Happy Happy Birthday to You and You!

We love birthdays in this house. We get so excited and we spend days celebrating.
This year was Layla's first birthday. We decided on her actual birthday that we would take her to the Hogle Zoo to see the "Zoo Lights". It was a fun experience to see her face light up when she saw a twinkling light and pointing at it and then pointing at us and then at the light again to make sure that we see it too. The animals were very lively at night and it was so fun to see them walking around. One of my favorite parts of the night was when we were walking back to the front to leave and we decided to stop where there is the giraffe look out and there was music playing and we decided to stop for a few minutes and sing and dance around. I think Tanner and Layla had a lot of fun. We definitely wore our little Layla out and she slept well after that.














The next day we thought it would be a great idea to spend the day having a birthday party for Layla with the family. We had both sides of the family come over to our home and we invited our few closest friends also. We had presents and then the traditional eating of the cake for the baby. For us, we found that Layla was scared of the cake. We sang to her, I helped her blow out the candle, we all cheered and she got scared and would not touch the cake after that. It was hard to understand but we are happy that we have a baby that will choose a banana over cake and that she knows what she wants. She was also very blessed to have a wonderful family that gave her so many wonderful gifts. She loves each one of them! Spending time with family is so wonderful and is such a good connection to have as time goes on and I am hoping to help Layla understand that bond.

That night we had the chance to go up to John and Brin's Christmas party. They were such wonderful party hosts and we were able to eat yummy food prepared by Brin. Then we got to chat with some friends and meet new people. It was great to see some of Tanner's siblings there too. Then we played a little gift exchange game which was so much fun! There were some really good gifts which makes the game interesting when you are stealing things from each other back and forth and around.

Then my birthday was that Sunday the 14th. Tanner spoils me very year with home made breakfast. He made me blueberry pancakes with my favorite vanilla nutmeg hot milk. and he got me some wonderful gifts and flowers. Then we went to church and I taught a lesson on the Saviors birth and how that is a "good tiding of great joy". The Savior came to this year for us and his atonement is how were are able to be happy and live with him again. This was one of my favorite lessons to teach. Then, Tanner made me a steak dinner, with red potatoes and roasted asparagus. I am so incredibly blessed to have him and my husband to do so much for me.











Since Tanner and I were dating he has done the "12 days of birthday Christmas" for me. Since my birthday is 12 days away from Christmas it fits perfectly. This year started with that wonderful meal and relaxing Sunday at home.  Monday, Tanner took me to the Eclipse Christmas Concert which I love Christmas concerts but it is even better when I know multiple of their songs. Tuesday night we had my birthday dinner with my family and we ate at LaJolla Groves down in The Shops at Riverwoods. It was such a fun time with my family and the environment was so fun down there during Christmas time. Wednesday, I got the surprise of getting to go on a sleigh ride and meet Santa. We went up to the homestead in Midway. Layla was so fun watching the horse pull our sleigh and then getting scared sitting on Santa's lap. It was such a wonderful experience and it helps to get in the spirit of the season. Thursday through Sunday, we took a little trip down to St. George with my family to spend the time at my parents condo. It was perfect down there. We watched Christmas movies, made Christmas cookies, swam, went birding (the boys) and spend time playing games as a family. It is always funny to spend time with my siblings. I do have to say it was a little sad to get down there and realize that my siblings were all staying at my sister in laws families condo and we were going to be with my parents. I was thinking that I came down to spend time as a family and half of them are not even going to be with us. But it turned into a wonderful blessing to get to spend time with my mom alone for a few hours each day. We are so a like in many ways and I love that and am so proud to be her daughter.
The ninth day of Christmas Birthday was getting to spend the day with Tanner's siblings at their Christmas FHE. It was so much fun getting to spend time with everyone and watch "The best of the Nilsson's" home videos. It is always hilarious to see Tanner when he was little and makes me so excited for our children to grow up to that age and see how alike they will be. Part of the evening was dinner, sing Christmas songs( my favorite part), doing siblings gift exchange and then listening to a little letter from McKay in Norway. It was a beautiful evening with the family. The spirit of Christmas is so strong at that home it makes me so excited each time we go there. The tenth day of Christmas Birthday was Leanne's baby shower! ( which good thing we did early because the baby came 5 days later) I love having Leanne as a sister in law and I cant wait to have play dates with our kids together as they grow up and to have a wonderful friend.

ECLIPSE CONCERT

BIRTHDAY DINNER

SLEIGH RIDE and MEETING SANTA

ST.GEORGE

DIAPER CAKE FOR THE BABY SHOWER

Its beginning to look A LOT like Christmas!

This month is going by so quickly because so much has already happened. This month we are celebrating the birth of our Savior. Tanner and I have talked so much about our testimonies of our Savior and Redeemer. We both believe that the Savior has given us the most incredible gift of the Atonement. So, this month we are hoping to remember him more each day, grow closer to him and celebrate his birth! We started this celebration with decorations, spending time with family and friends.

Our house is all decorated for this Christmas season. As we were putting up decorations we talked about how Layla will probably want to play with many of our decorations but we have found out that her favorite decoration is the Nativity that is from "The Little People" toys. Her favorite it to carry the little Mary figurine around with her.
 

