Shhhh

Here is a picture of the quietest street in America. It is taken from in front of our house (our front lawn is on your left). We have been here nine days. And have literally seen four neighbors outside. Literally. Hours go by without any cars passing. What a crazy feeling after living in student housing for four years.

Finally on Friday, we met the neighbors across the street and the woman that lives next door to them. They were oh so nice. (They haven't come out again, but did I mention they were nice?) I honestly had started to think that the homes on our street were only for decoration. That people didn't actually live in them. Now I know they live in them, but I'm not sure they leave them.

We went on a walk after dinner tonight. It was quiet, quiet, quiet. We are really hoping it is because school does not start until Thursday and people are still on vacation. If not, we are in for a silent year. But hey, my personality is so calm and quiet that I'll fit right in. Just the neighborhood for me. A self-proclaimed wall flower. Just be sure that when you come to visit, you bring your inside voice.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Mowing the lawn

Doesn't seem significant enough to blog about does it? But it is to us. Because
this is the first time in almost ten years that we have mowed our own lawn.
And what a beautiful yard. Can you believe those trees? Happy day.

I can drive to the grocery store and back

We are here. And happy. And almost completely unpacked. We have taken today off, with it being Sunday and all, so there are just a few things left to do tomorrow. But for the most part, we are good to go. The house is wonderful, the yard is even more wonderful and if we could catch up on our many hours of lost sleep, it would be the most wonderfulest. I'm sure that is a word.

We were able to attend our new ward today and really liked it a lot. The people were extremely kind and welcoming and we feel excited to be a part of their lives. The kids enjoyed their Primary classes and were super excited and talkative all the way home. And Jacob took Ben during the second and third hour of church for the first time since he was born. I could not believe what it felt like to just sit and listen.

The GPS has saved us many a time and we honestly do not know what we would do without it. Of all the places we have lived, the streets in this place are the most confusing and random. I'm sure they will make more sense soon, or at least I hope, but for now, power up the GPS for sure.

Tonight, Jacob's cousins, Heather and Matt, had us over for dinner. When we arrived, there was a sign on the door that read "Welcome fellow Allens!" Oh we loved it. They have three kids almost exactly the same ages as our kids and it was so fun to watch them all play together. The dinner was wonderful and being able to talk with Matt and Heather was just so relaxing and nice. Thanks Heather and Matt!

Well, definitely time for bed. Jacob starts his job in the morning and we definitely could use some sleep. Wish him luck. He will be amazing, no doubt about it. Okay now, enough from this tired blogger.

Good night from Boston everyone.

The beautiful Nauvoo temple

Road trip

Jacob and Campbell drove across the entire country with all of our belongings. One fifteen-foot Budget truck and one trailer on the back, hauling our Honda. These two are amazing. And being the great dad that he is, Jacob stopped at several church history sites along the way. They were able to see Nauvoo, Carthage, Kirtland and the Sacred Grove. What a dad! And Cam was incredible. Never complained once. Truly. Not even when they were ninety minutes from our home and two tires blew on the trailer. Not even when it took Budget seven hours (until 2:00am) to get them on the road again. Jacob is not in any hurry to step foot in a Budget (or any other moving truck for that matter) in the near or distant future. Cam said he would go again in a second. Come again? And now, some pictures of their trip.

Benjamin

A week in Utah with cousins

Annie and Noah loved playing together and even planted

this awesome flower garden, with the help of my sister, Megan.

I absolutely love this picture of Ben with his cousin Tai.
Now I just need a picture of my brother, Ben, with my brother, Tai.

Our three youngest with Madison, Kennedy, Noah, Tai and Gwen.

Okay technically not a cousin, but Mia was definitely Annie's
favorite friend whenever we were at my sister Tara's house.

Matt and Noah were so funny together and got along fantastically.

Our three youngest with their cousins Davis, Brynn, Alex and Noah.

Ben with little Lucy. This picture just cracks me up.
Okay he is four months older, but really...he is such a chunky monkey.

The Grandkids Olympics

Jacob's dad is so creative and fun. He planned and put on the Allen Grandkids Olympics and boy was
it a hit. Every detail was included. It was so amazingly cute. Thank you Grandpa Rex! We loved it.

