A few randoms

I drive Rylee to the bus stop during the winter months and we wait there together for the bus to come. On this day Rylee felt she was still too tired and needed to take a quick nap while we waited for the bus to arrive. She really makes me laugh sometimes, I love her independent little self!

One Friday night I got a face time call from Brit and Kelsey's littles. Their parents went to the Temple and they got bored so they decided to face time us. I screen shot some pictures of our chat and had fun visiting with them for a little bit. I am glad they felt comfortable enough to want to ease some of their boredom by chatting with us. They are little cuties!

That same night we watched Whitney's kids so she and Dustin could go to the Temple. Sadie and Maddie loved treating Kenedy like their Horsey and she was a good sport to play along with them.

 Kefford and I took Rylee, Ave and Ryker along with Ryker friend Ty to go to Emmett to help clean the highway. It was a very cold, rainy and windy day which made it not so much fun to be on the side of the road cleaning up the garbage but nobody complained, we got the job done and got ice cream shakes as a reward. I love the sense of pride and accomplishment I feel when I work hard and look at the job I just did. 

Emily gave me this Ariel shirt for my birthday which I LOVE. I wore it one day and thought to take a picture and send it to her. She wrote back that she was wearing almost the exact outfit that day, ripped jeans, red cardigan and a white shirt, so funny!

BYU-I

For spring break I took Kenedy and Avynlea to Rexburg so that we could take a tour of the school so that Kenedy could see it and hopefully get excited. I also wanted her to talk to an advisor about what classes to take and find an apartment. We went with Alison because she had plans to go down to take our red couches to Trista, it worked out great. 

Alison stayed in Idaho Falls to help Trista and Sara came with Avy, Kenedy and I for the tour and to check out apartments.

I liked the tour but I feel like it was too long and it wasn't specifically catered to her and her major like I thought it would be. it was nice to se the campus and some of the places they took us to I have never seen before, like the horticulture gardens. Those were cool to check out

After we were done with the tour we took a group picture with our tour guides and then stopped to get something to eat. We made an appointment to meet with an advisor so we had to quickly eat in order to make our appointment. Meeting with the advisor was the best idea and she gave us some really helpful information about what classes to take and how to register, I came away felling less overwhelmed with Kenedy going to College. 

Once that was done we went to some apartment complexes, took tours and had Kenedy make a decision about where she wanted to live. She chose The Brooklyn apartments and said she felt really good about them while we wee touring the apartment. I think one of the biggest factors in her choosing them was they were the only complex where we toured an actual lived in apartment. All of the other complexes took us through staged apartments. 

We did make a stop at Heritage, my old apartment complex, to get information but also so I could take pictures in front of my old apartments, 217 was first year and 214 was second. Oh the memories being there brought back.

I was pretty surprised that Heritage was now Mens and Womens housing. Also that all the apartments have 2 fridges and free laundry. Where was all of this when I was there!

I wanted a picture of Kenedy in front of the BYU-I sign and had Sara stop when we spotted this one...

But then she took us to an even better one that she knew about.

I was excited to go check out the Kirkham building which is where I spent a lot of my time because that was where most of my dance classes were. I am sad to report that my dreams of reliving my memories were dashed since they no longer have dance classes there. The studio I remember being in the most was filled with lockers and storage, kind of made me sad. 

After our fun time at BYU-I we went back to Idaho Falls so we could meet up with Alison, Trista and Saras boyfriend where we then went to Kuna grill for some really delicious stir fry cooked in front of us. It was a good time with family with some really good food.

While we were gone Kefford took Ryker and two of his friends, Parker and Sam to McCall. They had fun sledding and building snow forts.

March Madness

One Sunday night we headed over to visit with Mikell and her family for a little while. As we were leaving Kefford decided to pick Rylee up and carry her like a toddler. It was a hilariously funny awkward moment.

For her birthday Rylee really wanted to got to Piggy pigs and paint some pottery. Heather and I took her the week after her Birthday while she was on Track Break and the other kids were in school. She chose the cutest little snail to paint and had fun picking colors and painting. Serena had invited her over for the afternoon but Rylee finished painting her piece sooner then we were supposed to head over to drop her off so we went over to Big Lots to look around and kill time.

While at Bog Lots we spotted all of the St Patricks Day stuff so I had Rylee put on a flower headband and pose for a picture. Such a pretty face this one has!

After we dropped Rylee off at her friends Heather and I went to the Village to look for dresses for Andrews wedding, we did not find any thing but we had lots of fun being together and looking. 

