Andrew and Maddie get Hitched!

Andrew and Maddie chose to get married in the San Diego Temple. It is a beautiful Temple and I liked being able to be in it again. I left my jacket and phone with Anita while we went into the sealing and came back to find my phone had been taking some selfies while I was gone, hahaha.

After the sealing we came downstairs back to the shoe room to get our shoes and Kefford discovered his were missing. He looked all around multiple times but his shoes were nowhere to be seen. We found a pair that looked kind like his but were a size smaller and assumed that the owner of those shoes made a mistake. The Temple workers told us that the wedding party that got done right before ours was around the corner on the opposite side that ours was so I left Kefford in his socks in the Temple and went around to go hunt down his shoes. When I got to the group they were all standing in a group taking a pictures and I felt really awkward so I hurried away and found Matt and made him come with me to be the spokesman. As soon as the people we talked to found out the situation they immediately guessed it was there Grandpa who made the mistake and sure enough Grandpa was wearing Kefford's shoes. He was pretty funny about it and said he told his wife that his shoes were suddenly more roomy and comfortable. The shoes were switched back to their rightful owners and everyone came away happy.

Matt, Kefford and I got back to our group before Maddie and Andrew appeared and I am glad we did not miss them coming out of the Temple. When they finally did appear it was with much cheering and congratulations. Maddie looked beautiful, I loved her hair and the hairpiece and her dress was gorgeous as well. She looked like a modern day Rapunzel.

I had planned on getting some material while in California and making Kefford a bow tie to wear, Andrew asked if all the guys would wear them. Ashleigh told me she had two and that Kefford could use one of them. His ended up matching Andrew Browns so we had to take some pictures with the two of them and the four of us.

That Amos face is just too cute to resist planting kisses on!

The photographer kept telling everyone to fake laugh in the photos and so Emily captured Isabelle and I making fun of the fake laugh. I would say we have it down pretty good!

I got all of Kenedy's friends who were graduating this year towels with their names embroidered on them in the school colors with their school initials and year for their graduation gifts. I brought Alyssa hers to open and she was pretty excited when she saw what it was.

After all the pictures at the Temple we went over to the Restaurant where the reception and dinner was being held. The reception was outdoors and it over looked the marina which made for such a pretty view for more pictures!

I have never been able to live it down how I cried at Joshua wedding dinner and so when I stated to get teary during Moma nd Andrews Father/Mother dance I turned and caught Emily, Ashleigh and Heather all crying. I had to quickly take pictures of them to hold against them for when they make fun of me again. Unfortunately Heather also snapped a picture of me, but at least I was not the only one boo hooing.

The next morning Kefford and I left really early to drive home to California. It was a quick trip we made but such a fun one and I am glad we were able to be there.

Disneyland!

Kefford and I drove down to California the second week in May so we could go watch my brother get sealed in the Temple. We left the kids at home so they could stay caught up in school and because we needed some time away from them. We left Kenedy in charge and I was really happy with how well they did without us. I talked to them often but never once had calls from them complaining about each other, it was great. 

It was fun to see Amos again and I liked seeing Kefford and him doing a little bonding at the piano. And I am pretty sure he liked hanging out with me and Heather. 

Thursday night Heather took Mom and I to the mall and treated us to gel manicures. It was fun to be pampered and I liked having my nails shaped for me. 

The next day Heather, Kefford and I went to Disneyland! I love Disneyland and it has been a while since I have been so I was really excited for this day with just the three of us. Andrew was there also with his in-laws and we met up with them for lunch which was fun to hang with him and meet his future family. 

It was a colder day and not super busy so we were able to get on the rides without too much of a wait. We didn't do Splash Mountain because we did not want to risk getting wet and being even more cold. We also didn't go on Pirates of the Caribbean because it was closed for refurbishing or something. I was disappointed on not getting to go on that ride but it was fun to have been able to do all of the other ones we wanted. Poor Kefford ended up being the third wheel to me and Heather for most of the rides, luckily he is a great sport. 

By the time it was 5:00 we were done with everything we wanted to do and decided to go home. I had a really great day at the park but it did make me miss my kids and wish that they were there with us. Hopefully we can take them sometime soon.

April and May Mashup

I take my kids to the Temple every Tuesday after school to do baptisms. Because we go so much the Baptistry workers have gotten to know us and always make comments when they see us about how often we come and how much they love seeing us. It has been such a great blessing having the Temple so close. On this Tuesday Ryker had Track practice so it was just us girls. I thought it was cute that Kenedy and Avynlea were matching so I made them let me take a picture.

Trying new hairstyles in my hair is always fun for me and I really loved this particular style of making a "hair bow" out of my hair with part of my pony. I thought it turned out so cute!

Kenedy and I went over to Lana's so we could get her Graduation Announcements done. I let Kenedy make all of the decisions on how her card should look since it was for her Graduation. The finished product was not how I had been picturing it but it did turn out really cute and Kenedy loved it, that's all that mattered.

Rylee has been toying with the idea of cutting her hair and finally one day she told me she wanted to do it. She showed me a picture of what she had in mind and after making sure that she was sure I booked an appointment with my friend Angela Kashyap.

