tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58300410220852898872024-03-19T11:52:59.008-06:00thoughts from the girl next doorKelsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15973126851073197836noreply@blogger.comBlogger644125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-23384914306668995262019-02-14T22:42:00.000-07:002019-03-06T22:42:29.170-07:00valentines <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQnES8xwKphDeXSMMEhWZEuYQnEzb8wyXTWIfcIrgmAJBWwGnL6Rvusf38O7VwQP_POAous3qGtmyO6vQGNh5BwFD_1nVsRAJ4jN5WNCiwOAM1YsX9EiPT8MnNC-T8s14SpZNBnJd95UQ/s1600/44FA126C-2672-4073-B37A-FB11AF91D0BD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQnES8xwKphDeXSMMEhWZEuYQnEzb8wyXTWIfcIrgmAJBWwGnL6Rvusf38O7VwQP_POAous3qGtmyO6vQGNh5BwFD_1nVsRAJ4jN5WNCiwOAM1YsX9EiPT8MnNC-T8s14SpZNBnJd95UQ/s640/44FA126C-2672-4073-B37A-FB11AF91D0BD.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When I snap moments like these, I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Happy Valentines Day!</span></div>
<br />Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-68775469961179029252019-01-17T14:34:00.004-07:002019-01-17T14:40:24.002-07:00vision board 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GsArbrk-WySU308iKWGWr3ZoEZnUGNVvFnPT-t750rbAs5z3rVO6wzen8178spqcG-zdZOtkbjjPlnSwGkYWa9y2wjiF852Dt6f8K51pj9mygtov2bLHw4IOp_GVOTicmrU6GxPBbq9L/s1600/0-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GsArbrk-WySU308iKWGWr3ZoEZnUGNVvFnPT-t750rbAs5z3rVO6wzen8178spqcG-zdZOtkbjjPlnSwGkYWa9y2wjiF852Dt6f8K51pj9mygtov2bLHw4IOp_GVOTicmrU6GxPBbq9L/s640/0-11.jpg" width="483" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Okay bear with me because I know this looks like a pinboard you would have found hanging in my dorm room as a freshman in college. One hundred percent. I get it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
BUT IT'S NOT.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I kind of already talked about the book <i>Girl, Wash Your Face </i>in a previous post, but reading one of the chapters, <i>I Am Going to Marry Matt Damon</i> was like having a miniature epiphany. Not only because I <b><i>was</i></b> that 18 year old girl convinced I was going to marry Zac Efron or a Romney (Matt Damon was a little bit before my time), but also because the vision board she talked about completely made sense. It kind of reminds me of that Oprah quote, "You get out of life what you have the courage to ask for" - or in this case, you get out of life what you to choose to focus on. It's like a daily visual reminder of where you want to go, and what you want to do.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here is my vision board. As you can see, I redacted my personal resolutions list, but I promise I am trying not to swear this year. Also, no Zac Efron either unfortunately. But each thing I did choose to pin represents something I want out of life, or will help me focus on what I need to do to get it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Alright. That's it. The end. Auf Wiedersehen. (yes, that's right. I'm going to live in Germany one day).</div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-25140460567331778372018-12-26T14:14:00.000-07:002019-01-17T14:45:04.063-07:00holidays 2018<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosJIIX5ELauMOgMtI6b4lHX5TJDYugd3c_6MYPTXsOykAaxeDEK_DolXoX6WfvCyKpgzUuxYxz_h63ogGHWZG7TzCKvVQlsQH_Vq4mTOaiu0HaGQscnJo8KAG5_RP21FZqbXaW3smLthR/s1600/0-4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosJIIX5ELauMOgMtI6b4lHX5TJDYugd3c_6MYPTXsOykAaxeDEK_DolXoX6WfvCyKpgzUuxYxz_h63ogGHWZG7TzCKvVQlsQH_Vq4mTOaiu0HaGQscnJo8KAG5_RP21FZqbXaW3smLthR/s640/0-4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
We've officially entered the years where only the upper half<br />
of our tree is decorated thanks to Charlie ;)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pjcUj81jnkjF5Q8ZyRmehyphenhyphen7MyqGsbCsyziHlfyb8W7Xhwb3JcjdZUswhAiLMIvQdzcHDNDMZyefDOlOMViMf1RORLkv7urUa7Bcpgv8El05qwLfL4gx1Lh9qrUsC2bY3wMFVVho88rV2/s1600/0-10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pjcUj81jnkjF5Q8ZyRmehyphenhyphen7MyqGsbCsyziHlfyb8W7Xhwb3JcjdZUswhAiLMIvQdzcHDNDMZyefDOlOMViMf1RORLkv7urUa7Bcpgv8El05qwLfL4gx1Lh9qrUsC2bY3wMFVVho88rV2/s640/0-10.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9_Md1dQdiS1oZknKhLg6mtkgUHPYbLGLl3dvGOvdmDkm8nqKiSCOWdQ7VHthvJUzdRwIWZz6obQqkl6gWMeYt7olLTudf2n-H1AQRDV5dEK_ZuIXQ2Rv4nZxrTR0rO_1WUnlidcO2mmu/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9_Md1dQdiS1oZknKhLg6mtkgUHPYbLGLl3dvGOvdmDkm8nqKiSCOWdQ7VHthvJUzdRwIWZz6obQqkl6gWMeYt7olLTudf2n-H1AQRDV5dEK_ZuIXQ2Rv4nZxrTR0rO_1WUnlidcO2mmu/s640/0.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
I don't know if there was any child more mesmerized by the zoo lights than Charlie. If it hadn't been 21 degrees the night we went, we would have tried to stay longer but I lost eight years off my life that night freezing to death.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa7XcR0AKVBVsPcQjtvpf7A-7Inumyh6OTUES4ztZQaMbRw8K5GinoiVB-hxxNwXlKJgjFD6baQIrB5w67NF4BOn1z1iKweabv8Yi-B6pKvw0m6DN3KdNo6nOAMxbaz6p2dnq6oxHWTjB/s1600/0-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa7XcR0AKVBVsPcQjtvpf7A-7Inumyh6OTUES4ztZQaMbRw8K5GinoiVB-hxxNwXlKJgjFD6baQIrB5w67NF4BOn1z1iKweabv8Yi-B6pKvw0m6DN3KdNo6nOAMxbaz6p2dnq6oxHWTjB/s640/0-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDM3_7tEU2gGCzpF6z0W9YGQhscIKsGd3rPjoAUqrZbY5KiYflSXJhBQ8KuNpTWRXwY94S_B7ONaLZRQEyehlFA3LnY4MqmlkahdbAB68rRXQgejb_fTQMyGoCekQ6FMCrm0WsVxeie-q/s1600/0-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDM3_7tEU2gGCzpF6z0W9YGQhscIKsGd3rPjoAUqrZbY5KiYflSXJhBQ8KuNpTWRXwY94S_B7ONaLZRQEyehlFA3LnY4MqmlkahdbAB68rRXQgejb_fTQMyGoCekQ6FMCrm0WsVxeie-q/s640/0-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
These are the only pictures I have from Thanksgiving in Arizona<br />
where it was 70 degrees (!!!) I'll take it every year please.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzESrHN8M0IwuO7tTO9ZUQaLpEFAoZF4hidRafm7EUmiE3gcir_p7eCGmluE5sVnZ_bVgZg9Q4RXRLAqEoaaOdFJqQmUfJooNCROnW2rER5RWOapqhcf1rCYFnVYDRjHnOzhHWnL8IjHa7/s1600/Desktop23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzESrHN8M0IwuO7tTO9ZUQaLpEFAoZF4hidRafm7EUmiE3gcir_p7eCGmluE5sVnZ_bVgZg9Q4RXRLAqEoaaOdFJqQmUfJooNCROnW2rER5RWOapqhcf1rCYFnVYDRjHnOzhHWnL8IjHa7/s640/Desktop23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPARF_48REMKJ8eWAzswM01_aKnufWSv-jp8kyiBX9e3AR5tfx3tmwTvD1pYfmfM-jL7euhyQgtzPsEgt0rr4E3nLQVqOrF4IMAqGgqNsi3bLIzoXdQ0Xkai_v5RnCepBatAgXZEcLMOAR/s1600/0-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPARF_48REMKJ8eWAzswM01_aKnufWSv-jp8kyiBX9e3AR5tfx3tmwTvD1pYfmfM-jL7euhyQgtzPsEgt0rr4E3nLQVqOrF4IMAqGgqNsi3bLIzoXdQ0Xkai_v5RnCepBatAgXZEcLMOAR/s640/0-2.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
Charlie asleep on Christmas Eve. Is there anything sweeter?<br />
<br />
The holidays this year were welcome with <i>especially</i> wide open arms as Max finished up his night shifts right before the break, and we finally got two weeks worth of time to spend together as a family of three. We spent our Thanksgiving down in Arizona with family, and our Christmas together at home. I couldn't have asked for anything more this season, besides maybe snow, a car that didn't break down Christmas Eve, and a little bit more sleep ;) But even then, this season was full of loved ones and memories and service and trying our best to remember why we celebrate it in the first place. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't talk a lot about my testimony online, but as<span style="color: #ea9999;"> <a href="https://thoughtsfromthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-i-know-for-sure.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Oprah would say</span></a></span>, one of the things I know for sure is that we have a Savior who lives. A Savior who was born in a manger, for you and for me, and for everyone who has ever lived. Through the highs and lows of life, most especially the lows, I have felt His love for me, which is greater than any possible gift I could ask for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/swttbeftN2s" width="580"></iframe></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-2100645747254291672018-12-04T23:42:00.000-07:002018-12-30T15:41:48.402-07:00what i've been reading lately...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQiIh-V0TOc8WMz70u2hGPAIeR81IlerjgKKpkZejrV5rf50ISzQWRsjDP2c_0HcBxbhakGsZhiT1wHhpmRdan1-nPVXJyL4qvfCqf2w2cDotTJkmer0WqvSNH7kelQC974LVtgKA0q6H/s1600/91ibhD5nhUL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQiIh-V0TOc8WMz70u2hGPAIeR81IlerjgKKpkZejrV5rf50ISzQWRsjDP2c_0HcBxbhakGsZhiT1wHhpmRdan1-nPVXJyL4qvfCqf2w2cDotTJkmer0WqvSNH7kelQC974LVtgKA0q6H/s320/91ibhD5nhUL.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>“Know this one great truth: you are in control of your own life. You get one and only one chance to live, and life is passing you by</b>. Stop beating yourself up, and dang it, stop letting others do it too. Stop accepting less than you deserve...</span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.”</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Your life is supposed to be a journey from one unique place to another; it’s not supposed to be a merry-go-round that brings you back to the same spot over and over again.” </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You are more than you have become.” </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">-<i>Girl Wash Your Face,</i> Rachel Hollis (these quotes might sound repetitive in nature, but gosh dang it this book spoke to me)</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M963qX2vsgJrw0C1Dap72uqpSVT9kG_f-PARUm1B_hbJcwhyphenhyphenR7cdyrssAGBpL8HJcPZJTdMV7-LGgCeLAKQs3S8MhEHHGlE0DnvJX5SGpsY_xyfY8D3H2801lh3ziuycjIecNtVIquD7/s1600/41AWqUSdKTL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M963qX2vsgJrw0C1Dap72uqpSVT9kG_f-PARUm1B_hbJcwhyphenhyphenR7cdyrssAGBpL8HJcPZJTdMV7-LGgCeLAKQs3S8MhEHHGlE0DnvJX5SGpsY_xyfY8D3H2801lh3ziuycjIecNtVIquD7/s320/41AWqUSdKTL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="208" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't have a quote to share, but I just wanted to add my two cents. Crazy Rich Asians was entertaining enough that I read the second book in the series, China Rich Girlfriend. Unfortunately, I kind of lost interest after that (the only story line worth reading imo was Astrid and Charlie). I also have to say this is one of the RARE cases I liked the movie SO MUCH MORE than the book. That wedding scene though... I was crying.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">-<i>Crazy Rich Asians</i>, Kevin Kwan</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsLk9g3n9mYkpV1tArCEuF1YaFKEY-D55Vi7bbkZb7DtCockA7XwduIR7RGxhyUKCSu7K1jRVQVNvp3EtQGahgvQE_IlcU5C-zkFA9pgE7XqHQ1t0qzUPz-YgYVhyphenhyphenSCMv6hiJH4y_MGH7/s1600/30267929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsLk9g3n9mYkpV1tArCEuF1YaFKEY-D55Vi7bbkZb7DtCockA7XwduIR7RGxhyUKCSu7K1jRVQVNvp3EtQGahgvQE_IlcU5C-zkFA9pgE7XqHQ1t0qzUPz-YgYVhyphenhyphenSCMv6hiJH4y_MGH7/s320/30267929.jpg" width="212" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Bella can't bring herself to talk about these things, though. Her grief is larger than words."</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">“Months later, in a different world, Nechuma will look back on this evening, the last Passover when they were nearly all together, and wish with every cell in her body that she could relive it. She will remember the familiar smell of the gefilte, the chink of silver on porcelain, the taste of parsley, briny and bitter on her tongue. She will long for the touch of Felicia's baby-soft skin, the weight of Jakob's hand on hers beneath the table, the wine-induced warmth in the pit of her belly that begged her to believe that everything might actually turn out all right in the end. She will remember how happy Halina had looked at the piano after their meal, how they had danced together, how they all spoke of missing Addy, assuring each other that he'd be home soon. She will replay it all, over and over again, every beautiful moment of it."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">-<i>We Were the Lucky Ones,</i> Georgia Hunter</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-56409980681598920852018-11-24T22:51:00.000-07:002018-12-30T13:33:19.602-07:00two years old.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCm0amaoetZ9jyfTy_RSjzJScmBKWLHy2SN-hBkU9OVE_W6D5p2nbGRmzSLBZ1cBCw8wphO5RrlgSPCZvpW-sIXzDAVEJSwBZMvUM_vK3-S02qJlL2PM6lMbf9VCGBx9G-Qnbe090YkZG/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCm0amaoetZ9jyfTy_RSjzJScmBKWLHy2SN-hBkU9OVE_W6D5p2nbGRmzSLBZ1cBCw8wphO5RrlgSPCZvpW-sIXzDAVEJSwBZMvUM_vK3-S02qJlL2PM6lMbf9VCGBx9G-Qnbe090YkZG/s640/IMG_2156.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Over the past few weeks leading up to Charlie's second birthday, I've thought a lot about what I saw someone post online a few years ago. To be honest, I can't remember who it was who wrote it, or where it had been posted or when. But what I do remember is that it was a mom, posting pictures of her children, captioned with the C.S. Lewis quote, <i>"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." </i><br />
<br />
