plate for the win! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice a theme?<br />
Turkey, cheese, strawberries</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the last six weeks I have been striving to follow healthier eating habits. I use the philosophy of <a href="https://fitnesscarli.com/" target="_blank">Carli Williams </a>"Nourish First Satisfy Second" as the basis for what and how I eat. I always have a green smoothie and then another serving of veggies and fruit. Most days I add a peanut butter and honey sandwich Occasionally, I get more time and can make a flatbread or big salad. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leftover Turkey Burger, Salad, Fruit<br />
BOLTHOUSE dressing is AMAZING + 45 Calories! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat bread from Carli's meal plan -- super easy and so delicious!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Check out our other Mommy Style Monday Contributors:</span></div>
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Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Glitter&Donuts</a></div>
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Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CaseyLand</a></div>
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Alexis at <a href="http://kurtandalexiswitt.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Witt Family Happenings</a></div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-12653863744827400002018-05-07T08:49:00.000-07:002018-05-07T08:49:31.257-07:00Mommy Style Monday: Cleaning RoutineThis month on Mommy Style Monday we are sharing our cleaning routines. I have a few things I stick to, but I am always looking for ways to simplify and be more effective in how I clean. Below I am going to share my weekly cleaning routine, as well as some deep cleaning I do throughout the year. I would love to hear what routines y'all follow! What chores do you enjoy? I really enjoy laundry and vacuuming. I dislike bathrooms and mopping!<br />
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<b><u>Weekly Cleaning Schedule:</u></b> I focus on one chore and a living space each day. This isn't a deep clean (except for the kitchen), more like a tidy up. Laundry is followed loosely. I do one or two loads a day, but what I wash depends on what needs to be cleaned most.<br />
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<b>Daily:</b> pick up clutter/toys (5-10 minutes at night), dishes, wipe down kitchen counters and sink.<br />
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*Brandon cleans our bathrooms because that is my least favorite chore. Isn't he the BEST?!<br />
** Brecken has some age appropriate chores. He is responsible for helping clean up his toys and putting his dirty clothes in his hamper. He will also help me move laundry around and sometimes with dishes.<br />
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<b><u>Deep Cleaning: </u></b><br />
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<b>Kitchen:</b> Fridge/Freezer/Pantry gets cleaned out and organized every week or two.<br />
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<b>Closets</b>: I usually go through and clean out all our closets 2-3 times a year. I box up the kids' clothes that are too small and reorganize. This includes our hall closets, too.<br />
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<b>Windows:</b> I get to those less than I would like, maybe once a month and even then they get smeared by Brecken pretty much instantly.<br />
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<b>Capsule Wardrobe: </b> This year I have implemented a capsule wardrobe. Basically, I have a small wardrobe for each season that I rotate. It has made my closet so much easier to clean and I have very little to no clutter. To read more about how I did this, click<a href="http://brandonandlaurenandrew.blogspot.com/2018/02/transitioning-to-capsule-wardrobe.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
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Like I have shared before, we currently live in a house that my parents will retire in. We don't have a ton of our own space, but there is a lot of house to keep clean. Our things stay in a few pretty organized areas and I do my best to maintain the rest of the house.<br />
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Check out other great cleaning ideas from these lovely ladies:<br />
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Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Glitter&Donuts</a></div>
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Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CaseyLand</a></div>
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Alexis at <a href="http://kurtandalexiswitt.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Witt Family Happenings</a></div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-38883224347536703202018-04-24T12:32:00.000-07:002018-04-24T12:32:25.331-07:00Three Baby Products Every Mom NeedsMy little sister is expecting a baby in the fall and I have been sharing with her all the essentials to register for. Beyond the basics it gets kind of tricky. I will say that there are a lot of amazing products out there and it can be really overwhelming to decide on what you need. I want to share my top three baby items that have made life with babies so much easier.<br />
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1. Owlet monitor<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X128p1_G0CK8w1gGCp9nVzwK5nGl00W3DZfmHJPqAJZmBj8PAoMpl9-BAoVGZ2AMtAABEvePebd7S1EgVlny5FnHKgoIzKFvHoo-MEqHx9qFFs6ccQNOsEBU9DB6uA-6cpHvVaoTneDF/s1600/IMG_9794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X128p1_G0CK8w1gGCp9nVzwK5nGl00W3DZfmHJPqAJZmBj8PAoMpl9-BAoVGZ2AMtAABEvePebd7S1EgVlny5FnHKgoIzKFvHoo-MEqHx9qFFs6ccQNOsEBU9DB6uA-6cpHvVaoTneDF/s200/IMG_9794.JPG" width="150" /></a>I purchased this when my second baby arrived and I wish I had gotten it with my first. Lizzie slept in her crib from day two and this little sock gave me peace of mind. Owlet tracks your baby's oxygen level and heart rate through a sensor placed in a sock on their foot. The sock is really easy to put on and it doesn't irritate or both the baby. It comes with three different sized socks, so as your child grows you can keep using it. The base alerts you if oxygen or heart rate levels fall below normal or if the sock stops monitoring. They have an app that you can watch -- it even will tell you when your baby is wiggling. I remember with Brecken, my oldest, checking on him all the time to make sure he was breathing. So beyond the many times I was already up and feeding, I was losing even more sleep because I was scared he wasn't breathing. The owlet changed EVERYTHING. I could monitor her and I knew if something changed, I would hear the alert through her monitor. Not that I slept a lot because life with a newborn is not that way, but I slept soundly. It is worth every penny to purchase this to get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your little one is okay. It is also so easy to take with you on trips. We went on two trips away from home when she was just a few months old and had no issue using the owlet in hotels. Purchase yours <a href="https://owletcare.com/products/owlet-smart-sock" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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2. Bumbo<br />
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I have used my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bumbo-B10056-Floor-Seat-Blue/dp/B009CSNVAM?th=1" target="_blank">Bumbo</a> with both of my babies a lot! They are the perfect size to put on the floor, table, counter, pretty much anywhere you want to your baby with you. It's got a safety belt to make sure they don't fall out and of course always monitor them if you have them up on a higher surface. We use ours a lot when I am cooking dinner, so I can have the babies right by me. They are great for feeding in leiu of a highchair. I also like putting Lizzie in the bathroom with me while I do my hair and makeup. Once your kid can sit up supported they are ready for a Bumbo.<br />
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3. Play Mat<br />
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Brecken got our play mat for Christmas when he was just two months old. He loved it instantly and was entertained by the lights and sounds. As he got older he could play with the hanging animals as well as the crinkly leaf on bottom portion. He is now 2.5 years old and will still lay under it (especially if little sister is under there). Lizzie loves it too. We have only had to change the batteries a few times and this baby has been sturdy and durable for both of my kids. We have the older <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q" target="_blank">version</a> of the Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym, but the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Music-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B016XS2NM0/ref=dp_ob_title_baby" target="_blank">new one</a> looks really cute and is a lot cheaper!<br />
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What are your life saving baby items? I love hearing about new products that are great for my kids!<br />
