On the First Day of Christmas . . .

Today I'm going to talk about a Barker Family Christmas Tradition . . .

Around our house, we love Christmas, and had lots of fun, memorable traditions growing up and that still continue today. One of my personal favorites is looking at Christmas lights and getting pajamas from the elves while we were out on Christmas Eve.

Apparently when my sister Kristalyn (I believe) was little, my parents got a deal going with Santa's Elves that every Christmas Eve, while my parents took their children out to look at Christmas lights, they would arrive at our house and lay out brand new, comfortable pajamas for everyone that was spending Christmas Eve at the house that night. I loved going and seeing some extravagant Christmas light displays that some people would put up in celebration of the season, and then arriving home to pajamas. I remember when I was little I would be so  nervous that they wouldn't come (and I'd be so nervous Santa wouldn't come--maybe I had a guilty conscience about something?), but without  fail, they always did.

As the years have gone on, our trips to Christmas lights have shortened significantly, typically just to a neighborhood near ours, but I always look forward to the new pajamas. I pretty much love pajamas, and if I could, I would wear them all the time (I don't though). After we look at our pajamas, everyone goes to change, and then we take a traditional family Christmas picture in front of the tree, sporting our pajamas. As I have been scanning some pictures for Forrest and mines' wedding video, I've come across a few from over the years. Enjoy!

Not sure what year this is . . . Maybe 1991?

Christmas 1996

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008; I couldn't find the picture of us from this year...so pictures of the pajamas will have to do!

Christmas 2009

Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy

I epically failed at keeping this up--and I thought I was doing so well! Oh well. Maybe I'll finish this off this month. In addition, I decided I wanted to do something "Christmas-y" on my blog this year, so I think every day (or, every day that I can), I am going to highlight a specific Christmas song that I love, and write a little bit about it, talk about some type of family Christmas tradition, and/or other random Christmas topics. That will be fun!

Anyways, a picture of something that makes me happy. There are some obvious choices I could put up...Forrest, my family, the temple . . . but I do those quite often, so here is something random that makes me happy: 

I'm getting married, in the middle of December, in Colorado. There have been very few December's that I can remember that weren't freezing anod didn't have snow on the ground. Thus, I'm preparing myself for a rather chilly wedding day. My dress is short sleeve (because really, I don't like long sleeve dresses all that much), and probably not the most conducive article of clothing for heat. Forrest suggested I wear long underwear my dress (he's always full of great ideas), but that obviously wouldn't keep my warm up top. So, as I was looking at the place I got my dress, Gowns by Pamela (by the way, go there to find your dress! Seriously gorgeous dresses and super amazing prices...renting sounds kinda ghetto, but it's worth it, I'm pretty sure), and they have these pretty "winter capes" you can rent. So, after talking to my mom, we decided it would be a good idea to have one of these at the temple. Granted, I probably won't wear it that much, since I don't want it to cover up my dress or veil or hair, but it will be good for some moments--maybe it'll make a few good pictures. Anyways, that is what has made my happy today!

Grateful

I haven't posted for awhile--planning a wedding in a month and a half, trying to finish up a semester of school, and cuddling with my sweetheart,  all while working doesn't leave much for much else. :) And I realize Thanksgiving is over, but I still wanted to write a grateful post, because, frankly, I have far too much to be grateful not to write it all down.

~There is finally a working heater in my apartment! For the past month I have been sleeping with a long sleeved shirt, a hoodie, and two pairs of pajama/sweat pants, and three blankets. Last night I actually went to bed without half of those things. Yahoo!~

~I got to go home for Thanksgiving and spend it with my parents and little brother, and, of course, Forrest. It was such a nice break and I just love going to Colorado!~

~We missed any major snow to and from Colorado. I feel very blessed about that~

~My wonderful family who I just love so so much~

~My friend Cortney for picking up our wedding announcements because they arrived in Provo the day after we left~

~Elegant Wedding Announcements for making our beautiful announcements, and at an affordable price!~

