Boxing Day

Every year on Boxing Day we go to the church by Brandon's parents house and play around in the gym and then have scones for breakfast. It has become one of my favorite traditions! The kids have such a blast. Mckinley improved so much on her roller blades.

We had such a blast actually that a few days later we went to the gym at our church again and just rode around on scooters and roller blades.

Mckinley had the best primary teachers this year, Colby and Clarissa Christiansen. They are moving out of our ward and we are going to miss them so much.

Cute Ava asleep in her car seat. I love that she finds scrunchies and puts them on her ankles.

New Years Eve was a fun day. We went to the Provo Rec Center with all the cousins. Someone pooped in the pool right when we got there so we had to wait for like 40 minutes to swim which was really miserable because we had just gotten in so we were wet and cold. It was so crowded, it was actually kind of gross. I prefer the Orem Rec Center by far. But still, it was a fun memory.

That evening we went to Ross and Karen's and had delicious Chinese take out like we do every year and then made our usual mess with confetti and poppers. We had a dance party in the dark with glow sticks. All the kids had a blast. Such fun traditions!!

We really enjoyed all of Christmas break. We took the kids to menchies and used the gift card we got from Bingo night.

I took the kids to the Bean Museum and the University Mall playground after we tried Coconut Cove which was an absolute nightmare.

Christmas

Christmas was a ton of fun this year. We enjoyed so many fun activities and lots of time together.

We decorated ugly sweater cookies.

Tyler got to go on a special date with Brandon to see Spider Man.

Mckinley put this on one day randomly and asked me to send her school teacher a text that said "Mele Kalikimaka".

We went swimming at the Orem rec one morning and had a blast. We practically had the place to ourselves. Tyler and Mckinley went off the diving board a million times. Kallie is a little more timid. Ava finally wears a puddle jumper and totally just entertains herself. We have gotten to a really easy place with swimming and will enjoy it for at least the next 5 months till baby boy is born.

Christmas Eve we had dinner at my mom's house. The kids got to dress up like the nativity and we read some verses and sang a song. It was really great. We had to leave early after that because I was feeling so sick.

Ava thought she was Mary and she was so excited to be dressed up!

We came home and put cookies out for Santa and then watched Elf.

This is what the kids woke up to.

Ava was very excited about her huge stuffed unicorn and her Doc McStuffins play set.

The kids all had a good time opening presents and were very polite and courteous.

After presents we had an awesome breakfast and then got to enjoy the next couple of hours just hanging out at home, playing with presents.

Mckinley was so excited to get the roller blades she asked for.

Eventually at 1:00 we made our way over to Brandon's parents house and did a cousin gift exchange. We stayed there for a few hours and then went home.

My mom was going to come over to give the kids their presents but we decided to go over there instead so the kids could play on Maverik's new bounce house he got for Christmas that they had brought over there. It was a great Christmas day!!!

December Fun

We had a really great snowfall in the beginning of September and were able to enjoy lots of days sledding down our hill and playing in the snow. We have the most perfect sledding hill and having our backyard extend out to the golf course in the winter isn't bad either!

Ava had so much fun in the snow!!!

We found out we are having a boy! Tyler is finally getting a brother!!!!

I think this was a 14 week belly shot.

We filled a balloon with blue confetti and let the kids pop it to find out what we are having.

I have still been so sick every night and not feeling super great in the day either so we have had a very low key life lately. We did make it to Riverwoods though to see Santa.

They had free carousel rides for the kids too.

Absolutely love this tradition! We are all getting so excited for Christmas coming up in a few days!!!