Thanksgiving

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving! It was our year to go to Ryan's family, which was fun because I had never been there before for this blessed holiday. Last time it was their year we all went to Disneyland. While this year wasn't quite as magical, we still enjoyed good food and had some fun. We started our day early! Kyle and I went on the annual Y Hike with my dad while Ryan went and played some football.

The hike was a lot of fun. My dad and I started this tradition the first year we moved to Utah...1998? Since then we have only missed four years. 1. Random drunks were blocking the trailhead so we hiked Rock Canyon instead of picking a fight. 2. I had ACL replacement surgery a few weeks before Thanksgiving so we went to the BYU Stadium parking lot and my dad taught me to drive stick instead. 3. The year I went to Disneyland (the only year we didn't do something in its place) and 4. Last year. 40 weeks pregnant. We went on a more gentle "hike" down by Utah Lake. This tradition is important to me. I love my dad. Being the youngest child by 7 years I think I have a unique relationship with my parents. I had a lot of alone time with them, and now I still like my one on one time with Dad. I loved adding Kyle this year though. One of my huge parenting goals is to instill a love of physical activity and a love of the outdoors in my children. Ryan and I went camping and hiking every chance we had this past summer, and I am starting Kyle young with the Thanksgiving hike tradition! My dad was kind enough to do all the heavy lifting on the way up, and I carried Kyle down just so I could say I did some of the work. We had a wonderful time as always! The short but brutally steep hike makes us feel not as guilty when we enjoy the massive meal later that day.

After we all got back from our morning festivities we finished up our cooking and packed up to head to the Lundgreen's until Saturday. The food was delish and the company was even better! Not everyone loves their in-laws  but I can honestly say that despite the crazy chaos that is often present, I love the family I married into.  Check out the festive feather headbands Erin and I made for the place settings! I even got Kyle to leave his on through the meal:)

After the meal and a nap I did something I have never done before. I agree it is totally crazy, but the girls headed out for some Black Friday MADDNESS. We were not disappointed. We camped out at Target for a few hours, then headed to Kohl's, stopped at IHOP for some food, then to two malls...we left at 10:00 pm and returned at 6:00 am. Crazy. The deals were good, but the whole experience is what made it worth it for me. We had a lot of fun, and luckily were not trampled or pepper sprayed in the process.

The rest of the trip was spent napping, playing games, and relaxing. We came back home Saturday night, and it felt so good to be home. I love the Holidays, more this year than ever before. And I don't have the Sunday night blues so much tonight because...it is BIRTHDAY week! Woo! Sure we have to work...but we plan to party too. Bring on December!

Dear Santa,

Today I discovered what I really want for Christmas. Please bring an Xbox 360 and a Kinect to go with it.  I would also like the Fruit Ninja game...I am really good at it see? I have been a very good boy.

See how good I am? I would even share with my parents every once and a while. 

Love, Kyle

Why is it....

...that drinking full calorie Coke gives me the deepest sort of guilt, but I will chug egg nog like nobody's business? Tis' the season? Cheers! Have fabulous Thanksgiving!

Home

I do hair from home. I have a salon in my house, but it doesn't have a separate entrance, meaning all my clients get a full tour of my abode before entering my salon. What does this mean? This means that I have become even MORE of a clean freak/don't make a mess nazi than before. Ask my dear Ry...it can get ugly. I hate clutter, I hate mess, and everything needs to be spotless, especially if I have clients coming. For some of this I have no apologies...I like things tidy. It makes me feel peace and cleanliness creates order and happiness....BUT...

This morning I only had one client, and she is one of my bff's moms who I have known forever, and I knew she wouldn't mind walking through a non spotless house to the salon, and I have had a lot going on so I didn't take the time to go through with my white glove. When I finished her hair I was walking her to the door and she looked in my living room and said SO endearingly "aww you can tell a one year old lives here!". It was just a little comment but it really made me think. What I saw as my mess of a house she saw as something sweet. The toys everywhere mean a happy lil guy has been able to have a blast playing. Then I looked around at the other messes. The kitchen was a disaster...because I had been working all morning on a cake for a certain lil man's pictures and dinner later for my fam. The dining area is covered in a holiday sewing project that got interrupted. All these messes meant this house is lived in.

Don't get me wrong, I still insist on order, but not every second. Some messes are ok. Life is messy. I know what you might be thinking, why not go clean rather than blog about your mess? I like to capture these moments while I can, cause I would bet within a few hours I will be back to fanatically cleaning and feeling annoyed at the messes around. So I thought I would document while I had a minute.

Someday, I will miss this mess.

*not pictured: the mountain of laundry in the bedroom....ick. Even through rose colored glasses laundry is still ick.

11 Months

Say what? Yes. I am for real. We are only a month away from a BIRTHDAY in this house. I know, I can't believe it either. Kyle is getting so grown up, and as sad as it makes me to see my little baby dwindling before my eyes, we are having more fun each day. I love the new things he can do. His personality is becoming so defined and apparent. This month's faves...

