tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52363914134014569962024-02-07T00:51:54.848-07:00the mister and ladyAnnalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-91769783869374751232015-01-21T10:31:00.000-07:002015-01-21T10:31:58.430-07:00Family is my favorite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I cannot tell a lie</div>
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I love being a Mom.</div>
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Being a family of two was so much fun.</div>
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We came and went as we pleased.</div>
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We went to movies whenever we wanted without finding a babysitter,</div>
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hung out with friends,</div>
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stayed up late,</div>
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slept in,</div>
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and went dancing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQ7xpZGQHUs8RyIa0e9yrU59Gbk8gza7suICMguIxonao5aZ6RZaqqpFLUOksxj5cMDnz1k4-BXrLlnkYui5uCL7Ve3j1LNvX8elgObSd6KeE2cNUOQs1RoOBt-nQgR5lcIfVcG43UhxR/s1600/2015_01_18-0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQ7xpZGQHUs8RyIa0e9yrU59Gbk8gza7suICMguIxonao5aZ6RZaqqpFLUOksxj5cMDnz1k4-BXrLlnkYui5uCL7Ve3j1LNvX8elgObSd6KeE2cNUOQs1RoOBt-nQgR5lcIfVcG43UhxR/s640/2015_01_18-0022.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Being a family of three is even MORE fun!</div>
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We haven't seen many movies at the theatre but our Disney DVD collection is nearly complete.</div>
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Our amount of outside friends has decreased but us three have become inseparable.</div>
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While Javi still stays up late (Spanish genes), I am in bed most nights by 10:00.</div>
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We dance every single day except Javi is always the provider of the music (usually live), the lighting, and he also happens to be the best dance partner for his two ladies.</div>
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Yep. Being a family of three is going to be pretty hard to beat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ5DrHAPC5Zvqb-cEHpuCSuO5JgIjC3Vv6cnZbtiDS4Af5UCYHy-zirtiYLVEaO2m1UH_xYC_QTWhLcRCGt8OxdanEnS0ufB-RAWhnEfkXmoCtyhPhJhvev_aFLkUS-f1jU1KVQGe78oq/s1600/2015_01_18-0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ5DrHAPC5Zvqb-cEHpuCSuO5JgIjC3Vv6cnZbtiDS4Af5UCYHy-zirtiYLVEaO2m1UH_xYC_QTWhLcRCGt8OxdanEnS0ufB-RAWhnEfkXmoCtyhPhJhvev_aFLkUS-f1jU1KVQGe78oq/s640/2015_01_18-0015.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Now, here we are.</div>
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One week+one day away from induction during which we will become a family of four.</div>
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Three girls and one boy.</div>
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Javi is super good at having lots of girlfriends and he's got enough kisses to go around so this transition should be a breeze.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4ul3WNgW0lqjoGzIKc3_EIOAcJ2yrcBvBq1kpFTpvxu7ocwxy5zaBEozkA-_nRMZbx72BfmDKfdsGKnp7eWr0ehHwdMpN9KBhkS630_yEY5JD45v5Ss0aZx9e4XZbJ-4D-Rbhh_Xiv3k/s1600/2015_01_18-0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4ul3WNgW0lqjoGzIKc3_EIOAcJ2yrcBvBq1kpFTpvxu7ocwxy5zaBEozkA-_nRMZbx72BfmDKfdsGKnp7eWr0ehHwdMpN9KBhkS630_yEY5JD45v5Ss0aZx9e4XZbJ-4D-Rbhh_Xiv3k/s640/2015_01_18-0018.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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So, come on out little girl.</div>
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We're ready for you.</div>
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As in, I've had your car-seat installed for two weeks</div>
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(anxious much?)</div>
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I'll make sure that Papi brings his ukulele to the hospital so that you will hear familiar sounds in your first minutes of life.</div>
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Celine is SO EXCITED for you to sit by her-at least that's what she keeps telling me.</div>
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And Mama can't wait to snuggle your little body,</div>
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smell your new smell,</div>
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and imagine what your world was like mere moments before when you were with our Heavenly Father and your three great-grandmothers who I'm sure didn't want to let you go.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But anyway, don't take your time.</div>
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We're ready.</div>
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Like, right this second.</div>
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Ok?</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-28136321100264616402015-01-12T15:41:00.002-07:002015-01-13T07:53:10.993-07:00To my dear firstborn,<div style="text-align: center;">
Writing this is all but breaking my heart</div>
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But I feel like God isn't going to let me birth your baby sister until I write this</div>
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SO</div>
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I'm gonna write.</div>
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I've been putting this off for a while now because there is just too much to say to you</div>
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and words escape me now more than ever.</div>
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You've saved my life</div>
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more than once.</div>
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You were born in a time of difficulty for our family.</div>
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We had NO money</div>
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Papi had been made the leader of our church congregation two weeks prior and with that comes a lot of responsibility.</div>
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We lived in a scary part of town (which still, I'm sure, gives my mother nightmares)</div>
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and other parts of our lives were all but peaceful.</div>
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But then you came.</div>
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I remember looking into your face for the first time and feeling like my wait was finally over.</div>
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My best friend had finally come for a visit!</div>
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I had been waiting for you and I didn't even know it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf96rz6pI4_ljmD9btU9XPhG1pjlUjgdTxRwh1zck0i-XSQWhl-t2nf1DDk7lFfMR2G__UgoQ4XJP0yadHF7doVBhfuOy7DEr04Ei_g4StGHoXO3_x67kTrWCp9c1cvpXK3LR8r0Pecnt/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-14-29-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf96rz6pI4_ljmD9btU9XPhG1pjlUjgdTxRwh1zck0i-XSQWhl-t2nf1DDk7lFfMR2G__UgoQ4XJP0yadHF7doVBhfuOy7DEr04Ei_g4StGHoXO3_x67kTrWCp9c1cvpXK3LR8r0Pecnt/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-14-29-1.png" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
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You made the unrest of the outside world unimportant to your Papi and me.</div>
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All that mattered from then on was the few hours we got to spend in the mornings together.</div>
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You helped me to be creative at stretching our weekly single-digit grocery budget into random and hilarious meals for your Papi.</div>
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(Thank heavens for the farmers market that nearly gives away all of the overripe produce)</div>
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He never minded because when we would drop off dinner (around 5:45) you were always waiting for him in the car</div>
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and seeing your little gummy grin made all the worries of the news world, the church congregation, and weird food melt away.</div>
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Before you were born, I worried so much about my contribution to the world but once you came, I didn't worry anymore.</div>
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It became very clear what my contribution would be:</div>
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You.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispKJDrnCEV181ZO23BGL48AhVEIN5CVpBZsbWPJC1_wmHdieRXb-YrJiFLF2mHLnKSFaRuBG21PWiIg1hKvq7CZbNM2QbG_97KCzU0OcJ-ipRja5ZzXNVUSuGnm4AweEzJrqW5E_EGOVO/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-15-24-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispKJDrnCEV181ZO23BGL48AhVEIN5CVpBZsbWPJC1_wmHdieRXb-YrJiFLF2mHLnKSFaRuBG21PWiIg1hKvq7CZbNM2QbG_97KCzU0OcJ-ipRja5ZzXNVUSuGnm4AweEzJrqW5E_EGOVO/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-15-24-1.png" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
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You also sparked a whole new kind of love between your Papi and me.</div>
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Watching him with you makes me weak in the knees.</div>
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Your kind of love affair is one that even a mommy can't break up</div>
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and shame on me if I ever do.</div>
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The other time you saved my life was much more recent.</div>
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We were driving down I-15 and I was having a stroke</div>
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and all I could think about was getting you to safety.</div>
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I was so worried about crashing the car because my most prized possession was in the back seat.</div>
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As I cried, you cried too because you and I feel the same ways.</div>
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When you get hurt and cry, it always makes me tear up because I feel your pain.</div>
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In that moment, I realized that it went both directions.</div>
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You could feel my pain too and so you cried.</div>
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You said over and over </div>
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"it'll be okay, Mommy. It'll be okay."</div>
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I couldn't talk so I said nothing back but your reassuring words got me to the next exit and parked safely.</div>
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Had you not been in the back seat that day, I fear for what might have happened.</div>
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The remainder of my working mind was focused so hard on getting you to safety that I could think of nothing else.</div>
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What if you hadn't been there?</div>
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I may have succumbed fully to the stroke and then what would have happened?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNmNnZnYA7QCR-6IMYaqFewjy9dux8ffaL46tfWTVzf9Ab7IguDHK6E2cVMpYGvts_KmbhQQhjtjkFqyXdUC0e7YW2OGiyDlvtP1KiF0QxqppC8QfvKwbkqm91gpFQQavUDJz5K-3ZmbY/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-16-15-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNmNnZnYA7QCR-6IMYaqFewjy9dux8ffaL46tfWTVzf9Ab7IguDHK6E2cVMpYGvts_KmbhQQhjtjkFqyXdUC0e7YW2OGiyDlvtP1KiF0QxqppC8QfvKwbkqm91gpFQQavUDJz5K-3ZmbY/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-16-15-1.png" height="400" width="393" /></a></div>
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I believe that you are to thank for our safety that day.</div>
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You and a whole slew of angels.</div>
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A love between a mother and daughter is unexplainable</div>
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and the love you can have for someone who has saved your life cannot be put into words.</div>
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You have both of those kinds of love from me and trying to explain it is impossible.</div>
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I hope that someday you'll understand both kinds of love because then you might be able to understand why I'm so enamored with you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl44hjNH-1EBLJnmhe9GGz-tYAYTmFGeCJ5zCn3QAEzUtRYB9GKls__0EovP8F-mfIavNhOGDOdjMDJjXn4qJ5Cot_YjPKC8lZHyOxfawV6cQTPEVi-gRkDV1Ki8tdWcnlHibftBK7EjBC/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-16-43-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl44hjNH-1EBLJnmhe9GGz-tYAYTmFGeCJ5zCn3QAEzUtRYB9GKls__0EovP8F-mfIavNhOGDOdjMDJjXn4qJ5Cot_YjPKC8lZHyOxfawV6cQTPEVi-gRkDV1Ki8tdWcnlHibftBK7EjBC/s1600/Screenshot_2015-01-12-15-16-43-1.png" height="400" width="393" /></a></div>
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Thank you my little princess.</div>
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Thank you.</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-78215028788785294202015-01-06T13:54:00.000-07:002015-01-06T13:54:14.798-07:00Celine's Rebowooshuns<div style="text-align: center;">
That's RESOLUTIONS in case you don't speak two-year old.</div>
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With so much talk about our new goals I decided to ask Celine what her resolutions would be for the new year.</div>
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She said</div>
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"Be like Wapunzel and</div>
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read the scrispers"</div>
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(translation: Rapunzel & scriptures)</div>
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I asked why she wanted to be like Rapunzel and she said</div>
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"because she's mad. Mad?!? Sowwy about dat. Because she's happy!"</div>
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Be happy and read the scriptures.</div>
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That's what Celine is going to do this year.</div>
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What could be more important than that?</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, we're reading the Book of Mormon together </div>
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(she insists on saying "And it came to pass" anytime there's a lag in my reading)</div>
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and we're going to do our best to be happy like Rapunzel.</div>
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<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEgGFUgEWTdHgrfaqIRp6N3V16szIvJxU7S0_02kRjRqZdjyyUCGNXZ0-qsFHU9W525G-Du6I15u19L09-4GUor61P-bvrsE13Q2L-cLd3OIGyhRK08HWWMFRWFHkIyNePJDtwJkl709wJmi/s1600/20150105_125456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFUgEWTdHgrfaqIRp6N3V16szIvJxU7S0_02kRjRqZdjyyUCGNXZ0-qsFHU9W525G-Du6I15u19L09-4GUor61P-bvrsE13Q2L-cLd3OIGyhRK08HWWMFRWFHkIyNePJDtwJkl709wJmi/s1600/20150105_125456.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby-Celine-Baby Sister-Mommy<br />It's becoming a full house over here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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(thanks to @bofm365 on instagram - read with us!)</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-31993030186124997572015-01-05T10:10:00.003-07:002015-01-05T10:10:40.873-07:00What I Did 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you've made some lists and goals for 2015.</div>
