Sweethearts Invite

Ryker got asked to Sweethearts! A box of cereal was left on our doorstep with a note and he had to look inside the box to find the name of the askee. It was Lucy, a friend of his from school!

A couple of days later Ryker still hadn't responded and I think the poor girl was freaking out. Their friend Chandell had to text Ryker to remind him he had to answer her. Ryker was having a hard time coming up with a creative response so we created a creative panel to get the job done LOL

Matthew, Bre, McKinnlie (Bre's little sister), Kenedy, Jesse (Kenedy's boyfriend who was in town for the weekend) and I all helped Ryker figure out his response. Kenedy bought a box of PopCorn to leave on her doorstep and we came up with a saying...

"This may seem CORNY 

but let's have a real

POPPING good

time at Sweetheart's"

Cute and effective

Ryker wanted me to take him to deliver it that night but when I found out she lived in Kuna I told him it was going to have to wait until Monday. Kefford and I were going to Kuna Monday evening to look at a Console we want to have built for our entry way and I wasn't going to make an extra trip out there. I had him text Chandell to let her know to tell Lucy our plans and we called it good.

On Monday evening after we looked at and ordered our entry way console Kefford and I drove to Lucy's house. She lives off the busy road and it was not going to work to try to be sneaky and doorbell ditch the response so Kefford walked it up to the door and hand delivered it to her Mom. Mission accomplished

Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day I made my family Oreo Truffles and left them for them n the counter along with love notes on reasons why I loved them and candy from their Grandma Bonnie and Grandma Alison. This year I also found bigger tubs of Cotten Candy at War-Mart and I bought one of those for each of them as well. They love Cotten Candy and I was pretty excited when I saw the bigger versions for them.  Rylee wanted to make pink pancakes for everyone for breakfast which was super sweet and she also made everyone a Valentine Card. This year Kefford and I decided to forego the gift exchange and dinner out that we would normally do on this holiday of love and instead get us both something for the house. We have a list of things we want to buy for our house and one of the items is a entryway console. We think that will be a better gift for us and it will last a lot longer then dinner out.  We don't have it yet but are on the hunt for the perfect entryway addition!

Idaho Steelheads Ice Hockey Game

The Farm was given some tickets to the Idaho SteelHeads Ice Hockey game and they offered us 6 of them. Ryker had plans that night to go to a friends birthday party but the rest of us were excited to go. Gwen, Jeremy and Ally were there and they had invited Kevin and Maria Draper and a couple of their kids. It was fun to visit with them for a bit but my most fun was being with my family. I love family date nights, though I do wish Ryker could have been there with us as well. 

We had fun watching the game and cheering the SteelHeads on to victory. The most fun came towards the end of the game when one of our guys and one of their guys got in a big fight. Those fights are always entertaining! 

Because the Steelheads scored 4 points in the game we got coupons for a free burger from Carl's Jr. I got picked up right from dance to go to the game and was starving so I was was very happy to go to  Carl's Jr right after the game and get ourselves some free burgers. 

It was a good night.

Happy 15th Birthday Avynlea!

Happy Birthday Avynlea!! 15 years!!!

Avynlea's birthday was a little different and after the fact I was really glad that she did have a friends birthday party the night before. Her birthday fell on a Fast Sunday which is not a fun way to celebrate. We have church at 9:00 in the morning and after church we puttered around and most everyone, including Avynlea, took naps. Avynlea picked pork chops, funeral potatoes, rolls and individual jello bowls for her birthday dinner. I had to wake her up from her nap so we could eat dinner and she was a bit lethargic and not her usual peppy self for the rest of the night. I belatedly realized that her napping was not a good idea. Oh well.

After dinner we let Avynlea open her presents and she got black Nike Socks, chapstick, a big Hairspray and a mini Hairspray, Calico Critter baby Mouse triplets and play Kitchen set, her Addidas Joggers that weren't going to come in until later that week, 

I love that whenever Avynlea gets a new Calico Critters item she pulls out all of her stuff and sets it all up. She does it with Rylee and they don't play with them they just set them up and look at them. It's kind of fun.

It was a pretty casual night and with it being such a low key day for Avynlea I was happy that we were able to let her celebrate with her friends the night before.

