Parties on Parties

Tomorrow I leave for California, and man I'm more than excited. We still aren't unpacked, in fact our family Room is more of a disaster, and to tell you the truth, I'd actually be embarrassed to show you "our new home" right now. I would never suggest to anyone to start moving a couple weeks before Christmas-it sucks because I like decorations, and do I have any up? No. Especially to not move in the snow. I'd also suggest to actually sort through your crap, box it, label it, and not to think, "Oh, it's down the hill...stuffing the car is a good idea". And yes, I said crap. We have lots of it, and no where to put it. Our shed is in the backyard, and it's piled with snow...so it's not fun to a take a trek out there. 

I was proud of myself for doing the bedroom and kitchen, but somehow even when I unpacked, and "cleared" the room, it kept looking worse and worse. I'm not meaning to complain one bit. We love it, and it's been so fun to be our home! But, working full time, an hour away, doesn't leave you with much time in the evening. I've just been so stressed and upset I couldn't get it done before we left for vacation. It makes it an even bigger mess packing when you're not even fully unpacked. 

I've had a continuous migraine for three weeks every morning when I wake up, so I result to Dr. Pepper. I'm not a soda drinker, unless it's for a fun occasion. So, either I have a brain tumor, or it's the fact that I've been wearing these contacts for a month now, because I can't find any of my others in the crap pile. So great, now I'm fat from the excess amount of soda, and the holiday treats, and then I'm grouchy because of the migraine. It's such a win, win.

Anyways, let me be cheerful and show the fun parties that we have attended as of late!

On Friday, December 6th, I did Axiom's Christmas Party. It was at the Garden Place, at This is the Place, and it was just as beautiful as I imagined. Usually, we have a very formal, sit down dinner, followed by lots of longggggg speeches for awards, so we decided to switch it up. It was a night filled with prizes. Random Drawings, Bingo Winners, Minute to Win It Winners, Finish that Tune winners, and award winners. Lots of people went home with things, it was seriously great! There was a photo booth, delicious food catered by Culinary Crafts, bistro lights draped on the ceiling, glass, gold, and woodsy scenery! It was fun! And, I'm glad it's over.

:)

As their parting gift, we gave gourmet caramel, and smore's popcorn. DELISH. Snacked on that crack for a couple days.

The next morning, we have baby girl Brimley's bridal shower! We did a brunch, so we have delicious mini cinnamon rolls from Shirley's, fruit, and the necessary drinks.

It's fine if you think I look constipated... I'm not.

Last week a couple of us at work went and served breakfast and lunch at the Ronald McDonald house, and that was so special. I loved every minute of it.

Kyle and Jackie, our friends, had a white elephant/gingerbread house making/ugly sweater party, and it was so fun! We had toooo many treats!

We couldn't mess up the perfectly glazed snow, by your one and only! :)

We also brought our little elf with us! Brock and Sarah asked if we could watch Soph, and at first we said no, but we thought she would bring some extra Christmas cheer!

I took all of my ugly sweaters back to DI because we didn't go to any parties....then I last minute had to go back, and find something. The ugliest vest ever, and I was already looking like a hobo that day, so it didn't help the self esteem.

There's our cute red door! With my cute gold pinecone wreath!

Until...

I received this message from Tanner informing me our hook had broken, and so had our adorable wreath. So after crying for a couple minutes inside, I realized, there's nothing a little hot glue can't help! 

On Sunday Melissa had a little Christmas dinner party, and we had a jolly ole time!

The yummy Peppermint Chocolate cake I made!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....NO I'M NOT. GET ME OUTTA HERE!

That was two seconds before I started doing donuts unintentionally.

It's official

The day has come... we slept in our first home last night! We had great friends and fam that helped pack up our life, and move it down the hill. Boy is that exhausting...especially when you downsize! We already had some troubles brushing our teeth last night. Our bathroom is teeny, and we are used to 3 sinks, and 2 showers and toilets. We never were in each others way! It's ok though, this will bring us closer, right? Ok, maybe just physically. Ha!

Our cute paint color!

TMI? It was our first night! 

Besides the bathroom, we have one small closet, and I mean small. Our last closet was walk in, and had all the storage/shelving that we ever needed! And then a coat closet, and another bedroom closet/stash room. Currently, all of my clothes are in the closet, some of Tanner's clothes are on our new garment rack :) and then the rest of everything is piled in the family room, on top of other piles. See below:

There's a couch under there...somewhere

I promise this is how the rod naturally is. Looks like we need a new one, cause it just freaks me out.

We wanted to get our bed ready so we actually had a place to sleep, so that was the first concern. Then, I needed my makeup and contacts, and our toothbrushes.

This morning I could only find one pair of shoes visible besides my UGGS, and I wasn't going to wear those to work, so luckily they were my black booties. Then, I couldn't find any of my pants, I knew they were in a suitcase?!...And I was able to find a pair of jeans (oops..I'm just acting like I thought it was Friday at work!), then I found an OLD flannel, and a sweater, and that's what I wore.

We don't have curtains on our big family room window yet, so crawling to the bathroom in my garms was the only way to go!

