French Toast and Canning

Saturday morning was our Stake Annual French Toast breakfast. Kefford was sick and didn't want to come and Kenedy had to be at the High School helping decorate for the dance so it was me, Ryker, Rylee, Avy and her friend Rose who went for breakfast. We got french toast with strawberries and cream, sausage patties, Orange Juice and Hot Cocoa. It was delicious and we all enjoyed it.

We got home in time to turn on the first session of conference. I received a big box of apples from Ashli Terrell, a friend in our ward, and decided to can applesauce and apple pie filling. I have never done either and this was my first time canning solo so I was really nervous about the canning being a success. I borrowed an apple peeler corer slicer from a neighbor and Avynlea and Rose were really good to use it to get all of our apples ready. I did the applesauce first and that went really well but then I attempted the apple pie filling and that was not so successful. I couldn't get the filling to thicken despite the amount of surejel and I am pretty sure I did not fill the jars right. While they were processing on the stove I noticed the lid was being lifted at an odd angle and when I went to investigate I saw one of the jars had its bottom broken off and it was floating on the surface lifting the lid while the filling was out and in the water. Canning fail. 

We were listening to conference while we were canning and Rylee was working on some conference printed outs she got from the computer.

Homecoming Week

This week was Meridian High's Homecoming week. Every day is a different theme and the kids are encouraged to dress accordingly. Kenedy has to dress up for the themes because that is one of her roles as a cheerleader. Ryker was not into the idea at all and did not dress up. I got a picture of Kenedy for each day. 

First day was pajama day..

Second day was twin day and the third day was Disney. Kenedy twinned with her Audrey and had planned to wear her Prom dress to be Sleeping Beauty with her friend Lauryn for Disney day but Lauryn let her sister Megan talk her out of it so Kenedy wore her crown and a blue shirt to represent Aurora instead of being more literal. Her friend Shae was wearing a crown also so they took a picture together.

The fourth day was throwback day and Kenedy wore her dad's Letterman Jacket.

And Friday was Spirit day, Kenedy was game day ready!

Friday morning was the Homecoming Day Assembly and I invited whoever wanted to come from Kefford's family. Mikell, Michelle and Brit were the only ones able to come and they brought their kids that were not in school. Avynlea and Rylee really wanted to come to Kenedy's last Homecoming Assembly so I let them stay home from school to go with me and then took them to school right after it was done.

Avy, Xander, Brooke, Rylee and Jenna                                   Elizabeth and Jason

Ryker was there, but he was up in the stands with the other Freshman. Xander was a moody little thing during the assembly, I figured he was just tired but then after the assembly Ryker came and found us and Xander was suddenly all smiles. He just needed his Cousin Ryker to hold him.

Xander, Ryker, Kenedy, Brit, Hazel, Michelle, Caleb, Mikell, Jason

Rylee, Kelly, Jenna, Brooke, Avynlea and James

We brought Kenedy's fat head to wave around at the assembly and she really liked that. I made sure to sit in the very back of the Senior section so we didn't annoy anyone with it. 

That night was the Homecoming game against Boise High School. Avynlea and her friend Rose were the only ones to come with me but they spent the entire game wandering around. My friend Amber was there for one quarter but her baby Preston decided he did not like football games so she had to take him home. I don't mind sitting alone, it is fun to have a friend to sit with but I am good with sitting by myself as well. 

In one of the rare moments that Avynlea came to say hi I made her walk with me down to get a picture of Kenedy cheering. 

The cheerleaders stand in front of the student section and there were so many students there that it was a packed stadium. I really love seeing the school spirit and unity shown at these games. our school really as one of the best student sections I have seen. It is so fun! The only downside was I only had glimpses of Kenedy because she was on the opposite end of where I was sitting. 

We went down to get a picture and while we were waiting for Kenedy to turn around I snapped a picture of Avynlea and me.

This was another fun game to be at because we won! The final score was 27-7 and the crowd was wild! At the end of the game they open up the gates and let the kids come down to link arms with the football players and cheerleaders to sing the Alma Mater. Seriously so much school spirit!

After the singing they all gather together for the burning of the M, another really fun Homecoming tradition.

Avynlea and Rose

Powder Puff Football

Wednesday night was the Powder Puff Football Game, Seniors vs Juniors. Kenedy signed up to play this year and we all came to watch, support and cheer her on. I brought her fathead and I had a lot of fun waving that around, hopefully it didn't annoy too many people. 

I loved the game because they kept the clock running the entire time except during time outs. It made the game go so much faster then the boys football games where the clock stops constantly. 