Her post went into further detail, saying something to the effect that she didn't know how the future could top the first few years of her children's life. When I had read that, though at the time I didn't have any children of my own, it just kind of stuck out to me. To have a period of time in your life be so special, you wonder how anything will ever be that good again? And though I guess I could slightly relate in other ways, or with other chapters of life I had been in, it was hard to fully understand what this mom was trying to say ... until I had a child of my own.<br />
<br />
And here we are. The little love of my life turning two. And that's all I can think about. I can't imagine how anything could ever be better than what the first two years with Charlie have been, (though deep down I still have a feeling C.S. Lewis is right). Even then, I'd relive a thousand April 2008s, October 2010s, and January 2013s (HA for real these were some of the worst months of my life), <b><i>JUST</i></b> to have these two years with Charlie all over again. They've been everything to me.<br />
<br />
So Happy Birthday Charlie Max Bingham! You’ve brought me more happiness than I deserve. I love you forever.Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-53710526133307009182018-11-18T22:54:00.000-07:002018-12-28T22:54:33.772-07:00sunday thoughts.My sister shared this with me, and I liked it so much I thought I'd repost it here:<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPV5c8lc_BCpqIr0ACppYSvvUjJn9w7Ax-M5pJxUCXezGCjqvRs4PqIaVA9hXkXZLb0haoWxmotdWo4AHcWANlXpeoRUIoFD7dIOZeVo3UXrhCwZT-uQgH9IUO8zJOGzJexrByVq3Zifw/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPV5c8lc_BCpqIr0ACppYSvvUjJn9w7Ax-M5pJxUCXezGCjqvRs4PqIaVA9hXkXZLb0haoWxmotdWo4AHcWANlXpeoRUIoFD7dIOZeVo3UXrhCwZT-uQgH9IUO8zJOGzJexrByVq3Zifw/s640/IMG_1963.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-55565845795456428662018-11-01T20:07:00.002-06:002018-11-01T20:34:30.887-06:00all things fall <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPa4F0Nen6ZE9sJ1EKHUqTKNOe2Kwbe4vpojpz3AKN2i3PhyphenhyphenZyZraDjMGe8NitCRc94P1o5h-AG1S1_LhLnm31wS5n0QjK1ndRTZELvFiQhNYFItcl0OsP1Ms6D5_Tb6eUqJ5lrU4SnfG/s1600/0-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPa4F0Nen6ZE9sJ1EKHUqTKNOe2Kwbe4vpojpz3AKN2i3PhyphenhyphenZyZraDjMGe8NitCRc94P1o5h-AG1S1_LhLnm31wS5n0QjK1ndRTZELvFiQhNYFItcl0OsP1Ms6D5_Tb6eUqJ5lrU4SnfG/s640/0-25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
It's hard to believe how fast life goes by these days. Earlier this afternoon I was reading from a journal I kept in college, and I had agonized at 19 how my life was just flying by. Well, if it was true then, it most certainly is true now. I guess maybe that's why I always get sad about getting older. Not because I'm aging (well, partly) but mostly because I really want to soak in all the chapters of life; that's hard to do when in the blink of an eye you're already onto the next one.<br />
Clearly, I'm nostalgic and sentimental to a fault.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here are some pictures from the last two months. I've said it before, October is in my top three favorite months of the year. There is ALWAYS something to do, something to make festive, and best of all: it's the prologue to Thanksgiving and Christmas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zqrWRH3jis4jR2ngkOuhv8RSYSqxgELd5psq9v_Q2VlnmsW3SHNVja3eVafnjgBBk1EXRGOTYdFFvJZ3CqbdS5YiPncTTF_GG2tyk_wXzPDIKFhGQbjcr07JEHYVRkpNGXBNdE-T_vhW/s1600/0-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="554" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zqrWRH3jis4jR2ngkOuhv8RSYSqxgELd5psq9v_Q2VlnmsW3SHNVja3eVafnjgBBk1EXRGOTYdFFvJZ3CqbdS5YiPncTTF_GG2tyk_wXzPDIKFhGQbjcr07JEHYVRkpNGXBNdE-T_vhW/s640/0-23.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KgD6WVuGD26leVm5JHjg37CDd4xxPozPGp3R2TzmnAD_0ZuBk5Nb5Dj3q0vE6-rP09EJUNhzPlos4GLsQJPSW_4T0cxdUceH6gJcF4TYT6LgxHtL60YRwQz4z0lED1FF8vB96tyniQD2/s1600/0-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KgD6WVuGD26leVm5JHjg37CDd4xxPozPGp3R2TzmnAD_0ZuBk5Nb5Dj3q0vE6-rP09EJUNhzPlos4GLsQJPSW_4T0cxdUceH6gJcF4TYT6LgxHtL60YRwQz4z0lED1FF8vB96tyniQD2/s640/0-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
First off - Halloween. I was dying. Kids in costumes (mainly Charlie dressing up as Mickey Mouse) might be the death of me. As I'm sure you've heard any new-ish parent declare, holidays with children are a million times better. By the end of the night Charlie had three suckers in his mouth at a time. I'd say Halloween was a hit in his book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMYOEroVCoNhNZokx3YmJaTjcAfejPkb0hoA-dqHpT4Joe5gWOVPg90ga6gegkK6ffNCkRXsN-Rh5RtGJwUHzWdQwa_b6UthwnZQmZtPHdaj3O9UKbciJO8RnJiP-C1Ccm-54ZvKac1ud/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="907" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMYOEroVCoNhNZokx3YmJaTjcAfejPkb0hoA-dqHpT4Joe5gWOVPg90ga6gegkK6ffNCkRXsN-Rh5RtGJwUHzWdQwa_b6UthwnZQmZtPHdaj3O9UKbciJO8RnJiP-C1Ccm-54ZvKac1ud/s640/0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_IGYtoFL7P3OGUBWfGCZjdPnskgMBblErbNRa4Qqknrb3N0tAPObrFWNgbBGmZ19K0HtCT0hgeaO4fI4m8tBxXny7zIiEor_ClJJHYCIAXjnBZnQYSG9TzLpbAsyKm2sE1MjSHTMOanV/s1600/0-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_IGYtoFL7P3OGUBWfGCZjdPnskgMBblErbNRa4Qqknrb3N0tAPObrFWNgbBGmZ19K0HtCT0hgeaO4fI4m8tBxXny7zIiEor_ClJJHYCIAXjnBZnQYSG9TzLpbAsyKm2sE1MjSHTMOanV/s640/0-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Harry Potter Escape Room. This was so much more fun than I had anticipated. I always say if I could erase my memory of one thing, it would either be the HP books or the Friday Night Lights series, just so I could experience it all over again as if it were the first time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPwAIQGMQ8VEL878pESP_mlegsvKgww3nDvDFRGlXN46v8Gg1OarisxqjJuFRsfOaxVsNen_BSmvmI_EZpbaqWOMWMvL8WgpqJym89TxG7NYAdYtouG6ZxexSMi7dGLKVtuCqii05m60E/s1600/0-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPwAIQGMQ8VEL878pESP_mlegsvKgww3nDvDFRGlXN46v8Gg1OarisxqjJuFRsfOaxVsNen_BSmvmI_EZpbaqWOMWMvL8WgpqJym89TxG7NYAdYtouG6ZxexSMi7dGLKVtuCqii05m60E/s640/0-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhXJ0EGA5wCXnMKp4AMAaZGX4tVVo6-do12xBcN8fLh4dbqjNHkyoMrdvk7Y40qlY2faIVpdIQJbCOhV-DrdpmLXDLqE5Ij_-jVG4dLSZ1Db4jxJtbKNk-ctVG7BumbvfkEUpotqEYTD/s1600/0-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhXJ0EGA5wCXnMKp4AMAaZGX4tVVo6-do12xBcN8fLh4dbqjNHkyoMrdvk7Y40qlY2faIVpdIQJbCOhV-DrdpmLXDLqE5Ij_-jVG4dLSZ1Db4jxJtbKNk-ctVG7BumbvfkEUpotqEYTD/s640/0-5.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
We had a weekend in Park City with family this year, and I lovvvved going on afternoon walks with Charlie and my dad around town. Another highlight: one night, as everyone watched The Sixth Sense, Ken and I spent two hours watching all those fail videos you can find on Instagram until we literally almost passed out because we were laughing so hard. Once you go down that rabbit hole, it is hard to get out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshA8y8jDNXZt_O4q1Y8HN-AcS4dDtU8IikHvCH4AX-_N_pKMDn1tSfBYudjWZ3eziIWTzaR1ZYO-JtxccNjObZBLWPAf0hY6S89sd_At7dsd_rehjoopsLzR87tDtkDiM7jrwlWudebCH/s1600/0-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshA8y8jDNXZt_O4q1Y8HN-AcS4dDtU8IikHvCH4AX-_N_pKMDn1tSfBYudjWZ3eziIWTzaR1ZYO-JtxccNjObZBLWPAf0hY6S89sd_At7dsd_rehjoopsLzR87tDtkDiM7jrwlWudebCH/s640/0-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My mom is the queen of making everything cute. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here she is helping me get ready for a friends dinner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoN92CzRFCgImN6ck7IwljA1AS5o0dYXyCkHzuwUYLa6Vk3viDaGzyaY0XLv825ifJqxaqb8XhvTVXWZmQI5qAlTWScIcQiwxI9Sju9ba6KZgRJpoOXzW6C3P_A2AkBcFxvpO9cltek6kd/s1600/IMG_1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoN92CzRFCgImN6ck7IwljA1AS5o0dYXyCkHzuwUYLa6Vk3viDaGzyaY0XLv825ifJqxaqb8XhvTVXWZmQI5qAlTWScIcQiwxI9Sju9ba6KZgRJpoOXzW6C3P_A2AkBcFxvpO9cltek6kd/s640/IMG_1951.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOVIIybF60FnGMpqDEsv3qQaarY_pXyYH6Nj-nxAH2ROnxCzEHoVUy2A5X8noKW2UPpWZch1e4zET_SiEt_sOqSHaM2dfVxxHv5b5ioC_4yNRoAIQq9M4gUfszqK3ei0pVIwW9WsCaP3s/s1600/0-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="559" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOVIIybF60FnGMpqDEsv3qQaarY_pXyYH6Nj-nxAH2ROnxCzEHoVUy2A5X8noKW2UPpWZch1e4zET_SiEt_sOqSHaM2dfVxxHv5b5ioC_4yNRoAIQq9M4gUfszqK3ei0pVIwW9WsCaP3s/s640/0-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Witches night out, trips to the pumpkin patch, etc etc etc. Needless to say, we tried to fit in as much as we could while the weather was still decent and the leaves still colorful. I hope all the falls in my life are as happy as this one has been.<br />
<br />Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-63892226745967276302018-10-29T20:13:00.000-06:002018-11-01T20:47:52.852-06:00the love song of all love songs.<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-GNag4m9tk" width="580"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have always loved this song. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ever since I heard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUTH1plKYhw"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Celine Dion and Clive Griffin's</span></a> version years ago,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I promised myself it would be my wedding song.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Welllll now Michael Buble has just released his cover and I'm dead.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dead in this case might actually be an understatement.<br />
<br />
And even though the music video below isn't a love song necessarily,<br />
(unrequited love? love gone by? does that count?)<br />
His other new song has been on repeat:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UiQcrFX7sYU" style="text-align: start;" width="580"></iframe></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-11255199200880952912018-10-26T13:57:00.000-06:002018-10-26T14:16:34.601-06:00drives up the canyon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMd9ORIBDI8KNBbdnmjQYvbifNQrv8P6zfl2oV2RNR3aM-3aRHYyCFotWUDZCMUQ47WkM6dwCUWPDWplLWHcpbARjy2IQnZ7TK8_eRZl3YSwVSKtr2Cwns-vBAPIUDhM9Ek4XxhiXTYjI/s1600/9B4C7834-3094-494A-BD1E-49610273A624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMd9ORIBDI8KNBbdnmjQYvbifNQrv8P6zfl2oV2RNR3aM-3aRHYyCFotWUDZCMUQ47WkM6dwCUWPDWplLWHcpbARjy2IQnZ7TK8_eRZl3YSwVSKtr2Cwns-vBAPIUDhM9Ek4XxhiXTYjI/s640/9B4C7834-3094-494A-BD1E-49610273A624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Fall in Utah is unreal. I remember as a freshman while I attended BYU Hawaii, my roommate and I would buy fall candles and treats during October to make it feel and even smell a little bit more like home. The next few years while living in Provo, we'd ride our bikes down the canyon trail or take <a href="https://thoughtsfromthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/10/taking-it-all-in.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">fall picnics</span> </a>up near Aspen Grove. As a mom, I have tried to take Charlie on drives (at least as long as he's willing to chill in his car seat) up through Sundance, Snowbird, Millcreek, etc. Even just driving through the Avenues after church a few Sundays ago was beautiful with all the fall-colored leaves blowing through the sidewalks and streets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesB3Y1tM12K9DoS8uKuMe5fw_ZWR1V54Vr6dTy7oz-WUbVzvXlGpq03l8En6K60dWoBoP5PWI5NffXVu_b9Rihtyp1UjMuaZA-tqnxQkeHlf2Fn9koLLqsrrfH9TJ4l5Y5ILepkCAIQ5p/s1600/E195E7A4-31C3-4E65-95BC-65864A091C4F_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesB3Y1tM12K9DoS8uKuMe5fw_ZWR1V54Vr6dTy7oz-WUbVzvXlGpq03l8En6K60dWoBoP5PWI5NffXVu_b9Rihtyp1UjMuaZA-tqnxQkeHlf2Fn9koLLqsrrfH9TJ4l5Y5ILepkCAIQ5p/s640/E195E7A4-31C3-4E65-95BC-65864A091C4F_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Anyway, needless to say, Fall is a favorite in my book, which is why I have some pictures to post.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49omD7TzSDtxPz2FPWcFh8zkioDWc2LqXnxy0HTK1BEshdq6uiycWPoywYUBsUxUh1VP4IpArJ617eEa4LD71gH-IDGYur0eL5cHerIfNrpmfCIeAuB34Rm6h7eUtV6NGS2tevHLd-Rxz/s1600/4803D7CF-3474-486E-BC39-43198105A6A2+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49omD7TzSDtxPz2FPWcFh8zkioDWc2LqXnxy0HTK1BEshdq6uiycWPoywYUBsUxUh1VP4IpArJ617eEa4LD71gH-IDGYur0eL5cHerIfNrpmfCIeAuB34Rm6h7eUtV6NGS2tevHLd-Rxz/s640/4803D7CF-3474-486E-BC39-43198105A6A2+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's not forget the mandatory Diet Coke from McDonalds that must accompany me on our drives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP5j3bSxUYefYOHJFwNKfGdHDxY3LDQ0-JSgHyMOO5BeJFEoEvbxHPHEKtVfWF3uDdzfFdOk4Q8KLpm29sSVdkoXzLooPqjvSXdxKkyCcl23lMy2Pv5xThxc54hSoT6zMskONGysL_ZPP/s1600/901F91F7-5B4A-45F4-8BCE-62628E10863E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP5j3bSxUYefYOHJFwNKfGdHDxY3LDQ0-JSgHyMOO5BeJFEoEvbxHPHEKtVfWF3uDdzfFdOk4Q8KLpm29sSVdkoXzLooPqjvSXdxKkyCcl23lMy2Pv5xThxc54hSoT6zMskONGysL_ZPP/s640/901F91F7-5B4A-45F4-8BCE-62628E10863E.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I may have also perfected my Autumn vibes playlist this year, in case anyone is interested:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb_e5UkI7ak"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Superhero // Lauv</span></a></span> (um, this music video made me CRY)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow // Coldplay (that's always a given)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fire & Rain // James Taylor</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American Pie // Don McLean</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So Long, So Long // Dashboard Confessional </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Wind // Cat Stevens</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n95A6G9IxlM"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Spirit in the Sky // Norman Greenbaum</span></a> (not kidding, this song <b>has</b> <b>to be played</b> at my funeral. When we signed up for life insurance I told Max I had a funeral game plan and this was it)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Witchcraft // Frank Sinatra</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kiss Me // Ed Sheeran</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stormy Weather // Etta James</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfmQD1bAUg0"><span style="color: #ea9999;">American Girl</span> </a>// Luke Sital-Singh</div>
