Cookies and PACE

On Sunday I made cookies to take to the girls I visit teach, Avynlea came with me and when we had to sit on the porch for a couple of minutes to wait for my friend to get home we snapped some pictures.

Kenedy took another picture of herself on my phone. 

Avynlea scraped her nose on the inflatable at the cheer banquet and for the next couple of days she had a lot of people asking her about it. So much that she really got tired of being asked.

Being a fourth grader Avynlea had to participate in PACE. She picked the grizzly bear to do her report on and worked really hard to find information and prepare her poster. The day before the big presentation I took her to the store to let her pick out a new top to wear. She looked so cute the next morning, I gave her a more grown-up hair do which she loved and her new top was adorable.

Rylee's class did a unit on Earth Day and they made a poster showing what they could do with their own two hands to make the Earth better. Rylee put down that she would throw away trash and pick up litter.

Whitney went to Peterson Orthodontics to get her teeth whitened and she brought Maddie with her. She sent me this cute picture of Kefford hanging out with Maddie. 

2015 Cheer Banquet

I had to leave the funeral right after it was done, before the family dinner, because Kenedy had her cheer banquet that she did not want to miss. I took Rylee and Avynlea along with me because they had an inflatable there for them to play on. It seemed to be your typical banquet with food and lots of talking. After dinner they gave out awards which were "Person voted most likely to....". Kenedy got "person voted most likely to grow up and be Beyonce". I was really confused by this but Kenedy said on the bus to Pocatello they had music playing in the back and she would get up and go back there when they were playing a song she liked and shake it like Beyonce. I am still a little confused but its all good. 

Grandma Marge

On Monday I saw on Instagram that Keffords Aunt Tami had posted a message and in it she mentioned that Grandma Marge had to be taken to the emergency room. I was concerned but didn't think too much of it because it did not seem like it was a huge deal. The next morning Kefford called me to let me know that she was in the hospital in a coma and it was his understanding that things were not looking good. He wanted me to go to the Hospital to see what was going on that morning. I asked if I should cancel my Temple attendance that morning but he did not think it was that urgent, thank heavens. I went and did my Temple work and after wards I put Grandmas name on the prayer roll. That morning at scriptures I mentioned that I was going to put her name on the prayer roll at the Temple and Avynlea looked at me in surprise and said "But Grandma is not dead". She knows we go and do work for the dead but apparently we have never talked about the Prayer roll. I explained that it was a list that we can write names on for people who are sick or who need extra prayers said on their behalf. Then for two weeks they are included in the prayers at the Temple. They thought this was cool and I mentioned that sometimes when I feel it is needed I will write their names down. I think it is important for my kids to be aware that I think about them and worry about them and write them on the prayer roll for extra help and prayers on their behalf.

When I got to the Hospital Alison and Bob were their along with Aunt Vicki, Uncle Alan, Uncle Brad and the Owyhee Ward Bishop and Counselor. Alison told me that Tami took Grandma to the Dr on Monday to have some broken ribs that were really starting to bother her x-rayed. They noticed some fluid in her lungs and sent her to the emergency room thinking she had pneumonia. While at the Hospital Grandma slipped into a coma and that is where she was at when I got there. I gathered from the vibe and things others were saying that this was really the end for her and they were waiting for her to die. It really seemed like a bittersweet time. We love her and will miss her so much but she was really in a lot of pain and really missed her sweetheart Farrell who passed away a little over a year ago. I like being able to be there with Kefford's family, there was a lot of joking around in true Peterson fashion but there was also a great feeling of love for her and each other.

I went home to go visiting teaching and later after the kids were home from school and when Kefford got home from work we took the kids to the hospital so they could see her one last time. I explained to them what was happening and let them know that it wasn't scary at all Grandma looked just like she was sleeping. When we got there Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie had arrived and were there with Bob and Alison and Aunt Vicki. Alison explained things more to the kids and they were fine with everything and I think were glad to be able to be there. What a blessing to live where we live! Mark took the kids down to walk his dog for a little bit and when he got back Bob and Alison were getting ready to leave to go home to sleep for a couple of hours before heading back the next morning so we left when they did. More people had arrived by then and it was getting pretty crowded and loud. 

Kefford sent me a text the next day around noon to let me know that Grandma had passed. 

I have spent the last couple of days reflecting on this great woman I was given the privilege to know. I am thankful for her example and Farrells of how to live the Gospel righteously. They never failed to share their testimonies of of our Saviour and they had a deep love and testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. While the passing of Marge is a sad one it is also very sweet for her to be able to be reunited with her sweetheart whom I know she missed very much.

