Christmas time at the Kjars

We were a little slow on getting our Christmas tree and holiday decor up...but better late than never! (that applies a little bit too much in my life sometimes;)

The last couple days I've been adding some Christmas-y touches to our humble abode...but I think I'll be adding more as the month goes on. (there are so many neat homemade creations I see on [many of your] blogs I want to try!) And finally, last night for Family Home Evening, we decorated our tree. Brooks went to bed early cause he's a bit under the weather (poor little guy) so it was just Adam and I. It was sweet being just the two of us...but in the back of my head I was excited thinking of our future when our little kids will be decorating with us. :)

LIGHTS ON THE TREE:

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A FEW HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS:

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{To make those musically-inclined paper fans I combined the ideas from here and here...you'll see them on our mantel too}

SOAKING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE GLOW:

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SMILES FOR DECORATING W/ YOUR OTHER HALF:

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MANTEL W/ MANGER AND ALL:

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CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE:

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{remember when I said I was going to string popcorn & cranberries at the end of this post?? well, i did it a couple of years ago and definitely forgot how long it takes. I got this far...and it happened to work perfectly for out little tree}

CRANBERRY-FILLED GLASS JAR DISPLAY:

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LOTS OF RED BERRIES & CINNAMON STICKS:

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RED RIBBONS ON THE RAILING & EGGNOG IN THE FRIDGE:

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NATIVITIES:

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{isn't this the cutest Nativity? It's Japanese :) Adam's parents gave it to us last year}

LITTLE B GETTING EXCITED FOR SANTA TO VISIT:

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I love the Christmas Spirit in our home!

And I hope you're all enjoying your holidays too :)

email from Dad

I got an email this morning that my sweet Dad sent me & my 2 sisters last night.

He lives in Washington, and I miss him a lot.

(me = classic Daddy's girl)

And this little email from him started my day off right.

From: Karl Stum

Sent: Sunday, December 5th, 2010 9:37pm

To: Haley Kjar; Corrie Stum; Celeste Stum

Subject: I love my girls! Winter Camping 2000

I came across this pic and the joy in it put a smile on my face for hours!

Attachment:

{background: Mt. Hood

foreground: Corrie, me, Celeste}

FOUR - cuatro - 4 -shi

My bff Shalyn over at Laugh Until Your Cheeks Hurt tagged me in this fun little questionnaire :) I've known Shay since we were in middle school, but it was so fun reading her answers...got to know her a little better! And if you want a good laugh (i KNOW you do) go and check out her blog!

Without further adieu...

FOUR shows I watch:

(heads up: i don't have cable...)

1. Friends

...semi-old school, but my all time favorite. The hubby actually got me a set of all 10 seasons a couple years ago for Christmas...boy did he score major brownie points! :)

2. The Office

...if Michael Scott's character leaves (that's what I've been hearing) I'm going on a hunger strike!

3. Biggest Loser

...I love seeing the transformation INSIDE the people...their whole demeanor changes :) Very inspiring!

4. Extreme Makeover Home Edition

...I cry on almost every episode. Adam and I love this show.

FOUR things I am passionate about:
1. My marriage

...doesn't get much better than marrying your best friend. It takes work, but I'm up for the challenge of staying in the newlywed stage for life, scratch that, FOREVER! :)

2. My faith

...I feel so blessed to have the knowledge of my living Savior. And that I can keep learning about Him in this book.

3. Motherhood

...I am VERY passionate (and still extremely intimidated) about being a good mom and raising my Brooks (and future children) in a LOVING home, teaching them good principles by my example. I love my job :)

4. Photos

...in no way am I photographer (in my dreams) but I love capturing photos of people I care about...whether it's at home, on vacation, or on a fun date. Photos hold memories still to enjoy over and over.

FOUR phrases I say a lot:

1. "What's love got to do with it?"..."Everything."

...Adam & I ask each other this all the time

2. "right-o"

...i don't know why

3. "good job buddy!"

...praising Brooks for his accomplishments. From eating solids to shimmying around the couch to a "good" diaper (lol), I'll be his cheerleader for life

4. "seven-seven-seven"

...only Adam would know that one ;)

FOUR things I have learned from the past:

1. Don't ever stop smiling...you never know who's falling in love with it. ;)

...funny story. Back in college I had a guy friend who worked with me. When I started working at the little smoothie/bakery shop on BYU-Idaho's campus, I'd get kind of stressed out when I couldn't figure out how to use the register, or forget what ingredients were in which smoothies, the line would get backed-up...and I wanted happy customers! One day my friend told me that I should smile more, sometimes he'd catch me "in-the-zone" and I'd look way too intense. From then on I put more of an effort into smiling and it made my time at work, and life in general, that much better! AND I just so happened to meet my future husband at the smoothie shop the next year. Was it 'cause I was smiling?? who knows ;)

2. Forgive and forget...

...if my husband can forgive me for having the messiest closet on the face of the planet, then I think I can forgive him for going to work and leaving the oatmeal & brown sugar open. every. morning. lol

3. ALWAYS follow a prompting to help someone.

...we're here to help each other.

