Allen Family New Year party

The men and the babies.

Speaking of babies, these two little ones were added to the Allen family just

a month ago and born just five days apart. Their sweetness was too much.

And time for white elephant gifts.

Apparently Grace can't handle the suspense.

And it wouldn't be an Allen family gathering without some sort of wrestling taking place.

It was such a happy night. We sure like these people. A lot.

Puzzle time

In 2014 we...

...watched Ben blow out six birthday candles.

 

...cheered for Cam (and our finances) when his braces came off.

...celebrated with Matt on his 10th birthday.

...watched 4892 club soccer games--approximately.

...spent every Friday afternoon at the stable for horseback riding lessons.

 ...said goodbye to Jacob's parents as they left for their church mission to Lebanon.

 ...felt elation and exhaustion over Jacob's weekly travel coming to an end after almost a year.

 

...commiserated with Annie (and our finances) when her braces were put on.

                      

...watched Grace's first birthday come so fast it blew our mind.

           

...celebrated Campbell's 15th birthday.

...witnessed our Annie officially become a teenager.

...said hello to Linn's parents as they returned home after their three-year church calling to Fiji.

 

 ...cheered for our Nate when his long-awaited 3rd birthday finally arrived.

...celebrated the 16th anniversary of our little (turned big) family beginning.

...felt overwhelmed that our Heavenly Father would continue to bless us so very much.

...gratefully shared our testimony of our Savior and His birth that gives us endless hope and happiness.

December phone pics

My December sky picture from our porch. The beauty of this earth blows me away at times.

No, I am not documenting the $40.00 of gasoline I put in our car. The pump actually stopped on its

own when the tank was full and this is what I saw. Yeah, that is a quick moment of happiness for

someone with OCD. Which is just about as pathetic as documenting a regular trip to the gas pump.

Oh, this sweet boy. I love him so. Can you see what he is pointing at out the window of the

pediatrician's office window? Did I mention I adore him. On a related note, he is just fine, 

but prayers would be appreciated as we have an appointment next week with a surgeon at

Primary Children's Hospital. They are almost positive Ben has this condition. All will be well and

we are grateful to have caught it earlier than is usual, but we would be so grateful for your prayers.

Christmas morning and this little one was headed out to experience snow for the first time.

 I really do love to see the temple. Especially on my way inside to

attend the sealing of my darling nephew and his beautiful wife.

And speaking of darling and beautiful. I like these two. A lot.

And visiting the grandmas. They are so good to us and we loved being with them.

My favorite books of 2014

I know you have all been waiting for this list for a year, so here you go. I aim to please. No really, several of you kind people always let me know that you appreciate this list from someone as obsessed with reading as yours truly, so I'm going to assume you still feel the same way. Even after I have been making these lists for the last three years now. If you no longer feel that way, just keep it to yourself yes?

Oh I kid.

So, in 2014 I read 46 books. Now there are currently only 45 books on the right side bar of the blog, but I have three more chapters to go before I finish my favorite book ever, so I am definitely counting that as my 46th book read this year, as I will finish it on Wednesday. That isn't a bad number for me and I am grateful for the extra time to read now that the little ones are a little less labor intensive. I still have many days that go by that I'm not able read at all, but I love that there are so many that I can. It truly is one of my favorite things to do--without question.

So without further rambling...

The Book of Mormon
The link above shares my feelings for this book. I actually don't know how many times I have read it, but it is a lot (I still read it two times each year). But no matter how many times I read it, it still changes me with every reading. I love it so much and am so grateful for it.

Wonder
How to describe this books? I just think it should be required reading for every child age 10 and above (or so). And every adult, no matter what age they act. This book will change how you treat others around you. I guarantee it. Or at least it should.

Drops of Gold
I pretty much like any book by Sarah Eden. And this one was such a fun read. I don't have a lot to say about it, except it made me happy.

Motherhood Realized
This is a tremendous book about motherhood and the privilege it is, the choices we make and how we need to be kind to ourselves and to others. I liked it a whole lot.