It was fun to watch Kenedy play and it was even more fun that the Seniors won! 

32-6

She had a blast and a good time was had by all!

After the game we all gathered to take pictures.

My friend Jessica Mortensen was at the game supporting some of her Young Women and it was fun to have a buddy to sit by!

Avy was quite proud of her photo bomb :)

Shelby Lorcher and Kenedy

and Kefford was quite proud of his photo bomb :)

General Womens Conference

After Kenedy left for her Homecoming Date Rylee, Avynlea and I got into our pj's and snuggled up on my bed to watch Womens Conference together. The girls were a little squirmy and I had to threaten them with no after conference ice-cream if they didn't settle down and watch Conference with me. Since I didn't let them have the popcorn at the rest hymn because of their antics they took me seriously and calmed down for the rest of the time. What I heard I loved and I really like this conference was all about Women empowerment. Not in the "we are better then everyone else" kind of empowerment, but the kind that helps us to know our worth and that tells us that we are doing better then we think we are. It was amazing and I was really wanting to watch it again and soon.

After the talks were finished we ate some ice-cream that Kefford and Ryker got us while we were watching the Conference. It was delicious and so very appreciated!

Since Kenedy didn't get to watch it with us I decided that we would watch it together Sunday night. As we were going to church I thought about the girls in my Sunday School class who also missed the Broadcast because of the dance and I told Kenedy that I was going to invite them to come watch it with us. I let her know the time and that we would have treats and told her to invite the girls in her class. The three girls in my class were super excited about our plans and told me they would definitely be there. I also invited my friend Kirsten Chidester who taught Kenedy's class. She came but couldn't stay very long because her husband had to go Home Teaching and she needed to be at home with her kids. I am glad she came for a little bit though.

From my class I had Emily Hunter, Sophie Buxton and Aubrey Ashton. Kenedy had her friend Mikayla Montgomery there. It was fun to hang with these girls in a more casual environment and to watch the Womens broadcast together. In between talks enduring musical numbers we would chat about what we liked and quotes we wanted to remember. 

After it was over we chatted for a bit longer until everyone had to go home. It was such a nice night and I am grateful for the prompting from my Heavenly Father to invite these amazing girls over.

Aubrey, Sophie, Emily, Mikayla and Kenedy

Whitney posted some pictures of her girls from their Sunday afternoon on Instagram and Kenedy loved them so much she screen shot them. They are such little cuties!

Avynlea had to decorate some paperdolls for a history project and was busy putting together outfits for them. Rylee thought it looked like a ton of fun and made her own dolls. The end products were so cute I had to take a picture of them with their creations.

                                                  King Henry, Johannes Gutenburg, Queen Elizabeth and Martin Luther

Rocky Mountain Homecoming Dance

Rylee was looking extra cute this morning so I had to take her picture. I seriously love that face!

At about 5:00 I started helping Kenedy get ready for the Dance. Kefford took a nap on the couch...

 and Ryker played on his phone. Rylee thought they looked really funny so she took some pictures of them.

We bought Kenedy's dress off Amazon and I was really worried about the fit. The reviews were really good and from the reviews and the pictures customers posted I felt good that it was modest enough but I was still nervous and prayed really hard that it would be good. We also were worried that it would even come on time. When we ordered it it said not to expect it until November, that was not good news. I emailed the company and let them know our time line and asked if we could get it any sooner. They quickly replied and said they would send a rush in to their seamstress and would have it to us by the day we needed. I was happy and relieved to get it the Monday before and very Happy to see how amazing it fit Kenedy. Modest and beautiful! We did good!

I did her hair while she did her makeup, she wore the shoes she had from Prom and she looked like a beautiful Angel. I took some pictures of her before her date arrived.

 She and Avynlea messed around with my pumpkins for some pictures...

 and then not to be left out Rylee and I took a picture wth each other.

Drew finally arrived but right before he got there we realized that Albertsons forgot to put a pin in the boutonniere we ordered. We thought maybe we could use a sewing needle but that was not working at all. Drews Mom and sister came in to take pictures after he got there and when she heard our predicament she quickly went home to get a flower pin she knew she had. We were saved!

Drew was too quick getting the corsage on her for me to get a picture but that is ok, good enough.

These two make such a cute couple and it was fun to watch them exchange flowers and be all awkward with each other. I am glad that Angela came in to take pictures and she brought Drew's sister, Emma, in as well to watch the happy couple. 

 Kenedy wanted a picture with her Dad before she left

 We then had the sisters get in with the couple for a picture. I love it when someone else is just as picture happy as I am!

