{this moment}

I found the prompt for this post on one of my favorite blogs (Little Miss Momma) and thought I'd give it a go!

{this moment} – A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember
Inspired by SouleMama

My Obsession with Galley Walls Continues..

If you have ever been in our home or follow me on Pinterest, you know that I have a not-so-secret obsession with gallery walls -- I LOVE them! What better way to give your walls a little character, showcase your family's personality, and display beloved pictures and signs than with a beautifully decorated wall?

When we first bought our home, I knew exactly where I wanted to put our living room gallery wall and began planning it out in my head before we even moved. Want to take a take a peek?

"The Sandmeiers" Kansas Print / Pick Your Plum

"God Bless America" Print / LaLuna Designs

I absolutely love this wall and could stare at it all day -- this wall represents our family, beliefs, and loves. I am constantly on the hunt for little signs and trinkets that represent our family and cannot wait to continue adding to our gallery wall in the future. 

What do you like to add to your gallery walls? 

Jackson's 20 Month Update

Our tiny teenager turned 20-months-old on Saturday and I am FINALLY getting a chance to sit down and write about our month. #momfail Anyway, I guess I should begin this post by apologizing for being MIA this past week. I have been working on another writing project (that I am very excited about and will be revealing SOON), have been working like mad during nap time and bed time to get ahead on OIYS posts, just returned home from a short family vacation to the mountains, and am happy to be hosting my wonderful MIL for a few days! It's been a very busy time around these parts, but exciting none-the-less. I will be posting pictures from our trip to the mountains very soon!

In the mean time, here is what my smart, funny, and adorable little 20 MONTH OLD (*begins sobbing*) has been up to this month:

Weight: 21 lbs.

Length: 32 inches (that's a total guess...)

Nicknames: Jax, Babies, Bubbies, Tinks, Babes, Stinker

Wearing: 18 month clothes; Size 3 diapers

Sleep: Slowly getting to be a better sleeper -- his bedtime is pretty sporadic, but lately he's been getting a solid 5-6 hours of sleep in his crib before waking up to come to bed with us. Brandon and I are taking a Jackson-less work vacation to Vegas in a few months, so it's VITAL that we have him sleeping 10+ hours a night in his crib for Grammy & Grandpa.

Jax likes: The mountains, the neighborhood kids, the book "B is for Bear", going for walks, sweets, the cabin, showing off, playing with older kids, cats/Bella, CARS, Play-doh, running, playing with dad, making animal noises, talking on the phone, messing with anything technical, throwing the ball, Family Feud/Steve Harvey, singing along at church

Jax dislikes: Loud noises, being told "no", time-out, being scared, mommy leaving,

Food: Picky, picky, picky -- the only things we can get him to eat anymore are oatmeal, Greek yogurt w/Chia seeds, cheese, pizza toppings, sweets (which he would eat all day, every day, like any other toddler), snap pea crisps, breads, and carby snack foods.

Teeth: Hard to tell, but I'm guessing it's still just the 12 -- we're STILL waiting on those danged eye-teeth!

Happenings: IKEA trip, first movie ("Inside Out" at the drive-in), Grammy & Grandpa visits, "new" room, visits to Grammy & Grandpas, park days, lots of playing with neighborhood kids, and first trip to the mountains. 

~This little guy's personality is growing by the day and I LOVE it! He is so smart and funny -- he can truly bring a smile to anyone's face! He is definitely starting to show his emotions on his sleeve a bit more and makes sure to let you know when he doesn't like something (which normally involves crying and hitting the wall, which turns into a 1-minute timeout which he HATES even more)!

~I love watching Jackson play and explore the world around him! His favorite toys right now are cars -- he messed with his bag of cars the entire trip home from the mountains and had the BEST time! He has a little hand-me-down racetrack from our neighbors that he likes to play with whenever he can.