<br />Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-29014432212707237742018-09-09T16:54:00.000-06:002018-09-09T17:16:36.212-06:00fried chicken friends for life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKWmBfiDgFeyfe6TDDP3bv2e-SFV4JkGlL11hFqAksvUpPyEjJSW5DSYSswPgH-Vsrp3LuIQwqNVtvpW_VPR3DRFdrRZhvyiDLF7AAxsrb2Iw1BoOjlHwkHJtR5Hi6xQjoJrhRMD_gIG1/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-09+at+4.49.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="896" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKWmBfiDgFeyfe6TDDP3bv2e-SFV4JkGlL11hFqAksvUpPyEjJSW5DSYSswPgH-Vsrp3LuIQwqNVtvpW_VPR3DRFdrRZhvyiDLF7AAxsrb2Iw1BoOjlHwkHJtR5Hi6xQjoJrhRMD_gIG1/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-09-09+at+4.49.53+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(You can read this story my mom shared in the Deseret News <a href="https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900013671/my-most-influential-teacher-the-companionship-of-the-spirit.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">here</span></a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love that they gave my dad photo cred haha)</div>
<br />
A few weeks ago I logged onto an old email account and found this email my mom sent to me years ago when she still lived in New Zealand. I had sent her an online news story about a girl who only ate chicken nuggets for like, 17 years straight or something, and this is what she had to say:<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">Oh Kelsie Lou, that is frightening and it's a lesson for you to learn: it's time to eat like a grown-up. I will be VERY proud of you if you will eat something new each week. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">I don't want to be a grandmother to malnourished children with scurvy. They will be on the news as the orphans of the arrested </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">woman who only fed her children turkey and cheese. You could get life for that...and if you're in prison you will automatically </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">be excommunicated, your husband will most likely divorce you and you will be homeless when you get out as a ninety year old woman. Y</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">ou will also be penniless. You will end up living in Liberty Park and most likely you will be stabbed to death. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;">So PLEASE, to save yourself these miseries, eat like a grown-up.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
In a nutshell that email explains my mom perfectly. She is funny and fun. She isn't afraid to be goofy or silly and always likes to laugh. She is beautiful (inside and out) and nearly all the boys I ever dated mentioned that one or two, or seventeen thousand times. She's literally the world's best cook (I'm not kidding, anything she cooks turns to gold), and she cares about taking care of others. For her birthday she asks us to serve, instead of giving her any gifts. Oh, and she's the best grandma. My dad will have to retire ten years later because everything goes to Charlie these days.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is all just a really long way to say I love my Mother Dearest more than we both love Tim Riggins, fried chicken and white bread combined. She's the best. <span style="color: #ea9999;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-12367925344760005852018-08-29T18:43:00.001-06:002018-08-30T21:09:42.664-06:00summer 2018Today was a day where I said a few words under my breath that would've gotten me grounded growing up. I think I had five cans of Diet Coke. Charlie tripped and fell and had his first swollen lip. And finally, while at a splash pad, I unknowingly stood over a water spout and was shocked when water shot up my dress, and as Mandie put it, experienced my first real enema. It was a lot to take in. Literally.<br />
<br />
ANYWAY, I'm binge watching Botched (who gets a nose job in a strip mall!?), waiting for Max to finish his rounds at Huntsman (he loves it), and decided I'd get on to write an end of summer post (even though it's still August). So here we are. Here we go. Summer 2018.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Upstate NY:</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTHTy8MlOwhX8TJEvpBSwrsVLCYrykCyhbHvCZU4fgezliJJJTLrpnh41mr9DiXpU3G5YnZMTaXfQhuRTvPVzyMx0pZogA0Cauy3ISTT7wloEZjzhyphenhyphenzl5ZOUKRPI8vbeRmYvdaC5mEBVs/s1600/unnamed-6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTHTy8MlOwhX8TJEvpBSwrsVLCYrykCyhbHvCZU4fgezliJJJTLrpnh41mr9DiXpU3G5YnZMTaXfQhuRTvPVzyMx0pZogA0Cauy3ISTT7wloEZjzhyphenhyphenzl5ZOUKRPI8vbeRmYvdaC5mEBVs/s640/unnamed-6.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
After a few days in NYC, we went upstate. This was taken on a rainy Sunday in Pennsylvania at the Priesthood Restoration site. While the rest of my family were walking around with our cute sister missionary tour guide, Charlie and I wandered outside. It was both a beautiful and spiritual experience.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPIYakSgputMZRGAKxMrWaPYiLSkvfSBN737gtKJg_SV_fKyz7ejrvzJGxTIgrB8gq3GCfTEP4nsI-N5WbJKeL7V0O4xqD3_JfLURkp7R5IDoqlf21-gjyGtahzhZyEAwHM8QdFRSKaQ9/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPIYakSgputMZRGAKxMrWaPYiLSkvfSBN737gtKJg_SV_fKyz7ejrvzJGxTIgrB8gq3GCfTEP4nsI-N5WbJKeL7V0O4xqD3_JfLURkp7R5IDoqlf21-gjyGtahzhZyEAwHM8QdFRSKaQ9/s640/unnamed-5.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Sacred Grove.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P_MwZahmW8Jg6qCAv3AcB1FAZFASC0HOVZcrk6Bg4h17g67wyAv_gChUEn5FdjP3I1tvfAJwlaPdhEeFaF6XfHYAqTVtaRR0gphmBNLilntjfUlWwez3uiKYXYFkLQ_4qxK2cc3ToXea/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P_MwZahmW8Jg6qCAv3AcB1FAZFASC0HOVZcrk6Bg4h17g67wyAv_gChUEn5FdjP3I1tvfAJwlaPdhEeFaF6XfHYAqTVtaRR0gphmBNLilntjfUlWwez3uiKYXYFkLQ_4qxK2cc3ToXea/s640/unnamed-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Niagra Falls. I lovvvved upstate NY almost as much as the city. It almost makes me wish we lived back east. Maybe during residency? Eh?<br />
<br />
<u><b>Friends Birthday Weekend:</b></u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ye9b3kVlwYlk3Sm-bQx5HXdOy3r-Szfj3iK1H5JUc4OvO1k0s6Fz7JT7aTJ7zVq37__jA8aSfKCY21ivlkS3wpK_4Zzk5Kf2OkHRaNOA53HNoMr2_rYISUxvLKRvSWO28q_Wo4zHzYWh/s1600/0-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ye9b3kVlwYlk3Sm-bQx5HXdOy3r-Szfj3iK1H5JUc4OvO1k0s6Fz7JT7aTJ7zVq37__jA8aSfKCY21ivlkS3wpK_4Zzk5Kf2OkHRaNOA53HNoMr2_rYISUxvLKRvSWO28q_Wo4zHzYWh/s640/0-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
With a few exceptions, this is the last summer a group of our friends are going to be in our twenties. How. Why. When. Did. This. Happen. Age is just a number, I know, I know. But it's insane to think we're all at this stage in life sometimes, or at least when we're together. When we're busy in our own day-to-day lives, our ages make sense. But when we get together we're forever 21.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTg34PKVuNaS1Jh-d1gsac5WRibGtdzKVkrl9VPZ6g6TAqg7EjCzjsbMeBkn8mAudW0EbFqg-Ox1KzRkVUnM0lNZtmVx4QivDzHvDbwY1SZhwDppLmvS9gxbH-0VOvd44geIaKoRvWR1t/s1600/0-8.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTg34PKVuNaS1Jh-d1gsac5WRibGtdzKVkrl9VPZ6g6TAqg7EjCzjsbMeBkn8mAudW0EbFqg-Ox1KzRkVUnM0lNZtmVx4QivDzHvDbwY1SZhwDppLmvS9gxbH-0VOvd44geIaKoRvWR1t/s640/0-8.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Please note that Charlie and Willow are only TWO months apart. If I wasn't opposed to Charlie playing football, he'd make a great tight end.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQXTH5xuM5kGFr8_7FEVDf0LLxkp5TcHFJ3gM-_m1LteRQvNPN29WEkomb-iV5QJ_i8e0bBfvOFootpTvcFHwdlFImYL2jXUr95PGw8xMbPTeiNphS7G9Xq7j4eGGySIL0LRm3K5X1i9D/s1600/0-21.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQXTH5xuM5kGFr8_7FEVDf0LLxkp5TcHFJ3gM-_m1LteRQvNPN29WEkomb-iV5QJ_i8e0bBfvOFootpTvcFHwdlFImYL2jXUr95PGw8xMbPTeiNphS7G9Xq7j4eGGySIL0LRm3K5X1i9D/s640/0-21.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
So the "muddy buddies" got together to spend a weekend in St. George which included pedicures and karaoke, bean boozled, too much Fortnite, muddy buddies (of course), and Taco Bell. Unfortunately we never got around to our much anticipated discussion on Brigham Young and polygamy, but maybe next time.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Everything else:</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYI6SOcl06nzHPz8TNCLs1pEfXdt-AaA7mOb0ApYSnvxA68qAw15zuIQMYY1CSxC-FFTbWAcpB-BNEhKQj4w4CgxDf_G9871J9DwX8fcANYVnjHqpw_WA4r3VfS3BcPEEh5c2VtTMNZVa/s1600/0-3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYI6SOcl06nzHPz8TNCLs1pEfXdt-AaA7mOb0ApYSnvxA68qAw15zuIQMYY1CSxC-FFTbWAcpB-BNEhKQj4w4CgxDf_G9871J9DwX8fcANYVnjHqpw_WA4r3VfS3BcPEEh5c2VtTMNZVa/s640/0-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl1VEZ8mq5m74Z2NpZq9Q8ogLcp5mnzm4rCCMeRV-IaPM3S2P8DR2CDITSy1IgKIyPSWTUqMT7qqwrvSmKSsoORpSpU6SD0npO4dlDJDJssQCIh_zjV-8WzP4z088ndgy_V-VhvOYiH-C/s1600/0-6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl1VEZ8mq5m74Z2NpZq9Q8ogLcp5mnzm4rCCMeRV-IaPM3S2P8DR2CDITSy1IgKIyPSWTUqMT7qqwrvSmKSsoORpSpU6SD0npO4dlDJDJssQCIh_zjV-8WzP4z088ndgy_V-VhvOYiH-C/s640/0-6.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lots of library trips (visiting Max while he studied for boards), birthdays, splash pads, weekend getaways, concerts, carnivals, fireworks, late nights and early mornings.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-nE45uUVkDtoFtVH1AVAeky-AotIJemAwEjHswZnG9q4WI5okPD2HWHYH4lXiXs0LXz98qMRYPJmAxt1IwzugHV5VIyQYuQiAqmTZng7Rl6Ci52CvNUD4LXIuafNMzza4_g1GopJVHT5/s1600/Desktop22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-nE45uUVkDtoFtVH1AVAeky-AotIJemAwEjHswZnG9q4WI5okPD2HWHYH4lXiXs0LXz98qMRYPJmAxt1IwzugHV5VIyQYuQiAqmTZng7Rl6Ci52CvNUD4LXIuafNMzza4_g1GopJVHT5/s640/Desktop22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Turning 29 was as stressful as turning 26, so I had the following musts on my birthday list: eat muddy buddies, watch Meet Joe Black, go to Ruth's Diner, and skinny dip. Check, check, check, check.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4B66shovHnRo6_rdt4YLGPHnU_56Vbhqv_cdXHsUv_DWy_rzhQ6BLJlFfDfPbb3zqN65G27ImbRiaNyhMYb21rmQ05YvocmZs8CWPeLxZe4f4Rml1zDOQtD7Wu1KFQILVIlH4QL3GuaC/s1600/0-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4B66shovHnRo6_rdt4YLGPHnU_56Vbhqv_cdXHsUv_DWy_rzhQ6BLJlFfDfPbb3zqN65G27ImbRiaNyhMYb21rmQ05YvocmZs8CWPeLxZe4f4Rml1zDOQtD7Wu1KFQILVIlH4QL3GuaC/s640/0-12.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Heaston's only mission was to touch Jared Leto, but it was Jared Leto who ended up touching Heaston.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZFHk2zWvuC9hKwSTD5J5DjYwU2rCc4txn3X8pCZTMa7Mf9sdfCCfWn2tmBV5G2-RxMwXT-SnqlH-7FKLxmROUa-PMVzEgBYVs51bqpa5mBhaxYo6Xw0xew8mOLiD2IT8zN27PmB5Mgdz/s1600/0-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZFHk2zWvuC9hKwSTD5J5DjYwU2rCc4txn3X8pCZTMa7Mf9sdfCCfWn2tmBV5G2-RxMwXT-SnqlH-7FKLxmROUa-PMVzEgBYVs51bqpa5mBhaxYo6Xw0xew8mOLiD2IT8zN27PmB5Mgdz/s640/0-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY054Can2sKqKVDTLvX1yM8y8HBT9YQHSDxzcROwnapuIfem4D7ew57DVmApaKwGHJPKSoeh3kObmoB1NHTjzEtxAhI0HNOnfWMFTgOGQnhuOHF-gfgyk8ZBEX-HV2kLza6IKRh8pHz-tP/s1600/0-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY054Can2sKqKVDTLvX1yM8y8HBT9YQHSDxzcROwnapuIfem4D7ew57DVmApaKwGHJPKSoeh3kObmoB1NHTjzEtxAhI0HNOnfWMFTgOGQnhuOHF-gfgyk8ZBEX-HV2kLza6IKRh8pHz-tP/s640/0-9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lots of JW trips, as always.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZxJSTqW83plYtfcA8G9pLwLWC_zQJw3s2p6nPUPlRt6axvYm6P4zspZCtDljhjG6-3EkkVYTC7H-lywD4OS3ovQylJ9P0Liwm11bpNznhsyscECa-xKxv96R6Hg1LzLDo3ASITsn0aqo/s1600/0-15.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZxJSTqW83plYtfcA8G9pLwLWC_zQJw3s2p6nPUPlRt6axvYm6P4zspZCtDljhjG6-3EkkVYTC7H-lywD4OS3ovQylJ9P0Liwm11bpNznhsyscECa-xKxv96R6Hg1LzLDo3ASITsn0aqo/s640/0-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWElKGvE4L0_48U_aRVD9yye1nGwhqaQEDUzNfYikS6sq_-68uqTQHdzZC7zf1P-JuQO4dA5nRmf3sjh2bsTssarJrkw5yIZT08PScfu7pztuW0YHWu9VK7AViAHvSnNc9nvduwd4l3iTV/s1600/0-16.