A very Christmasy weekend

Last weekend I realized that it was our last weekend in Denver before heading to Iowa for Christmas so we had a lot to pack into the weekend! 

Saturday morning we headed to Bass Pro to see Santa. I love that you get a time slot there and don't have to wait in line forever. I thought we were doing pretty good and getting there at 9:20 since 10:00 AM is the first time slot to see Santa. Wrong. It still wasn't early enough and we couldn't get a time slot till 12:30! Insane.  But the kids still had lots of fun walking around and playing the different games there while Soren napped in the lillebaby, and then we walked across the street and grabbed lunch before heading back to see Santa. 

 2014

 2013

Tindra is Still not a fan of the man in red. I really don't know why! We talked about it before and she seemed fine, but kept saying she didn't want to sit on his lap. Then when it was our turn she clung to Jasper and even let out a tear but Did want to go see him, just didn't want to get too close. And she whispered 'a barbie pop up camper and a new bible' when he asked what she wanted, so that's progress!

After naps it started to snow, and we had planned to go to the Denver Zoo lights and didn't let the snow stop us. We just bundled everyone up in their snow suits and made lots of hot chocolate and off we went. We've never gone while it snowed before and I think it might have been my favorite year yet. It wasn't crazy packed like usual (guess not everyone is a fan of 18 degrees and snow) and the snow just made it more magical. Seeing these experiences through my kids eyes, there's just nothing like it. Even Soren was completely in awe of the lights all around him and he stayed awake the entire time even though it was 2 hours past his bed time. 

And then Sunday was Lucia at Swedish School. Another magical tradition. 

We couldn't find a day to squeeze in going back to the North Pole like last year, but we will be back next year! With THREE kids who can do all the rides! 

Traditions.

Ever since having my own kids, traditions have become so incredibly important to me. Traditions I had growing up, but more importantly, creating traditions for my own little family. Isn't that just the best? We get to decide!

I remember talking to Drew one year when Jasper was little and his family doing something a certain way, and my family doing it a different way and being torn about which one to do and he said 'We don't have to do either. We can make up our own, we get to decide!' I don't know why it took him saying that to make me realize. Like oh yeah, WE are the parents! We choose our own traditions! 

Some of the fun holiday traditions we have started. 

Book Calendar! Each year it's time to wrap up all the books for the calendar I get a bit annoyed at myself for starting this tradition. It's a pain! But then as soon as the kids see the books all wrapped under the tree and get to take turns finding the correct number to open and read each night, I'm grateful I did it. It's such a cozy way to end the night, reading under the tree. Tindra has especially gotten into it this year and always shouts "It's Christmas book time!" each night after she's gotten her jammies on and teeth brushed.

One new ornament each year! We started this tradition our first Christmas as a family of 3. We didn't have a lot of extra money to spend on Christmas decorations and had None, plus we were going to be traveling for 3 weeks over Christmas heading to Iowa and then North Carolina for Christmas with my family so it didn't seem worth it going all out, but we wanted something! So we bought our little fake 4 foot tree, some garland and red and gold balls and each of us picked out an ornament. Or rather we picked Jasper's out. But every year after he has picked his own! It's so fun to look at the ornaments each year and remember special interests each kid had. Like this year, Tindra picked a skull..odd choice right? Well earlier this year she picked out a toy with birthday money, it was a little dentist set for her doll house. With it came a little skull. She wanted to know what it was and became obsessed with looking at pictures of skulls on Drew's phone. Super random. But something I hope these ornaments help me remember.

Zoo Lights! Each year we go to the Denver Zoo Lights and it never disappoints. We drink hot chocolate while walking around at night looking at all the lights. So cozy. 

Picking a tree in the mountains! For the past 4 years we have gone up to the mountains to get a real tree. It's probably my Favorite tradition. This year we found a little Mexican restaurant and had lunch after, and I'm thinking that needs to be apart of the new tradition as well!

Lucia! In Sweden December 13th is Lucia Day, honoring Saint Lucia. All daycares/schools/towns have Lucia parades where they sing, pass out bullar (cinnamon buns and saffron buns) its such a cozy time and I'm So glad the kids Swedish school celebrates this as well. Yesterday they had their Lucia celebration and it was so adorable. Tindra got Really into it and couldn't wait to show off her white Lucia dress. (I'll share pictures tomorrow!)

Of course all the cookie baking, ginger break making goes on as well. And we try to get together with friends every year at some point and do a Swedish 'Jul Bord'- Christmas table, where we eat lots of delicious Swedish Christmas food. Also a favorite of mine! For obvious reasons.

Do you have any fun Christmas traditions you have started?

As Tindra gets a bit older, maybe starting next year, I'd love to do a mom/daughter date each Christmas season and go see the nutcracker! I think she would Love that. 

Most wonderful time of the year

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySteamed #CollectiveBias

I mean it really is the most wonderful time of the year. At least it is since having kids old enough to really get into the magic of it all. But for all that wonderful Christmas magic to happen, this elf has to drive all over town running errand after errand, stopping at store after store. Not going to lie, it's exhausting! The other day while Tindra was at preschool in the morning, and Jasper was at school Soren and I did a bunch of shopping. After dealing with the craziness of the mall (all while lugging around a semi grouchy baby) I was very tempted to grab some fast food for lunch. But I stopped myself. I've been trying really hard to continue to eat healthy during the crazy holidays and I needed to stop at King Soopers for diapers anyway so I popped in to see if I could find something super quick and healthy. 

