One Day....

One day I will be caught up on my blog...one day. Today is not that day, but it is the day I thought would be good for a summer recap. Where did the summer go? The kids and I made a "bucket list" at the beginning of summer and not even half of it was accomplished! It didn't bother me so much until the last week of summer and then an urgency to fill that week with memories took over- that and the fact that when the kids go back to school I wanted their "What I did this summer" papers to be filled with adventures- not "I sat around and played video games"! But as I look back on our photos, we did a lot and made some great memories! So our bucket list is already ready for next summer. Yeah! I'm a step ahead! So here is our summer in glance....

We finally made it to the Manti Pageant! (minus Jake who was scout camp) The kids loved it! We were able to meet a few cast members, visit the bathrooms a million times, eat tons of snacks, enjoy the view of the temple and then watch a great performance. Afterwards we settled into a hotel for the night and the next morning on our way home, stopped at seven peaks for a family swim. Tons of fun!

The next week Ethan was fortunate enough on Pioneer Trek to Martins Cove in Wyoming. From what he tells us he was a hard working pioneer and had a good time. I think he made great looking pioneer.

He loved his hat- wanted to wear it everywhere!

The next day after Ethan returned we made our way to McCall Idaho for the Allen family reunion. We stayed in a great cabin. We had access to a pool, tennis courts and an elementary school playground was out the back door. We were able to hang out at the lake the entire day- swimming, waterskiing, eating and just good ole' hanging out. The next day Ben and the kids went mountain biking. Will and I  returned to the lake to play in the sand. We were pretty excited when we purchased our 5-bike rack for the trip and I'm so glad we did. The kids loved the bike ride and I'm sure we have more riding in our future. Back at the cabin we did some swimming at the pool, (belly flop contest was the best!), watched videos of our auntie from Ireland, played family Jepordy, destroyed a pinata, and did some more family bonding with staying up late and just hanging out. Good memories! The kids are already talking about next year! 

We were sad to leave such a great place with great family. I think we successfully wore out all the kids, which lead to us having a quiet 4th of July. The day after we returned from our family reunion was the 4th and we stayed home and relaxed, had a bbq and roasted smores. We set off our own fireworks- had a great finale and then gathered in the backyard to watch the Thanksgiving Point fireworks. Low key- just what we needed. 

The summer continued with more scout camps, hanging out with cousins, swimming, Real soccer games,  family hiking and so much more. The summer flew by. 

One of the best parts about this summer was my 20 year high school reunion. I was absolutely ecstatic to fly by myself to Moses Lake. I had the best time! I was a little worried about my family but only because on the drive from Spokane to moses they called me over 5 times. Once by Jake just to tell me about a security company calling about a new system- he couldn't find Ben so he called me! And another with Jocelyn crying cuz she missed me and was surrounded by stinky boys!  I was so excited to be with my high school besties. (Sad that 3 of our group were unable to go) It felt like we never were apart- I love those girls so much and am grateful that we were able to share our lives with each other. I learned so much over the time we were together. What great women we have become! Although the reunion was a little lame, we still had a blast. We stayed up late each night, went boating (flattered by some young boys-we still got it!) went to church together (loved listening to Emily sing in the choir), and relished in the fact that old boyfriends did not have wives that were as cute as us! What a refreshing weekend- I sooo needed this. I couldn't help but laugh and then cry as I thought back on my weekend as I drove to the Spokane airport. Can't wait for Vegas in a couple of years! Love these girls!

Will turns 2!

    So the smallest Allen in our family turned 2 a couple weeks ago. Cute Will had a great birthday. We took a trip to Walmart to get balloons and cake and then met up with dad at Toys R Us and then lunch at Mcdonalds. Will had so much fun at Toys R Us! For the first time ever at a store, I let him walk and roam around. He went from aisle to aisle just jabbering and talking and squealing at each toy he played with. He stayed close by me -thanks goodness- I had subluxed my patella the week before and this was the first since it happened that I had really walked around for any length of time and my leg was killing me. Hence the store bought cake and last minute gift. Since our boys have a million toys (not really- just seems like it) we had a tough time deciding. We picked out a scooter. He has tried to ride the kids scooters when we are outside and he just gets frustrated that he can't quite get the hang of it. So a cute 3 wheeled scooter was chosen in hopes that he would be able to learn to ride it soon.
   Will is over all a pretty mellow kid - as you can tell in the pictures- he was thoughtful as he opened his presents. His trains from his Aunt Helen and Uncle Bob were a hit and he was pretty content and could have cared less about the next present. After some coaxing he ripped into the next one and was pretty excited about the scooter. Big smiles and a little babbling( now that's excitement!).