Seeking Persephone
Although I just mentioned that I like most any book by Sarah Eden, I think if I had to choose a favorite, this one would win. Oh man, I loved this book.

The Selection
Oh this book was just fun. It didn't change any part of me or make me wiser or kinder, but sometimes I just love reading fun books that don't make me have to focus too hard (especially with my tired brain these days). I liked it so much I read the next two in the series.

The Romeo and Juliet Code
I read this book when Annie finished it and really liked it. I almost didn't give it a chance after the first few pages (what a strange beginning), but I'm glad I did. I liked the story and the writing style was unique. Even though it was a book for youth, I was glad I read it.

My Home Runneth Over
A few months ago, my cute grandma sent some things my way to give to different family members, and she included this book for me. It is an older book and the author's silliness made me laugh plenty. I truly was so grateful to have read it. It made me think differently about my family and why I choose to do what I do and what a blessing my children are to me.

The Peacegiver 
If I were listing books in the actual order I loved them, this book would be right under The Book of Mormon. No question or doubt. And not just for the year 2014. It changed my thinking and how I interact with literally every person I meet, whether I know them or not. I still have so far to go, but oh how I loved this book and what it taught. Life changing to be sure.

The Mistletoe Promise
Oh man, was this sappy and sweet. And I loved it.

Happy reading fabulous people!

Happy day

This is my nephew and his new wife. I was so grateful to be in the temple 

today to watch as they were sealed. My dad performed the sealing and all

I can say is that it was one of the sweetest moments of my life. 

Congratulations Haden and Camille! We are so happy for you both.

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning

Our Gift

"How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv'n!"

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Pigtails

Davis family Christmas party

(Oh man, so many of my photos didn't work because of the lighting. And possibly

the photographer. But we had such a fun night at my parent's house--delicious food,

fun games, visiting and laughing, reading and singing together. It was just really nice.)

It still blows my mind

I ADORE this man. The one on the right. (Although the other one, and his wife, are fabulously kind

and good too.) But the one on the right...oh the one on the right. I pretty much love him. A lot.

An amazing day

My incredible husband had the privilege of personally interviewing George W. Bush this morning. 

Anyone want to try and imagine how proud (hopefully righteously), giddy and humbled I have felt all day?

Boy howdy, when Jacob called and told me the details of the interview, I have seldom felt so much admiration

(and believe me, I already admired our former president) for someone’s brilliance, kindness and humor.

A professional photo was taken of Jacob with President Bush, along with Mrs. Bush

who just happened to be coming down the hall at the time, and should hopefully be sent our

 way relatively soon. But in the meantime, this photo of the cards President Bush insisted on

signing personally for each of our kids, after asking Jacob about his family, will have to do.

The Lord is so kind to orchestrate amazing opportunities I personally could never have 

imagined in my wildest dreams. Jacob is so capable and qualified and to say I am grateful for 

him and his goodness would be a ridiculous understatement. And really, anyone who asks 

about our little family and insists on being this kind to our children, especially considering 

President Bush’s pressing responsibilities, has earned my adoration forever.

We are truly so very blessed.

(Even if Jacob didn't pretend like he had a seventh child named Linn.)

The sky at the end of our street tonight

Little lady on her way to church

You know, just shrugging off all of the compliments about her cuteness.

Time with cousins

My cute younger sister and I talk often, but unfortunately, we live quite far apart, so we don't see

each other in person much. Well, tonight, we decided to remedy that and our little family drove

out to have time together to talk and laugh and eat dinner. The cousins had a great time playing

and we loved celebrating their youngest's first birthday. Happy times with family for sure!

Lining up youngest to oldest for a game. Unfortunately, I had the wrong lens on
 my camera and couldn't get the whole group. But man, these kids are adorable.

An impromptu game of stacking up the Christmas bowls.

And adorable Greysen and his birthday cupcake (which he turned over before
I could get off the wrapper). This boy is the sweetest thing you will ever meet.