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWElKGvE4L0_48U_aRVD9yye1nGwhqaQEDUzNfYikS6sq_-68uqTQHdzZC7zf1P-JuQO4dA5nRmf3sjh2bsTssarJrkw5yIZT08PScfu7pztuW0YHWu9VK7AViAHvSnNc9nvduwd4l3iTV/s640/0-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbMAHWhp21PpWXqTGez0EfHLiLpmAvV2HMbw5RrAiHRLdznhDnTkJON0LI8KBQvUGngoJf1blf-HMT26OlylWRAzLXXt_htPOKXLbnuo5thuh9N2FgRS0RuAK2sxSJMpdY1V9NY0SJrf_/s1600/0-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbMAHWhp21PpWXqTGez0EfHLiLpmAvV2HMbw5RrAiHRLdznhDnTkJON0LI8KBQvUGngoJf1blf-HMT26OlylWRAzLXXt_htPOKXLbnuo5thuh9N2FgRS0RuAK2sxSJMpdY1V9NY0SJrf_/s640/0-10.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL636TkV3_KweCFMfexEZTSaXypXuO_anyUZYWrRNqEsTQrThZJEk0TOput_Xq7ft7bHVx2jA_Swq81Qdcai7tmeNa3EZMVT-VZq6LPLsjVnip7sJQ9X4Z4XEWjzSX_sV_QT-7Hjud4tow/s1600/0-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL636TkV3_KweCFMfexEZTSaXypXuO_anyUZYWrRNqEsTQrThZJEk0TOput_Xq7ft7bHVx2jA_Swq81Qdcai7tmeNa3EZMVT-VZq6LPLsjVnip7sJQ9X4Z4XEWjzSX_sV_QT-7Hjud4tow/s640/0-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53SUUiVEL1c6OVg55RgEZarYxHrbJnSmquYjFKMUqVn7m3J4GqyslesT7PLLVF5g_fbedWMUDHwtOh1uiUmYIHQTY6xgLqgItw-9scEXeCZ9Kt6RXDGBnCw9negBaaQzYrWDpDX4qChPF/s1600/0-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53SUUiVEL1c6OVg55RgEZarYxHrbJnSmquYjFKMUqVn7m3J4GqyslesT7PLLVF5g_fbedWMUDHwtOh1uiUmYIHQTY6xgLqgItw-9scEXeCZ9Kt6RXDGBnCw9negBaaQzYrWDpDX4qChPF/s640/0-19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've finally accepted the fact that I will never have a clean house for another 18 years, at least with this little boy around.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ifOTso-BWRWDPHYzbp3bRkBisIRD0hfMVh_7z5r8_WeC18zjy_wd3ZnqXPSCu4YuV01FEGCJQ4QpPQW9dhRNAEoxCGThWlPLUNxmEf85GEXfnpMPBDJBoFr0OvWNZVsfotqgSDdtBgox/s1600/0-17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ifOTso-BWRWDPHYzbp3bRkBisIRD0hfMVh_7z5r8_WeC18zjy_wd3ZnqXPSCu4YuV01FEGCJQ4QpPQW9dhRNAEoxCGThWlPLUNxmEf85GEXfnpMPBDJBoFr0OvWNZVsfotqgSDdtBgox/s640/0-17.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3pxZjk0Wef2EbVIRCfWoDR0Y1cJ7W7kXDndzTR_7vayvwS9HgPiii0xTfJS_V-d6c4vdBBbr9ZlcORBK06PAv27IyntH33s7AyTTGiN36MaAuxp6EovOZL7p-NLvcHH-6PAfRM2J5Jj3/s1600/0-18.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3pxZjk0Wef2EbVIRCfWoDR0Y1cJ7W7kXDndzTR_7vayvwS9HgPiii0xTfJS_V-d6c4vdBBbr9ZlcORBK06PAv27IyntH33s7AyTTGiN36MaAuxp6EovOZL7p-NLvcHH-6PAfRM2J5Jj3/s640/0-18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that's a wrap. I can't hardly believe fall is around the corner, but I'd say we're ready for it. </div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-3974235755618498722018-07-27T13:02:00.000-06:002018-07-30T14:54:07.779-06:00the difference of a year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfjhP6ZYf5H4DVoTzjaziqYeVVNfUG9-Hsy_mxfdxZEH0Xdr3kr-qlIvG7dQYiprQkxNJ7PT1B-zcihg9iH0G1kIPT8k8asTwOLuj07984pKYzMfz9Fx5gldR81OWVV9xHE2toutiXCEz/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfjhP6ZYf5H4DVoTzjaziqYeVVNfUG9-Hsy_mxfdxZEH0Xdr3kr-qlIvG7dQYiprQkxNJ7PT1B-zcihg9iH0G1kIPT8k8asTwOLuj07984pKYzMfz9Fx5gldR81OWVV9xHE2toutiXCEz/s640/unnamed-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
July 2017</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gcQKo4vMmMJliwA2icy4ftccwfVU69NyWdEz91tFPZ_BnDeKFvFE6ZSdB_7xAF1Bqt-R1RQpxjkUAJl0iZ2sDG1wCLQlrHIyXLtBuS27hq1X_k8-a-C8xTrSEjkLXzUrcwF1d6ZvrhIe/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gcQKo4vMmMJliwA2icy4ftccwfVU69NyWdEz91tFPZ_BnDeKFvFE6ZSdB_7xAF1Bqt-R1RQpxjkUAJl0iZ2sDG1wCLQlrHIyXLtBuS27hq1X_k8-a-C8xTrSEjkLXzUrcwF1d6ZvrhIe/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
July 2018</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Will someone please send me the science behind HOW it's even possible that so much can change within a year? How did he grow so fast? How did this happen? HOW!! I went from a messy baby who I could easily hold on my hip and who was just learning how to crawl, to this deliberate little tornado who climbs and scales up anything in sight just so he can jump, drive, or roll off. As a mom, </span><span style="text-align: left;">I swear I have suffered at least a dozen small heart attacks because of this.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlie is 100% boy through and through, and even with all the chaos such a little human can bring, I never could've imagined I would love someone the way I love him.</div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-69905109872857063502018-07-22T13:59:00.000-06:002018-07-29T15:30:47.129-06:00i shall not pass this way again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60fROe1Ahlpy-W53GPmOf5mOR0Qm665CsLi8ELZsTj22vMBT2MEe_icDwVegmo4F_mSwz-I8wuKOQu0DgVMshVDW2QvY5wwHNLAjMlgOWr962aQ6-5NGtzB7gXWwFvnDlE1pwFX2gYzqJ/s1600/unnamed-8.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60fROe1Ahlpy-W53GPmOf5mOR0Qm665CsLi8ELZsTj22vMBT2MEe_icDwVegmo4F_mSwz-I8wuKOQu0DgVMshVDW2QvY5wwHNLAjMlgOWr962aQ6-5NGtzB7gXWwFvnDlE1pwFX2gYzqJ/s640/unnamed-8.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; word-spacing: 0.1em;">
<li class="br" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I shall not pass this way again—</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although it bordered be with flowers,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although I rest in fragrant bowers,</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And hear the singing</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of song-birds winging</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To highest heaven their gladsome flight;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though moons are full and stars are bright,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And winds and waves are softly sighing,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While leafy trees make low replying;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though voices clear in joyous strain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Repeat a jubilant refrain;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Though rising suns their radiance throw</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>On summer’s green and winter’s snow,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>In such rare splendor that my heart</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Would ache from scenes like these to part;</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though beauties heighten,</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And life-lights brighten,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And joys proceed from every pain,—</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I shall not pass this way again.</span></li>
<li class="br" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Then let me pluck the flowers that blow,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>And let me listen as I go</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>To music rare</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>That fills the air;</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>And let hereafter</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Songs and laughter</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Fill every pause along the way;</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And to my spirit let me say:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“O soul, be happy; soon ’tis trod,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The path made thus for thee by God.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be happy, thou, and bless His name</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By whom such marvellous beauty came.”</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And let no chance by me be lost</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To kindness show at any cost.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>I shall not pass this way again.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Then let me now relieve some pain,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Remove some barrier from the road,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Or brighten someone’s heavy load;</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A helping hand to this one lend,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Then turn some other to befriend.</b></span></li>
<li class="br i1" style="margin-left: 2em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>O God, forgive</b></span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>That I now live</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>As if I might, sometime, return</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>To bless the weary ones that yearn</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>For help and comfort every day,—</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>For there be such along the way.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">O God, forgive that I have seen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The beauty only, have not been</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Awake to sorrow such as this;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That I have drunk the cup of bliss</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remembering not that those there be</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who drink the dregs of misery.</span></li>
<li class="br" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>I love the beauty of the scene,</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Would roam again o’er fields so green;</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>But since I may not, let me spend</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My strength for others to the end,—</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For those who tread on rock and stone,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And bear their burdens all alone,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who loiter not in leafy bowers,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nor hear the birds nor pluck the flowers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A larger kindness give to me,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A deeper love and sympathy;</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then, O, one day</span></li>
<li class="i1" style="margin-left: 2em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">May someone say—</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remembering a lessened pain—</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Would she could pass this way again.”</span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;">-Eva Rose York</li>
</ul>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-19828340058210728882018-07-16T13:43:00.000-06:002018-07-16T13:59:20.186-06:00i heart nyI've delayed writing this post mainly because I have over a hundred pictures to choose from and a million things to say about how much I loved our trip to NY.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4X8XwakeBAdVKJOLDlNJezlldVhh0joo82HzhfLZl7drlyUN5Htl_APASA4kqWLjL3kUzHMMaOp04AR7uSC8XFapb0QUvZJvHvsjoCndoVKg1lcNsXWZZXDfBqGKYSFI016gJybtOdhp/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4X8XwakeBAdVKJOLDlNJezlldVhh0joo82HzhfLZl7drlyUN5Htl_APASA4kqWLjL3kUzHMMaOp04AR7uSC8XFapb0QUvZJvHvsjoCndoVKg1lcNsXWZZXDfBqGKYSFI016gJybtOdhp/s640/IMG_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSuxu476J_eOZmqT6Adx7nTaRAAtCNyO6AhgQJ3oYCkaewsgRVMPTH6wM4YM1bV74iyJ_cJzoir1FOmftx0KzM57gfAYtTW0dXFOBJ5I6mFBNrIkEXtUg3ghUQtIOF2PrxnK_fBkghWUa/s1600/096127AD-FE1F-4762-B270-44F2F3F8A062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSuxu476J_eOZmqT6Adx7nTaRAAtCNyO6AhgQJ3oYCkaewsgRVMPTH6wM4YM1bV74iyJ_cJzoir1FOmftx0KzM57gfAYtTW0dXFOBJ5I6mFBNrIkEXtUg3ghUQtIOF2PrxnK_fBkghWUa/s640/096127AD-FE1F-4762-B270-44F2F3F8A062.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
Our hotel was directly across the street from Central Park, which is probably why I loved this trip so much more than any other time I've been before. I figured that taking a little one to the city might mean spending more time in a park than out and about, and I'm soo glad we planned plenty of time for that. In my next life I'd like to fall in love on Gapstow Bridge, please and thank you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkSf1P4mYCiBOfhYsp5TmOTm2csZWy-dEhp-61MZ9GIyJiUC8c3xwmzID3sh5Sj7RzdxsWIu536_XO6bN5nujC9RSgeFM5vu5mBOZc3lb33nqAdPAERHUemvCRMILE5J2_teNGdXyIgwl/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkSf1P4mYCiBOfhYsp5TmOTm2csZWy-dEhp-61MZ9GIyJiUC8c3xwmzID3sh5Sj7RzdxsWIu536_XO6bN5nujC9RSgeFM5vu5mBOZc3lb33nqAdPAERHUemvCRMILE5J2_teNGdXyIgwl/s640/IMG_0106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBmD3OYh3HOU_gJlLarkdlsv578S4fDsM_G0WOSaPXUV2lkVNW0zTRJu_yF0JEO1bi4G6PjO5_VqZt1zrummf2rGi41c17a7VjWVCQFLgVdu8LCJbfLoutgHHc4K7Ln-2BrGNnQ3MTnC1/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBmD3OYh3HOU_gJlLarkdlsv578S4fDsM_G0WOSaPXUV2lkVNW0zTRJu_yF0JEO1bi4G6PjO5_VqZt1zrummf2rGi41c17a7VjWVCQFLgVdu8LCJbfLoutgHHc4K7Ln-2BrGNnQ3MTnC1/s640/IMG_0104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuhuBZD6hfVwyBkb2-lmrLSxVMpjiaSyBu4kFf5Uv4PBk2opBJq2n4DjA-3KFFiY8Hjcf9Ryo2C0S_3zkcxpGnjRijXj9KqslpWe0Mx8YYDEX3HLrBZcdanH7X0lFFfScENvyZub6u8be/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuhuBZD6hfVwyBkb2-lmrLSxVMpjiaSyBu4kFf5Uv4PBk2opBJq2n4DjA-3KFFiY8Hjcf9Ryo2C0S_3zkcxpGnjRijXj9KqslpWe0Mx8YYDEX3HLrBZcdanH7X0lFFfScENvyZub6u8be/s640/IMG_0109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The view from Gapstow Bridge. I mean... can you blame me? The night I took this picture will forever be a highlight of my life. It entirely felt straight out of a movie.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_BrTOWtGo3SBKjZcnx-yjEvIdeAiesbD-dAJonVkn1VmyIDYW5ePy_jyTQHyQOgKU4OZH_yWEhD7jkoRT09nIQutm2h-DXl1vj78V0oPv4H8wWr1khPTVhKhqA-Zw8VbyjcdQQhirjUJ/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_BrTOWtGo3SBKjZcnx-yjEvIdeAiesbD-dAJonVkn1VmyIDYW5ePy_jyTQHyQOgKU4OZH_yWEhD7jkoRT09nIQutm2h-DXl1vj78V0oPv4H8wWr1khPTVhKhqA-Zw8VbyjcdQQhirjUJ/s640/IMG_0103.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then of course I insisted we stop by to try Momofuku ice cream and I was SORELY disappointed. Overrated is an understatement. At least Levain and Magnolia made up for it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qBH2TZtZl0vpp_cQNFYoMQogwbw5qSvyGQv6lGVWoKQBl1DeAqwLOH7FUO9HRvl5fJgTZQelQi4S8qNyn9Y3qXWHJZRUgdoe4QgxrPsMTt4EWLanobGTo2f-8vMfQU_pgJ_KKB-ZlF6y/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qBH2TZtZl0vpp_cQNFYoMQogwbw5qSvyGQv6lGVWoKQBl1DeAqwLOH7FUO9HRvl5fJgTZQelQi4S8qNyn9Y3qXWHJZRUgdoe4QgxrPsMTt4EWLanobGTo2f-8vMfQU_pgJ_KKB-ZlF6y/s640/IMG_0098.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