I found these Healthy Choice® Simply Cafe Steamers® in the freezer aisle and had to try them. I've been eating a lot of salads lately and knew my favorite, simple salad would make the perfect pairing. And I was right! I went with the Grilled Chicken and Pesto Vegetables, but the other meals ( Meatball Marinara, Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry, Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo, and Lemon Herb Chicken) looked just as tasty. The whole dish had such great flavor. I'm going to start making pesto more, I forget how much I love it! I love how my entire lunch was packed with such delicious flavor but low on carbs. 

For my salad I started with a 50/50 blend of greens and spinach. 

Shredded a carrot to throw on top. 

And most importantly, a bit of cheese. These really make the salads for me. I mean, everything is better with cheese!

Lastly, a bit of ranch, but any dressing will do!

While I threw my salad together, I had stuck my Grilled Chicken Pesto and Vegetables in the microwave for 4 minutes, and when I was done with my salad, my Healthy Choice® Simply Cafe Steamers® was done! 

These are literally steamed (if you couldn't tell by the name) so be careful when you pull the film off because the steam makes it super hot. 

In 5 minutes I had a delicious and healthy meal, I mean that's probably less time than the fast food drive through would have been. 

If you want to try a Healthy Choice® Simply Cafe Steamers® (and you definitely want to!) here's a coupon for a dollar off! 

Have any tips to share on how you eat healthy during the craziness of the holidays? 

Christmas (tree) in the Rockies

Last weekend we went up to the mountains (like we do every year!) to get our Christmas tree. We decided to make a little go pro video since I've used it exactly 3 times since I got it in August. So much fun! There might be more of these little videos in the future! 

Thankful.

I have so much to be thankful for, it's hard to even know where to start. 

The biggest thing currently on my mind, Soren. He had surgery Wednesday morning, and it was the longest 75 minutes of my life. Along with the 40 min of or of Tindra's surgery. Having your baby/child go under for anesthesia, well there just aren't words for how scary it is.  But he did amazing, and we have been taking it easy with lots of extra cuddles. Having him go through that, and seeing the other kids at the hospital getting out of surgery/getting ready to go in of surgery..just made me so incredibly thankful. Yes he had to have surgery. Yes Tindra needed surgery. But over all, I have three very healthy children and I thank God for that every day. 

Our warm and cozy house. I complain sometimes that we don't have a real 4th bedroom. And a bigger yard. Those aren't real problems. 

The ability to stay home with my children, and spend all their milestones with them. We have definitely had to make sacrifices for me to do so. But I'm so thankful for that, and I know I will be for the rest of my life. 

My husband. He's works so incredibly hard for our family. Just an example, we needed to leave our house 5:30 AM on Wednesday to get to the hospital for Soren;s surgery. He took Thursday-Monday off to be here with Soren and help out after the surgery so he had a lot of work to get done. He worked till almost 2 AM came home and then got up 2 hours later. He's pretty incredible.

My photography business. It's very minor. Very part time. But it brings me a lot of joy. It's so great to have something that's just ME. After 8.5 years of being a mom, it's great to have a little side job that I absolutely LOVe doing. I can't wait to grow this little business over the coming years, but for now, super small is perfect for me and my family. 

This blog. Having this outlet has been amazing for the past 5 years and I can't imagine at this point not having this space.

My family. So excited to be heading there in a few weeks to spend Christmas!

Friends. The older I get the more I'm realize its so much greater to have a few great ones than a lot of mediocre ones. 

I could go on and on. We truly are blessed and sometimes I (sadly) need that reminder. 

^And a few Thanksgiving pictures. We had some friends and my cousin over, low key evening. Which is the best way to do Thanksgiving. 

Denver Area Photography

I'm So horrible at updating my photography blog (I can barely handle this one!) so I though I'd share some pictures from recent photoshoots here!

I'm still doing a mix of families, maternity, newborns and high school seniors trying to figure out what I love doing most! But for now I'm really enjoying trying a bit of it all!

I shot M's maternity session last weekend and we had the most fantastic light as the sun was setting! She's due just next month and has the most adorable bump. It Almost makes me miss being pregnant. Almost. 

K's Senior Pictures I took back in September or beginning of October at Daniel's Park. I definitely need to take more pictures there, especially Senior girls, so if you know of any Denver area class of 2016 senior girls, send them my way! 

 I had my first Engagement Session, and it was so much fun! Doesn't help that this gorgeous bride to be is a good friend from college!

Lifestyle Newborns Photography is where it's at. This sweet baby was THE snuggliest! 

My prices are raising in 2016, but if you book now I'll honor 2015 prices! Send me an email at youngmammatales@yahoo.com to book your Denver Area Senior Photography Session, your Denver Area Family Photography session, or your Denver Area Newborn Photography Session! 

And to stay updated, 'Like' me on Facebook!