~One of Jax's new "tricks" this month is animal noises -- he can do cat (high pitched "RAR!"), cow (OOO), pig (oy oy!), duck (ah ah ah), and owl (ooo ooo). He was doing them on demand for awhile, but now only does it when he feels like it.. typical toddler!

~I still mostly see Brandon when I look at Jackson (he's really starting to look like his cousin, too), but notice a few of my mannerisms in him -- when he's concentrating on something, he moves his mouth and bites the inside of his cheek like I do and he also gets my squinty eyes when he smiles. We'll see who he looks more like as he continues to grow! 

{this moment}

I found the prompt for this post on one of my favorite blogs (Little Miss Momma) and thought I'd give it a go!

{this moment} – A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember
Inspired by SouleMama

Jackson's Best Day Ever

I think it's safe to say that yesterday will go down in the books as Jackson's best day ever! We didn't do anything too extravagant, but it was a fun and special day that I want to record and look back on later.

I don't think that Jax has ever shrieked and laughed so much in his life as he did yesterday when he had his chocolate doughnut with sprinkles, saw his "girlfriends" outside, and played frisbee golf (with Daddy, "Uncle" Logan, and Mommy) for the first time! The whole day was just so laid back, simple, and perfect. 

I just love this little boy to pieces and am so thankful that God trusted Brandon and me to be his parents!! I wish he could stay this age forever -- he's so cute, smart, curious, and funny! Today we are going out to lunch as a family and visiting a local splash pad -- here's to another "best day ever"! 

{this moment}

I found the prompt for this post on one of my favorite blogs (Little Miss Momma) and thought I'd give it a go!

{this moment} – A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember
Inspired by SouleMama

Boneless Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls

YOU GUYS! Something craaaaaaaaaazy happened the other night!!

I made these Boneless Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls for dinner and Brandon not only got seconds, but thirds -- and then told me he approves! THIS. NEVER. HAPPENS.

Anyway, these untraditional eggrolls are super easy to make and absolutely delicious, so I wanted to pass on the recipe to my frans.

Enjoy!

Click to access the recipe via The Lauren Elizabeth 

Life Randoms

I haven't done a rambling post in awhile now, so I figured I would do one today and fill everyone in on our happenings (and to have it recorded for me, since I do plan to one day have my posts turned into a scrapbook)!

~We are T-Minus 2 MONTHS until we head to Disney World! Brandon and I haven't been back since we got engaged and can't wait to take Jackson for his first time (his Grammy, Grandpa, & Uncle Joe are coming too). It was also confirmed yesterday that my awesome, awesome bosses are sending all of their writers/our significant others to Vegas in October for a fun weekend (CAN'T WAIT). It's been a great year for vacations -- and 2016 should be too, as Brandon and I will be kicking off the year on a beach in Mexico for our anniversary! 

~I am kind of obsessed with my new "Love is Patient; Love is Kind" shirt from Pinks in Denver. This shirt is so stinking soft and the verse holds a special place in my heart (it was read at our wedding). 

~Jackson = the King of Selfies.

~We're pretty much IN LOVE with Cassie (Jax's Monday afternoon babysitter) -- he just adores her and I love the fact that he's in good hands while I write for 3 hours straight.

~Jackson's "big boy room" is just about finished and I am dying to share pictures!! Hopefully next week I'll have them taken and posted :)

~Family park days are fun -- even when you decide to walk the mile each way in scorching hot temps! 

~My cousins from Kansas were in Colorado last week and we had such a fun time seeing them at my parents, eating lots of food, and playing lots of cards.

~I don't have a picture, BUT.. Brandon and I were volunteered to Chalet dance at my hometown Heritage Festival last weekend -- we weren't sure what to expect, but we both had a lot of fun and got  in an AWESOME workout!

Have you had enough randomness for one day? Me too. Have a great Tuesday!

{this moment}

I found the prompt for this post on one of my favorite blogs (Little Miss Momma) and thought I'd give it a go!

{this moment} – A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember
Inspired by SouleMama