Happy Birthday Linn!!!

One of the best days in my life happened exactly 34 years ago today...and I wasn't even born yet
(I'm much, much younger than Linn, you know). And for the last 13 years, I've been able to
share in the celebration of that wonderful day--both because you deserve it (and far, far more)
and because I'm eternally grateful that somewhere in there you said "yes" while looking at me.
My words inevitably fall short, and my meager gestures even shorter. But...I love you—always!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINNY!!!

One of my favorite photos I've ever taken

I love my mom and dad.

I've been through the desert...

...on a horse with no name.
Well, maybe it had a name. I really don't know.

A few weeks ago, Jacob had a business trip to India. He was gone about a week and finally headed home. Unfortunately, the day he was supposed to land in Boston we had a huge snow storm on the East Coast. He made it as far as Dubai and was stuck there until his flight could go through to New York. From the time he left India, until the time he stepped into our home, was 57 hours. Not his quickest trip back home.

But the craziest part of the story is that while he was stranded in Dubai, he just happened to ride horses through the desert with his brother, Justin. Only in the Allen family would you get stranded halfway across the world, at the same time your younger brother happens to be there on business. And instead of going out to dinner, like a lot of people, you would of course rent horses and ride them through the desert. It makes complete sense if you are an Allen. I promise.

Thanks for bringing along your phone, Justin, I love this photo.
And I feel bad we don't often see you and your cute family.
But no worries, I'm sure Jacob will be headed to Mongolia
 sometime in the future. And (Allen) odds are, you'll be there.

My Hope is Found

I happen to love Owl City. Our whole family does really.
And just when I didn't think I could be more impressed with
Adam Young, he went and recorded this song. I love it.

Bishop Allen

Today the handsome man I married was sustained as the new bishop of our ward. I've had several people ask me if they should congratulate us or extend their condolences. I understand both, believe me, but I have to say it is a happy thing. Do we feel completely overwhelmed and humbled? Beyond belief. But honestly, we have so many blessings and Heavenly Father is so incredibly good to us, how could we not feel it a privilege to serve? Especially to be able to serve the wonderful people of our ward who we have grown to love.

Not once since we met with the stake president have I questioned Jacob's ability to be the kind of bishop he is supposed to be. I know it as deeply as I know anything. My only sadness lies with the heavy weight that I know it will be for him at times and selfishly, because I adore my husband and love spending time with him. The kids and I will miss him for sure. But my mom told me something quite a while ago that I've thought of many times since Thursday night. Several years back, Billy Graham's wife said, "I decided a long time ago, I would rather have 10% of his time than 100% of anyone else's." That is how I feel about my husband.

Because after all, I'm Bishop Allen's biggest fan.

Six point two

That is how many miles I ran today, folks. Without stopping. Now pick your jaw up
off the floor and be assured that for many people I know, that distance is no big deal.
For Linn Allen? That is a miracle of incredible proportions. My entire lower body hurts.
But I ran 6.2 miles today. Did I already mention that?

Guess who got glasses?

No big surprise considering both of his parents are blind, but we were surprised he has one eye
with perfect vision and one that could use some help in the distance department. Cam was
always one cute boy. And I think the new glasses just add to his handsomeness.

And one more

That, my friends, is a lot of snow. Enough to cause yours truly to
have to shovel it off of our cars for almost 45 minutes.

We've had two blizzards this year already.

That will do, Mother Nature, that will do.

If only it would snow a little

How cute is this?

I gave the three oldest a poster board and asked them to come up with something fun to
surprise Ben with on his birthday. This is what they created and Ben absolutely loved it!
In fact, it is hanging on the back of his bedroom door as I type.
I love it with my kids are good to each other.

Thirty-six

That is how many books I read this past year. Phew, I'm doing a little better in the reading department, which has been something I've really wanted the past couple of years. Because maybe I haven't mentioned it, but I love my time spent reading.

