Sewing with my Sisters

Heather and I worked really hard and were able to finish our dresses that we got a pattern and material for. It took us a while and I had a little crash out when the pleating at the waist was not coming together. I had to leave the table and go in my room for some alone time to get it together and then I was able to come back and get it figured out. they really turned out so cute and we both are so happy with how they look. I love the material I picked for mine and I also love the material Heather picked for hers. It was fun to do it together and to help each other through the process. We learned a lot and I learned some new techniques that I have never done before like the pleating and shirring. It has been a long time since I have made clothing and making this dress has started me thinking about getting back into that hobby.

I took some solo shots and then I wanted to get some pictures with Heather and I had a specific vision in mind for those pictures. I wanted us to look like the creepy kids in horror movies and I think we did a good job.

Ashleigh brought her machine over and we had a sewing party. I loved being able to have some fun. sewing time with my sisters and I love that Erin was there as well visiting and having fun.

Erin, Elizabeth, Heather and Ashleigh

I was telling Ashleigh about a jelly roll rug that I made for Rylee's room and she wanted to see it so I took a picture when I got home. It was my first rug and it isn't perfect but it is so cute and I love how it looks.

When I got home from California I finished the shirt that we had bought material for and I think it turned out really cute. Heather got the same material that I did for her top and I need her to finish so we can be twins.

Avynlea was out walking one day when she came upon a girl who was crying and very sad. Avynlea stopped to see if she was ok and she said that she had autism. and that other kids were being mean to her. Avynlea talked to her for a little bit, met her Mom and then invited her to go on the walk with her. Her name is Robyn and she is about Avynlea's age and they had a really nice time getting to know each other. Avynlea asked her if she wanted to go shopping with her the next day and Robin was happy to say yes. They had a good time on their shopping trip and made plans to see each other again. I am so proud of Avynlea for reaching out to someone who was hurting and for being a friend and helping her to feel seen be accepted by a peer. I love how compassionate my kids are and how kindly they treat other people.

Robin and Avynlea

Elizabeth and Abby

 On Sunday I went to church with Heather who is in the same Ward with Ashleigh and Jeremy. They are super lucky to be in the same ward and I am a lot jealous of them. I try not to think about it too often and I am ok, hahaha. Mom and Erin also came with us and so we filled up an entire row with family, it was really nice. Abby sat next to me and I was so excited when I saw what dress she was wearing. When I was 14 I went to Mexico as a foreign exchange student and while I was there I bought presents for all of my family. Ashleigh was a little girl and I found a dress for her that I thought was so beautiful and I was so excited to get it for her. My Mom thought it was ugly but she had her wear it to church to make me happy, which it did. Mom kept that dress and when Ashleigh had Abby Mom found it and gave it to her and now Abby wears the dress to church and thinks it is so beautiful. I think about 14 year of Elizabeth buying that dress for her sister and how happy she would be knowing that her sweet Ashleighs little girl now wears the dress.

Elizabeth and Ashleigh

At Brunch I was telling Aileen about a picture we have of my Dad and work and she expressed a desire to see it. While I was at Moms for dinner on Sunday I remembered to take a picture of the picture she has of Dad to send to Aileen. She liked seeing it a lot and thought it was a really great picture.

Jerry Merle Lutes

"Fritz"

Abby was my little buddy and hung around me often when we were all together. I love her and had a lot of fun being with her.

Even though it was a little late we were celebrating Heathers birthday on Sunday. Ashleigh made her a delicious Oreo cake and I was super impressed with how professional it looked.

 Abby and Atticus love the Diary of a wimpy kid movie and when I told them that Avynlea and Rylee dressed up as Greg and Rowley for Halloween the previous year they really wanted to see a picture. I had Avynlea send me one and they really liked looking at it. Abby was especially obsessed with it and kept coming over to look at the picture on my phone. Her smile while looking at the picture melted my heart.

We wanted to go to the Temple again with Mom and Ashleigh so we went and did inititories. Erin watched the kids in the waiting room while we were in the temple and after we were done we went to the quilt store again and then went for ice cream. It was a really great day.

California Beach and Redlands

 I got to take a trip down to California and it was a good time. Mom and Ashleigh and her kids were in Utah visiting family until the end of the week so Heather and I stayed at Moms house and sewed, watched movies, hung out and lived our best lives. We went and did water aerobics a couple of times and then one day Jeremy came over to hang out with us and for lunch we went to Anthony's which is a pizza place and they make the most delicious pizzas and salads and breadsticks. I seriously crave the food there and it is a must go when ever I am in California. The World Cup has been going on and this year it was being played  in the United States. It was down to the semi-finals and they were playing the game on the TV in the restaurant. I have not watched any of the games up until this point and didn't really care to but we started watching this game and I got super into it and then we could not leave until it was over. Heather was into watching it with me but Jeremy not so much. He was a good sport to stick it out with us and didn't complain about being stuck there watching a game he did not care about. 