Later on in the week Ryker had a track meet and Heather and I went to cheer him on. It was good to be there for Ryker but it was not the funnest of times. It was cold and rainy and my umbrella broke so I was left to the elements for most of the meet. I was fasting that day for Kenedy and by the time the meet came around I was pretty hangry. While we were waiting for Ryker to do his events I decided to break my fast at the concessions stand with a bag of popcorn and a Butterfinger, not what I was hoping for but it did help me feel better. It took forever for Ryker to complete his events, he did the 400, the 200, the long jump and the high jump. We did not know anything about track and especially did not know how short the shorts are that he had to wear and poor Ryker looked a little sad with his long white skinny legs in his short shorts. After the meet we ordered him some compression leggings to wear for the rest of the season.

I am glad that we took the time to go to his meet because I know Ryker appreciated it. He told me how nice it was to have people there to cheer him on.

After the meet we hurried home to get some real dinner, Kefford got some pizza for us to eat. We came in and fill up our plates and I was just sitting down to eat when I realized that nobody picked Avynlea up from Gymnastics. Oh no, I left my plate of food and hurried to retrieve her. I was over an hour late and Avynlea was not happy. Poor girl, I don't blame her.

We let Avynlea invite her Verona friends over for a late night. They ate caramel corn and played games inside and then went outside to have some more fun. While outside they wanted to play with Bonnie the Bunny and let him out of his cage to wander around. After they were done with outside they came in for a while before we realized they never put Bonnie back in his cage. It was dark outside and Bonnie was black so hunting for him was really hard with just our cell phone flashlights. Poor Rylee was so upset because Bonnie had escaped the backyard and we were all having hard time locating him. We searched the block many times with no luck but Kefford saved the day by looking in the backyard of the neighbor behind us and there was Bonnie just waiting to be found. I was grateful for the Tender Mercy of being able to locate Rylee's Bunny. She was so happy to have him found and immediately forbade Avynlea from ever letting him out again.

Bridger, Avynlea, Katie, Austin, Natalie and Tessa

Our friends the Hansen's invited us over for Family night to watch the Greatest Showman. We have not seen it yet and were excited to finally watch the movie we have been hearing positive things about everywhere. The Hansen's have five kids and most of them are pretty wild. After the movie they enjoyed playing around with my kids and were true to form, totally crazy.

Heather and I

I discovered a hidden talent I never knew I had and had Heather capture my wonky eyes in photo so I could see how they looked.

Another picture at the Hansen's, Kenedy and Henry who was being pretty calm for a minute.

One evening Rylee and I were the only ones home and we decided to go to Reeds Dairy to get some ice cream. We both got delicious flavors and it was fun spending one on one time with my Rylee

State Cheer

On March 16th Kenedy had her last State Cheer Competition. Kefford and I went with Avynlea and Alison and Trista came to watch as well. Trista told me a couple weeks before that she wanted to come but she wanted it to be a surprise, so I couldn't tell Kenedy. We were able to find Kenedy after one of her performances and it was fun to see her surprised that Trista was there. Trista also brought Kenedy some flowers which was super sweet.

This was a long competition and Avynlea and I were troopers to sit through the entire thing. Kefford, Trista and Alison left after her last event. 

Kenedy was pretty disappointed with the results of her final competition, they did not place in anything and got a lot of weird deductions. I was happy to be able to be there to support my girl and will miss watching her cheer. 

March Randoms

I have loved watching my girls share and develop their talent by playing the hymns in Young Womens. Both Kenedy and Avynlea have been able to play and it makes me happy every time they do.

Karli asked me to baby sit her two youngest, Beckam and Fischer, while she went to the Temple. I had fun playing with them and getting to know their fun personalities better.

For "Pi" day, 3.17, I made a chocolate cream pie. It turned out tasting so delicious and I was pretty proud of it!

While on track break Rylee got to go with me to Costco and we had a little lunch date in the food court eating hot dogs. I have really loved having Rylee home with me and will miss these days when she goes off to Middle School in the Fall.

I was waiting at the Library to pick Avynlea up for Piano lessons after school and it made my book loving heart so happy to see her walking to me while reading a book. Love!

Esther Simplot Park...again :)

Heather came to visit for her Spring Break and on the first Sunday that she was here we took her with us to Esther Simplot park. We wanted to go again because it was so much fun the last time we went and also because Rylee was not with us before. On our drive to the park I snapped ap picture of Ryker and Rylee being a little bit stinky to poor smashed Avynlea.