• His dance moves are the best. Hands down. Nothing makes us laugh more than Kyle busting a move, and luckily he does it every time there is music on...so we get a lot of laughs.
• I love his new face every time he says ohhhhhh...with raised brows and his lips in the perfect o shape.Like he is shocked and appalled.
• He carries his bottle around in his teeth as he crawls around. He has always done this, but recently Ryan pointed out it was funny, and I agreed.
• He likes his sippy cup. So grown up.
• He is eating better, as long as he is offered a large variety and new things almost daily.
• He loves backyardigans and veggie tales. We limit his viewing though, don't worry.
• He can nod yes and shake his head no when you ask him to, though I don't think he has their meanings down yet.
• He can bah and moo. Sometimes.
• He loves to wave...with both hands...to anyone. love it.
• He had his first plane ride, and did so well. 
• He is always busy doing something. 
• He loves magnets on the fridge, and sometimes sits in the full splits position while he plays. Still need a pic of that one.
• He got the flu for the first time, sad, sad day.
• He can just about stand without holding on to something, and will walk with assistance.
• He has learned to throw good quality tantrums when he doesn't get his way, I find it hilarious.
• He loves when anyone is singing or dancing.
• He enjoys being the center of attention.
• He can make a kissy face.
• He continues to love Personal Penguin. That song ends any sadness in the life of Kyle.
• He loves being chased, crawled with, and tossed around. All boy.
• He likes to throw things, and seems to have a pretty good arm.
• He had his first Halloween! He wasn't a fan of the giraffe suit until we showed him his reflection in the mirror...he laughed and left it alone.
• He talks non stop...don't know what he is saying...but he sure does have a lot to chat about.
• He got his first kid's meal...from steak'n shake nonetheless. 
• He holds phones up to his ear correctly even when no one is there.
• He thinks it is hilarious to open his mouth as wide as possible.
• He cut two more teeth, but with this kid that happens so often it hardly seems worth noting. 
• He has the sleepiest eyes every morning, and still looks groggy for over an hour after waking up.
• He makes us laugh evvvvvvvvvvvvvvery single day. I think he is the coolest.

I will leave you with a few videos, taken on the same day. I couldn't decide which I liked more, so here are both! Love this kid's zest for life. 

He seems to scare himself or something in this next one for a minute, but then goes right back to singing and jammin. 

And a few pics from the month...

 Owning the farm at the Texas State Fair

 Groggy little face

 blue eyed boy

Let the countdown to the big one year bash begin! 

Pretty

We got some family pictures taken a while ago (July). I put them on facebook quickly so that dear sister could see them, but I never included them on here (other than the blog title). Some recent happenings in our family have made me really count my blessings, especially our blessing named Kyle. I love these pictures.

Keeping a promise

Remember last year? Well I remembered that promise I made to the Holiday Gods and had a holly jolly Halloween! Just to make sure we really made up for last year we decided to go to five festive parties and have as much fun as possible.We kicked it all off at the beginning of the month at the Taylor family party in the barn. This one is my favorite...why you ask? It was catered by Tucanos and everyone leaves with a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory candy apple. Any more questions? I also love how festive the barn is and seeing all the little kids in costume. It really kicks off the holidays and fills me with all the happiness of fall.

Next it was time for Ryan's friend's party. Unfortunately it happened on the same night as the 7th game of the Series and a BYU football game. We were bummed because we would have loved to stay and party the night away with them, but instead we were just able to stop in. Still had a good time seeing everyone though! We also went with a last minute costume change and went as Cardinals fans rather than our original idea...but we still had plenty of parties left to dress up for! Didn't take any pics aside from the one on the previous post of us cheering for the cards.

We also went to the ward party the next night. We had a lot of fun, even though my taco soup didn't win the competition :) Kyle really enjoyed exploring the cultural hall as a giraffe and we had a good time socializing.

Sunday night was the annual Lundgreen family Black and Orange Dinner! I look forward to this one every year. It is always fun to think of creative treats to take and to see all the cousins in their costumes. This year we even had our own little man to contribute to the chaos of grand kids! My friend tipped me off to some fun tutorials, and I think they turned out! The frosting on these cupcakes was so delish. Cream cheese and cinnamon. Yum. The best part of everything else I made was that I hate white chocolate so I had no temptation as it sat in my house waiting to be served. Can't say the same for Ryan though! He looks forward to those ghosts all year long.

On the actual day of Halloween we had fun getting all dressed up. We went trick or treating to family, then had a few friends over for a chill little party late that night after other festivities. My talented friends all made cute treats and we played some games. As my dad would say, a good time was had by all. 

And here are a few pics of our family costumes. Thought I would soak up one of very few years I have total control over what Kyle is for Halloween.

And this my friends, is a proper Lundgreen family Halloween. I apologize again for last year. Happy holidays everyone! The next few months are full of so much fun and so many festivities! No better time of year.