Wednesday

Wednesday after walking the boys to school for their FIRST DAY, Emily, Megan and Ryan helped me make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies and a crockpot of Thai Soup. Then at 1:00 I headed to the airport to pick up Ashlyn, Derek, Dallas, Cash and Nikole, Kayla and Bode. We got home just as Luke and Matt were running up the street. The cousins ran to meet them and they hugged on the sidewalk. So fun to have them here!! It was fun to show Nikole and kids around the house since it was their first time here. Bode ran in the house and exclaimed, “I’ve never seen your kitchen except in pictures!” We did the tour, got their luggage settled and enjoyed some FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL cookies. Chris got home at 5:00 and we talked until I left with Megan for soccer carpool. Thai Soup for dinner and lots of playing in the backyard. We played a few games – and taught Nikole how to play Castles of Burgundy. Nikole, Ashlyn and I finished the game and then talked until too late. Especially for me who is still a bit jet-lagged. Chris and Ryan headed up to the airport to pick up Katie and Grandma. Katie had a busy day finishing her last final, moving out of her apartment, meeting up with Grandma Walton to hand over some extra frozen foods, and then getting picked up by Grandma Johnson to drive to the airport. So exciting to have Katie back with us too!

Thursday

Thursday was Emily and Megan’s first day of school – Emily: a Sophomore at Pine Creek and Megan: an 8th Grader at Challenger. Then the boys headed to school and the rest of us lounged in our pajamas for awhile. We spent an hour or two at the new Jon Valencia Park and then Ashlyn took the cousins home in the van and Ryan, Katie, Grandma, Nikole and I headed over to the Shops at Briargate to shop for a new white shirt etc. for Ryan. We had a great time checking out a few stores and then grabbed Thai Chicken Salads from Modern Market to eat for lunch. Thank you Grandma. While Cash napped we played lots of games. We had tacos for dinner once Chris got home, and then went on a walk around the neighborhood. Then we sat on the front lawn while the kids rode bikes and scooters and some of us played basketball. Such great weather. More games. : )

Friday

Friday I got the kids off to school and then did some grocery shopping at Target and then headed to my YW’s Meeting. (Two new ladies: Colette Hatch and Shireen Woodward). At noon we headed down to the pool and I pulled Luke and Matt out to enjoy it with us. We had the whole thing to ourselves. Such great weather.

We got home, pulled out some lunch and then showered just in time for the Graham’s to get here! The kids were SO EXCITED! The Graham kids didn’t know they were coming until they just showed up at our door. It was so fun!

Megan volunteered to watch the kids for the evening so we helped make dinner for them and then took off for an adult dinner at our favorite Thai Place – NaRai Thai. We ended up talking and laughing for a long time after dinner was over. Not sure how you can laugh so hard over favorite candy bars but we did it. Back at home we got the kids set up for cousin sleepovers all over the house and then watched Wonder Woman down in the basement.

Saturday

Megan headed to the YW Stake Soccer Tournament and Emily stayed home because she was sick, but the rest of us headed to Garden of the Gods. THE place to go with company who has never been to Colorado Springs. We wandered around the paths and the kids enjoyed climbing all over the rocks.

So many people were enjoying the park with us so we decided to have our picnic lunch back at the Valencia Park instead of try to find four parking spaces and picnic tables. The park was busy with a community carnival of sorts so we ate lunch and also enjoyed a little face painting, balloon animals, popcorn and music for a little dance party. We headed back to the house and played a few rounds of Hand and Foot. Then we opted to leave the kids home again and went to Biaggi’s for dinner… and then back home to watch THE QUIET PLACE with Ryan. Such a great movie!

Sunday

Sunday was such a great day. Chris made Christmas breakfast for everyone and then we got ready to head over to the church. The Larson’s saved us a couple of pews which I was grateful for. Love my friends. Owen Theurer spoke… and then Audra Sidwell and both did a great job and brought the Spirit into the meeting. Then Sis. Messerly played a beautiful piano piece “I’ll Go Where you want me to Go” and then leaned over to Ryan when she finished and said, “That was for you.” Ryan started his talk with a few minutes of Albanian and then spoke of different experiences he had on his mission and how the Book of Mormon can change people’s lives. He did such a great job. I maintained emotional composure pretty well until President Lovejoy came up to shake our hands and told us that we have a pretty special boy. Fun to chat with so many good friends. The Grahams left after Sacrament meeting to head home, which we didn’t know about so didn’t get pictures, which was too bad.

Our first family picture after Ryan got home…

Ryan with Ashlyn and boys – and Nikole, Kayla and Bode.

We made Baked Potatoes, corn, bread and Wintergreen Salad for dinner. Nikole and Ashlyn were so helpful getting everything ready for dinner and the Open House. So great to have them visit. We had so many good friends come to welcome Ryan home. So fun to talk to everyone… the Pattersons, Nortons, Bevans, Hansens, Richins, Seaquists, Harvey kids, Jacksons, Bosses, Campbell’s, Gaskills, Hales, Horspools, Kinnairds, Larsons, Milners, Nielsens, Redds, Theurers, Swendsens, Daylee Kirkham, Carlsons, Leishmans, Tara Kelly-Cruz and the Murrays. We served cookies and fruit. It was a great night.

Just a few pictures as the first people came to the Open House…

Everyone loved the wall of Ryan’s mission pictures.

Monday

The kids went to school and Ryan and Katie stayed at home and watched the cousins so Grandma, Nikole, Ashlyn, Chris and I could go eat breakfast at La Baguette and then walk around the Broadmoor. I’ve been inside a few times but Chris hasn’t at all. It’s such a cool place. So fun to walk around and explore.

We played one more game of Istanbul and then everyone started to pack up. Chris took Ashlyn and Nikole and kids to the Denver airport, and Ryan took Grandma to the Colorado Springs airport and I took Luke and friends to soccer practice. So glad everyone could come spend the weekend with us. For FHE the 8 of us had a family council about the next week and then watched the newest THOR movie. Ryan was so excited.

Ryan’s Homecoming Weekend