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*This is not a sponsored ad, just products I love and want to share!*<br />
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-61538913849829433142018-04-02T06:19:00.001-07:002018-04-16T03:25:32.669-07:00Mommy Style Monday: Bonding with My Kids A while back I wrote a <a href="http://brandonandlaurenandrew.blogspot.com/2018/01/balance.html" target="_blank">post</a> on my transition from one to two kids. I have to say that as Lizzie is getting older, daily survival is getting easier, but each stage brings new challenges. Learning to share, taking turns, and all those fun social skills are a big part of Brecken's learning right now.<br />
From the beginning I have been a huge advocate of making sure that both my kids are loved, protected, and taught by me as much as possible. Most of our days consist of the three of us playing together. The balancing act during those times can get tricky, but I do my best to ensure that I am giving them both what they need.<br />
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This week's Mommy Style Monday post is answering the question "How do you bond with your kids?" Being 2.5 and almost 8 months old, it all comes down to one word: TIME.<br />
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Brecken has been a trooper going from getting all my attention to sharing it with his sister. When she has her morning nap and late afternoon nap it is his time with me. I basically give him free reign to decide what we do, but we do it together. I don't get on my phone, turn on the TV, or anything that would distract from him. Normally we play with toys, read books, and he likes to run around the room and then jump on pillows to play "night night". This past week his favorite things were: playing with Easter eggs and building towers with his legos. This time with him is precious to me and I know he craves that one-on-one attention as well. When Brandon is home, he often will take Brecken outside, just the two of them to play, ride tractors, etc. I can see a huge difference when he has these times with us.<br />
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Elizabeth gets a bit more one-on-one with me than her brother. I love my bedtime feeding with her. She is usually very snuggly and smiley. Same goes for her though, if she wakes up early from her lunchtime nap (when Brecken naps) then I give her my time. We play with learning toys, I read her books, and we also just walk around the house and look out the windows (her new favorite activity). Again, just giving her my time she knows she is the center of my world in those moments. <br />
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As the kids get older we plan to do two-on-one and one-on-one "dates" with the kids. It just consists of having them with both parents and individual parents to go out and do something fun together. Brecken will probably be ready to start doing this soon. He and I did go to the dentist this week with out his sister. He loved it!<br />
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There isn't much complexity to what I believe makes kids (or people for that matter) feel special. Give them your time.<br />
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Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Glitter&Donuts</a></div>
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Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CaseyLand</a></div>
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Alexis at <a href="http://kurtandalexiswitt.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Witt Family Happenings</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Haley at </span><a href="http://embracethejourneycompany.wordpress.com/" style="font-size: 13px;">Embrace the Journey</a></div>
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-47246356071339624732018-03-29T17:39:00.003-07:002018-03-29T17:39:58.222-07:00Connecting to What Matters Most<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue"; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: helveticaneue; text-align: center;">I’ve been wanting to share this for a while now, but I am also a little terrified. </span><br />
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So we all know that life on social media is often not a true representation of our daily lives. Those Instagram pictures are missing the poop on your shirt from the baby’s blowout that morning or the food stuck to the counter that your toddler left behind (true stories from my week). For the longest time I knew I was spending too much time with technology. Like so many things, it can be used for good or bad. I was spending way too much time on my phone. </div>
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How I got to this conclusion and a plan to change it all came because of a lesson I taught in Relief Society one Sunday. I was sharing about a <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/exceeding-great-and-precious-promises?lang=eng" target="_blank">talk</a> that really pinpointed the need to focus on eternal, important things. During our discussion, so many wonderful ladies shared their viewpoints and experiences. As a somewhat young mom, I felt like it was much needed and wanted advice that I never really knew I needed. As hard as it was to admit, I had this idea that my time wasn’t being spent where it needed to be. </div>
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Now I am going to be completely honest about this process because it is ongoing. I came home from church that day ready to do better at giving my time to eternal things. </div>
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<b>First: reconnect with myself</b>. How can I take care of others if I am always running on empty myself? This doesn't mean selfishness, but a conscious effort to improve my own self care. I decided to recommit to starting my day talking to my Heavenly Father and reading scripture. It is the best and often the only time I have to do these things. Mostly it happens when I hear the kids start to wake and I hit my knees for a few quiet moments. Other days I am able to get up a bit before them and have more time for study, prayer and reflection. Another hope is to add in regular workouts. I crave exercise simply for my mental health, but seriously struggle with working out at home. Baby steps. </div>
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<b>Second: disconnect from my phone.</b> I started leaving it in my room or in a place away from where we would be. It’s sad to say that it has become so commonplace for it to be right beside me that I pick it up anytime I’m “bored”. This goes better on some days than others. I also decided it was time to deactivate my Facebook account. It’s been a few weeks and I have not missed it for one minute. </div>
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<b>Third: keep connecting to my family</b>. I have never felt that I was completely disconnected from my family, just that I needed to give them more genuine time. The kids and I started reading a little scripture story and eating breakfast (mostly) technology free. I mean, I’m being real when I say sometimes I let my toddler watch a show so he will actually eat. My kids are so much happier and the day goes much smoother when we are playing together. The rest of our day is full of play, naps that are often too short, and yes, a movie or tv show. Weather makes a big difference to me. If we have to be in the house all day, it gets harder for me to keep them occupied. I long for warm days with time at the park or splash pad — hopefully they aren’t too far off at this point. We also live pretty isolated from anyone and everything so that can make it hard to really feel connected. Regardless, I am making a big effort to keep my phone out of my hands and my focus on interacting with my kids. If Brandon is home, we usually do a lot better with this because we tend to go out and do more as a family. </div>
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I feel super lame that I even have to do this. How did I get here? I don’t know the full answer to that, but I am grateful that I’m trying to right the ship. Don’t worry, I still have moments and days where I fail, but thankfully I get a fresh start daily. Why am I sharing it? Probably for accountability, so I don’t just give up and fall back into old habits. But also because it’s time to get real and share life as it as. </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-8389148653502462232018-03-05T06:25:00.001-08:002018-03-05T06:25:38.281-08:00Mommy Style Monday: Spring Transition<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue"; text-size-adjust: auto;">This month for Mommy Style Monday we are sharing a spring outfit. Since winter has decided that it wants to reign down on Cache Valley, I’m sharing an outfit that is great to transition you from winter to spring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helveticaneue"; text-size-adjust: auto;">My outfit is an everyday, run errands, go to the park </span><span style="font-family: "helveticaneue";">ensemble. I am a big fan of both of the boutiques mentioned below. This is not a sponsored post, just my honest opinion of amazing products from small businesses. They both offer FREE shipping on all U.S. orders! </span><br />
