Decorating the Tree

I had a free Birthday burger from Red Robin that I needed to redeem before the end of the month or it would expire. I never found an opportunity until the last day of the month. I decided to order it in and then I went and picked it up after dance class. She brought out my burger and fries in a to go box and then she also brought out a to go cup filled with extra fries for the ride home. I thought that was so fun and loved having a delicious hot snack for the ride home.

Kefford, Ryker, Rylee and Avynlea playing with some of the filters in my iPhone camera.

I had Ryker set our Christmas tree up before we left for Utah so that we could jump in and get it decorated when we got back. I had fun decorating my house for Christmas and loved watching the kids put up their ornaments. Kenedy was not at home while they were decorating so she put her ornaments up later. I was to around when she did it otherwise I would have pictures of her doing that. 

Avy took a break from her decorating to show off some dance moves.

I got some pictures of Ryker taking pictures of Avynlea.

Thanksgiving with the Robertsons

We got to go to Utah this year to spend Thanksgiving with the Robertsons. Kefford had to work Wednesday morning so while we waited for him to get home I took Kenedy to the bank so that she could switch her savings account over to a checking. She is growing up!

On our way to Utah Kenedy took a picture of Avynlea and Rylee pretending to sleep cuddled with each other. Silly, cute girls.

While Emily and I were chatting and catching up hanging out in Isabelle's room, Avy came in and told us that Rylee was reading a book to Kefford. She took my phone and took a picture of the two of them which is pretty cute.

The next morning was Thanksgiving and I got up at my usual time, too early, and made a coconut cream pie, a chocolate coconut cream pie, a chocolate pie, a cheese ball and watergate salad. I made the frozen fruit salad cups the night before. 

Our delicious spread of appetizers

Avynlea filled an empty Martinellis bottle with water and thought it was funny to drink out of it.

The traditional picture of Kefford and and Kenedy's traditional carving of the turkey.

Emily made the cutest place settings with scrabble tiles and had the table set so festive and cute.

After we ate our delicious meal and rested a bit us girls left to go Black Friday shopping! One of my favorite traditions!

We went to Old Navy and then Target and had fun finding fun deals. Avynlea and Isabelle were especially excited to be included in this tradition. Ryle had no interest in the shopping trip so she stayed at home with the boys. 

Elizabeth, Emily, Kenedy, Breana, Avynlea and Isabelle

The next day we went to a mall that had a miniature Harry Potter village set up in the middle. It was cute but mostly just a way for the Harry Potter universe to sell more overpriced merchandise. We had fun going in the wand shop and watched the guy perform a little magic and the kids liked the set up for Quidditch. It was nice but not something I would ever come back to.

That evening some of the gang went to go watch the new Justice League movie. Matt and Isabelle were not feeling well and stayed home, Rylee and Avynlea were too young and Emily and I had no desire to go. Emily and I played games at home with Rylee and Avynlea and that was a lot of fun.

Andrew, Madi, Kenedy, Breana, Ryker and Ben

On the way home Rylee enjoyed eating the orange she was given from Emily.

Karli's Kids

Karli and Zac were able to take Grayson and go to the 3:00 temple Dedication inside the Temple. They had asked us if we would watch their other three boys and we happily said yes!

My kids loved having their cousins here to play with and they had a lot of fun on the trampoline and playing inside the house. Beckham, Fischer and Maguire were so good and we enjoyed having them over.

Rylee really wanted to change Maguire's diaper and since it was only wet I let her. She did a good job but I did have to step in and fix the diaper when she put it on backwards.

Beckham was Ryker's little buddy and he loved hanging out with his older cousin whom he adores. It was so cute to watch them. I noticed that they were wearing matching shirts and when I pointed it out Beckham said "cool!". 