We loved being with Megan and her family and hope it can happen again soon!

A field trip with Annie girl

I had the chance to go on an Honors English field trip with Annie and a good part of her 7th grade class and I was so grateful for that time with her. Jacob had an available afternoon to work from home, so I signed up before anything changed and Annie and I waited anxiously for the time to come.

We honestly had the best time! I absolutely love being with Annie. The field trip actually started about 1pm and didn't get over until about 8pm, so it was a long evening, but truly fun.

As a chaperone, I was put in charge of several girls. I had to laugh that for some reason I had seven girls to keep track of, while the other chaperones were paired up with at least one other parent (in many cases two or more) and had about four students to keep track of. I guess they know I am used to taking care of a large group.

Anyway, the students rode buses to the Hale Theatre in Salt Lake to watch the play, A Christmas Carol. Although the play wasn't until that evening, the kids got there quite early to take a tour of the theater and to have dinner before things started. I got special permission to take Annie in our car (as long as I got the other six girls on the bus at the beginning and at the end of the night) and we had such a fun time talking and laughing together.

The tour was fun, dinner was good (although crazy with so many students split between only three restaurants), but the play was fabulous. I really loved it. In fact, I loved it so much, I'm taking Jacob back for our anniversary. It was just sweet and well-acted and put me in the Christmas spirit more than anything else has so far.

Mostly, I was just happy for those hours with Annie. I honestly adore her and after spending so many hours with so many other kids her age, I came away beyond grateful for her and that she is ours. (Don't get me wrong, those other kids were great, I just happen to like Annie a whole lot.)

The theatre lobby.

Our group of girls.

And this girl I love. A lot.

First grade Christmas concert

Because I had already signed up to be a field trip chaperone for Annie's Honors English class,
I was going to miss Ben's first grade Christmas concert. I was pretty devastated to find out it

was the same day, as I had never missed any of the kids' concerts. In a reply to an email Ben's

teacher sent me, I shared with her how sad I was to miss it, but mentioned Jacob would take

my place. Ben's teacher immediately wrote back, telling me that the class had a dress 

rehearsal the day before and I was welcome to come to that. Oh man, I was so thankful!

 The almost empty auditorium was a huge bonus for Nate and Grace.

And for their mother who feels no guilt when it comes to child labor.

 This sweet boy chatting to his friends before things began.

 And the Christmas carols were sung. I seriously loved it.

But not as much as this boy. Boy howdy, I adore him.

Another pack meeting

Sure love this boy.

My buddies during the day

Empty

Two days ago, this was my seat companion on the way home from the post office. 

And while it might make more sense to take a picture of this box completely full 

of Christmas cards before they are sent off, I think I prefer this photo instead. 

Done and done. I absolutely love sending Christmas cards. 

Almost as much as I love receiving them. Happy day!

Elder Fernandes

Just a couple of months ago, we heard that one of the young men that was in our ward in Massachusetts had received his mission call...to Bakersfield, California. And that he would be leaving the first part of December to enter the MTC to prepare himself to serve the Lord, and the people of California, for the next two years. When Jacob heard all of this, he asked if it would be a problem to have Samir with us between the time that he flew into Utah and the next day, when he would actually enter the MTC. We both jumped at the chance.

And the privilege of having the incredibly good young man you see below at our home for the last 24 hours has touched my heart deeply. I have cried on his mom's behalf a few times since yesterday afternoon. And he has sure reminded us how much we love and miss our Boston friends.

Last night, as we were all getting ready to go to bed, we had our regular family scripture study. And Samir joined in. Just by chance (no such thing), we were in a specific chapter in the Book of Mormon and Samir took the last turn reading. The last sentence that he read, that ended the chapter, that ended scripture study for the night and that ended our time together before Jacob took him to the MTC this morning, again brought tears to my eyes.

"Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell." (Alma 37:47)

God loves His children. This I KNOW.