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<b>TOP:</b> DoubleHood Sweatshirt from <a href="https://mindymaesmarket.com/?rfsn=664269.e0d24f" target="_blank">Mindy Mae’s Market</a>. I’ve been obsessing over these beauties for a while and I got the <a href="https://mindymaesmarket.com/collections/home-of-the-doublehood/products/doublehood-sweatshirt-floral-dot" target="_blank">Floral Dot</a> for Christmas. I love that it is longer and more lightweight than other hoodies. The polka dot and floral pattern mixing is cute and fun for spring. The zipper on the shoulder is just another added detail that I really like. These babies sell out fast, but you can join an email list to be notified when the one you want is back in stock. </div>
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<b>BOTTOMS:</b> The <a href="https://shopbybeck.com/collections/bottoms/products/jolene-distressed-crop" target="_blank">Jolene Distressed Crop</a> from <a href="https://shopbybeck.com/" target="_blank">Shop By Beck</a> are my newest addition to my spring/summer wardrobe. They are a great wash and the distressed look makes them even better. I love that they can go from spring to summer easily. Versatility is key when I purchase any new piece of clothing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybPmNdYFcCRKDdyjHFjaQ_0gvwAkNWOZCqqli1bJa_IP959fn5IxwsmLUHodMw2Rtj5onvENXLQVZybWjHPdrCMAXGMhFDRtffC0trjaD41LqqyGwKOS8rYcRkNGXydcpceBPUbnYvXJe/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3678.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybPmNdYFcCRKDdyjHFjaQ_0gvwAkNWOZCqqli1bJa_IP959fn5IxwsmLUHodMw2Rtj5onvENXLQVZybWjHPdrCMAXGMhFDRtffC0trjaD41LqqyGwKOS8rYcRkNGXydcpceBPUbnYvXJe/s320/fullsizeoutput_3678.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>SHOES</b>: My <a href="https://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-low-top-unisex-shoe/pid-11214172/pgid-11337711" target="_blank">White Converse</a> are shoes that I keep in my closet all year long. They match anything and are super comfy! </div>
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If you want to join in our monthly blog posts, just click <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WfkMInqY2aXyug84UT2Swjx4IHm2aOAO7q2L4uLQT6g/" target="_blank">here</a> and sign up! Check out the other spring outfits being shared below:<br />
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Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Glitter&Donuts</a></div>
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Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CaseyLand</a></div>
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Alexis at <a href="http://kurtandalexiswitt.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Witt Family Happenings</a></div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-72856199013139840852018-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:002018-02-24T16:08:24.405-08:00Transitioning to Capsule Wardrobe<br />
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WHY: </h3>
I will be the first to admit that I have always had a love of shoes and clothes. Until I got married, and even some after, I could usually buy whatever items I wanted in the moment -- so many of which never got worn and simply sat in my closet.<br />
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After Elizabeth was born in August, I felt a pull to simplify my life in as many ways as possible. When we reached 2018, I was on a mission to clean out and get rid of whatever I no longer needed. I started following a blog called <a href="https://littlemissfearless.com/category/capsule-wardrobe/" target="_blank">Little Miss Fearless</a> and discovered the concept of a capsule wardrobe. Y'all it seriously blew my mind! She details all the steps she took, and it is really flexible depending on what you want. The "norm" is to have about 30-40 pieces (tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear) for each season. Some people capsule their shoes, jewelry and other accessories too. </div>
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I was ALL IN after reading about it. I wish I had a before shot to show you just how much I cleaned out. </div>
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HOW:</h3>
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Here is what I am doing. My seasonal wardrobes will have no more than 40 pieces in them (not counting t-shirts and sweats I wear at home). My seasons are laid out like this: Spring (March, April May), Summer (June, July, August), Fall (September, October, November), and Winter (December, January, February). Living in Utah, I will have a lot of overlap with spring/summer and fall/winter. </div>
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I did steps 1-3 in one day, and the rest took place over several days when I had a free moment. </div>
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1. Take all your clothes out of your closet. Yes, all of them. I put them on my bed in giant piles. It was seriously overwhelming; however, it is the only way to really clean out. </div>
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2. Go through each individual item and separate into piles. Again, this is totally your preference, but here is how I sorted: LOVE IT AND WEAR IT went right back in the closet on a hanger, MAYBE was a stack I wasn't sure I wanted to get rid of just yet, NOPE went to a pile to donate/sell to a local consignment shop. It didn't take me long with most of my clothes and I was super honest with myself. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each of those hangers was a piece I said "NOPE" to.</td></tr>
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3. I put my MAYBE clothes in a box and put it in the hall closet. If there is something in there I go retrieve, it will stay in my closet. My plan is that after each season I will go through and pull out the items that could have been in my capsule and get rid of them. I separated my donate pile from my sell pile and put those in the necessary places until I can take them in. </div>
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4. I split my LOVE IT clothes into seasons: summer, fall, winter, spring and had them hanging or stacked in groups in my closet. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouping of clothes by season.</td></tr>
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SIDE BAR: I narrowed my "at home" clothes way down and so that is going to be it's own group of pieces, some I will keep out in the spring/summer and others in the fall/winter depending on the weather. I also took my ridiculous amount of work out clothing and narrowed it down to fit in one of my dresser drawers (leggings, tanks, shorts). Some of my shoes are seasonal, so they'll be put away with that season wardrobe, but I have a small collection that are year-round and will stay out. Best part is that you can do whatever works best for YOU!</div>
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5. This is the step that took the longest because I just needed time to get them packed up. I took each season and put it in a clear container, so that the only clothing hanging in my closet are the pieces I need for that season. In this case it is winter. The other wardrobes are on the floor of my closet. I have many pieces that will transition into multiple seasons, like jeans for example. </div>
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THAT IS IT! So far....</div>
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There are a few steps that will take place when a season ends. I will take stock of that season's pieces and get rid of anything that I didn't wear. If there are pieces that I really want in the next capsule (spring) I can buy them, but for the most part that is a last resort. For example, I do not have a plain white t-shirt. I know, how is that even possible?! So I am going to find one for my spring/summer collections.</div>
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RESULTS</h3>
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What you see below are the pieces I have for winter. What is missing is a couple more jackets that I have. It is one of my smallest collections, but I have been wearing it for over a week and have felt like there are so many options. It makes me really happy to go to my closet and easily pull something for that day without trying on a million different things. (Ignore the pile of sweats on the far right -- those are my "at home" pants.) </div>
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Outerwear: 4 coats (3 not pictured), 3 sweaters/hoodies, 2 vests, </div>
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Tops: 2 short sleeve, 4 long sleeve, 3 sweaters, 2 cardigans </div>
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Bottoms: 8 bottoms (5 jeans, 2 colored jeans, and black leggings)</div>
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Church: 3 dresses, 2 skirts</div>