Other highlights include: Making a wish on top of the Empire State Building at midnight (Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan where you at), Broadway shows, Shake Shack (naturally), and reading books with Charlie at the midtown NY public library.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0NFxhwTDz9me2RkSnWchNos69OF6pD-yfmrwFYBcCmwOLYyP7xOOJQzC8kpkWCKP1KLCYZaPQ-TyoWYtWns1r1BH19hXySOAuJz7XwGmwFd73-BalNy4ge-HuSeWvtPo6xpMhUlRfXtv/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0NFxhwTDz9me2RkSnWchNos69OF6pD-yfmrwFYBcCmwOLYyP7xOOJQzC8kpkWCKP1KLCYZaPQ-TyoWYtWns1r1BH19hXySOAuJz7XwGmwFd73-BalNy4ge-HuSeWvtPo6xpMhUlRfXtv/s640/IMG_0100.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4qicIINUC5bLK0mYpCVsXFf7s9fwMtaQ2k5PBEtZPT1elt7Fhni0us6oQr8mX5spJ-fs2PvhyNE3dXAxigL8YgppncTzdEgj8NH_j_75ASh4kY5DuDJuMAPEW9PeqSObPEAN7hkpuva2/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4qicIINUC5bLK0mYpCVsXFf7s9fwMtaQ2k5PBEtZPT1elt7Fhni0us6oQr8mX5spJ-fs2PvhyNE3dXAxigL8YgppncTzdEgj8NH_j_75ASh4kY5DuDJuMAPEW9PeqSObPEAN7hkpuva2/s640/IMG_0102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXptyK-8iuelwjEr-u2kLq4VpJLoSYZqXsjfSMZQu1KuF8yuAfVbHT0RlL44ulk3DukVF9PA2I_pLkC9Stw-nh9Z504Ft-3PK3gt7c0LBrOWNR_k-jbRKx6QwPFRfMLWGcK_B_4AboIxyS/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXptyK-8iuelwjEr-u2kLq4VpJLoSYZqXsjfSMZQu1KuF8yuAfVbHT0RlL44ulk3DukVF9PA2I_pLkC9Stw-nh9Z504Ft-3PK3gt7c0LBrOWNR_k-jbRKx6QwPFRfMLWGcK_B_4AboIxyS/s640/IMG_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIE2FZY7e2gQH-2NO0R0fEAsmNUtyymW-u0OFMDmYZBJFEJPEIsZmc_lLRiEzmvhnc39LJy-wqOZlBWdlbOuQpp_L42uzULBh4jjC7onxpmvYtfBtd73mkrwRPzusFKorvbqhlbWcNFae/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIE2FZY7e2gQH-2NO0R0fEAsmNUtyymW-u0OFMDmYZBJFEJPEIsZmc_lLRiEzmvhnc39LJy-wqOZlBWdlbOuQpp_L42uzULBh4jjC7onxpmvYtfBtd73mkrwRPzusFKorvbqhlbWcNFae/s640/IMG_0094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last but certainly not least was the 9/11 Memorial. One of my friends had just gone a few weeks before I did and had told me all about it, but I still wasn't prepared for how moving it would be. I could have spent an entire day there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnNiYhBBw9tFR15XRw7iRdeWW-h5-lLoF-btP1wHiHSZfYPxV-97lyK8a-BqK-XMwiOB1aODw0bZzVTcCVYLnHHNqH7Y6jBhcwbcxUjxw50UxhYhvjgUQYqdW7YxfJjxP4a2f4zA9wfql/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="936" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnNiYhBBw9tFR15XRw7iRdeWW-h5-lLoF-btP1wHiHSZfYPxV-97lyK8a-BqK-XMwiOB1aODw0bZzVTcCVYLnHHNqH7Y6jBhcwbcxUjxw50UxhYhvjgUQYqdW7YxfJjxP4a2f4zA9wfql/s640/IMG_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqRftbfw9iLi-RRXYBPZcciIoIZT8Rw2O_XdTvruqOwe9R179L98xpAlFlKtzv2-ZG1qP81kWA2FdkOA7HEx2M3nDDRHT21d74oEL4niB2sEbUehdn2Et_uKbvupt32HClLVcLXc_1Bx/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqRftbfw9iLi-RRXYBPZcciIoIZT8Rw2O_XdTvruqOwe9R179L98xpAlFlKtzv2-ZG1qP81kWA2FdkOA7HEx2M3nDDRHT21d74oEL4niB2sEbUehdn2Et_uKbvupt32HClLVcLXc_1Bx/s640/IMG_0099.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTJtmvQKpwnySkW6AYevKNcP88Gp5NaphGRwOwBcJTxHgjkQpTvWfeQS_BeGUGOT67FEDxYB-GfOEWXh4DIrNkXHKLSk8MkSY1krCjvOBw4DvG6v0PfkUICSVRr6k-7hbmxUd_xJ2BWGZ/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTJtmvQKpwnySkW6AYevKNcP88Gp5NaphGRwOwBcJTxHgjkQpTvWfeQS_BeGUGOT67FEDxYB-GfOEWXh4DIrNkXHKLSk8MkSY1krCjvOBw4DvG6v0PfkUICSVRr6k-7hbmxUd_xJ2BWGZ/s640/IMG_0101.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
I'll stop myself here. I spent our entire drive upstate searching for two bedroom apartments on the Upper West and East (one day??) Side because I was convinced our next move needs to be to the city that never sleeps. I heart New York a million times over. And over.<br />
<br />
And over.Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-9261717681834270102018-07-04T09:06:00.000-06:002018-07-04T11:35:54.981-06:00happy independence day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCHbCXBST8A8PbsdxStzI_yutbeXCDVg9QR0R0pQaHW70f-SFvGRwQqO1sbTiZH46yZjsgKBZgYdKtyeKafAGekdek7-4-cJ0MjtoIkkoKcYMJdauMR0YTGH7gcu9bRa1xOXsXEPnNE8d/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="702" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCHbCXBST8A8PbsdxStzI_yutbeXCDVg9QR0R0pQaHW70f-SFvGRwQqO1sbTiZH46yZjsgKBZgYdKtyeKafAGekdek7-4-cJ0MjtoIkkoKcYMJdauMR0YTGH7gcu9bRa1xOXsXEPnNE8d/s640/unnamed-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">(whenever I drive by this house I stop to take pictures because it's all the house goals I dream of)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Even though John Adams wrote this passage to his wife 200 years ago, I think his foresight and the profound patriotism expressed is always worth posting on Independence Day:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">"I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;" title="Shows">hews</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this time forward forever more.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
You will think me transported with enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will <span title="triumph">triumph</span> in that Days Transaction."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Happy Fourth!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-29115175682828159042018-06-19T14:34:00.002-06:002018-07-29T14:14:35.672-06:00give me your tired, your poor<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT-KcxEIwE5GSgAQQzehyphenhyphenkVucN7OnntH2cHPSmLeeD6qTZDjPPAz8ySN-cOKS8W4p3751S3PBvJbowdOHA9nSMx10qty7iKwJ1gBJGHX5dgXS8ghhlaXOG3I0HmojSGhZ_d82mTYscv8Z/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT-KcxEIwE5GSgAQQzehyphenhyphenkVucN7OnntH2cHPSmLeeD6qTZDjPPAz8ySN-cOKS8W4p3751S3PBvJbowdOHA9nSMx10qty7iKwJ1gBJGHX5dgXS8ghhlaXOG3I0HmojSGhZ_d82mTYscv8Z/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Give me your tired, your poor,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">I lift my lamp beside the golden door!</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Though I remain mostly silent (at least on this blog) about my political opinions, seeing <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/06/18/i-wanted-to-stop-her-crying-the-image-of-a-migrant-child-that-broke-a-photographers-heart/?noredirect=on"><span style="color: #ea9999;">pictures of children</span></a> being taken away from their parents in response to the Trump Administration's "zero-tolerance" policy made me cry today. (By the way, contrary to popular belief, I didn't even cry when Romney lost the 2012 election). <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-immigration-children-audio-trump-border-patrol-separate-families-parents-detention-center-a8405501.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Hearing audio</span></a> taken from these detainment camps was even worse. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on about equality for women in the workplace, gun control, gay rights, religious freedom, immigration laws, border control, violence, racism, etc... but I’ll stop myself here. Although my Dad (who is mostly joking, by the way) teases me when he says that I've been brainwashed by the liberal media, I've recently thought a lot about why so many of my own political opinions have shifted over the last two years.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Though there are plenty of reasons I could list for this change, (i.e. Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Donald Trump), the one thing that has changed me most to my core was becoming a mom. Seeing the world through the eyes as a mother who is raising an 18 month old son; a son who will one day grow up and live in this world without me always right by his side, has changed my perspective on absolutely everything. Politics aren't just black or white, left or right anymore - these are policies affecting human beings. People worth just as much as I am in the <a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript"><span style="color: #ea9999;">eyes of our Creator</span></a>. They are mothers and sons. Fathers and daughters. And for the most part, these are people just trying to create a better life for their children, just like I am.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I won't take the time to argue why I think drastic steps need to be made when it comes to X,Y and Z (though if you know me you know I’d try); if anything, I've learned well enough by now that my opinions are just that, my own. And though I don't know or understand the complications behind every legality, policy or procedure, I try to remember that there are people just as genuine and concerned about one side of an issue, as there are on the other.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But most importantly, more than ever as a mom, I hope I continue to look at this world and its people a lot more compassionately than I ever have before. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Currently working with the Mitt Romney campaign here in Utah as we speak ;) <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://www.romneyforutah.com/"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Go Mitt</span></a>.</span></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-53442874303686200092018-06-05T12:55:00.003-06:002018-06-05T13:13:49.727-06:00May Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBuJN-jZfXTAG1JF0mVGgb76XVte7C4JhwveU1gXAlPcPJhb4SOpkxUH8GUacqkuKzKbxko0TIReFGekMp56IDJQfaxQ4t-Gux7JXGc6sRpPDU87E6fVzPLZ6HPq2E9yljbwWjB1vZ5mE/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="877" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBuJN-jZfXTAG1JF0mVGgb76XVte7C4JhwveU1gXAlPcPJhb4SOpkxUH8GUacqkuKzKbxko0TIReFGekMp56IDJQfaxQ4t-Gux7JXGc6sRpPDU87E6fVzPLZ6HPq2E9yljbwWjB1vZ5mE/s640/unnamed-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
MAY MAY MAY:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
First and foremost, it should be noted that though it is not pictured here, Max DID NOT forget Mother's Day this year. Blessings on blessings on blessings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4riLW0cwP362EbgXOHLvmFSjHOtjGHt0wbWU9iEq4ue3x4uEWHd1m1B-YS6XI9WTLvnPo3jOIGVw25ym1XPr20zA83YC1d5xG_Nh0xz8TmNAE2rnX0zG_ewWBJ2rr0V5vRq4NVSnwJNZ/s1600/B0BB77BD-9D2C-45D1-8DE6-D98AC085D843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="480" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4riLW0cwP362EbgXOHLvmFSjHOtjGHt0wbWU9iEq4ue3x4uEWHd1m1B-YS6XI9WTLvnPo3jOIGVw25ym1XPr20zA83YC1d5xG_Nh0xz8TmNAE2rnX0zG_ewWBJ2rr0V5vRq4NVSnwJNZ/s640/B0BB77BD-9D2C-45D1-8DE6-D98AC085D843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Also worth mentioning is a quick 48 hour girls trip to AZ to see Taylor Swift in concert on her opening night. I've never seen her before, but I thought she was magic live. I don't know how any artist can make their music or your experience seeing them feel personal in a stadium filled with 50,000+ people, but you really do with Miss Swift.<br />
<br />
Even better (if that's possible) than the concert, was the time I spent with some of my faaavorite cousins. We ate cheese crisps, coconut pancakes, played with makeup and I don't think I've ever consumed as much Diet Coke as I did in those 48 hours. I couldn't have had a better two days even if I tried.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_DJn7Eh8wKT3chQTeBMWEZY_l2DnxgT9nYdTdVL7QSvAy4XyC_d4TV3HczEsoMWnu4rzVEY11zpwg8ikqobL_Ov5JcEXWpI0SGGRj4lmaUZsMuvYjxeWtmOozGeTyU2WoH7c-BOQ2xz7/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="891" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_DJn7Eh8wKT3chQTeBMWEZY_l2DnxgT9nYdTdVL7QSvAy4XyC_d4TV3HczEsoMWnu4rzVEY11zpwg8ikqobL_Ov5JcEXWpI0SGGRj4lmaUZsMuvYjxeWtmOozGeTyU2WoH7c-BOQ2xz7/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Doesn't this picture make you want to cry? Unfortunately, while I was away for my quick trip, Charlie (who was still at home being watched by my parents, while Max studied for boards) became <i>realllly</i> sick. The night after I got home we had to take him into the ER for dehydration and, as with every other time we've been with him in the ER before, it was a nightmare. I cry every time he cries when they take his blood. I sit in the corner of the room, while Max holds him down, and I cry. Doctors appointments and immunizations are a cakewalk compared to what we have gone through in the ER so hallelujah! We survived that ordeal and he finally got back to being his usual self within a few days. All I can say is no more nursery for us, at least for now.</div>