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The Mister made a list that is as long as my leg and he'll probably accomplish every single one of them.</div>
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He's awesome/annoying like that :)</div>
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I made my teeny tiny list and then made another list that I think is even more important.</div>
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It's called "What I Did" and I think you should make one too.</div>
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2014 was WEIRD.</div>
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I worked super hard during the first eight months (and subsequesntly missed a lot of my daughters life)</div>
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and then had a stroke and basically became the biggest home-body in all the land.</div>
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Talk about a total change.</div>
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I went from making a large monetary contribution to my family to contributing nothing.</div>
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I went from "not having time" to read the Book of Mormon to gulping it all up in just a few months.</div>
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I went from going through the motions of life and work to having to think extremely hard about every word that I wanted to come out, every step I needed to take, and exactly how to communicate with my beautiful 2 year old.</div>
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I learned that life can either be wonderful or it can be a total drag. I learned that</div>
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"Happiness is not trying or finding, it's deciding"</div>
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and from this knowledge, everything else has improved in my life.</div>
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I am far more in love with my husband now because of the choice to choose happiness.</div>
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I don't mind doing the laundry or dishes or cleaning up everyday because those thing don't have the actual ability to take away my happiness.</div>
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And, in the case of relearning calligraphy, I learned to be more patient and to enjoy the journey. (Calligraphy drove me crazy when I originally learned because it took SO LONG and I had to go so slow and be so careful. Now, it's therapeutic for me - and who doesn't need a little free therapy every once in a while?!?!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixopYl8_Pt47Syh4Y296R7UBkuc7ltvyisWnR9jZMC-MZoZbkKgaFgQk6sC8lz6n5qmtVv_5c2spumEDnAufaVYkOiu8rBVsw0REvh7KOE7Kt8NqwMUldp7yGHU3YbKz7JcZ3Rbj6Omjzq/s1600/MHM_20150105_093412+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixopYl8_Pt47Syh4Y296R7UBkuc7ltvyisWnR9jZMC-MZoZbkKgaFgQk6sC8lz6n5qmtVv_5c2spumEDnAufaVYkOiu8rBVsw0REvh7KOE7Kt8NqwMUldp7yGHU3YbKz7JcZ3Rbj6Omjzq/s1600/MHM_20150105_093412+(1).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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So, make your list. </div>
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It doesn't matter what it says and it doesn't matter how life-changing the items are on the list - </div>
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Just make it and keep it right next to your 2015 resolutions so you can reflect often upon the things that you have already accomplished and not feel the need to slit your wrists on your current list of resolutions.</div>
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If you feel so inclined to share your list, hashtag it #tmalwhatidid2014.</div>
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(TheMisterAndLady=tmal)</div>
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Can't wait to read about it!</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-82621991916706391872014-11-10T09:05:00.000-07:002014-11-10T09:05:15.776-07:00How do you scripture?<div style="text-align: center;">
Since the stroke I've had a hard time reading.</div>
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I mean, I still know how and everything but I'll read 5 pages in a book and return it to the library.</div>
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I get bored lots faster apparently.</div>
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There was this one time that Javi brought home "The Secret Life of Bees" and I read the whole thing in 4 hours.</div>
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Headache of my life!</div>
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I don't get it, except that I think that God is blessing me once again.</div>
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Here's the thing, I am suddenly OBSESSED with the scriptures. This is like full-on missionary obsession. I just can't get enough. </div>
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I have been shocked and so uplifted by the war chapters in Alma as I've learned of the incredible FAITH and the exact obedience that the people showed. </div>
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I have read 3 Nephi over and over again trying to get absolutely everything out of it. I LOVE reading the Savior's words.</div>
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And the parts about all of the signs of the coming of the Christ child that the prophets had given and suddenly they're happening and the people are completely terrified and they believe for a second and then they stop believing because they can't SEE Him.</div>
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So good.</div>
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So so good.</div>
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There is just so much to learn from the writings of people who lived thousands of years ago.</div>
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I mean, they struggled with the very same things that we struggle with.</div>
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That is so wild to me.</div>
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I just love love love these books.</div>
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I am totally a self-help book reader and I've never read a better self-help book than these scriptures. </div>
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So, anyway, the question is</div>
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HOW DO YOU SCRIPTURE?</div>
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Morning? </div>
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Night? </div>
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During a meal? </div>
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With your child or spouse or dog hanging all over you?</div>
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Are you a scripture marker and writer like me?</div>
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Or maybe your copy is pristine and white.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaQHvoz3y-LUUQxDuEDZRZVmnhT11t8h4lyHJ2OqXRqOnr1H5ePN6cEylbkdfJLJjvqpxFhOHqpbJ1CWTqwFtklBArzbLLcmg8-SOWvHcR_ZEBdaB3VGlJ51dhn6eTTMmBcXWwKRCM7iU/s1600/IMG_20141110_083732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaQHvoz3y-LUUQxDuEDZRZVmnhT11t8h4lyHJ2OqXRqOnr1H5ePN6cEylbkdfJLJjvqpxFhOHqpbJ1CWTqwFtklBArzbLLcmg8-SOWvHcR_ZEBdaB3VGlJ51dhn6eTTMmBcXWwKRCM7iU/s1600/IMG_20141110_083732.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Any way around it, I hope that you DO scripture. </div>
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Whether you read the Quran or the Torah or the Bible or whatever</div>
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I hope that you are as obsessed with it as I am.</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-72451708457010725532014-10-23T15:40:00.002-07:002014-10-23T15:40:45.024-07:00Marriage advice from this girl<div style="text-align: center;">
Since the marriage advice post, I've had several people ask what my marriage advice would be.</div>
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I suppose I could say one thousand things but all you really need to do is watch this video:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdCPMwhvJ88?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Do that.</div>
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Do what this man does every day, every hour, every minute and you'll have a good marriage.</div>
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No. You'll have a great marriage.</div>
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I think it's obvious that not many of us are in this same situation so how can we do what he did?</div>
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Before the stroke, I was neglecting most of the things that my husband really needed.</div>
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He doesn't ask much </div>
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he just needs food,</div>
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and clean clothes,</div>
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and a tidy place to do his homework.</div>
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He loves getting attention from me</div>
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and he needs a listening ear.</div>
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He's pretty easy to please but I still managed to neglect 3 or 4 or 5 of these every single day because</div>
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I was "too busy".</div>
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It has been nine weeks since the stroke and our marriage has improved in huge amounts.</div>
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All it takes is a made bed to crawl in to at night</div>
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and a chance to sit across from each other at our dinner table</div>
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-eating a warm meal and discussing the day.</div>
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It took discovering that the dry cleaners down the street launder and press men's shirts for $1.99</div>
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and the press stays in much better than mine so he can wear them more than once.</div>
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That means that I don't stand at the ironing board all day and he looks and feels like a million bucks.</div>
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All it takes is listening to a few TED talks or Conference talks to get all the laundry folded</div>
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and put away</div>
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so that his early mornings aren't spent going through laundry hampers trying to find matching socks.</div>
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It takes listening.</div>
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Really listening - like the kind where you put away the computer and turn off the phone.</div>
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The kind where you look into the eyes of the person speaking and you don't try to think of an answer because you are just there to listen.</div>
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You know what has happened?</div>
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He calls me lots more.</div>
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He wants to talk about work and school with me</div>
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and he makes me laugh...</div>
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you know, like best friends do.</div>
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And all it took was a little bit of SERVICE.</div>
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Haven't the prophets been telling us that for years?</div>
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If you serve each other then you'll love each other</div>
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or if you need to love someone then serve them (or something like that).</div>
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Strokes are bad</div>
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but mine was good</div>
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because it is really whipping my life - and everything in it - into shape.</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-27861380664073343092014-10-21T10:22:00.000-07:002014-10-21T10:22:34.398-07:00True Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XAbD2fTgL1EiH6EYWNiyfRxdlVYnB7ctfKCUy0l0YeEjVJE_UnSForMNyOlIOLKXXm7Qk7VGiQam0RdzssXr4UTibVLnRU6GRNs3Nns364n2DunkE5uerqn9qae0-3hkqUZFNxDYORnR/s1600/20141021103615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XAbD2fTgL1EiH6EYWNiyfRxdlVYnB7ctfKCUy0l0YeEjVJE_UnSForMNyOlIOLKXXm7Qk7VGiQam0RdzssXr4UTibVLnRU6GRNs3Nns364n2DunkE5uerqn9qae0-3hkqUZFNxDYORnR/s1600/20141021103615.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is enough to make me want to sit down and have a good cry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can you imagine sacrificing your life for hundreds of thousands of people that will never even </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">love you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or say thank you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or acknowledge what you had done?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems that His name is used more to make fun or to show anger than in reverence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can you even imagine???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Go ahead and put yourself in His shoes for a hot sec.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Heartbreaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, what can I do to make sure that He knows that I love Him </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and that I am so grateful for His sacrifice -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the greatest sacrifice of all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's partly why I'm here - on this blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You might as well know it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but I hope that I don't have to type it out for you to know it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefully you already know it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and HOPEFULLY, by my being here, you can come to love Him too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not sure that there is anything more important that I could do with my life than to love Jesus and help others to do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, if you don't love Him right now, try to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kneel down and say a prayer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or open the Bible and read in Matthew 27 and just get an idea of the humiliation that He suffered for you and me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's just try to love Him and see what He can do with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He will make us greater than we could ever imagine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but we have to love Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It should be easy for He loved us first.</span></div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-25041063147750036692014-10-20T15:23:00.002-07:002014-10-20T15:40:08.347-07:00Marriage according to the Misiego Women<div style="text-align: center;">
With what I call 'my new life' I am trying to make things better than they were before the stroke.<br />
Mothering, marriage, housekeeping, spiritual study, my relationship with God, everything.<br />