    Cake was next- he loves to watch Super Why on PBS. It's pretty cute to see him get up on the couch so fast and funny to watch him get comfy and of course the blanket on his lap is a must. He's pretty particular. I love listening to him yell his letters at the TV as the super team solved the problem. He only knows how to say A and E so those are repeated multiple times throughout the show. So of course I made his cake into a super why cake and he loved it. More jabbering. He loved blowing out his candles so much that we relight them a couple of times. His excitement was bigger with each lighting of the candles. After cake was a little practicing on the scooter. The next day he had a break through and had the scooter down! Scootin' around the house like it was no big deal. He learned it quick! What a cutie! Such a blessing to our family- He is the calm after the storm (Owen) and I so need calm. He is an sweet spirit in our family and has such an easy going personality- except for when we're at church- we're still working on going to nursery. It will get easier but for now we are just enjoying every stage of this cute little kid to the fullest. He is loved more than he knows!

ETHAN!

      I can not believe that I am the mother of a fourteen year old! And what a handsome one,  might I add. This cute boy is funny, querky, skinny as a toothpick, obsessed with different things daily, happy to be getting an A in math! (lots of hard work) , Doctor Who watcher and extreme couponing addict, science minded, amazing piano player and composer (makes up the most creative songs on the piano and then we all get to hear it full force for weeks to come!), Band geek, Geocacher, Rocket builder, priesthood holder, supreme wrestler of his brother, and just all around great kid! We are so lucky to have him in our family! 

      This year Ethan's birthday came around while we were on spring break. Lucky boy. Thought that we would celebrate it in Vegas but since we headed home early - he spent it in the car. Poor kid- didn't complain at all. The next day Ben and I took him to Hobby Lobby where after getting submerged in all the model rockets, one was finally chosen, extra engines and all. Ethan spent the next couple days glueing and cutting and building those two rockets and on Saturday between conference sessions we headed out to the field near our house- and with our friends - Aaron and Andrew Hill - we were able to launch Ethan, Jakes, and Andrews rockets. The boys loved it! The little kids did too. (they loved running out in the field to find the launched rockets) We were lucky enough to  have that small window of good weather and then it went bad, fast, we ran back to the house, just in time as the rain and wind really picked up and just in time for the next session of conference. Worked out perfect. The boys were hooked and can't wait to do it again. 

Totally takes after me- costco chocolate cake- YUM!

It's about time!

Busy! Busy! Who isn't right? It's about time I did a catch up on the blog. We have kept busy with a variety of fun activities while we patiently have waited for the nice weather to arrive.

The kiddos found that puzzles were fun again.

Will is slightly obsessed with Geo Traxx and Thomas trains right now. He is forever building or driving a train. Most of the time he has both tracks out at the same time.

We did a little laying outside- sledding and backyard fun. Will loved to be pulled around on the sled by his brothers and sister.

Some of the time you could find Will in our bed reading or watching George or Super Why (his favorites TV shows). Sippy cups are never far away!

Valentines days was exciting. Owen had his first Valentines party at school. We made cute valentines with one of his favorite things. Sticky Hands! Jocelyn made her valentine box and again we made her cut valentines. Riley was easiest- no box this year and he settled for ninjago valentines. What an easy going kiddo!

Will refuses to eat in his high chair for lunch and sometimes breakfast. He thinks he's a big kid and wants to watch whatever Owen is watching on the Ipad.

Owen participated in Itty Bitty Ball. I hoped it would wear him out. No such luck! Found out he is a little ball hog while playing soccer!

Jocelyn and Jake played indoor soccer this year. Jocelyn did Futsal with her outdoor team and Jake played with the Lehi rec team. He knew a few players and both him and Jocelyn were able to increase their skill level. They are both amazing goalies and defenders!

Self explanatory- easter bunny didn't come til 5 am to our house, forgot half the stuff and kiddos were up and down all night. It doesn't help that I worked all night and was exhausted! You would have thought it was Christmas! We had a quiet day with yummy ham dinner and pie.

This week is spring break. I had a great idea to go to vegas just for a quick getaway. It was a little rough. Vegas is a little overstimulating for Owen. You would think that with all the walking we did he'd would have been worn out- so not so! But we did have fun at the M&M store, circus circus and a quick stop by the Gold and Silver Pawn shop for Ben and the boys. The weather was amazing and now we are back home to yucky weather. Still, we had a lot of fun!