<br />
Max also had a birthday in May in which he entered the final year of his 20s. What is this and how is this happening? It was a busy day with golf and lots of black and white cookies (his favorite), but unfortunately I couldn't do as much as I would have liked since we were leaving early the next morning for NYC.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfoZp6Bsg7N5lLky6oZZWH4X9bn_QVk2gesZp_feFxx6NjnuMtCt9jm4WwEbuZs1RuA5IMy6HWJJYdHryLqPpfXiBJAtAGpAbLkNYgKM_QyCuT0sCih38g_vrAUSrU7ZDaJJhwrOdT9mt/s1600/DC19C046-5596-4DFB-BBE0-AEABD7428A9B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfoZp6Bsg7N5lLky6oZZWH4X9bn_QVk2gesZp_feFxx6NjnuMtCt9jm4WwEbuZs1RuA5IMy6HWJJYdHryLqPpfXiBJAtAGpAbLkNYgKM_QyCuT0sCih38g_vrAUSrU7ZDaJJhwrOdT9mt/s640/DC19C046-5596-4DFB-BBE0-AEABD7428A9B.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
This is the third time I've been to the city, and I should also say it's the only time I've ever felt like I loved it so much I could move there. I mean I seriously, really, want to move to NYC after this last trip. I will post more about it all later, but I think this last trip to New York has to be one of the best trips we've ever been on.<br />
<br />
So far, I'd say May takes the cake for 2018.<br />
<br />Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-22106918178694015812018-04-30T15:46:00.000-06:002018-05-14T20:57:37.197-06:00April 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp37_lTfY5DeGmoZwnwUFNPJXSGgVsJUtDKvkIteXQsXrBiZYHO5ndzzzDiuuWSty5XtyQgXH-4XvZiVS_cPqhyphenhyphenBc-VG8Tn8BrlQVqKCe-57BYhjRzhEtIGzXz_-Ji6QbaREI9VHx51PO/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp37_lTfY5DeGmoZwnwUFNPJXSGgVsJUtDKvkIteXQsXrBiZYHO5ndzzzDiuuWSty5XtyQgXH-4XvZiVS_cPqhyphenhyphenBc-VG8Tn8BrlQVqKCe-57BYhjRzhEtIGzXz_-Ji6QbaREI9VHx51PO/s640/unnamed-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
There are so many times I think about quickly getting on my computer to update this online journal, but I never seem to find the time anymore. So here is a quick April recap with pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77JoyFq-zVxOqrDegL7e-ucoKhQSot0USzkaXC8mdStybDPtcs7sVtPrDJGRK3HtJx0LGly_bfh5Q6PbUV3wd0f7LN1-TMq8WX3P9HTx1P8ecjoKBIB0rA7mJ6eN0457HMAB_vKvcEg9T/s1600/IMG_3604+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77JoyFq-zVxOqrDegL7e-ucoKhQSot0USzkaXC8mdStybDPtcs7sVtPrDJGRK3HtJx0LGly_bfh5Q6PbUV3wd0f7LN1-TMq8WX3P9HTx1P8ecjoKBIB0rA7mJ6eN0457HMAB_vKvcEg9T/s640/IMG_3604+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This little boy is the main reason I don't find the time to get online and post. He is about as busy and messy as they come, but I wouldn't change even the craziest parts of him for anything. Max and I love him more than we can put into words. What did we ever do without him?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNlnSnMcYENZ11S0xyTiKwCkmasE3A1-lTfkqvj96x1oFzVpiuUdZSrN-hloHBBvs_q_nMxEqdyToehdYW7gnZbBaR9ZaKxL46oXdgk-VB6361IT03uvl8koMzdOuFaqHACskpxM7Jr8V/s1600/Desktop19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNlnSnMcYENZ11S0xyTiKwCkmasE3A1-lTfkqvj96x1oFzVpiuUdZSrN-hloHBBvs_q_nMxEqdyToehdYW7gnZbBaR9ZaKxL46oXdgk-VB6361IT03uvl8koMzdOuFaqHACskpxM7Jr8V/s640/Desktop19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These days we take what pictures we can get.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQFTBqOFDFGXnGNj7sE87ZWN261bHgcwLImBZFNIWZtsnEaWz9ZZ1G0f8MRhM13HugC58qx_PrAEZni7woScFL8nzYa6JLGL_TVB_lH_O03Lfs06zYW8kzdlFC0Bc-drJgDlVPgt9x8E/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkQFTBqOFDFGXnGNj7sE87ZWN261bHgcwLImBZFNIWZtsnEaWz9ZZ1G0f8MRhM13HugC58qx_PrAEZni7woScFL8nzYa6JLGL_TVB_lH_O03Lfs06zYW8kzdlFC0Bc-drJgDlVPgt9x8E/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I feel like this is what I look like 24/7, honestly. I'm chasing Charlie nonstop so he won't climb on everything in sight just so he can jump off and break his leg.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2vePqnFgZwRAT-gCX6LywZxd_3aAFjQzU6u-h8ZfPQoMveL-Fx_JNfrnrmUWBWpGoAp1pyrKokLFGHBqgnGu7soKQInNRsdSEAzj3IYiUP2qAonQC_Ku2WC2xbj7rQsG9U0GbHl5-RzZ/s1600/unnamed-6.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZe9K5OEJN-xG3LaGnWY8lskhwcKDi8Sz4tROk-wS7IqTvVuKj5MtiPuVzf8vh6QGtutlEw5ATk6o5DBWptI7unwtHzlitHkoXHZd1af8L1S7eQe8FqNtV0QOBJNYgX9piOUuJv_cPCry/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZe9K5OEJN-xG3LaGnWY8lskhwcKDi8Sz4tROk-wS7IqTvVuKj5MtiPuVzf8vh6QGtutlEw5ATk6o5DBWptI7unwtHzlitHkoXHZd1af8L1S7eQe8FqNtV0QOBJNYgX9piOUuJv_cPCry/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2vePqnFgZwRAT-gCX6LywZxd_3aAFjQzU6u-h8ZfPQoMveL-Fx_JNfrnrmUWBWpGoAp1pyrKokLFGHBqgnGu7soKQInNRsdSEAzj3IYiUP2qAonQC_Ku2WC2xbj7rQsG9U0GbHl5-RzZ/s640/unnamed-6.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Easter!!! Can you tell how tired Max is? This was the week before finals. Woof. Year 2 is done but boy it was not a joke.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMyI921pTMU3Q7joq5YOee-bDGhc2CTUqrWkLFna_PV0trdtCWPfPue5aqqeouddYgLybUTiv2uQNkI9-Y77cMX0xBqlno_UqpLSiZw1271Cijv0gb7wbk4E7NaNUPY9B566T2N2oQT2b/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMyI921pTMU3Q7joq5YOee-bDGhc2CTUqrWkLFna_PV0trdtCWPfPue5aqqeouddYgLybUTiv2uQNkI9-Y77cMX0xBqlno_UqpLSiZw1271Cijv0gb7wbk4E7NaNUPY9B566T2N2oQT2b/s640/unnamed-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
LOTS of park dates and stops at Temple Square.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmNY_bnVhhwg_f3UkQB-kkntzxROMzA3EXeqdbU5WKl5tcumwlEu7O_jTPMCEW29gwnYa-Uf6BWfNTS_M_J39SNZrc_V-FtNrABRlSIQztzQ-0LmwYUmgDyxDcaKbcFeaW2nLy7-aCoug/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="964" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmNY_bnVhhwg_f3UkQB-kkntzxROMzA3EXeqdbU5WKl5tcumwlEu7O_jTPMCEW29gwnYa-Uf6BWfNTS_M_J39SNZrc_V-FtNrABRlSIQztzQ-0LmwYUmgDyxDcaKbcFeaW2nLy7-aCoug/s640/unnamed-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTNeo99wY_-4Yg89bxENx4QaYq6c1pug41K5FWYwd3AUJrjv4XXt_27VJyYyh60oEDyxDi3FKVp7QNiwIdvtP-kMBUVwtBsjVZwlcpP4jb6Fv-wFEaSTt9EWV9RI1N1DjtmajS-RW3vmy/s1600/unnamed-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1012" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTNeo99wY_-4Yg89bxENx4QaYq6c1pug41K5FWYwd3AUJrjv4XXt_27VJyYyh60oEDyxDi3FKVp7QNiwIdvtP-kMBUVwtBsjVZwlcpP4jb6Fv-wFEaSTt9EWV9RI1N1DjtmajS-RW3vmy/s640/unnamed-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We even stopped by the tulip festival for an afternoon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Month of April!</div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-13118957524806835142018-04-16T15:19:00.000-06:002018-05-14T20:52:52.183-06:00girls trip to californiaI've said it before... or really I should say, Walt Whitman said it before, and I have just repeated it since: I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends. And I mainly just repeat it for the last part of that quote, because I have no known enemies that I'm aware of, but it is worth repeating again and again: I don't know what I did to deserve my friends.<br />
<br />
Friendship is an interesting thing. Friends come and go and things change and you change and what connects you with people changes over the years; and then you have married friends and mom friends, and I guess what I'm trying to get at is from my very first friend that I can remember, (Betsy Stevens who I still love to this day), to the <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://thoughtsfromthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/02/7up-girls.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">7up girl squad</span></a> </span>and college roommate days and so on, friends have always been a second family to me. I would not/could not be who I am today without the friends I've had through the years.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this is all a lengthy introduction to share some pictures of a girls trip we took out to visit a friend living in Southern California a few weeks ago. I'm telling you, nothing bonds a friendship like sitting in LA traffic for two hours with screaming children in the car. Nothing. And these girlfriends have become even greater blessings after this trip, because there's only so many people in this world I can share the things I do with them. Like I said before, I don't know what I did to deserve them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4RJBHy6nrl-aMxaU8D_37P5Z1FpHDMXZYyk6C252K5AfhVrfSjUkNFBeNKcScfFFmA7xfbnwD0o0d90bfotqgzm2q8tdHwH3UKyaeGDuac9OdRUHEpQB1i4CTn-RVFQuo1xNLD74LNWK/s1600/Attachment-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4RJBHy6nrl-aMxaU8D_37P5Z1FpHDMXZYyk6C252K5AfhVrfSjUkNFBeNKcScfFFmA7xfbnwD0o0d90bfotqgzm2q8tdHwH3UKyaeGDuac9OdRUHEpQB1i4CTn-RVFQuo1xNLD74LNWK/s640/Attachment-3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QnZUmlItC9sr2bef_XtZe5x0wEKBvx8SwjOB4Z1VyUqHcccdCYZxayQ_Pffdu0XarPOA7-hS0VInoojNH8m-SVJ1jatUc7ntiWtauyHeXU3THIX3oZvOrzetoC_VofA7eO2Lpm_LBA6w/s1600/Attachment-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QnZUmlItC9sr2bef_XtZe5x0wEKBvx8SwjOB4Z1VyUqHcccdCYZxayQ_Pffdu0XarPOA7-hS0VInoojNH8m-SVJ1jatUc7ntiWtauyHeXU3THIX3oZvOrzetoC_VofA7eO2Lpm_LBA6w/s640/Attachment-9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPkZLCiHPe1xrQ5ofX0jExqmIkWztn7WhW2FvkPzOgjCXIAPRmDt7IwIqpxVvCvHJidl-ju5MQDLicZKPfCouJmU-HH8I8UfyI9uQC__FyYXEwQnkzeer1uxCi6SGP5ebpv163CeLczUk/s1600/Attachment-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1536" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPkZLCiHPe1xrQ5ofX0jExqmIkWztn7WhW2FvkPzOgjCXIAPRmDt7IwIqpxVvCvHJidl-ju5MQDLicZKPfCouJmU-HH8I8UfyI9uQC__FyYXEwQnkzeer1uxCi6SGP5ebpv163CeLczUk/s640/Attachment-4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQUOq6SeTfVnrBPwL2cQkSWvHR_8HY67H0KmEkro2veLnqa5PyscwrLBm3EQejUMt0WmAzPBlclVMzp3gB-LELT834HY1_I8wsLi1GEeXhLjHhsUDwx0VIJuXC9AppS63PN-TmXygAtw8/s1600/attachments+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQUOq6SeTfVnrBPwL2cQkSWvHR_8HY67H0KmEkro2veLnqa5PyscwrLBm3EQejUMt0WmAzPBlclVMzp3gB-LELT834HY1_I8wsLi1GEeXhLjHhsUDwx0VIJuXC9AppS63PN-TmXygAtw8/s640/attachments+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGKOYQX8w3cfd79XwJILgniWI55BHFQfFsH6QrNNeILszra5XPKSJ2LtxhYIZS56tybkYV941mwDLTy-4dIvC3n1QLLqfzK676wZo-s562Ml1cf7QKaNv80oiwd0Ua-L4rma9NIGWmbAD/s1600/Attachment-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-iVSF1QLAz7wEdiWkUMIeo1LQpE2fHS7DfqBu_ze8i_xKQff2gpC17uaCaqDvdOGBrB2Bepr6ujoVKPGnc17Z-7l-cPqb5n6ILYtM-zEqZmsAVnrns0nxP5aaGx4Qkhe4Mf3fUdLFM0X/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-iVSF1QLAz7wEdiWkUMIeo1LQpE2fHS7DfqBu_ze8i_xKQff2gpC17uaCaqDvdOGBrB2Bepr6ujoVKPGnc17Z-7l-cPqb5n6ILYtM-zEqZmsAVnrns0nxP5aaGx4Qkhe4Mf3fUdLFM0X/s640/unnamed-5.jpg" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGKOYQX8w3cfd79XwJILgniWI55BHFQfFsH6QrNNeILszra5XPKSJ2LtxhYIZS56tybkYV941mwDLTy-4dIvC3n1QLLqfzK676wZo-s562Ml1cf7QKaNv80oiwd0Ua-L4rma9NIGWmbAD/s640/Attachment-6.jpeg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIMS_B_dQLVlhbBsefay2Zc4HZGAv0sFcQ4BQKfc0sxCRQ-dDway94IUpbTn2_h_aPaau-KaS0z0vD9cLWlJrDZtzIEs8BGOwXM9VLBNBUSW0ThMGaRNPm9TBer9wIHn1lj6ZgWBe6nMM/s1600/Attachment-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIMS_B_dQLVlhbBsefay2Zc4HZGAv0sFcQ4BQKfc0sxCRQ-dDway94IUpbTn2_h_aPaau-KaS0z0vD9cLWlJrDZtzIEs8BGOwXM9VLBNBUSW0ThMGaRNPm9TBer9wIHn1lj6ZgWBe6nMM/s640/Attachment-11.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jqcaq-HhDiTXIJtAWwmP8hBREyVuK5DNoQFggdRKFW-bI4rrSpWuZ9zC5ZguxeVib6UwLiKWp1DTdwHLXJhrCmiL8kLsUthdwzsXUH4sg70KhIHMoO-qmpoCBpSimTwg4usmTjbkHioN/s1600/Attachment-13.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jqcaq-HhDiTXIJtAWwmP8hBREyVuK5DNoQFggdRKFW-bI4rrSpWuZ9zC5ZguxeVib6UwLiKWp1DTdwHLXJhrCmiL8kLsUthdwzsXUH4sg70KhIHMoO-qmpoCBpSimTwg4usmTjbkHioN/s640/Attachment-13.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ost4KMxLmzWU38y4oJ81p19a7ZNphLOKzDRjCKvuPYiCD7uKwQu-GAnvCdxaQxI76phBULN4UCun2D2GuoPrrm80DTimUaXxOLLlXFvm9hNRQOe8YCH9USAsYujapVNf4fhoBchlY6G/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ost4KMxLmzWU38y4oJ81p19a7ZNphLOKzDRjCKvuPYiCD7uKwQu-GAnvCdxaQxI76phBULN4UCun2D2GuoPrrm80DTimUaXxOLLlXFvm9hNRQOe8YCH9USAsYujapVNf4fhoBchlY6G/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0897JMoA5pLY9j872y2FchrM2OAQqlG9Cx6tY0j7tS-4zKBNM98UEupW7AblQcRj0dvAYWUBIBf4J7zQWxkL9Yl89CnCFhxM68PA5LPEMkbwn4TrKF5so87Zk-2-XptC4GmaugV5CpPNA/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0897JMoA5pLY9j872y2FchrM2OAQqlG9Cx6tY0j7tS-4zKBNM98UEupW7AblQcRj0dvAYWUBIBf4J7zQWxkL9Yl89CnCFhxM68PA5LPEMkbwn4TrKF5so87Zk-2-XptC4GmaugV5CpPNA/s640/unnamed-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxlBYRPszsNsCZyS-6McNzZfMScJ5rNS8bG0jhYMnUhYraJWizu6vxtydmsOcMQLK_YJ0iYlISqkDm9RqJmasS39CLcAOwq-t6tn70CjTH5WJd5uKH1gNDilhyuwhrlZ15Fr6coSEGQE1/s1600/Attachment-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxlBYRPszsNsCZyS-6McNzZfMScJ5rNS8bG0jhYMnUhYraJWizu6vxtydmsOcMQLK_YJ0iYlISqkDm9RqJmasS39CLcAOwq-t6tn70CjTH5WJd5uKH1gNDilhyuwhrlZ15Fr6coSEGQE1/s640/Attachment-8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The trip started off a little rough (if you've seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM"><span style="color: #ea9999;">this Seinfeld episode</span></a>, you'll understand), but the rest of the time was a dream. It was so nice just to spend time with friends eating out for every meal, listening to Taylor Swift on the beach, going to the movies, staying up late at night talking, and filling them in on the latest comments on Tristan Thompson's <span style="color: #ea9999;">I</span><a href="https://www.instylemag.com.au/khloe-kardashian-tristan-thompson-cheating-scandal-instagram-comments-i-hope"><span style="color: #ea9999;">nstagram</span></a>.<br />
