Campbell's senior pictures

This week our incredible boy will graduate from high school, in eight weeks
he will leave to serve a two-year mission for our church and for the rest of
his life he will love soccer with an intensity I have rarely seen matched.

These pictures are one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. They will always
remind me of a sweet time, a profound amount of growth and our amazing
and tremendous boy. Thank you more than you could ever know Dan Page!

I'm just so grateful.

Preschool graduation

Preschool graduation for this little firecracker. Next up...one more year of preschool. So happy
I have another year with her before she is off to Kindergarten. And good grief, I adore her teachers
so much, I can't stand it. They are truly the best! Yeah for another year with these amazing ladies.

Ben and the district decathlon

Ben participated in the district decathlon today and did such a tremendous
job. He and his group of four, all in grade four, took fourth among all of
the schools in attendance for their particular age. It was fun to see them
receive their medals and even more exciting to watch Ben compete in
each of the ten events.I'm so proud of this boy and what drives him.

Remember his brother in the same competition a year or three ago?

Volleyball and fashion

 

 

Yesterday's Senior Week activity involved a coed volleyball tournament.
Campbell's team went with subtle neon orange shirt with a classy looking
VolleyLlamas iron-on. And Campbell added more subtlety with his socks,
shorts and hat. He not only wore this perfectly matching ensemble
to the tournament, but also to school. I was so proud.

Oh, and you can't tell very well in this photo, but that hat matches
the shorts. Boy howdy, we Allens are a classy bunch.

Three things

 She did it and I'm so proud of her! Also, I'm so old.

 Seminary graduation tonight and the gratitude I feel for this group of kids and the light
and goodness that comes from them is incredible. There are few things that matter as
much to me as the friends that surround my kids. This is called hitting the jackpot, folks. 

Well, his Kindergarten testing is done and he's off of school this whole week so all
of the kinders can be tested. So pretty much, all of my other kids are jealous of his life.

Overwhelmed with joy

There are some days that overwhelm your heart with so much joy, you aren't
sure how to handle it.  That has been our day today. And it's not over.

This morning we attended an incredible stake conference that included a beautiful
talk by Campbell. Afterwards, Cam was ordained an Elder and received
the Melchizedek Priesthood. It filled my mother's heart to overflowing.

The support from friends, leaders in our ward and stake, our little family and my
darling dad meant the world to us. It has just been an absolutely incredible day.

Our finished rec room

I'm so happy friends, I'm just so happy. Just over 900 additional
square feet of finished space and we are loving it.

Before: I didn't think to take the photos before Jacob brought in some of the
framing and lighting supplies, but you get the gist of how it looked. We used it
for some toys on the edges, an exercise area and a couch with some books.
It was quite open and was a play area, especially in the winter, for the kids.

  After: Oh the joy. It's light and beautiful and roomy and I love it so. We will be
adding an entertainment area, the exercise area and a pool table or something
similar. My personality needs plenty of empty space, so it's just perfect.

My darling husband has worked his head off for this project, doing all of the
framing, all of the electrical, all of the painting and trim work and ten thousand
other small tasks. He's the best. Along with our kids that helped so incredibly much.

Our darling Annie

This girl is tremendous in every way. Plus she's absolutely beautiful. How about those genes?

Oh I kid, I take no credit. Except for her sense of humor. And her humility.
If you can't see me, I'm bowing. Humility, thy name is Linn. Okay, fine. Jacob. It's Jacob.

My prophet

Last night on my walk, I listened to a couple of general conference talks, including one by
President Russell M. Nelson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I've heard it before, but it touched me just as deeply tonight. I was glad it was dark outside
so yours truly, outside walking the dog and crying, wasn't obvious to the entire neighborhood.

Throughout the past many weeks, I have had this photo in my head of this incredible man of God.
When he was sustained by the members of the church in April, as our new president and prophet,
he was so sincerely humbled and so genuinely touched. I just can't quit thinking about it.

I feel so privileged to be able to call someone so good and wise and kind my prophet. He is a disciple
of the Lord, Jesus Christ and his only desire is to do what he is asked by our Savior. What an honor
to know of his divine calling and to follow his guidance for the church at this time. I love and
adore him to the deepest part of my heart and feel so blessed to do whatever he asks of me.

Historic day

Today was a historic day, people. Truly historic. And I was *thisclose* to taking a picture
of myself in front of this building with my brand, spanking new driver's license. The one
that reflects the state I currently live in. Well, only for the last five years though, which
is why it is understandable that I just got to it. It hasn't driven (nice pun eh?) Jacob
absolutely nuts or anything. Which has been part of the allure of my procrastination.