Elizabeth, Heather and Jeremy

While we were at Water Aerobics one day the instructor was telling everyone that after class was over she and her husband were going to the beach and the beach they were going to was Crystal Cove. Heather and I have never heard of this place but it sounded so magical the way she described it that we decided to take a beach day and go to Crystal Cove. 

It was a cute little beach surrounded by bungalows some restaurants and gift shops. After relaxing in our chairs for a couple of hours Heather and I went to go look in the shops and see if we could find something to eat. The restaurants were too expensive and the gift shops were not great, as we were heading back to our chairs we decided to pack up and go find a quilt shop I had scouted out being in the area. When we got back to our chairs we found a small group of people had parked their chairs right in front of ours, kind of rude. As we walked by them to get to ours they asked if we could still see and I said we were leaving anyway to which they said how lucky they were. Yeah right, they were lucky that we were leaving and didn't make them move. I do not understand what goes on in the heads of some people.

On Friday we met up with Ryker and Anna who have been living with her family in Redlands for the summer and went to the Redlands Temple for an endowment. It was a nice session and fun to be in the Temple with Ryker and Anna and Heather. MaryBeth was working that morning and she found us in the Celestial room after our session and we visited for a bit.I forgot to get a picture with Ryker and Anna after we left but Heather and I got some together. 

Elizabeth and Heather

After the Temple we went to Anna's parents house to see the renovations Anna did I their Kitchen and then her Mom came with us out for Brunch. It was nice to visit with Aileen and of course being able to spend a little more time with Ryker and Anna was nice. 

After Brunch Heather and I said our goodbyes and we went to a quilt store that I had found in Redlands and it was a really good store. Heather and I found a dress pattern and material to make dresses and the pattern could also make a tunic so we bought material to make a top as well.

I loved downtown Redlands, I thought it was really pretty and historic looking and I loved all of the oranges.

Heather and I got some ice-cream and then we headed to Brea to go with Erin to her appointment with her surgeon. They would only let Erin and 1 other person in so I had Heather go in with her while I waited in the waiting room. I thought it better for Heather to go in so she could help take notes and keep track as to what the Dr said. Erin is going to have a mastectomy and he explained all that it would entail.

Elizabeth, Erin and Heather

Avynlea in Utah

Last year I got Halloween material to make a Halloween bow for Anna, I got material that had pinks and purples in it because I thought it matched her vibe. The pattern was confusing to me and I eventually put it in a bag and put it in the closet. Since then I have found a different pattern that made more since and after making a couple of bows I felt more confident that I knew what I was doing. I made Heather a 4th of July bow for her birthday and I thought I would make Emily a Halloween one for her birthday. I had also wanted to revisit making a bow for Anna but I found some new material that still matched her vibe and that I really liked. So I made a bow with the new material and I also pulled out the previous Halloween bow and got that one finished. While Anna was here I showed her both bows and let her pick which one she wanted and she chose the new material bow. So I wrapped up the other bow and gave it to Avynlea to give to Emily on  her birthday. Avynlea sent me pictures of Emily opening her gift and it looks like she was super excited and loves her gift which makes me very happy!

 

Emily

Abigail, Avynlea and Leona

Wahooz and Anniversary Date

 Thursday night I was all ready for bed when Kenedy suggested us all meeting up with her friends and going for ice cream. I mentioned I was all ready for bed and I got the ok to go as I was and that Kenedy and Anna were also in their pjs. So we all went and met up with Benj, Abby and Kason. I didn't get anything but I did try a little bit of Kefford's. It was good stuff and a good night.

Anna, Ryker, Elizabeth, Kefford, Abby, Kason, Benj and Kenedy

On Saturday Kefford, Anna, Ryker and I went to Wahooz to use some passes we had that Alison gave us for Christmas a couple of years ago. Kenedy was busy that day and not able to go and so the 4 of us went and had a lot of fun riding rides and playing games. Midway through the day we got a text message from Bob that said "We need everybody's prayers. They lost Dylan at the beach". Whitney and her family were vacationing in California and I was immediately worried for Dylan. He had been missing for about an hour by the time we got the text and my mind immediately went to all the awful things that could have happened to him. About 20 minutes later we got the text that he was found and I was so relieved. He thought Laney was missing and went to find her and just kept walking and didn't realize he was the one missing. I am so grateful that he was found and that Heavenly Father was watching over him.

