Barnyard Fun

Friday night was our Ward Trunk or Treat. The event started at 5:45 but I didn't get home from dance until about 6:45, Ave and Rylee got a ride to the party with our neighbor Arin Lamb. By the time I got their the dinner was over and everyone was headed outside to do the Trunk or Treat. I quickly got myself a bowl of chili and went outside for the fun. Rylee and Ave had no interest in going around asking for candy so Ady helped the Hansen's with their kids and Rylee passed out the suckers I brought. I am not a huge fan of trunk or treats, I don't like how the kids go around and around taking all of the candy so I didn't bother to buy candy. I had a bag of dum-dums that were left over from when I was using them back in April to bribe my dancers to want to rehearse their dances for the Spring recital. Dum-dums last forever right?

Rylee wore her red riding hood costume from a couple years ago and Avynlea did her scarecrow, they both looked super cute.

Allie Hansen was also dressed as a scarecrow and I was appreciative of the picture Kim sent me that she took of the two of them.

Later that night Kenedy and Alyssa came from college for a weekend visit and we also had Maddie and Andrew come to visit. It was an exciting weekend!
Saturday morning we drove out to Emmett so that Andrew and Maddie could check out our Barnyard. Brit made a new picture sign for the Barnyard and I was really impressed and thought it was so cute. Kenedy and Ryker had to pose by it so Kenedy could see just how much taller then her Ryker had gotten. 

Then Maddie, Andrew and Rylee took a turn with the board

Kenedy and Alyssa stayed true to themselves and did a photoshoot in different areas of the Barnyard

I was pleasantly surprised when Kenedy requested a picture with me :)

Kenedy wanted Xander to ride the horse with her but he was a little nervous. I helped him get on the horse and held his little hand until he was ok with things, which did not take very long.

Avynlea wanted to show off her gymnastics skills a little and prove she could hang upside down from this tree.

and Rylee picked out her perfect pumpkin to take home and carve

More picture boards fun...

Kefford found a golf club at the thrift store which he bought to have at the Barnyard so he could hit pinecones when customers were not around. I caught Avynlea taking a turn with it

general Conference

Saturday morning I woke up super sick and could barely get out of bed without wanting to die. I managed to drag myself up stairs at 10am to watch general conference but could only make it through the first couple of speakers before I had to go back to bed. I spent the rest of the day either in bed or in  my bathroom throwing up, it was not a good day and I was really bummed to miss conference. Thankfully I was felling better by Sunday so that I was able to watch those two sessions and I really enjoyed the speakers. We all were in the room watching but I only took this picture of Kefford who was putting together one of my Little Mermaid puzzles. :)

Rylee and I went to this particular Meridian Middle football game to watch Avynlea cheer on her team. It was a really cold and rainy day and Rylee asked about ten minutes before she decided to go spend the rest of the game reading a book in the car. I made it to halftime and then wen to the car for 30 minutes to thaw out and be warm. I made it back out to watch the last 10 minutes of theme. It was brutal, the game and the weather and we were all grateful when it was over.

I snapped this picture of Rylee being a goofball in the car while we got warm.

For our October extra Relief Society meeting we had the pie lady come and teach us how to make the perfect pie. I really loved it and learned a lot about how to make a perfect and easy pie crust. We had signed up earlier as to how many pies we wanted to make and I decided on 6. I made 1 apple, 1 blueberry, 2 cherry and 2 razzleberry. I had a lot of fun making my pies and visiting with friends, I hope we get to do this every year!

Because I was too sick to watch the women's session of conference, Rylee didn't watch it and Avynlea missed it because she was babysitting that night my girls and I decided to watch it together Thursday night. We made a big batch of caramel popcorn, turned on the fire and settled in to watch the session we missed. Avynlea and Rylee took notes in their notebooks and we enjoyed listening to the speakers. I loved every one who talked and after each one would comment on what a great talk they gave. It was uplifting and inspiring and I am so glad we have the technology to watch and listen over and over. 

Avynlea's friend Bridger was receiving his Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor and really wanted his friends to be there. So on the appointed Saturday I took Avynlea and we watched him receive his medal. I thought it was sweet that he wanted his friends there and his Mom even sent out an email about a month before letting us know his request and making sure the date would work for everyone. He is a pretty great kid and I love all of these friends of Avy's from the Verona ward.

