Getting Christmas Ready

I have wanted a cute Christmas Sweater for some time now. Not an Ugly Christmas Sweater, a cute sweater, something traditional and that looks maybe a little old school. When I went Black Friday shopping with Emily I saw a really cute Penguin sweater that I loved and wanted but it was at a plus size shop and wouldn't fit. I decided to look on Amazon and Amazon delivered! I found the best most perfect sweater that was exactly what I was looking for! This sweater will be getting a lot of use this Holiday season as well as Christmas's to come!

 I went to my friend Angela Kashyap's this week so she could touch up the color on my hair and give me a little trim. I thought to take a picture of my hair under the heat lamp so I could post it on my Instagram Hair page. I am trying to be a little more active on that page, nothing too crazy and overbearing but making my presence known just a little bit more :)

 Rylee thought it would be fun to practice playing the piano in a new way. She used the yardstick to play chopsticks and it made me laugh, she is a crazy kid!

 Ryker shared a Spiritual Experience that he had a couple of days ago with Kefford and I. He told us about it and then let us read what he wrote about it in his Journal. I love that he had this experience and that he had the thought to write it down so he will remember. I am also really grateful that he wanted to share with us about it. He mentioned that he was listening to one of his favorite Hymns during this experience and how much it meant to him and I had the idea to turn it into some wall art for his room. He mentioned a little while ago that he wanted more things to put on his walls and I thought this would be great, he could have some wall art meanwhile having the song displayed in his room would help remind him of his experience. I sent a message to my friend Lana to see if she could help me out and she gave me two different designs.I loved them both but decided to go with the one with Christ.  I am so excited to give this to Ryker Christmas morning, he will love it!

I also want to mention how grateful I am for my Savior and for His love for us. I love seeing the Tender Mercies and daily reminders that His hand is in our lives. 

Mallory sent me a picture message today and it warmed my heart. I love this little boy so much and love that coming to visit us was so memorable to him! He has my heart!

The Perfect Gift!

On Sunday we got to hold Gwen Hansen during Sacrament meeting. I got her from her big Sister Allie and then handed her over to Avynlea. Avynlea put her to sleep by stroking down her forehead and nose and she was quite pleased with herself. I told her she should make putting babies to sleep her career, she would make a killing!

 Ashleigh sent me my Birthday present and I was so excited when I opened it and saw what it was. A Little Mermaid Wet Brush. I am in love with Wet Brushes and only exclusively use them. This was the perfect gift that combined my love of Ariel with my favorite brush!

 Monday night Avynlea had her Christmas Choir Concert. The concert started at 7 and she also had cheer practice from 7-9. She sent a text to her coach about it and her coach replied that she would normally get a demerit for missing part of practice but since Avynlea volunteered to cheer at a last minute girls basketball game last week that would count for working off her demerit. It was a nice concert filled with Christmas music and Avynlea did a great job. At the very end they turned on the lights so everyone could sing along to a medley of Christmas music. When that happened I made my way down from the back to sit closer to the exit right next to Camille Culbertson, Avynlea's Young Women Leader who came to support her and Addi Bjorn, another YW in the concert. While I was sitting next to her I tried finding Avynlea on the stage but there were so many people I couldn't see her. Camille tried explaining to me where she was and I was just not getting it. She kept telling me how to locate her and would say that she is there waving and ask if I see her and I never could. She even pulled me closer to her a couple of times so I could see from her perspective to no avail. Finally she figured out a different way to tell me where she is and it clicked and I spotted her. After Avynlea came down to us she said she watched that entire exchange go down and she was laughing. We had to leave really quick but Avynlea was able to get a hug from her leader and I took a picture of the two of them before we exited. 

Kenedy sent me a picture of a date she went on with her friend Jesse to a disco skate night. She said she had a lot of fun and she fell twice, once when she tried to stop and she pulled Jesse down with her and then later when Jesse fell and he drug her down with him! Hahaha!

She loved it and had a super fun time!

Home Depot Craft

Rylee and Avynlea wanted to do the Home Depot craft for the month of December which was a countdown to Christmas Calendar. I told them I would take them after Avynlea was done with tumbling but it meant Rylee had to go with us to the gym because I was not going to go all the way home just to pick her up. She agreed but when it came time to wake her up in the morning to go she just wanted to stay in bed and said she didn't want to go. I knew she would regret her decision so I made her get up and go with us despite her protests. Honestly it wasn't that hard to get her to go.

She sat and listened to all the "juicy gossip" between us cheer moms while Avynlea was tumbling and only asked how much longer about 5 million times. 

OK it was actually only about 3-5 times, to give her credit she was pretty patient for most of the hour.

After tumbling we headed out, Hailey came along with us, Avynlea told her about it and she wanted to make the craft also.