Avynlea's Favorites:

1. Food: Rice
2. Dessert: Ice Cream
3. Candy: Cotton Candy
4. Color: Pastels
5. Book: Shopaholic Series
6. TV Show: The Office
7. Radio Song: all of them
8. Church Song: The Spirit of God
9. Scripture Story: Abinidi
10. Friend: Sadie Niblett
11. Thing to do: Cheer
12. Place to be: Home
13. Toy: Calico Critters
14. Princess: Belle
15. Hobbies: Cheer, ukulele, piano

5 Reasons I Love Avynlea

1. Avynlea earned her Personal Progress award this year and decided that she really wanted to earn her Honor Bee while she still could. She didn't have much time left in the year but she set this goal and was determined to get it. She was able to earn all of her service hours and is almost done with reading the Book of Mormon and once she has that she is done. I am so impressed with her desire to get this done and how hard she has worked to meet her goal
2. Avynlea has such a strong testimony of the Gospel. She has high standards for herself and never vary's from what she knows is right. Avynlea reads her scriptures, writes in her journal and says her prayers every night and is such a good example for the rest of us. She is a good example to her friends in the church and out and is never afraid to talk about her beliefs or stand up for what is right. I love this about her.
3. I love that Avynlea is willing and wanting to talk to me about things. She confides in me and tells me about the things important to her and will tell me about the things that are bothering her. If there is drama with friends she will tell me about it and ask for my advice. I love that during half time at games that she cheers at she will come and sit by me and chat with me. Avynlea likes to go to the store with me and she is a fun buddy to have help with the shopping. She is one of my best friends. 
4. I love watching Avynlea cheer and I love her love and passion for the sport. She loves being a flyer and is always excited to learn new and harder stunts and mastering them. She has really impressed me with the leadership skills she has shown this year by being a Captain on her team and despite being a Freshman was able to find her voice and be a good and kind leader to all of the girls, even the older ones, on her team. She has been working all year on her round off back hand spring and hopes to have it mastered so that she can perform it in the routine at her next competition. 
5. I love that Avynlea is such a kind and forgiving person. She doesn't let irritating people bother her too much and if they are a bother she quickly gets over it and can still be friendly and kind. I absolutely love this quality in her and love that she is able to let things roll off her back. She is such a beautiful and loving Child of God. 
6. 
   

Birthday Party

I told Avynlea she could have a friend Birthday party this year. Avynlea wanted to keep it small and only invited the girls she was the closest with, Saide, Paige, Madison, Hailey, Dreya, Natalie and Paige. I thought that was smart of her and was quite relieved to not have a ton of kids in my house making noise and creating chaos. As it was we had enough of that with having Hailey there, HaHaHa ;)

Once everyone arrived and after hanging out and visiting some Avy opened her presents from her friends.

Hailey, Paige, Natalie and Avynlea wanted to try to recreate a partner stunt they saw and it was quite hilarious watching them try to do it. I think they almost got it but never quite got it completely.

I wanted to get a picture of all the girls before things got too crazy and everyone was cooperating except for Avynlea, she is a stinker.

But finally she gave me a good one

Paige, Paige, Natalie, Hailey, Avynlea, Dreya, Sadie and Madison

We had frozen pizzas, chips, fruit and juice for everyone to eat and then when Avynlea was ready we sang Happy Birthday to her and she blew out the candles on her cupcakes. I offered to get Little Caesars pizzas but Avynlea loves the Great Value brand frozen pizzas from Wal-Mart and she wanted that instead. 

Avynlea thought it would be funny to smash a cupcake in Hailey's face and it was pretty funny.

Hailey then retaliated and smashed a cupcake in Avynlea's face and gave her a bloody nose while doing it. Oops!

Avynlea left blood on the kitchen floor, in the kitchen sink and in the bathroom sink before she finally just stood over the toilet and let it drip.

It was all in good fun and it will be a birthday party to remember. 

After I cleaned up the cupcake mess I shut myself up in my room to relax and read and let Avynlea have fun with her friends.

Date Night

Feb 1 is Brit's Birthday and we have a fun tradition of exchanging birthday gifts. With the competition and Avy's friend Birthday party happening that day I wasn't able to get to Emmett to give Brit her present. I knew Alison was going to head out there after she left the Comp so I sent the gift with her. Brit took a picture of her gifts and sent it to me to let me know she got it and to say thank you. I got her the shirt that says "Always be Kind" and a heart shaped bar of Lavender soap.

