Kitty The Elf

Kitty the Elf is back! We have missed him so much this last year. It's amazing how much better the kids can be when they know Kitty the Elf is reporting back to Santa during December. Here's some of our favorite hiding places this year:

Adding leaves to our Thankful Tree. Kitty was thankful for Makayla, Caden, and Brynnli, red hats, and snowman soup. 

 Just taking a marshmallow bubble bath

 Hiding in our Halloween Candy... yes we still have two bowl fulls of candy left.

 Coloring a picture in the kids' new coloring book

 Hiding in Brynnli's drawer and entertaining the princesses

 Looks like he got all tangled up in Caden's Tae Kwon Do belt

 Hiding in our new car...

 Kitty also brought us lots of games and treats during his stay.

 Christmas Eve the kids got to give Kitty one last hug before he left on Santa's sleigh.

 Makayla made me want to cry because she just loves Kitty so much and was so sad to see him go. Those are genuine tears and sadness.

Oh Kitty, we love when you visit us and can't wait to see you again next year.

A New Car!

For years we have been cramming three car seats into the back of our Mazda 6. The kids would always complain that someone was looking at them or someone was touching them and as always about 5 minutes into any ride I would end up yelling at all the kids to be quiet.

Tyler and I were planning on getting a car in a few months, but things were working out better than expected and we started getting the itch to get our car sooner. We went looking at cars back in August and fell in love with the Buick Enclave. Fast forward a few months we looked a few dealerships then found the one. I can't believe it, but on December 23rd we got.... A NEW CAR!!!

Meet our 2019 Buick Enclave!!!

Every time I get into the car, I just can't believe we own it! It is seriously the nicest car I have ever had in my life. Yay for us!

Gettin' Ready for Christmas!

The day after Thanksgiving we set up all our decorations. The kids decorated the downstairs tree all by themselves and they were so proud of it. 

 I loved how excited they all got as they looked at each ornament.

Makayla got to put the star at the top of our tree this year!

 Makayla got to work writing a letter to Santa so he would know exactly what she wanted for Christmas.

 Caden made the Nativity out of Legos. He was pretty creative!

 We got to see Santa's Helpers A LOT this year. Each time the kids told Santa what they wanted. Makayla wants an American Girl Doll Bunny, Caden wants a Police Station Lego, and Brynnli wants a "bit baby and another Izzy doll"

We decorated Ginger Bread Houses. Each kid did such a good job decorating their houses by themselves. It was almost sad that they don't need our help anymore... almost. 

Tyler and I had a date night to Kurt Bestor. I look forward to this date night all year long!

 We had the Jones family and Grandma and Grandpa over for the Evans party. We all got spoiled with a lot of great gifts!

 Tyler and I got a Nest because we're really into all that technology stuff.

 Tracy and Jeremy obviously need to clean their house more as they got not one, but two vacuums.

 Brynnli had her Christmas party at preschool and got to meet Santa's helper again!

 The cuties all dressed up in their Christmas Sunday best. They are just so cute!

So many fun things and we still had Christmas Eve and day to look forward to!

Brynnli's Winter Program

We got to go to Brynnli's Winter Program at preschool. We loved watching her on stage! Brynn did such a good job and was singing and signing to all the songs. She looked pretty emotionless on stage, but then again, all of our kids seem to be that way when they get on stage. 

 I think my favorite part is seeing all the kids dressed up as Christmas Trees.

 Caden and Makayla couldn't pass up trying on Grandma Kathy's glasses. They look so smart!

A Little Glimpse into December

Here's some random pictures that didn't make it into our other posts for December: 

Brynnli loves to go to Sheels and ride the Ferris Wheel... She also loves posing with the bear there. 

 "I like to look for Rainbows whenever there is rain and ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again."

 Caden was determined to read a whole page of the Book of Mormon by himself. When we asked him what he read about he said, "well, 'it came to pass'" Oh man, I just love this kid!

 Caden's teacher is pregnant and right before she left on maternity leave Caden wanted to buy her a present and write her a note. He is seriously the cutest kid!

 "Dear Mrs. Otley, You are teh best teacher. I got you come baby toys for baby Read. I hope you like your baby. Have a Merry Christmas. Love, Caden"

The best part about this letter is the part where he says, "I hope you like your baby" because if she doesn't, she's in trouble! Also, Makayla helped him write it, which makes the "Baby Read" even cuter because that's the only read the kids know (She is naming her baby, Reid)

Proof that sometimes these two get along and really do like each other.

 We went to the U of U gymnastics preview. They were doing a special autograph night so we waited in line for like two hours just so Makayla could finally meet her favorite gymnast. Mykayla Skinner.

 Go Utes!

 Face painting is a must when we go to basketball games.

 Remember how I love to tease Tyler that he has a girl crush on the women's basketball coach, Lynn Roberts? And remember how he finally got to meet his "other girl friend"? Ok, so he was really just standing by her, but doesn't he look excited?

 What's the best part about having a girl in dance class?

 Having two girls in dance class!

 My least favorite part? Paying $60 each for costumes that they literally wear twice.

Would it really be a blog post if there wasn't a selfie?

 Gettin some dinner after we bought our car.

 Awww. life is so great with these cuties!

 What? Doesn't everyone deliver neighbor gifts wearing old dance costumes? Oh, I guess just Brynnli does that!