Memorial Day Weekend

Our Memorial Day Weekend started early...Matt took Friday off, because his little brother Tanner got married! It was a BUSY day! Their wedding was absolutely beautiful...even when they walked out of the temple in the rain! They got some REALLY cute pics with a big black umbrella! The Allens had a FUN Mexican Fiesta Luncheon that followed the wedding, with lots of YUMMY food! It was decorated so cute & the newly married couple looked so happy!

Then I helped my AMAZING sister-in-law Heidi prepare some of the food for the reception that night. She is CRAZY, but INCREDIBLE! She caters, but this job was an ACT OF LOVE & she is also 8 months pregnant! She worked her tail off all day long & it paid off in the end, when the food at the reception was DELICIOUS! Tanner & Chaya must be living right...because we all know how much it rained Thursday & Friday...but not a drop came down during their OUTDOOR reception! They were planning to move it inside most of the day, because it kept raining...but it finally let up & the night couldn't have been more beautiful! It was a lot of fun to see family(especially YOU...Becky!) & friends & eat & dance & more! Parker tried his best to be a good sport during this LONG day...but he was NOT feeling good & I felt so bad for him!

By the way...my camera is missing:( So I got ZERO pictures of their wedding day. I guess I will have to wait & post some after they get some of theirs back! :(

Saturday we were planning to go up to my family's cabin for the rest of the weekend...but Parker was MISERABLE all day long & I called my family to see what the weather was like in Flagstaff & it has SNOWED the night before & so we decided that wasn't the best type of weather for a little boy with a cold, so we stayed home & took care of our sick little boy. Saturday night we ended up at Twilight Pediatrics, after Parker woke up from his nap with a 104 degree fever. It ended up being a NASTY sore throat, along with all his other cold symptoms(runny nose, cough).

Monday Parker was FINALLY starting to feel better! YAY! We decided to go to the Park & feed the ducks, since Matt had the day off. But of course, still NO CAMERA:( I did get a few on my camera phone...HAD TO...since this was his "1st duck feeding experience" :)Monday night we had a Memorial Day BBQ @ my parent's house. Some people braved the cool weather & went swimming, but mostly the kids just played in the backyard, while we enjoyed some good food & good company! It was SO NICE to see Parker smiling again after our long weekend!

CONGRATULATIONS Tanner & Chaya...Marriage is the BEST!!!

Oh...and if any of you find my camera...please return it to me...I really miss it. THANK YOU!

ROBOTS

As I've mentioned before, my cousin Bethany's little baby Gavin has Alpha-1 Liver Disease and is on the waiting list for a liver transplant & there are some WONDERFUL FUNDRAISERS going on to help with the many many expenses involved. Superstition Springs Theatre(@ the mall) will be playing the FUNNY movie ROBOTS on Saturday May 31st @ 10am...all proceeds go to Gift for Gavin. Just look at this little boy...he is SO CUTE! I love his BIG BROWN eyes!
$7 includes the movie, popcorn & a drink & all the money will go to Gavin!
Get out for a date or a fun day with the kids!

For more information about Alpha-1 and for information on future fundraisers...click HERE

9 years ago...

was mine & Matt's 1st Date!!!
My little sister Heidi posted about her 1st date this weekend, since she just turned 16 & it reminded me of mine and Matt's 1st date...in May...9 years ago.

Matt had just turned 16 & asked ME on his 1st date:) Fun memory to have together!
I remember we doubled with our friends Bryan & Bettina(do you remember this Bettina?)
We went to Serrano's. I remember that we were seated near Matt's old basketball coach & his wife. I remember that the coach left, but 1st paid for our dessert. It was a nice surprise when the waiter came over with sopapillas & said the gentlemen that just left had paid for us:) How nice.
Then we went Ice Skating. I remember flirting with Matt (Matt said I flirted with EVERYONE at this age...but I like to remember it that he was the only one I flirted with) I remember TRYING TO do spins & turns on the ice & we had to hold hands to spin in circles:) I was really excited. Come on...I was 16, I was allowed to get excited about the fact that he came within a foot of me(very unlike Matt who was EXTREMELY shy).
It was a really fun date.
9 years later...here we are...married for almost 4 years & we have the cutest son in the world!