The opening ceremonies. I'm not sure how far the athlete in the back
of the line will be marching, but he is just happy to be a part of it.

As the opening ceremonies continue, the gap widens. This was part of Lucy's plan to make
them think she was slower than the rest, and then when the events begin, take them all by
surprise and leave them in the dust. I believe she borrowed the idea from Michael Phelps.

The trampoline event. Some amazing air was witnessed.

Track and field. Expert runners. Every one of them.

The gold medal ceremony. Look at the pride in their eyes.

My three participants and their gold medals.

One last trip to the beach

One last bike ride

This morning, Jacob and his good friend, Josh, said goodbye. I've mentioned the Wests several times before on our blog. They have been our best friends here in San Diego and we miss them like crazy. They left about a month ago, but Josh has been back for the past several days to defend his dissertation and finish all of the paperwork involved. And while he was here, he and Jacob went on several rides together. Just like they always did when the Wests lived right next to us. But this morning, it was different because they were saying goodbye.

Now most of us say goodbye by eating, visiting and crying a bit. But not Jacob and Josh. They thought a bike ride would be a good way to part. And not just any bike ride. A fifty-six mile bike ride would probably do. And for those that are die-hard cyclists, that may not seem like a lot. But these two crazies have only been biking for a short time. But that did not stop them. It exhausted them. A lot. But they did it. And did it well. And even though men do not usually talk about such things, I think I have a small idea of how much Jacob will miss his friendship with Josh. And not just because Josh is the only one crazy enough to ride fifty-six miles with Jacob. Just for the fun of it.

One last date

At least in San Diego. Last night, Jacob and I were able to go on a long date together. For the last three years, we have been trading babysitting with our good friends, Isa and Ben. Every weekend, one couple gets to go on a date, while the other person (usual myself or Isa) sits with our sleeping kids. It has been absolutely wonderful and having two dates a month is going to be very hard to give up. While scheduling our last couple of switches before our big move, Isa and I decided we would each take a turn having a long date, instead of the two or three hours we usually have in the evening. And so last night, we got our turn to go out for the entire afternoon and evening. We loved it. And the kids had the best time ever with the Sabeys.

We started our date at the beach. Although it was the most crowded we have ever seen it in four years, it was a beautiful day and we loved relaxing and enjoying the sand and water. Jacob went snorkeling and saw a guitar fish, a sting ray and even touched a turtle. Super cool.

Next, we came home quickly to change and go to the San Diego temple for the last time. I love this temple. I loved being there with Jacob. I know we will love the temple in Boston, but this particular temple will always hold a special place in my heart. I just had to take a picture as we were leaving.

And then we headed to Old Town in San Diego for dinner. It was wonderful just 

to eat and visit and talk about our time here and how much we have loved it.

It was truly a fantastic way to spend out last date here in this beautiful place.

Thanks Isa and Ben! We will definitely miss you guys.

Max 30

Last Sunday, I woke up to my four darling kids and their incredible creativity. Jacob always has early-morning meetings before we all go to church, so he was already up and gone. I guess, just as he was leaving, Ben woke up. And being such a thoughtful husband, he asked the three older kids to tend Ben quietly so I could get more sleep. I woke up an hour later and when I entered the kids' room, there they all sat, quiet and happy and tending Benjamin. What a sweet moment for a mom.

And what had kept them quiet and happy? They were working on a project together. They had decided to build a play area for Ben, to keep him entertained. And the idea went from that, to a play area that ALL could use and enjoy. But not just any play area would do. The setup was important, the plan for what each area would be used for was important, the grand opening was definitely important, but mostly, the rules were important. Now before I share these rules, please keep in mind, that this particular play area was about three feet by four feet. It was an area on the ground, with blankets and pillows neatly arranged over it. On each side of it was a bed. And apparently the beds were extensions of the main play area. Now on with the rules. I left each rule as it was written by our three kids. Spelling and all.

#1. Age 9 and under.

(That just makes sense. Nine-year-olds would probably be taller than 
the actual dimensions of the play area and we can't have that.)

