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1.07.2013

WHILE YOU WERE OUT...

warning: this is basically a glorified instagram dump and i'm soooort of over instagram dumps, but it's like, i haven't blogged in so many years that i feel mentally blocked until we're all caught up. so... just, indulge me. whatever.

hi everybody! hi! hi hi! here's what you may have missed (pretend like you missed it) while we were off having christmas and travel and other things that generally aren't blogging.

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blurry photos of the weekend before christmas when we made the trek up to the bronx to see the train display at the bronx botanical gardens. it was un-real. we can't wait to go again next year.

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on christmas eve we attended a really fun dinner party thrown by some friends in the ward, set up huck's gifts under the tree once he was asleep, and generally stayed up wayyy too late like excited little kids.

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late on christmas day we flew into utah. and just look at my boys, will you? i like to pinch myself occasionally. i got to sit across the aisle from those handsome gentlemen and read an entire book cover to cover, uninterrupted. (i read gretchen rubin's happiness at home, which i was gifted at gretchen's release party way back in august and only now got around to reading. pats on the back, i am such a reader. and how much do i hate that word, "gifted?" thiiiiis much?)

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and then we were in the suburbs! cafe rio and target and fountain drinks galore and insane juice aisles. i had forgotten what it's like to shop in america. SO MUCH JUICE. henny finally got to try on his christmas jams, since he'd fallen asleep christmas eve in his party clothes. 


please to enjoy brandon's senior portrait. no, i know. bask in it.


it was real snowy. so we went sledding. brandon was so proud of that wipe out. "did you see that???" i almost never get to see brandon's daredevil side, and it's kind of a turn on... so long as he isn't holding my baby at the same time, that is.


it's important to stay hydrated in the desert.

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on possibly the coldest day of ever, the holbrooks took a road trip up to soda springs to finally "deal with our storage for once and for all" (more on this later). i found my antlers and i found our wedding album and we got arctic circle and peter pan's old halloween costume fits the huckleberry exactly perfectly so we'll call it a success.

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and then the holbrooks packed ourselves up and flew ourselves home. we'd missed the city, like we'd been gone a million years or something. and then i bought me a level-three winter coat like a grown up, 

so now we are all caught up!
holbrooks out

48 comments:

  1. Too cute! That picture of your hubbs is hilarious. :)

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  2. Brandon's senior portrait kills me! Love it. x

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  3. Huck is seriously the cutest. Love all the pictures- it blows my mind/eyeballs how massive you can get them. Also, you make me want to visit NYC like every single time I read your blog.

    Lauren

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  4. What did you think of On The Road? I read half of it before I had to return it to the library. I'm sure I'll finish it eventually...

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  5. i love this. especially the 'good to be home in nyc' last paragraph. for real it warmed my heart. happy 2013!

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  6. ps your winter jackets...quite envious of your beautiful selection.

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  7. That picture. SOCKS WITH SOCCER SANDALS. AMAZING! Also, was the train exhibit a complete zoo? Too overwhelming for the average non-easygoing-Huck toddler, or ok? --bostonlizpoms

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  8. OMG where on earth did you get that teepee?!?!

    www.chelsearecently.com

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  9. That picture of Huck grinning in the snow...priceless. And my hubby graduated in '96 as well...with that same haircut. I can't my heart used to melt over floppy hair like that. Sigh.

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  10. You know why your stomach hurts? Because every freaking person in America is throwing up and oh, my gaaawwd, if ANYONE gives me or my girls or my husband the stomach flu, I will call down the wrath of God upon them. We're still rather new in the ward and at this rate I will never make friends with anyone as it seems EVERYONE has a kid at church coughing with their mouth open and apparently you don't look friendly if you're giving everyone the -did-your-kid-just-cough-on-my-kid-go-sit-your-ass-at-home-you-germ-ridden-moron eyeball. I, too, am feeling a bit stressed these days. And am BATHING in hand sanitizer. I refill my diaper bag bottle every morning like it's a prayer. "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to detoxify?" Hells, yes, I did,

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  11. that post wasn't very grumpy; and frankly I am kind of a fan of grumpy natalie, but it's not quite as great at grumpy cat. who doesn't love grumpy cat?

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  12. this phrase hit me like a ton of bricks: "so christmas was lovely and wonderful but also pretty horrible and i sort of want a re-do." ...a thousand times YES, i completely understand the general nauseous anxiety that you can't pin down but just sort of nibbles away on your core. its the worst little grey tint to everything that's wonderful. here's to calm and peace. i hope you feel better but thank you for letting me know it's not just me.

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  13. Sorry to hear about your anxiety, I know what you're feeling as I have had my share the last few weeks. Doesn't it suck? Sending you good thoughts.
    Oh, and about that word-gifted-it bugs me too!

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  14. I would personally like to thank you for the arctic circle fry sauce photo. Arctic circle was my first date with my husband (also my first introduction to American Fast Food). Life would never be the same. Very special in so many ways. Your Christmas Eve was my New Year's Eve.

    http://momedy.blogspot.com/2013/01/1-1-13-telling-it-how-it-is.html (sad trombone)

    (I too, would like a do-over.) Being a little bit crazy is not always fun eh? But it has its perks. Hang in there xo

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  15. Oh I love the large gingerbread house! Photos are so cute.. so different to my summer Christmas.. thanks for sharing x

    hammeringnotes.blogspot.com

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  16. Even though I already saw your pictures on Instagram, I love seeing you being able to describe them in more than just a couple of words. You have the cutest little family in the entire world. xo, Maria

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  17. Actually, so happy to see your Christmas pictures on this post! I am taking the liberty myself to blog all about my Christmas season starting with Christmas morning today ... 'cause we can, right?! Darling photos ... crazy about that little gingerbread house ... and your husband is so adorable in that senior portrait. Good times.

