Makin Memories

I am linking up with the fabulous AP at I Love You More Than Carrots.  She is awesome.  She has the most adorable toddlerbeast who never seems to stop moving and AP has some sass that makes me laugh every.single.day.  Her and a few other bloggy gals are doing a week long holiday link up.  It has been so fun reading and getting ideas up the wazoo!!!!  

 I LOVE Christmas.  Almost as much as I LOVE a good ol' tradition.  

I love traditions soooooooo much I usually get stressed to the max about doing them..... Ha Ha!  Sad...but true.  You see, I am the oldest, seemingly type A and have the need to do everything and do it right!!  BUT, this year, I am determined to complete our usual traditions, along with some new ones, and some to store away some for the future, and not go crazy.

Haha!  She was less than thrilled with meeting Santa :)
 
{If you just want a brief overview skip to the bottom}

Growing up.  Lets start here.  

The 23rd.  My dad's side of the family is a crazy bunch.  C-R-A-Z-Y, but I love them :)  Anyways, we have a Danish Christmas on the 23rd that is filled with Danish food, singing and dancing around the Christmas tree, and so many other things.  Oh what fun it is to be a Dane :)

 yes, we even danced around the tree at our wedding!  It was so close to Christmas, we couldnt not do it! 

The 24th.  We always went to Christmas eve service, I usually sang some sort of Christmas tune that I would FREAK out before but would do it every year because it was, well, tradition.  We would then head over to the gparents and have a wonderful spread of food, head home and put out our cookies for santa.  

Christmas Day.  We would wake up in a flurry, wake the siblings, check the stockings before waking mom and dad :) and then the thinking would start.  Thinking?  Yes.  My mother, my wonderful mother.  I guess growing up they had a crazy tradition of wrapping presents for each kiddo but NOT putting a tag on them.  You had to figure out what wrapping paper represented each child and WHY.  So of course she wanted to keep those crazy traditions going.  Talk about making a child go crazy on Christmas morning.  Sometimes it would take us 30 minutes, and I seriously think one time it took us like 3 hours.  Insanity.

 

this is a picture at my moms Christmas morning last year....auntie nikki looks less than pleased :)

Once we would finally figure it out we would open the presents and then have a delicious brunch and relax the rest of the day.

Married Life.  YIKES

Add double.  Seriously double.  In 2007, the year we got married, I had finals in college all the way until the 19th, got married on the 21st, and then started the Christmas events on the 23rd.  Yeah, I was crazy with a capital C.  Just ask the new hubby wondering why he married a crazy at the time.  Well the husband's family is Swedish, so naturally they celebrate their being Swedish on the 23rd too!  Why not?  Then on the 24th they have a Korean Meal (he has cousins that were born there).  Delish.  So so good.  And then on Christmas morning his immediate family would get together, then have huge caramel rolls at his aunt's with the rest of their family, and then head to his parents for yet, another big meal, and of course to watch the Lakers later on :) 

So what do 2, 3, and 4 day naive newlyweds do?  All of it of course!  naive people.   We just had no clue.  Fun of course, but so, so exhausting.......  

   Married with a kid.  Double Yikes.

Well this is going to be our 2nd year, and since I am determined not to get over stressed, I am hoping our plans work out wonderfully and we just get to enjoy the reason for the season and the extra time with the family.  Last year Kal was a mere 2.5 weeks old, and naturally everyone wanted to see the new babe.  Duh, she is the darn cutest little thing :)  So it was a little difficult but we managed.  We celebrate with my Dad and stepmom this weekend with our immediate family.  Then we are sticking with the every other rule.  My fam for the 23rd, husbands for the 24th, OUR family in the am on Christmas Day, then my momma's and then back to the husbands for lakers game Christmas day meal.  I know things will get tweaked here and there.......but I just dont want to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shuffling around and I want to enjoy celebrating Jesus' birthday! 

Some of our other fun traditions {and ones I will start hopefully next year with Kal!}

1.  Cookie Day!! this was year one, so fun!!!

2.  Cookie day #2 on Sunday!  This is with our family friends, and it is all girls.  We make it all, not just cookies...especially this year thanks to pinterest!  
3.  Christmas Card - last year I combined with Kal's birth announcement 
4.  I am planning on starting Advent Christmas books next year with Kal!  I have already scored a few great deals on Christmas books and plan to get more after Christmas when they are on major sale!  Their are other ideas floating out there that I would love to incorporate too!!
5.  Matching jammies!  Well not matching, but coordinating :)  I was late to the party on this one, and everything I have found just isnt working (sizing, out of stock, etc)....Kal has new jammies already washed and wrapped for Christmas eve, but momma and dada will have to settle for 'fairly' new ones....but watch out for next year, I will be on the hunt!
6.  Elf on the Shelf.  I have to admit, I think the elf that comes in the box with the book is a bit on the creepy side, so I am on the lookout for a less creepy one :)  Kal is much too young to understand, but maybe next year?  I have seen so many great ideas!  
7.  Ever since we lost miss Emma we have brought a basket of toys/necessities to the NICU at the hospital I delivered her at.  They were so wonderful to us, I love bringing it every year, in hopes to help or lift up a family that is going through so much.  Giving is such a huge part of my heart and I want my kids to know the great joy that comes from that!
8.  Most importantly, I want to make sure our children know that Christmas is about JESUS. 

I think that covered most of our traditions...I love them and cant wait to read and get some more!!!

Christmas card 2011

Here our are Christmas cards for this year!  I am linking up with Walk with me by Faith for her annual Christmas Card Carousel!  If you are on our list, you should be getting them soon!  It worked out wonderfully, I was able to pass out about 20 of them at Kal's birthday, so we saved on some stamps ;) 

This isnt the best quality but I think you get the idea. 