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With our anniversary last week, I have been thinking especially how I can make my marriage better.<br />
The list is LONG and I have a lot to improve on so I asked for some advice from some of my favorite women.<br />
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I cannot imagine marrying into a better family</div>
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I fell in love with Javi's family just as quickly as I I fell in love with him.</div>
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When we met, four of the six siblings lived in Utah and his parents were visiting from Spain because his baby sister was having her first baby.</div>
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I was quickly thrown into the mix and within a few weeks, Javi's five year old nephew asked me when I was going to become his aunt.</div>
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We spent the majority of our date nights with one of his siblings (and spouses) and I began to understand how "cross-cultural" marriage works.</div>
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By the next summer, five of the six siblings were living in Utah and the sixth came out from Germany to be part of our wedding. </div>
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I remember, on our wedding day, looking at the (then) four women who had become my sisters and I couldn't imagine anything better.</div>
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First of all, they laughed continually.</div>
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Second, they all had extremely strong marriages and with all the horror stories I had heard of how difficult marrying someone from a different culture is, I was so grateful to see it working so well.</div>
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(don't believe everything you hear...cross-cultural marriage is just like every other kind of marriage)</div>
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<br /></div>
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These are the people that I have looked to for marriage advice.</div>
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I've never asked them, I've just watched them and I've learned all kinds of things.</div>
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So, recently, I asked them for their best marriage advice and it was really quite telling.</div>
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I was shocked to discover that I could have guessed what each of them said because it is what I have noticed most about their relationships. </div>
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So, here goes.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BTW these TOTALLY apply to dating, engagements, breakups, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These pretty much apply to any time that you need to interact with a human being...or animal</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">SARA</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">is the second oldest. She married a Brit and is expecting her fourth child *A BOY* soon!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHkOmcCxTaS1118rf6YlWRhfCoBS1gm4Eat980v8dEf2mu57kGrf1k8UNB8TtZWEa7R1e71GWtWRkREIpUMXL0dPIPZnwBII7OR_MSrPmXtshApsxKwTtJLg9DErZZvqhlHbjw-UHge6u/s1600/Misiego_2013_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHkOmcCxTaS1118rf6YlWRhfCoBS1gm4Eat980v8dEf2mu57kGrf1k8UNB8TtZWEa7R1e71GWtWRkREIpUMXL0dPIPZnwBII7OR_MSrPmXtshApsxKwTtJLg9DErZZvqhlHbjw-UHge6u/s1600/Misiego_2013_36.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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When Ben and I were in the Celestial Room of the Temple the sealer told us to look at the mirror in front of us, there was another mirror behind us. </div>
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He then said 'look at your own reflection in the mirror' and when I did I could only see myself</div>
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Then he said 'now look at your spouses reflection', and that was when I could see ourselves over and over and over again.</div>
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He explained when we look out only for ourselves and our own desires, wants, and needs there is no progression</div>
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BUT when you put your spouses desires, wants, and needs before yours that is when we can progress as a couple. </div>
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It is all about compromise.</div>
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Is it easy? </div>
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Of course not! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BRITTNEY</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">is married to the oldest boy. I have spent the most time with her and I consider myself so blessed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be respectful, especially when you talk to one another. Don't demean the other person or make them feel bad or dumb. Your tone of voice can make a big difference in how well conversations go.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Think before you speak/act. Think about how it will affect the other person, and if it's something that you know will bug them or make them feel bad, don't say/do it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have a sense of humor! Laugh a lot, even when it's hard. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be patient and accept differences. Differences are good - they balance things out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's okay to go to bed angry. Sometimes a good night's sleep can make all the difference.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Can I get an AMEN on that last one???)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">JAZMIN</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">is the youngest girl. She married her prince charming from Colorado and I would have guessed that her advice would be something physical. They are always kissing or cuddling or grabbing each other's tooshies and it is adorable.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka303U0D4D39FyNhL2BWOMRbD6rtDSFuC5RsIgrr-B1vztkXJZtF93f4UmAWeWoua7NkqyRLfcUkGHY99v2flVNW8eF1pzZpSjAanVSv7awAtc5LqdmFZCuNoxS5MLU7nBcrdjxEbi996/s1600/995302_10152927778155643_1248445777_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka303U0D4D39FyNhL2BWOMRbD6rtDSFuC5RsIgrr-B1vztkXJZtF93f4UmAWeWoua7NkqyRLfcUkGHY99v2flVNW8eF1pzZpSjAanVSv7awAtc5LqdmFZCuNoxS5MLU7nBcrdjxEbi996/s1600/995302_10152927778155643_1248445777_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Play footsie with your spouse every day! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Let me explain...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> I am a stomach sleeper so cuddling at the end of the day is tricky ;) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">so every night I make sure that I play "footsie" with Landin so he can feel my touch and that simple gesture connects us! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Even the nights that we argue or disagree on something and you just need your space, it's something I still do to show that I love him above all and always want him close.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">JULIA</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">is the newest addition to the family marrying the youngest boy. They've only been married for about a year and a half but every time her Jose walks into the room, everyone else disappears. Her advice is so perfect!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJReLI2G-rvJtluUnTeeSiZLr8VURlOcoCfItdUP4hGHFqHcATyQ1UWOazId8ccqtJ74qGK79Kyjx9mGONqekaTLZIESNRbBNv2qzNXXNq9Iq2z09jbWvDahf2al8qIyCoef8okUVFgDdW/s1600/1291986_10153285341055290_569579785_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJReLI2G-rvJtluUnTeeSiZLr8VURlOcoCfItdUP4hGHFqHcATyQ1UWOazId8ccqtJ74qGK79Kyjx9mGONqekaTLZIESNRbBNv2qzNXXNq9Iq2z09jbWvDahf2al8qIyCoef8okUVFgDdW/s1600/1291986_10153285341055290_569579785_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I once watched a lecture where the key speaker spoke about honor in a marriage</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">and from then on for me it's been all about honor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> I'm not just talking about respect, but real </span><i style="text-align: start;">honor</i><span style="text-align: start;">. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">The kind of honor you show if you were meeting the Queen of England or your favorite super hero.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> I feel like when you greet your spouse at the end of a long day it should be like,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> "Oh my gosh I can't believe I'm in the same room as you! You are the most amazing individual, and I'm so excited and humbled to be in your presence." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"> When I've practiced that in my marriage I've noticed I'm more inclined to forgive and love my spouse. </span></div>
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___________________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aren't they magical?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, how I wish you all could meet them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(the best time to meet them is late at night during a made-up song competition...true colors)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will reference this post again and again because these girls have really got it figured out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and you know what they say...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the man is the head but the woman is the neck!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What marriage advice is your favorite?</div>
</div>
</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-52984042335933310582014-10-14T18:23:00.000-07:002014-10-14T18:23:22.299-07:00Zupas Angels<div style="text-align: center;">
At 5:20 today, I stood at my fridge crying.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm completely embarrassed to admit this.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I come from a long line of strong women who pick up the pieces for everyone and never complain about doing something as simple as fixing dinner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are on day two of some rougher days and the thought of preparing dinner made me want to throw up...or cry, which I did.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I called Javi to find out when he'd be home and he said </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Zupas just called and someone - who wants to remain anonymous - has bought us dinner. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It'll be ready at 5:30."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whaaaaaat?????</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So then I cried even harder. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How did these angels know?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's like they could envision me crying at my refrigerator.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
People are so so so good. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I mean, so good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Had these angels called and asked if they could bring in dinner, we would have refused, as we have with everyone who has called and offered.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are so grateful for everyone who has offered but preparing dinner is something that I CAN do and as such, that I SHOULD do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but today was a tough one and I am forever grateful for these people that probably have no idea how much this meant to me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Isn't this a wonderful way to serve someone?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Javi and I have been discussing who we can do this for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This kind of goodness needs to be passed on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope that my own personal Zupas angels are reading this and that you know how much I love you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A million times, thank you.</div>
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<br />Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-61472456203379217522014-10-13T15:56:00.001-07:002014-10-13T15:56:21.632-07:00What God Can Do<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, my dear friends.<br />
It has been a quiet 14 months without all of you but I'm back today for a very important reason.<br />
<br />
I'm back today to tell every one of you that God knows you.<br />
He knows you individually, emotionally, and spiritually.<br />
He knows the thoughts of your heart and your mind.<br />
He hears every single whispered prayer and he answers them.<br />
<br />
Ten weeks ago I was feeling buried.<br />
Upon moving back to Utah I took on several jobs that grew and grew and I was out of control.<br />
Nine and ten weeks ago my daughter was spending 8-9 hours a day with a babysitter while Javi and I worked.<br />
Ten weeks ago I started whispering little prayers that God would help me realign my priorities.<br />
I begged for things to stop so that I could be the mother that I had always dreamed of being.<br />
My house was a wreck, I wasn't cooking dinner for my family, and I certainly hadn't done any spiritual study in WEEKS (maybe months).<br />
<br />
So, I quit-and as soon as word got out that I quit, the phone started ringing.<br />
Many beautiful opportunities were presented in which I could quickly fill up my time again.<br />
Two days after I quit (so this was eight weeks ago), I was driving down I-15 with my beautiful toddler in the back seat
and<br />
<br />
I had a massive stroke.<br />
<br />
I couldn't speak.<br />
I couldn't read.<br />
I was confused and frustrated
but
from the moment it happened, I knew that everything was going to be alright.<br />
While driving down I-15 I felt surrounded by people.<br />
Those "people" took me to the next exit and got us safely parked.<br />
Those same "people" told my dad through a 10 minute phone conversation-in which I muttered 5 words-where I was parked.<br />
He got in touch with my brother and a dear friend who rushed to where I was sitting, sobbing,
and they gave me a priesthood blessing.<br />
In the blessing, I was promised that I would be sustained until I could get the proper attention that I needed
(which became increasingly important as the E.R. doctor told my family that nothing was wrong and that I should go home and sleep it off).<br />
24 hours after the stroke, I finally got a shot of blood thinner that began dissipating the blood clots in my brain.<br />
Three areas of the brain had already been damaged (the language sections)
but within three days, I could speak again.<br />
<br />
God did that.<br />
God made me speak again.<br />
One week after the stroke, I sat in my neurologists office and he said<br />
<br />
"I spent some time going over your brain scans since I last saw you.
If someone were to ask me to look at your scans and guess how you were doing I would say
'she maybe has the ability to say a couple of words and has lots of brain damage.'
Someone up there must really like you."<br />
<br />
God did all of this for me!<br />
He sent His Son to die so that I can be forgiven of all the things that I do wrong.<br />
He gave the power to part a sea to a regular person just like me.<br />
He also gave the power to move a mountain to another normal person just like me.<br />
<br />
HE LOVES US, you guys,
and He will fix us.<br />
He will fix us physically as He has done for me.<br />
He will fix us spiritually and emotionally and any other way that we need fixing.<br />
He WILL make the adjustments necessary to our lives IF WE ASK.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to say that having a stroke was the only way to fix my problems
but I'm so grateful for it.