~That we won free bridal and engagement photos, which really cut down costs on photography by quite a bit~

~Even though someone coughForrestcough woke up later than originally planned on Black Friday, we were still able to get lots of great things (mainly for my mom)~

~Promises that come with paying tithing--everything really does work out!~

~The sweet couple that are teaching the marriage prep class we are in right now. We've only been once, but it was such a great class and we learned a lot. I'm excited to go to the last two!~

~The Gospel and the part it plays in my life. I am so grateful to have been raised in the Church and to know what I know~

~My English Language TA is letting me turn in my assignment late, but for full credit, since I had to miss class last Tuesday so we could miss the snow storm~

~My parents~

~My siblings, their spouses, and children~

~My future inlaws. Heaven knows someone as wonderful as Forrest had to have come from a wonderful family. I can't wait to get to know them better~

~That I can beat Forrest at Wii Tennis on occasion, and always Mario Kart (sorry Forrest :)~

~Pictures~

~The Temple--I am so blessed to live so close to one, and that in less than a month, I get to go there to be sealed to my sweet fiance for time and all eternity~

~Everyone that is helping us plan the wedding and helping it come together so smoothly~

~Car battery chargers~

~My job~

~Mint M&M's~

~Getting to see lots of old friends this last week~

~My boots that Forrest hates but I think look awesome with every single article of clothing I own (though I might be the only one who thinks this)~

~The pair of shoes I got at the bookstore three years ago for three dollars that keep my feet warmer than anything else~

and last (but certainly not least)

my wonderful fiancé, Forrest. I'm sure everyone is sick of sappy posts that I write about him, but he truly is the greatest. He makes me so happy by doing just the smallest things. I can't hardly believe we will be married in less than a month, but there's nothing I want more. Even when things are hard and I'm not quite sure how things are going to work out, I know they will as long as I have Forrest by my side. He watches Cake Boss with me and loves it as much as me. He drives my car because he knows how much I don't like driving. He teases me about how once 11:00 hits, I can't stay awake, especially if a movie is on. He holds my hands and cuddles me lots because I'm always so freezing, even when it makes him colder in the process. He is smart and informed about the world. He served a wonderful mission and I know he loved the people he served so much (and I know they loved him too!). I can be myself around him. He's goofy. He's my other half. My friend, Tasha, just got engaged, and she and her fiance both wrote on their blogs about how the others talents fill their gaps, and I love that. That's how I feel about Forrest. I can't describe how much I love this man :)

Happy (late) Thanksgiving!

Day 20 - Someone you could see yourself marrying

Day 20: Someone You Could SEe Yourself Marrying

What great timing :) To read the story, click here

Day 19 - Nicknames

Day 19 - Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Over the years, I have accumulated several nicknames. Not many of them are very exciting. But they are nicknames nonetheless. Actually, they are kind of awesome. Especially my nickname of "coolest most wonderful amazing person in the whole entire world." That's what most people call me, really.

Just kidding.

Well, to start out, Katie is actually my nickname, though it's what I've gone by my whole life. See, my name is Kathryn. If I am remembering me correctly, my parents really liked the name Katie, but they thought they shouldn't just name me a "nickname", which you know, is cool. I like my full name. Kathryn Eleanor Barker. It's nice. I like that Kathryn isn't spelled like most people spell it. 

My name called/maybe still does call me, Katie Petunia. Not quite sure where the came from. 

My Grandpa Park has always called me Katy Bug. I've always loved that.

Megan, my awesome friend, calls me Kathy. I really don't think she ever calls me Katie. I can't remember why she started calling me Kathy, but she has for a long time.

Freshman year of high school, my friend, Chris, decided to tell everyone at our lunch table what kind of animal their face looked like. He said I was a Koala. I still am trying to decide if I should be offended. 

Same person decided that since my last name is Barker, he would bark at me down the hall. For the rest of the time I've known him, he's referred to me as Katie Ruff Ruff. 

