San Diego

****This is going to be a long post but pictures are below****
This year with my family we went to San Diego. We left on Friday May 30 and got back Saturday June 7. We flew there, which was a big thing since it was the first flight with Layla. We were very worried that Layla would be the one baby on a flight that would be crying the whole time. Luckily it is a short flight to California. Layla did great the whole flight. She ate, slept, played,pooped. Basically exactly what she does at home. We were very lucky that for both flights she did great. Tanner is the best person to fly with I think. He is so calm and he lets me take his air and cuddle with him and squeeze his hand really tight while there are moments of turbulence. Layla was giggling during the turbulence which was so cute. I am hoping that she loves flights for her whole time. My family gets very anxious when they fly so it was welcoming change when I married Tanner and had a calm presence with me on a flight. It made me much less anxious. Also, I never realized how much more stuff I would need to be taking on and off the flight with a baby. Between the diaper bag, stroller, car seat, blankets and then my own little carry on.
The first day that we were there we just checked in and got some food and drove from Long Beach to San Diego. The second day we were there we went to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It is a very large park and it was very warm. That was one of the warmest days while we were in California. Layla really liked getting to see the birds flying and then some other animals. She just was looking at everything going on around her. It was a great day.
The third day we went to church were Alec's friend is serving his mission. I think it was great that Alec got to see his friend that was on a mission. They are just the best of buddies. The missionaries were listening to the Vocal Point CD and Tanner said " Hey, that is me singing." The missionaries were so excited. It was like they were meeting a celebrity. After church we went to Balboa Park and walked around the gardens and just around to see what museums were free to go to. We did not find any that were free so we just walked passed many of them.  Layla got to play on the play ground while we were there and really enjoyed going down the slides with me.
The fourth day we went to Sea World. This was probably my favorite park that we went too. It was so much fun getting to see so many animals and getting to have more interactive activities getting to feed sting rays, getting to touch star fish, sea cucumbers, seeing the shows and going on the rides. It was so much fun. Layla really enjoyed the penguins and turtles. She slept through many of the shows and she is to little to go on rides. While Tanner and I went on one of the rides my dad got to hold Layla and she did not cry. This was big for Layla she is very shy so if Tanner or I are not the ones holding her she cries normally. It doesn't matter who it is that is holding her. But after a few days of seeing my family and hearing their voices she was able to warm up to them and not cry. I loved that she was able to get more comfortable with them.
The fifth day we went to the San Diego temple. My mom and Tanner stayed outside with the girls. My dad was able to be inside with all of his kids and one son-in-law. It was a great experience for our family to be in the temple together. After the temple we took pictures. We left the temple and went to change to go down to mission beach, Belmont Park and the Mormon Battalion. It was such a nice day to walk on the beach. The Mormon Battalion has changed so much since the last time we were there. They have videos, interactive activities and some kids activities.
The sixth day we went to the San Diego Zoo. This is a huge park. I cannot believe how large it is and how many hills there are to hike up and down. It was so much fun getting to see the animals there. It makes the Hoggle Zoo look like it does not have any animals in it. The first thing we did when we got there was rode one of the bus tours so that we could see the whole park and then find out where we wanted to start and what we wanted to see. We got to see so many different animals from hippos to polar bears, elephants, koalas and so so so much more.
The seventh day the boys went down to Tijuana to visit Andrews mission and the girls went shopping. We ended up shopping for much longer than we thought but we still had fun I think. It was a little crazy with the little girls but we were able to do it.
Then on our last day there we went to the beach. It was so much fun being at the beach and letting Layla put her feet in the sand and water. It was also very nice that Tanner and I had a little time to walk on the beach just the two of us. We also barried Alec in the sand, and all the guys went our into the ocean and played for a little while until the waves started getting to strong and the life guard told them to come in. The life guard also came by and told us to not dig a hole to deep. Then we took the missionaries out to dinner and then headed back to the beach for some campfire and s'mores. Then we flew home that next afternoon.

***There will be a lot of pictures and hopefully I can keep them in order of the days***

 

 
  
               

  

 

 
 



 
 
   

 

   

                                           

May and June and July

Memorial Day:
It has always been a goal of mine to make it to my Grandpa's grave every Memorial Day. Tanner is always very happy to come with me. This year was the first Memorial Day since Tanner's Grandma and Grandpa Haws passed away so it was good to be able to add them to our Memorial Day tradition of going to visit our grandparents  graves that day and remember them. One of the things I love when we go to my Grandpa Taylor's grave is Tanner asking me to tell him something about my Grandpa that I loved or just something about his life. It is a great way for me to remember and for Tanner to learn a little bit about my Grandpa, since they never had the chance to me in person.

