Matt does his mother proud...again

Just when I didn’t believe it was possible to make his last school photo better than the three
previous, this boy goes and proves me wrong. Please feel free to zoom in to see his very real
looking, very fake scar (thanks to Annie before she left). Someday I should tell the story behind
how he got the poor photographer to use this as his senior picture, because it makes it 1000 times
better. But for now, I will just leave it here for your viewing enjoyment. With the previous three
years to the right so you can appreciate the entire collection. You are welcome. And yes, I could
not be more proud. And if you think I’m kidding, you clearly don’t know me very well.

          

Mondays are the BEST days

She's so happy. I'm so grateful.

These six darlings

The other night after taking pictures of the kids all together before Annie left (yes, I will
soon be posting them because I love them muchly), these chicklets of mine stopped to
play at the park together. Oh my word, I adore them. I’m so honored to be their mom.

Birthdays and soccer

 This handsome boy, and his darling dad, went to the Real Salt Lake game last night, as a part of
Campbell’s birthday earlier this month. Love them both so crazy much and feel so thankful for any time
either one of us gets with this grown son of ours. He is something else and being his mom is truly the best.

These I love

The very last picture of all of my chicklets together for the next year and a half.

Called to serve her King

My heart feels broken into pieces and nothing about life will seem
right for the next sixteen and a half months. But I am doing everything
in my power to focus on the joy. And God always sends joy.

Finished

Our beautiful girl officially finished her six weeks of home MTC tonight.

She is good to the core of her being and I’m so deeply proud of her.

After and before, in that order

Second and final round of braces put on for this stud.

My strange life

In another episode of "Weird Things Linn Allen Finds Fascinating"
we have this fun and seemingly random photo.

A few days ago, I found out that there was a nearby dog show happening over
last weekend and ending today. So after I finished my housework and homework
(like the responsible old lady that I am), I showed up this afternoon, planning to stay
for 15 minutes. Just over three hours later, they crowned best of show (spoiler alert:
it was the mini schnauzer) and I decided it was probably time to make my way home.

I live a bizarre life. Mostly because I make bizarre choices.

(And before you waste your time on a comment, yes, I am aware there
are a whole lot of people that have known me for a whole lot of years
that feel absolutely zero surprise when it comes to that last paragraph.)

Our beautiful missionary (and her darling little sister)

Our missionary. She leaves us in eight days and I can't even think about it without crying.
But I'm also so very excited for her. She's something else. And I'm so honored to be her mom.

And that second picture. These girls have the sweetest relationship. The next sixteen
and a half months is going to be hard on Grace. But she'll make it. We all will.
Because even though we are going to miss Hermana Allen like crazy, she's ours forever.

 

Which surely makes us the luckiest.

Homecoming

My darling boy and his beautiful date for the Homecoming dance last night. It was
so fun to take the pictures for his group. But oh my word, I just can't believe it is
his senior year and last fall school dance. Love this Matthew of ours a whole lot.

Four more weeks

After six weeks of different versions of splints and casts, this girl is officially done
with that portion of her healing. And on to a brace for four more weeks. We can see a
finish line in sight, even if it is a little further away that we expected. Just so grateful
for how well our sweet Grace has healed, considering the seriousness of her fracture.

A BYU football game and one tremendous boy

Last Saturday, our boy had a chance to be at the BYU/Utah game  and said it was one of his
favorite nights he has ever experienced. And not just because BYU won, but because of the
atmosphere, the intensity, the decibel level and the pouring rain. It was just the best. As is our boy.

Grace's 8th birthday party

Grace decided that rather than a big birthday party for her eighth birthday, she wanted to take one
friend to lunch and to Build-A-Bear. So that is exactly what we did last week. This darling Kaloni
joined Grace and they had the best time. Kaloni was even able to come over after and play for a
few hours, which made the party all that more perfect. Sure adore all of Grace's cute friends and
this sweet friend in particular. And love Grace's idea for the best eighth birthday party ever!

Oh, and the fact that the party happened right during Hermana Allen's break, so she could
join just made it all the better. Love these two girls of mine so much, I can hardly stand it.

Yesterday (but actually Sunday, when he kindly came home to celebrate)