Quarantine Week 42(California Fun, New Years Eve)

On Monday December 28th I flew to California to spend the week with my Mom and some of my sisters. Because of covid we were not able to do much of anything and so most of the week we spent at my Mom's house visiting with each other. Ashleigh came over with Atticus every day and I am glad that I was able to see them. On Monday while they were over visiting Atticus wanted to look at the pictures on my phone and as he was looking at them he found the ones I screenshot of Joshua and his kids looking like trees. Atticus loved those and so I pulled up google duo and called Ashleigh who was across the room so that Atticus could play with the filters. He really liked being a turkey and a tree and seeing his mom as a turkey and tree. It was great entertainment for him. 

On Tuesday we went to the Distribution center so that I could get some new garments. Online it said the hours the center were open so we went during that time. When we got there the doors were locked and it said the store wouldn't be open for another couple of hours, it also said to knock and if someone were there they could help out. I knocked and a women came out and let us in so I could get some garments. It was really nice of her to do that and I am glad I saw the sign because no one else in our group did. After we did our shopping we got lunch at Cafe Rio and ate it outside. It was nice to spend some time outside in the sunshine with some of my favorite people.

Wednesday night Ashleigh, Heather and I went with Andrew Brown to his gym to do an Andrew Brown workout. It was really hard and I didn't do as well as I would have liked because he was having us use some really heavy weights and it was hurting my lower back. Despite that we had a load of fun working out together and loads of laughs. Working out with my family is always a good time and I am so glad we were able to do it in person this week.

New Years Eve was really low-key obviously because of the pandemic but also because we are low-key kind of people. Andrew came down from Utah to do some work on Mom's bathroom so he was there. Erin came for the night and Mary Beth came also. Ashleigh was there with Atticus and Andrew Brown but the two boys went home after a bit to go to bed leaving Ashleigh to ring in the New Year with the rest of us. We got dinner from Ancho's a Mexican restaurant that is a favorite among my California family and hung out and talked the night away. I told Mary Beth I would make her a t-shirt quilt using Mal's, her husbands, tshirts. He passed away a couple of months ago and I knew she wanted one but didn't know how to make one so I was very happy to volunteer. She brought the shirts over and Ashleigh and I cut them out so I could take them home and make the quilt at home. I think I got to bed at about 11, I wasn't feeling really great and was really tired and just wanted to get to bed, I am not one who enjoys staying up till midnight to ring in the New Year and so as usual I got bed and went to sleep before midnight.

Quarantine Week 41(Christmas Week)

 The Sunday before Christmas I always love because it is centered around the story of Christ's birth and they usually have a lot of beautiful musical numbers. This year we watched church at home and while it was good it wasn't what it has been in years past. There were a couple of talks and three musical numbers. We watched the service on Live Stream through Youtube and the musical numbers did not translate as well through Youtube. Ryker was at church because he was helping with the Sacrament and he said they sounded much better in person although they were a bit too loud because of the microphone right next to the piano. After Ryker got home we were able to gather for our annual Christmas Sunday family picture.

Once we did the family one I took some pictures of the girls 

I wanted to be included in one with my girls so I called for Kefford to come and take a picture, mean while Avynlea took the phone and tried to do a selfie highlighting her which I did not want to be a part of so I ducked out. By the time Kefford came out two of the girls had gone upstairs to change so my picture I wanted with my three girls never happened. Oh well, I am kind of used to it.

That night the three girls hd a little dance party in the Living Room and it was fun watching them dance around with each other.

They then migrated over to Kefford so he could show them some funny things on his phone.

Avynlea sent me a picture she took of her, Paige and Natalie before a game they cheered at. I appreciate any pictures I can get of my cheerleader since the ones I am able to take myself are few and far between.

Kenedy stayed the night at Gabi house and the next morning Kefford sent a text to me and her letting us know she had a dental appointment at 12:30 that day. After a couple of hours not hearing a response Kefford asked me if I had Gabi or her Moms number. I had a number for Gabi but I wasn't sure if it was the right one but I decided to go ahead and try it. I sent a text saying "Hey Gabi, will you tell Kenedy to check her phone" She responded with a "who is this" so I sent a selfie. I then got a reply that said "This is Joleen how old are you". Soooo I guess I don't have Gabi's current number  and I deleted the convo, blocked the number and regretted sending a picture of myself. 

