New Year's Eve

Every year at this time I'm shocked by how fast the year went, but this year definitely takes the cake.  It's pretty surreal to think back to last NYE- pregnant at Del Frisco's and clueless about what having a baby was really like.  This year has been a real eye opener, and such a rainbow of emotions.  Our little girl is the best thing that's ever happened to us.  Every day with that girl is pure joy...poopy diapers and sleepless nights included.

We're celebrating the new year in style with Ryan's family and lots of champagne, steak and lobster tails.  Oh, and I made some vodka soaked gummy bears...that turned into a nice vodka gummy bear jello mold.  Totally nailed it.   Happy New Year's!

Cheers!
K

Christmas

Christmas is hands down my favorite holiday of the year.  I love the decorations, and parties, and cookies, but mostly I love that it's all a really big birthday party for our savior.  It's so easy to think of that manger scene as just a beloved story, but it always amazes me to think that it really, truly happened.  A baby was born, lived a perfect life, and then died for us.  Amazing.

Our Christmas was extra special, getting to celebrate with our little bug and her Aunt Jo.  Hope yours was merry and bright too!

- K

Christmas Time is Here

I am not the type to do a lot of decorating for holidays, which I imagine will change as our kids accumulate and get older, but I am in love with Christmas decorations.  And since Ryan so diligently spent hours on the roof putting lights up for the first time since we got married, I decided to share some pics.

Our house typically feels pretty empty since we're still trying to furnish and decorate from our 1 bed 1 bath days, but when we put up these decorations, home automatically feels a little more homey.  I'm always a little sad to take them down come January...which is maybe why I procrastinate and sometimes turn that into February.  ;)

On a separate note, today was pretty fab.  I got to have breakfast with a good friend, and picked up my sister, Jo, at the airport who will be here through Christmas.  I really love my sisters.  I am blessed to have four of them, and while I love my brother too, sisters are simply the best.  Built in best friends.  I can't gush enough about mine, and can't help but hope little L has one of her own someday.  Here's a post from my sister, Savannah, about our family Christmases growing up.  She's an amazing sister, wife, and mama.  Love and miss that girl.

- K

Santa!

Last week we took L to meet Santa.  We headed to the Mall of America because of all the mall santas the one at the Mall of America would have to be the best, right?  Right?? 

Meh, wrong.  I mean, he wasn't awful but "friendly" isn't really how I'd describe him either.  He literally didn't say a word to Lyla, and just sat there with this stupified look on his face.  I mean come on man, you signed up to be santa.  Buck up.

Here's the "best" pic they took, which we bought of course because we're first time suckers parents.  Just look at his face.  Every picture looked like that.  Nice job, santa. 

- K

An N'Sync Christmas

This weeend started out with a bang with an ugly Christmas sweater party - the type of party we haven't seen in years.  Not since our condo days where we found any excuse to have a theme party, and may have had a drink or two thrown from our balcony to the pool 16 floors below.  And maybe just one or two noise violations.  But anyways, that was a long time ago.  And these days I do not have the tolerance I once did.  I managed to have a total of four drinks.  Four.  Chipped my tooth, and nursed the worst hangover of my life the next day.  The college me is shaking her head somewhere inside.

Needless to say the rest of the weekend was not as productive as I'd hoped, but I managed to pull myself together and even braved the Mall of America for some Christmas shopping Saturday afternoon (you'd be surprised to find out that A LOT of other people had the same brilliant idea). 

On Sunday I baked gingerbread cookies while my partners in crime downloaded Christmas music and sang and danced.  Ryan, who hates my Jessica Simpson and 98 degrees Christmas album collection, took it upon himself to "download something that doesn't suck".  And then we ended up with the N'Sync Christmas album. 

Finally we have some Christmas classics!

- K

Insta Weekend

It seems like in the last few weeks our little squishy baby blob has suddenly turned into a full fledged little kid.  She went from kinda sorta clapping to being our own personal little cheerleader, waving and clapping at every little thing.  And kissing on command!   And probably my favorite - pointing at pictures of me and saying "mama".  Can you hear my heart melting? 

Oh, and she also popped out two more teeth and has started standing on her own.  Mostly on accident, but as soon as she figures out she can do it, she's gonna be walking for sure.

She's also going through what I assume is a huge growth spurt.  That or practicing to become the youngest professional eater of all time.  I'm serious.  Let me give you the run down of what she ate at one dinner this weekend: two toddler ravioli meals, one jar of pureed baby food, a baggie full of cheetos, bread, and my dinner.  I don't know how she did it, but I'm not even mad.  I'm just impressed.  ;)

- K

Holidazzle Parade

Last Thursday our good friends, Shannan and Greg, invited us to go downtown with them and their little guy for the Holidazzle Parade.  Even though it was a little past L's bedtime I immediately accepted the invitation.  I don't know what it is, but having a baby makes me even more in the holiday spirit.  I envisioned standing outside in the freezing cold for hours and fighting off crowds while protecting my little lady, but I was game anyways. 

