Rylee is called to serve and Family Temple Sealing

 Monday December 29th Rylee received her Mission call. She had just left to go shopping with Kenedy, Avynlea and Anna when she sent Kefford and I a message that her call had come in. I wanted her to come home immediately and open it but she stayed with her plans of going shopping and didn't come home until a couple of hours later. When she got home she changed into a dress and we all gathered together while she read it. I was nervous and she was emotional which was really cute. After reading what felt like forever she finally read that she was called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix mission, English speaking,  and would start her home MTC training on March 23 and enter the MTC on April 1st. We were all a little stunned with her call, I really thought that she would get somewhere foreign but it not that she would be assigned an ASL mission in the states. Very quickly we rallied and were so excited for her. Kefford left to go call Rod Givens to tell him because his oldest, Cam, is currently in that mission serving. I told Rylee we needed to tell Katie Givens so she could hear it from her and not Rod so we did. Katie was with Brynn not heir way to their cabin and when we told them the news they were so excited that she would be seeing in the same mission as Cam. It was fun to tell them and hear their reactions. I am so proud of Rylee and as much as I am going to miss her and do not want her to leave I know she is going to be such a good missionary and the people in Phoenix Arizona had no idea how lucky they are.

I really wanted to do a session of sealing with our family and Bob before Avynlea, Rylee and Anna left and we were able to go on December 30th. It was again really special to be their with all of our kids and I will never get over how much I love being int he Temple with my family. It is the closest thing to Heaven here on Earth and I love and appreciate the Temple so much. 

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

Rylee goes through the Temple!

 On December 27th Rylee was able to go through the Temple for the first time and it was a really special day. I loved being able to be there with her to go through the process with her and to have all of our kids there. Being in the Celestial room for the first time with all of our kids was so special and something I never want to forget. I love my family so much and am so grateful for the Temple and how it brings families together. 

Rylee and Avynlea

Kefford, Rylee and Elizabeth

Elizabeth and Rylee

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

Two of Rylee's besties had gone through previously and were able to be there to support Rylee. 

Esther, Rylee and Shay

 On Sunday I was sitting on one end of the group while Avynlea and Rylee were on the other end. Rylee texted me a question about her school, housing and I replied back. I then received a picture of Rylee and Avynlea thanking me for my service.

Christmas Day!!

 

Christmas morning was so magical! I loved having everyone home for Christmas and it was fun to see all of the presents under the tree, our biggest haul yet! It makes sense because we have added in in-law gifts and couples gifts and more sibling gifts, it adds up. We let everyone sleep in until 9 and then they all came down with their stockings and we did stockings gifts in the living room. I love and will miss the days of opening stockings on our bed but it is awkward with in-laws and its ok to change it up. Kefford and I went back and forth on how to handle stockings with our kids that are married. Whatever we started we had to be prepared to continue and that was stressful. We finally decided to do stocking boxes like his parents have done for us and we both agreed that it was something we were willing to commit to doing and keeping up with. We also set a budget outside of that for individual gifts for our kids who are married and it was fun picking from their wish list and getting them some gifts. 

After opening stockings we took a break and had a yummy breakfast. I made cinnamon rolls, a breakfast casserole and I had bowls of fresh fruit. Anna gave me the idea to eat breakfast before opening presents, that is what they do in her family and I thought it would be fun to bring in that tradition. It prolongs the morning and just adds more anticipation and fun. 

This year I took more video then pictures and so I do not have a ton of everyone but I do have my list of what Kefford and I gave them for Christmas so I will put those in, just because I think it is fun to remember. 

Kefford:

1. cougar model car and Batman hot wheels 
2. BSU hat & socks
3. Batman Lego 
4. Light bulbs 
5. Hot wheels and puzzle
6. Basketball 

Avynlea

1. Quilt 
2. Pleather jacket 
3. Hair waver 
4. Leggings and shirt 
5. Lego 
6. Socks, candle & iPhone
7. Sweatshirts and earrings 

I got this grapefruit balsamic from Heather and I am excited to try it out.

Tyler:

1. gun
2. Garage storage shelves
   

Kenedy

1. Lola Blanket 
2. New balance shoes 

Rylee

1. Owala water bottle 
2. Mission shirt and pants 
3. Hair waver 
4. 2 dresses 
5. 1 dress, 1 pants 
6. 2 dresses, sheet music

It was cute watching Anna and Ryker video each other opening gifts from her family to send to them. I know it was hard for Anna not being with her family for Christmas and I am so grateful that she was willing to be with us.

Ryker 

1. gun
2. Cast iron skillet 

Anna

1. Uggs 
2. Quilt (Anne of Green Gables homemade quilt from me)

I made this quilt with Japanese themed material I found while Avynlea was on her mission. I have been waiting a long tie to give it to her and I was so happy that she loves it.

I got another favorite things box from JK Quilts and I was excited to finally open it and to see all of the goodies, it never disappoints.

Secret Person Gifts...

Emily had Kenedy and she gave her a purse

Kenedy had Anthony and he got books on birding

Andrew had Avynlea and she got a box of tiny hands, and a skin care set

Avynlea had Alec and she gave him a book on leather making

Anita had Kefford and she gave him nike socks and a nike sweatshirt

Kefford had Matt and he gave him an air compressor

Leona had Elizabeth and she gave her a hat

Elizabeth had Bonnie and she gave her a lego Disney castle

I also gave my Mom Lego mini figs of her and Dad that I designed and a Jane Austin themed bag that I made. I gave Jane Austing themed bags I made to all of my sisters as well as snip scissors they can use with their sewing projects. 

Ashleigh send me and Kenedy our favorite Harry Potter book in paperback along with a bedazzling kit to bedazzle them, so fun!

Ryker had Ben and he gave him Star Wars Lego

Ben had Ryker and he gave him also Star Wars Lego

Alec had Rylee and he sent her pants

Rylee had Mallory and she got her a sweatshirt with Wyndemere embroidered on it

After all the fun we hung around the house playing with our new things and the we went to the Farm for Christmas lunch, to visit and so Ryker and Tyler could play with their new guns. Tyler really was not into trying out his gun but Ryker had fun shooting skeet and he had Anna try it out as well. She did really well and I got her hitting the skeet in a video.

We got another fun stocking box from Bob and Alison and when we got home Kefford and I went through it while the kids went swimming and hot tubbing at the Givens pool. Lots of fun goodies

I laid out all of my stuff and took a picture, I got a really great haul this year and was happy with everything I received.

Kefford go the a Lego Gingerbread House that I have been wanting really bad and he gave it to me a couple of weeks before Christmas so that I could work on it and have it done by Christmas. It was fun to put together and really thoughtful of him. He also got me the red sweater, the striped blue sweater and some Hoka tennis shoes for when I work out, the really cute pink Nikes and the Athlete parka.

Rylee and Avynlea got me a steam cleaner

Ryker and Anna got me the brown sweater

Avynlea also got me the pink and white striped sweater

Kenedy and Tyler gave us a gift certificate for a painting class for a date night 

and Mom sent us a sees candy gift card

 I love Christmas so much

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.