22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28!!!!!

Is it really the last day of February?! This has been such a great month and thanks for sticking with me as I've posted about things I love. :) It's been fun to find little things I love throughout the day and week and say to myself, "Oh, I love this and want to include it on my list!"

22. The Olympics! 

It's so inspiring to see athletes push themselves to be the very best. 

We bought a digital antennae so we could get NBC. I never stay up late watching TV, but I couldn't help it for 2 weeks! We loved them. 

Our friends planned an opening and closing ceremony party. I want to make it a new family tradition. For the closing ceremonies party, everyone brought a dish from a country they love {and could dress up!}. I provided empanadas, Aaron made a Thai dish called "Waterfall," and Eli sported the Argentina jersey.  

USA! See you in Winter 2018!

23 and 24. Sweets and Family Home Evening 

I made these cupcakes topped with crushed thin mint girl scout cookies for FHE on Monday. We had a new family from church over and had a simple lesson on gratitude. I loved family nights as a child and now I love sharing a lesson and treat with my little family. 

Also, I seriously love sweets too much that my monthly goal for March is to give up sweets.

 Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. 

{I'm going to die. I still have 3 hours to consume as many Samoa girl scout cookies as possible. Something else I love.}

25. Music

We attended a High School band and choir concert on Wednesday night with the scouts from church. One of the scouts was performing with the band so we went to support him. Previously I said I love having a piano in our home so I guess that music may be a repeat, but as we were in the concert on Wednesday, I loved thinking back to my good old choir and band days. Pretty sure Eli is a future band nerd himself. ;) But seriously, he does sing along in church and I had to get up and leave the choir portion of the concert because he was singing along. I hope he is blessed with Aaron's singing voice!

26. Family Newsletter

My dear uncle writes and MAILS a quarterly newsletter to all of us. When my grandma was older and getting ready to die, she asked my uncle to do all he can to keep the family together. He has done an incredible job each quarter sending out the newsletter and I love reading it. In fact, I'm amazed that with all the social media connections I have my most of my family, I still learn something new about what's happening with all 282 of us. That a lot of people! And I love being part of such a great family. 

27. Reading

Now that I'm not in college or working full-time, I've found it even more important to make time to continue learning. I'm not being asked to read a book for a class and write a report or to research a topic to present at a team meeting. I've loved taking time during the afternoon or evenings to read. "The Happiness Project" seems to be a pretty hot topic right now with a lot of my friends and I love it. All the good things you've heard about this book are true. {I did want to mention that I had the idea to do a monthly goal this year BEFORE reading the book!!} I just finished reading, "Wonder." I loved it and would love for our children to read it before going to Middle School. It's a great book about being kind - something I think the world can all be reminded to show to others more often.

28. Life.

I love the world we live in. I do, however, worry often about what the future will be like for our children. I know it will take strong families standing up for what is right. I know that as we pray for strength to be bold in standing up for truth that Heavenly Father will help us. 

There you have it! The 28 things I love. Maybe for March I can do "31 friends I'm lucky enough to have." I'll include you on the list. ;) 

XO XO XO 

Amanda

16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Is it annoying yet that I'm doing 28 things I love this month?

Haha - thanks for reading these. 

I seriously thought I would post about something each day this month and I've seriously come to realize that I'm not a blogger that can post once a day. 

I love writing on my blog, but I love doing more important things during the day - you know, like cuddling my baby and painting my nails. ;) 

But, when I say I'm going to do something, I want to finish it!

16. I love pink flowers. 

{I rewarded myself for going grocery shopping earlier this week. These beauties were $1.29 at Aldi. Love that place.}

 17. I seriously love dance parties. We had a blast tonight at the youth dance. I secretly wish I was in a band.

18. Family movies.

I love supporting clean PG rated films like The Lego Movie. {It's pretty cute. Aaron was in heaven reliving his lego making days. Guess what Eli's getting for his first birthday?}

Every time I watch a PG-13 movie, I cringe a little inside and swear to myself I'm giving them up. 

19, 20 and 21 - I love my great friends! I couldn't image my life without the incredible friends I've had throughout my life! I love that so many friends have visited DC and we've been able to meet up. I love the friends we've made in Maryland and the fun memories we're making now. 

{Why can't we just all live together in one place??}

Have the best weekend ever! 

XO

XO-XO-XO

I've always loved homemade gifts, and this year Aaron surprised me with the cutest homemade gifts ever! When Eli and I were in KS last month, he was busy sewing. 

For the past two weeks, I've tried guessing what he made, but I had no idea it would be this cute. 

Envelopes filled with love notes, chocolates and candy hearts. 

I love him!

Hanging on the door was also this cute little heart bag filled with gifts.

This little Valentine made me smile all day!

My gift to Aaron and Eli was this fun dog book and a giant dog card. Maybe one Valentine's Day {in the oh-so-far-away-future} I'll give them a real puppy instead of teasing them with fake puppy stuff.

We had a little Valentine's Day party with all of Eli's friends from church and it was fun to see the little ones exchange cards. Eli handed out bubbles and he loved putting together Olaf today. Darling, right?!

I wish Valentine's Day was every month! 

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Was your Valentine's Day filled with so much love?! I sure hope so. My valentine made me home made gifts that I can't wait to show you. I'll upload the pics soon! 

11.  I love having a piano in our {small} home. 

When I first put Eli up to the piano, he had no idea what to do.