For once reality was actually way better than my imagination.  1) We set up shop at this great little restaurant with corner windows, where L and I shared butternut squash ravioli in between running outside to see the floats.  2) There was barely a crowd - no craning necks to see the lights or elbows to protect my girl from.  3) It was not even cold!  I didn't even wear my coat (or the scarf, mittens, long johns, etc. that I had brought.)

It was such a great night...with maybe just a little too much wine.  Seems to be a recurring theme with those guys.  ;) 

- K

Auntie Jo

princess dressing room at the disney store

eating avocado sushi

cat cuddles

 

Last week I was texting with my sister, Jo, who mentioned that she had this week off work.  Next thing I know, (after maybe just a few videos and pics of L to talk her into it), she has a ticket to MN for a quick visit.  This house loves to get some Auntie Jo time.  Even the kitties have to sneak in a snugfest here and there. 

Unfortunately Lyla is teething like a mad woman, and wasn't exactly the little angel I always make her out to be.  She definitely gave her auntie a run for her money.  She cried when she took her to the park to swing, bawled when Jo told her she was beautiful, and refused to go to sleep for naps.  She's lucky she's got those kissable cheeks and big brown eyes.  Even when she's being a little stinker she's still pretty irresistable.

The trip was quick, but we fit in as much as possible.  The highlights for L were definitely eating sushi, the Disney store at the Mall of America, and the just-my-size santa she couldn't stop kissing at another mall.

Oh, and she finally learned to wave and clap while Jo was here, and wouldn't stop doing it.  Her proud little face when we'd clap and cheer is seriously so precious.  I freakin love that girl.

Thanks for visiting, Auntie Jo!  We miss you already and can't wait to see you again in 2 WEEKS!!

XOXO

- K

O Christmas Tree

This year we decided to step up our game and go with two Christmas trees.  We have a little fake one that we've had since we got married, so we decided to go for the real thing.  I was pretty excited, remembering all the years as a kid of going out and rifling through the too crooked, too short, too tall, too bare trees until we found the perfect one. 

I had this dream of us going out as a family to this cute little tree lot where we'd spend hours analyzing each and every tree, drinking hot cocoa, and singing carols until we found "the one" -  just as a cute little bird would fly up, land on my oustretched finger and sing us a little tune.  Then we'd pack up and head home, laughing all the way.

Then I woke up and realized we were at Menard's.  Surrounded by hot pink signs and cardboard boxes.  Oh, and the trees?  All completely tied up.  Please tell me how you're supposed to pick a tree when you can't see it.

Amazingly enough we picked out the cutest little tree I've ever had.  Seriously!  It's way better than our "perfect" fake one, and the smell is just to die for.  I don't know why it took us this long to get a real tree, but I'm hooked.

The highlight of the trip was definitely L meeting Frosty the Snowman for the very first time.  I'd say they hit it off.  ;)

- K

the real one

the fake one

and two minis for good measure :)

Dad's Turn- Little Monkey

Those that know me well know that I was a bit taken aback when we found out we were having a little girl.  I just assumed, as is natural for most recovering meat heads, that I would have a boy.  A boy that I could start prepping for a career in the NFL almost immediately.  I obviously came to terms with fathering a little Miss but still instantly began to compare Lyla's progress against other babies.  Lately I have had a lot to be proud of.

Recently while touring a local daycare Lyla met a little boy approximately two months older than her (named Axel by the way)... and promptly used his face to stand herself up and grab the toys on the table behind him.  Last week at the child care at Life Time, Lyla had two fellow 9 month old girls with her in the infant room.  She however decided she was getting the hell out of there.  While the other two just laid there she used the bouncy seats around the perimeter of the room to walk all the way around the room and was slapping the door and reaching for the handle when I came back to get her.

So needless to say L is going to be a professional athlete of some kind... maybe not football, but I am sure the Olympics at least.

- R

Thanksgiving Week

We made the executive decision a while ago that we wouldn't be traveling for the holidays.  It's just too rough on our schedules (I am not a nice person on no sleep), and seeing everyone we want to over a short time is pretty stressful.  Luckily we have some amazing family who decided to come visit us for each holiday.  It was so great to have a full house for Thanksgiving, and L loved all the attention.  Seeing her interact with with her grandma, grandpa, aunt, and uncle was so cute. 

I realized that I had two new things to be thankful for this year.  I am so incredibly, indescribably thankful for the chance to love on that sweet girl every day of my life.  I am also thankful for the endless amount of family that also love her so much.  That little baby is so blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life.

The time with family went fast, as it always does.  When everyone left, the quietness of the house about killed me.  I really miss home.  And I hope every last one of our family and friends knows how much we love them and how thankful we are for their presence in our lives.

Here are some pics from our great little week.  :)

xo
Kassi

new kitty hat :)

 

auntie kate

 

pumpkin cinnamon rolls

first sugary treat ever...she kinda liked it

 

 

the cooks

that silly little face

enough pictures, guys!

reading with uncle joe



the boys

saved the best for last.  so hot.