Kate Meyers, Allie Hansen, Bridger Hamm, Avynlea and Natalie Kashyap

Rylee spent some good quality time with herself by playing the game Sorry against herself. She has always been good at enjoying her alone time and I love that she found joy in playing this game by herself. 

Kefford made Rylee a new nose out of silly putty. I happen to think the old nose is much cuter.

Another day spent watching Avynlea cheer at her football games. Thankfully this day was much warmer. Also...she is the cutest little cheerleader!

Barnyard Setup

Opening Day for the Barnyard had us all out early getting last minute set ups done. Xander had a little bucket of corn that he enjoyed putting more kernels off the cob into. Avynlea was so cute sitting with him and playing his games.

I had the idea to have a spot where we could set up a cute place for pictures. Kefford was super nice and set up some hay bales for me and when I got there that morning I decorated the hay with some things I had picked up from the dollar store. While I was pretty pleased with how it looked I am not sure that i was thrilled with it. But it did make a cute spot for pictures and I had fun having the kids try it out for me. 

I was trying to get some pictures of my hair for my instagram hair page but couldn't get the right angle, their are just some things I cannot accomplish on my own. I still liked the way the pictures turned out. 

I went to Avynlea's first concert of the season and was pleasantly surprised when she came to the front for a small trio she was a part of. The third girl was at the other microphone. She is in the jazz choir this year which she had to try out for and it has been fun watching her perform with the jazz choir. 

Setting up the Barnyard

One of our Young Women was voted Homecoming Princess and she asked me if I would do her hair for when she is presented at the Homecoming game. I was really excited to help her out and had her send me a picture of how she would want her hair. I didn't have much time Friday after school to do her hair so I had her come over a couple days before so I could practice and them picked her up right after school on Friday to get her hair done. She had to miss her cross country practice but I only had between 3 and 4 to do her hair because I was teaching dance that night. I got her hair done and she was in love with how it looked, her parents also loved it and both of them sent me text messages thanking me and telling me how amazing she looked. I was pretty pleased.

After dance I went to the game so I could watch the homecoming game but also to cheer on Echo as she was presented at halftime. Megan Burt a friend in the ward was going to the game also and saved me a seat. Unfortunately by the time she got there the only seat she could find was at the end of the bleachers in what we termed the middle school section. I had fun being with Megan and Avy was sitting in front of us which was fun but I hope to never have to endure that section again...Middle School kids are obnoxious.

When I got to the game I was talking with Ryker and I saw a girl pass by and I thought "wow, I love her hair, it is so pretty", then I realized that it was Echo and that was my hair style...hahaha...I am weird sometimes.

Saturday Kefford and I along with our kids went out to Emmett to help start setting things up for the Barnyard. It was a really nice day and for the most part it was nice to be together working and getting things ready.

I did Eliza Roekers hair for the Homecoming dance and the updo looked really pretty. She didn't have any particular way she wanted her hair just as long as it was up and off her neck. This is what I ended up doing and she really loved it. I really enjoy doing hair and am so glad people are starting to ask me, it's so much fun!

 I made pancakes for Breakfast and RYlee requested small ones so I made a pile of small pancakes for her. She loved stacking them and eating them. Cutie girl.

 On the opening day of the Barnyard we went out again with Kefford in the morning to help finish getting things set up. I had an idea to have a picture spot and Kefford very kindly stacked some hay bales for me. I then decorated with pumpkins. a wooden garland and flowers. I really like how it turned out and hope people enjoy using it to take pretty pictures of their families. 

 Avynlea and Xander playing with some corn.

 Testing out the photo spot..

Asher, Avynlea, Hazel and Rylee

First day Of College!

First Day of College for Kenedy!! She is the cutest and I am so glad she took pictures to send to me! She had a great first day and is quickly settling into College life!

College Move In

Friday morning we got up nice and early to start the drive to Rexburg. Kefford had Baker that day so he gave Kenedy her Fathers blessing the night before and said this good byes then. We we leaving right around the time Ryker was getting up and getting ready for school so he and Kenedy could say goodbye to each other.