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I have learned so much from this process. Besides the fact that I am happier with a smaller wardrobe (GASP), I have found my authentic style. Most of what I got rid of were those unique bold pieces that I can only wear in one way. What is hanging are pieces that can mix and match with all my jeans and give me a variety of looks with less. I will wear anything in that group without question. It is also a lot easier to shop because I have a better idea of what I really will wear and I am not buying things on a whim (you're welcome husband). I am so excited to transition into spring and continue this journey. It has made my organizational heart so very happy! </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-22263295632949198162018-02-17T16:33:00.003-08:002018-02-17T16:33:21.615-08:00Valentine's Day Follow UpI promised a follow up to our Valentine's Day plans, so here it is! We actually celebrated on the Sunday before because we headed to California for the week to attend a farm show with Brandon. <br />
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We started the morning with our heart blueberry muffins. They were a hit! Brecken kept asking for more. <br />
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Gifts were exchanged in the afternoon. I made the kids a plate with Mickey and Minnie as well as their names. I think as they get older they will use them more. Our kids have SO many toys and I wanted something a little more meaningful. Brecken also got some candy. I made a plate and mug for Brandon. He has a serious sweet tooth, so this is for his cookies and milk. He really likes Marvel and the Avengers movies, so I used those graphics on his plate. Simple. Probably a little corny too. Brandon is super thoughtful, so he "carved our names in a tree". On the back he carved the kids names. I love it and it is now a permanent decoration on my shelves in the kitchen. <br />
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Heart Pizza dinner. Our pizza doesn't look quite heart shaped in photos, but I promise it was. I had fun finding some simple decor (Dollar Tree) to fancy up our table a little. We went around and shared things we love about the other members of our family. When it was Brecken's turn, he wanted to share how much he loved trucks, tractors, cars, and pizza.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTv6Gf2ftIgS27PgXril6fzX9OcuFBfbott-2Hx1PkU_w06Y9N4E4KlMvyPpI4wHDx51iLb2AOcKhGZZJy3YE1u8WsZyiBoB00R4ruNNG6ijJGyOMjyNY46SY7XbSpfg6zmzYt_0_CARQ/s1600/DSC00465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTv6Gf2ftIgS27PgXril6fzX9OcuFBfbott-2Hx1PkU_w06Y9N4E4KlMvyPpI4wHDx51iLb2AOcKhGZZJy3YE1u8WsZyiBoB00R4ruNNG6ijJGyOMjyNY46SY7XbSpfg6zmzYt_0_CARQ/s200/DSC00465.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jG-UKLNJ8xvgOHZ27HEAWeTmrYImydusOkYKFXwH8QIMXXtN1TEgtdxWZaaQK9hM1LyJy2b7qtlSICrXCGX1aJNL58DC79Yj_l1L4haggQR0TZ-77_k33lSKUFm-5q7lYbBU9LNVi4vx/s1600/DSC00466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfgLhHq4pVdwEZt9wPZQX1wuO84iJW9cpr6pEBv7eUht8btu-IB4B0G2PG1HHBbK7QsRdMMSXrCaPUi9mAHpru_xw7lvCE6VgSkNRkoR3j0ieDReJByBayq7dgz9t1mZtZAyMxCeXGETj/s1600/DSC00467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfgLhHq4pVdwEZt9wPZQX1wuO84iJW9cpr6pEBv7eUht8btu-IB4B0G2PG1HHBbK7QsRdMMSXrCaPUi9mAHpru_xw7lvCE6VgSkNRkoR3j0ieDReJByBayq7dgz9t1mZtZAyMxCeXGETj/s200/DSC00467.JPG" width="200" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jG-UKLNJ8xvgOHZ27HEAWeTmrYImydusOkYKFXwH8QIMXXtN1TEgtdxWZaaQK9hM1LyJy2b7qtlSICrXCGX1aJNL58DC79Yj_l1L4haggQR0TZ-77_k33lSKUFm-5q7lYbBU9LNVi4vx/s200/DSC00466.JPG" width="200" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZjaZQJjT2aS9r_sNV3UELgVEpWk6O8eHklBIFmzmG5B3732mMYYBfziomsktdfU4tuw41IA6gaMMu3vSK98S3Ce1Dnd0N0B5COX8n8aAqoz3eQOaceMZ7CMMpB1WuEEtKtbIR9wyk1bc/s1600/DSC00469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZjaZQJjT2aS9r_sNV3UELgVEpWk6O8eHklBIFmzmG5B3732mMYYBfziomsktdfU4tuw41IA6gaMMu3vSK98S3Ce1Dnd0N0B5COX8n8aAqoz3eQOaceMZ7CMMpB1WuEEtKtbIR9wyk1bc/s200/DSC00469.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HwBptjRiv2SMvuBm8LleyYJOnfxvyuqki4NwykmGbEMGRz8_DHHUGEsik-lj_xChV_fYCdttMPxovD32_Z5oHiXF1jEKu9N0fHHgBM9jXUG89MDZ8qAHCZ-nSjxmS7yc4qJ1njAsYx3z/s1600/DSC00468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HwBptjRiv2SMvuBm8LleyYJOnfxvyuqki4NwykmGbEMGRz8_DHHUGEsik-lj_xChV_fYCdttMPxovD32_Z5oHiXF1jEKu9N0fHHgBM9jXUG89MDZ8qAHCZ-nSjxmS7yc4qJ1njAsYx3z/s200/DSC00468.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I hope these traditions will continue as the kids get older. I loved our simple and quiet day together. We got ice cream on Valentine's Day in California from a little local place to celebrate on the actual day. brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-39406204823558021962018-02-05T06:16:00.000-08:002018-02-05T06:16:32.092-08:00Mommy Style Monday: Family ValentinesThis month for Mommy Style Monday we are talking about our Valentine's Day plans. I will be the first to admit that I have never been a big fan of this holiday. Being a teacher, it was a day of sugar rush and craziness. We usually had parent teacher conferences on top of that. It made for one really long day. Brandon has ALWAYS been really thoughtful and creative for every holiday, so I have tried to get more into the spirit of it each year. I am excited this year to share it with him and our kids. As Brecken is getting older, he is starting to understand about holidays and that makes it so much more fun!<br />
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<b>Decorations:</b> I try to keep it simple with decor. I made a few small banners for our kitchen and mantles. I also added a simple vinyl chalkboard on the wall over our kitchen table. Last year I made centerpieces for our table using jars, candles, and candy hearts (all from the Dollar Tree). Lastly, I got a cute letter board really cheap around Christmas and we have loved changing out the quotes for different occasions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPEydm2tlChUBeuQ7UDVKdqPPYIINY95rlOk1trnMnKBfMc0soIbqcTmQ1YFNmttZoj1cbnDMSVDIgTi_N99NDyssq1Up-9FHzG8JXcScK2eVvFlDJnkd0seLKE_iXnIp8ioB27_LbmVa/s1600/IMG_8657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPEydm2tlChUBeuQ7UDVKdqPPYIINY95rlOk1trnMnKBfMc0soIbqcTmQ1YFNmttZoj1cbnDMSVDIgTi_N99NDyssq1Up-9FHzG8JXcScK2eVvFlDJnkd0seLKE_iXnIp8ioB27_LbmVa/s200/IMG_8657.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We keep it pretty simple around here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIZq72_TBB18ZDjOOi8uwH2vso3J0CmV_HXeF179HJhXTVvULWbVCzPk_xUUTwS0cwLaq1tDeJ-EDmbKlDrvGMyH2D9M3uOq0vmNrrVPlQmIlgOeNotzU_E4pKw_L1Yw9bVzuZCRAed5y/s1600/IMG_8659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIZq72_TBB18ZDjOOi8uwH2vso3J0CmV_HXeF179HJhXTVvULWbVCzPk_xUUTwS0cwLaq1tDeJ-EDmbKlDrvGMyH2D9M3uOq0vmNrrVPlQmIlgOeNotzU_E4pKw_L1Yw9bVzuZCRAed5y/s200/IMG_8659.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are 3 of these on our kitchen table.<br />
Dollar Tree for the win!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFaR37PCI9LPh-D2qR3iCAD6oNfMFdzyukxUl-QckjBV0bIPoBOvjcqv6NEwqVPEEaDppricnwwosaRmX34xohjXtdUia5zA2B3pPCFPgsoFODnoVJo6sS83D01EAeZifNKmB4nAgBBVx/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1251" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFaR37PCI9LPh-D2qR3iCAD6oNfMFdzyukxUl-QckjBV0bIPoBOvjcqv6NEwqVPEEaDppricnwwosaRmX34xohjXtdUia5zA2B3pPCFPgsoFODnoVJo6sS83D01EAeZifNKmB4nAgBBVx/s200/fullsizeoutput_3560.jpeg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our mantle downstairs<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8XfyIwa9P1qtPbnu6Kx1A4qRaI1Bc2VpASxBkxSytbcNXdhIxJWtdiYF3sc9c2Qw2TKF3WixkCCeViKyPKhkqQknAhWBUApEObSNuoMHk7-z8KzDrqEkdbEUN1WOFAD-_ga2PorpO5qv/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8XfyIwa9P1qtPbnu6Kx1A4qRaI1Bc2VpASxBkxSytbcNXdhIxJWtdiYF3sc9c2Qw2TKF3WixkCCeViKyPKhkqQknAhWBUApEObSNuoMHk7-z8KzDrqEkdbEUN1WOFAD-_ga2PorpO5qv/s200/fullsizeoutput_3561.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs<br /></td></tr>
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<b>Gifts:</b> Brandon and I have always done homemade gifts for Valentine's Day (insert Pinterest) because we don't like to spend a lot. I can't share what I am doing this year because he reads this, but I'll share it after. I will also do a homemade present for the kids. Usually the gift includes some candy or other treats. We made Brecken some play-dough last year; it was easy and we just keep it in the fridge. If we have time, and I have the patience, we will attempt some other projects for the kids to make.</div>
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<b>Valentine's Day:</b> I have a cute heart shaped muffin pan to make some muffins for breakfast. Brandon will have to work, so most of the day will just be the kids and me. We have talked about how to celebrate, and we decided to just do the actual night of Valentine's Day as a family. The plan is to get some festive plates and have a fun family dinner. Papa Murphy's does a cute $7 heart shaped pizza that will be easy and yummy. Then we will have dessert: a pizookie (pizza cookie) with some ice cream. Brandon and I will "float" our celebration to a different day when we can find a babysitter.<br />
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This is probably the most we have done for Valentine's Day and it isn't going to be anything extraordinary. I do love creating traditions and getting to watch Brecken and Lizzie experience holidays.<br />
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If you want to join in on Mommy Style Monday, click <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WfkMInqY2aXyug84UT2Swjx4IHm2aOAO7q2L4uLQT6g/" target="_blank">HERE</a> or use the link to either Madeline’s or Kiana’s blog below.<br />