The girls all had a good time. Rylee got done with hers pretty quick because she didn't want to paint, she liked the look of the wood. Avynlea didn't like the tree sticker that came with it so she painted her own and Hailey made a unique Christmas Countdown with her choice of colors. They all turned out great and the girls really enjoyed creating a fun Decoration for their rooms.

After we dropped Hailey off we went to the Dollar store so Rylee could do her Christmas shopping. Carrie, Haileys Mom, told me about a fun white elephant gift they like to use and since I was going to need one that night I used her idea and bought a toilet plunger. When I got home I spent a couple of hours hot glueing gems onto the handle of the plunger and when I was done I had a pretty fancy toilet plunger.

We ended up not going to the party and so now I have a white elephant gift ready to go for when we need it. We decided not to go for many reasons. Last year it was fun but it got pretty irreverent and awkward. Also we are supposed to take a good gift and a bad gift and they all get thrown into the pot and you could end up with two bad gifts, one good one bad or both good. Last year we got a good and a bad but the entire game stressed me out and wasn't a lot of fun. I don't like the idea of spending money on a good gift and maybe ending up with all bad. It just isn't that fun to me. So Kefford and I  opted out and stayed home with Subway and to watch a movie.

Christmas Tree is Up!

Kefford was asked to teach a primary class on Sunday and he didn't have anyone to teach with him. My Sunday School partner didn't make it back in time to teach our class on Sunday so I had a last minute lesson to plan and no other adult with me. Kefford and I decided to team up and make it work. He was in Singing Time the first half hour so during that time I cracked my door open and visited with my class and then I showed them a video from the lesson and talked a little bit about how they can Redeem the Dead by doing Family History and Baptisms for the Dead. I then bore my testimony about being in the Temple and promised them that if they would commit to go to the Temple every week that they would be blessed for their service. 

We then headed over to meet Kefford and his primary class in their classroom. Kefford gave a great lesson and my kids were happy to be a part of it. 

Kenedy snapped this picture of Kefford teaching an object lesson, he was really proud of that key he made last minute, and sent it to me. 

Kefford put up our Christmas Tree on Monday and Rylee put up her ornaments while I was out running errands with Kefford.

Tuesday night Ryker and Avynlea put up their ornaments while Rylee read us all a Christmas story. It was actually quite comical watching all of this go down. Ryker was in a bit of a mood and seemed to be annoyed with Rylee's story reading. He would make snarky comments and occasionally tell her to stop reading but she continued on and read acting oblivious to the commotion going on around her. It was pretty cute and made me happy to see her so into her story. She loves Christmas and is all about bringing the magic into our home.

It's crazy how much smaller our tree looks each year as our kids grow.

Kefford put up our Star and the Tinkerbell topper and he did a good job. Yay for the Holidays!

Amos Turns 3

Amos turns 3 on December 1st but Mallory asked if they could celebrate it a day early so that we could all be a part of the fun, I was really happy with her thoughtfulness and so excited to be able to celebrate Amos's birthday with him.

He had no clue that his actual birthday was the next day we just celebrated like it was actually on this day.

 I love telling Amos to smile for a picture because his immediate reaction is to close his eyes, he is just the cutest little 3 year old!

My kids wanted to go to the Temple to do Baptisms with their Cousins so they went Saturday morning. Ben wasn't able to go because his recommend had expired and he forgot to renew it which was a bummer. After they did Baptisms they took a picture outside, Ryker took the picture because he didn't care to smile for the camera. He did get his shadow in the shot which is something I guess.

Isabelle, Avynlea, Kenedy, Alyssa, Rylee and Ryker's shadow

Avynlea had to cheer at a Basketball game that night and Isabelle was the only one who wanted to come with me. We had fun watching her cheer and it was fun to have Isabelle by my side throughout the game.

The game was running a little late and I knew my family at home was going to eat dinner without us. Mallory made a Tator-Tot Casserole for Amos's birthday dinner. I got a text towards the end of the game asking how much longer we were going to be and I gave an estimate then told them if they needed to go ahead with the cake that it was ok. Mallory replied that they would wait for us and I was so glad that they did. It was fun to get home and to watch and be a part of the celebration. Amos picked a delicious Costco cake and he was a happy Birthday boy!

top pic: Kenedy, Rylee, Ben, Elizabeth and Amos

bottom pic: Isabelle, Avynlea, Kenedy and Rylee

Happy Third Birthday Amos!