<br />
Taco Bell forever.Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-91683169896038932012018-03-25T12:28:00.000-06:002018-04-09T12:34:16.445-06:00professor walker and sunday thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeDYvgwOX_NAfmen4HgPk-aVJLPyise4un_kCowvwAnAJwik_mhRKDgmRFgScfRGVy0sHv7qzN4JMJP_hO_d8B9mqNoCBq7WXOSVxjoerx_wGBJIk3z9zkXEFXp3P3vthrvUU9LnxliYu/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeDYvgwOX_NAfmen4HgPk-aVJLPyise4un_kCowvwAnAJwik_mhRKDgmRFgScfRGVy0sHv7qzN4JMJP_hO_d8B9mqNoCBq7WXOSVxjoerx_wGBJIk3z9zkXEFXp3P3vthrvUU9LnxliYu/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Years ago, (although sometimes it feels like yesterday), I took a British Literature class from Dr. Steven Walker at BYU. Years before that, my Dad had also taken similar English classes by Professor Walker, and credits him to this day for his love of literature and why he pursued law. Needless to say, he's somewhat of a hero between us and we both continue to admire him. (In fact, the picture above is from a college quote book I kept, in which I realized he was one of the first men I quoted... clearly, I love him, and his <a href="https://thoughtsfromthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-homework.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">kissing assignments</span> </a>and <span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="https://thoughtsfromthegirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-afternoon-and-this-evening.html"><span style="color: #ea9999;">crying quizzes</span></a>.</span>)<br />
<br />
Anyway, my dad sent these excerpts from Professor Walker to us the other day and it was too good not to share, especially lately as we've talked a lot about some of the things he discusses:<br />
<br />
<i>"The pattern in every loss of faith I've observed is not overreaching into too much learning. It is, rather, uninformed expectations. <b>It is an insistence on perfection in anything religious that sets up over-idealizing believers for inevitable disillusionment. Far from being too much learning, the consistent cause of the loss of faith I have seen <u>is in fact too little learning</u>,..."</b> </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>He goes on: "<b>So when I hear unbelievers claim that "knowledge undermines faith," I only half believe it, believe it for them, but not for me.</b> Awareness has clearly disillusioned some of my friends, but it appears to me the facts may have disillusioned them from their own uninformed expectations. And when I hear that same "facts threaten faith" assumption from the faithful, sharing the faith as I do, the notion seems to me nonsense, or worse: defensive, a little cowardly at best, not having done its homework." </i><br />
<br />
And finally, Professor Walker's earliest remembered experience and testimony of the Book of Mormon:<br />
<br />
<i>"When I was six, showing off my newfound reading abilities to my Uncle Clyde, I seized the Book of Mormon, nearest book at hand, to read aloud to impress him. Hardly aware of what I was reading, reading for audience effect only, I was stunned to find how moved I was by such unprepossessing words as "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." (1 Nephi 1:1). Not half a dozen verses into that quiet prose, I found myself in tears. Chagrined at having failed to impress my Navy-tough uncle, and nonplussed at such a reaction to any words on any page, I asked my mother what had come over me. She said then, and I believe her still: "It's the Spirit, Steve. God is in that book."</i><br />
<br />
Professor Walker, you continue to make my heart grow three sizes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-92064912692023165662018-03-21T11:59:00.000-06:002018-04-03T20:38:44.818-06:00what i've been reading lately<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs7DxlbskpPr4ONiZfUUpAr_je_a4-yeJvQ6oXGIrl4x1BszAeC8jyCM7AMjO_eS8Y6sbz5OiwKs92peFsOsRXX_zoGRuAyPEO9JAT07ROarxKWJWT5rkgC2EJk89ofn9a0bSKleV71Xx/s1600/9938498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs7DxlbskpPr4ONiZfUUpAr_je_a4-yeJvQ6oXGIrl4x1BszAeC8jyCM7AMjO_eS8Y6sbz5OiwKs92peFsOsRXX_zoGRuAyPEO9JAT07ROarxKWJWT5rkgC2EJk89ofn9a0bSKleV71Xx/s200/9938498.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">“There are no heroes here, at least not of the Schindler’s List variety, but there are glimmers of heroism and people who behave with unexpected grace.” </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">-<i>In the Garden of Beasts</i>, Eric Larson</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I just have to say, as with anything Larson writes, this book is DENSE. It took me a while to plow through it, but in the end I'm glad I did. As fascinated as I've always been with WWII, Hitler's rise to power is something I'm only vaguely familiar with, so it was interesting to read about it from the perspective of the US Ambassador and his family who were living in Germany pre-world war. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
--</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillKIh03loLeJsm8nSR2vQ_0fEG0d3GCs6b3O3w2l0yF7StnDnambRvtB3EfHgfAL_z2iBsoLTWCH2Wp3GvEWTnP6PxIx-a97cZWWV3jzYMXhfeAe1X-hAGKycoq6ttMIvjmC9pHUKiFYq/s1600/51OQibd58GL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillKIh03loLeJsm8nSR2vQ_0fEG0d3GCs6b3O3w2l0yF7StnDnambRvtB3EfHgfAL_z2iBsoLTWCH2Wp3GvEWTnP6PxIx-a97cZWWV3jzYMXhfeAe1X-hAGKycoq6ttMIvjmC9pHUKiFYq/s200/51OQibd58GL._SX325_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">“Back then, there weren’t channels dedicated to subcategories of the population. There was no Disney channel, no Food Network, no ESPN, no Bravo. There was Sam Donaldson, Peter Jennings, and, my personal crush, Tom Brokaw on the news, and we got cartoons for three hours on Saturday mornings until CBS switched to golf at 11:00 after the Smurfs. Oh sure, MTV hit the scene in 1981, but we couldn’t watch it because of the devil. Apparently we could watch a show starring two outlaw brothers, their half-naked cousin, and a car painted with the Confederate flag but couldn’t watch Madonna sing “Like a Virgin” because we might get secondhand pregnant.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">-<i>Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight out of This Wild and Glorious Life</i>, Jen Hatmaker</span><br />
<br />
This is a book club read, which I picked up knowing nothing about. So far, I've been surprised at how often it's made me laugh out loud, and would definitely recommend. <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoS7N5EpZMJq_xCiTrn_Qb50GfwMcJQjHjGUZ5Gj9bsghgpNDTPuug1OzI8uar2xTcso3nze-Z9L4TzQn4DIicZnvtMxf-2rg7mx0Y2XlUgcgmFImbothc3I5Ql04Y1FmpZBIX-KG8XQc/s1600/20797746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoS7N5EpZMJq_xCiTrn_Qb50GfwMcJQjHjGUZ5Gj9bsghgpNDTPuug1OzI8uar2xTcso3nze-Z9L4TzQn4DIicZnvtMxf-2rg7mx0Y2XlUgcgmFImbothc3I5Ql04Y1FmpZBIX-KG8XQc/s200/20797746.jpg" width="161" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">“Elder Neal A. Maxwell suggests that <b>the prime reason the Savior personally acts as the gatekeeper of the celestial kingdom is not to exclude people, but to personally welcome and embrace those who have made it back home.</b>” " </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">“President Ezra Taft Benson taught, <b>"There is no human condition - be it suffering, incapacity, inadequacy, mental deficiency, or sin - which He cannot comprehend or for which His love will not reach out to the individual."</b> This is a staggering thought when we contemplate the Mount Everest of pain required to make it so. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">What weight is thrown on the scales of pain when calculating the hurt of innumerable patients in countless hospitals? Now add to that the loneliness of the elderly who are forgotten in rest homes of society, desperately yearning for a card, a visit, a call - just some recognition from the outside world. Keep on adding the hurt of hungry children, the suffering caused by famine, drought, and pestilence. Pile on the heartache of parents who tearfully plead on a daily basis for a wayward son or daughter to come back home. Factor in the trauma of every divorce and the tragedy of every abortion. Add the remorse that comes with each child lost in the dawn of life, each spouse taken in the prime of marriage. Compound that with the misery of overflowing prisons, bulging halfway houses and institutions for the mentally disadvantaged. Multiply all this by century after century of history, and creation after creation without end. Such is but an awful glimpse of the Savior's load. <b>Who can bear such a burden or scale such a mountain as this? No one, absolutely no one, save Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of us all.</b>"</span></span></span><br />
<br />
So I mainly wanted to write this post just so I could write about this last book; it's the one I've been reading most recently in light of Easter. I've read this book before, but this time I've tried to highlight/annotate it as I've gone through because there are SO many amazing things in it. Tad Callister has been a longtime friend of my parents, so I had known prior to reading it that it took him <i>nearly 18 years to finish (!!!)</i> If you haven't read this book before, or are simply interested in understanding more about the Savior, I couldn't recommend it enough. It has to be one of the best books ever written about the Atonement.Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-28946142553601738392018-03-16T12:36:00.001-06:002018-03-16T12:47:27.799-06:00last night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3oAz3teXpzNav5so238bV5tg2aok3-xHiTyUgz6crNvAWch104pb9l5wyFJzXO-vMoOtN1BmWPCu_m8V6XTvLUB6tGcsRWC2qhYMGWxHvdZ7McjO3Kr8OzVAjO98HKSSny349mXD0Vss/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3oAz3teXpzNav5so238bV5tg2aok3-xHiTyUgz6crNvAWch104pb9l5wyFJzXO-vMoOtN1BmWPCu_m8V6XTvLUB6tGcsRWC2qhYMGWxHvdZ7McjO3Kr8OzVAjO98HKSSny349mXD0Vss/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Last night I went in to check on Charlie after he had gone to sleep. I do this every night, but last night I stood by his crib a little bit longer than I usually do. I watched him breathe in and out, and noticed how his long eyelashes rested on those chubby cheeks. I watched his long legs twist from side to side, and how he'd rotate his binky over and over in his sleep. Max came in and stood by me for a minute or two, and I couldn't help but want to cry. This last week was tough. Honestly, Tuesday in particular I thought I just might die. Charlie and I have both been sick as dogs and I spent most days guzzling down Dayquil counting down the minutes until nap-time or bedtime. Max has been busier than usual, and has been gone all days most days as he gets ready for Step 1. It was actually one of the first times I actually thought to myself, I will never be able to have another child because this is too hard.<br />
<br />
But last night I felt differently. Because instead of reading the stack of parenting toddler books, or stepping on blocks or cleaning up a never ending messy kitchen, I let myself forget all the stress for a minute and just feel how much I love this little boy. And it's not that I ever don't feel that way, but sometimes I let everything else<i> get in the way</i>. And not just for Charlie, but for Max too. So I just stood by his crib longer than I usually do, and let myself feel how much love I have for this family of mine.<br />
<br />
I know they say these years go by in a blink, and I try to live consciously of that, but I'm not perfect at it nor do I expect I ever will be. But last night is worth writing down, because it reminded me (again) that what matters the most is what lasts the longest.<br />
<br />
<i>"Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leach. T. Berry Brazelton. Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with 'Goodnight Moon' and 'Where the Wild Things Are,' they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust would rise like memories...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make... I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of my children sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of a summer day... And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."</b></i><br />