I enjoyed a lot of the books from this past year (which would only make sense, as I usually put down a book I don't enjoy). And so I wanted to share with you my top five (yes I'm aware no one asked me, but since when did that matter?), but it was harder than I thought to come up with them. But I finally did, and so, without further rambling...

Both Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I feel happy just typing the name of those books. I have read them before, for sure, but just felt a need to read a couple of them again. They make me joyful beyond words and laugh out loud on a regular basis. I need to read a few more of the series this year. I really need to read them with my Annie, you know, spread the happiness around.

The Year My Son and I Were Born. This book is about a woman that unexpectedly gives birth to a son with Down Syndrome and what she goes through following his birth. It is honest and emotional and beautiful and made me think hard about my being a mother. I loved this book.

The Forgotten Garden. Definitely one of my favorites of the year. If I remember correctly, it was over 700 pages, but felt like 100. I couldn't put it down. And it surprised me over and over again, which doesn't happen often with books these days. I especially loved the writing style.

Mockingjay. I am one of the many that liked this series. Not only could I not put them down, but they honestly made me think a lot about how our world runs and what we are capable of (both the good and the bad). I surprised even myself by liking this book. About three-fourths of the way through, I was convinced I would hate it. But that didn't happen. Trying not to ruin anything in case someone has not read it, my opinion is that this book was written about how life really is--there are disappointments and heartache and we just keep trying and pushing forward and we find joy. Quiet joy.

Believing Christ. Why I waited until now to read this book I will never know, because it is truly one of the best books I have ever read. There were so many ideas that I never would have thought of on my own, but when I read them, they made perfect sense. I love reading anything that helps me to understand and appreciate my Savior more. This book did just that and I am so grateful.

And now I'm curious, what fabulous books did you read this past year?

Ben's day

Our darling Ben turned three years old today. And so, in honor of this boy that
melts my heart, I give you ten wonderful things about our Benjamin Allen.

When he was born, his sweetness overwhelmed us. He was so peaceful

and calm and we felt so grateful he had joined our family.

And yet, he's never been afraid to show how he feels.
Ben has always been one that wears his feelings on his face.

Mostly that feeling is happiness.
It just shoots out of this boy, to everyone around him.

Ben loves balls. He has spent a majority of his life with a ball in his hand.
And at a very young age could throw and kick those round things like a pro.

Ben loves music. Always has. And he has dance moves the likes of which
have seldom be seen. He dances all of the time. It is like he can't help it.

He wears a faux hawk like no other. Enough said.

Breaking his leg was not our list of favorite things to happen, but after the first
day, Ben just moved on with his life, never letting that silly cast hold him back.

I have a feeling that is how our boy will handle life.

Ben pulls the best faces ever. If you have ever seen his rock star face,
you won't soon forget it. Ask to see the video sometime, if you'd like.

If a family could have a class clown, Ben would be ours. He lives to
make people laugh, and lucky for us, he is constantly succeeding.

Three years ago today, this handsome guy joined our family.
And our gratitude is almost more than we can stand.

Happy Birthday sweet boy! You are loved.

Our year in numbers

2010 arrived.

Cute Ben turned two.

Linn celebrated her old age of 33.

Jacob celebrated his young age of 33.

Sweet Matt turned six.

We took one wonderful trip to Utah.

Handsome Cam turned eleven.

Darling Annie turned nine.

My parents visited us two times.

Jacob traveled quite often to New York and DC and also visited three far off countries (Brazil, China, Nigeria).

I flew to Ohio to be at the wedding of one of my nieces.

We celebrated twelve years of wonderful marriage.

We gave thanks countless times for our Savior, our Heavenly Father and the incredible number of blessings we have.

We excitedly anticipated the beginning of 2011. Bring it on!

This man makes me happy

Jacob has the entire week off from work. His company actually closes the office and tells their employees not to come in. It is like they know my innermost thoughts. Yeah for you, Bridgespan, yeah for you. But mostly for me.

