The Updike's

December 1st brings our favorite Elfie (especially for Garrett! Ha!)  Cute little Presley was all about her notes to Elfie.   "Hi Elfie how are elf so sneaky?" "Hi Elfie thanks for the note.  Can you be a sneaky elf?" "Hi Elfie I really really really really want make up for Christmas.  I really hope I get it.  To Elfie.  From Presley. Presley and Kasey making their first snowman! "Here Comes Santa Claus . . . Here Comes Santa Claus!" Grandma Crossley and Santa came for a visit! The kiddos were all so excited! One of the gifts that they brought us all were bags filled with water, food, and an inspirational cards.  The kids needed to earn $3.00 each for bread to put into the bags.  Once everything was ready - the kids were look around them for anyone in need.  We are excited to help in this wonderful service opportunity! We have't been apart of this Christmas tradition because we have lived away from Utah for years - it was such a tender experi...

We feel so blessed to have found such a lovely home with good bones ... and we are super excited to make it feel like our own by changing it to reflect our style.  New flooring, new paint and eventually re-doing the mantel, built-ins, and kitchen cabinets and counters.  I feel high anxiety trying to pick out the perfect flooring and paint color.  It feels overwhelming to choose a product based on a small swatch - - but we did it and I am hoping and crossing my fingers that it will all turn out beautiful!   You know the show "Nailed It?"  It's a show where beginner bakers try to copy a professional baker's beautiful pastry.  This is how I totally feel in the decorating department.  I know what I like when I see beautiful inspiration pictures - but I am just hoping when all is said and done that it doesn't look like a 2 year-old decorated it.  Ha! Painting!  Phew!  Garrett and I have always been such a good team in all of our housing paint...