-Anna QuindlenKelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-82126107808823307262018-02-14T21:31:00.000-07:002018-04-03T12:53:55.387-06:00the ballet on valentine's day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7ODanIzP8ZTKr1GVlg480cBnI4Yt2YwmMjhOvhOpwvonGRQ5E0rQbmzJ31a2_VaujtyxBWIb3Tki9t2WxFMSmoi574lZwrlpYh4KDkxV05wdqDSG6yIEWycfMfQW3b-oXqofFh-u9LPn/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7ODanIzP8ZTKr1GVlg480cBnI4Yt2YwmMjhOvhOpwvonGRQ5E0rQbmzJ31a2_VaujtyxBWIb3Tki9t2WxFMSmoi574lZwrlpYh4KDkxV05wdqDSG6yIEWycfMfQW3b-oXqofFh-u9LPn/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Max originally led me to believe that Valentine's Day this year would be somewhat of a nonevent since he would need to be studying for his upcoming finals.. so imagine my surprise when he came home early that afternoon with a bouquet of flowers and tickets to see the Cinderella ballet that evening! (I think someone is still making up for forgetting Mothers Day last year... ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplxe6mvY5y6wbCvJhWYakxTWXiEQBhvazHlNW2byl-xy-eMR9Ln5NhM6XlCxAixwPxX72ovABAjO6oSnbWjznXC1nWzMAlVxu789Apz_t31Sy8hUFSFgQWRlb8otzazhNWL3MmjOL9zLv/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplxe6mvY5y6wbCvJhWYakxTWXiEQBhvazHlNW2byl-xy-eMR9Ln5NhM6XlCxAixwPxX72ovABAjO6oSnbWjznXC1nWzMAlVxu789Apz_t31Sy8hUFSFgQWRlb8otzazhNWL3MmjOL9zLv/s640/unnamed-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because we were running late, we picked up Wendy's before hopping on Trax and heading downtown. The entire performance was beautiful, but in my opinion it was the stepsisters who really stole the show. Though Max claims he only goes to the ballet for me, I think somewhere deep down he actually enjoys it as much as I do too. The live orchestra alone is always worth it to me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, these are the only pictures I have of the evening, which is a shame because any night Max and I dress up is worth about a dozen pictures. Date nights are less frequent now that we're parents, and lets be honest, also because we're still in the thick of med school. We spend pretty much every date night we do go on being extremely careful with how much we spend, and what we spend it on. I never want to come across as someone who complains about having a husband in medical school, because I realize that it's a huge blessing in so many ways. But if I'm being completely honest, sometimes being poor has its cons... obviously. Whenever I am reminded of the cons though, I remind myself of a journal entry I had written years ago in which I declared I would live in a box in Kentucky if it meant I could marry Max. And luckily, we're still not that poor yet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, thank you to my dear, sweet, funny, smart, best Valentine for a date I'll always remember. You make me happier than you'll ever know.</div>
<br />Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-14136240412486766322017-12-30T15:00:00.000-07:002018-04-03T12:52:47.088-06:00mele kalikimaka <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireXyRUMVZKuAc2xnPesTJiEnfXXEBj8jGu_qGyXxqmgQzCRtxn1M6bJ9rrEU25Ojuu25uBrz66b-TDNj5IEl3-_xr6HLvfWusAr7dFuOrGwJLHjAqO6Nbawqzg5zTUNCjE3niDGHnf2iY/s1600/unnamed-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireXyRUMVZKuAc2xnPesTJiEnfXXEBj8jGu_qGyXxqmgQzCRtxn1M6bJ9rrEU25Ojuu25uBrz66b-TDNj5IEl3-_xr6HLvfWusAr7dFuOrGwJLHjAqO6Nbawqzg5zTUNCjE3niDGHnf2iY/s640/unnamed-25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks to my parents, we spent our Christmas in Hawaii this year and it was absolutely beautiful. This was our first time traveling this far with Charlie, so we kept most of our trip pretty low-key and tried to relax during one of Max's last breaks before Step 1 and rotations begin this upcoming summer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrJ2jOduw0MxRO9LXPTcwhiSwMJMBnaSi-Ox_R62DWH-kBgN0yjZqXVycFa9sql8hjFmkPfgaouhMPbj7lD_cUMba5P79b6ARY5Btv5zTHHBhtoTGkexhr1ZayvXOaYjSTY9eP10XpylT/s1600/unnamed-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrJ2jOduw0MxRO9LXPTcwhiSwMJMBnaSi-Ox_R62DWH-kBgN0yjZqXVycFa9sql8hjFmkPfgaouhMPbj7lD_cUMba5P79b6ARY5Btv5zTHHBhtoTGkexhr1ZayvXOaYjSTY9eP10XpylT/s640/unnamed-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhK3eupG3m-z9lmOZ-PuKA26dEGniVom2ChvItUB6SNg-4JyUm3IJkwLkZc0JJYg_phPmCPIlvGJvjp8AdlSse_54iWW2evbjwu4WGUaf3kwtCJvRbDfn-ADQpMIkgPwS8TFgWTLkuuRk/s1600/unnamed-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhK3eupG3m-z9lmOZ-PuKA26dEGniVom2ChvItUB6SNg-4JyUm3IJkwLkZc0JJYg_phPmCPIlvGJvjp8AdlSse_54iWW2evbjwu4WGUaf3kwtCJvRbDfn-ADQpMIkgPwS8TFgWTLkuuRk/s640/unnamed-27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dbY8YM5ARfnHaXyUQ9NN3YB2K5qZ8HGLFDU0TB3Riu3kZz7OG8Cag6NanrhcBX0xqECsQaydb5TjZFTfwDTnUGeFukPavTM_3D3RRwIqCpc5UvxsWs8dZvr2I-nJVW7hm7R0UmX_GaHB/s1600/unnamed-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dbY8YM5ARfnHaXyUQ9NN3YB2K5qZ8HGLFDU0TB3Riu3kZz7OG8Cag6NanrhcBX0xqECsQaydb5TjZFTfwDTnUGeFukPavTM_3D3RRwIqCpc5UvxsWs8dZvr2I-nJVW7hm7R0UmX_GaHB/s640/unnamed-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Max has a friend from Honolulu who told us about an easy hike to King Kameahameha's summer palace ruins (which you can see in the pictures above). "Easy" was what grabbed my attention, so one morning we decided to drive down the island to try it out. The only trick was finding it. After about half an hour of searching, we found the hiking trail entrance. You have to walk through a bamboo forrest in order to get to it, and after about 100 yards, you are supposed to turn right up a small hill and voila! You're there. Somehow we missed that memo and ended up crawling through trees, knee deep in mud, while carrying a baby. You can then imagine my delight when we heard something snorting nearby and Max, who was convinced it was a wild hog, made me carry a stick the remainder of the hike in case it came charging. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ANYWAY, we DID end up finding it and we DID survive and these pictures literally cost us blood, sweat and tears but it really WAS amazing. Apparently during one of the celebrations at the palace 150 years ago, there were thousands of Hawaiians gathered in that same spot for this amazing luau. They still consider the grounds really sacred so a plaque asks that you whisper to respect it's reverence. In the end, I'm so glad we risked our lives for the experience. (Ha Ha I'm being dramatic. I am glad we did it though.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCD62LVxK3f4cK3tMyRidh9N2MBdxITgMqbc4WVqaJ-iHewJQsHoE1LvYMed8KtwugPfMT8mvWKFjzdWoZPrEYDvGKAoGPLtxSj11LRczoqKWQBpQc3adXBiWuSnVXiUZPbyANkgKUvU2/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCD62LVxK3f4cK3tMyRidh9N2MBdxITgMqbc4WVqaJ-iHewJQsHoE1LvYMed8KtwugPfMT8mvWKFjzdWoZPrEYDvGKAoGPLtxSj11LRczoqKWQBpQc3adXBiWuSnVXiUZPbyANkgKUvU2/s640/unnamed-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZeEX3oDNIjn70MrPUmBTlqYTR1aAecl1GMJi-UIQ86xTVuye3clSqMPrLJu4sXDRQww0_1h-daB_QrgzyxjmfTxw9ytRhukFe59qdhd3Lcf3S59koak5K7Qgkjf_2FY5DQDR4PqM5AE3/s1600/unnamed-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZeEX3oDNIjn70MrPUmBTlqYTR1aAecl1GMJi-UIQ86xTVuye3clSqMPrLJu4sXDRQww0_1h-daB_QrgzyxjmfTxw9ytRhukFe59qdhd3Lcf3S59koak5K7Qgkjf_2FY5DQDR4PqM5AE3/s640/unnamed-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of my very favorite places that we also visited was Pearl Harbor. Though this was Max and my third time going together, I was so happy we went. It's always a humbling experience. It was there I read that Eleanor Roosevelt kept the following poem in her wallet during WWII:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Dear Lord / Lest I continue my complacent way / </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Help me remember somewhere out there / A man died for me today / </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>As long as there be war / </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>I them must ask and answer / Am I worth dying for?</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOC74ov26emn6XsTUxDjghy5NNJIbCEmLqchZcP61BjCS_LntbNz6a5oJO7QApNyaTKQdfKnvLOCtgzkff10Ry4E101ZlwyvN04qQTfIJeD23EEroOPYhgobHzI0kwsyCTGsd4t76ipEe/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOC74ov26emn6XsTUxDjghy5NNJIbCEmLqchZcP61BjCS_LntbNz6a5oJO7QApNyaTKQdfKnvLOCtgzkff10Ry4E101ZlwyvN04qQTfIJeD23EEroOPYhgobHzI0kwsyCTGsd4t76ipEe/s640/IMG_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We also spent an afternoon at Sunset beach, swam in the waterfalls up Waimea Valley, ate plenty of food, (even at the BYU-Hawaii cafeteria; happy to report my Apple Jacks are still there), but most of all we spent time with family which was my favorite part.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB-wNVpxLi8PnH2ZSpXAFYGd4IdaUAeom7vT5YJ3vgtS4k_7fprAfGVdReVa8vcaYGJDSka6UH06Dm4cdPG8P_kJXpCbyGgKtQC8iY9e88QIDEKCgGh8Z7i_vgS9Ql1hWWULjSdowZrrp/s1600/unnamed-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB-wNVpxLi8PnH2ZSpXAFYGd4IdaUAeom7vT5YJ3vgtS4k_7fprAfGVdReVa8vcaYGJDSka6UH06Dm4cdPG8P_kJXpCbyGgKtQC8iY9e88QIDEKCgGh8Z7i_vgS9Ql1hWWULjSdowZrrp/s640/unnamed-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKMckoS3QW5fwVsYbXEDTNX_Evv5Mjlr-pTtDT2auDU2SLsezVV28SvCpKYpUCzgvGG8dbZuBkierx7VsWRBC0sCs2p8p6w7hwVv2Miok0T7dh9D-mf4wiIKLWMUhmm8P4RU6gtl8JmLE/s1600/unnamed-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKMckoS3QW5fwVsYbXEDTNX_Evv5Mjlr-pTtDT2auDU2SLsezVV28SvCpKYpUCzgvGG8dbZuBkierx7VsWRBC0sCs2p8p6w7hwVv2Miok0T7dh9D-mf4wiIKLWMUhmm8P4RU6gtl8JmLE/s640/unnamed-33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqXlq_XrsmrPanT1DQWfnF8sdlcuNUYxugodm12w8KfV0zOeI9D8RGWDzYb79INZMvI8o1jpypp6r-i7l08qsQhC01DrM4dTn1JOWjyn9dPwN3SirsoYPbRvYtmkFyhTEdXM73Wpo53tc/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqXlq_XrsmrPanT1DQWfnF8sdlcuNUYxugodm12w8KfV0zOeI9D8RGWDzYb79INZMvI8o1jpypp6r-i7l08qsQhC01DrM4dTn1JOWjyn9dPwN3SirsoYPbRvYtmkFyhTEdXM73Wpo53tc/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpkBmxm-RZbbAy_JR6ZdwuhWArOoCoA93EYRYW6azaNabGPU5Yv8qJgB7wWAT6NDG3cD4yJKsVnn2GXnFQtZt6lfCeWJq4k8GtcjhJwSkbbMFZTy-9zv_nKGGjhen7PvtmLUNiHahu0_p/s1600/unnamed-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpkBmxm-RZbbAy_JR6ZdwuhWArOoCoA93EYRYW6azaNabGPU5Yv8qJgB7wWAT6NDG3cD4yJKsVnn2GXnFQtZt6lfCeWJq4k8GtcjhJwSkbbMFZTy-9zv_nKGGjhen7PvtmLUNiHahu0_p/s640/unnamed-12.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We're pretty sure Charlie's first words will be nana and papa. He loves his grandparents.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03U4HKue71TLlA2loDMG88iDgFMbkktdcEJq7AkyJ2516hz6qQmoiAhBlmeCGhWsLn4T9cM_6fbb0jlZ-Bn00_zGHRM64zWnJOBXFCQrmSHzS-KfFkSlmdkAgxKL6GzuxIgrCCjNi5-xS/s1600/unnamed-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03U4HKue71TLlA2loDMG88iDgFMbkktdcEJq7AkyJ2516hz6qQmoiAhBlmeCGhWsLn4T9cM_6fbb0jlZ-Bn00_zGHRM64zWnJOBXFCQrmSHzS-KfFkSlmdkAgxKL6GzuxIgrCCjNi5-xS/s640/unnamed-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Even though we tried to spend our time relaxing, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
this was pretty much what we looked like at the end of every day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16pV5M5caW6vMB9evpuxG8heI-SkOCWiB-EyJI-iyU-USeNGhsrQRHUV-zEWywTbKLSZ6tb7n8i-SmDsizxCffRu4uTkWxYc9Hrrm-n8pEr6ML9H3oh3e5esDwsHPb7Bjt5B2g6IbzL2r/s1600/unnamed-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16pV5M5caW6vMB9evpuxG8heI-SkOCWiB-EyJI-iyU-USeNGhsrQRHUV-zEWywTbKLSZ6tb7n8i-SmDsizxCffRu4uTkWxYc9Hrrm-n8pEr6ML9H3oh3e5esDwsHPb7Bjt5B2g6IbzL2r/s640/unnamed-29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hawaii will always be a home away from home. Whenever Max and I drive along the North Shore we point out little homes along the beach where we feel like we could live someday (if only in our dreams). It's just a special place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830041022085289887.post-92103297718859905352017-11-25T18:49:00.000-07:002018-04-03T14:12:45.571-06:00Charlie Turns 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B_ZWJgKS340" width="570"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Birth will always be the most commonplace of miracles, an event at once familiar and phenomenal, timeless and immediate, briefly making angels of us all. When a child is born the world is altered in an instant. A new voice is heard, a new love comes into being. Years later, we pause and say, 'Yes that's when it all began, on that day, in that room, when I saw that face.' Birth is the smallest of magnificent things and the greatest of little ones."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-Call the Midwife</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Charlie, you made me a mother one year ago today, and it has been the happiest year of my life. Before you were born, I had no idea how exhausting and humbling becoming a mother would be. I also had no idea how silly or affectionate I'd become. I didn't know it could make me love your dad in a way I had never loved him before, and how close it would all feel to heaven, those first few days especially.<br />
<br />
It's been a year of reading lots of baby sleep books and searching Google for tips like how to get you to use a sippy cup; figuring out how to carry you, and an arms worth of groceries up three flights of stairs. It's been holding your hands when you learned how to walk, and holding you close when you are feeling sick. It's been lots of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpraGVs2Sg"><span style="color: #ea9999;">happy songs</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Bear-What-You-See/dp/0805047905"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Brown Bear, Brown Bear</span></a>. It's been everything to me.<br />
<br />
Words will never come close to being able to express how much I love you, or our family of three. Happy Birthday Charlie boy! I love you forever.</div>
Kelsie Binghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01896792013551551205noreply@blogger.com0