Hike 1 of 17

I want to go on (at least) 17 hikes in the year 2017. And Jacob and I finally made it out on our
first one this afternoon. It was a winter hike, which doesn't really seem like me now does it?
But I loved it. It was beautiful and hard and worth every second. I needed those three miles to
climb and feel the sun and be with Jacob and just talk and laugh. I have such a wonderful life.

Wolf rank

This darling boy of ours earned his Wolf rank tonight. So proud of his drive and his desire to

do good things. And I'm so thankful for incredible scout leaders and a tremendous husband

who help our boys learn to love working hard toward something worthwhile and lasting.

Love this sweet boy so much.

Snow fun

March Gladness

Oh my word, people, oh my word. My wonderful in-laws and my incredible husband gave me
one of the most exciting gifts I have ever received. Guess during two days of March Madness?
Sitting through a dozen March Madness games in Salt Lake. Are you kidding me? There are
no words for the excitement I felt after I purchased the tickets. I am so, so, so excited!

In case you couldn't tell.

57 days. Just 57 more days.

My favorite books of 2016

I'm a little late this year with this post, sorry to keep the masses waiting. (Or all three of you.) But it is finally up, so enjoy. Or don't. I'll never know.

As always, in no particular order, except my favorite one always going first, my favorite books of 2016...

The Book of Mormon
I really don't know what to say that I haven't already said. This book has changed my life. It blesses me every single day and I know it is true. I know it. It has helped me to more fully become the person I promised my Heavenly Father I would become. I have so far to go, but am so grateful I have The Book of Mormon to help me try to get there. If you haven't read it, I recommend it more than any other book I have ever read. I love it so.

Where the Wind Leads
This book had me thinking deeply about refugees and the power of the human spirit for days and days after I finished it. It really is an amazing read. (And also happened to be my 600th book I have read since I was about twenty years old. Kind of a crazy thought.)

The Blue Castle
I mentioned this book back in my favorites of 2015, but read it again this year to host a book club. I just love, love, love this book. And loved it even more the second time. It is fun and witty and has so many insightful thoughts and oh, I just adore it. A lot.

Fates and Traitors
This wasn't a top favorite of last year, but it was interesting enough to mention it. In my review on Goodreads, I wrote the following:

I would like all people who are capable of assassinating a president (or anyone for that matter) to have certain characteristics and a personality that would make them easily identifiable and even better, make it simple to prevent such a thing from happening because the general public could see it coming. That was completely not the case with John Wilkes Booth and it still blows my mind the kind of person I imagined he was (just from the very little I had heard of him) vs. the actual person he was in his short life. This was just an incredibly interesting book to me, especially the chapters of the family he grew up in.

My only complaints were that, at times, the amount of detail went on for a few too many pages and it felt laborious to read. In addition, being a historical fiction, I could have used different colors of font, where anything based on history would be easily apparent. If you can't tell, I like things in my life easy to identify and wrapped up in predictable packages. I'm pretty exciting to be around.

Undone
I actually don't know what to share about this book. Only that it is beautiful and profound and really funny. I like that mix a lot.

A Fall of Marigolds
I just thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected story. I love this author and how she writes and how she develops each of her books. This is one of those novels that tells two stories at the same time and the author did it beautifully, in my opinion.

Amazed by Grace
Everyone should read this book. They just should. Because I understand grace so much better and on a much more personal level after finishing this book, then I ever have before. And I feel like that is such a wonderful gift to be given.

Secrets of a Charmed Life
I don't even know where to start. I will just say that this was, without question and next to The Book of Mormon, my favorite book of 2016. And likely in the top five or ten of my favorite books ever.

See How They Run
This is the second book in a really good series. And I enjoyed it as much as the first book, maybe even a little more. The third book just came out and Annie has read it and loved it. I'm anxious to find the time to get it read. This is a fun series for all ages.

Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand
This is the only book I have read by Carla Kelly, but I definitely need to read more. This is just sweet and fun and really enjoyable to read.

Well, there you go, my favorites reads of 2016. Now to find the time to get myself some more options to pick from in 2017.

Happy reading friends!

Our Annie girl

Our gorgeous Annie was in a big time play last evening, this afternoon and this evening
at our local university. I loved every second of it. It truly makes me emotional every time
I see her on stage because she is just that incredible. I adore this girl of ours so much.

The play, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, was just so well done.
Annie played Naphtali's wife and did an amazing job.

What a wonderful couple of days for us and for our darling Annie!

First three

Wa to the Hoo. Guess what was in our hen house today for the first time? And guess
who is ridiculously excited? Supposedly, chickens don't usually begin laying during
the winter months, but I always knew our chickalettas were overachievers.

Way to go ladies! I'd high five you. If you had hands.

Books and bedrooms

I'm pretty darn strict when it comes to the kids' rooms and their cleanliness. But you'd
better believe I won't be telling any of them they can't keep a huge stack of books they've
read in the last many weeks by their bed. Boy howdy, makes this momma proud.