Rylee and Avynlea had fun going down the slide and the little girl in the picture was at the park with her family and took an interest in my kids and their sliding. She would direct them on what to do and then had them helping her with her sliding. It was kind of cute.

Kenedy and Avynlea 

I got a couple pictures of Kefford but never managed to get one of Heather or I. I had the video camera and was taking video of all of us so at least I got us on that.

And Ryker figured out how to sit on the pole but quickly realized how uncomfortable it was. Hahaha

It was so nice to spend some times outdoors in the sunshine and enjoy warmer weather and family!

Basketballs and Beams

I could not make it to Rylee's last game of the season because Avynlea had a gymnastics meet at the same time and I could not be in two places at once. Kefford and Kenedy went to watch Rylee while I went to the meet. Kenedy was super great to take some pictures for me. I always love watching my kids doing what they love and Rylee really loves basketball. She is not the greatest at the sport but she tries hard and I can see improvement each time she plays. She made one basket this season which was pretty awesome to watch and I got it on video which is always exciting. Rylee has so much fun playing ball and is a lot of fun to watch, she makes great faces.

Avynlea had her gymnastics meet which was not so much fun and only because it takes forever, like 3+ hours and most of it is spent sitting and waiting for things to happen. We were able to stay for Avynlea to do beam, bar and vault but we had to leave before she could do her floor routine because we had tickets to a play that we had to get to. I loved watching Avynlea perform her routines she is getting really good at gymnastics and loves doing it. 

Because we had to leave before Avynlea could finish the meet her coach let her finish in class the next Thursday. I missed seeing her floor routine but I did get to see her receive her blue ribbons and gold medal. Avynlea got first in all four of her events and that was really exciting. She is a winner!

Happy Birthday Dear Rylee!

Rylee woke up early on her birthday excited and really wanting to open some presents. I let her open the new clothes I got her and she put them on and wore them all day!

After she got ready for the day I let her open the gift her best friend Serena dropped off for her. A cute fox bowl filled with treats, hair bows, and bean boozed refill beans. She has such a sweet friend!

For breakfast Rylee got a chocolate muffin

Poor Rylee did not have the greatest of birthdays. I tried my hardest to help celebrate her but we had a lot of other things going on that day that got in the way. Kenedy had her State cheer tournament That Kefford, Ave and I went to and that took up most of the day. We also got our new couches that day and Kefford and I were busy getting those set up.

After the cheer competition we had Rylee open the rest of her presents. She got money and cards from her Grandma's Bonnie and Alison. She got new shoes, a new DS game and her favorite candy. 

Also a delicious dinner of spaghetti, her favorite!

Alison sent this photo of her, Maddie, Sadie, Kinsley and Caleb dressed in their St Patrick's Day green. We got Alison the shirt for her March 15th birthday and she was happy to report that she loves it!

Rylee requested an Oreo cake and I was happy to deliver. :)

Rylee's Favorites...

1. Dinner: Spaghetti and Meatballs
2. Dessert: Ice-cream
3. Candy: Skittles and Twix
4. Color: Navy Blue
5. Friend: Serena Ioset
6. Scripture Story: Moses parting the Red Sea
7. Primary Song: I will be what I believe
8. Radio Song: We are Young by Fun
9. Book: Maze Runner by James Dashner
10. Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2
11. TV Show: The Flash
12. Thing to do: Swim
13. Place to go: Both Grandma's Houses
14. School Subject: Reading

5 Things I Love about Rylee...

1. Rylee makes the funniest faces when she is playing basketball, doing tricks on the trampoline, running around...really anytime she is active and having fun and I love seeing her cute face pulling cute faces. 
2. Rylee has been having such a great 5th grade year. She loves her teachers and I love that she loves doing good in school. She usually has her homework done by the time she gets home from school because she does it on the bus which is awesome and has never had a missing assignment. I love when she tells me about her day and the funny things that happened. So far school has been a really positive experience for our Rylee.
3. I love how good Rylee is getting at playing the piano. She is good to practice most days in the morning before school and will randomly go in and play pieces she loves and knows on the piano throughout the day. 
4. Rylee loves going to church and I love that she loves primary and learning Gospel Stories. She is excited her Dad is serving in the primary so she can see him during Sharing Time. Rylee struggles sometimes with going to Activity Days, I am not sure why although I suspect it is her introvertism kicking in, but she always has fun once she gets there and is good to be involved and helpful.
5. I love that Rylee loves to read and she is constantly looking for new books to read and explore. When she finds a good one she will tell me about it and it warms my book loving heart that we share this interest.