We had the chance to spend time with John and Brin at the Festival of Tree's this year. I always enjoy going to see the trees and read some of the stories about who the tree's were dedicated too. Layla enjoyed being there and seeing Oscar and Chloe. After that we went to dinner with them. It was a wonderful evening to get to spend time with friends.
  




My family does a Progressive Dinner each year which is our family Christmas party. Growing up with such a fun tradition, has made the holidays extra fun and it is always something I look forward to each year. I am hoping to pass that excitement down to Layla. This year we did an elf theme. We dressed up like elves. Ate little elf size food, drank out of little cups and then to add the Elf movie with it we had spaghetti with syrup ( and normal sauce) for dinner. It was so much fun. This year we were able to have the family start at our home with appetizers, we did some caroling because "the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear". We went to my sisters for drinks and presents and finished the night at my Grandma and Grandpa Woolley's house. We truly enjoyed it and Layla was really liking to get to be around little kids.

It was so nice to get to have a birthday dinner with Tanner's family the first Sunday of December. We really enjoy getting to spend time up there. Layla is starting to warm up to her Grandparents are their home. She liked looking at the decorations that were set up and getting to play with her cousins. 

To end of our last day of warm weather Layla and I went for a run and then played at the park for few minutes. It was just a little cold to stay out for long but we were able to get some go slide time in. 

I love this season of the year so much with the change in the weather, decorating, the excitement of parties, activities and get togethers and getting to spend more time with the people I love. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  

November

The month of November went by so quickly. This month I have been thinking about how blessed I am. I wouldn't say I have a perfect life because I do have a few hard days but I have been incredibly blessed to have very few bad days or even negative things in my life. Tanner and I have chosen to see things in a positive light.
This month has been filled with such fun and progression. We started it out in Las Vegas. Which I already wrote about but I want to say again how blessed I am to have a husband with a wonderful job and that I get to be blessed to spend time at home with Layla. We love to travel and have been very blessed to get to do it pretty regularly. Since I do get to be home with Layla everyday, I get to catch her doing such funny things like sleeping like this!

She even got to get all dressed up warm to delivery a little treat to the sisters I visit teach. I love to bake and cook so my visiting teaching sisters get to try out all of the things I make and Layla is my helper. Even when it's freezing outside and Tanner has to take her back home after two homes. I am so blessed to have a wonderful baby, husband and a reason to serve those around me.  I love the gospel and that it gives us the chance to help God's children. 

We also had the first snow of the season and Layla was able to experience that again but really for the first time because last year we wouldnt let her be outside long enough to really see the snow fall. Now that Layla is old enough to see and explore the snow I cannot wait for it to stick to the ground so we can play in the snow for the first time. 

I have been blessed with such a wonderful home that is perfect for entertaining. I was asked by Tanner's mom to let my house be used for a bridal shower for my future sister-in-law. As a family, us girls were able to put together a wonderful shower. Jenna helped with food and decorations, Marci did much of the food and Leanne provided the cutest games, and even Tanner's grandma brought some food. We had so much of Tanner's extended family over that I was so happy to see many of them and get to hear about their lives. It truly is a blessing to have that much family live close enough to come. I did not get to many pictures because I ended up being the hostess when I was not planning on it but I am always up for changes and I don't mind taking the lead to help things move and progress. My mom was a HUGE help for me she let me borrow so many things from her house to help decorate my house for this and I used my Grandma Woolley's recipe for creamy chicken noodle soup to make for the night.  

This month also marked Layla's 11 month birthday! My baby is growing up so quickly and becoming a little adult. With this month she has learned to crawl up the stairs, she has started to WALK. AHH! She has even started to only want what mom and dad are eating so less formula and baby food for her! I am so amazed at the blessing children are. I want to enjoy my time with Layla because she is so happy and playful and is such a huge helper in my life to keep me focused on what is truly important in my life and to have an eternal perspective. 

Tanner and I started our Christmas shopping early this year because we love to spend time together and go on adventures but we love to share with others and what a better way to do that then during the season of giving. This is Tanner and Layla up at the Traverse Outlet Mall. 

Tanner bought us tickets to go see TranSiberian Orchestra this year. We invited Austin and Jessica to come with us and then we went out to dinner. We truly enjoyed our night and the concert as always was the perfect way to start our the holiday season. I am so in love with Tanner and how we keeps traditions alive for me. I love traditions new and old and he helps to continue them. 

 My sister invited up to go to The Shoppes at Riverwoods lighting festival. It has been a long time since we have been down to those shops. I use to work down there for years but since we moved to Lehi I maybe went once since then but I love the atmosphere there and Layla loved getting to see the lights and fireworks and she always likes to spend time with her cousins.

Tanner and I put up Christmas lights on our house the day before Thanksgiving because Tanner did not work that day! I love that he has Wednesday off work so we get to spend that day together doing fun things! I will post more pictures about these when I do a December post and about our Christmas house decorations. I love to decorate our home and make it feel festive for every Holiday but especially Christmas. 

Then we come to Thanksgiving Day! I love this day. Especially when I get to spend the time with family. This year I got to bring food to the dinner. I feel like such an adult when I get to do things like that and man do I love getting to try new things to cook. I made a salad and green beans. One of the best parts of having Tanner as my husband is he always says how much he likes my cooking but when I made the green beans he was really enjoying them. It makes me feel so happy! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!