Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Day was a pretty low key kind of day. I needed to finish sewing the kids Christmas pajamas and so with Kefford home with the kids I locked myself in my bedroom and got to work. I had already had them cut out I just needed to sew them. I purposefully waited to do it on this day because I wanted Kefford to be with them while I was incognito for a couple of hours. It was low stress until I sewed Kenedys pajamas wrong. Of course hers were the ones I started with and so I put them aside and did the others. Then I sat in front of the TV for a good fifteen to twenty minutes and seam ripped her pajamas apart. Finally I had them all done and wrapped them up and put them under the tree. Kefford did some last minute shopping and we all hung out. I wanted to make a nice turkey dinner for our Christmas Eve and i was excited about all that yummy turkey but so nervous because i had never coked a turkey before, It turned out so delicious and perfect. My first turkey was definitely a success. After dinner we let the kids open their new Christmas pajamas and ornaments. I started the tradition last year that I was going to select ornaments that fit each kids personality rather then give them all the same thing. So Kenedy got a hairdryer/flat iron/brush ornament because she is becoming a teenager. Ryker I found a basketball frame ornament and I put a picture of him and his Dad in it to represent the first year of having Kefford as his coach, he thought it was pretty cool. Avynlea got a kitty ornament since she loves Kitty's and Rylee got a little lovebug ornament since she is everyones little love. they all liked what they got and especially loved their new pajamas. GO BSU!

After the present opening the kids dressed up to do a reenactment of the nativity but could not quite get it together. So we had them change back into their pajamas and I read them out new Christmas Book which talked about the birth of Christ and then we watched the First Presidency's Christmas devotional. We had it recorded on our DVR but never got around to watching it which I am glad because it was perfect for the night before Christmas. Once we put the kids to bed Kefford and I started wrapping the things that never got wrapped and then set it all out. It was a weird night because honestly it did not feel like it should be Christmas already. I am not sure if it was because it came so fast or what but it was weird. Oh well, we got everything all set up and ready for the morning and then we went to bed.

Basketball End of Season

So Ryker has finished another season of Basketball. I am impressed with how good his skills are getting and am really glad that he enjoys it. Ryker loved having his dad be his coach this time around but Kefford was not thrilled with it and says he probably will not do it again. The main problem is being stuck with a team who is really no good, who mess around and do not pay attention. We got slaughtered at almost every single game. It was really sad. But this season is over and we are seriously considering moving him to a different league for next year. We shall see. I really want Kefford to keep coaching Ryker and so I am hoping that by next season he will have forgotten how frustrating it was for him and that i can talk him into doing it again.

We did an awards pizza party with the team and Kefford gave out trophy's and made up certificates for the boys. Ryker got the Mr. Hustle award but after we came home Kefford gave him his real award which was MVP, Most Valuable Player. Ryker was really good and deserved that award but Kefford did not think it a good idea for the coach's son to get the best award so he gave it to him later. smart move.

Breakfast With Santa

Chaparral has a Breakfast with Santa tradition that they do every year. You go to the school on a Saturday morning and either pay money or donate food to the food bank (we donate) and you get a pancake breakfast and a free picture with Santa. They also have a "craft fair" that you can buy items at. I walked around and looked at the craft fair and found nothing of interest, disappointing but I am thinking that selling cute homemade crafts for a decent price is a lost art. Most of the handmade stuff was junk and most of the booths were independent consultants selling things like Scentsy and pampered chef. One girl was trying to sell $100 flip flops...not even lying! So yeah I was not impressed.

So we did the Santa picture thing and then ate our breakfast and went home. My kids all had different feelings about meeting Santa and so I asked them to show me how they felt and I took a picture

Avynlea does not enjoy the whole sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas. She knows that the real Santa is in the north pole busy getting ready for Christmas. So she also knows that these "sit on the lap" Santa's are not real. Basically she does not enjoy sitting on a strangers lap, she thinks it is creepy.

Rylee is the only one super excited to meet Santa and that is just fine.

Ryker is indifferent.

And Kenedy thinks it is weird but. whatever, she will play along.

I got a good picture out of it and I will treasure it because soon enough I will have teenagers who refuse to take part in these silly traditions.

The Star

We bought a new fake Christmas tree this year and any time the decorating of the tree has been brought up Rylee would just get so excited. It was finally her year to put the star on the tree. Oh man was she excited, it was actually so cute to see her so happy. So with her Daddys help Rylee did a beautiful job placing the star on top of our new tree!

Ryker's Wolf Badge

Ryker is now an official Wolf! He worked really hard to make the deadline before his 9th birthday and made it just in time. I am proud of him and happy that he was so excited to earn it.