Just kidding love. As if I would ever. Just entertaining my readers of course. All six of them.

Benjamin the amazing

Ben had his spring piano recital last night and he played
his song perfectly. I love watching him perform. 

Also on my list of things I love...
Ben's amazing piano teacher who is truly the best,

cousins who are a part of the same recital
(because they are the ones that recommended this fabulous teacher),

and the fact that when we at the Allen household are told
to wear our Sunday best, no detail is overlooked.

My babies

Mother's Day

These six have my heart for always and no matter what. However old they get
or how far away they go, they will always be my babies. I feel gratitude every day
of this life and the next that the Lord has allowed me to be their mother.

On a related note, to me, today is a wonderful celebration of the goodness of women
and the fact that we are all daughters of God, with all of the privileges and blessings
that includes. Our Heavenly Father loves His daughters. I know that as deeply as
I know anything and in my darkest times, I've asked Him to let me know of that
truth and He has always answered my prayer. My heart aches for those that struggle
today, for many difficult and complicated reasons. I'm so very sorry. You are loved.

Mr. Oram

That guy on the left is one of my most favorite people on earth. I don't say that lightly. I have
known him for most of my life and he has been a teacher, a bishop and a friend. He was my
favorite high school teacher and this year, he taught my oldest, who absolutely adores him.

Tonight, we attended a surprise party to celebrate his upcoming retirement.
And I felt so privileged to be there. The Lord has always blessed me by surrounding
me with incredibly good people. And Kelly Oram is at the top of that list.

Laughing in the rain

The calm after the storm. 

Oh my word, I just walked three and a half miles with a darling friend. When we started, the weather was perfect. About a mile in, things started to change and we spent the last two miles or so in a complete downpour with lightning so close, it kept taking our vision away for a few seconds when it struck.

Children, your mother is a bad example and if you ever do something like what I just described, I will have your head.

And yet, my friend and I could not quit laughing. Water was gushing off of our clothes, we were sure our children were about to be motherless in the next seven seconds, our feet were mobile puddles and we were hysterical. We looked drunk. Drunk and dunked.

But my favorite part had to be that every time lightning struck very close, I ducked. I couldn't help it. Over and over it struck and over and over I ducked. Like it was going to *just* miss me if my head went down. Which only made us laugh harder.

I seriously loved it. Minus the part where it was terribly dangerous and I felt shame for my poor decision. But otherwise, absolutely hilarious.

Mom and muffins

Moms and muffins this morning at preschool. Grace thought all would appreciate the loveliness
of our pulling a silly face. Sure love this little sweetheart and am grateful everyday she is ours.

Senior prom

My darling boy. He is off to his last prom. I love him so much and these lasts that keep
coming are both wonderful and heartbreaking to me. I feel like tears are constantly just
below the surface and I'm fighting to keep them there. Until July 23rd and then all
bets are off. Sure love this incredible oldest of mine. I can't believe I am the
one with the amazing blessing of being his mom. He's tremendous.

 And this darling picture taken by this beautiful girl's mom. I'm so grateful to have it.
For the first time ever, I didn't either take pictures of Campbell's group or join the

picture taking to get my own photos (I was hesitant to interfere with their plans).
And as of right now, this is the only photo I have of the two of these darlings.
I'm so grateful for it and am so thankful for the amazing friends Campbell has,
for their good hearts and for the wonderful time he had with this darling girl.

Runner and jumper extraordinaire

This kid is seriously cool. As in, I wish I were more like him. He will try
every good thing, no hesitation, no worry about failing. He just does it.

Just a week ago, he decided to try hurdles. He did amazingly well and yesterday at the meet,
he came in first in his heat and sixth overall. And I love this hurdle picture so much.

Then day before yesterday, he thought high jump would be fun to try. And he qualified
to compete. And these high jump pictures of him going for it make me so happy.

Matt is tremendous. I have learned a lot from him about just giving something a try
and not worrying about the outcome. Plus he runs and jumps like an all star, so there's that.

Nate's Kindergarten program

This darling boy had his Kindergarten program this morning. I seriously love him.
He is truly the sweetest guy and I am so grateful to be his mom.

And oh his Kindergarten teacher, I don't even know how to share how much I adore her.
She has made this a perfect year for our Nathan. And I will be forever thankful to her for that.

Spring