Christmas Eve

Anna flew into town the day before Christmas Eve and we were all together for the first time for our traditional Christmas Eve breakfast. W went to IHOP and it was a really enjoyable meal. I love being with my family and I am so glad that all of my kids are home for Christmas this year.

Rylee, Avynlea, Kenedy, Tyler, Kefford, Elizabeth, Anna and Ryker

After breakfast we went to the dollar store where we drew names and then picked out a gift for the person whose name we drew. I got Tylers name and I got him a little book where I could write in things I liked about him. I was really excited about it and when we got home I filled it out. 

I cooked our Christmas dinner and I made rolls, rainbow jello, hame, Watergate salad, funeral potatoes and green beans with cranberries and bacon. The meal was delicious and everyone loved it. Before we ate we exchanged our gifts. Kenedy had my name and she got me a fat quarter of material that had a strawberry pattern on it. It was very cute and perfect for me.

After dinner we cleaned up and then I gave the girls their new pajamas and I gave out ornaments. The girls thought it would be fun to do matching pajamas but couldn't decide between what we found so Kenedy picked out the pajamas and who got what. Anna and I got matching ones, Kenedy and Avynlea matched and Rylee got her own. I bought ornaments for Avynlea and Rylee and I got a First Christmas one for Ryker and Anna. Once my kids get married I get them their first ornament together but I stop it at that one.  I gave Avynlea her mission one from the Christmas she missed and then I got her an ornament of a girl playing flag football and I had Kefford put a sling on her arm so that it would represent her hurting herself.  Rylee's was a first year at BYU-I ornament and I think everyone liked what they got.

Avynlea, Rylee, Ryker and Anna

Elizabeth, Avynlea, Rylee, Kenedy and Anna

Tyler, Kenedy, Kefford, Elizabeth, Rylee, Avynlea, Ryker and Anna

After pajamas and ornaments we went upstairs and watching movies from when the kids were little, we played games and then Kefford and I put out Christmas gifts, stuffed stockings, hung candy canes on the tree and set out our Christmas candy. 

 

Christmas Sunday

 There is a TikTok/Facebook trend going on right now where you upload a picture to chatgpt with specific instructions and it turns your picture into a fancy holiday picture. I did it and I thought it looked ok, I uploaded a picture where I was wearing a hat which is why the first picture I have a hat on. So I uploaded a second picture without a hat and it looked better but my hair color seems off. It was fun to try and I have been using chatgpt for a lot of of questions and it has been very useful.

I had a lunch date planned with Kim Machado and Avynlea and Rylee came into town that day so I brought them with me so Kim could see them as well. It was a fun surprise and we had fun catching up with Kim.

Kim, Elizabeth, Avynlea and Rylee

I love having my girls home and spent somme time in their room with them visiting and hanging out. Rylee snapped this selfie of us and I love it.

Rylee has been teaching herself how to crochet and she made me a bookmark. It is really cute and I love that she made it for me and that she is learning a fun hobby.

My girls thought Kefford was looking a little too serious on the stand so they snapped a picture to send to him.

Ryker and Anna went to California to spend time with her family for the holidays. Ryker came back a couple of days before Anna and was with us for Christmas Sunday. Tyler had graduated from Grad School in PT and he and Kenedy were wanting to move back to Idaho so he could get a job in PT in Meridian and be by us which is very exciting. They asked if they could stay with us until they were able to move into their own place and we said of course so they were also with us for Christmas Sunday. After church I asked everyone to stay in their Sunday clothes so we could take some pictures.

Of course we have to have some goof off pictures from the kids.

Avynlea, Ryker and Elizabeth 

Elizabeth and Kefford

Avynlea and Rylee with Elizabeth and Kefford

Kenedy, Tyler, Elizabeth, Kefford, Rylee, Ryker and Avynlea

We missed Anna being with us and Ryker took a photo with a ghost Anna by his side

Avynlea

Rylee wanted to go get ice cream and churros at Churro Bros with just me so on Monday we snuck away to get our special treat together. The treats were delicious and I am really going to miss having these times with RYlee when she leaves on her mission.

Rylee and Elizabeth

Avynlea took a close up picture of her eye.

Christmas Parties and Fun in December

I made Avynlea a quilt while she was o her mission using the prettiest Japanese inspired material. I ha it quilted and I finished the binding in time to wrap it for her for Christmas. I love how it turned out and I really hope she loves it as well.

Avynlea's roommates were dog watching a puppy in their apartment and she and Rylee loved cuddling him. He is super cute but no thank you to cleaning up after a puppy.

