Meridian Idaho Temple Visitors Center

For Family Home Evening on Monday night we went over to the Meridian Temple Visitors Center. We got there right as they were starting a new group so it was perfect timing for us. They showed pictures of the progress so far and it was pretty cool how they would stop and explain things and they did a lot to liken the building of a Temple to a Family unit. It was a great FHE lesson. After they were done they told us we could look around and also take a rock from a bucket they had by the door. My kids each took a rock and when we got home Avy and Rylee wrote Temple Rock or TR on theirs to always remember where the Rock came from. 

A map of all the current Temples, Temples being built and Temple announced in the World. Pretty impressive!

I really liked this quote. I am blessed at this time to be able to go do service in the Temple once a week and it has strengthened my testimony of the Temple so much. I have had many impressions come to help me in my life while being in that Holy place and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to go as often as I do. It is so exciting to see the progress being made on this new Temple and how cool it will be to have it 5 minutes down the road. We are truly blessed!

Let them eat cake...and open presents!

Rylee got quite a few gifts from different people who came to her Baptism. She was one spoiled girl

Grandma Bonnie got Rylee a picture frame and a cute little CTR ring. She was trying to decide between a bracelet and the ring and after a lot of hemming and hawing I said she should get the ring because Rylee wears her cheap little CTR ring all the time and it is turning her finger green. little did we know that she would get 4 CTR rings and a necklace that would have matched the bracelet. After more contemplations my Mom went back to Deseret Book and bought the bracelet for Rylee. The ring Rylee did not need and Mom thought to save it for my niece. Great decisions all around.

A cute Scripture bag from Aunt Emily

Journal and Pen from my friend Crystal

Ring from Whitney and candy from Brother Purvis her Primary teacher

I think this ring was from Brother Purvis as well but I am not too sure on that.

Polar Bear from Bishop ButtarsWe think these things were from the Caroca family. It got a little confusing because Rylee got some gift bags and some loose items and so we put the loose items and cards in the gift bags so we were not positive who gave her what but I think I am slowly figuring it out. Kenedy and Isabelle thought her expression in the picture was too funny so they meant to mimic it.

Later that night was the General Womens Broadcast for all girls 8 and up. It was so fun to have my Mom and Sister here to go with us and Rylee got to go also. When we got there I wanted to get a picture and so I tried setting my phone up on our car to take a picture but it kept falling over so Kenedy set hers up and we got a picture. We are so cute! Rylee did really good the first 15 minutes of the broadcast sitting really still and listening and then she got restless. At one pint I fixed her headband to make it a hippie style and she took a picture without me knowing so she could see how it looked.

After the meeting Kenedy went to the movies with her friend and the rest of us went home to eat some cake. Ryker and Ben were there alone because the guys went to their own movie and were quite content being together playing video games. They did not even notice us eating cake.

I bought Rylee a cake from costco thinking the Petersons might want to come for dinner after the Baptism but they decided to go home to watch the meeting. So we had a lot of chocolate cake hanging out on my counter with not a lot of people to eat it. Oh well. I was taking pictures of Rylee cutting her cake and took a selfie to show her to pretend I was only taking pictures of me. I am so funny.

The cake was delicious and the day was really busy but such a red letter wonderful day!

Rylee's BIG Day!

On Saturday March 28th Rylee was Baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She has been so excited for this big day and anytime it was mentioned she would just be giddy beyond belief. I LOVE her excitement! Like Avynlea, Rylee got to be Baptized in the dress that I was Baptized in along with my cousin, my sisters and my niece. This dress has quite the legacy! Rylee wanted her Dad to Baptize her with her Uncle Andrew (my brother) and Grandpa Bob as the witnesses. Kefford Baptized her and when she went under her dress bubbled up in the middle so she had to do it again. The prayer was said again and when she went down her dress was bubbling up again so Kefford held her under with one hand and used the other hand to push the dress down. It seemed like she was under forever but it was only a couple of extra seconds. She came back up with a huge grin and was really loving this experience. What a beautiful girl with a beautiful smile! 