4. Karma.

...believe it baby

FOUR things I did yesterday:

1. Went to a baby shower

2. Made a trip to the grocery store with little B

...for tonight's dinner (pot roast, mmmm)

3. Baby-sat/Hung out with 4 awesome boys.

...Adam & I love those kids. And they're so great with Brooks! We had fun making Ghost [of Christmas Past] Rolls (a post on that later)

4. Started making some homemade christmas tree ornaments

FOUR places I would love to visit:

1. Japan

...I'll be lucky enough to have my own personal translator too: Adam

2. Florida

...Disney World with the hubs and our kids...oh i can only imagine:)

3. Greece

4. Southern Spain

(both 3 & 4...to see their architecture and lay on those gorgeous beaches!!!)

FOUR things I am looking forward to:

1. Remodeling my kitchen!!!!

...it'll take some time, but OH i'm having a party inside just thinking about it! bye bye hanous-flower-vines wall paper and hello new backsplash & cabinetry)

2. Brooks' first Christmas :)

3. Going to a Bikram Yoga class again...soon.

...can't wait to get my sweat ON.

4. Getting to kiss 2 boys at New Years this year!!!

...haha, the hubs and my son :)

FOUR things I love about winter:

1. Coats & boots

...enough said.

2. Seeing the way people dress up their snowmen

3. Hearing about "snow-days" on the radio

...doesn't happen much here in Utah, but in Washington they were the best days EVER! (i'm such a kid)

4. Christmas - Christmas - and more Christmas

FOUR people I tag:

1. Shauna at The Amondson's :)

2. Rachel at Playing House

3. Kylie at the turley's

4. Ashley at hudson happenings

Can't wait to read your answers ladies :)

And this may be cheating...but if anyone reading this wants to be "tagged," DO IT!!! it's fun =)

Phone pic Purge

My good friend Rachel, over at Playing House, had herself a little "phone picture purge" a few days ago and it was fun see some of her photos :) so I'd thought I'd do the same and share some of mine!

{oh you know, just my little lover boy}

{gorgeous Utah winters...}

Story: I saw this adorable sweater at Kid To Kid (children's thift store) and I fell in love. Problem is, I think it may be a girl's sweater...the scalloped hood should've given it away.

Brooks doesn't seem to happy in a girl's sweater. haha

{those TJ peanut butter cups were my sister-in-law's favorite thing from our Sister's Retreat...THEY ARE TO DIE FORE}

{I didn't realize his Johnny-Jumper was "unlocked", so after I set him in it and ran to grab my phone I come back to see him happily sitting and spinning on his bum;) }

{Adam and his two sisters performed a beautiful Christmas song called "Were You There That Night?" at a lovely dinner at our Bishop's house for a few of the sweet widows in our ward. Adam and Katie sang, and Sharla played the harp. Heavenly music to say the least}

{This little guy can pull himself on the the rails of his crib! he's pretty proud}

{Camary, a friend of ours, had a lovely baby shower today...yay for baby girls! And don't you love the garland of bibs (above) and the tree w/ binkies for ornaments (below)??}

Speaking of trees...we're decorating our tree tomorrow.

Strung popcorn-cranberries and all.

I. CAN'T. WAIT.

Dear Brooks,

Hi sweet boy. I call you that a lot, don't I? (I apologize ahead of time if I embarrass you from calling you that when you're older) You're going to sleep right now, well at least you're supposed to be. Dad is "rocking you to sleep" in your bedroom, but I am hearing lots of laughter from you two ;) And I love it.

Dad loves you so, so much Brooks. And I know you love him too...every night when he gets home from work you get SO happy...sometimes it seems like you get so excited your little body doesn't know how to contain itself! You two together...my two favorite boys in the whole world.

