The Beginning of Our First Christmas

I am so thankful I married a man who loves Christmas just as much as I do. As soon as Thanksgiving was over we began decorating for Christmas. The first Sunday after Turkey Day we were picking up our tree at Sleighbells (which we picked out back in September mind you).

 

This year we began collecting Department 56 Charles Dickens' Village and of course we had to get three to start our village. We expect to pick out one or two each year.

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A Very Merry Engaged Christmas

This Christmas has been quite a whirlwind, but Kenny and I did stop and smell the pine tree. 

On December 14th, Kenny and I celebrated St. Lucia's Day, getting in touch with his Norwegian roots, and hopefully adding this to our holiday traditions. I made a delicious pot of lamb shanks, which were a complete hit! You can find the recipe here. And made St. Lucia buns, which are basically hot-crossed buns with saffron and raisins. Delicious when warm with a little butter and a hot cup of gluhwein. 

I also crafted a few gifts this year, one which were attic journals and ribbon bookmarks for my bridesmaids.

For the kids in our lives I made snowman kits. Can't wait till it snows so I can see pictures of the kids and their snowman!

One of Kenny and my favorite gifts this year was a beautiful handmade quilt from his dad's girlfriend.

We hope everyone had as wonderful of a Christmas as we had! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Using My Laptop as a Lap Warmer

After a cold afternoon outside helping my dad put up the Christmas lights, I am now sitting on the couch adorned in sweats, covered with a blanket, high-top knitted slippers, and my very own lap warmer: my laptop. (The only thing missing—fingerless gloves so I can type without numb phalanges.)

I found this sweet/down-to-earth mama blog, which is very human and a refreshing read.

Love these winterized wedding inspiration pictures!

I've been gradually working on my 2011/2012 wish list for this holiday/birthday season. You may be wondering about the Scarlett O'Hara doll/clothes...those who know me well know I'm obsessed with GWTW and collect anything that has to do with it!

Speaking of GWTW, I am thinking of this being my 2011 ornament. Or add to my Barbie collection this year. I think Kenny would appreciate the Thor ornament. I was looking at all the Hallmark "Our First Christmas" and "New Home" ornaments—can't wait to be able to purchase one of those (or both of those) for our first tree in our first home!

Loving New Girl right now!

8:00 tonight, NBC will be showing one of my favorite classics, "It's a Wonderful Life" in color, in honor of the 65th Anniversary.

I've been spending some time on my other blog, Nightlight Readings for the First Annual 25 Days of Christmas Nightlight Readings. I've already posted on three of my favorite reads: The Littlest Angel, The Night Before Christmas, and Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. Tonight will be on one of my favorite childhood stories about Mr. Edwards and Santa Claus in Little House in the Prairie.

With this Christmas break, I have decided to take a momentary semi-hiatus on wedding planning. This is such a busy month, I thought it best just to use this time to work on little projects, but mostly just enjoy this time with family and enjoy our first Christmas as an engaged couple. We have limited ourselves to just pinning down a couple important decisions by the end of year, so we'll be ready for the home stretch in January (especially after the Portland Bridal Show—on my birthday!).

P.S. Congratulations to my UO Ducks on winning the Pac 12 Championship! We are now heading for Pasadena!

Everything Golden Presents 25 Days of Christmas Memories

{via Everything Golden}

If you liked the Rice Bowl recipe I posted from Meagan's blog and are an avid blogger, please check out Everything Golden's 25 Days of Christmas Memories! The cold, winter nights are a good time to do some blog reading and we all enjoy a moment of nostalgia.

She has already posted two days. The first being a sweet little poem about a foolish fir tree. The second, posted today will remind us all of our childhood: A Very Merry Christmas Disney Sing-Along movie.