Wednesday night Avynlea, Kefford and I went to the Boise mall to wrap Christmas Presents for a cheer fundraiser. Hailey and Carrie, Natalie and Diana and Paige and Amy were also there along with Landon who stayed to help out since our shift had his friends working. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoy wrapping presents. It is donation only and I am usually really surprised with how generous people are and what they consider fair payment for gift wrapping. We had a great night and I am glad that we were able to help out.

Avynlea, Hailey, Natalie, Santa, Landon and Paige

I am flying to California on Monday so I told my family I would bring them Crumbl if they wanted to put in an order. I got cookies for Mom, Heather, Stephanie, Andrew Brown and Mary Beth whose box is not pictured with the others. I really hope I don't have any issues bringing these cookies to their owners. I plan on putting them in a bigger box and having it as carry on.

Christmas Eve morning we got up a little earlier then we wanted and went to Shop for our annual Christmas Eve breakfast. We had to go earlier because Ryker was working that morning and his shift started at 9:30 am. We were the only ones in our section of the restaurant and it was nice to be just us. We had a great breakfast and really enjoyed the time we had to be together.

For the rest of the day we had "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy playing in the upstairs movie room and most of us filtered in and out and watched off and on throughout the day. Avynlea and I delivered candles to our Ministering Sisters old and new and I peeped for our Christmas Eve dinner.

We had Turkey, mashed potatoes, red jello cups, rolls and festive rainbow jello. Avy made the rainbow jello and Rylee did the jello cups. We replaced the cold water with cold sparking water hoping it would give a more fizzy taste but you couldn't tell the difference. I know that is a thing so I am not sure what we did wrong. I will have to figure it out and try again another time. Dinner was great and the company was great!

After dinner the kids opened their pajamas and new ornaments. I used my new love of cross stitching and made Ryker, Avynlea and Rylee a Baby Yoda or Grogu, as we have recently learned his name is, ornament and since Kenedy never got into the "Mandalorian" series I made her one with a quote form her favorite character on her favorite series "Grays Anatomy". Then they also got an ornament commemorating the year 2020 because I guess we never want to forget what this year has been like.  

We took a couple of family selfies where Kefford had a hard time pulling it together for a picture and then we played games and watched movies before all going to bed. It was a really great night and I had a lot of fun hanging out with my family.

Christmas morning everyone woke up or were woken up or got out of bed if they were already awake at about 7 where we gathered in my room to open stockings. I took a picture of our Christmas tree with all of the presents underneath before we started opening and Rylee decided she had to be in one of them.

I didn't take any pictures while opening anything, I planned on it but never got around to doing it. I had more fun being in the moment watching everyone open and being excited with what they got. Rylee made the comment that she doesn't want to grow up and be a parent because it means less presents but I told her being a parent and watching your kids open the gifts you picked for them is the funnest part. I love it!

Dillon had Kefford for Secret Person and he got him Batman "Goodr" sunglasses.

Rylee got Kefford a frame for his Batman poster. 

Avy got him a brand new drill! woop woop!!

Ryker got him a couple of beef sticks

and Kenedy got a Sasquatch themed beef jerky crate

He also got a pair of "Kobe Bryant" "Bruce Lee" Nikes

Heather had me and she got me Joggers 

Rylee got me purple hair wax

Avy got me a four pack of mascara

Kenedy gave me exercise cards and a scarf hanger

and Ryker got me a pack of hair scarfs. 

I also got a cute pair of boots and a 4k Little Mermaid DVD

Emily had Kenedy and she sent her an electric blanket which she has loved and used every day since she got it. 

Ryker gave Kenedy a new yoga because she has been going to yoga a lot up at school. Avynlea gave Kenedy a sequined Harry Styles pillow because they both think he is a hottie mctottie. Rylee gave Kenedy a projector for her to use up at school for movie nights. The rest of her gifts were a couple dresses, a cute sweater, some sweet new Nike shoes that she has been wanting, and some leggings that ended up not working out but now she gets to pick out something fun on Amazon so she is still happy.

Leona had Ryker and she got him a Basketball

Kenedy gave him protective sleeves for his switch controllers. Avynlea got him a new game, so did Rylee (Rylee also gave him noodles).  The rest of his gifts were a lego car, a new controller with a game and two different cases for his console. 

Camryn had Avynlea and she sent her Diamond Art and all the accessories to go with it. 

Ryker got her a google home mini, Kenedy got her some panties and a body scrub, and Rylee got her an art book. She also got two dresses, a jean jacket, a turtle neck, a scarf, calico critters, a palm leaf decoration for her room, and a brand new iPhone SE!

Joshua had Rylee and he sent her bath bombs and Jasmine art that he had made.