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Check out the other blogs:<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">
Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/">Glitter&Donuts</a></div>
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Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/">CaseyLand</a></div>
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Britt at <a href="http://www.britt-hanson.com/">My Little Sunshines</a></div>
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Alexis at <a href="http://kurtandalexiswitt.wordpress.com/">Witt Family Happenings</a></div>
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-91884377359421161052018-01-29T11:43:00.001-08:002018-01-29T11:43:28.569-08:00January: The month that feels like one long MondayWe have hit the last few days of January and I am so glad! It is seriously one of the hardest months for me because of the dreary, cold, and snowy days. So to be almost into February is a blessing. <br />
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I decided to do a family update each month, focusing on the kids and also the things we did together. I also want to show my progress on my goals for the year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-LnhN_uQiVTSxGJnyuGp9uLyHXKufthc46qWLvAmbk7IGhARN5rCc-BSdLcgqvDRKmPCSGTqfmRn8u7arfjCZ1TO_Juf53zKJeIxbp9rhbkCufL8iJ2MjBoua7gvUqtd4WFeC711VifY/s1600/DSC00414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-LnhN_uQiVTSxGJnyuGp9uLyHXKufthc46qWLvAmbk7IGhARN5rCc-BSdLcgqvDRKmPCSGTqfmRn8u7arfjCZ1TO_Juf53zKJeIxbp9rhbkCufL8iJ2MjBoua7gvUqtd4WFeC711VifY/s200/DSC00414.JPG" width="132" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF_aJpocyVSeuQGeZsn2oYhKbnJDZVrHslXv18NEqBGDy942qsv9hi6Lvn8m-B9Y8IUDeNNV35zbG9mVG333OsGtyWb70ikXmkjyFJDkJaXqCW8VIO1FGLMfiY8fZ1az2Ude5TDat2NUh/s1600/DSC00382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF_aJpocyVSeuQGeZsn2oYhKbnJDZVrHslXv18NEqBGDy942qsv9hi6Lvn8m-B9Y8IUDeNNV35zbG9mVG333OsGtyWb70ikXmkjyFJDkJaXqCW8VIO1FGLMfiY8fZ1az2Ude5TDat2NUh/s200/DSC00382.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let's play blocks"</td></tr>
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<b><u>Brecken:</u></b> This kid is hilarious. He has a large vocabulary and can communicate basically anything he wants (which makes life a lot easier). As a two year old, he is throwing some lovely tantrums over the smallest things, as to be expected. He got Duplo blocks for Christmas and is obsessed with building cars, trucks, etc. He also loves letters and numbers. He can identify all his letters and numbers 1-20. Colors, shapes, Mickey Mouse, and Toy Story are basically his other favorites. He has some crazy facial expressions and his personality is big and bold. I love this stage with him!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPVjjj6bmGZ6CWCpOgPOy0Pu_9Gtv4hYk_GMAs02soiQwDqBxLXWr-yBpYwNp-wAKrjOaINmDgTb_cfEvgKn0mcd8Dl-BABLOTIFtSevqfFQukyJfbBn30sCZrLcwkFmkZ5Mkn6OW8tPs/s1600/DSC00370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPVjjj6bmGZ6CWCpOgPOy0Pu_9Gtv4hYk_GMAs02soiQwDqBxLXWr-yBpYwNp-wAKrjOaINmDgTb_cfEvgKn0mcd8Dl-BABLOTIFtSevqfFQukyJfbBn30sCZrLcwkFmkZ5Mkn6OW8tPs/s200/DSC00370.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those. Eyes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GjOOLx5ZMFncQ-TeKlKwNotx1rpKkuAgYU3KSoFm25Xp3HZsDs5lBLa9nTGQBYDdUFHn1mcYy8EfEsV2_WQ8jI0i2LpCmFsOECnxuC2I6Bsd7tlt52Wczqp4sGFF-DNIOsycAzzxYaVT/s1600/IMG_8401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GjOOLx5ZMFncQ-TeKlKwNotx1rpKkuAgYU3KSoFm25Xp3HZsDs5lBLa9nTGQBYDdUFHn1mcYy8EfEsV2_WQ8jI0i2LpCmFsOECnxuC2I6Bsd7tlt52Wczqp4sGFF-DNIOsycAzzxYaVT/s200/IMG_8401.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><u>Elizabeth: </u></b> I can't believe in just a few weeks we will have a 6 month old girl! Lizzie is the sweetest, happiest baby. She rolls all over the place and is starting to sit up a little more on her own. She reaches and holds toys really well -- then places them instantly in her mouth. Her naps are still kind of inconsistent, anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours and she takes 2-3 a day. For the most part she is great at night, but we still have had a few bumps along the way. She adores Brecken, loves Baby Einstein, stares at lights, and laughs when her daddy throws her up in the air. It is seriously killing me how fast she is growing up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe-Prxo_Ge0wRgd0FgCTGjjGO5MUFiKp5Seq5T43FIhVeHE1xnYI8VYv2RQtXlC-Va57DjA5Ixp7fXB2U5dzZe__6qi38SzUN5j2L5_GUmYGNdmlNnqxr6deY3jkMuiyTjyWFbQGANTYM/s1600/IMG_8507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe-Prxo_Ge0wRgd0FgCTGjjGO5MUFiKp5Seq5T43FIhVeHE1xnYI8VYv2RQtXlC-Va57DjA5Ixp7fXB2U5dzZe__6qi38SzUN5j2L5_GUmYGNdmlNnqxr6deY3jkMuiyTjyWFbQGANTYM/s200/IMG_8507.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixElDUnsiIYpTRm9K2pU8g9T4BfVdQVTM3g2XGdAoMVby9ygMQDrn78ixRcN7S2q1T2sci2S3lk_pq_qinSxyGjVc4eM52qMPB5F-xRl-jRcxh-1oa8Zr9vPmrTZXk8vJbsD3lptdAMPin/s1600/IMG_8543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixElDUnsiIYpTRm9K2pU8g9T4BfVdQVTM3g2XGdAoMVby9ygMQDrn78ixRcN7S2q1T2sci2S3lk_pq_qinSxyGjVc4eM52qMPB5F-xRl-jRcxh-1oa8Zr9vPmrTZXk8vJbsD3lptdAMPin/s200/IMG_8543.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love their bond! </td></tr>
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We created a family bucket list in December and we have checked a few things off in January. Brecken and Brandon built a little snowman on the back deck. We took the kids to the Bounce and Slide place one Friday and had so much fun. Then we also had a semi-warm day and went for some Yogurtland frozen yogurt. Brandon, Brecken, and I also went sledding in the backyard. Most importantly is we spent as much time together as we could when Brandon wasn't working. Both these babies love their Daddy!<br />
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My goals for the year were to create more projects using my Cricut (mostly to decorate our home) and to use my camera more. All the pictures of our family above are from my camera. I have read a lot about my particular camera and have just signed up for an online beginners class for photography. It is a go at your own pace kind of thing, so I am sure it will take me a while. <br />
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Below are a few (of the many) projects I created with the Cricut this month:<br />
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1. I monogrammed my water bottle because I'm from North Carolina and if something doesn't move then you monogram it!<br />
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2. I repurposed an old chalk board with some vinyl for Valentine's Day.<br />
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3. I used some vinyl to create a fun wood sign to keep up during January. This particular idea came from Cricut Design Space. <br />
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<br />brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-13137834711790328152018-01-17T11:27:00.003-08:002018-01-17T11:27:46.134-08:00Balance<span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue;">I was so nervous about the transition of going from one to two kids. It was hard for me to imagine being able to hold that much love for another child. When Lizzie was born, I realized how easy it was to love her and Brecken. </span><br />
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Being completely honest, the hardest part of this whole transition is finding balance. When Brecken was born I had to learn to balance being a mom and a wife. This time it was finding a balance between a newborn and an almost two year old. Lizzie was completely dependent on me, and yet here was sweet Brecken needing me too. I remember several times being in tears because I felt like I wasn’t giving him what he needed. It is true that with two kids, your once oldest and only child will have to share some of the attention they previously got all of, but they aren’t neglected either. </div>
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When she was first born, I had a lot of help from my Mom and that gave Brecken someone to play with when I was busy with Lizzie. When it was just the three of us, he unfortunately was entertained by TV a lot. Lizzie went through a stage of having to be held for naps, so she was in my arms for a lot of the day. We played as much as we could, but it was a lot of hit and miss. I am still figuring it all out, but as Lizzie is getting older it is getting somewhat easier. </div>