Kenedy's Piano Recital

We drove back from Utah Sunday afternoon and as soon as we got home we had to quickly unpack and then rush to Kenedys piano recital. She played "Angels we Have Heard on High" and did an awesome job. She practiced and practiced and practiced and it really paid off. This girl has some serious piano playing talent and I am really proud of her for working so hard to improve her skills!

Isabelle's Baptism and Christmas House Village

My super sweet and beautiful niece was baptised! She was the lucky duck that got to wear the Baptism dress me and most of my sisters wore when we got baptised. So cool! I was not even aware that this dress existed until not too long ago which is why Kenedy did not wear it for her baptism. I will be getting ahold of this dress when it is time for Avynlea to be baptised. :o)

After the Baptism we all bundled up and went to Christmas Light Village. It is this fun place where local businesses decorate sheds in Christmas themes. The idea was really cool and I could totally see the appeal but honestly, I could not get past how cold it was. I was seriously layered but I could not find warmth anywhere. So I was pretty miserable during this trip. I really tried hard to put on a happy face and not complain but after about an hour I was done. Luckily I was not the only one freezing and while we enjoyed the memory making I was happy to get back into my SUV and crank the heat.

The Forgotten Carols

The first weekend in December found me, Avynlea and Rylee in Utah for my Niece Isabelle's baptism. We arrived Thursday night and Friday night Emily had a girls night out planned for her, Mom and me. We started our night out by going out and eating some super delicious barbeque. Oh yummers!!

After dinner we headed out to go see The Forgotten Carols. When we were kids we had a tradition that Mom would read to us from The Forgotten Carols and play the music. We all loved it and so we were really excited to go watch it being performed by Michael McLean himself.

Of course it was an amazing show and afterwards we got in line to meet the performers. I already had the book but I did not have a cd so i bought a cd for the actors to sign. Mom and Emily bought t-shirts that they had signed.

So here is our funny story, I warned Mom that this story was going on my blog and so she was prepared for this. :o)

While we were waiting in line I told Mom and Emily that when we got up to the front I was going to lean into Michael McLean really close and in a scary whisper say "I am going to stalk you". Mom was horrified and kept telling me to not embarrass her. Emily and I were laughing and I kept trying to get Emily to dare me to do it because who can turn down a dare? Mom was having none of it and said I better not embarrass her. So we got up to the front and Ems and I pushed Mom in front so she would be the first to speak, and that is when it all came out. Mom got kinda nervous and started talking to Michael McLean and told him about when she and my Dad went to see The Forgotten Carols years and years ago. She told him that they went to the concert and then right after my Mom had to take my Dad to the hospital with bleeding ulcers. After they came home from the hospital my Dad informed my Mom that he was never going to another michael McLean concert again. I could not believe that she was telling him this story. I was laughing so hard because you sould see her mind telling her mouth to be quiet but the mouth was having none of it. Poor Mom she was so nervous. She was so worried about me doing something to embarrass her that she ended up doing it to herself. Hahaha I love great stories!

I told Michael to not let this affect his next performance. But I am really hoping that somehow he works it into his next performance. 

It was a great night spent with people I love and lots and lots of laughing!!!   

Gingerbread Houses

Thanksgiving 2011 found us once again at Peterson Farms. The past couple of years I have had various siblings come and stay with me during the thanksgiving holiday. This year was no exception with Andrew coming for a couple of weeks. It was bittersweet having him here though, sweet because he was here and bitter because I am afraid that this might be the last year it will happen. But I chose to look on the sweet side of things and really enjoyed having my little brother for a couple of weeks.

Alison let me bring whatever I wanted to the dinner and so I decided to make a jello salad and some pies. I have never done a jello mold before and when I found one on sale at Wal-Mart for $2 I thought it might be fun to try it out. I think it would have worked just fine if we didn't have an hour trip to Nyssa. The jello kind of melted and when I tried to set it nicely on a plate it blobbed all over. So I dumped the mess into a bowl and though better luck next time. It was still delicious. I also made a most delicious coconut cream pie and an even more delicious chocolate cream pie. Yum yum yummers!

Dinner was great and then after we ate it was time for the annual gingerbread house decorating. Except this year it was gingerbread trains, so fun. Each family got a train to decorate and then Ryker and Bailey got one to work on together.

Avynlea was super excited that there was a new kitty at the farm. I am not entirely sure why but this kitty had a temporary home in the laundry room. Avynlea spent a lot of time in the laundry room keeping the new kitty company.

I made my traditional candy palm tree and I think they get better and better every year. This one had coconuts on it and a nice base so it wouldn't tople over. I origionally placed it on top of the train and them moved it down to safer ground later.

Rylee was the first one to begin work on the train and the last one to leave it alond. She was very concentrated on where to place all of the candy and did a mighty fine job.

And here is our familys finished creation. Looks delicious!

And Ryker and Baileys happy train!