I didn't want the school bus to see me!

They took down the shelving in the bathroom, so something's gonna change! Or else I might go crazy. Also, I almost had a panic attack when I couldn't find an outlet in the bathroom for my straightener. Then I looked on the walls outside, and NOTHING. I text Tanner in a panic... kinda like WHAT DID WE JUST DO?! And then, when I took a deep breath, it was right in front of me, next to the light switch! :)

Don't get me wrong... we LOVE our house. Absolutely love it. I think it's the cutest thing in the whole wide world, with our new aqua bedroom, and our bright red front door. The whole not-having-a-garage-thing isn't so great though...BUT, it's just going to take some getting used to! I'll add another mirror somewhere in our bedroom for times that we are getting ready at the same time, I'll add shelving in the bathroom, store clothes under the bed and in the shed and maybe I'll just have to get rid of some too. Why is it, that some clothing you just CAN'T get rid of...even if it's from High School and you've only worn it once? Seriously, I have a problem.

We are settled in...well let me rephrase that. We are moved in, and tonight and every night until we leave for CA (8 days! squeel!) we will organize, and Christmas-ify our home. Because let's get real...my first house at Christmas time will be decorated, even if it's just for a couple days! :)

I feel SO thankful to all those who helped, so thank you! If you're reading this...which is... none, so ok bye.

Hallelujah!

Can I get a woot, woot!? The Christmas Party is done, and now we can move! 

I can finally breathe, and look forward to our Christmas Vacation!! I just hope to move in and decorate soon, because I have to have our first Christmas in our home look cute! DUH!

More details to come.

Thanksgiving, Concert, House, Christmas Party

Lots has been going on these last couple weeks for Tanner and I. To start off, we closed on our very first home together, YESTERDAY! We couldn't be more excited for this new adventure in our life! I can't believe we are home owners. It's a duplex, so we have basement renters, and that makes life and rent, well, great. I's awesome!

We were lucky enough to visit both of our families for Thanksgiving! On Tuesday afternoon, we flew into LAX to meet up with all of the Zylstra's. We went to Logan's basketball game, had dinner at BJ's, and headed to the Justin Timberlake concert. It honestly was THE best concert I've ever been to. JT is an AMAZING performer, and I loved that he played so much of his old, classic stuff. He's hilarious, can dance like a mad man, and sing fabulous. I may or may not have gotten a slight girl crush with his little blonde back up dancer. Things like that make me really miss dancing.

I still can't get over it. He's just great. And, to top it off, he's hosting SNL again on December 21st!! Can I get a holla?

We didn't get back until 1:30, because he played for three hours. Yes, I said three. Again, he's gr8. We chatted, and ate some pie, and took a quick "nap" as I like to call it, as we woke up at 5am to get to our flight to Phoenix. That day was very exhausting, but fun. We visited AT Still, a dental school in Mesa, and I felt so stupid for Tanner, because he had a zombie wife! We ate great food, played lots of Pickleball, shopped, cooked, and laughed a lot!

Painting my nails on the train was...an experience. They looked horrible, but I couldn't go back after I started. And, my helper... he tried...

Flying as a Zylstra for the first time. Took me a while.

He's HERE!

Great iPhone pics.

The stage lifted up, and went across the whole arena, so he was SO close to everyone. It was seriously awesome!

JT just chillin. My hands were shaking so much I couldn't ever focus! I'll have to post some vids soon.

As Sisters in Zionnnn

Wednesday night we all went to Joe's Farm Grill which never disappoints. I had been wanting to tke Tan there for a while. And, of course I'm posting with the cutest little man. Piercey!

This is our apple berry pie we made!

Gramps posted this picture of Tan on Insta, so techy!

When we flew back to SLC Saturday night, we were 15 minutes late, which resulted into us missing the TRAX, which then resulted in us getting on the TRAX 30 minutes later, and sitting at the station for an hour in the 30 degree weather to hop onto the FrontRunner. Although that's not the coldest weather, we had just come from AZ, so it was pretty dang cold. We decided we would be good hobo's together, because we put on all of the layering we could find in our suitcases, and cuddled to get warm. 

The men socks add to the look. I was even wearing a beanie, and my "army" jacket over that sweatshirt. I just didn't want to scare everyone with that pic. :)

A couple weeks ago, we went to the lighting of the Christmas lights at the Riverwoods and burgers at Marley's. We went with the gang, and it was sure a good time! Then we went to the BYU game the next day, and sat in the cold, then treated ourselves to Rubio's after! THEN we played games at our house later that night. It was SO fun! Here are some pics of that...

wow we ate lots of food that weekend?

We dropped off Brim at the airport last Friday, before Thanksgiving, and got Tanner's suit altered. Then we walked around City Creek, and had a little fun at Restoration Hardware...

Like I said before, we bought our very first house. It's an adorable house in the heart of Provo. It's teeny and perfect for us! I will post pictures once we move in and make it ours! After the Christmas Party, and the rest of this weekend, we will be able to get movin! And, I think we will wait for the snow to stop....It's already making me depressed!

Ok, I think I'm all caught up now.