Meridian Temple Dedication

While we were at the YCC Kenedy was approached by our Stake Young Womens president to see if she would want to help put on booties for the 9:00am Temple Dedication. She was told that after they were done that she would be able to go inside the Temple and watch the dedication. I was a little bummed because I really wanted our entire family together to watch the dedication but Kenedy was so excited that I let go of my disappointment and was just excited for her. She had a really enjoyable time and the rest of us were able to watch it together at the church. Angela Kashyap had handkerchiefs made for all of the girls and leaders in our Young Womens with their names embroidered on them and the YW board all helped sew lace around the edges. I donated some extra handkerchiefs I had lying around and since they had an excess amount Angela gave me back some handkerchiefs for Rylee, Ryker and Kefford with their names/initials on them. It was really sweet of her to do them for the rest of our family so we all have a really cool momento. 

Tuesday morning our Meridian Temple was open for the first time. Kefford and I decided to take Kenedy, Ryker and Avynlea that morning to do baptisms. We got to the Temple at 4:40am and the line from the baptistry was up the stairs but not outside the Temple. A friend took her kids around 5ish and posted this picture online of kids waiting out the doors. It took our kids about 2 and a half hours to get done with their Baptisms and confirmations. Kefford and I were able to work down there helping out during that time and it was so amazing being with these youth so excited to be in our new temple. They had so many kids show up that they ran out of jumpsuits and as we were leaving the kids in line had at least another hour wait for the jumpsuits to get washed. I was impressed with all of the kids willingness to wait, not once did I see anyone complain or decide the wait was not worth it. I was so happy that we were able to go and be witness to this amazing turnout. The Spirit was so strong and it was pretty spectacular to carry the Spirit with us from the YCC through the Dedication and onto doing Baptisms. I have such a testimony of Temples and the work we do inside Temples. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I have to go every week and to be able to take my kids every week. Going to the Temple weekly has been life changing for me and I can never say enough about the good it does. 

Youth Cultural Celebration

The morning of the YCC we met the youth at the church around 5:00 so that we could get in our carpools and have them to the Taco Bell Arena in time for their call time. I was assigned to take Kenedy, Avynlea, Kara Hucks and Kaitlyn Lindley in my car. I was not sure at all as to where I needed to take the girls and so I made sure to follow another car out of the parking lot so I could follow them to the arena. I ended up being Brother Klemme and following him was a wild ride of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. With the way he was driving I thought he knew he had a tail and he was doing anything he could to shake it. It was crazy and a little scary at times but he led me where I needed to go and I somehow made it safely. 

After I dropped the girls off I found my way to the Albertsons Headquarters parking lot where I met up with Amy Lamm and we boarded the bus to take us back to the arena. We could not park at the arena because there would be a lack of parking due to the football game going on later that evening. 

We were the first ones in our group to make it back to where we needed to sit and although we were in the balcony we got the front row so we had a really great view of all the dancers performing. Once there we settled in for a long morning of waiting and watching. 

The kids had a lot of going up the stairs and down the stairs because of all the blocking and practices for their number and the closing number. But they also had some much needed down time where they could sit and relax and hang out with their friends. 

Hallie Brough, Kara Hucks, Madison Hughes, Madyson Ray and Kenedy

Bridger Hamm, Natalie Kashyap, Avynlea and Kaitlyn Lindley

Before the performance they showed a 30 minute movie with pictures and video from all of the different stakes practices. We saw tons of video with pictures of kids we did not know and so it was pretty thrilling when this picture of Avynlea and Natalie popped up on the big screen!

These two are so cute and Avynlea was so glad that she and Natalie were partnered up in the beginning because they have developed a pretty great friendship through all of this. 

Kefford and Rylee were able to get tickets to the show and since I was there I went ahead and put a coat on two seats to reserve them seats as close to the front and as close to where the General Authorities were sitting as I could. They had a really good view and they both really enjoyed being able to see the dances. 

Brit and Kelsey were also there with their three oldest and they were sitting on the left side of the GA stage while Kefford and Rylee were on the right. 

Brit had a good view of Avynlea and Ryker and she was thoughtful enough to take some pictures for me. I included two of the pictures she took of Ryker but not any of Avynlea because I was able to find some of her that the professional photographers took. Kenedy was more in the back during our Stakes Dance and Brit didn't see her to get pictures but I found a couple of her from the professionals as well. 

Our Stake did a dance to the song "Digging in the Dirt" and it represented the farmers who developed this area before irrigation. It was a fun dance and my kids looked so cute and had a lot of fun performing it.