Grandmas kids were cleaning out some things and they found this note that Grandpa had written her and she saved all these years. What a sweet find! 

Tami remembered a picture she had taken of the two of them a while ago and had a print made and framed for display at the funeral. I loved it so much I asked her if she would send me a copy.

I also took a photo of these two pictures on display. Marge and Farrell with their kids, the kids proving that no matter how old you are you are still just a kid a heart.

I really liked this picture of them in their younger days. What a good looking couple!

Fine Dining

Wednesday the kids did not have any school. I still had to teach dance in the morning and I let Rylee come along to be my helper. The rest of them stayed home and hung out and played with the neighborhood hoodlums kids. When I got home there was a lot of sitting around and boredom going on until finally we loaded up in the car and headed to Costco to get some groceries we have been needing. We left late enough that by the time we were done getting our stuff it was close to dinner time which was my master plan. Not having to cook is awesome and buying cheap hotdogs and sodas for dinner is the best! I normally go shopping when the kids are in school because it is usually easier going alone. I really liked having them with me this trip because it was super helpful having more people to grab things and load and unload. As we were eating I took a picture of the gang eating and then Rylee wanted to take one of me. I had Avynlea get in with me since I did not one of just me alone, it feels too awkward for me. Rylee was sneaky and snuck in a selfie before actually taking the picture of me and Avy. Silly girl!

Big Hair

Avynlea let me put french braids in her hair after her shower and the next morning we took them out and I brushed them out for fun. What resulted was a huge amount of big and fluffy hair on top of her head. After she took a couple of pictures of herself she had me fix it so she wasn't such a cloud of fluffy hair. What a cutie pie.

On Saturday Avynlea was invited to a friends birthday party and after the party was over her Mom sent me this Photo Booth photo she had taken of the two friends. I love it and love how easy it is to share photos with one another. Makes my picture loving heart happy!

Maddie Wall and Avynlea

A Night of One Act Plays

Kenedy had to drop out of the Adams Family play she got into because it conflicted with cheer competitions but luckily she got to participate in A Night of One Act Plays. These plays are for the beginning student actors to audition for and are directed by the advanced acting students. Kenedy got a part in a play called Scuba Lessons. She was lucky enough to get cast in the play with one of her best friends Megan Warner. Kefford, Ryker and Avynlea went on Thursday to watch but Rylee did not want to miss activity days and so I stayed home so I could take her where she needed to be. Rylee and I went to watch her on Friday night after dance. We had to rush to leave the studio right when class was over to make it. Luckily my friend Deena saved us some seats. We watched three plays that night and Kenedy's was last. I loved watching hers the best, probably because she was in it ;). I thought she did so good and looked beautiful. I was really impressed with her, she remembered her lines, she stayed in character, she did awesome!

Vivienne and Kenedy                                           Kenedy and Shelby

Kenedy and Lauren                                           Megan and Kenedy

Easter Egg Hunting

Sunday morning after the kids found their baskets and finished getting ready we headed out to the Farm to celebrate Easter with Keffords family. It's always fun to see Sara and Dustin and their girls. They live in Utah and we do not get to see them as much. I was surprised by how big Charlotte had gotten already. She is the prettiest baby and I would take her home in a heartbeat, she is so mellow and chill and an absolute little angel. Avynlea thought the same thing since I found some pictures of her on my phone.

We watched conference in the morning and then had lunch and then watched the last session of conference before the kids got to do their Easter Egg hunt. Alison and I were the only ones to supply filled Easter Eggs this year and so the kids did not get such a wide variety. The babies went first and they all got jelly beans, which is what we brought. The next group, Rylee's group, got a lot of jelly beans as well. They also got some sixlets, what Alison had. Kenedy, Ryker and Avynlea went last and after they were done, Grandma Alison took them into hr work room and gave them each a handful of chocolate m&m's.  So not a wide variety at all but all the kids were happy and had fun and that is what matters most.

Avynlea got to help hide eggs for the younger groups and I think she really loved being part of the older kids group and being treated like a big kid. These kids are growing up!

After all of the hunting the kids got to go outside to smash confetti eggs on their heads and play with bubbles.

Kenedy, Sadie, Qiana, Isabelle, Asher, Brielle, Rylee, Audrey, Avynlea, Charlotte, Madison and Tayvia

The brothers had a lot of fun playing video games and doing some brotherly bonding.

It was a nice Easter Sunday being able to watch Conference, feel the Spirit, celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior and be with family.