Rylee looks so cute with her new do and I love how healthy her hair looks and feels. She made a great decision and we have had fun playing around with the shorter hair.

At the beginning of all my Kinderstars dance classes we stretch our feet by putting them in a circle and pointing and flexing them. My girls like to get as close to my feet as they can and while I usually have them move back so we have room on this day I thought all of our feet in the middle looked really cute so I snapped a picture. I sure love little dancing feet.

Avynlea and Rylee were at the Hansen's playing with their kids and Kim sent me a picture of the girls being cute with Kate. Such fun girls!

Good fun with Friends

Ryker went to the movies with his Verona ward friends and had a pretty good time. I am thankful these kids have kept Ryker involved with them as they are good kids and such a fun group.

Maya Thompson, Ryker, Adi Klemme, Hannah Terrel, Parker Myers and Nathan Fergusen

I had to be at the Dance Connection dance recital all day Saturday the 5th of May and at the end of the day Cyndi, my boss, took us out to eat. Avynlea was at the recital helping me all day so she got to come and I invited Kefford to come along with Rylee who would have been left home alone. We went to Fiesta Guadalajara because it was Cinco de Mayo and it was quite the wait. Apparently Mexican food is a popular meal on this day ;). I thought it was cute seeing Kefford sitting with his arms around Avynlea and Rylee and had to take a picture.

Avynlea and I after a long day of dance recitals, we were pretty exhausted. 

I took Avynlea and her friend Rose along with Rylee and Ryker and his friends Ady and Nathan to the Emmett Youth Appreciation Day. They had fun hanging out with friends and I had fun relaxing and not worrying about chasing after kids. Having older kids definitely has it's advantages.

Kefford signed Ryker up to attend a Youth Hunting Camp for a day one Saturday and Ryker had a lot of fun shooting guns safely all day.

Elevate Dance Project Dance Recitals

Saturday was the end of the year Dance recital for Elevated Dance Project. I taught two Kinderstars classes this year and assisted in the two Friday night Pre-teen and Elementary classes. I had such a great year. I have really loved my classes this year and adore all of the dancers I was privileged to teach. 

Hayden (top pic) and Preslie (bottom pic) wanted a picture with me which I was happy to oblige. Jessica Lewis had two of her girls in my classes and she had three of her girls taking dance. She had to leave Eleanor, not one of my dancers, between shows for some reason and asked me if I could keep an eye on her. I was fine with that and quickly found out she was a pretty easy kid to watch over. In fact I forgot for the first half hour that I was supposed to be watching her and when I remembered her I went looking for her and found her chilling in the cafeteria with her iPad. So we hung out for a while until her family got back and at one point she wanted to take a picture with me. Such little sweeties!

This year our ballet theme was Dr Seuss and both of my Kinders classes were in different shows so Melissa assingned my classes the same dance which was awesome. My girls were little Lou Who's and danced to "Where are you Christmas" from the Grinch movie. I had them wear pajamas and dance with their dolls who wore matching pajamas. They looked so sweet. 

My Monday Kinders wore pink top and bottom pajamas for the ballet and their second dance was "peanut butter and jelly" and they wore really pretty raspberry colored tutu costumes that looked like raspberry jelly.

PB&J picture

top row: Preslie, Brighton, Sofi, and Ella

bottom row: Juliette, June, Kinley, Alana and Hayden

My Thursday Kinders class did the same dance for the ballet but they wore red and white polka dotted nightgowns with their dolls also wearing the same thing. For their second dance I choreographed a dance to the song "Life's a Happy Song" which is from the Muppets movie. I have long loved this song and have wanted to do a dance to it for a long time, I was super happy to have the opportunity this year. They wore the cutest blue sparkle costumes with plaid trim and I loved how they looked. 

"LAHS" picture

top row: Livia, Laiyla, Sara and Paige

bottom row: Sydney, Vivian and Madison

I didn't get  picture of our Friday night pre-teens but I did get one of the elementary kids. They were the best kids this year and my favorite Friday night class ever. These kids were positive, kind, loving, funny, hard-working and full of joy. If I was having a bad day I always left this class happy and over it. There dance this year was to a song called "Dancing in Heaven" which is from the "Girls just want to have fun" soundtrack. We had the kids come up with their own 80's themed costumes and they looked fabulous!

back row: Abby, Peyton, Charlize, Alana, Bryce, ***, Elie and Kenzie

bottom row: Hadlee, Bella, Joee, Taylor, London, Kemper, Lily and Mia

Rocky Mountain Prom

When Drew Kashyap found out Kenedy was not going to her Prom with a date he decided to ask her to his Prom. He also volunteered to take her to her Prom but she already had plans with her friends and was ok with just going with friends. She was excited to be going to his Prom though.    

I had Dance Connection recitals I had to be at all day and so Kenedy came to the school during recitals so I could do her hair. She wanted a half up crown braid and it turned out really cute. She wore the same dress and looked just as beautiful. 

Since I couldn't be there to take pictures Gabi Caroaca stepped in as friend and photographer.

Kenedy told me she had so much fun at this Prom with Drew. Because of being in the Verona Ward she said she knew a lot of people there and was really friendly when she saw any one she knew. This was her and Drew's third dance together and I am glad that they have become such good friends.