Avynlea and Rylee wanted to go and help Kenedy move into her new apartment and so they took they off of schooling helped make the drive pretty entertaining. Kenedy drove for part of the way and when she got tired I took over and drove the rest of the way into Rexburg. The drive is not a bad drive, luckily, it only takes about four and a half hours from our house which is nice.

When we arrived we had to do check in at the apartment lounge. When we got in there we saw my sister, Stephanie, talking to the managers. Alyssa, her daughter, my niece and Kenedy's bestie cousin was one of Kenedy's roommates. They have another roommate who has a service cat that will be living in their apartment. Kenedy and Alyssa were both told about this a couple of weeks ago and while I would have said no way and asked to be switched to a different apartment, they were both fine with have a cat living in their apartment. Stephanie was not happy about the cat in the apartment and when we saw her she was talking to the managers about it. I didn't care too much because I was nt the one that had to live with the cat and the girls were both told beforehand and they both agreed to it so it wasn't a big concern of mine. After we did the quick check in and Kenedy received her key we unloaded what we had in our vehicle and started unpacking what we could. Alison happened to be going to Idaho Falls that weekend to see Trista and Sara so she took a bunch of Kenedy's stuff in her Expedition. 

Alison was not going to be coming to Rexburg for a couple of hours so after we did what we could we took the girls to campus to get their ID's and books.

Jim and Stephanie drove Alyssa up to school and since they arrived before us Alyssa was able to get most of her stuff unpacked before we arrived. I think these girls are ready and excited to be living together. They decided to share the apartment but have different rooms so their was a lot of going back and forth to talk and visit.

We took the girls to Wal-Mart to get groceries and other odds and ends and boy was it crowded, it was like Black Friday but in the grocery section! I might have to rethink the shopping for the next time I take her up to school. Alyssa and Kenedy decided to share food and while it was nice to not have to buy everything it was harder for shopping because we had to stay by each other. 

I helped Kenedy get her room organized and put together and after I left I got a text from her telling me that going into her room reminds her of me because I did most of the decorating. Her room looks really cute. 

Alison and the girls were ready to leave before I was so they hugged their sister and Granddaughter goodbye and left. 

I helped Kenedy for a couple more hours and then it was time to go. Avy, Rylee and I were staying the night with Alison and Trista and I didn't want to have to find her place in the dark. Jim took a picture for us and then I hugged her and told her I loved her. I kept it brief because I didn't want to stand there and blubber a ton so when I felt the waterworks coming I high tailed it out of there.

It is a strange feeling to leave  child for college. I have tried to keep her in a protective bubble for 18 years and now it was time to pop the bubble and let her go. I know she is going to love college life and I am really glad she is living with Alyssa. 

I talked to Mom and Heather as I drove the 30 minutes to meet up with Trista and that was helpful and nice.

The next morning I had my girls get their stuff packed up and loaded back into the car so we could leave after we ate Breakfast. Sara really wanted us to try a place she loves going to for Breakfast and I cannot remember what it was called but it did have really good food. I ordered a hot chocolate and captain crunch crusted french toast. When i got my order I could not believe how huge everything was. The Hot Chocolate was in a mug that seemed bigger then my face and the french toast was an actual loaf of french bread cut in half. It was delicious but way too much and I could not finish half of what I received.

I accidentally broke a little piece of Kenedy's scents warmer while I was unpacking and when I super glued it back together I kind of made a mess of the super glue on my hands.

I forgot to take a picture of my food before I started eating but basically the food was hanging off the plate on the left side just like it was on the right side. It was massive!

After breakfast we left the restaurant and Avy, Rylee and I headed home. It was hard leaving knowing Kenedy was in Rexburg and I really wanted to go back and be with her but I acted my age and went home. I was sad for a little bit of the drive but kept telling myself how much fun she was going to have and I knew she was where she was supposed to be.

The next day was Rylee's last Primary program. She had a small part but what was cool about it was how she got it. The primary presidency decided to have the older kids write their own parts and also come up with a question for one of the younger classes to answer. Rylee was given a small packet of papers with some of the themes from the previous year. She had to study the papers come up with a question and then write a small part for herself to introduce the questions. She did such great job, she took her role seriously and really studied her material and wrote out different ideas before picking the best one. I loved watching her in her very last Primary Program but I also cannot believe how old she is getting.