Rylee got a set of paint pens from Avy, A face wash brush from Ryker, and a hair straightener from Kenedy. She got a phone, a lot of cute dresses and a shirt, jean jacket, lots of candy, a set of cards, a blow dryer and curling iron, and lots of goodies from her stocking.

We debated about what to get Rylee for her big gift and we finally decided it was time for her to have her own phone. She set mine for texting and calling and playing games and Marco Poloing her friends and I am really tired of sharing the phone. When she opened her phone she was in shock and I don't think she believed really what she was seeing. It was such a fun reaction and I wish I had it on camera, she could not believe that she got a phone and the surprise was so fun.

After we cleaned up and relaxed a bit and played with our new things we headed out to Nyssa to see the Peterson's

WE got Alison new pajamas which she so gracefully modeled for us. She and Bob gave the kids some money and jars filled with candy and to our family they gave us gift certificates for a day at Wahooz and we got our annual stocking box filled with lots of fun goodies.

Ally, Avynlea, Kenedy and Mikayla

throughout the day I got Marco Polos of family opening up their secret person gifts. We sent Marco Polos of our family opening them and I am so glad that most everyone else followed suit. It was fun to see the reactions and watch the ones we had opening the gifts we picked out for them. 

Avynlea had Leona and she gave her some bibs, a book and a winter hat. Kenedy had Maddie and she sent her lotion, socks and bubble bath

Kefford had Isabelle and he sent her a dollar bill and a Hogwarts backpack

I had Jaylynn and I picked out a BTS (her favorite Korean Pop band) bag for her

Rylee had Andrew Brown and she gifted him exercise dice.

Not pictured but just as important is... Ryker had Alyssa and he sent her a friends coloring book and makeup bag.

While at the farm I got a FaceTime call from Joshua and his family. He was playing around with different filters and I had fun secretly screenshooting them. I am glad he called, it was a lot of fun to talk to them and see my cute niece and nephews.

The Christmas Tree filter makes everyone look like demons, hahaha

Leona and Fredrick

Joshua and Amos 

The reindeer filter was a lot better and a lot cuter for everyone.

Fredrick and Amos

Leona and Elizabeth

Quarantine Weeks 39 and 40(Cookie Decorating, Basketball Cheer, Photo Throwback)

Avynlea went to Mutual Wednesday night and came home with some very beautiful decorated and delicious tasting cookies. She was so sweet to share her cookies with us and I enjoyed every bite of the Christmas Tree I ate.

Basketball season has officially started for Avynlea and since we are back into phase two for quarantine spectators are not allowed at the games. I am so disappointed  that I cannot be there to watch Avynlea and feel sad that I have so few pictures and videos of her cheering this year. I was able to get two from this week because Kara posted the stunting one on Instagram and Hannah posted the one of her and Avynlea on her instagram account. I am glad I was able to get these two at least.

While looking through pictures on my computer I found this adorable one of Paige and Avynlea from way back in the fourth grade. I love that I have this picture and I love that these girls had reconnected through High School cheer and are such good friends again. Two little cuties!

 

Quarantine Week 38(Goodbye Family, Christmas Tree, Lauryns's Wedding and Date Night)

Sunday morning I made pancakes for everyone and I ha the cutest little sous chef helping me. 

Kefford had fun with Fredrick and it looks like Fred really likes Kefford.

Rylee got one last selfie in with Atticus and then our guests all had to leave. Heather left early in the morning, Emily and her family left after church and the Brown family left in the early evening. 

We went over to Joshuas place and had one last hang out with them and then we said our goodbyes because they were leaving early in the morning. It was really sad watching all of my family leave one by one but I had a really great week and am so grateful that I got to spend so much time with my family.

Monday Kefford put the Christmas Tree up and the Christmas Season has officially begun.

Saturday night Kenedy went to her Child hood friend Lauren's wedding. They have been good friends since Kindergarten and it was fun for Kenedy to go watch her be married and be with all of their friends.

back row: Carter, Quinn, Wilson, McKoy

front row: Luke, Aidin, Lauren, Kenedy and Gabi

Kenedy and I had a gift certificate to "Chandlers" that we decided to use that night. It was a $100 gift card and the steak house was a fancy and expensive place with the entrees priced so high that it was very easy to use the entire amount. I got a steak with a side of fries and Kefford got tuna with mashed potatoes. I loved my food but Kefford was less then impressed with his and wished he had picked something different. It was a really fancy restaurant and I think Kefford was the only one in the entire place not in a shirt and tie. We had fun despite all of the poshness and not being in our element but will most likely stick to less expensive places for our dining needs.