After the party we took a group picture and then it was time for the little ones to get to bed. Both Joshua and Emily's families left the next morning and it was sad to see them go. I had a really fun time and enjoyed being with everyone. Having those little boys here brought a different element to all of the fun and it was fabulous! What a great week!

back row: Kefford, Ryker, Matt

Middle row: Rylee, Elizabeth, Kenedy, Amos, Joshua, Emily, Avynlea, Ben, Isabelle

kneeling: Alyssa, Breana, Mallory, Fredrick

Scentsy Light Tunnel

Friday morning Kefford and went to Fred Myers to get some half price socks. While we were there I found some winter flannel sheets on sale for $15, all sizes! I was pretty excited about that deal! I bought some for mine and Kefford's bed because we needed some and I also bought Rylee some for her bed. About a week ago we sold Rylee's twin bed because we were given a queen bed that a friend was getting rid of. I have been wanting a bigger bed in that room since it doubles as the guest room and was pretty happy to get one for free. Rylee needed flannel sheets to fit her bigger bed and I was happy to buy her some cute winter themed ones. I also got her some matching pillow cases that say Merry Christmas on them. Rylee is all about the holidays and loves to decorate her room for Christmas. I knew she would love these pillow cases and since she keeps her room really clean and always makes her bed I decided to give them to her as a reward.

Emily met us at the Fred Meyers and when Kefford was done he left and Emily and I went to the Boise mall so she could hit up some of her favorite stores. We had a good time laughing and being together and shopping!

When we got back Rylee, Avynlea and I went with Joshua and his family over to the park. The boys needed to play outside for a bit and we were happy to accompany their family.

After dinner that evening we went over to Scentsy Commons to walk through and see the Light Tunnel. It is really pretty and a bit magical walking through the lights, my only wish is that they would make it longer. It ended much too quickly so we doubled back and went through one more time. It was a cold night so after she pictures we scurried on home.

Peterson Family 2019!

Elizabeth and Kefford

top: Emily, Elizabeth and Mallory

bottom: Avynlea, Alyssa, Isabelle, Kenedy and Rylee

We sure do love Amos and Fredrick, they are so cute and make everything more fun and exciting! Amos hugging the tree is quite possibly the cutest thing to have happened in a long time!

After we got back and Mallory put her boys to bed Emily, Isabelle, Avynlea and I accompanied her to Target. I needed to return an item and Mallory wanted to get some things for Amos's birthday. While we were there Isabelle and Avynlea treated Emily and I to a little "weird Clothing" fashion show.

And Avynlea had fun doing her own special little photo shoot acting like a kid

Thanksgiving

Wednesday Emily and her family along with Breana arrived about mid afternoon and then Joshua and his family came right around dinner time. Just like that it was a full house and I was loving it. We were so happy that Joshua could come with Mallory and his little boys. Amos and Fredrick definitely added a new level of fun to our Thanksgiving festivities. Rylee made a cute pinecone turkey at school and she wanted me to get supplies so she could make everyone one. I got the feathers and the googly eyes and then we found pinecones outside the theater, all set. 

When Isabelle arrived Rylee quickly enlisted her help in making the turkeys. Kenedy and Breana both made one each and I made one as well. The turkeys turned out super cute and it was a fun activity for the girls to do.

 Fredrick is such a cute little chubbers and watching him wander around like a little drunk was so entertaining. I have forgotten what it means to have a baby around and realized we had a lot of stuff within easy access that we didn't want him to get to. At one point he had disappeared and Mallory found him under our sink trying to eat a dishwasher soap pack. Luckily he was fine and we quickly cleaned out all the poisons and put them out of reach. 

Kefford loved hanging with Fredrick and was often seen playing with him and/or carrying him around.

 On Thanksgiving day we had appetizers at about 10:00 and then the feast was ready by 2:00

Alyssa, Isabelle, Rylee, Amos and Kenedy

Avynlea, Alyssa, Rylee and Isabelle

 Kefford and Kenedy did their tradition of the carving of the turkey and I was able to catch Kefford smiling at something funny on the TV which happened to be behind me so it looked like he was smiling for the camera. :)

 I bought big platter plates from Wal-Mart and it was very handy being able to fit so much food on one plate.

Amos was a crack up and entertaining for everyone. He loved playing with my hair, and in the top right picture he is teasing the girls with a hairball he found by waving it in their faces as they squealed. He thought that was hilarious! In the bottom middle picture he was sad about not going Black Friday shopping with the girls so Kefford gave him a ride on the dirt bike. 

 Emily, Isabelle, Breana, Mallory, Kenedy, Avynlea, Rylee and I all went out that night to Black Friday shop at Target,  Old Navy and Bath and Body Works. I had fun shopping with the girls and didn't go crazy on the buying but I did buy some things for Christmas that I found good deals on. While at Old Navy Avynlea noticed that it was all of our family at the check outs and so she took a couple pictures for me.

bottom pic: Me, Rylee, Breana, Kenedy and Mallory who had just finished