As we were walking the hall of the church to where she needed to be before her Baptism started Rylee mentioned that she has never been barefoot in the church before. "I like it" she said as her feet rubbed on the carpet. She finds joy in the small things. :)

Two years ago when Avynlea got baptized Rylee found a dress on the pattern I was using to make Avy's dress and claimed it as her own. That was the dress she wanted and two years later her mind was not changed. I like that she knows her mind! It was a little bit of an intimidating dress but it turned out really good and she felt beautiful and looked beautiful and that is the important thing. I can over look the imperfections as long as she was happy with the outcome. When we got her ears pierced I found a headband that looked perfect for her big day and since it had pearls on it I put pearls in the middle of the flowers on her dress and on the bodice. 

After she was baptized she got confirmed and in the circle were Kefford, Uncle Matt Robertson, Uncle Andrew Lutes, Uncle Jeremy Peterson, Uncle Trevor Peterson, Uncle Steve Andros, Uncle Andrew Windsor, and Grandpa Bob Peterson.

A lot of family and friends came and I made sure to get pictures with most everyone who came. Some snuck out before pictures were taken, oh well. :)

Caroca Family                                                    Sister Josi

Lana Hope and Crystal John                         Bishop and Sister Buttars

Steve, Mikell, Brooke, Jenna and James            Dustin, Whitney, Madison and Sadie

Maddie                                                         Trista

Jeremy, Gwen, Bailey, Makayla and Ally                               Trevor and Michelle

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Alison                                   Grandma Bonnie

Sara                                       Andrew and Kylie

Matt, Emily, Isabelle and Ben                                 Andrew 

Kefford was Baptized by his Uncle Mark and Kefford said they have a picture of the two of them after he was baptized with Mark holding him up by one arm. He wanted to recreate that picture with Rylee, only Rylee is standing on a chair.

Avynlea                                        Kenedy

                                                     Kenedy, Ryker, Avynlea and Rylee

Kefford, Elizabeth, Kenedy, Ryker, Avynlea and Rylee

Table Rock

Late Friday night Emily came into town with her family and Andrew. I was so happy more of my family could come for Rylee's Baptism. I have to say not living close to any of my family members is really the pits. I thought it would be fun Saturday morning to go on a  family hike to table rock. We left about 10:30 and when we got to the start of the trail we all quickly got separated. The kids all ran ahead with Kefford and Matt following behind. I walked with Andrew for a little bit and then pulled back to walk with Mom and Emily while Andrew kept on ahead of us. We got about halfway when the three of us realized we better turn around and head back down because we still had things to do to get ready for the Baptism and Dinner after. So Emily Mom and I took Emilys van and left, leaving the rest to get home in our vehicle. The three of us only got halfway but everyone else were able to make it to the top. Kefford, Kenedy and Matt were awesome to take pictures and send them to me so I wouldn't miss out.

SleepOuts

The kids wanted to sleep outside Thursday night, Kenedy and Avynlea on the trampoline and Ryker and Rylee inside Ryker's tent. We told them it got too cold at night to sleep out of doors but they insisted and so we let them. After staying up until 1:40 in the morning Kenedy and Avynlea came back inside because it got too cold. The tent dwellers managed to make it through the night but when Rylee ventured inside the next morning to use the bathroom I gave her a hug and she felt cold. Brrr. These kids are too crazy!

Could not get a good shot of Ryker and Rylee but you can see their pajamas and the glow stick.

Boise Aquarium

A couple of months ago I bought a group on to the Boise Aquarium. We decided to save it until Spring Break so that Grandma Bonnie could go with us. Evidently everyone else had the same idea because it was really crowded. We still managed to squeeze in some fun and the kids really enjoyed it. Everyones favorite part was being able to pet the stingrays and sand shark. 

Avynlea and Rylee

My Mom flew into town for Rylee's Baptism and was able to come and be here with us while the kids were on Spring Break. The two girls were so excited to have Grandma here that they put on an impromptu play for us, The Princess and the Frog. They are such cute girls and I love their fun ideas.

Erin sent up late birthday gifts for the girls and they were super excited to open them and find that each got a new book! I love that my kids love to read, it seriously makes my heart happy!

Avynlea posed for some cute pictures with "Spot" the dog at Target. She took the first one and was not thrilled with it so had me take another one, still did not like it, and the last one I took when she was not ready and she was great with it and was done. :)

While out shopping with Grandma the girls got a kick out of the hairless mannequin and wanted to each take a turn getting their picture with it. These two girls make life fun and I love them!!!!