Ryker is in the blue plaid shirt and darker khaki pants, 4th kid running out from the right

Ryker with his tongue in his cheek, it is so cute that he still does that when he is concentrating. Avy and Natalie are just to the right of Ryker in this picture.

Avy, Natalie and Bridger

She is seriously so cute in her pioneer clothes!

The girls wore their own pioneer clothes and were all given white aprons to wear which they were allowed to keep at the end.

Angela Kashyap took this picture of our girls running out of the Arena at the end of their dance and she commented to me how cute it was that they had their arms around each other. They are the cuties in the bottom of the picture.

For the closing number only youth 14 and up performed down on the floor, there was not enough room for all of the kids so the Beehives and Deacons stayed up top and sang and did the movements standing in front of their seats. It was actually a really cool affect having the singing going on all around the arena. 

Brit took this picture of Kenedy because she finally had a good view of her

And this one was one I found that the professionals had taken. What a beauty.

The highlight of the day for Kenedy was getting to meet and shake Elder Uchtdorfs hand. He and his wife were the visiting Authorities and it was pretty awesome hearing the cheers for them and the other Authorities who came with them. I loved hearing the kids clap and cheer for this man of God and loved that they were able to show their love in such a fun way that normally does not happen. 

Kenedy was in the front for the closing number and those kids got to stay where they were while the General Authorities walked out. Of course as they walked along they shook hands and talked to the kids. Kenedy got a hug from Sister Uchtdorf who looked her in the eyes and told her thank you and she got a handshake from Elder Uchtdorf. Kenedy has been struggling a bit lately with being a Senior and life in general and I had said a prayer that morning that my kids, and especially Kenedy, would feel the spirit and have a good experience that weekend. I was watching Kenedy get her handshake and hug and I had tears in my eyes seeing my prayers answered. She left this event on fire and filled with the Spirit, it was pretty awesome. 

Ryker also got a handshake from Elder Uchtdorf but I didn't see or get a picture. He and Avynlea had a great time also and I was happy they were able to be a part of this and feel the Spirit and to have a great time!

Brit and her kids spotted Avy and I up in the balcony and took some pictures of us.

 From the start of the YCC practices I did not have the best of feelings for the entire thing. I wondered if it was worth the time and expense and felt that maybe this was something we could do without. But once we arrived and I sat down and started watching the dress rehearsal and looking at the thousands of youth and seeing their excitement I felt the spirit and knew this was 100% worth it. I felt so privileged and happy to have been able to be a part of all of this and to be in the arena all day was not boring or time draining it was fun and exciting and I loved sharing this experience with my kids and the youth in our ward. 

Birthday Lunch

Lana, Cristal and I all have birthdays within a week of each other. We started a tradition a couple of years ago to go out to lunch together and celebrate our birthdays Aubrey was on a school break and was able to come along which was so much fun since it has been so long since I have seen my favorite Nursery buddy.

We had Aubrey tty to take some pictures of us and she was cracking us up. I love this picture she captured of the three of us laughing and having fun.

I love these ladies and am so grateful for good friendships!

Goodbye Grandma Bonnie :(

I was learning about the new photo features on Instagram and trying a filter out on Rylee and I. It makes me laugh that my kids know so much more about electronics then I do. I like that they know though so they can explain things to me, it is very helpful. 

I love this picture of me and my youngest cuddling on the couch. As she has gotten older the cuddles have definitely been getting fewer and further in between so I will take any opportunity she gives me!

On Monday it was time to say goodbye and drop my Mom off at the airport. It was really nice having her here for the two weeks and I will miss having her around. After I drove away from the airport I looked at the empty seat next to me and got really sad, it was nice having her fill that seat every time I went somewhere. 

I wanted to get pictures of her with all of the kids but forgot and so it was just Rylee and I who got pictures.

I piked Ryker up from school this day to go get his drivers training permit. He was super tired and fell asleep on the way home. I took some pictures and even did a boomerang video of him sleeping while I quickly pressed the brake pedal. It was funny watching his sleepy head go back and forth.