Happy, Happy Traditions!

We did it! Christmas cut out cookies version 7!
Here’s a quick look at version 1 – Engagement night, December 16, 2003

 

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This year was extra special.  Miles is finally old enough to REALLY participate. We had a blast remembering the beginning and celebrating the growth of our family!
I ended up making two different sets of sugar cookies.  By accident, I made a batch of sugar cookies that are not suitable as cut out cookies. However, we baked both…. and may just have to continue this little mistake in later years.  Decorating some with sprinkles and decorating the rest with super bright frosting helped keep Miles attention really well from beginning to end!
Here are the 2 recipes:
Chewy-ish sugar cookies decorated with sprinkles
Cut out cookies with frosting
And here are the pictures
Round 1: sprinkle cookies

 

Round 2: cut out cookies

   

I think he’s having fun… don’t you?!

  

Nate did a GREAT job being patient and teaching Miles the way of the cookie!

We had a super fun evening… here’s even MORE proof! The sugar got to Miles….

Here they ALL are……

Nate’s prize cookie – “Pollock” Man

Miles’ favorite decoration – fingers!

  

My favorite – The purple star because…..

 

……. I HAVE A JOB!!!

Today, I was offered and accepted a research job at Northwestern University! I start on January 3, 2011! I’m super excited to put my brain back to work and to let Miles socialize in a daycare again! 
Hooray for quality family time and lasting traditions and memories !!!

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Posted in: Chicago,Kelly,Memories,Miles,Nathan,Video

Projects, crafts, and traditions

We bake, we glue, and we have a blast!

Here are a few more of our recent activities :)

Lots of baking :dumping, mixing, stirring, and licking…..

 

More paper crafts….

(Nate calls this the SouthPark (Cartman-esque) Nativity scene – My drawing/cutting skills are weak, I know)

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Tonight’s project is Christmas cut out cookies!! It’s a HUGE tradition, 7 years in the making…

7 year ago today, Nate proposed!!

Fade in cloudy, dream sequence…..

I had always made it clear to Nate that in order for me to graduate from college, I couldn’t even consider engagement until I was done with school.  My mind would have wondered into the realm of wedding planning, losing all focus on my coursework.  I had no idea that Nathan would have taken me so literally…  Within 30 minutes of completing my last final exam for my undergraduate degree, I was engaged to be married!! Nate, being big on creating and keeping traditions, suggested that we make Christmas cut out cookies together – we were a family!!

Every year since, we’ve made Christmas cut out cookies on December 16th! Tonight shall be no different! I’ll do my best to document the activity. I’ll also be sure to post the recipe if all turns out. As mentioned, this is the 7th time for this event and I have NEVER used the same recipe twice. I just can’t find one I like….

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Posted in: Christmas,Kelly,Memories,Miles,Nathan

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

You may not get a sentimental feeling, however we sure do! Nate is a huge fan of family traditions.  One of ours is putting up the tree immediately following Thanksgiving.

Here we go… Christmas 2010!

Christmas playlist blaring over sound system……………….Check!

Christmas scented candle…………………………….……….Check!

Santa hats…………………………………………….…………Check!

Hot cocoa………………………………………………………..Oops!

Ornaments packed with memories……………...……………Of course!

Curious 2-year-old……………………………………………..Yes!!

Nate and Miles hauled all of our holiday treasures up from the garage storage cage and the party began!

 

 

  

    

The best part is hanging the ornaments and reminiscing.  Nate and I get rather competitive on who's ornaments get the best location – front and center, adult eye level!

These are 4 of Nate’s ‘most prized’ ornaments:

 

Here are a 3 of mine:

 

Miles hasn’t been collecting for very long, but these will surely be his favorites:

 

This Christmas is gearing up to be a great one! Miles is getting a little older and can join in on the excitement.  Seeing the anticipation in his little, innocent eyes adds to the sentiment. I’m excited to hear the memories he’s storing up to share at later nostalgic celebrations – not that I’m trying to get him to grow up any faster….  Do you ever wish you could pause time in order to savor your child at a particular point in their development??  He’s changing so quickly that I’m afraid I won’t be able to remember each precious moment!

Do you have ornaments or memories that you treasure at Christmas?

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Posted in: Christmas,Kelly,Memories,Miles,Nathan

Grandpa Klinge

I had been thinking about how to best put my thoughts into story form in celebration of a beautiful life. Lucky for me, Beth beat me to it.  She did a wonderful job penning the highlights of Grandpa Klinge’s life and capturing how his legacy will live on with the rest of us.

