Hunger Games!

After I posted about the decorations I did in Emily's classroom, Kefford's awesome cousin Taylor was super impressed and asked if I would help her out in decorating her husbands classroom. Of course I was totally onboard and more then willing to help out. I love doing creative stuff! Talon will be teaching 6th grade math this year and after I said yes I started thinking and panicking a little. Decorating a female elementary teachers classroom is super easy and the skies the limit. A middle school math classroom for a male teacher? A little bit harder to come up with things. Luckily I have Kenedy who is Pinterest obsessed and she sent me a pin that sparked my theme. Hunger Games, May the Odds be ever in Your Favor! Perfect for a math teacher. I ran the idea past Taylor and Talon and they liked it so I ran with it. These past two days I have spent decorating his classroom and I have to say it came out pretty cool. 

I knew I wanted to put flames up but my first attempt were an epic, ugly fail. So I looked up some ideas on Pinterest and found the perfect idea for some way cool flames.

Taylor had the idea to do a Panther Pride board and so we cut up the PRIDE poster and made a cool board. The middle school was sorely lacking in supplies in their workroom. We were able to find some borders to use but for the letters we went to the Elementary school and used their die cut machine. They also had a paw print die cut which was fun to use and a panther head die cut. That one we put over the door.

The kids all have to spend time during their advisory period reading a book which would explain why there was a bookshelf of books in the Math room. Once I saw that I knew we had to do something cool above it. This is what we came up with. Taylor put the letters up and I did the flames. I love it!

Finally the door. The saying on the door came from the original idea Kenedy pinned for me. It was a bit tricky with the window but I think we did a great job. 

Back to School

Avynlea and Rylee started school today, this summer has been the fastest summer on record for us, I cannot believe how fast it has gone! Avynlea is now in fifth grade and Rylee is a third grader. Avynlea has Mr. Ceniga who was also Kenedy's fifth grade teacher. Kenedy had him when Avynlea was a Kindergartner across the hall and now Avy has him which is awesome! Rylee got Miss Hixon who was also her first grade teacher. After that year Miss Hixon switched to third and Rylee is excited to be in her class. 

My girls really wanted Disney Vans and since they were a little more spendy then what I would normally buy for their shoes I told them I would, but, they only got one new outfit for the first day of school. They were fine with that since they just got a big bag of new to them hand me downs from Isabelle. Avynlea got Belle shoes and Rylee really wanted the Jasmine ones but they only had those in adult sizes so Rylee got some super cute Minnie ones. Bonus, she matches Heathers Minnie shoes!

Before school the girls were admiring their shoes and were so excited to discover hidden Mickey's on them! I can see Avynleas in the picture but the angle of the picture makes it impossible to find Rylee's.

I am carpooling again this year with a friend but my girls wanted me to take them on their first day. Oh they are so cute and so excited for a new year!

Weekend Adventures

Kefford let Avynlea ride around the yard on the motorcycle. It would be nice to have more space for the kids to ride the motorcycle and four-wheelers but we make do with what we have. I am now noticing the lack of helmet and next time must insist on one even if she is only riding around the yard.

Saturday night we went mini golfing with Jeremy, Gwen and their kids. It was fun to hang out with their family and we spent a lot of the time laughing which is always great!

Ally, Avynlea, Makayla and Kenedy

After we got back Kefford barbecued some chicken I had prepared and we hung out in the backyard for a little bit enjoying the beautiful weather. 

Friday Kefford and I took the girls on some errands with us and when we were almost through I noticed we were color matching. Its funny how those things happen.

Earlier in the day Avynlea and Rylee asked if they could ride their bikes to the church. I was fine with that and told them to stick together. A little bit later I heard Rylee crying and she came in looking like she had been to war. Turning into the subdivision from the church while riding a bike there is a blind curve. Avynlea went around it at top speed and told Rylee to do the same thing. Avynlea survived fine, Rylee did not. She went head on into a bush and scratched herself up pretty bad. The poor kid was in a lot of pain and after giving her some ice for her face she laid down on the couch and fell asleep. We woke her up to go mini golfing, which she did not want to participate in even before the accident but I told her she needed to come and she could hang out with me. She was not feeling so great but was being a pretty good trooper until about 3/4 of the way through when her sick stomach had enough and she threw up. I took her inside to rinse out her mouth and wipe her face down and we sat inside enjoying the air conditioning for a little while. She was feeling better and we went outside just in time to watch the others hit their last shots. She will have quite the story to tell when she starts school on monday and already plans on telling people she was attacked by a raccoon. I said that's fine as long as she tells the truth pretty quickly afterwards.

After taking pictures of her Rylee wanted to take a picture of me.