Kefford

Ryker and Anna

Elizabeth and Ryker

Elizabeth

Ryker, Anna, Kefford and Elizabeth

After we got home from Wahooz I changed into something nicer and Kefford and I went out to dinner for our anniversary. Today was our 28th wedding Anniversary and we had a fun day with Ryker and Anna and then going out to dinner just the two of us. After dinner we stopped and got some ice-cream. It was. alowkey anniversary day but we had fun and enjoyed being together and with some of our kids.

Kefford and Elizabeth

Kenedy, Ryker and Anna wanted to sit outside around the fire and so Ryker and Kefford got a fire going. I am not sure what they were finding so funny but I love these pictures of Ryker and Kefford.

Top 10

 We had everyone at church on Sunday except for Rylee, of course, and I wanted to get a picture before we got home and changed out of our church clothes. Kefford had Bishop duties and meetings after church so we got together right after Sacrament meeting to get a picture. 

Ryker, Anna, Avynlea, Kenedy, Elizabeth and Kefford

Elizabeth, Avynlea and Kefford

For a young mens activity a couple of weeks ago they planned to do a Top 10 night. Everyone picks whatever topic they want and has to put together a powerpoint showing their top 10's of that topic. Kefford thought it was a fun idea and put it out in our group chat to do our own Top 10 night. It was tricky trying to find a time to do it because out weekend was pretty jam packed but we were able to find a time after church when Kefford got home from his meetings and before Avynlea had to leave to get back to Provo. Everyone did a really good job and it was fun to see the topics everyone chose to highlight. I let Rylee know what we were doing and I told her if she wanted to come up with a presentation that I would present it for her. She did and she sent it to me, her topic of choice was top 10 messages she has received on her mission. I did mine on Top 10 DisneyLand and California Adventure rides. I did a fake out at the beginning of my presentation and made it look like I was doing a Top 10 family members, I got the laugh I wanted and I was pretty happy with how I did.

Avynlea: Glizzys (Mom) fixations

Anna: Top 10 one liners to use

Ryker: obscure sports

Kenedy: Top 10 Keff Quotes

4th of July

Ally and her husband were in town and invited Avynlea to go with their family to watch fireworks out in Nampa. Avynlea did not want to go by herself and Kenedy did not want to go so I told Avynlea I would go with her. Jeremy and Gwen, Mikayla and Palmer, Ally and Jace and Bailey and Makayla and their kids were all there. It was super chill and casual and I visited a little bit with Jeremy and Gwen and enjoyed being with my Nieces and Nephew and their spouses. After the fireworks Avynlea and I left and Gwen sent me a picture they took with a text telling me she was glad we came and wished she would have thought to have been the one to invite us. I appreciated the thought and made a mental note to myself to also reach out a little bit more.

Ryker and Anna came to town late on the third of July and Avynlea was in town so for the fourth we went to our Wards pancake breakfast and then went out to Nyssa so we could go boating with Whitneys family. We got to Bob and Alisons house at about 10:00 and found everyone downstairs in their basement trying to do disaster cleanup. It had been raining a couple of days earlier and the water table took a while but it finally got too high and it flooded their basement. We spent a couple of hours there so they could keep helping with the cleanup and we didn't get out to the Owyhee Dam until about 2:00. Once we got out there we had fun being in the boat with Dustin and Whitney and their kids and we all tried to wakeboard. Even me! I got up my first time and immediately fell and then could not get myself up again. Kefford did good getting up and lasting a hot minute on the board as well as Ryker. Avynlea, Kenedy and Anna all got up on the boards but didn't last too long. I was impressed and I think everyone had fun.

Kefford also had fun tubing and harassing Whitneys kids and they all loved it especially Dillon, he loves his Uncle Kefford. I also went on the tube with Avynlea and we had fun screaming and hanging on for dear life.

Kefford

Anna

Avynlea

Anna, Kenedy, Avynlea, Ryker, Madi and Kinsley

 

Avynlea

Kenedy

Anna

Ryker

I made a 4th of July cake like I do every year and this year what I had envisioned in my head did not get executed how I wanted it to. I wanted it to be popsicles and fireworks and it looks more like swastikas and tampons. Oh well. Plus I look like a hot mess potato in this picture because it was taken after we spent 6 hours in the boat.

We had a delicious dinner of hamburgers and sides and then we watched fireworks, it was a fun day and night and I love being out at the Farm for the 4th.