My friend and mountain villages and light

I have a friend, Rachel. She really is the best of the best. I don't say that lightly and I adore her to the deepest part of my heart. And miss her something crazy.

She moved away from Massachusetts not too longer before we did. She moved to the west coast and then on to exotic France. We moved to exotic Utah. Essentially, we live the same life. Obviously.

A few days ago, she posted the above picture on Instagram. And it put a catch in my throat because I loved the picture so much. But when I saw it was of Chamonix, where her family was visiting, I loved it beyond what I could explain in words. Because that is where Jacob and I spent part of our honeymoon. And I will never forget standing in the Alps on Christmas Eve, in the charming village of Chamonix. The largest snowflakes I have ever seen were falling and there were literally chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I was standing with my husband of two days and everything was right in the world. It was absolutely unreal and one of my favorite memories ever.

Ever.

So within seconds of seeing this picture Rachel shared, I asked her if she would mind sharing the picture with me. It took about six minutes before it was in my inbox. See why I adore her? And that is the very least of what she has done for me.

I will love this picture forever. As long as I will love Rachel.

She's the best. And this picture reminds me of her and my wonderful marriage and beautiful memories and God's kindness to me and mountains and trees and light.

A life filled with so much light.

I'm so blessed.

Ski day

Jacob spent the day yesterday skiing with several of his brothers. I love when he gets
to do those kinds of things. And when he takes incredible pictures like this one.

Ben's 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our amazing Benjamin! I remember so vividly nine years
ago today, feeling so excited for his coming, coupled with nervousness at his
too-early arrival. He is handsome and brilliant and athletic and sensitive
and kind. I feel grateful everyday for the privilege of being this boy's mom.

Our little Sunbeam

First day of Sunbeams for this little lovely. I can't believe nursery is officially over for all
of my chicklets. Yet I love watching my kids grow up to be funny and darling and their own
little person. Being in Primary with Grace and her two brothers each week is pretty fabulous.

Speaking of our cute ones...all six of our littles on the day they became Sunbeamers.
It does something to my mother's heart every time I see pictures of them all together at the same age.

December phone pics

This is what I shared on Instagram about this picture:

Just over two hours ago, I received a text that the basement of our bishop's home had
flooded. It was bad. I sent the message out for floor fans and water vacs and then Jacob
and I headed there ourselves with what we had to help. We weren't the first ones there
and most certainly were not the last. What you can't see behind me in this photo is more
than a dozen cars, never mention those neighbors that just walked. The number of those
helping blew me away. Literally dozens of people who just went to work. There is so much
good in the world. So very much. I feel honored and emotional every time I see it in action.

Ben's teacher needed a piñata filled with candy for a Christmas activity the middle of
December. I was glad to get it ready for her and put it in our library closet until it needed
to be sent to school. Grace could not have be more terrified of the "candy guy" and wouldn't
go anywhere near the closet and would barely step into the library. If I were a better mother,
I wouldn't find it absolutely hilarious and probably wouldn't have suggested to Jacob
that maybe I should put it in the hall outside her room at night, just in case she decides,
as she does on occasion, that coming upstairs in the middle of the night is a good idea.

Puzzle obsession. It's a real thing at the Allen house.

The morning I took this picture, I just had finished The Book of Mormon. I'm honestly not
sure how many times I have read it, but it is a lot. Because I love it to the deepest part of
my heart. And know it is true. It blesses my life every single day and to a degree I can't
even put into words. It has changed who I am. I'm so very grateful for this miraculous book.

This picture I took on an afternoon I dropped by my parents' house for a few minutes
and of course my cute mom had to get out her very fancy (and fragile) tea cups and
plates to throw Grace a tea party (complete with apple juice and lemon cake).
Grace was in heaven. And I was reminded how many things my mom does that
are extremely sweet and special and mean so much to our kids. And their mother.

Christmas Vacation ~ Day 5

On Christmas Day, we gave each of the kids three strips of paper with the instructions to

write down one movie they wanted to watch as a family, one restaurant they wanted to eat

at as a family and one activity they wanted to do all together. When all eighteen strips were
filled out, we hung them on the wall and worked hard (or rather played hard) all week
to make them happen. It was one of our favorite weeks of the year, hands down.

 Day five was a little more relaxing and it was nice to finish up that way. We watched
Pirates of the Caribbean late in the morning, went to Costa Vida for dinner and then
visited a place called Dart Zone for some nerf gun shooting. (Well, two of us relaxed
at home, since Grace wasn't old enough to go.) But I heard it was incredibly fun.
The environment isn't super conducive to taking pictures, so we just snapped this group
picture after the dart gun competitors came home (hence the reason Grace is included).

 And apparently the one who didn't attend feels the most passionate about shooting nerf guns.

 And our final photo of the week. Here are our eighteen strips of paper, all with a check mark by
them. That is a big deal people. Eighteen fun activities in five days...not a small thing for this mom.

It couldn't have been more worth it though. We absolutely loved it. 

And can't wait for the tradition to continue next year.