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Brecken and I get to have special time together when she naps in the mornings. That is his uninterrupted time. Lately it consists of about three things: playing blocks, playing with letters & numbers, or playing with tractors. They both usually nap around the same time in the afternoon so that is my (short, yet much needed) alone time. The rest of the day is sort of like juggling and many times I drop the ball. We are learning together. Thankfully they won’t remember all the times I mess up at this stage. What I am seeing now that I couldn’t see in the beginning is the love they have for each other. Brecken loves Lizzie and she adores him. We will see how that goes once she can start grabbing his toys! We just take it one day at a time. </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-9248268347365674912018-01-01T06:28:00.000-08:002018-01-01T06:28:46.475-08:00Mommy Style Monday: ResolutionsMy friend and former co-worker Madeline and her friend Kiana started Mommy Style Monday and I decided to hop on board. This month the topic is focused on talents, more specifically, talents I want to work on during 2018. I really had to think about this because I wanted to be intentional and genuine in my efforts. I have two kids (2 year old and 4 month old) that don't necessarily give me much time to myself. So, I have chosen two talents I would like to learn/develop/improve on this year.<br />
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1. <b>Creativity. </b> I taught Elementary School for 4 years and I seriously always struggled with the creative side of teaching. I have never been crafty or artistic. Last Christmas, I received a Cricut Air 2. There are so many things you can do/make with paper, vinyl, fabrics, and even leather. The only thing I am really comfortable doing on it is making cards. So, I am going to try to add to my repertoire by creating projects for my house throughout the year. I'm starting with vinyl and wood and will expand as I get more comfortable. I have already ordered some vinyl and picked a few projects for winter and Valentine's Day. My goal is to be able to do one project a month. I'm sure some will work out and others will be total fails. That's how we grow, right?!</div>
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2. <b> Photography</b>. I have an awesome camera that I got for my birthday about two years ago. I have only used it a handful of times because I don't really feel comfortable with it. Once I read up on it and watch some tutorials, I want to use my camera more frequently. My plan is to take some pictures of my family throughout the year. </div>
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As you can see, I haven't jumped into the deep end by any means. I feel like I sometimes set high expectations of myself, already knowing that I won't have the time or means to get them done with my crazy life. This year I am keeping it simple and hoping to utilize what I already have here at home. </div>
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If you have any fun projects, tips, or ideas on how I can better improve in these two areas, I would love to hear them! </div>
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If you’re interested in joining in on Mommy Style Monday sign up on Kiana or Madeline’s blogs or click <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WfkMInqY2aXyug84UT2Swjx4IHm2aOAO7q2L4uLQT6g/" target="_blank">HERE</a>!<br />
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Check out these fabulous blogs:<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kiana at <a href="http://glitteranddonuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Glitter&Donuts</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Madeline at <a href="http://caseylandblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">CaseyLand</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Monica at <a href="http://www.aboutprogress.com/" target="_blank">It's All About</a></span></div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-6125130493811150542017-12-28T07:48:00.000-08:002017-12-28T07:48:20.815-08:00Family Bucket List 2018<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "uictfonttextstylebody"; font-size: 14px;">I can’t believe Christmas has come and gone. It always seems to fly by way too fast. We have had such a wonderful time celebrating. Tomorrow we will have our Christmas with Brandon’s family and then I will start posting about our holiday happenings. </span><br />
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This post is an idea I got based on something my amazing sister in law Heidi gave us a few years ago. She created a “winter bingo” with a bunch of bucket list ideas of things she could do with her family. She typed it into a spreadsheet and then printed it and marked them off as they did them. </div>
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A little background here, Brandon and I are super indecisive about things. This is especially true when it comes to what we are going to do on his days off. So, I decided that we would take Heidi’s idea but make one for the whole year. We sat down and both wrote down anything we wanted to do together, with the kids, any holidays or even small things we could do at home. Some will be a big stretch for us and others are as simple as having a movie night at home. I listed mine by season to help me remember holidays and other important events. Then we shared them and made one big list and I typed them up into the spreadsheet. I am sure we left out some things that we want to do or will do, but it gives us a starting point to plan what to do on his days off. </div>
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This is what ours looks like: </div>
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I hope everyone has a Happy and safe New Year! I’m going to be sharing more about my goals and the talents I’m hoping to work on in 2018. </div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-16544850004701163492017-12-12T07:17:00.000-08:002017-12-12T14:39:48.732-08:0073 Questions I heard about the 73 Questions from <i>Vogue</i> via one of my favorite designers. Lauren Stokes created the amazing <a href="https://www.laurenjames.com/" target="_blank">Lauren James</a> brand and I am a HUGE fan! She keeps it classy, cute, and comfortable. If you haven't checked it out, I highly recommend it.<br />
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Anyway, she shared answers to 73 questions and I thought it was fun to learn little tidbits about her, so I thought I would do my own. My question list is somewhat different from hers.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 14px;">Vogue’s 73 Questions List</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. What’s your favorite movie? It’s so hard to pick one. Sweet Home Alabama with Reece Witherspoon is one I watch over and over. She is seriously my favorite. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />2. Favorite movie in the past five years? So many...the first one I can think of is Interstellar. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />3. Favorite Hitchcock film? I haven't seen any...<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />4. A book you plan on reading? The Rent Collector <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />5. A book that you read in school that positively shaped you? Les Miserables <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />6. Favorite TV show that’s currently on? This Is Us <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />7. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now? It is winter so I’d say 8 (I hate winter)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />8. iPhone or Android? iPhone <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />9. Twitter or Instagram? Instagram<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />10. Who should EVERYONE be following right now? Lauren James and Roolee for clothes. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />11. What’s your favorite food? Ice cream <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />12. Least favorite food? Peanuts <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />13. What do you love on your pizza? Ham and pineapple or veggies <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />14. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper but I can only go caffeine free <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />15. Favorite dessert? Cheesecake or ice cream <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />16. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Any chocolate 😍<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />17. Coffee or tea? Neither!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />18. What’s the hardest part about being a mum? Right now with Little’s, losing sleep.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />19. What’s your favorite band? Depends on the genre, but Lady A, Florida Georgia Line, and Sister Hazel are a few. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />20. Favorite solo artist? I can’t pick just one: Justin Timberlake, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood are some. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />21. Favorite song? Everything I Do by Bryan Adams. It was our wedding song. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />22. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be? Justin Timberlake. The man can saaaaaannnnng. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />23. If you could master one instrument, what would it be? Piano<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />24. If you had a tattoo, where would it be? Somewhere hidden!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />25. To be or not to be? That is the question. BE!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />26. Dogs or cats? Dogs 💯 <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />27. Bird-watching or whale-watching? Whale watching. That means I’ll be at the beach. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />28. Best gift you’ve ever received? My kids <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />29. Best gift you’ve ever given? <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />30. Last gift you gave a friend? A hat <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />31. What’s your favorite board game? Sorry<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />32. What’s your favorite country to visit? Never been out of the US. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />33. What’s the last country you visited? USA <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />34. What country do you wish to visit? Dominican Republic <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />35. What’s your favorite color? Blue <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />36. Least favorite color? Garnet <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />37. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls y’all <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />38. Heels or flats? Heels <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />39. Pilates or yoga? Pilates <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />40. Jogging or swimming? I love both! But jogging more. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />41. Best way to de-stress? Ice cream, Netflix, and my husband <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />42. If you had one superpower, what would it be? Transport anywhere <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />43. What’s the weirdest word in the English language? Weird. It seriously is...<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />44. What’s your favorite flower? Daisy<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />45. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />46. Do you like your handwriting? Yes <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />47. Do you bake? Yes <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />48. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I’m too sensitive <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />49. What is your most favorite thing about yourself? I give everything 100%<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />50. Who do you miss most? My Nana and Pa <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />51. What are you listening to right now? The fan in my baby girl’s room. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />52. Favorite smell? Vanilla and coconut <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />53. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My sister <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />54. Who was the last person you sent a text to? My husband <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />55. A sport you wish you could play? Volleyball <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />56. Hair color? Blonde <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />57. Eye color? Blue <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />58. Scary film or happy endings? Happy ending <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />59. Favorite season? Summer <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />60. Three people alive or dead that you would like to have dinner with? Mom, Nana, and Great Grandma Tucker <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />61. Hugs or kisses? Hugs <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />62. Rolling Stones or the Beatles? Beatles I guess. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />63. Where were you born? Winston Salem, NC <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />64. What is the farthest you have been from home? Hawaii <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />65. Sweet or savory? Sweet <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />66. Lipstick or lip gloss? Gloss <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />67. What book have you read again and again? Harry Potter series <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />68. Favorite bedtime story? Anything with a happy ending <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />69. What would be the title of your autobiography? How the South Raised Me: Family and Faith <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />70. Favorite sound? Ocean <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />71. Favorite animal? Alligator <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />72. Who is your girl crush? Erin Andrews <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />73. Last photograph you took? My sweet baby girl in her PJs for her 4 month picture </span></div>
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-69434172958149685362017-12-07T10:50:00.003-08:002017-12-07T10:54:41.929-08:00Christmas Traditions Growing up, my family had so many fun traditions during the holidays. We are establishing some of our own traditions with Brecken and Lizzie. This is the first year that Brecken sort of knows what is going on and that makes it a lot more fun. I know each year will just add to the excitement. Below are some of our traditions. Some of them are rooted in faith and others are more whimsical and light hearted. I would love to know what y’all do as well!<br />
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1. Christmas Music </div>
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Yes, November 1st marks the beginning of Christmas music for me. I am sure that makes some people cringe, but there is something about those carols and hymns that bring happiness and peace instantly. My mom used to turn on the TV to the satellite dish Christmas music channel and blare it to wake us up for school. For us right now, we keep it going most of the day on the computer and in the car. Trying to teach Brecken the fun and spiritual songs is so cute and I love how quickly he learns. </div>
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2. Pajamas </div>
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We got a new pair of PJs ever Christmas Eve from my parents. Usually Christmas themed and matching with my siblings and sometimes my other cousins. This traditions still continues. My mom buys us girls some, but right after Thanksgiving. That way we get to wear them longer.<br />
Lizzie and Brecken’s 2017 PJs are from Carter’s. I have yet to get their picture together, but trust me they are adorable.<br />
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3. Reading<br />
I love books! I accumulated quite a few Christmas ones over my teaching years. We are reading one each day the month of December. Even though they are little, I want to instill a love of reading in both of them. I will share some of my favorites in another post.<br />
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Something else we are doing is reading a scripture each day that testifies of the birth of the Savior. I have found many different options on Pinterest, but we are using <a href="https://littlelambfrombethlehem.com/calendars/little-lamb-calendar-scriptures.pdf" target="_blank">this one</a> with just a few verses each day. <br />
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4. Advent Calendar<br />
This may be Brecken’s favorite one. We have a countdown that you move the candy cane each day. He has a little one in his room as well. He loves numbers and knows them up to 20, so he’s always excited to move the candy cane. Brandon’s grandma gave him one that has a little chocolate for each day. He loves getting his chocolate for the day!<br />
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5. Ornaments<br />
My mom bought us an ornament every year. As I got older I got to choose (so many Barbie ones) so now I have 30+ special ornaments that go on our tree each year. We have been doing that with the kids. Brecken chose his ornament this year, a truck of course. Brandon and I also like to snag an ornament when we visit a new place. I love that all the ornaments on our tree mean something. They are also all smashed on the top 1/3 of the tree because of the two year old who loves to play with them.<br />
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6. Baking<br />
Some of my best memories of Christmas are in the kitchen. We always had a day of Christmas baking. Fudge, candy, and of course sugar cookies were always made. Then we would take plates of treats to friends and neighbors. We have baked a little this year, but I am excited to get Brecken involved in decorating cookies. I also hope to be better about passing the treats we make along to others.<br />
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7. Lights<br />
Y’all, my hometown has the best Christmas lights I’ve ever seen. <a href="http://www.forsyth.cc/Parks/Tanglewood/fol/" target="_blank">Tanglewood Festival of Lights </a>goes all out with over a million lights, and people drive from all over to go through the park and see them. You will sit in line for hours sometimes, but once inside it is so worth it. Not a whole lot changes each year, so going through makes you remember so many other trips through. It was about 5 minutes from my Nanas, so we would add some Krispy Kreme donuts and hot chocolate and that was the perfect night of lights.<br />