Please read here

It’s hard being far away from family and friends – but events like this make the distance even more difficult.  Not only were we unable to see George over Thanksgiving, but once we received the call last Friday that his health was quickly deteriorating, we were stuck on the East coast, unable to make arrangements fast enough to see him one last time.

Nate has been working non-stop for the last few weeks trying to crank out his final project for the semester. His review is next Monday (the 14th.) After talking on the phone with Grandpa last Friday, Nate was told to stay put and ‘finish the race.” George was one of Nate’s greatest encouragers for earning a master’s degree. George always told Nate - “Whatever it takes, you need to get your stamp!” Nate listened.

To give as much support as possible to Grandma Klinge and the rest of the family, Miles and I were going to fly back for the funeral. Not only were our last minute flight options limited, but Iowa weather (50 mph winds and 12 inches of snow) has grounded us. In lieu of being stranded in an airport with a 1 year old, we are staying put and trying to think of ways to send our support.

Our hearts are breaking over the loss of Grandpa Klinge’s physical presence, but we rejoice knowing that he no longer feels pain and that we will surely see him again. We will continue to hold on to the many happy memories we have of Grandpa Klinge. There are root beer floats in heaven, right?!

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Posted in: Memories,Nathan

And then there were 3.....

Thinking back - just one year ago today..........
6:30am
I rolled over in bed and thought that I was wetting the bed.I very quickly jumped up and ran to the bathroom…
What just happened!? Did my water break or did I just make a mess….?
I cleaned myself up and went back to bed to see the mess, but there wasn’t one - so I just crawled back into bed.
8:00am
I woke back up and went to the bathroom, petting my big belly like usual.
It felt a little different, still big, but I thought that I could feel knees and elbows much better.
I woke Nate up to tell him my puzzling dilemma – “I’m not sure, but I think my water may have broken…”He said that all the books say that “if your water breaks, you KNOW.” By now I couldn’t sleep so I got up. My mind was racing. I didn’t feel bad, but I didn’t feel right. Nate got up shortly after, ate some cereal, got changed, and was ready to embark on his really productive Saturday – oil changes, car washes, hair cut, and portfolio stuff. I was ok with that since I had my baby shower at 1pm.
10:00am
I started getting a little crampy and was worried that if my water had really broken, the “timer” had started and the doctors should know what’s going on. Nate told me to call 'first nurse' to get their opinion. Was this all in my head or did my water break? They suggested that I stop in briefly so they could check it out.
I showered and made Nate pack up all of my stuff: overnight bag, blanket, robe, carseat, etc. He fought it, but quickly realized it wasn't worth a battle! Nate was convinced that this trip was nothing more than a formality. He expected that he would resume his orignally scheduled agenda within the hour. (oops!)
10:30am
We checked into the hospital to get the Amnio-check. They were super busy and forgot about me. After waiting around for an hour, I sent Nate to the front desk to ask what we were waiting for. They apologized for forgetting about me, did the check, and told me that I wasn’t going anywhere. My water had definitely broken! It’s now 12 noon!!
12:00 pm
I called my parents to let them know I was in labor. Nate called his parents to tell them we were in labor. They spread the news onto our siblings. I called Erin and Lindsay crying because I would be able to attend the beautiful shower they were throwing for me in less than an hour!! (Luckily they took pictures for me, left me some cake, and dropped the gifts at our place- THANKS!)
1:00 pm
The whole Klinge clan assembled in the waiting room, complete with Wii, Seasons of 24, and guitars.
2:00pm
Contractions finally started.
3:30 pm
Dilated to 6cm! I requested some kind of drug to get rid of my vomiting. I hadn’t eaten all day, tried the hot tub for pain management and it made me sick. Looking back, I’m a little mad I gave in. I really didn’t want to use any drugs at all. I didn’t know the end was so close!
4:30 pm
Dilated to 10cm! Baby was coming out whether I pushed or not. They called for the only available doctor – Dr. Jen Atzen, Midwife!
4:58 pm
My baby took a breath of air. Nate took a long hard look and announced that we had a baby boy!
The lullaby chimed and the Klinge family was hovering outside our door…Nathan opened the door “It’s a boy! Come meet Miles Nathan Klinge!”

Welcome to our family, Miles!

7 lbs 3oz, 20 inches long!

October 25, 2008

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Posted in: Kelly,Memories