Matthew's Homecoming and New Years Eve

Matter Larson was coming home from his mission on December 28th and Becky invited us to come to the airport to meet him with his family. We love Matthew and were excited to see him after his mission. I have an adult ballet class I have been going to Friday mornings and so I went to my class and said I would come home after, change my clothes and then we could all head over to the airport together. While I was in class Abbey, Matthews sister, sent Ryker a text telling him his flight was landing early. Kefford tried calling me but since I was in class I didn't hear my phone ring. I decided to leave class a little earlier then planned so I could make sure to have time to change when I got home. As I was walking out I saw Kefford had called and when I called him back he said they were all already on their way to the airport so I had to go straight to the airport from ballet. I was stressed thinking I was going to miss him arriving home so I drove a little faster then normal and after I parked I ran in. I got there in time and I realized I didn't have to rush since his flight didn't get in until about 15 minutes after I got there and it took him a while to get off and come out. When he finally came out it was good to see him and we all gave him hug. It was fun to see him and Ryker together again, they were great friends before their missions and I hope they can continue the friendship. Avynlea and Rylee left soon after greeting Matthew and after taking a picture with him and his parents Kefford, Ryker and I left also.

Becky, Steve, Kefford, Matthew, Ryker and Elizabeth 

New Years Eve was on Sunday so we went to church and after we came home we kind of treated it like any normal Sunday. Avynlea went to spend time with her friends while the rest of us just sat around. It wasn't anything great but I do like having my family around. Of course I went to bed at a normal time, staying up to welcome in the New Year has never interested me and I would rather have sleep than staying awake till midnight.

Movie and Six

The day after Christmas Ryker, Kefford, Avynlea, Rylee and I went to the theater to watch the new Wonka movie. We searched every theater and couldn't find seats that all five of us could sit together so we had to separate with Kefford and Ryker sitting together and us girls together. We really enjoyed the movie andI thought it was a really cute version of the Wonka movies, I liked it a lot. 

On Wednesday I took a picture of my foot because I had a pretty good bruise on there from kicking Kefford.

"Santa" always leaves candy on the counter for us and I liked what Kefford did with the M&M's he left.

I bought tickets for Rylee, Avynlea and I to go watch the broadway musical "Six", it is about the six wives of Henry the 8th. We loved it and had so much fun, I was familiar with the music because I have been listening to it but my girls haven't and they fell in love with it and we listened to the songs on the way home. I love having experiences and making memories with my girls and am grateful for these fun times.

 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day was a good day. It was really nice to have Ryker back with us but we really missed Kenedy and Ty. I was thinking I wished they would have done Christmas with his family last year so that we could all be together this year. Next year Avynlea will be missing and who knows who will be missing the year after that. But I am not going to let myself be sad about what the future could look like and just appreciate having Ryker home after two years away and enjoy having Avynlea here knowing next year we will be missing her. 

I took a picture of the tree Christmas morning before we started opening gifts, I love how magical it looks with all the presents we have thoughtfully planned for and bought under it. 

Rylee wanted to start the gift giving with handing out the presents she got for everyone. My present from her was one that all the kids went in on so I didn't have one from her to open at this time. She loves having her picture taken of her giving the recipient their gift so we made sure to get all of those taken. 

Kefford got a Youngstown University hat.

Ryker got a model sports car

Avynlea got a journal and Scripture Highlighters

After Rylee did her gift giving we took turns opening gifts. 

Rylee got the Joaquin Brothers book series, an Apple Watch, a soft blanket, Nike Shoes and clothes.

Avynlea received a Hair Dryer brush, Calico Critters bakery and family, Luggage, Dresses, Clothes and new shoes for her mission.

Ryker got Shirts, bat mobile cars, Mistborn Book set, Mission books with his mission pictures and letters he wrote home every week, a new coat and an &Collar Dress Shirt.

Ryker was Santa this year which means it is his job to hunt for the presents and give them out. I suggested we group everyones presents together to make it easier to find but he likes the search and thinks its all part of the fun. More power to him and also why he was Santa this year, none of the rest of us want to hunt for the presents.

I got some Disney lithographs, an electric blanket, a hands free Kindle page turner which did not work the way I wanted it to so I sent it back and got a dress coat from Ivy City that was on sale and so pretty. 

Kenedy, Ty, Ryker, Avynlea and Rylee all chipped in and bought me the Mary Jane Dr Martins I have been wanting. They are so cute but a little too big so I had to send them in and order a smaller size. 

Kefford got a nail gun, a staple gun, a heat gun, a couple &Collar Dress shirts and some shirts.

I love wrapping gifts and I really love putting ribbon on the presents and making them look pretty. I especially loved the way this gift looked and wanted to take a picture of it because it was so pretty. 

For my Mom's Christmas Gift Emily takes charge of gifts for the Grandkids. She buys them and puts it all together and makes it so my Mom does not have to worry about it or do anything, it is a really good gift from Emily. This year they all got Christmas Mugs filled with candy, Hot Cocoa and they each got a $10 bill.