#2. No electronics.

(Because who can enjoy a play area with all those cell phones going off?)

#3. Max 30.

(Phew. Thirty-one kids would definitely be too many.)

#4. Put dipers in basket.

(No one needs dirty diapers littering the ground where they play.)

#5. If you see a hole cover it up quickly.

(Safety first, my friends. Safety first.)

#6. Be quiet please.
(After all, our house is usually so calm and quiet, I'm sure this won't be difficult at all.)

#7. Only camras.
(Okay, maybe not all electronics are bad. I wonder where
they get their tolerance, I mean love, of cameras?)

#8. Only 15 toys at one time.
(Let's not be greedy. Fifteen is plenty everyone.)

#9. Only bottels.
(Cups can be messy and we can't spend all day cleaning up after you.)

#10. If your baby starts crying take out please.
(Please allow everyone to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.)

#11. Only 3 babies in the sleeping aria.

(I believe the sleep area was Annie's bed. I won't go into the safety factor 
of putting three kids on a bed without any railing or restraint.)

#12. Only 5 babies in play aria.
(Okay, if there are five babies in the play area, please make sure there are
only twenty-five additional children with them. Remember rule #3 please.)

#13. Watch kid at all times.
(Is this for safety reasons, or is this a hint that you should only
bring one child at a time? Kid. Singular, not plural. Got it?)

And then there was the grand opening. The kids spent hours after church making all sorts of decorations. They colored a huge red ribbon and stretched it from one bed to the other. Then they invited us in to watch the festivities. When we walked into the room, there stood the three of them in front of the red ribbon. Cam had a pair of scissors. On the count of three, they chanted in unison, "The play area is now open." The red ribbon was cut and happiness ensued.

So if you are ever in our neighborhood, please check out our play area. I think it would be well-worth your time. And goodness sake, when we move to Boston, think of the space we could have there. Max 30? Yeah right. New rule. Max 230. Come on over. I mean, really. See how happy your child would be enjoying our play area?

Bring on the gold

Oh, I'm so excited. I absolutely LOVE the Olympics! If you need me,
I'll be in front of my television for the next seventeen days.

Pioche

For real

We have a house! And it is beyond unbelievable. I honestly do not have the ability to put
into words how grateful I am, nor how excited I am. The way it all came about is absolutely
incredible. And this house is honestly ten thousand times more wonderful than any of the
other houses we considered. We were truly guided to it and I just feel so thankful and happy.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We know ours were answered. They always are.
We are so thrilled with the house, the neighborhood, the ward and the schools.
It is a happy day at the Allen household. And now, a few pictures to share.

The front, but kind of from the side. It is almost 2300 square feet. What are we
going to do with all of that space? The neighborhood looks wonderful too.

The yard. Need I say more? I always do. About a fourth of an acre and totally
fenced in  except that small part straight ahead where the driveway meets the yard.

The only inside picture I will pester you with. Oo-da-la-lee.
Look at that kitchen, my friends. Happiness.

Okay enough of that already. We are just so very, very grateful.
For your prayers, for this house and for Heavenly Father's constant kindness.

Challenges and blessings

So I have not written about what is happening with the house situation and I feel like I should. Not because I think you are all sitting on the edge of your seats wondering, but because I need a record of it and there are some of you that are interested and have been thinking of us and praying for us. And we appreciate it more than you can ever imagine.

It has been a hard week. Monday the first house fell through. I was sad and emotional for a few minutes and then Jacob and I decided just to move forward. Our next house on the list would be a wonderful option. It was a little more than the first, but well worth it. So we contacted our realtor, who contacted the realtor for the other house. He said the owner actually lived in Israel and he would email him and have an answer for us soon. Possibly even Monday night. In the meantime, we kept moving forward with two other homes we thought could work for our family.

To keep this account to a minimum, Tuesday came and went. Wednesday came and went. And finally, on Thursday morning, our realtor called to say that the other realtor had finally gotten a hold of his client and that his client had failed to mention to his own realtor that the people currently living in the home had changed their mind the previous week and were staying another year. A bit of a sock in the stomach for us.