                    

Hike to Bell Canyon Waterfall:
Tanner has been telling me about this waterfall since we were dating. You can see it(kind of) from his parents house. After almost 3 1/2 years we finally hiked to the waterfall. It was a pretty hike. First you hike up to a reservoir and then you keep going up the trail and you through some meadows that are pretty flat and then the incline is gradual but then you get to a part where its like you are climbing up big rock stairs. I was not prepared for that. Since this was our first hike with Layla it took us almost 2 hours to get up to the waterfall but it was pretty once we got up there and very worth the climb. We are loving going on new outdoor adventures each week.

                

Aubrey and Chance's Wedding:
Aubrey and Chance are married. They had a beautiful wedding day. The sealing was wonderful and I was laughing more than I thought I would because the sealer was cracking jokes. I was a little nervous in the sealing though. We had gone to the temple when Aubrey received her endowments and I passed out so I was thinking to myself the whole time, "oh no, what if I pass out again in front of all these people." I had to lean over a few times and I was holding onto Tanner's hand pretty tightly. I made it though.
The rest of the day was great between the luncheon an the reception we were able to talk with family and see some friends we have not seen in a very long time. Especially since we had Layla.

 
Layla's Six Months:
I cant believe that Layla being six months has come and gone. Here are some pictures of her at six months.        

 Fathers Day:
This year was Tanner's first year of being a Father on Father's Day. He is a great dad and loves Layla. He is going to be a great dad. For Father's Day, Tanner the things you would need to go fishing. A fishing pole, hooks, line, bait. Hopefully he can put them to good use this summer. Especially since we live so close to the river he could just walk over and go fishing.

Camping in the House:
As part of our weekly adventures we have been going on we went to a new park to us in Draper which had a great view. We had a little pizza picnic and went on the swings. When we got home we decided to camp inside instead of outside since we are not prepared enough for outside and I think it is SO much fun to sleep inside a tent inside your house.

Layla Eating Solid Food:
The craziness that is getting Layla to eat "solids" or baby food is a mess but so much fun because she is loving trying new flavors and getting to try little things that Tanner and I are eating. She is still learning how to open up for a spoon but when it is something she likes her mouth will be wide open but if she is tried of her rice cereal I feel like I am trying to get that spoon in there as fast as I can when she smiles or talks. So far she likes rice cereal, applesauce, mixed carrots, watermelon, oranges, real bananas, and eating anything off a cracker. She does not like mangoes,sweet potatoes, pears, or baby food bananas. I am learning to laugh at getting food splattered over me when she laughs when she is eating.  It a messy job but  I am loving getting to teach Layla.

Fourth of July and Grandma Camp:
This year we had a great time with both Grandma Camp and the Fourth of July. We were able to go to an Orem Owl's game with the Woolley's. It was Layla's first experience with fireworks and she liked them after she realized what was happening. The first few scared her a little bit. On the Fourth of July we went to the Provo Parade. It has been a tradition with the Taylor side of the family for many years. I am just glad I am passed the point of being the one to sleep out to save the spot. It was stressful for me. Then we had a picnic at my Grandma Taylor's with that side of the family. It was so much fun getting to see most of my cousins. After that we headed over to my Grandma and Grandpa Woolley's for Grandma Camp. We were able to play games, watch movies and eating. We really enjoyed our time this year and with Layla's first "Great Grandma Camp" I think she enjoyed her time. She was able to get comfortable and warm up to some of my extended family.
                  

 

  

 Seven Month Old Layla:
Layla is SEVEN MONTH, when did that happen! She is growing so fast.

The Latest News at the Nilsson Home

I was able to celebrate my first Mothers Day this year. I was pregnant last year so Tanner did just a little thing for me but this year I have a baby! She is such a wonderful baby. Her and I get to play all day and she is growing so quickly. She is already starting to roll and scoot and sitting with little help. She also likes for us to hold her in a standing position and looking around. She has now eaten rice cereal and some watermelon. She is an incredible baby. She loves to eat and sleep. She is very observant and likes to try and study things. Layla is so tender hearted and can get startled quickly. For Mothers Day, Tanner make me stuffed homemade french toast. It was delicious and as always I am impressed by him more each day! I got many gifts from him and Layla and I got a little relaxing morning. Then, we got to talk with Tanners brother Mckay who is on a mission in Norway. We went to church and then to my parents and grandparents. It was a great day and a perfect first Mothers Day for me. I am extremely blessed to have a wonderful husband and daughter and family!