Earlier today you were in my backpack (the one that I sat in, on Grandma & Grandpa Stum's back, when I was about your size) while I was doing dishes and prepping for dinner. You were jibber-jabbering away (mostly da-da's) and tickling my neck with you little fingers. But soon, you were fast asleep in dreamland. I headed back to your room and thought I'd be a little tricky: instead of putting you in your crib, I laid you on my chest and sat in the rocker. You're the sweetest little guy I know, but as you've gotten older snuggling like that isn't quite your cup of tea, so I was soaking up every bit of it. You seemed so big in my arms. Your head was on my shoulder. I laid my cheek on your cheek. I felt your soft breath on my neck...and I cried, softly.

I suddenly longed for you to be that tiny newborn again...with your wrinkly thighs and your wobbly head...I wanted to be tickling your tiny feet to wake you up while nursing you (you were quite the sleepyhead:)...oh how I miss nursing you...I wanted to see your arms and legs stretch and flail about while I changed your diaper...I wanted to see the way you stared at bright lights, you were so drawn to them...I wanted to gaze into your beautiful eyes as we'd study each others' faces.

I can't decide if all of that seems like just yesterday, or forever ago. But you know what, sweet boy? I then realized that I have a son who is not a baby, but is a big, strong, growing boy. You're learning so much everyday Brooks, and I love that I get to be a part of your life. You have a laugh that makes me melt...your set of two little pearly whites is the cutest thing I think I've ever seen...you can crawl (Daddy and I love that you crawl the fastest when coming to us)...your skin smells like HEAVEN after I bathe and lather you up with lotion...you love to grab my hands and pull with all your might to stand up tall...you smile at everyone around you like it's going out of style...I love that your adorable little bum is ticklish...you're starting to learn "kisses"...you love playing peek-a-boo.

You're such a light in my life. Thanks for being so good to me...you make me the luckiest mommy out there. I can't wait to see the kind of boy and man you turn out to be. But for now, I'll enjoy holding your little hands to help you tip-toe around the house. I want to soak up this part of your life, because it goes by much, much too fast. I'll love you forever.

love,

Mom

Daddy's boots & Mommy's bucket list

Yesterday a pair of boots came in the mail.

Those boots are for the main man of the house...but I couldn't resist taking some pics with my phone & texting them to Adam @ work.

{cheeeeeeeesse!}

And I've added something to my bucket list.

Someday, Adam and I will dance in a flash mob. Somewhere. To some good music.

Much like this i hope:

Rx: 2 bowls of Soup

Adam walked in the door last night and I was ready to give him a big kiss :)

But he sadly said, "Oh no babe, I'm feeling worse than I did this morning. I think I'm sick & I don't want to give it to you." A big smooch on the cheek quickly ensued...

Then I lit up and said, "Does that mean I get to nurse you back to health tomorrow?!" (I may have, on more than 1 occasion, tried to tell him that he was sick so that he would stay home from work and I could "nurse him back to health." haha;)

Sadly, he is at work today.

But that does mean that is feeling better! :)

And it might just be because of a yummy soup I had in the crock-pot ready for him when he got home. It was delicious, and comforting, even for me who is [luckily] not feeling under the weather.

I got the recipe from a Crock-Pot cookbook my sweet Mom gave me a while back. It's hearty, chuck-full of veggies, and just creamy enough to be comforting, yet you won't feel guilty about enjoying 2 bowls, or 3 ;)

From Crock-Pot: Incredibly Easy Recipes

Creamy Farmhouse Chicken & Garden Soup

{Makes 4 Servings}

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: HIGH 3-4 hours

- 1/2 package (16 oz.) frozen vegetable mix (they recommend pepper stir-fry)

- 1 cup frozen corn

- 1 medium zucchini, sliced & halved (you have semi-circles) the more the better! :)

- 2 bone-in chicken thighs, skinned

OR 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast

- 1 can (14 oz.) fat-free chicken broth

- 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

- 2 oz. uncooked egg noodles

- 1 cup half-and-half

- 1/2 cup frozen green peas

- 2 Tbs. chopped parsley

- 2 Tbs. butter

- 1 tsp. salt

- 1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

1) Coat Crock-Pot slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place stir-fry vegetables, corn and zucchini in bottom. Add chicken, garlic, broth, and thyme. Cover; cook on HIGH 3 to 4 hours or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Remove chicken and set aside to cool slightly.

2) Add noodles to Crock-Pot slow cooker. Cover; cook 20 minutes longer, or until noodles are done.

3) Meanwhile, chop chicken breast (debone first if you used the chicken thigh). Return to Crock-Pot. Stir in remaining ingredients (half-and-half, green peas, parsley, butter, salt, & pepper). Let stand 5 minutes before serving.