 Now, whenever I'm playing, he comes over to my legs begging to have a turn. 

Starting him you with mini-daily-lessons!

12. I love shopping for bargains at thrift stores and there are several around here where we've found incredible things: for instance - his shirt and pants are from the thrift store and his shoes and toy are from an online garage sale from the Air Force. I've found so many great deals that people are just trying to get rid of before they move. {I even found a pair of baby Nike's for 5 bucks. So darling.}

13. I love that Aaron serves so much. 

For instance - Aaron's work was cancelled last Thursday due to the snow.

What did he do on his day off?

He shoveled our two widowed neighbors' driveways. {Then he shoveled ours!}

{I snapped this pic through the window! Cutie!}

14. We love snow days at home! 

Eli's smile says it all.

15. We love being with family! 

Our cousin Seth was baptized today and we went down to Smithfield, VA to enjoy the day with them. 

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Until next time...

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Happy Valentine's Day WEEK!

Here continues the list of things I love:

6. Temple 

I love this pic of the Denver temple from our wedding pictures. 

We love living close to the DC temple now. 

My monthly goal for February is to attend the temple each week. 

I love the feelings of peace and love I feel instantly as I walk in. 

You can learn more about temples here. 

7. Family History 

I do need to clarify on this one: I'm {starting} to love family history. ;) I just starting working on genealogy last month and I know now why everyone loves it so much. I still have a ton of work to do, but I've enjoyed researching my family line and connecting the dots of the past. 

8. Sundays 

My favorite day of the week! 

Going to church each week as a family is something that makes us happier and unified. 

{Credit to my sister for snapping this:}

9. Siblings

They just get me. Always.

10. Social Media

Another clarification: I have a love/hate relationship with S.M. I hate that I waste so much time on it sometimes. I love that I feel so connected to family and friends all over the world. I mean seriously - I can still hear what's going on with friends from Argentina? Love it. 

XO XO XO XO XO

3, 4, and 5

Between getting sick on our last day in Kansas and traveling, I'm catching up with the 28 things I love post: 

3: Grandparents. 

The first night we were home, I cried as I remembered how excited I used to get as a little girl to visit my grandparents. I treasure my memories with the ones that have passed on and I call my Grandma Pav at least a couple of times a month! Now here I am taking my baby to hang out with my parents. In true grandparent fashion, they spoiled Eli all week. We love them. Just wish we lived closer to them. Maybe someday. How blessed we are to live close to the Volks right now! 

{Captured this pic on the way to the airport!}

4: The Book of Mormon.

We're reading the Book of Mormon every day this year as as family. {We follow bofm365 on Instagram and they post the scripture reading for the day so we can finish in 365 days.} For Christmas, my sister's family gave us the Book of Mormon for the Latter-day Saint Families and we love reading it together. Every time I start the Book of Mormon again, my faith is strengthened and I have a greater desire to follow the example of our Savior. 

5: Airplanes

Isn't it incredible how we can get anywhere in the world on an airplane? When we arrived in the Wichita airport yesterday, I was puzzled if it was a blessing or if we were idiots for being one of three flights leaving yesterday morning during the "Wichita Whiteout" as the news anchor called it. We were extra grateful we made it to Maryland safely and that my parents made it home from the airport safely too!

Anyway, I hope your 5 days of February have already been filled with lots of love!

XOXO

2: little boys

I love everything about little boys! A few weeks ago, a couple from church who is hoping to start a family soon told me that Eli is the first little boy that has made them want to have a boy first. :) 

We've loved hanging out with our cousins this week. Can you just imagine how fun it would be to live right by them? Fingers crossed maybe one day.  

And now, this guy is 9 months old and continues to be as happy as ever. 

28 things I love

Happy Valentine's Month. 

You're probably going to start thinking that I overuse the word "love" and that I say I love everything, but I really do. :)

I was trying to figure out my favorite holiday and I seriously can't decide - Christmas, birthdays, Valentine's Day, the 4th of July - I love any reason to celebrate!

First of all I want to say that I have always loved Valentine's Day, even when I was single for {many} years. 

Pink, red, hearts, glitter, flowers: I love everything about the holiday. Even when I didn't have a significant someone to share the day with, I loved finding creative little ways to tell my family and friends that I love them. 

This year, I thought it would be fun to write each day for the month of February about something that I love. {These are in no particular order!}

#1: Today's post is about Aaron! 

Several weeks ago, my mother-in-law posted this article and asked how her sons are doing:

12 Tips to a Better Marriage

I know Aaron hadn't seen this list before (it was just posted in January of this year) and he honestly does all* of these including number one on the list:

1) Get in her side of the bed while she is getting ready for bed. Then move when she climbs in – it will already be toasty warm for her.

He started doing this back in December when the winter weather final hit Maryland. There are a few nights when I go to bed before he gets home from a meeting and I didn't realize how much I love the fact that he warms up my side of the bed!

He's a great father and Eli enjoys every second they get to spend together. From his post below regarding their first adventure together, you can see that Aaron is doing all he can to make father/son memories with Eli. 

He's a one of a kind man and I'm so thankful to have him in my life. I often tell him I want to get married again because our wedding was such a perfectly fun day surrounded by everyone that we love. 

I could keep going, but I'll save the mushy stuff for my journal. ;)

XOXOXO

*Number 2 on the list says, "Don't drink from the carton." There have been a few times I've caught him sneaking a swig of milk from the carton. Hahaha...