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  18. Love the picture of artic circles fry sauce! If I ever moved out of Utah I'm pretty sure I'd miss fry sauce more than anything else, even my family because you can Skype family but you can't Skype fry sauce. Sigh. Pretty sure the rest of the world doesn't know what it is missing.
    kelsboo.blogspot.com

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  19. awesome photos!
    And Brandon's senior portrait is epic.

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  20. Despite the fact that I've already seen most of these on your insta-feed, I still adore seeing pictures of your happy little Huck. Keep the insta-dumps comin'. Welcome back (to the city and the blog)! You've been missed.

    And I cannot wait for the wedding photo madness to begin!!!


    www.emmalouwrites.blogspot.com

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  21. Yay, you're back!! I've spent my very toasty Australian summer holidays going over your archives, and absolutely love your posts! You're a beautiful writer, and from the beginning of your first post to now you have achieved so much! So- onwards to a VERY lucky and happy 2013- and yes, am anticipating wedding photos!! :-)

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  22. I hope the anxiety subsides soon, Natalie. I've been there and it's so hard to understand how everyone else could just be living their lives around you when on the inside you feel...ridiculous? Messy? It's so rude!! :) Looking forward to the wedding pics.

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  23. Hurrah, loved this! Gorgeous photos. I hope your anxiety eases soon and you're able to make some exciting plans for this year.

    Also, thank you for validating my irrational hatred of the word 'gifted'. Urgh. Don't get me started about adjectives being re-purposed as verbs for no reason. Let's just say that 'given' was there first, and does just fine.

    Bring on the wedding photos :-)

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  24. i can't believe you've gone this long without level three. particularly with all the walking you do! it looked like a lovely holiday and i can't WAIT for the wedding post tomorrow. glad you're back natalie :)

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  25. Cute family photos! Little Huck cheeks are sooo chubby and cute :)

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  26. I hope you're feeling better soon and the anxiety goes away. I know wishing it away doesn't really work, but I'm wishing for you anyways. Because I'm stubborn. Huck looks so cute, and I'm oddly super excited to see a million wedding photos.

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  27. well i loved catching up on your christmas so feel free to photo dump any time! missed your posts.

    http://thislittlemum.blogspot.co.uk

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  28. I wanna see the wallet!
    And I laughed out loud at Brandon's senior photo, omg that is priceless!

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  29. Anxiety is the worst. It just sort of eats at you while you try to go about your day normally. It will go away, though!
    What kind of stroller foot muff do i see in these pictures? My son has grown out of his baby one and its time to upgrade to a toddler size. (Eek! I'm not ready!) anyway there are lots of choices and I hate the pressure of baby product comparisons.
    Thanks!

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  30. Adorable post. LOVE brandon's senior portrait I can't even deal. I love this post and yes, I'm proud of you for making that, I mean he's SO PERFECT!!!

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  31. your new level 3 looks is a stunner.

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  32. you are so glam! that fur coat is amazing.

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  33. Where did you get that puffer coat??

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  34. Y'all are too much. Your posts always make my bad days infinitely better Natalie :)
    - Time Stand Still

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  35. I love this post! I read your blog religiously but don't comment because I am a lazy commenter. I love how you said you are over instagram dumps (because I am too - I mean we follow most people on instagram for a reason) but somehow you infused way more life into all the photos you may have reposted. I love it!

    Also, I suffer from anxiety and often feel all guilty for my "mean Ashleyness" that comes out when I feel like that. It often happens when other people are around at family gatherings and then I feel worse about it later. Anyway, I am sorry you are feeling that way but thanks for sharing because it just helps us little readers that we aren't the only ones.

    Thank you thank you thank you. And Huck makes my day. :)

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  36. i just had to drop in and let you know that you might be one of my favorite people ever. i've been quietly reading all your archives (i suffer away daily at a horrifyingly boring desk job) and finally had to let my admiration of you be known.

    keep on doin what you're doin.

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  37. who doesn't love a good instagram dump when it's accompanied with your witty comments?!

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  38. Natalie! Which level 3 coat did you get? I am looking for one myself---I'm always cold! P.S. lovely post :)

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  39. Ugh anxiety is the worst. I'm sure you're probably figuring it out, but the best thing I even did for my anxiety was to see a good acupuncturist, no lie!

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  40. You make me giggle, Natalie. You must be all kinds of fun in person.

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  41. Boots! Boots of prettiness! (the ones in the first pic) Please tell me they were a recent purchase?

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    1. girl! those are old navy from five million years ago! but i DID just buy their "upgrade" at the zara sale a few weeks ago (i haven't worn them yet, i'm scared to break them in!)... they might have your size left? go check!!!!

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    2. They are beauteous! I shall. My feet are FREEZING. Thank you!

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  42. That cracks me up that you were in Soda! My husband's grandma lives there and we take little road trips there to see her there all the time, who goes to soda!? That artic circle...the only place in town pretty much...

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  43. 'My insides have been fully pickled, it feels good, I'm not going to lie'. Oh my gosh! You kill me dead with your witticisms.

    So sorry to hear that you've been feeling anxious. I know that feeling where your stomach literally feels like it's eating itself and it's horrid. Hope 2013 is a stress free year for you and you don't take on too much stuff that ends up resulting in said stress. But you know, if you do, we're all here for you :) xxxxxoooxxx

    Peace out!

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  44. Juice! As far as the eye can see!

    Also, white tube socks! As far as the eye can see!

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  45. i love your writing style. reading your blog is so fun.
    www.laurendoxey.com

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