Sunday night Jacob asked if we could talk. He wanted to spend some time making a list of our plans for this week. Making a list, people. It is like he knows my innermost thoughts. It was Christmas all over again.

But my husband makes no ordinary lists. This one had a table (categories are important you know), along with things we needed to talk about (upcoming purchases, goals for 2011, kids' activities, etc.) and items to buy at the grocery store (the man asked if he could cook dinner each night this week). I don't know what is better than Christmas, but that is what I was experiencing.

{Cue the choir of happy people singing}Just now I was walking through the kitchen and saw Jacob's list on the cupboard. And do you know what the first thing on the "Things to Talk About" list was? (Now honestly, folks, I know he typed this while I was sitting there, I'm sure I even commented on it, but it must not have registered. In my defense, it was late.)

Linn, Jacob, relationship, how we're going to get along for the next 12 years...

I feel sick from laughing. Not a lot of people know this, because he tends to be more serious (tends? now that is funny), but Jacob can make me laugh harder than anyone I know.

I can't wait for this talk to take place because seriously, I think what he really meant was "How in the world am I going to get along with this crazy, OCD lady for the next 12 years?"

The best part is we get along swimmingly. (I have always wanted to use that word in a blog post. I said it in a British accent in my mind, just so you know.) There is no one in this world I would rather spend time with than Jacob. He is brilliant, happy, kind, good, handsome, thoughtful, thrify, brave, clean, reverent. I adore him.

Plus, he makes me laugh. Seriously, "how we're going to get along for the next 12 years." That is funniness like I can hardly handle.

I'll let you know how it goes.

{Cue more hysterical laughter}

Got snow?

Marriage and family

This is my niece, Leigh. Isn't she darling? She is one beautiful bride.

This is the Columbus Ohio temple. It is such a gorgeous, peaceful place.

This is Craig, Leigh's husband (of about thirty minutes when
this photo was taken). He is pretty incredible.

These are Leigh's siblings, some of my other nieces and nephews. They are fantastic
and two days with them was definitely not enough. They need to come to Boston now.

I am so grateful I was able to attend Leigh and Craig's wedding and be with my sister
and her wonderful family. I also loved being able to spend two days with my
parents, talking and laughing and just being together.

Marriage and family is the best.

The absolute best.

Our wall

Without question, one of my favorite traditions of Christmas.

Christmas morning

Ready

I love how this photo feels.
And I love that is only 11:42pm.
I cannot wait for morning.

Yesterday

Jacob and I celebrated our 12th anniversary yesterday. And it was unlike any anniversary we have ever had.

I was coming home from my niece's wedding and there were weather delays. I finally convinced Jacob to let me ride the train home from the airport (it took a lot of convincing) because the traffic was so horrible and I knew I could get there faster without he and the kids spending hours in the car. What neither one of us knew was the bus ride to the train station would take 46 years to get there (give or take a year or two). And it would make me miss the first two trains. And wait an hour for the next one. But I made it home. And he and the kids greeted me with excitement, hugs, sweet notes, a kiss and some flowers. It was good to be home.

Celebrating special days is really important to me. Really, really important. I had a hard time even planning to be gone for a part of our anniversary. So unexpectedly being gone for almost all of it wasn't my favorite, to say the least. But do you know what? It actually made me even more grateful for my marriage and the life I have because of it. I had more time than usual to think about the fact that I have the life I do because my Heavenly Father knew I needed to marry Jacob Allen.

Twelve years ago yesterday I made the best decision of my life. And because of it, I have happiness beyond what I could imagine and blessings beyond what I deserve. I feel absolutely giddy thinking of the next twelve years.

And then eternity to follow.

Christmas past ~ 2008

I love the feeling of this photo. But I love the boy in it
so much more. Darling Ben—such sweetness.

Christmas past ~ 2004

Could Matt be more adorable? No, no he could not. I could just
squeeze him through this photo. I love this sweet boy.