Our Ward did a Polar Express themed breakfast for our Ward Christmas Party. I was really impressed with the decorations and thought the planning committee did a phenomenal job. When Kefford and I got there he got busy talking to people and doing Bishop stuff and I was standing around feeling awkward because there were not a lot of people there yet. Nikki Lyons came in with some of her kids and came over to say hi and I asked. if she had a table to sit at and she said no so I said oh lets sit together. We found a table and I sat down and she put her stuff down and then she went out to get her husband I think. A little bit later after more people arrived she came back in and picked up her stuff and said they were going to sit with someone else. I was bummed and felt a little rejected and was still sitting alone at the table which I do not like. I get real bad social anxiety and this was honestly my worst nightmare. Finally Kefford came back to sit with me and some older couples in the ward sat out table so we were not by ourselves. I was able to enjoy the party after that but it was not a fun experience. 

I really liked this quote that I found on Instagram and took a screenshot of it so I could remember it. 

Kefford and I went with Bob and Alison to Idaho Falls for the night so we could go to church on Sunday and support Saras husband Jaime getting the priesthood. Saturday night we were at Kylies for a birthday party she was throwing for Abby. Avynlea and Rylee came for dinner and for the party and were surprised to see Kefford and I there because they did not think we were coming. They were really excited and Avynlea was really happy because she had been struggling and needed a hug and to talk. 

Avynlea, Vincent and Rylee

Rylee, Abby and Avynlea

Rylee with Vincent and Abby

New nails for Christmas by Brynn Givens. They are so cute and I love them a lot.

Claire Lyons invited me to go to her Preschool Christmas program and I was happy to accept since I did not have anything else going on at that time. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Harper Young and Eliza Heslop were also in her preschool class and I was able to watch all of them perform their Christmas Songs. It was really cute and I was glad I was able to go.

Claire and Elizabeth

Our Relief Society did a Favorite things night for our Christmas Party and Erica and I went together. One thing I love to do is wrap presents so I put in my bag a roll of ribbon and some coordinating Christmas paper and Arin lamb got my bag. I got Heidi Bonds favorite thing which was a book, some body butter and candy. 

I was on FaceTime with Kenedy when Elaine Josi stopped by to drop off some Christmas treats. I had Kenedy say hello to her and she took a screenshot to share with her siblings and laugh about.

 

Alisons Pics

Alison had me look through her phone to get any pictures from it that I wanted and these are the few that I took.

Me in with the grandkids at our Peterson Halloween Party. I was trying to get though the crowd so I could get some pictures of my own and Alison caught me. 

She took these couple of pictures of me helping cool Avynlea off after her shoulder surgery.

When Alison was dropping me off with my girls before Avynlea's surgery she came in and was visiting with us before she left. Rylee had showered and was combing through her hair and was starting to play around with the comb by wrapping her hair around it. I told her not to do it because her hair would get stuck and tangled in the comb. She did not believe me and proceeded to do it anyway. Of course her hair immediately got stuck and tangled in the hair and I had to try to untangle it for her. I was having a hard time doing it and Alison took over and was bale to successfully get her hair out of the comb. Rylee was very sheepish about her actions and ignoring my warnings. I like it when I am right, lol

Avynlea a couple of days post surgery looking much better.

While in McCall I sat by Bob on the couch and Alison took a picture of us. I like this because I think I am the only one of my Sister-in-laws who is not scared to be around Bob like this. I can't see any of them choosing to sit on the couch next to him like this and I love that I have a good relationship with him and that I am comfortable with him. 

 

Thanksgiving Week

After Kefford and I left Logan we went to Spanish Fork to see Dustin and Sara and their kids for the night. Kefford likes to visit him when we are in town and I am cool with it as well. The next day we left and headed to a Vintage Store that Kefford had been to before and then we went to Lehi to Matt and Emilys where we would be staying for Thanksgiving.   

The Dancing with the Stars finale was that week and on Tuesday night Emily, Isabelle, Kefford and I went to Kenedys to watch it. Avynlea and Rylee drove from Rexburg to meet us there and we had a fun night watching the finale all together. While we were there Rylee told Kefford, Kenedy and I that she has decided she wanted to go on a mission and I cried and then she cried and then Avynlea and Kenedy cried. I am happy for her and am so supportive of her going and I know it will be so good for her but I do not like my kids being gone and me not being able to see them for so long. I am supportive though and will do anything I can to help her gt ready to go. Kefford was really happy and the next day got her on a computer and had her start filling out her papers. 

Avynlea

Leona loves to do Girls Club which is just an excuse for the girls who are around to go to her room and play barbies or games or whatever we feel like.  On Wednesday we went to their house and she came out with a paper for me to see that said Girls Club on it. So I went to her room for some play time and While we were there Emily showed up and joined us for our Girl time.