After the Comp Avy and I hit a couple stores to get some stuff for her Birthday party the night. One of the stops was at Kohls, Avy has been wanting a certain pair of Adidas Joggers and we found out the night before that Kohls has them. I told her after the Comp that we were going to go there so that she could get them for one of her birthday gifts. She was super excited about that! They had the joggers there but did not have her size, luckily we found them at their online order kiosk and were able to order them and have them sent to our house for no extra charge!

Kenedy's boyfriend Jesse was in town this weekend to visit with Kenedy and when Avynlea and I got home we found Rylee and her friends in the kitchen making dinner for Kenedy and Jesse. They wanted to make a date for them. It was pretty cute, they made spaghetti, toast and fruit cocktail and had it all nicely arranged on the table wth candles and decor.

Ella, Tayci, Taylee and Rylee

Kenedy and Jesse were sitting at the counter waiting for their "Date" to start so I put them to work frosting Avynlea's cupcakes.

Once dinner was ready and served the 4 chefs filled up their plates and joined the happy couple at the table. I told them before hand that it would be funny if they did that and so they did. It was a cute "date" they planned and everyone was happy with their yummy dinner.

TVCI Cheer Competition

Avynlea had to be at the cheer comp by 7:15, doors didn't open for spectators until 8 but I didn't want to go all the way back home only to have to turn around to come back. Plus I wanted to get a good seat so I stayed and waited outside the door starting the line for the spectators. Are and Diana stayed in line with me, it was cold but I was wrapped up in my blanket and had good friends to chat with so it wasn't bad. Carrie planned on staying and waiting with us but she had to go back home for items Hailey forgot. As the long line formed I was glad to be in the front of it because once we got in we had the pick of seats and were able to get some good ones all together. I was frustrated by the MHS cheer parents who arrived right as the comp started and even after it started and expected us to have seats for them. We were able to fit most people in but it was annoying.

Before the comp I wanted to get a picture of Carrie, Amy, Diana and I but didn't see how to do it without including the other Mom's that were sitting by us. The one in front I don't think I have ever had a conversation with before this and the one in the back right I have never seen before.

from left: Amy. Tara, Diana, Megan, Me and Carrie

I don't know the other two's names.

After that picture Diana mentioned we should take one with those of us wearing our hats. She digit in the perfect way and these three were the ones I wanted a picture with in the first place. I am so grateful for these three ladies who have become my friends. They have made this years cheer experience so much more fun and it has been nice having women to sit with at games and to have friends to laugh with. 

Avynlea's team performed in the show category and it was pretty exciting when it came time for them to perform. 

In the below pictures of them waiting to hit the mat Avynlea is the third from the left.

Avynlea was so fun to watch and she did such a great job. I absolutely loved watching her and she pretty much killed it. She hit every stunt and every move that she was supposed to hit. 

Her facial expressions were so cute and fun, she had the best ones!

Alison came to watch Avynlea perform and I was happy that she brought Ally with her to watch. They left after Avynlea performed but not before we found Avynlea to take some pictures with. 

I was pretty proud of the braid I did for Avynlea's hair that morning. I took a picture of her hair for my instagram hair page.

After the performance we had some waiting until awards and we used our time wisely

When it came time for awards I knew what place they were going to get because they were the only JV team there. I also assumed that Avynlea and Emma D. would be the ones to go up to get the award because they are the team co-captains. The beginning of the season started with 4 co-captains but one quit and then the other had an injury and was out of the competition, so we were left with two, the best two in my opinion ;)

I had my video rolling so that when it was announced that the first place award for JV show went to MHS I was ready and got it all on film. 

Somehow the awards people screwed something up somewhere and JV was given another first place show award. I wasn't prepared for that one since we had already received our award but it was fun to watch them run up again to get another award. Avynlea said when she got up there they tried explaining that they already got the award but the guys said take it and apologizing for screwing something up. 

Back Row: Coach Bailey, Brooke, Alyssa, Calleigh, Mairen, Maddie, Delaney, Marina and Coach Nicole

Middle Row: Hailey, Emma, Olivia, Tessa and Alexia

Front Row: Avynlea, Dreya, Hannah and Emma D

Co-Captains Avynlea and Emma D

Cheer Besties Avynlea, Hailey and Dreya