Imagine that, grateful for a stroke.<br />
That sounds weird.<br />
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Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-24516395306468810732013-08-14T22:13:00.000-07:002013-08-14T22:13:05.478-07:00What Do I Do?<div style="text-align: center;">
I have recently been lost in thought about what it is that I do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What do I do?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If today were the end of my life and I was asked:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"what is it that you did?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What would I say?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Would I say that I performed in some shows?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe I could say that I had the magical ability to take the most random ingredients and create awesome casseroles.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could say that I spent lots of time leading a youth group for my church.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess I could also say that I loved to sew but had no idea how to follow a pattern.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a baby once. That was awesome. I did that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've traveled to several countries. I did that, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I pinned lots of things to Pinterest. That must be an accomplishment.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was able to help lots of people learn how to sing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Somehow, I convinced a man to marry me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We even have fun together. I suppose that could go down on my list of 'what I did'.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps I could say that I took some mediocre photos and used some filters to create a beautiful Instagram account of my life (the last few years of it, anyway).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could also say that I have eaten approximately 9,000 spoonfuls of peanut butter since my birth.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've got a feeling that whoever I check in with once death occurs isn't really going to care about my casserole skills.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unless, of course, there is a Heavenly Iron Chef Casserole competition on the day I arrive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But seriously, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WHAT DO I DO?!?!?</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I don't want to be defined by my actions, I am.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I would rather be judged by who I am</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BUT</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it turns out that we BECOME ourselves by what we DO.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SO, WHAT IS IT THAT I DO??????</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know the answer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you have the answer to that question for yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because, I think that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when it's all over and done, it won't matter what I did.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think that what will matter is how I left the people I came face to face with.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess I can just keep doing what I do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but focus more on the humans than the spoonful of peanut butter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And focus on the humans more than their facebook status</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or political beliefs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or sexual orientation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or belief in God.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I believe in humans</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I believe that we are here to be friends with other humans.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I'm not sure of what I've <i>been</i> doing </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I've decided that I'm just going to be your friend.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe you could be someone else's friend</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then they could be someone else's friend</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then the whole world could be friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So that at that one dinner party we can be like</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"oh! You know him?! He's a friend of my friend's friend's friend's friend."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If my life ended right now, I'd wish that I could report that instead of sewing 2 trillion maxi skirts,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I could report that I made peace and friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think that's what I'm going to do.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Join me?</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-28066020269360095162013-06-26T00:55:00.001-07:002013-07-03T16:51:40.990-07:00Dear Baby: You Are ONE!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I am at a loss for words as to how this has happened. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One year ago right now, we were going to bed for the last time as simply husband and wife. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next morning we became Mommy and Papi. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YOUR Mommy and Papi. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was impossible for us to understand, at that time, the amount that our hearts would swell. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We couldn't imagine how deeply we could feel for another person. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were unaware of our capacity to love. </div>
<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/AVvXsEhZoAd3nPQjI6teiTsNQo4fQlGHOu4-kkZb8Kl1oRg7vkYgsuoFMcN3I7zjg2nHj8TycMANYRtcdQy7bOzqKg-vUJ7dS62PxAPlEUv4lv5t8278XQv_pi5kCQYQyCbL6TBMC5nZgphAWmmX/s1600/IMG_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoAd3nPQjI6teiTsNQo4fQlGHOu4-kkZb8Kl1oRg7vkYgsuoFMcN3I7zjg2nHj8TycMANYRtcdQy7bOzqKg-vUJ7dS62PxAPlEUv4lv5t8278XQv_pi5kCQYQyCbL6TBMC5nZgphAWmmX/s640/IMG_04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because of you, little one, we now know. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In this year you have learned to open your eyes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned to use your hands. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can hold up your own head. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned to sit up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned to get around. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned how to tease. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned how to say "uh-oh, Mama, Papa, bye-bye, hello", and our favorite "UNO!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have discovered how fun it is to have people. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have learned, perhaps even more than I have, that simply noticing someone's existence can make them feel like a million bucks. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You understand conversation and how to make it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You sing in your head-voice. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You holler like a Spaniard. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You play with your curls. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have discovered the enjoyment of throwing things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You give loves </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and you kiss. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are an expert Skype talker (thanks to your parents moving you far away from family) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have traveled on upwards of 30 flights and several road trips. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You have moved from New Mexico to Arizona. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You make friends wherever you go. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You make us </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
laugh more</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cry more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sing more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hug more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dance more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
love more </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and
know our Heavenly Father more. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_OIQxrnEq6dFLpMfMTOGhQ5OxlQHAU9uGdZ-FP_ziXkgmlNCC8D-4l2EZRXV93qiJm970UqeEp1m2N05BgumVbFXD-il6yCa9rfBk7XaGBynOomdAXpuOl5btaXbEsH0HRDXOMui7B4i/s1600/IMG_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_OIQxrnEq6dFLpMfMTOGhQ5OxlQHAU9uGdZ-FP_ziXkgmlNCC8D-4l2EZRXV93qiJm970UqeEp1m2N05BgumVbFXD-il6yCa9rfBk7XaGBynOomdAXpuOl5btaXbEsH0HRDXOMui7B4i/s640/IMG_03.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see Him and His angels in your eyes. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your purity and goodness comes through loud and clear. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I want to be like you in every way. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for making me a Mom and thanks for making it so much fun. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsK4P9iaAvcztNBPM7JIXXItsrfPnWMNsIsa3MjjtLwfy7g4yORN2kk0R8VeaW7g2vaKtZ104TLP6_li05gJIBbOzg200PE8R2a6ePJN5N8QascvHJioRWM7eCfF64NE4QiIkZPxtHIBd/s1600/IMG_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsK4P9iaAvcztNBPM7JIXXItsrfPnWMNsIsa3MjjtLwfy7g4yORN2kk0R8VeaW7g2vaKtZ104TLP6_li05gJIBbOzg200PE8R2a6ePJN5N8QascvHJioRWM7eCfF64NE4QiIkZPxtHIBd/s640/IMG_05.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Numero Uno!
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photography by the incredible Aimee Hernandez</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">contact me for her information</span></div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-71600939520442977612013-06-19T23:38:00.001-07:002013-06-20T00:08:45.628-07:00I've been thinking about maps<p dir=ltr>I would love to decorate my whole house in maps. <br>
I like roads and I love cities.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I like that we are movers.<br>
We move.<br>
Lots of times.<br>
Someday this will get old.<br>
For now, I find it delightful to create our own list of favorite places and things.<br>
I long for those places of homes past.<br>
Wegmans<br>
Slate Street <br>
Niro's</p>
<p dir=ltr>But more than that, I have a recurring pit in my stomach because of all of the dear people we've left in each place.<br>
It makes my heart pound.<br>
I miss all of those people and I am so thrilled to have each of them imprinted on the story of our lives.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Every day I wish that all of the incredible people that have made us US could all move to the beach together and live in beach houses all in a row. <br>
And we could eat dinner together, <br>
and walk in each other's front doors without knocking,<br>
and let our children stay out late playing night games while we sit on the porch and play cards and drink Pellegrino.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Maybe that's what we'll do in heaven.<br>
Until then, I'm just going to have to cover my walls in maps and remember how lucky I am to have so many people in so many states and countries to love.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I love all of you people.<br>
I'm pretty sure you should know who you are. <br>
If you don't, I've failed miserably at sharing with you how much you mean to me.</p>
<p dir=ltr>You mean a lot.</p>
<p dir=ltr><u>xoxo</u></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVglMo1Prtz8eH1kg4zVwwuFFeAG7aZtcRhiIG_sWvEcX7cPiMSXKNF8D29rEPqQNuA1uJhfVKx5PwfxBebujDgV5bhKeR3b8CJWPg9WOudl-Mv_1GD6N-Qfc5aZJEV_TBIrYr23ku8Qbp/s1600/1371710227272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVglMo1Prtz8eH1kg4zVwwuFFeAG7aZtcRhiIG_sWvEcX7cPiMSXKNF8D29rEPqQNuA1uJhfVKx5PwfxBebujDgV5bhKeR3b8CJWPg9WOudl-Mv_1GD6N-Qfc5aZJEV_TBIrYr23ku8Qbp/s640/1371710227272.jpg"> </a> </div>Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-56654266729888250272013-06-03T15:03:00.001-07:002013-06-03T22:47:42.987-07:00Becoming the Mister and Lady<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
We are always getting asked how we met considering that we were born and raised an ocean apart.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Literally.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
It was September of 2009 and a very good friend of mine coined the phrase</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
"I'm going to find your husband for you."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
This friend felt that since he knew my family and had known me for years he</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
"knew what I needed."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
And he reminded me often.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
One day, I was sitting in the cubicle I worked in on Brigham Young University campus when the cubicle walls started to shake.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I could hear the thundering footsteps of Jamie James (my own, personal matchmaker).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
He burst through the cubicle opening and said, grinning ear to ear</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
"I found him. He's coming to meet you in 30 minutes."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I tried to be discreet as I glanced to the full length mirror.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
My hair was unusually frizzy that day.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Perfect.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I asked Jamie who this mystery man was and told myself that there was </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
NO POSSIBLE WAY</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
that this international-student-coming-upstairs-to-meet-me-after-a-photo-shoot-of-international-students</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