Elizabeth, Leona and Emily

While we were out and about We saw that Sweet Salt had a going out of business sale so we stopped in to see if we could find mission dresses for Rylee and church dresses for Avynlea. We found some good ones and were able to get a good start on Rylee's mission wardrobe.

Rylee and Avynlea

After dress shopping we stopped in at Hobby Lobby to look at their Christmas sales. While we were there we were approached by an older man who invited us to go to dinner with him. We politely declined and walked away. After a bit he found us and said that he thought maybe we thought he had ill intentions and showed us a picture of "his daughters" to prove he was a family man and invited us again. We agin told him no thank you and walked away again. He got the hint and left us alone but it was a weird interaction and I am not convinced that the picture he showed us was of his daughters.

Cutie pie Rylee

My girls were trying to do some stunting thing and it was all fun and games until Avynlea got too much pressure put on her shoulder where she had surgery and we had to quickly end the fun.

Kefford and Rylee

Leona and Avynlea 

Avynlea discovered that she and Leona were color matching and did Leonas hair to match hers so they could be winners. They look super cute.

Avynlea and Leona

Kefford helping Rylee with her Mission papers.

Elizabeth and Kefford

Elizabeth, Rylee, Kefford and Elizabeth

Avynlea with Elizabeth under her shirt

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rylee, Elizabeth and Avynlea

Thanksgiving Pyramid

Fredrick

Avynlea and Kenedy

Isabelle, Ty and Rylee

I appreciate that my girls are helpful and willing to help with the cleanup. Kefford also does a good job to jump in and help clean up.

Avynlea, Rylee and Kefford

I brought two quilts with me that I needed to sew the binding on and I was able to get them both done. I finished one while we were at Dustin and arts house, it is a Reindeer one and I did not get an after picture of it. This one I finished while at Mallory and Joshuas and it is an Anne of Green Gables Quilt that I made for Anna to give to her for Christmas.

We went on a walk after dinner and after all the cleanup was done. 

l-r: Amos, Joshua, Wyndemere, Leona, Emily, Matt, Kenedy, Ty, Kefford, Elizabeth, Andrew, Isabelle, Mallory, Rylee, Avynlea and Fredrick

I went with Kenedy, Emily and Mallory to Mallorys favorite bookstore to shop the Black Friday Deals. We all found some good books we are excited to dive into and I also found a really cute crocheted cardigan that I am excited to wear.

Emily, Elizabeth and Mallory

Kenedy, Emily, Elizabeth and Mallory

After the bookstore we headed over to Target where we found clothes on sale and were able to get Rylee some good things for her mission and Avynlea found this sweater she wanted to buy Kefford for Christmas but he was not a fan.

Avynlea

Leona and Elizabeth 

Wicked For Good came out in the theaters this week and we were excited to go see it. I liked it but I liked the first movie better and was not excited abut the new songs they added I loved being able to go with my family and had fun going to see the movie in the theater.

l-r: Isabelle, Emily, Elizabeth, Matt, Kenedy, Ty, Rylee, Maren and Avynlea

I love my girls!

Rylee, Avynlea, Elizabeth and Kenedy

Kefford loves spending time with Joshuas kids and likes to show them shows that they might not have seen. I cannot remember what show they were watching in this picture but they were all super into it.

Kefford, Amos, Leona and Fredrick

Kenedy and Ty were speaking in church on Sunday and I really wanted to go to their Ward to listen but we were unable to. Their Ward Zooms their meetings and we were able to watch online which I was grateful for. They both did a really great job and I loved listening to their testimonies. 

We have had this dresser since Kefford and I got married, it belonged to his family and Alison gave it to us. It was not finished at all and we used it for many years. At some point we had Kenedy using it and I painted it to match her bedroom decor at the time. It has stayed that color throughout her time using it and after she left the color stayed the same when Rylee inherited it. I always meant to refinish it but never got around to it until now, I got the itch and I decided to get it done. I stripped the paint off by using paint thinner and by sanding it. It took a couple days of hard work but I was able to get it all off. At that point I started staining it and did quite a few coats of stain. Once all of that was dry I put a finish on it and needed to do a couple of coats of that. Kefford stepped in when I decided I was done and said he felt it needed a little bit more of sanding to give the finish a more satin finish. I was done by that point and did not want to do any more work on it so Kefford lightly sanded it and gave it one more coat. It turned out beautiful and I am so proud of how it looks and love walking by the room to see the new finished dresser. Oh, I bought new handles off of Amazon and they give it the best finishing touch!