Avynlea, Kenedy, Rylee, Drew and Emma

Drew and Kenedy were riding to the dance with Gavin and his date Maddy. While we were waiting for Angela to get back with the pin we had them come in to wait with us. Since they were already inside it was pretty easy to get them to pose for pictures also.

Such good looking kids!

Volleyballs and Goldfish

Saturday night Kefford, Kenedy, Rylee and I were hanging out at home. Ryker was at a friends house and Avynlea was babysitting. Kenedy and Rylee took a selfie and then we heard a knock on the door. I assumed it was Avynlea and I was a little irritated that she didn't just open the door since I left it unlocked for her. I took my time going downstairs and when I finally opened the door I found it wasn't Avy at all, it was a message for Kenedy. I went upstairs and told Kefford to go and look and then I casually went into where Kenedy was and told her the door was for her. 

When she got downstairs she found an invite to the Meridian Homecoming dance waiting on the doorstep. Kenedy was really surprised because she honestly didn't think she was going to be asked. She had even already decided that she was going to go with her friend Megan Warner. She was excited about it and as we were looking at the ball and poster we saw McKoy's truck drive away from  where he and Wilson were waiting and watching.

This was another cute invite and Rylee especially was excited about the volleyball.

I made cinnamon rolls that night for Kefford to take to Bishopric meeting and I had a little bit left over. I took the leftover dough and put it in my heart shaped pan to bake, I thought the heart shaped cinnamon roll was especially cute. 

And the Bishopric loved my rolls and really appreciated being fed that morning!

I really liked how I did my hair that morning so I took a picture of it. 

Wilson loves Goldfish crackers so later that week Kenedy made up a cute little rhyme to answer him with and dropped the poster off on his doorstep with some baby goldfish crackers and Swedish fish.

 Friday night I went to Nampa High School to watch Kenedy cheer and also to watch our football team play Nampa. It was a really fun game and really exciting because we won! It was Nampa's Homecoming game so I felt a little bad that they lost but mostly I was happy that Meridian played so well! Kenedy came over to chat for a minute at halftime so I made sure to get a picture with her. 

She is so pretty and I love watching her cheer!

Carnival Fun

I got back from California late Saturday night, as I was laying in bed ready to go to sleep Kefford told me I had an appointment with a member of the Bishopric the next day. When I went to the appointment he told me that they were going to give me a new calling as a Beehive Advisor. I was really excited about that because I love serving in the Young Womens and being a Beehive advisor means I get to be with Avynlea which is fun! The only bummer is that I love my Sunday School calling and am really sad to not be with those kids anymore. I teach the 15 year olds and I feel like we have really bonded, they are such good kids and I have had such a good time getting to know them. Brother Blazek told me that they do not have anyone to replace me yet so for now I am going to be doing double duty. It may sound like a lot and too overwhelming for some people but I was really happy with the news. I am more then ok doing both jobs and am even willing to stay with the Sunday School kids until the end of the year. I don't think that will happen but...fingers crossed. 

One of my first duties as Beehive advisor was to go with the girls to the Stake Beehive activity the next Saturday morning. It was a really great activity with scripture kickball and making FHE kits as part of the activities. Another activity they did was have each group of girls pick a song from a list they had and choreograph a dance and perform it for the other girls while also lip syncing. They had a box of costumes to use for dressing up and it was so fun to see all of the girls perform. Avynlea wore a red wig during her dance and I thought she looked adorable. With the long red hair and the hat I thought she looked like Madeline from the book Madeline. She is so cute! I also think in these pictures she looks like my niece Breana. 

After the activity we went as a family, minus Kenedy but plus Avy's friend Shaeden, to the Adalant sponsored carnival. We met up with Brit and Kelsey and their kids while we were there and we had a good time eating and watching the kids play games. 

Kefford took a quick turn playing corn hole and I had Ryker take a couple of pictures for me so that I could send them to Heather. She was with Kefford and I when Kefford did a rant about corn holing this summer and I knew she would enjoy the pictures.

The girls had their pictures drawn by a caricature artist and I thought they turned out really cute!

Brielle, Rylee and Qiana

Ryker had his drawn by a different artist and his cracks me up. We told Ryker to go and pose for him a certain way, like Uncle Rico from Napolean Dynamite and Ryker did it and the drawing he got is hilarious!

Avynlea and Shaeden also got their pictures drawn by the same guy who did the other girls and they look super cute as well. Since they were eating popcorn he added that into the picture.