was my future husband.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I decided that it was just fine that my hair was extra frizzy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Thirty minutes later a dark European walked into my cubicle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBK-P-3Js_eW1rXLj0P1Sps68ilwos6mbfpZoC2-KK7E0WOlDk3ErL-IMNhrC6Wnr3Xc3mZRX4tCgdrYAHUaKb7WGPLsQ0dRhoURQNzQ73jyPujJDyexpg37CjiE1y37GrG9ueQW0vSs8/s1600/9325_294326000483_2258167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBK-P-3Js_eW1rXLj0P1Sps68ilwos6mbfpZoC2-KK7E0WOlDk3ErL-IMNhrC6Wnr3Xc3mZRX4tCgdrYAHUaKb7WGPLsQ0dRhoURQNzQ73jyPujJDyexpg37CjiE1y37GrG9ueQW0vSs8/s320/9325_294326000483_2258167_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Jamie introduced us and then VERY AWKWARDLY stated that he would "give us some time to get to know each other" and told everyone to get out of the cubicle.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I got lost in his green eyes and his very subtle accent.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
And then I caught another glance of myself in the full-length mirror and remembered that </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I had frizzy hair </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
and that he was a foreigner </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
and that it wasn't going to work out anyway.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
After a few minutes, he left.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
And he never asked for my number.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I did my best to forget him.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
The following Tuesday, I was standing in the produce section of Smith's at 11:15 in the morning when I looked up from the navel oranges and saw him.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Without even thinking, I rushed over to him and </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
HUGGED HIM.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
What?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
Followed by my word stumble that went something like: </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
"I'm so sorry. I don't know why I hugged you. I don't even know you."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
We chatted for a minute and then he said</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
"Hey, I failed to get your number the other day, could I have it?"</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
I gave it to him</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
(and found out later that he already HAD my number, he was just pretending.)<br />
<br />
<div>
Thus began 4 weeks of turning him down on dates.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He had gotten it in his mind that he wanted to take me Salsa dancing.</div>
<div>
I'm a dancer, but I dance </div>
<div>
on a stage</div>
<div>
by myself.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was horrified that if I went with him, he would think I was a horrible salsa dancer and would never want to see me again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I used excuses like </div>
<div>
"I have to go to the gym"</div>
<div>
and</div>
<div>
"My trainer can only meet with me at 10 pm on Thursdays (at the same time as salsa dancing)"</div>
<div>
and</div>
<div>
"I'm slammed with homework."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Four weeks later, I was sitting at CPK with my family and I received another text asking me to go with him that week.<br />
(I later found out that he had decided that this was the <i>last </i>time he would ask. If I said "no"...he was outta there.)</div>
<div>
I told my parents and brother and they asked me what I had to lose?<br />
(What did I have to lose?!?! I was risking public humiliation here, people.)</div>
<div>
"Maybe he'll stop asking if you just go with him."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I did. </div>
<div>
I frantically looked up Youtube videos that teach how to salsa dance</div>
<div>
and borrowed my roommates strappy heels that were too big for me</div>
<div>
and I met him at the salsa club.<br />
<br />
He took my hand and walked me out onto the dance floor and said<br />
"if you were so nervous about coming, you could have just done some YouTube videos"<br />
and then he laughed...like it was a joke.<br />
I followed up with an awkward giggle to which he responded<br />
"you did YouTube videos, didn't you?"<br />
"Um...yep...three."<br />
I was ready to shove the heel of the shoe that was too big for me down my windpipe to put me out of my misery but then he started dancing.<br />
And I got lost in his eyes and made a fool of myself.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The date ended at 12:30 am and I called my mom to tell her </div>
<div>
"that was the most romantic date I have ever been on."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was pretty horrible at salsa dancing, but he didn't seem to mind.</div>
<div>
We both continued to date the 3-4 people we were regularly seeing and at night, </div>
<div>
after our dates with other people,</div>
<div>
we would meet at my apartment and talk about what we did and how they went.</div>
<div>
And sometimes, we would kiss each other.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kZV4EHtwrbwEXPwJKOTAt6MDYnNQIoiCV6rfKPoL8mfNsT_MOBzfhYoJHaOdk9k4g-eddS7uQ8JIMA0v5sxCxpkbKnOmAUPZlia_GdQc2hoCOrJfsyb5YxYGihij_iydVQR7JW8idxlb/s1600/IMG_9269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kZV4EHtwrbwEXPwJKOTAt6MDYnNQIoiCV6rfKPoL8mfNsT_MOBzfhYoJHaOdk9k4g-eddS7uQ8JIMA0v5sxCxpkbKnOmAUPZlia_GdQc2hoCOrJfsyb5YxYGihij_iydVQR7JW8idxlb/s320/IMG_9269.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
We became best friends,</div>
<div>
finally got the courage to ditch the other folks,</div>
<div>
and one year later, we became the Mister and Lady.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And we still salsa dance in the kitchen.</div>
</div>
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Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-72303460188527082182013-05-29T21:26:00.001-07:002013-05-29T21:26:39.669-07:00Dear Daughter,Someday, you might not get asked to Prom.<br />
Go anyway.<br />
We'll go buy a pretty dress and you can dance the night away surrounded by all of the people that wish their date would disappear too.<br />
The best part is that you and I can go and eat ice cream afterwards and not be embarrassed when we've eaten so much that you have to unzip your dress.<br />
<br />
Someday, you might not make the high school dance team.<br />
It's ok. I didn't make it either.<br />
Just promise me that you won't stop dancing.<br />
Dance wherever and whenever you want.<br />
I'll even dance in the aisle of the grocery store with you, if you want.<br />
Just keep dancing.<br />
<br />
Do me a favor and don't wait around for others to let you into their clique.<br />
Be the letter-inner.<br />
Remember that you make friends by being a friend.<br />
Being popular means nothing.<br />
Being kind means everything.<br />
Don't ever confuse the two.<br />
<br />
Don't follow the trends, set the trends.<br />
Remember that those that carry themselves with confidence are usually the trend-setters.<br />
Be proud of who you are.<br />
Don't apologize for it...ever.<br />
<br />
Be nerdy.<br />
Remember that your Nana prayed every night that her children would be nerdy.<br />
She says that nerdy people are the most sure of themselves and happy with who they are.<br />
Nana speaks the truth.<br />
<br />
Read books.<br />
Google everything.<br />
Live in wonder.<br />
Be friends with the teachers.<br />
Be proud of the good grades that you earn.<br />
Remember that every person in the world knows something that you don't.<br />
Find opportunities to learn from everyone you meet.<br />
They've got a lot to offer you.<br />
<br />
Don't be afraid of hard work.<br />
Big dreams require big work.<br />
Don't wait around for someone else to make your dreams come true.<br />
You've got this.<br />
Don't be afraid of failure.<br />
Failure is a sign that you are alive.<br />
If we never experienced failure, success wouldn't be sweet.<br />
<br />
Don't be a follower.<br />
Be a leader.<br />
<br />
Make it your goal to bring happiness to the world every day.<br />
There are people crying in silent desperation all around us.<br />
Let's find them and help them be happy.<br />
<br />
The most important thing for you to know is that your parents are your biggest fans.<br />
We spend so much of our day loving on you and kissing you that I'm not sure we'll ever be able to break that habit.<br />
Sorry about that.<br />
We will try to contain ourselves at some point.<br />
That point is not anywhere in the near future.<br />
<br />
If you ever wonder if I love you, come back and read this.<br />
I love you so much that it makes my insides feel like exploding.<br />
I can't describe this kind of love.<br />
You'll understand it when you have a daughter of your own.<br />
Until then, just trust me.<br />
<br />
There will be disappointment and heartache during this thing called life.<br />
That just means you are alive.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MomAnnalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-78750436991990299502013-05-28T22:14:00.000-07:002013-05-28T22:14:05.788-07:0011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dear Baby,</div>
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I just don't even know what to say.</div>
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You are 11 months old.</div>
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That means that the next birthday post will be for a one year old.</div>
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MY one year old.</div>
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How is that even possible?</div>
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This month was filled with exciting things.</div>
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You and I are still bff (but only when Papi's not around)</div>
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(truth be told, you are looking at Papi even in this picture...I am truly the third wheel)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLcZj-v-IXZCZU132pswMR9Q0PnRAhpL58kasOm4N68Jl6rGjaNH37rdCggVMs4GPbUqv1xmp86pGTrMAs2aGRbq1rIk8cHIfWPmJeOOUMxuUOX5yo8dUG5ZnIWJqiP0zxnf_IS8JYkMA/s1600/CAM01437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLcZj-v-IXZCZU132pswMR9Q0PnRAhpL58kasOm4N68Jl6rGjaNH37rdCggVMs4GPbUqv1xmp86pGTrMAs2aGRbq1rIk8cHIfWPmJeOOUMxuUOX5yo8dUG5ZnIWJqiP0zxnf_IS8JYkMA/s640/CAM01437.jpg" /></a></div>
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Your excitement for, well, everything is contagious and oh-so-funny.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbPu6CPIMsMvQDsznBrsR62iOK1BRMKHEW-QD9ApDWJKhODefwxbaqQ0dnJ7_My6l99CBP2ngChAQtc56mL935_5YWkSc_WwDYC6bMy1LOe4YyyHSbSCpUiLy0X99FHsXBn4ilkoK4xUH/s1600/CAM01323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbPu6CPIMsMvQDsznBrsR62iOK1BRMKHEW-QD9ApDWJKhODefwxbaqQ0dnJ7_My6l99CBP2ngChAQtc56mL935_5YWkSc_WwDYC6bMy1LOe4YyyHSbSCpUiLy0X99FHsXBn4ilkoK4xUH/s640/CAM01323.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
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You giggle nearly nonstop.</div>
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It is the most wonderful joy bringing sound I've ever heard.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenAA9esl4GwzddcyFb99d2tb5VIDcs_mMa1KJU69RU4pCAojJHCYn1pRWGCVJVCQ3qsF4D4SW8naDitB5QoAJiqD-btifXc0FtyI48Xo2mzwlZfzu6B5zRwjItp43Xqjio67MLuSsNJjj/s1600/IMG_20130510_194133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenAA9esl4GwzddcyFb99d2tb5VIDcs_mMa1KJU69RU4pCAojJHCYn1pRWGCVJVCQ3qsF4D4SW8naDitB5QoAJiqD-btifXc0FtyI48Xo2mzwlZfzu6B5zRwjItp43Xqjio67MLuSsNJjj/s400/IMG_20130510_194133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You are still <i>really</i> into taking self portraits.</div>
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#selfie</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ujmk7ayC_bla5LSutkq7xk-7c8n82GHi6F6L6TN5ThjlNJdH1I9qvfvQlfLRVi4b6xcmQH6bux4-q6hlmX3orDPmc7RU6gnTkTznM8ePwKImDOcnk-mOdrwfVpErSyjaASHbT8UTrA0U/s1600/CAM01343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ujmk7ayC_bla5LSutkq7xk-7c8n82GHi6F6L6TN5ThjlNJdH1I9qvfvQlfLRVi4b6xcmQH6bux4-q6hlmX3orDPmc7RU6gnTkTznM8ePwKImDOcnk-mOdrwfVpErSyjaASHbT8UTrA0U/s400/CAM01343.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This month you proved that you truly are my daughter by seeking out the Diet Coke in the house and dumping it all over yourself and Nana's carpet.</div>
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Well done.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR16hAAIeo0WT44QYb4LVmkTQtF2l2hcEDevfEMUpi7oiYbADUT7us-yfQpptR3zwGA4TrSr9lLVtyWPxwCImvdqNTd-7yXBcKeqzWoL7XdSpG-9vWDgIgS26hDAyT-vqwmzG1U8l_Nsm/s1600/IMG_20130526_163217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR16hAAIeo0WT44QYb4LVmkTQtF2l2hcEDevfEMUpi7oiYbADUT7us-yfQpptR3zwGA4TrSr9lLVtyWPxwCImvdqNTd-7yXBcKeqzWoL7XdSpG-9vWDgIgS26hDAyT-vqwmzG1U8l_Nsm/s640/IMG_20130526_163217.jpg" /></a></div>
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Nana bought you a phone.</div>
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You talk on it all day long.</div>
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I'm concerned about our future phone bills.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW27R_0asJl_ZylKAn6TC4KD80ByKfk3ZGBN5910Zjz5KNLQ2mC3wyqglOqyr6D422nPMXzP8ODrhprJINiAttKAOUz51UFNsXvDY0FaFM6SkglrG5Wl1yKmsoc95CtVhwf9ySJ_5_rZh/s1600/IMG_20130520_223103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW27R_0asJl_ZylKAn6TC4KD80ByKfk3ZGBN5910Zjz5KNLQ2mC3wyqglOqyr6D422nPMXzP8ODrhprJINiAttKAOUz51UFNsXvDY0FaFM6SkglrG5Wl1yKmsoc95CtVhwf9ySJ_5_rZh/s400/IMG_20130520_223103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This month, you and I went on night swims almost every night.</div>
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It's our therapy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39VsIhITRpZo4bbRlQWiLDLdHVf1-f33jaUCfnnqPgWQw20LR6mNJ7stiantqhg9M1VY7whVwgWYzp8LjjB4b3svqeLXBR2DrSGBT1j9psusLryTxKhYaq03hchvGiy6_YsXPwJlIn_BO/s1600/IMG_20130517_194136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39VsIhITRpZo4bbRlQWiLDLdHVf1-f33jaUCfnnqPgWQw20LR6mNJ7stiantqhg9M1VY7whVwgWYzp8LjjB4b3svqeLXBR2DrSGBT1j9psusLryTxKhYaq03hchvGiy6_YsXPwJlIn_BO/s640/IMG_20130517_194136.jpg" /></a></div>
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You and Papi continued to fall in love.</div>
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Day</div>
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after day</div>
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after day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcNQIzr2Uh3a_9mo8CdAZUjLwjCofyep8F4FSjXHmDroyEa_Qb1OI2fbPJNTo-DrY5NNBlGEfoX_Bc-JTu0cIsjVxM-KPmz0gTd2NqqDgMYB6zG3RYKsS6yrypBCTdrjQMfCaKu796ZZe/s1600/IMG_20130525_215755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcNQIzr2Uh3a_9mo8CdAZUjLwjCofyep8F4FSjXHmDroyEa_Qb1OI2fbPJNTo-DrY5NNBlGEfoX_Bc-JTu0cIsjVxM-KPmz0gTd2NqqDgMYB6zG3RYKsS6yrypBCTdrjQMfCaKu796ZZe/s640/IMG_20130525_215755.jpg" /></a></div>
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You scored your first <i>very own</i> drink on one of our infamous Sonic runs.</div>
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Watching you drink out of a straw makes me feel like you are such an adult.</div>