Petersons in McCall

We got home from California Sunday night and on Monday we unpacked, did laundry and then repacked. Kenedy left for Girls Camp Tuesday morning and after I went to the Temple, Ryker, Rylee, Avynlea and I left for a couple of days in McCall for some Grandma and cousin time. Kefford had to stay in Meridian to work. 

It is always fun and relaxing to be up in the mountains. I always love when my kids can be with their cousins and they had a lot of them there to play with. Alison brought Jeremy's kids, Brit came with her kids and Mikell was there with her kids. Whitney came up on the day we left but we got a couple of hours with her and her kids. 

Ally, Brooke, Makayla, Jenna, James and Avynlea

Rylee, Jenna, Grandma ALison, Kelly and Brooke

It was really great for Bailey to be there so he and Ryker could have a chance to hang out. They have not seen each other all summer with all the traveling going on between the two families and so I am glad they finally had the chance to be together.

Asher, Bailey and Ryker

James was cracking me up with his shyness. He could barely look at me the first day or two but by the end of the week I had him won over.

Qiana and Rylee

Avynlea loved riding on the four wheelers and Alison got these fun shots of her and Ally

Alison bought a little propane stove so that we could roast hot dogs and marshmallows. I really love cook outs and eating outside, the kids had fun with it also. Because of a fire ban we could not have a big fire pit but this little stove got the job done. 

Ryker decided he did not want to finish his hot dog and was not thrilled when I made him. Too bad, so sad!

Holding Kelly was a fun pastime and James was so cute with his little sister.

Rylee, Elizabeth, Xander and Brit

I decided to leave on Thursday. We wanted to get back for Meet the Teacher night that was going on that night and also I just wanted to get home since I feel like we have been away forever. I told Alison I was thinking about leaving after lunch and she recommended that we stay after lunch long enough for us all to go into town and have some ice-cream at ice-cream ally. Sounded good to me!

James decided to sit next to me and at one point was feeding me some of his ice-cream. Love this kid! We are pretty much best friends now ;)

Andrew and Ashleigh get Married!

The main reason for going down to California when we did was because of Ashleigh getting sealed to Andrew Brown. On Thursday we went to the Redlands Temple with them to take out their Endowments and then on Saturday we were off to the Los Angeles Temple for their Sealing. It was special in that the LA Temple was where my parents were sealed and Kefford and I were sealed there and Matt and Emily were also sealed there. It is an awesome tradition and I love any opportunity to go back.

I was in charge of being Ashleighs hair stylist and so I had to get up super early to start the process since she had to leave by 7:30. After her sealing, which was beautiful, I was able to go into the bridal room to help touch up her hair and put her headband in. It was fun seeing all the brides getting ready. If ever I were to work in the Temple I would want to be in the Bridal room :)

I loved Ashleigh's wedding attire, it fit her personality exactly. The dress had different layers of colored tulle underneath, red, orange, pink and yellow but only the pink was really seen. Her fun Vans were custom designed by her and also had the different colors of her wedding incorporated in them.  She was so cute!

Her bouquet was made up of Gerbera Daisies and had one red rose in the center. I asked her about the red rose and she said when she was in high school she was working on a video project and the rose she had needed for it she accidentally left at home. My Dad saved the day by bringing it to her and this was right before he died so the red rose was to represent him. She also had a Mickey sewn into the sash of her dress and one mickey sucker in every table top flower arrangement. All meant to remember Dad, I loved it!

All of the Lutes Grandkids with the Bride and Groom.

Siblings!

Kefford enjoyed taking some random photos of the happenings outside the Temple

My bodyguard and I                           Anita and Elizabeth

So fun and exciting for my girls to be with their Aunt on her wedding day!

Rylee thought it was fun to hold the Bridal bouquet for a minute or two.

We also had Heather take a couple of family pictures for us.

Because of the Drought in California the church has not been watering the huge lawn in front of the Temple as much and so there were a lot of brown spots. Luckily there were still plenty of green spots for wedding pictures and at least they had the Angel Moroni on top of the Temple unlike when I got married. They had him under renovations and surrounded by scaffolding.

Because Andrew Brown is a convert and the only member in his family they decided to do a little ring ceremony at the start of the reception to help his family feel a part of things. I was also in charge of putting together a playlist for the reception and Ashleigh mentioned right before the ring ceremony they needed a song to walk in to. My computer was there and already set up for the reception and so I looked in my "relaxation" playlist to see if I had something that would work and found "over the rainbow" by The Piano Guys. A perfect song to walk in to!