Avynlea gave Rylee her Christmas gift from her and it was the same gift she got for Kenedy, tickets to a Niall Horan Concert that will happen in Utah in July. Rylee was so excited and surprised by the gift and was really happy about it. Poor Avynlea started crying when Rylee opened her gift, she cried because she was so happy for Rylee and Kenedy that they were going to go to the concert together, she knew they were going to have so much fun. She also cried because she was really sad she wasn't going to be there with them. It was a bunch of mixed emotions for Avynlea, poor girl

After our family gifts were done we opened the presents from our Secret Person's and I also opened the gift Heather gave me which was Peach balsamic vinegar and Lemon Oil.

Camryn had Avynlea and she gave her pretty jewelry

Dillon had Ryker and he got a pocket knife and Ben had Rylee and she got a necklace and slides

Jeremy had me and I got skittle gummies, scrunchies and Wireless Earbuds. Emily had Kefford and he git sunglasses.

Little Jeremy had Kenedy and she got a Sleeping Beauty wallet and a cookbook

Ashleigh did the sisters favorite things box this year and it was so much fun to open and see all of her favorite things. I also loved the personal picture she included and the meaning behind it for her. It was an awesome box!

Rylee had Camryn and she got a Star Wars book and Avynlea gave Emily a Disney utensil canister. 

Kefford got Amis lego box sets and Ryker got Alec workout clothes.

I had Atticus and I gave him a digital instant camera and case and Kenedy had Grandma Bonnie and gave her pajamas that match ones she got herself.

After we were done we went to the farm and we had Christmas lunch and were able to visit everyone out there. Alison and Bob gave us money to put towards food storage as well as a stocking box filled with fun goodies. The older grandsons got a box of feet warmers and $20 and the older girls got wallets with a $20 bill inside. She also let me pick a wallet I think because she had extra and also because I am her favorite Daughter-in-law:). After a couple of hours at Kefford's parents house we went to see Grandma June who was at Ralph and Terry's so we got to visit with them as well as Ethan who was there with his family and Grant was there with his wife Becca and we got to meet her. Becca is from Denmark and although they have been married for two years she has only been able to come to the states a week ago. It has been a headache for her getting a visa and we are all so glad for answered prayers and fasts and that she is finally able to be here. She was super sweet and easy to talk to and I really like her and I am so happy for Grant that his wife is finally here.

After the visit at the Hadley's we went and saw Jeremy and Gwen and they were heading out to go play Chair Soccer at the church with Kevin and Maria Draper and their kids. They invited us to come along so we went and played and had a lot of fun. I was trying to keep the ball away from Kefford at one point and accidentally kicked him in the shin with the top of my foot. It hurt so bad and I finally had to stop playing and I moved my chair over to where Maria was sitting so I could visit with her.

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year so our annual Christmas Eve breakfast was done the day before. We went to a diner close to us called Capri's and the food was greasy and typical diner food. I didn't enjoy my meal as much as when we go to IHOP so I think maybe we will go back to IHOP next year. It was fun having Ryker back with us but we missed having Kenedy and Ty. 

Ryker, Elizabeth, Avynlea, Rylee and Kefford

Christmas Eve Sunday was nice but different. Church was only Sacrament Meeting which was nice and then we came home and took pictures and then hung out until Dinner. 

After dinner the kids opened up their ornaments and pajamas. I did matching pajamas for the girls and I got Kefford and Ryker matching sweat pants. Kenedy did matching pajamas with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law and when we sent her a picture of us in our matching pajamas she told us that they got the same ones. I thought that was pretty funny. Once we were done with all of that we watched the Nativity and then played Jackbox games and watched movies. It was a good night.

Angels on the Temple

 

Kenedy and Tyler came the weekend of the 15th since they were not coming to see us for Christmas, Ryker came home from school for the holidays and I recommended doing a Sealing Session while they were here. Whitney and Dustin came with us and Bob did the sealing for us. After we were done he asked us if we wanted to take a tour of the attic, we all thought that would be fun and agreed to it. He ended up not being able to take us but Alison had some free time so she took us up to show us around. We were able to go outside the temple and got really close to the Angel Moroni, if it were spring we would have climbed the ladder to get right up to him but it was really cold and icy. We took some pictures and then climbed the ladder down back inside. We joked that if anybody happened to see us up there that rumors would have spread about Angels being spotted on the Temple. Touring the Attic wasn't too thrilling but my one take away was how clean it was, even in the Attic the House of the Lord is spotless and taken care of.

Alison, Kenedy, Whitney and Elizabeth 

Kefford and Elizabeth 

Kenedy, Whitney and Elizabeth

Avynlea, who was home from school,  and Rylee watched Whitneys kids for them and they had a lot of fun with them while we were gone. 

After the Temple we made Homemade pizzas with Dustin and Whitney and enjoyed some yummy food. Avynlea and Rylee did homemade pizzas with the kids while we were gone.

In Church on Sunday Rylee and Avynlea took my phone and took a selfie of themselves with Ryker and I in it.