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Knock it off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWXw9GigUMSkjOPe76hMYMjSlWcGv1bhfmIa2VuFzDch-5pdiw8eT5Sgj1haeann1NpnpZdZ27KriSqk660rorYGizWzsAEjr642roFNGwsGf-5iz4kwcmAgyUyxJ97-gKMGsWHdp4j2b/s1600/IMG_20130523_180819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWXw9GigUMSkjOPe76hMYMjSlWcGv1bhfmIa2VuFzDch-5pdiw8eT5Sgj1haeann1NpnpZdZ27KriSqk660rorYGizWzsAEjr642roFNGwsGf-5iz4kwcmAgyUyxJ97-gKMGsWHdp4j2b/s640/IMG_20130523_180819.jpg" /></a></div>
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You were especially helpful this month by helping me teach voice lessons.</div>
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You conducted the music while my students sang and made sour faces when they made sour sounds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGZUQH5RF7oyG7y78HdZfDIUfpDd97f_i846RP84p_KCg_aAbKeoyNmBPE64nKI-I-eduX-H0X7F6HXcd8n3pHjfIHoZUlSueQ80QAUeJPLjZkr-I3wg59fRomrL3KUEENrEOulh4iWpq/s1600/CAM01360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGZUQH5RF7oyG7y78HdZfDIUfpDd97f_i846RP84p_KCg_aAbKeoyNmBPE64nKI-I-eduX-H0X7F6HXcd8n3pHjfIHoZUlSueQ80QAUeJPLjZkr-I3wg59fRomrL3KUEENrEOulh4iWpq/s640/CAM01360.jpg" /></a></div>
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I celebrated the happiest Mother's Day of my existence this month.</div>
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You are I shared a Sandia con Menta popsicle and Papi whisked us around the city for the perfect Mother's Day date.</div>
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You made me a Mother and for that, I owe you one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf1_4Xa31k_I4hOsgPEn55hV_aez5Pb6k4p2gCHERF2rXBci0NAQGD74xlJW7UW6jwev1wnU7EpQolUIkDT4qZx2X8P12bbOq6sSjtA_fSLylGOok-dhyphenhyphenRPefJiii7iLBrffAMWAdd23Y/s1600/IMG_0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHf1_4Xa31k_I4hOsgPEn55hV_aez5Pb6k4p2gCHERF2rXBci0NAQGD74xlJW7UW6jwev1wnU7EpQolUIkDT4qZx2X8P12bbOq6sSjtA_fSLylGOok-dhyphenhyphenRPefJiii7iLBrffAMWAdd23Y/s640/IMG_0365.jpg" /></a></div>
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But perhaps my favorite part of this month was your new found obsession with the piano.</div>
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I park you here at least once a day and you serenade me.</div>
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It is really quite fabulous.</div>
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You are the best concert giver and I am a pretty stellar audience.</div>
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We are a good combo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vs4QMJwu96Rnk8YhLGP5PecAUsblby1NkM3aJJJ6F-kYiC6pj0YbZ5i439hdXoi98v_sir8uKn54mT02wvt2n-SJOICsfYm6k6tYETSXpPdXDiDJCBQeNMdVUEt9P3NETT2o4A_bMGo/s1600/IMG_20130519_104035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08Vs4QMJwu96Rnk8YhLGP5PecAUsblby1NkM3aJJJ6F-kYiC6pj0YbZ5i439hdXoi98v_sir8uKn54mT02wvt2n-SJOICsfYm6k6tYETSXpPdXDiDJCBQeNMdVUEt9P3NETT2o4A_bMGo/s400/IMG_20130519_104035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our world continues to revolve around you and life has never been better.</div>
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Thanks for letting us kiss you incessantly and squeeze you to bits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLcZj-v-IXZCZU132pswMR9Q0PnRAhpL58kasOm4N68Jl6rGjaNH37rdCggVMs4GPbUqv1xmp86pGTrMAs2aGRbq1rIk8cHIfWPmJeOOUMxuUOX5yo8dUG5ZnIWJqiP0zxnf_IS8JYkMA/s1600/CAM01437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlp6oZYTrnzxXs8wHp_dtU3nqtW131o_PmHDeCbdpApufYM51fc-1DBdi6kMyqljVPhtXQ4hEhjfrcskcR_vCZwEFSqb3P0E2hyphenhyphenrIhqrn9PJ0O02neNg3gobBiVpaR0Lj6J4QJc1OBVhG/s1600/CAM01403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlp6oZYTrnzxXs8wHp_dtU3nqtW131o_PmHDeCbdpApufYM51fc-1DBdi6kMyqljVPhtXQ4hEhjfrcskcR_vCZwEFSqb3P0E2hyphenhyphenrIhqrn9PJ0O02neNg3gobBiVpaR0Lj6J4QJc1OBVhG/s400/CAM01403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's go ahead and slow the next month waaaay down.</div>
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Love you, sweet one.</div>
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Love,</div>
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Mama</div>
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Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-80345116259050369252013-05-08T23:14:00.001-07:002013-05-08T23:14:44.964-07:00UnpluggedToday I went unplugged.<div>I told myself that I would answer the phone if it rang, but that would be it, until bedtime.</div><div>I am shocked at how much I accomplished.</div><div>Shocked and sorta disgusted.</div><div>Eeesh.</div><div>I just can't believe how much time I waste.</div><div><br></div><div>I am pretty sure that the greatest disappointment of my generation will be to look back on life and regret how much REAL LIFE we missed out on.</div>Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-16940486936320126022013-04-27T15:08:00.000-07:002013-04-27T15:10:06.126-07:0010 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dear Baby,</div>
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How dare you.</div>
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How dare you grow so quickly and change every instant.</div>
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How dare you be so beautiful causing me to get lost in your eyes for hours at a time.</div>
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How dare you giggle at everything I do and say, making me believe that I am worthy of the Mother-of-the-Year award.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPxeY5G-ZHZZEKP2HYpx6B1BaUSQFdc-KbJ2TkoHESj-wxaNvdcckjHRQ1axixYtCGtTS0C3FZkvi1LrBHvsw7RlFl3Ai_Gi0_EtmaoEAy_RhyphenhyphenrkkYGbibhP094P_sD9cwjni4yKQgZEL/s1600/CAM01101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPxeY5G-ZHZZEKP2HYpx6B1BaUSQFdc-KbJ2TkoHESj-wxaNvdcckjHRQ1axixYtCGtTS0C3FZkvi1LrBHvsw7RlFl3Ai_Gi0_EtmaoEAy_RhyphenhyphenrkkYGbibhP094P_sD9cwjni4yKQgZEL/s640/CAM01101.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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I knew it would go by fast.</div>
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I knew I would close my eyes and you would grow up before I opened them again.</div>
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I knew it all, but it's something you can't believe until you're the Mom and it's <i>your</i> baby.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPLF0Su9jMVaVbvcp6EnD8pT-vHSs7fmPxUU_0EWUb5N_H27jY1TBEHRKQjGmBT7usLE2u-CjqSktSc07OdhZ9azjfs_vzNRVKGpRMiUGYWr5GSSrp2YAXLQX10JT_g2j2eXGgSyg2PRB/s1600/IMG_20130424_121222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPLF0Su9jMVaVbvcp6EnD8pT-vHSs7fmPxUU_0EWUb5N_H27jY1TBEHRKQjGmBT7usLE2u-CjqSktSc07OdhZ9azjfs_vzNRVKGpRMiUGYWr5GSSrp2YAXLQX10JT_g2j2eXGgSyg2PRB/s640/IMG_20130424_121222.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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And now look at us.</div>
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You are crawling all over the house.</div>
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Pulling out every plug.</div>
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Clearing off every reachable shelf.</div>
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Laughing hysterically at Mommy's dance moves</div>
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and swooning over Papi's.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QnO9AjBu4s5dP6cUHXIVs1OlyLmDT5-ut3MAszIdDB7bA50wD2TvieyehmllAqGpJd8YkqFGpInVIeyjIMPC4ceai51mK3KZdup1ug8OHNXtOozV6O1aJU6bTICnTomdAtKQrDSg_BD7/s1600/CAM01176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QnO9AjBu4s5dP6cUHXIVs1OlyLmDT5-ut3MAszIdDB7bA50wD2TvieyehmllAqGpJd8YkqFGpInVIeyjIMPC4ceai51mK3KZdup1ug8OHNXtOozV6O1aJU6bTICnTomdAtKQrDSg_BD7/s640/CAM01176.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Suddenly, you eat big people food.</div>
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A whole banana and green smoothie at breakfast.</div>
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A whole Greek yogurt and another jar of baby food at lunch.</div>
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A whole avocado at dinner and usually half of whatever I am eating.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6-CGB-G4TEln5br4Yz-59gMmi3hGm32jWTy2mbMEc0Ab_y0bFUNeSd6IeYSikVu5BP9g6dc3wFH2CEDEwMgGYS45yV5mOaY9TppPbdbnP_dgBx3bwqh8b_55_UfYaxeFHoGuH2jAJ7r-/s1600/CAM01079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6-CGB-G4TEln5br4Yz-59gMmi3hGm32jWTy2mbMEc0Ab_y0bFUNeSd6IeYSikVu5BP9g6dc3wFH2CEDEwMgGYS45yV5mOaY9TppPbdbnP_dgBx3bwqh8b_55_UfYaxeFHoGuH2jAJ7r-/s640/CAM01079.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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And that food?</div>
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It ends up everywhere.</div>
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Stuck to your eyelashes, </div>
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in your hair, </div>
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inside your ears, </div>
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down your shirt </div>
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(and mine).</div>
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Eating has become such an adventure</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR7e-bkBt67L8wxwsPKlVvdBKAp67b8mgAj6C_DEP_i82Cw_-3pa79WvRVrtRtjdnUboprsOk67LsqWI0fG0W42_08tD-8GfFFa5aYuKFYda44hXOu-K-JxUHNdmw-5kxAEhdfWgkWJcz/s1600/CAM01223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsR7e-bkBt67L8wxwsPKlVvdBKAp67b8mgAj6C_DEP_i82Cw_-3pa79WvRVrtRtjdnUboprsOk67LsqWI0fG0W42_08tD-8GfFFa5aYuKFYda44hXOu-K-JxUHNdmw-5kxAEhdfWgkWJcz/s640/CAM01223.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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You are such a tease.</div>
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At a whopping 17 pounds, everyone thinks you should only be 6ish months,</div>
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but once they see your</div>
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pageant wave,</div>
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eyelash batting,</div>
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LOUD talking,</div>
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clapping with your hands <i>and</i> feet,</div>
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and the way you look into people's eyes and act as if you are staring straight into their soul,</div>
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they can't believe that such a personality can come from such a teeny gal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexIcN52iY4RguhV3HiHN5RFEr8HEwwM4YZ80NSaELYKB61ytYWPzW-veht9zt-pNVyO0lb6Nj3fNAuxhCh1qPQLXsePI84monfqDKPe2MTQfkTNyagRBPv2qWIvbOZJrHgAzfQqQmcC3I/s1600/CAM01193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexIcN52iY4RguhV3HiHN5RFEr8HEwwM4YZ80NSaELYKB61ytYWPzW-veht9zt-pNVyO0lb6Nj3fNAuxhCh1qPQLXsePI84monfqDKPe2MTQfkTNyagRBPv2qWIvbOZJrHgAzfQqQmcC3I/s640/CAM01193.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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I love the chats we have.</div>
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You are a talker.</div>
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You'll say something (inaudible, of course)</div>
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and you will wait for me to answer back.</div>
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Just like the best girlfriends.</div>
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I find myself wondering which language you are trying to speak in</div>
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and what secrets you are telling me.</div>
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I'm always wishing there was a Google Translate app for baby talk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkMI-8tcnHoWT4W7unxOP-OEPVAM3gW8q3GHT-pCXftQykffIOqQrC02ODrP41AIrCF6L5kV-ZkpD4MHHG9Z1m4U4Wkm8sCNEqCSyns4z7nyGlzsxUsrpWGZ2nmkIGOcfp9CfBrpzX_ul/s1600/IMG_20130425_201453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkMI-8tcnHoWT4W7unxOP-OEPVAM3gW8q3GHT-pCXftQykffIOqQrC02ODrP41AIrCF6L5kV-ZkpD4MHHG9Z1m4U4Wkm8sCNEqCSyns4z7nyGlzsxUsrpWGZ2nmkIGOcfp9CfBrpzX_ul/s640/IMG_20130425_201453.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Your hair has gone from wild to curly this month.</div>
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There is no doubt about it.</div>
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You have the most gorgeous, dark curls.</div>
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I couldn't be more proud.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH_Sl_Eg4bhiuQ5TMpv46ZzZHVNUOKpBIbgiywb01JU_PHBN0nX2EOemf4VbYdGJi0yqJTQtGjUKELOsa5rWCJUBTk9mZEIArLUghgGeiKA2weKS5laHjHRR4TBPFyNsDxC027QEuG1XV/s1600/CAM01204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH_Sl_Eg4bhiuQ5TMpv46ZzZHVNUOKpBIbgiywb01JU_PHBN0nX2EOemf4VbYdGJi0yqJTQtGjUKELOsa5rWCJUBTk9mZEIArLUghgGeiKA2weKS5laHjHRR4TBPFyNsDxC027QEuG1XV/s640/CAM01204.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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You <i>love </i>watching Papi on the television.</div>
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Once you hear his voice, you scurry over to the tv, pull yourself up, and watch very intently.</div>
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Once he's done, you quickly go back to clearing shelves and making me smile.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1Y5ESajxVp1rxDnKKb1u8-xp1XyXVF0rUj2sMc9EMO4w9JFzgQ1Gjwua_IkcE1wVDbdme3P8P9mgQAW70zibtflQrF8fBMTBuBXcVTgzvzhXNu7NIwIlg7kcADElr0felNs4azIeVz4F/s1600/IMG_20130413_223653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1Y5ESajxVp1rxDnKKb1u8-xp1XyXVF0rUj2sMc9EMO4w9JFzgQ1Gjwua_IkcE1wVDbdme3P8P9mgQAW70zibtflQrF8fBMTBuBXcVTgzvzhXNu7NIwIlg7kcADElr0felNs4azIeVz4F/s640/IMG_20130413_223653.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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I know that you love me, but the thing that makes my heart sing is your relationship with your Papi.</div>
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The fact that you will snuggle up into his shoulder makes me burst inside.</div>
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Watching you slow dance together, </div>
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hold hands,</div>
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sing while he plays the guitar,</div>
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swim,</div>
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and stare into his eyes,</div>
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makes me happier than anything else.</div>
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Happy 10 month birthday baby girl.</div>
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I had no idea that life could be so sweet.</div>
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Love you forever,</div>
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Mama</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-52818964007176485142013-04-01T21:29:00.000-07:002013-04-01T21:30:53.154-07:00Easter and a few #momfails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have done my fair share of easing into the holiday craziness that motherhood brings.</div>