 

front

back

Merry Merry Christmas to you all!!!

sneak peak

I promise I havent fallen off the face of the earth, but boy.  After planning and executing Kallen's first birthday, I needed a few days to recoup!  Yikes!  

I absolutely LOVED planning my baby girls first birthday.  Sure, I thought I was going to lose my mind on Friday night around midnight or so, but all in all, I loved it :)

Here are a couple sneak peaks from the birthday, until I will get all of ours! 

 

 

My house is still in a disarray,  but we had a wonderful time and so thankful for all of the help and for the many people that came to celebrate!  Miss Kal is definitely loved!  

12 months

Sissy!!!  You are 12 months old!

I cant believe it!  Where has this year gone??  It truly goes way to fast. 

Lets see, what are you up to these days?  Oh sooo many things....

You are in size 5 diapers.  We have your yearly checkup later today to get your stats. 

You are still taking 1-2 naps [most] days.

This past month you entered into a whole new level of not sleeping through the night.  Oh sister.  What happened to you sleeping through the night?   

You are into hugging.  You seriously give the BEST hugs, especially in the middle of the night (see above) and after your naps.  You just cling and rest your sweet little head on my shoulder and it is the best.  I love it.  Yes, even at 3, 4, 4:30 am :)

You are into guys.  Yes, you read that right.  She thinks boys and guys and dads and uncles and grandpas and great grandpa's are the best.  Not that she doesn't like her aunts, grandma's, mimi, friends etc, but boy.  You just die over those men.  We are in t-r-o-u-b-l-e if you keep this up.   Can we say all girls school???

You are loving table food...and are pretty much over with the baby food.  I still have some left that I made so hopefully we can squeeze some of that in so it doesnt go to waste!!

You love to use a spoon.  You have the concept down but just miss the mouth or have the wrong end sometimes...and you are a little feisty if momma tries and feeds you, you know, because you know all already.   Duh mom.

You are walking so much!  Practically running actually.  All over the place...into everything, not that you werent before, but its just at a whole new level!

You can sign milk, thank you and please.  I say 'can' because you will do it randomly and if I am not begging you to do it....if I do, you look at me like I am losing it....

You love to sing & dance.  We sing all day and whenever their is music on you usually get your groove on.  Hilarious.

You are a busy girl.  You do not stop moving all.day.long.  I was looking at our pictures the other day wondering why I dont have as many as I used to...well it is because I chase you all day long or they look like this is:

You are still head over heals for Kobe.  You love that dog!   

You still have 4 teeth (2 top/2 bottom)

You get so excited when your daddy gets home!  If you hear the garage door you get such a big smile on your face and walk over and wait for him to come inside.  So sweet.

You have a smile and laugh that melts my heart.  If you get into trouble I think you really know that if you just smile or laugh you will get out of it because it is SO hard for momma not to smile.

Kallen, like I said yesterday, we love you more than words can describe.  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone with you.  It has been an amazing incredible year and your daddy and I love you so incredibly much. 

Happy first birthday Kallen Jayne!!!

My sweet, beautiful Kallen Jayne.  Happy first birthday!  This past year with you has been nothing short of amazing.  It has gone way too fast for my liking. 

 

You were 7lbs, 15 oz of pure sweetness.  I could have eaten you up.

  I felt so overwhelmed at this beautiful blessing, and we thank God every day for you!!!  You were the answer to our prayers and from the minute you came into our lives it has felt like you have been a part of our family forever.  We wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Those first days with you were pure goodness.  I miss your tiny little baby-ness.  How does it go away soooo fast???

 

 You are simply a beautiful baby girl!  Not so much a baby anymore, but ill always consider you my sweet little babe.

  Kallen Jayne, your daddy and I love you more than words could ever begin to say.  We are over the moon in love with you and are so unbelievably thankful that God chose US to be your parents.  We pray that you grow up to know and love the Lord with all your heart and that you develop a personal relationship with Him.  I pray that from the deepest part of my soul for you every single day and will never stop.

Happy 1st Birthday baby girl!!!!!  We love you so much!!!!

O Christmas Tree

 I am loving Kallen's new Christmas outfit!!!

 Even though I cant get her to stop moving,

 

she sure is pretty cute in her Christmas tree outfit!

If you know us in real life...you will be seeing this often during December so we can get some good use out of it!!!! 

cookie day

my bfffffffff Tonya and I die over Christmas.  We love Jesus, Christmas trees,  Christmas music, all the decorations, family time, and ummm cookies.  We decided we need to get together when it is 'acceptable' to have a cookie day!  Ha ha ha!  So cookie day came about and it was so.much.fun.  I cant wait for our many many years to come!  

 

Okay, our cookie day fun was really just for us, as Kalpal slept and the husbands played whatever new game that just came out that I am so sick of a video game. 

 

I am thankful that my obscene laughing face isnt shown here.... :)

 

 Miss Kal after her nap.  Did you notice all of her Laker gear?  Yeah, daddy is pretty happy the nba is coming back on Christmas day!  We are already arguing discussing her Christmas Day outfit. 

some of the cookies pre-frosted....there were so many!  

 

The little miss playing with Uncle Dave, she loves him!  

Kal wanted to get in on their family picture...

We have some other fun things planned with each other throughout the holiday season and I seriously cannot wait!  I LOVE having a bff (who became my cousin through marriage by the way, how cool is that?!) that shares in my obsession passion for Christmastime.  We were destined to be :)  Love you friend!  Thanks for a wonderful time as always!!