At one of my youth conferences in high school, we went up to the mountains in January. On the way down, there was a huge snow storm and we were stuck for like five hours. We got pretty slap happy in the car. And one of the young mens leaders, Brother Ballard, gave us all nicknames. My name was k-train. He still calls me that when he see's me.

Cortney calls me Tate. I can't remember where that came from, but it started sometime in high school. 

I think my most infamous nickname though would have to be K-Bark. My freshman year, my roommates and I were thinking of our gangster names (first initial of your first name, and part of your last name). They all thought that K-Bark was pretty sweet, and ever since, they have called me that. It's quite endearing, actually. When I moved in with other people my sophomore year, it was a bit odd to be called Katie, to be honest. I remember one time freshman year, Christie had brought over her boyfriend. They all called me K-Bark the whole night, so he started to as well, because he thought that was really what I went by. It was pretty hilarious. A few weeks ago I was hanging out with these old roommates of mine and they discovered that, if Forrest and I got married, my nickname would still be pretty sweet and could just be changed to K-Clark, which sounds just as great. If that didn't seal my fate with Forrest, I don't know what else would. 

And just to add a picture, here is a picture of my roommates and I freshman year when we dressed up "gangsta" and walked around campus one night. I assure you, we WERE the coolest kids at BYU that year. 

(seriously, I miss my freshman roommates lots. Sometimes I just sit here and think about how great that year was, and if I could redo one year, it would be that one. You guys are the best!)

Day 18 - Plans/dreams/goals you have

Day 18 - Plans/dreams/goals you have

I've heard a quote numerous times that says something like "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." For just that reason, I don't make plans. Because they don't work out.

Okay just kidding. That's totally a lie. I plan, a lot. More so than I probably should. I have a plan of how my life should go, though, in reality, I realize that there's no way I can predict exactly how my life is going to go. But I can have a rough draft kind of laid out, can't I? 

Sometimes though, I fail to plan. Many of my friends frequently comment on how Forrest and I never seem to plan things, we just kind of go with it. This happened a lot when we first started dating. My roommates would be like "Oh, when are you and Forrest going to go to such and such?" And I would respond with "I dunno. Whenever he calls." I think we've gotten better at planning when we are supposed to be doing things. But a little spontaneity never hurt anyone right? 

But as of right now, here are some of my plans/dreams/goals

1) Graduate from college (Despite what some people think, coughforrestcough, I did not come to BYU just to get my MRS Degree.)

2) Get an internship for journalism somewhere awesome, like at the New Era, or in Washington D.C. (as of right now, I'm leaning towards the latter)

3) Get married to the most wonderfulest person in the world (I wonder who that could be! ;)

4) Have cute kids 

5) Live somewhere cool. I feel like I have lived in pretty much the same place forever. Because, well, I never moved from my house in Colorado until I was 18, and even then, I moved to Utah. Not the hugest culture change. I think it would be neat to live in another part of the country (or world!)

6) Serve a mission with my hubby someday

7) Go to Disneyland (again. I love that place)

8) Share my testimony more

9) Get caught up on my sleep (I realize this probably won't happen until I'm like 70. But that's okay)

I'm tired...so with that, I'm done. 

Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

I thought about skipping this day as well since I can't really think of anyone that I want to switch lives with. I've thought of celebrities, friends, family, etc., and while there are many people I know (or know of) that have wonderful lives that anyone could certainly be envious of, I still don't know if I'd want to switch. Everyone has their insecurities and struggles in life, and I'm not sure if I'd want to experience what someone else is going through underneath their outward appearance. Who knows if I could handle it! haha. Just kidding. It would be interesting to see how others think and view the world. I think I'd like to switch places with someone really tall, just so I can know what it feels like not to have stand on my tippy toes when I'm standing behind some tall person, or crane my neck to see something in classes or church. Who knows. It would be fun to switch with just about anyone, because, it's just for a day, right?