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For example, our Easter dinner yesterday was a complete fail with barely enough food to fill the Mister's empty belly.</div>
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And while we're talking about Easter fails, lets take a look at my Easter breakfast:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPdUL16oR6IR9dSvQOksqa-yABPFBUgRFR_xxOmtQO8-HZIGOvt4E3hujFBWRWU-11HPi49OFBy-7ijInfnX9vAoMDhIx9YBHJOBxRweVbCfpSdmIQe1g2dUC3EvUUTGNLwMzB7THZhHr/s1600/CAM00976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPdUL16oR6IR9dSvQOksqa-yABPFBUgRFR_xxOmtQO8-HZIGOvt4E3hujFBWRWU-11HPi49OFBy-7ijInfnX9vAoMDhIx9YBHJOBxRweVbCfpSdmIQe1g2dUC3EvUUTGNLwMzB7THZhHr/s640/CAM00976.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The monkey bread on the cake platter didn't work out so well.</div>
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As it came plopping out of the bundt pan, landing all over the counter top, I started laughing.</div>
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I laughed out loud for a good five minutes.</div>
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The Mister and Baby were still asleep so there wasn't even anyone to laugh at my idiocy with me.</div>
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Perhaps it wouldn't have been as funny had my family been standing around awaiting their breakfast.</div>
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Lets all take note that this fail was recorded with a finger over the camera lens.</div>
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Double fail.</div>
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Celine had a fever but we were scheduled to sing in a quartet during church so staying home wasn't an option.</div>
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The poor dear cried through the first hour...</div>
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and the second...</div>
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and then we gave up, piled in the car, and drove the 20 minutes back home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT06Cy-8FuFqCerHMMVdPDptzDFFMFLGEYtNorFk-oaM2PM5sUJaP4X2k2GpZfGJ1P7At1-bpaR3UB3J1yac433kmxdFniGQowLitQN1szsozd92h5eX7Avlfe3BGY1cfq5C7HH8Ht6MRH/s1600/IMG_20130331_135401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT06Cy-8FuFqCerHMMVdPDptzDFFMFLGEYtNorFk-oaM2PM5sUJaP4X2k2GpZfGJ1P7At1-bpaR3UB3J1yac433kmxdFniGQowLitQN1szsozd92h5eX7Avlfe3BGY1cfq5C7HH8Ht6MRH/s400/IMG_20130331_135401.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When we got home, Celine and I laid down for a two hour nap.</div>
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Celine and I had been out of town for a whole week and yet we left the poor Mister to hang out with himself for yet another afternoon.</div>
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Celine's face fully encapsulates her utter and complete shock at my failure of an Easter celebration.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-27udvJ8ERhlHyK6Z2TKoX0MRPEtU0yA3ogRF2fCkvXbcY-_RQWc0LNsOQV9QJXGxzptrz_0t1Xfpl0OQH-SA7yoxNm9e-llPVNpdJCGk38kG-LBBn3f76yjXrWvNl0H2jdXJSQibL7K/s1600/IMG_20130331_205102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-27udvJ8ERhlHyK6Z2TKoX0MRPEtU0yA3ogRF2fCkvXbcY-_RQWc0LNsOQV9QJXGxzptrz_0t1Xfpl0OQH-SA7yoxNm9e-llPVNpdJCGk38kG-LBBn3f76yjXrWvNl0H2jdXJSQibL7K/s400/IMG_20130331_205102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The lucky thing is that this holiday is celebrated because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.</div>
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Luckily, he already did his part and he did it REAL well.</div>
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No Easter fails for Him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I feel so blessed to have been guided to Him,</div>
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to know of His atoning sacrifice, </div>
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and to feel that I truly <i>know</i> Him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The greatest Easter memory of this year will be the evening we spent at the Mesa Easter Pageant watching our dear friends.</div>
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The things we learned and the feelings we felt will forever outweigh my 2013 Easter fails.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3N_iWaPazcSHUicwzvvrSwkgQaGZh86IsWxnlOD3uQZKxw3jO9NXfx_9Yh8LxaWu_jqajjMbF0gVmpjg2SyC-Z8cjFdlbvGckApakTETboftSgpJdSRi6nqQG1o1kxVChnINcTCtO6Ms/s1600/IMG_20130323_214716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3N_iWaPazcSHUicwzvvrSwkgQaGZh86IsWxnlOD3uQZKxw3jO9NXfx_9Yh8LxaWu_jqajjMbF0gVmpjg2SyC-Z8cjFdlbvGckApakTETboftSgpJdSRi6nqQG1o1kxVChnINcTCtO6Ms/s640/IMG_20130323_214716.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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The gift of the Savior is so good and so much more important that ruined monkey bread.</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-88522543616072314722013-03-27T15:39:00.001-07:002013-03-27T15:39:00.302-07:00Home.<p dir=ltr>I am so happy to be here.</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_O0fXl9Z13nvbqBqGCn2J15z5WeEBapFHnhYRraijk0xYZwgcxTNUv9N7NS5OXj8mZP11ACsOZG_nPXnYmcq4HTBqS06qF7GyEar1Upl6z9TLpFxYkEY6yw-SU_2cq0RRRrCs35AYEYE/s1600/IMG_20130327_163043.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_O0fXl9Z13nvbqBqGCn2J15z5WeEBapFHnhYRraijk0xYZwgcxTNUv9N7NS5OXj8mZP11ACsOZG_nPXnYmcq4HTBqS06qF7GyEar1Upl6z9TLpFxYkEY6yw-SU_2cq0RRRrCs35AYEYE/s640/IMG_20130327_163043.jpg' /> </a> </div>Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-62309847373234057952013-03-19T22:21:00.003-07:002013-03-19T22:21:28.914-07:00Real Men Wear Pink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Remember when men started wearing pink?</div>
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There was this huge divide between those who would say incessantly</div>
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"REAL MEN WEAR PINK"</div>
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and the other half of the divide shared their thoughts that </div>
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"SISSY MEN WEAR PINK".</div>
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<br /></div>
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But actually,</div>
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real men do wear pink</div>
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and orange</div>
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and green</div>
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and black</div>
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and purple.</div>
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Because, who really cares what you wear?</div>
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I'm fairly certain that that pink polo does not have the capability to decrease your manhood.</div>
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Perhaps I am incorrect.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Do you know what REAL MEN also do?</div>
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They love</div>
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And they give kisses</div>
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And they cry</div>
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And they pray</div>
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And they even fold the laundry sometimes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But they love with their eyes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSMMRbxGtF3cPG0W0f5Eed07fLO-WlhttVgzlhyYsWKmYDRl_iWalJ0r08OiblnyeXh8peXok_Vq0RbeHyP2dKSIQslfUtKSSjsZtvuU0kios_UruS_uL7OoQRhns8OSI7ebx8vKjVmdS/s1600/IMG_20130315_212540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSMMRbxGtF3cPG0W0f5Eed07fLO-WlhttVgzlhyYsWKmYDRl_iWalJ0r08OiblnyeXh8peXok_Vq0RbeHyP2dKSIQslfUtKSSjsZtvuU0kios_UruS_uL7OoQRhns8OSI7ebx8vKjVmdS/s640/IMG_20130315_212540.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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And they love with their laughter</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrm-ymK4w3PlCyez3GVC9TL3jvGSUfdM6fcgebG6LK04E0iRKEtmVegWmDLTjv_akxFu8h_n3GLvkQrAdglGtjO1tUHOM8fR8-bNEwb3GaHsGN954MB2Ke45rcDJ4Py1mwQxEYshIp2CF/s1600/IMG_20130310_213526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrm-ymK4w3PlCyez3GVC9TL3jvGSUfdM6fcgebG6LK04E0iRKEtmVegWmDLTjv_akxFu8h_n3GLvkQrAdglGtjO1tUHOM8fR8-bNEwb3GaHsGN954MB2Ke45rcDJ4Py1mwQxEYshIp2CF/s640/IMG_20130310_213526.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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And they love with their arms</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9x0VYT2y5ZRHEXUE0E0-xYkPXkxsLcTI9LhlzXaVlMXPSCNdCyLKxjbmyNKYIe49_SreduxPie-vU-_MRcWGTgiEbYQjkeUj_At73u7SJ4Yp21peQi4U2Z2_Fcw9uEv7HqLMsaIW_If3/s1600/IMG_6757%252520%2525281%252529-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9x0VYT2y5ZRHEXUE0E0-xYkPXkxsLcTI9LhlzXaVlMXPSCNdCyLKxjbmyNKYIe49_SreduxPie-vU-_MRcWGTgiEbYQjkeUj_At73u7SJ4Yp21peQi4U2Z2_Fcw9uEv7HqLMsaIW_If3/s640/IMG_6757%252520%2525281%252529-1.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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And they love with their bum pinching</div>
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(as that is <i>actually</i> what is happening in the picture below)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLFfcHsxRvKRvviwh3d4Bcl4Q472p3ARr6gevfQG0izhxIhTiiqdm-RzOungAEOZTt_QSLheJNy3k2hw1sXc8La9S1tOvAP8zCy-B1RE9EcgpcW2jtkpBQ600VXdlbAqxJb4bs55zakjp/s1600/Wedding-5012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLFfcHsxRvKRvviwh3d4Bcl4Q472p3ARr6gevfQG0izhxIhTiiqdm-RzOungAEOZTt_QSLheJNy3k2hw1sXc8La9S1tOvAP8zCy-B1RE9EcgpcW2jtkpBQ600VXdlbAqxJb4bs55zakjp/s640/Wedding-5012-1.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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And they love with their kisses</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBfwg5nvqOXkjgZdvMi7VXWDdt7MOt29FyuwwLBb7j3LIgEwem1mzJ3h2TxPVyMBPB3tZH5i2FGu9FbqSSUSWNRS0vy5GOq4FLEIbn4a0m7D7wDDsK4KJ0tqNxqEgB2q3JgcRxHMoyDjD/s1600/IMG_20130309_091625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBfwg5nvqOXkjgZdvMi7VXWDdt7MOt29FyuwwLBb7j3LIgEwem1mzJ3h2TxPVyMBPB3tZH5i2FGu9FbqSSUSWNRS0vy5GOq4FLEIbn4a0m7D7wDDsK4KJ0tqNxqEgB2q3JgcRxHMoyDjD/s640/IMG_20130309_091625.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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and they're not ashamed of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And that's what REAL MEN do...</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-10303311597595813222013-03-15T12:39:00.002-07:002013-03-15T12:39:50.364-07:00#tayandbay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Remember these kids from <a href="http://themisterandlady.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-thanksgiving-tragedy-and-how-we-can.html">this post</a>?</div>
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Remember how when the accident happened, they were on their way to Arizona so that Taylor could meet Bailee's family?</div>
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Well, they are finally on their way here right now for a weekend of introductions and a benefit concert in their honor.</div>
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I am lucky enough to have been invited to sing in the concert and the rest of the concert is PACKED with incredible talent.</div>
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You are going to want to be there.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW9wvGQh1xziHzCsIsAPh0sC7seoDtSty0lpBZxysc49xYTBJJP9C9d8qLTWDTw3Ut60LSLeA39dVwCft26_D0QxSs63hV-X-MKWOXQ9sFbOdLqO9J_8ByhZBxgFxat8JHinjm1GFuAw/s1600/BenefitConert_8.75x11.25_WebVersionJPG_Final2+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW9wvGQh1xziHzCsIsAPh0sC7seoDtSty0lpBZxysc49xYTBJJP9C9d8qLTWDTw3Ut60LSLeA39dVwCft26_D0QxSs63hV-X-MKWOXQ9sFbOdLqO9J_8ByhZBxgFxat8JHinjm1GFuAw/s640/BenefitConert_8.75x11.25_WebVersionJPG_Final2+(2).jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The concert is on Monday, so get your tickets and we'll see you there!</div>
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If you are unable to come but would still like to help them with their mountains of medical bills</div>
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you can donate by clicking</div>
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<a href="http://fundly.com/the-taylor-morris-and-bailee-brinkerhoff-assistance-fund">here</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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xoxo,</div>
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the Lady</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />themisterandladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08039844874366569551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-87356754434597147382013-03-14T12:18:00.002-07:002013-03-14T12:18:54.418-07:00haven-ize<br />
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You may have noticed that back in December and January, the Mister and Lady were MIA</div>
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(Unless you know us personally, then you know we were alive and well)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Mister had been interviewing with stations and companies in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Utah,</div>
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San Antonio,</div>
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Phoenix,</div>
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and </div>
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Denver.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had no idea when or if he would get an offer from any/all of them.<br />
We spent our days with our fingers crossed and our minds in constant prayer.</div>
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By the beginning of the third week in December</div>
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we finally had a choice to make between a couple of cities</div>
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and we chose</div>
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and we moved.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Our moves happen in an instant.</div>
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Both times we have moved states, we have had 2 weeks notice.<br />
<br />
It makes for some serious pack-up and go skills.<br />
I'd say we are pretty good at packing boxes and a truck by this point.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Something about our homes in NM is that we never had quite enough space to make sure that </div>
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everything had it's place.</div>
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There were always piles.</div>
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That made me crazy.</div>
