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It was supposed to be a little “cold” in Flori It was supposed to be a little “cold” in Florida last night so we decided to stick with our camping plans but change the venue to a cabin with some heat.  We didn’t end up using the heat but it sure made it easier to pack and plan with these two. 🏕 

Forty minutes away is considered a microadventure, right!?
No better way to ring in the new year than with sw No better way to ring in the new year than with sweet friends and outdoor play. 
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I’ve put a lot of thought into my goals for this year. 2020 was not kind to me (and I don’t think I’m alone). So, the word I picked for 2021 is “growth.” This year, I want to grow spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. I’ve put 1 goal in place for each one of those categories. I really enjoy setting goals and accomplishing them! I’ll list each goal in my stories if you’re interested in seeing them.
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We also let the kids choose a word for the year, and, with the help of @biglifejournal ‘s 2021 downloadable worksheets, they chose the word, “family.” Oakley and Cali also decided to implement a new family tradition called “Wednesday 1-on-1.” It’s no secret that they love their alone time with Dave and I, and I’m loving their sweet & simple goals for this year.
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What goals do you have for this year? Do you have a word for 2021? I’d love to hear!!
I feel like this must be documented... Oakley chec I feel like this must be documented... Oakley checked out his first stack of books from the library that he plans to read entirely by himself! 
I’m not just proud of his work and effort, I’m SO excited for the vast amount of knowledge and adventure that awaits him in book form. 
I cannot recommend @4weekstoread enough. If you have a child learning to read or a child struggling to read, this curriculum works wonders! 
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Now I’m on the hunt for fun, easy books. Is there a series you’d recommend?? ❤️ 
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Happy NYE, friends! 🥂
Oak and Cal are revving up for some rad adventures Oak and Cal are revving up for some rad adventures this winter with their new Christmas presents. 
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Cali got all of Oakley’s old gear, but we refurbished his old board with some hot pink spray paint and vinyl stickers ... so I don’t even think she noticed! 😂🙌🏼
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Covid is making our annual CO trip a little difficult this year since 3 & 4 year olds can only go to ski school for 1 hour 🤦🏼‍♀️. So, now we’re thinking we’ll stay on the east coast this year. And Oakley wants to leave tomorrow. 😂 Do you know of any good resorts we should visit?! ❄️
Merry Christmas, friends. 🎄 “Advent is not f Merry Christmas, friends. 🎄

“Advent is not four weeks of Christmas. It is, rather, a season of hopeful aching and watchful waiting amidst the very conditions-depravity, disease, division, despair, death- that made Christmas necessary at all.”
-Duke Kwon
Our kitchen has gotten a lot of use lately. 🍪 Our kitchen has gotten a lot of use lately. 
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Yesterday we spent the day making Christmas cookies. Though full of sugar, they are gluten free and dye-free (including the sprinkles)! 
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It was the first year the kids have contributed more than just by making a mess 🤣. Also- zoom in on all those cutter shapes that have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. 😂 
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What kind of Christmas cookie is part of your tradition?
3 words: Hot Cocoa Bombs 💣 Swipe to see progre 3 words: Hot Cocoa Bombs 💣

Swipe to see progression pics. 
Final reveal in stories to see how these beauties pop in hot milk. 🤤

Here’s my recipe:

Ghirardelli melting chocolates
A silicone sphere mold
Starbucks double chocolate hot cocoa powder
Crushed peppermints
And our homemade peppermint marshmallows (see last post)

Melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring in between. When just melted spoon a tablespoon of meted chocolate into each half sphere. Spread the chocolate up the sides using the back end of a spoon. Flip the mold onto a pan, give it a few shakes, and freeze for 5 minutes. 
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Take the half spheres out of the molds. Add 2 tablespoons of hot cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of crushed peppermints & 1 large marshmallow to half of the chocolate half spheres (the other halves are the tops).
Heat a glass plate in the microwave for 1 minute. Rub the bottom of the empty spheres on the hot plate to melt the rims slightly, then put on top of filled spheres. Add melted chocolate around the edges to seal and then sprinkles the seam with more crushed peppermint! 
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Once cooled, put your hot cocoa bomb into a large mug, heat up your milk of choice, and slowly pour the hot milk over the chocolate sphere. 🤯
So yum and So fun!
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Who’s made and/or tasted these before?!
We made homemade peppermint marshmallows! (Recipe We made homemade peppermint marshmallows! (Recipe from the @shereadstruth Advent study this year). 
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This was a first for us, and I wasn’t sure how good they’d turn out because... heated sugar, candy thermometer, following directions appropriately... 🙄 
But they are SO good. Definitely WAY better than store-bought! 
Can’t wait to roast these over a fire and include them in some hot cocoa bombs (that are also happening in our kitchen this week)! Also, I put the link to the marshmallow recipe in stories. 
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Christmastime baking is my favorite season of baking (and probably my only). I definitely prefer cooking to baking, but it’s fun for a season. 😍🙌🏼 
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Scroll to the end to see the mess I had to clean 😂. And Cali needed a shower bc she got gooey marshmallow in her hair. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 
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What are you baking in your kitchen this week?!
A favorite local Christmas tradition! 🌌 If you A favorite local Christmas tradition! 
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If you’re local to Jax, you must head to the beach and check out Deck the Chairs! All the displays are creatively made with a Jax Beach lifeguard chair. 
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We also really love going to see the Christmas lights in St. Augustine and riding the trolley to view them!  That’s still on our list for this year. 
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What is a favorite local tradition of yours?
🌲🍊Cranberry & Dried Citrus Christmas Garland 🌲🍊Cranberry & Dried Citrus Christmas Garland.🍊🌲
This is the second year we’ve done this, and the tradition is staying! (And it’s super easy & fun for kids!)
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Directions:
Cut citrus 1/8 in thick and bake on a cookie sheet at 200° for 4 hours. (I used oranges and red grapefruit. I like the way they turn out when you use different colored fruit fresh! I looked for blood oranges but couldn’t find them, so went with red grapefruit.  Red navels will also work well.) 
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To assemble, I used one long strand of hemp twine and tied a round-end tapestry needle on each side. 
Oakley and Cali collaboratively worked the garland from either side alternating between citrus and cranberries. 
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And I think the result is just stunning. What do you think?
In my last post, some of you asked about the beach In my last post, some of you asked about the beaches in the keys. While we didn’t get to explore many beaches, we did go to Sombrero Beach for while! The sand is soft without many shells, the water was calm and beautiful, and there was another section of the beach with tide pools. Would definitely recommend this beach!
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The water was too cold for us, but not for others (Northerners I presume 😂) ... zoom in. 
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Would you be swimming or sun bathing?
I highly recommend renting a boat when in the keys I highly recommend renting a boat when in the keys. So many waterways, so much to explore. It especially makes sense if you can split the cost of the boat rental with friends 😍. 
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We rented a house with a canal and dock in the back, so we picked the boat up the night prior, docked it at our place & took it out early the next am! 
[and yes. I’m wearing a Patagonia jacket with a bathing suit. 😂🤷🏼‍♀️]
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Have you ever done a boat rental?! Where did you do it at?
I love making up treasure hunts. This trip I said, I love making up treasure hunts. This trip I said, “I just want to find a conch shell!” So, the hunt was on. 
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We rented a boat & found a sandbar. As soon as Cali and I stepped out to walk around, we found this giant Queen Conch! 
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Slightly bummed that it wasn’t a vacant shell to keep, we snapped some pics and let it be. 
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We found out that Queen Conch is a protected species, and harvesting them is illegal. Now I’m wondering where all the conch comes from for the conch chowder that is plentiful in the Keys. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 😂
Love these little tide pools we found at #sombrero Love these little tide pools we found at #sombrerobeach in #marathonflorida . Hours of entertainment for these kiddos.😍 This is a top favorite beach activity for sure, but I wish FL had more of them. 😫
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Are there tide pools anywhere else in Florida that you know of?!
Can’t think of a better way to escape a cold fro Can’t think of a better way to escape a cold front! 🌞

What’s the weather like where you are?  Use only an emoji!
First day in the Florida Keys! This has been on ou First day in the Florida Keys! This has been on our list for a while. Despite the fact that I’ve lived here the majority of my life, we’ve never experienced the Keys! 
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Have you been here?! Would love your recommendations if you have them! Food, adventures, beaches, state parks, etc! 🙌🏼
When thanksgiving break doesn’t involve sitting When thanksgiving break doesn’t involve sitting around all day... 😍 
Loved our time with amazing family. And loved helping out on the farm and loving on all the animals! 
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Oak was officially initiated into farmer life after getting attacked by the resident rooster... which happened to be caught on camera, but it’s SO traumatizing! 🙈
When asked what should happen to Richard the rooster, Oakley quickly replied, “cook him!” 😂 
He’s totally fine and it was a good lesson in farm life. ❤️ (And Richard lives on protecting his little coop 😂).
Just another year older, but got this surprise par Just another year older, but got this surprise party thrown at me! Such a fun idea for an outdoor party, and the perfect way to celebrate- especially in 2020. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it! ❤️ 
📸: @fsuabby
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