We were disappointed, but moved onto the third option. Now by this time it was Thursday afternoon. And that may not seem like a big deal, as it was only three and a half days since we had received the call about the first house. But for those of you who have gone through something similar, each hour seems very, very long. At least it has for me. And the day we were headed to Boston was fast approaching. But I thought for sure Friday would be the day things would be resolved.

By Thursday night, applications were filled out and sent to the realtor of the third house that we felt good about. And when our realtor had not heard anything Friday, he called the other realtor. Several times. With no answer. And when he finally got a hold of him, the man claimed he had never received our applications. And had not checked his voice messages, so he did not know our realtor had tried to get a hold of him repeatedly. So the applications were sent again. With a follow up phone call. Which was not answered.

Saturday morning came and I was more than sure we would have things settled by nightfall. For sure, either the third or fourth house was going to come through. Hope springs eternal. We continued pursuing the fourth house, while attempting to contact the realtor of the third house. (For those of you thinking we must have the worse credit alive, we actually have wonderful credit and great references and even a dollar or two to pay the rent. And for those reasons, we just could not make sense of this all. But we kept going.)

When our realtor finally got a hold of the realtor of the third house, he once again insisted he had not received the applications (for the third time), nor had three messages been left on his phone. He said if our realtor wanted, he could fax the applications to his office, but he did not work on weekends, and did not want to go in on Monday, and could maybe get to it on Tuesday. Super, super strange. And while I do not want to call this older gentleman a liar, I am not convinced he was telling the truth. And I am really not sure why and what the problem was. But the third house was marked off our list. And we are still waiting for an answer on the fourth house.

Late last night, Jacob found an absolutely incredible home while searching through our options again. But it was almost Sunday, so we have not been able to act on it yet. And that has been a good thing. Because we needed to step back, take a deep breath and be still. And tonight we feel a lot of peace.

I have felt all along that this would work out. But I am not extremely proud of how I have handled each of these disappointments. I have handled many of them well and many not so well. I have been more frustrated with the kids than I should be. And more quiet and solemn than is like me. (Although, I’m not sure many close to me would complain about that.) And I have cried about it. Several times. And I have worried about it. A lot. And even lost some sleep to it. And I never, ever lose sleep over anything. And so while I know these are not abnormal reactions, I also know that I need to remember how many times I have felt it will all work out. Because that is all that matters. And the process, while difficult, is not what is important. Because the outcome will be the same. But how I handle myself is the true test. And I want so much to handle it well.

We are so grateful we were able to fast today. I am not a great faster (is that a word?). I fast every month, but it is hard for me. I get quite shaky and quite sick. And the minute the time for the two meals are over, I quickly close my fast. But today was different. And fasting did not feel hard for me. I fasted longer than I have in a very long time. Because I needed to show my Heavenly Father that I trust Him. And that I have faith that this is all happening for a reason. That He has a place in mind for us. And while I would love for all of this to resolve itself sooner than later, I would love even more to be able to observe myself handling this with faith and not fear. And that is the scripture, or small part of a scripture, that is running through my head today. Doubt not, fear not. And each time I begin to get worked up about this, I repeat this in my mind. Because with all of my heart, I know our Heavenly Father is aware of us. And what happens to us. And what matters to us. And what breaks our heart. And what brings us joy. And I want so very much to show my love and trust for Him.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Compared to so many hard and horrible things that happen to others, this is pretty inconsequential. But this is a big deal to us right now. And with all of our hearts, we want to do the right thing. And knowing that so many others are thinking of us, cheering for us, and praying for us, makes this silly little problem better. You cannot imagine how much you mean to us.

And as if this post is not already too long, here are the words to a hymn that has been running through my mind for almost two weeks. I love this hymn.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
Oh my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
Join the great throng, Psaltery, organ and song,
Sounding in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord! Over all things He gloriously reigneth.
Born as on eagle wings, safely His Saints He sustaineth.
Hast though not seen, How all thou needest hath been
Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.
Surely His goodness and mercy shall every attend thee.
Ponder anew, What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath breath, join with Abraham’s seed to adore Him!
Let the “amen,” Sum all our praises again,
Now as we worship before Him.

Sprayground