One day I will hopefully get to take my family through, but we have some cool places to see lights locally. Temple Square and Willard Bay are both bigger displays in Northhern Utah. We hope to get to one of those before Christmas.<br />
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8. Santa<br />
My Nana and Pa’s Christmas Eve was something we all looked forward to every year. One thing they did when we were little is had Santa visit. He would come and bring us each a sucker. Brandon’s Grandma has a party every year with Santa. All the kids get to sit on his lap and get a gift. It’s a great way to see Santa and skip the mall. We went to the Willow Park Zoo for the Reindeer Trek last week. Brecken wouldn’t sit with Santa by himself, but he loved petting the Reindeer. Lizzie slept right through it.<br />
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9. SERVICE<br />
This is the most important one. My mom found so many ways to serve others by giving during the holidays. We often participated in an angel tree or adopted a family. Our church has an amazing campaign to serve and remember the Savior called <a href="https://www.mormon.org/" target="_blank">Light The World </a>It has a focus each day with ways to serve. I am not perfect at it, but we are striving as a family to participate. I would love to know ways to get my little kiddos more involved in service.<br />
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What traditions do you have? I’d love to know your ideas.<br />
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brandon andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11450228755171850036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935432483698783693.post-87224911345632664692017-11-01T14:15:00.000-07:002017-11-01T14:15:43.070-07:00Elizabeth's Birth Story <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Elizabeth Jane Andrew </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let me back up to December 6, 2016. You know how some women will say they knew they were pregnant before they took a test...I never believed them. I had NO clue that I was pregnant with Brecken before the test and was pretty surprised when it was positive. This time was different (everything about this experience was different) because I had told Brandon a few days earlier that I thought I was pregnant and bought a test. I really didn't want to take the test yet because maybe it was all in my head. I'll be completely honest, I wasn't really expecting to be. Anyway, December 6th. I took a test that morning and it was positive within about 3 seconds. Shocked. That is probably the best reaction I could give. I immediately calculated the due date to be August 18th. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My pregnancy wasn't horrible by any means. I didn't feel as sick this time, just really tired and needing to eat small meals often to maintain my energy. Chasing Brecken around was exhausting and anytime he napped, I napped. Everything went smoothly and we got to the point of finding out the gender. Our OB had hinted that she thought it might be a boy during a previous appointment, so that is what we expected. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I remember going in to the room and the tech immediately said first thing, this baby is a girl! Again, shocked! I was so excited that we would be bringing a little princess in to the world, and a healthy one at that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We spent the rest of pregnancy at the park, on walks, and doing whatever we could to beat the heat of a hot summer after a miserable and cold winter (that lasted until the end of May). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At 36 weeks I went in for my first of the last 4 appointments. I remember thinking that the baby always felt like she was mostly staying in the same place, even though I felt her move often. When I mentioned this to the doctor, she felt around and said, "Yup. This baby is breech." I immediately got nervous because I did not want to have a C-Section. She tried to push her into a different position, but nothing happened. We scheduled a special appointment at the hospital where they hook you up to monitors and give you some medicine to allow the doctor to really push and try to move the baby. It wasn't fun. I didn't feel a lot of pain, just a lot of resistance from the baby. After 30-45 minutes, my doctor's arms were exhausted and our little one would not budge. Not wanting to stress her or move her if she had the cord wrapped or something, we decided to schedule a C-Section. Brandon was really nervous and I definitely had my moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next few weeks were really slow as we hoped and prayed for the baby to turn. I guess I should just say her name because we had definitely decided on Elizabeth (my middle name) as her first name. Our little Lizzie had made up her mind that she was comfortable sitting sideways and so on August 11th, 2017 we headed to the hospital at 11:00 AM. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sidebar: It's weird to not go through labor (not complaining) and sort of knowing when your child is going to be born. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Brandon was PUMPED to put on the scrubs. My very own McDreamy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've never had surgery before (minus wisdom teeth), so I felt all Grey's Anatomy like as we went into the ER. I actually walked in there myself and then they administered the anesthesia. Immediately I was numb and they helped me lay down on the table. I remember being a little nauseated and light headed, so they gave me some medication to help with that. I knew they were starting and it was pretty strange to be awake. It took just a couple of minutes and I heard a cry! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCUbj5GJu2lE5OcGAbswI_mqSUznLi4m33jVBWQtKFMlTyuq179khKt0sbioXIgS1s3XMz7W1kanTAjQy1CCXFPMf7rA6aetkI7EImjYlIxqxlRFnuJs5PvKg_kw4Ff6kbxb-vbnMv6Ql/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCUbj5GJu2lE5OcGAbswI_mqSUznLi4m33jVBWQtKFMlTyuq179khKt0sbioXIgS1s3XMz7W1kanTAjQy1CCXFPMf7rA6aetkI7EImjYlIxqxlRFnuJs5PvKg_kw4Ff6kbxb-vbnMv6Ql/s320/IMG_2653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Jane Andrew<br />
8lbs 19 inches<br />
August 11, 2017 12:51 PM</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At 12:51 PM Elizabeth was born and I got a look at my baby girl for the first time. She was beautiful and had a head FULL of dark hair. We thought she was going to be small, but she weighed in at 8 pounds exactly and 19 inches long. The doctors could not stop talking about how beautiful she was and her gorgeous hair. It was the Cache County Fair and they said that if I was to send in a picture of her, she would easily win cutest baby. Maybe they say that to everyone. . . I'm just going to pretend they don't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I got to watch as Brandon helped get her weighed, measured, and cleaned a little. The doctors were finishing up and I got to hold that sweet girl for the first time. She look so much like her big brother at first glance: big eyes, cleft chin, same nose. We were in love immediately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They wheeled us into recovery, where we had to stay for at least 2 hours because of the C-Section. Let me tell y'all something, I have never sweat so much in my life! It was insanely hot because of the anesthesia and not to mention I hadn't been allowed to eat all day. I remember eating cups full of ice chips to keep cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We finally got into our room and right as we did my Mom brought Brecken in. He was so happy and excited to see the baby (the only thing he will call her). He ran around saying "Baby" with a little yell/laugh. It was precious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One final thing about this day was deciding her middle name. I was in charge of that because Brandon chose Brecken's middle name. I struggled with this for months thinking of so many names, but ended up choosing the name I thought of very first when we decided her first name would be Elizabeth: Jane. Elizabeth Jane Andrew. Jane is a family name on both sides of our families and I think it gives her an elegant and timeless name. We call her Lizzie mostly, but Elizabeth is truly special. My Nana suggested that I have the name Lauren Elizabeth and my Mom chose it. To continue that name in our family means a lot to me. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon gave Lizzie her first bath</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that curly hair! Only curls when it is wet.</td></tr>
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I have to share the beautiful Newborn session we had with the amazing Rebecca Dosch! She is seriously the baby whisperer. We took all of these in about an hour. She provided all the wraps, headbands, and props. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. If you are in need of a newborn or family photographer in Cache Valley, go check out <a href="https://www.paisleybirdphotography.com/" target="_blank">Paisley Bird Photography</a>! </div>
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