Their student ward Bishop officiated and I loved how he did things. He talked about why we do Temple Sealings and the significance and why Andrew Brown and Ashleigh chose this route. He gave good background on the building of Temples and really brought the Spirit to this ceremony. He really took advantage of this missionary opportunity.

I love this picture of Rylee watching the happenings so intently.

After they exchanged the rings Andrew Brown had a few words to say and then he said an opening prayer to start off the party on a good note. After that was done my playlist was started off with "tie the knot" by Kelly Clarkson, another perfect song, this time to start the party off!

Lots of people were there that I did not know, in fact most of the people there I did not know, but all of my family were so excited to see my Uncle Roy and Aunt Carol show up. He is my Dads only sibling and we have not seen him since my Grandma's funeral years and years ago. It was so nice to talk to both of them and catch up on things. I love them lots and really wish I had thought to take a picture with them. 

Heather had bought a ton of sparklers with the intention of using them to send off the happy couple. She had me put "i got a feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas on my playlist to play as the couple leave. All of this as a surprise to Ashleigh and Andrew Brown. There were still so many people at the end of the reception and everyone had two sparklers each so there was a lot of Sparkler action going on. So much so that the smoke was causing a lot of coughing fits and even sent Stephanie into an asthma attack. Despite all of the smoke inhalation it was so fun and cool to see all the sparkling lights and the music was a perfect touch!

While we were cleaning up Kenedy got a hold of my camera and decided to show off her strength by lifting Andrew in her arms

Andrew, Jeremy, Joshua

Staphanie, Elizabeth, Erin, Emily, Heather

Mom, Ashleigh and Andrew Brown

My family left early the next day because we wanted and needed to get home. Kefford snapped this picture of the girls in the second seat trying to get some sleep on the looong drive home. 

Kefford sent me some pictures he had taken around the Temple grounds.

I loved being able to come down to California for such an important occasion. It is always exciting to see another sibling getting married and having it done in the Temple is just icing on the cake. I love being reminded of how Families can be together Forever and am always so grateful for my Heavenly Father and the blessings I have from Him.

Haircuts!

Ryker and Ben really needed to get their hair cut before the wedding and despite them not wanting it to happen, Emily and I had to make it happen.

We found a super cuts and went in to make an appointment and then I saw the price. $17 for a boys cut? No, thank you. We left to try to find something else. I looked up a Fantastic Sams and called them to ask about prices. They told me $10 and we liked that deal a lot better. We headed over and took a before shot of our hairy beasts.

Ryker was definitely putting on a show for my camera.

After the cuts Rykers stylist rang him up and after asking me how old he was charged me $18. What! Apparently since he is 12 he is considered an adult and charged adult prices. Totally not cool but what could I do, he was already cut and styled so I had to suck it up and pay. 

The after shot.

These boys look so much better and so handsome!

Summer Solemate 5K

After the beach Stephanie took Rylee and Kenedy home with her for a couple of days. Kenedy sent me this picture of Rylee wearing a sweatshirt that Breana gave her. She is such a little cutie!

Flex it pink was doing another virtual 5k and this one was scheduled to be run while we were all in California. I sent a text to my Mom and Sisters telling them we should do this all together since it was perfect timing. I signed up Kenedy and I again and my sisters and Mom all signed up also. The morning of we all got together at the park to run our miles. 

I ran with Heather and I am really glad I did. She helped keep me motivated and we made pretty good time. We were first place out of our group! Woop Woop!

I was sent an extra medal in my packet and so I contacted Flex it pink to let them know and to see what they wanted me to do with it. They told me to go ahead and give it to someone who can be motivated to run the race with us. Avy expressed an interest in running and I told her if she did I had a medal for her. Rylee and Avynlea both ended up doing all of the miles and since I already promised the medal to Avy I did not have anything for Rylee. She was pretty sad but I told her I would contact flex it pink to see if I could get a medal for her. Though still a bit teary she agreed to that plan. I let her wear my medal for our pictures to help her feel better about it all. 

Kenedy walked/ran with Isabelle, Avynlea walked/ran on her own and Rylee walked with Alyssa. No matter the time or the way, everyone finished and I am so proud of us all!

Isabelle, Emily, Kenedy, Ashleigh, Heather, Stephanie, Alyssa, Elizabeth

Avynlea, Rylee, Camryn, Bonnie and Erin

3 generations of flex it pink runners

After we were done we went and got doughnuts and while we were there Stephanie slipped her medal around Rylee's neck and told me she could have it. That was super nice of her and Rylee and I appreciated it. Erin also told me she would give Rylee hers which was way cool. So thankful for my generous family!

Later after we all showered and changed Heather and I were wearing our Disney Vans so I snapped a picture of our shoes. Minnie for Heather and Ariel for Elizabeth