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<br />
Before we moved, we gave away upwards of 9 garbage bags full of stuff.<br />
Mister always says<br />
"the best part about moving is getting rid of stuff."<br />
He is right.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we moved to Arizona,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I knew that I needed to take the time to make a place for every little thing.<br />
If it didn't have a place, it didn't belong in our home.</div>
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Thus my absence from this blog.</div>
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I needed that time.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Once everything had it's place,</div>
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I went about decorating in a way that made this place our home.<br />
We didn't have any money to buy new decorations, bed spreads, rugs.<br />
All we had money for was a few cans of spray paint.<br />
Luckily, I've talked myself out of caring about the latest crazes in home decor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I forced myself to destroy my Pinterest project list that always leaves me wanting more than what I have</div>
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and we went after creating home from what was left from our purge.</div>
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I just really</div>
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NEEDED</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to make this apartment</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OUR HOME.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I worked for a month at creating a haven for my family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As a current SAHM, I believe it is my job to make a home that my husband and children long to be in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted so badly to create a place that we wanted to be more than anywhere else.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One day, in the midst of this process, I came across this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt=" " height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/550x/12/0d/58/120d58b7e68912bf6bd98565b690d8f3.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pawleysislandposh.blogspot.com/">via</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it was reiterated in my mind that this concept was incredibly important.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I wanted a home life that felt A-OK if I got up in the morning,<br />
put on my makeup,<br />
got dressed,<br />
and never left the house.<br />
I wanted that to feel ok because my home was a happy, fun, and peaceful place.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't get the wrong idea...lets not all become hermits that never go outside...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My life needed to FEEL good</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
more than it LOOKED good.<br />
<br />
The presentation of a "perfect" life is plaguing many blogs, facebook posts, tweets, and instagram feeds.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps you are acquainted with someone like this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You know,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the someone that takes the most glorious pictures,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
has the most incredible house,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is a master in the kitchen,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and looks like they just stepped out of a magazine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes I wonder if those someone's are as happy on the inside </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as they make themselves to look on the outside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really hope they are</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but in many cases, I doubt it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
This move and opportunity to establish a home I can be proud of<br />
(and not because of it's decor)<br />
has caused me to focus more on the people and relationships I develop in my home rather than the<br />
million DIY projects or fancy outfits.<br />
<br />
Because of these changes, the Mister and Lady relationship has improved.<br />
The Parents and Daughter relationships have improved<br />
and most importantly, our relationship with God has improved...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">all because of established order.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel very blessed to feel very happy.<br />
That month of haven-izing was more than worth it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our home is a safe haven.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It might not look so fancy on the outside,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it's a good, good spot on the inside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And for the Mister and Lady and Little Lady,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that is what is most important.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I hope you'll find ways to "haven-ize" your home too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Let me know if I can help.</span></div>
themisterandladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08039844874366569551noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-46676665857849826262013-03-07T22:16:00.001-07:002013-03-07T22:16:54.308-07:00the patio<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have relocated our lives to the patio.</div>
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We love it out here.</div>
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We eat out here.</div>
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I feed the baby out here.</div>
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We do our nails out here. </div>
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We read out here.</div>
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At some point very soon i will be sleeping out here.</div>
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Mark my words</div>
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then come and join me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb60auj4usuy0XvYndz0AJyfa4-SFZPYV06E6LkQ9Jyks5EfSRXTj8aTeXtgAD6sgnHIvTCEH2ymTcQd4mUOc_hhJHM0E6b6omkQ5MfiidtCXbrorcLM_LMcoeylLDOmOx9d8uKxsplgP/s1600/CAM00709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb60auj4usuy0XvYndz0AJyfa4-SFZPYV06E6LkQ9Jyks5EfSRXTj8aTeXtgAD6sgnHIvTCEH2ymTcQd4mUOc_hhJHM0E6b6omkQ5MfiidtCXbrorcLM_LMcoeylLDOmOx9d8uKxsplgP/s320/CAM00709.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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Do you have a favorite space?</div>
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Where?</div>
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Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5236391413401456996.post-31894207222351172322013-03-01T12:00:00.001-07:002013-03-01T12:03:09.428-07:00Today's tears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today started just like every other day</div>
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except today, I can't stop crying.</div>
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Sissy and I woke up at 5:55 just like always</div>
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to fill her little belly.</div>
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As I peered down through the darkness at her wild bedhead,</div>
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I got teary.</div>
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Then we laid back down as she finished off her sweet slumbers.</div>
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At 8:00 we got up to fix breakfast and lunch for the Mister</div>
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and send him on his way.</div>
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We packed his bag and kissed him out the door.</div>
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We then ran around to the patio so we could wave at him as he went around the house to the parking lot.</div>
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As I watched him, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the blue sky, green grass, and my sweet partner heading off to work to make money so we can survive.</div>
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The fact that he goes to work five days a week solely to make money that I spend is quite unbelievable to me.</div>
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So, I got teary again.</div>
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Sissy and I got ready for our morning walk and I gathered the birthday cards I had been meaning to send.</div>
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As we walked to the post office and placed the birthday cards in the big blue slot</div>
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I remembered how much I miss our family and how I hate that we have to send birthday cards rather than celebrate around a table with cake and ice cream.</div>
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It made me a little teary too.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then we walked to Walgreens for a loaf of bread.</div>
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Earlier this week I had exhausted our grocery budget and had, somehow, forgotten to buy bread.</div>
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I had put all the cash I had in the house in my pocket before our walk.</div>
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$2.50</div>
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The cheapest bread available was $2.39.</div>
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It was perfect.</div>
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As I was counting out my coins to give to the cashier</div>
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the Senior Living bus pulled up to the front door.</div>
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A little lady, nearly bent in half from the effects of a long life</div>
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caught the eye of Celine.</div>
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Celine clapped for her as she crossed the threshold into the Walgreens store.</div>
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The woman beamed and came right over and chatted with my little one.</div>
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Celine did her best to chat right back</div>
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ooh-ing, ahh-ing, and screaching out of excitement.</div>
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As we left, the little woman said</div>
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"Little girl, you made my day."</div>
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So, I walked home in tears overwhelmed with gratitude for this little girl that brings joy to so many.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hHIAzA1jRk1hUGYAwaRgIWe6f6ozMHc3QcHymtMhmMCU8Vjp_MNjEQltE6r7n6YAqnXKypOSoEGay9RhDkWfxeMkz_SCmK2R3_jo0V4z-JALf1U7SJ3I8w5ldy7wql5ce4KKM3cmNXAD/s1600/CAM00674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hHIAzA1jRk1hUGYAwaRgIWe6f6ozMHc3QcHymtMhmMCU8Vjp_MNjEQltE6r7n6YAqnXKypOSoEGay9RhDkWfxeMkz_SCmK2R3_jo0V4z-JALf1U7SJ3I8w5ldy7wql5ce4KKM3cmNXAD/s400/CAM00674.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div>
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As we got closer to home we stopped at the pool to cool our feet.</div>
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Celine kicked and jumped nearly soaking us both.</div>
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She kept glancing up to my eyes to make sure I was paying attention and drinking in the glorious morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8wuMr65AtZlytfNhpg_1Uo9FgbKg9zRmMIbGp3_WpyDEr326iiSYHBSp1_-o5mvuZsUVIwS_RTv_JbNX-h_rxsHK-T0i65nB9gVkYKRULJANt8Pnfy72yoqUUNZByeXt-ACl-XckzcfD/s1600/IMG_20130301_105358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8wuMr65AtZlytfNhpg_1Uo9FgbKg9zRmMIbGp3_WpyDEr326iiSYHBSp1_-o5mvuZsUVIwS_RTv_JbNX-h_rxsHK-T0i65nB9gVkYKRULJANt8Pnfy72yoqUUNZByeXt-ACl-XckzcfD/s400/IMG_20130301_105358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am so grateful that she reminds me to pay attention.</div>
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This teary morning has reminded me that </div>
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every day is filled with such beautiful moments that are worth celebrating</div>
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and even crying about.</div>
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I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the Prophet of the Mormon Church.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Don't save anything for a special occasion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Every day of your life is a special occasion."</span></div>
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-Thomas S. Monson-</div>
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Tonight, we are going to celebrate the Mister.</div>
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He deserves being celebrated for all that he does to make a happy life for his girls.</div>
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We will be having one of his favorite meals,</div>
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dancing in the kitchen,</div>
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and probably watching a documentary</div>
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(as those are his favorite).</div>
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I'll probably cry as I give my dinner speech about how grateful we are for him</div>
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and what he does for us.</div>
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Uh-oh.</div>
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Now the baby is crying.</div>
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Maybe she's overwhelmed with gratitude too.</div>
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Or maybe she just wants to let me know that she's awoken from her nap and that Mommy had better hop to it.</div>
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Probably that.</div>
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Have a happy day everyone</div>
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and an even happier weekend.</div>
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I hope you will find something to celebrate</div>
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and possibly cry about.</div>
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xo</div>
Annalecehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018533827593726204noreply@blogger.com0