Christmas 2015

This year was a dang good one. After coming home for a few weeks after our long trip we got to enjoy some fun Christmas activities in Utah. We saw the Christmas lights at temple square, went through the Festival Of Lights, went to the Festival Of Trees (which I loved!) and watched tons of Christmas movies!

one of our favorite "gingerbread houses" from the Festival Of Trees! 

How cute are these macaroons?!

Then we got to spend some days in one of my favorite cities! We went iceskating in Central Park.

Also, I got super excited because a NYC instagram featured this photo!

The weather was unbelievable. I have gone to NYC at Christmas twice before and it was unbearably cold and this trip it wasn't very cold at all!

Central Park photoshoot.

I got to introduce Lyle to Levain! Back in May my family ate here and it was so good. The cookies are gooey and warm and huge. The Christmas decor everywhere was my favorite!

We ate at the Black Tap and it was SO good. It's a small (literally tiny) little bar but the food is so good! We split a burger, but the real reason we went is their amazing milkshakes! They have all the ordinary flavors, but the menu inside has some crazy fun ones. It's a first come first serve place, you can't make reservations. I have a huge list of food places I want to try in NY and I am excited to try even more of them next year.

Lyle and I went to our favorite Italian place, Patsy's. We stupidly went without reservations and they were booked the whole rest of the day but luckily we were able to make a reservation for the next day. The pasta is all done from scratch and literally amazing. I got the fettucine alfredo and Lyle got the linguini pesto. Our server asked us if we wanted dessert and we thought about it but just didn't have space for something big. He then brought us out these mini cannolis on the house with a simple "Happy Holidays." When we told him we were from Utah he said he knew we weren't from around there because we were so nice haha. He told us he had met a couple from Utah a couple weeks ago and they were nice too. I absolutely love this place.

Out of all the times I have been to NYC I have never been to the Brooklyn Bridge! Crazy I know, its beautiful! We got caught in a crazy rainstorm during these pictures.

Also in Brooklyn, we went and saw all the amazing lights in Dyker Heights. It's streets of all these homes with crazy, elaborate decorations! It was so fun and such nice weather to wander.

Grand Central Station.

More Christmas lights.

Lyle and I saw The Radio City Spectacular Christmas show. I am obsessed with the Rockettes.

Lyle was SO excited about his Christmas Eve sweater haha.

My Christmas day cinnamon rolls from scratch! We always have cinnamon rolls and eggnog! My mom makes the best eggnog ever.

The cute HP inspired onesie I got for my niece Harper! We are so excited for these babies to come!

Lyle got a little creative with my presents...

I love how much my nieces and nephew just adore Lyle. I could never sit next to Lyle because Connor was glued to his side. The girls kept saying how funny lyle was and always wanted to hang out with him. Lyle even said he was going to the bathroom and Bray asked if she could go too haha. We let them choose our activity with them and picked Chuck E Cheese again, watched Inside Out and played with makeup. Being an aunt is the best.

We got the girls matching coats as one of their Christmas presents and they were so excited to be matching me!

 they are so in love with Murphy! Everyone fights over who gets to walk him and they all want to hold him.

my little squad. I love these boys

Thanks to my mom for taking some last minute Christmas pictures for us! We loved how they turned out! It was so fun to play cards, bake treats, watch Christmas movies, see Star Wars and spend almost 2.5 weeks with my family. I love how much they love Lyle and we can't wait to see them again soon!

xo Cait

Tis the Season

This week was one of the busiest weeks Lyle and I have had in a long time. And no this is not a complaint it was seriously the best seeing some of our favorite people and doing lots of fun Christmas things. I am really enjoying this year and trying to establish traditions with Lyle. Last year we spent three weeks in Maryland so we didn't do a tree or do really much of anything in Utah so it's almost like our first Christmas. On Monday for Fhe Lyle and I went up to Salt Lake and ate at The Roof. It was amazing. The views are seriously ridiculous, the food is on point and its super romantic. Oh and I highly recommend the Creme Brulee. I most definitely wouldn't mind making this a yearly tradition...

On Tuesday we had Lyle's work party. We got to go to the Provo Beach Resort for free and it was a lot of fun. We bowled. Lyle and some of the boys did croquet while I tried to read the rules and take pictures and I realized i'm in love with shuffleboard. Oh and these babes below came and visited too. 

Wednesday Lyle and I went and saw How The Grouch Stole Christmas at a dinner movie theater. Oh man guys. It was definitely entertaining...but not something I would recommend. It was on my winter bucket list because I love seeing shows and it was something different but it was SUPER corny. I did get to see a couple get engaged at the end and it was the greatest. I wouldn't mind seeing one of those once a day, they make me so happy. 

On Thursday I visited one of my favorite roomies and her new little babe which was fun and then we visited one of our favorite aunts to celebrate a belated birthday. Shout out to Aunt Janet, you're the best! Then Lyle and I had dinner with some of our new neighbor vivint buds who we absolutely love (and so does Murphy). Finally we headed to our first of three Christmas parties this week! It was my first ever ugly sweater party! There was a group picture taken and if I ever see it I will post it because dang, some people are super creative (cough Christie and Jon.) Also this pic is sadly as good as it gets...thanks to DI I made this beauty.

On Friday I worked and then Lyle and I went to Squatters with some friends and then to a Jazz game! Our first one this season actually (as sad as that is). Going to Jazz games is one of our favorite things and going with friends is even more fun. I love how happy Liv is here!

It was a real nail biter for baby Elsie who, btw, keeps getting cuter!! How is that possible?! 

 On Saturday I convinced these two that running in a Santa 5k was going be super sweet. And it really was. I felt like I was in I'll be Home for Christmas. I also realized I need to go running more...but the weather was absolutely perfect and they had milk and cookie stations and it was seriously so fun. Kylie and Lyle killed it. This is definitely a tradition I would like to continue!

We learned that beards are super hard...and annoying. During this holiday season I am especially grateful I don't have a beard and while we are on the subject, that Lyle doesn't either.

 

Now everyone can laugh at my beard in the next two pictures. Yes, I was struggling.

Straight from there Lyle and I went to a Christmas/Pie/Going away party for Jordan and Krystle. 

Our funny picture! 

Oh man Nolan melts my heart. Crossing my fingers for Texas again so this little man and I can be best friends. I am so bummed they are moving now that we are back because I just love Krystle!

So then after that we went to the cutest decorated christmas party ever and it was seriously so fun catching up with friends. Also I LOVE this picture below. I love that they live close and that are boys are doing the same thing.

Fun fact: all three of us met our husbands at the same time. And we all fought over the couch because we all wanted to cuddle. Oh and we introduced Kailyn and Jared too so I don't know why they didn't name their firstborn after us... ;) but anyway I would still like to accredit this to our 13 or 14 week in a row temple attendance because then Lyle came into my life. If you add Tara into this picture all 4 of us met our husbands at the same time. Man I miss Raintree sometimes.

Lynlie and I are already best friends. 

Heather and I with Holly. I love when all the Maryland friends get together! The King family is one of my favorites. Oh and in case you were wondering, Holly is single and she's pretty dang amazing so if you are single hit me up and I'll introduce ya. K sweet.

 Claire stole the show. I hope Justin and Jen don't mind if I steal her...

We seriously have the most amazing group of friends. I am so excited for more fun after Lyle gets back from New Mexico! P.S. I'll post the rest of the pics to fb for everyone.

Love, Cait