Happy Holiday's Kick-Off!

Ta-Da! I painted some cutie stripes in my breakfast nook and it looks so bright and cheery. I'm loving these fresh wreaths and wonder if I need to have these year-round?

My 51st Birthday falls on a Sunday, so Jon took Paisley and I to Wicked the day before. It was great! It looked like Jon only napped through a small portion. I'm happy Paisley will happily join me for such things.

I relaxed while the Jon and the kids made a Sunday Birthday dinner. (Not a whole lot different than a typical Sunday, but we did eat a big salad with lots of stuff in it, just for meeeee!!!)

What a sweet view!

Then we had Ella snap some family photos of us. She did great- and the kids obliged because it was my Birthday.

Isn't always the very last "One more quick shot!" that is always the winner?

Eeeek, I love this group!!!

Then everyone sang to their 51 year old mom while I blew out the candles to a very delicious Chocolate cake from The Chocolate! Thank you, Jonny :)

Ashley really scrambled to get us all tickets to The Savior of the World production at the Conference Center. We all met up at the City Creek Food Court. We munched on dinner as more and more of our party arrived. So festive and exciting to be downtown! It was actually the weekend before they lit everything, but the candy windows were set up and no crowds! Then we all waked over to the Conference Center together. I had never been to the small theater, so that was neat to see. As it started, I was so excited to see a balcony bridge of sorts above the stage filled with "Angels" of all ages singing. As it began, I wondered if this was a local stake sign-up kind of production. We all chuckled that the audience was probably all family members of the cast- and us!

Every time I am at Temple Square I think of how neat it is that I can visit this place anytime. Not everyone in the world can say that!

I was so looking forward to a Taylor Thanksgiving! You could say I had been looking forward to this for two years! Cash was generous to host us all again in their great house. We all signed up for different dishes on a google doc. I baked Mommy a Birthday Cake: White Chocolate Rasberry Coconut! (one of my favorites, he-he).

I had Christian walk it in while we all sang.

Adren and Ella are getting much closer. Adren says he is done dating, he's found the ONE. He is crazy about her, and I can tell she feels the same. It makes these times extra festive and exciting! I am so happy for them both! He mentioned he may not see us on Thanksgiving, he would be with Ella and her family. I want him to be exactly where he wants to be- but it also made me a little sad, if I'm honest. I have been looking forward to all being together this holiday finally while he's been gone. It never occurred to me the past two years that he would already be off at another families gathering. I just smiled and told him to do whatever they wanted to do. Of course, I was thrilled to learn he wanted to come by after dinner and hang out with us!