Sweet 16

My baby sister Heidi turned 16 on Wednesday!!!
I can't believe she is old enough to Drive & Date!
I had fun helping SURPRISE her on her birthday...
I called her up to take her to Nielsens Frozen Custard for her birthday & when we arrived my sister Kylie & her 2 kids were there(who were meeting us there) & then all the sudden she heard SURPRISE!!! A group of her friends were hiding behind the counter @ Nielsens & definitely SURPRISED her! My mom and I had called/text her friends earlier that day to show up and surprise her...and they all got a free concrete out of the deal(thanks to my wonderful mother being willing to treat them for Heidi's Birthday!)

My FAVORITE part of the day WITHOUT FAIL...
I took my nephew Mason with me to go get Heidi & then on to Nielsens. When we were driving to my parents to get Heidi, I told him that it was Heidi's Birthday & that she turned 16! He said, "Oh No! I think she is going to get boyfriends now! I'm afraid she is going to look at ME!" I said to him, "I don't think she will look at you...you are her nephew" He replied quickly, "I still have a feeling she will look at me in THAT way" I said, "What way?" He said, "You know...that SMILEY way"

I thought it was funny that he was worried about Heidi looking at him in THAT way:)

Happy Birthday Heidi!!!

Birthday Boy!

Quarter of a Century!
Matt was born 25 years ago...on Friday the 13th!
Friday the 13th isn't so UNlucky after all!

Lastnight we had a FUN party
for these 4...
Matt's Birthday is today.
My little sister Heidi's (Sweet 16) Birthday is tomorrow.
Brian's Birthday was Saturday.
and
David Graduated from ASU on Saturday.
So...we got to celebrate with all of them:)

Parker & Talia, enjoying the cupcakes together:)

My adorable niece Gemma, eating a cupcake!

Some braved the windy weather & went swimming!

My cute niece Talia was found in this car MOST of the night:)

Matt's parents were out of town(cruise in Alaska...I'm jealous!) but everyone else was so NICE to come...especially Craig & Heidi for making the LONG trip from Laveen!

Happy Birthday to the Most AMAZING guy in the world!
I love you SO much!

Happy Mother's Day!

"Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce birth-even mortal life-deserves our undying gratitude. One writer summed up our love for mother when he declared, 'God could not be everywhere and so He gave us Mothers." - Thomas S. Monson

Today is Mother's Day. I LOVE Mother's Day. Every time I see Parker, I am reminded WHY I love being a Mother. I LOVE watching the Primary Kids sing their song they have prepared during church about their moms, I love the talks directed specifically at Mothers, I love the goodies that the Young Men pass out to the women in the ward & I love reflecting on what a wonderful Mother I have!

In our Young Women's lesson today, we talked about Eternal Families, focusing specifically on Mothers. The teacher passed out a paper of amazing quotes about Moms & on the back there were some questions. I decided to answer the questions here...

What is your funniest memory of your mom?
I LOVE thinking back to when we had Family Prayer & Scripture Study. Every now and then, something funny would happen(ok...it happened a lot with 7 kids) & my mom would start laughing so hard, she couldn't stop. The the tears would start coming...because she was laughing so hard. Then all of us kids would laugh. I love that my mom knows how to have fun(even when we were supposed to be reading the Scriptures!)

What lesson that she taught you stands out?
Serve...Serve...Serve!
My mom ENDLESSLY reaches out to those in need, without uttering a SINGLE complaint

What is your favorite characteristic or personality trait about your Mom?
That one is easy...Her Unselfishness.
She ALWAYS puts others before herself.

What do you see in yourself that came from her physically or in your personality?
I see a lot of my mom in me. As far as looks go, I have ALWAYS been told I look like my mom. I don't get it is much anymore(I got it more when I was thinner...pre-Parker phase of life)
I don't quite have her amazing cooking skills, but I would like to think that I am slowly learning from her MANY MANY talents!

List as many things as possible that she has done for you.
Are you kidding me? This would seriously take pages. I'm going to narrow it down to 20.
1. Carried me for 9 LONG Months & gave BIRTH to me!
2. Made me a Beautiful Easter Dress & Christmas Dress with outrageously large collars from birth to age 12...maybe longer.
3. Taught me to GET READY for church...no dirty haired ponytails or flip-flops allowed.
4. Threw the most AMAZING Birthday Parties EVER! My favorite was my "Cheerleader" Party, when we all go to Puffy Paint our own Plastic Visors & we made our very own Pom Poms & even made up some cheers!
5. MADE me take Piano for 8 years. I'm so glad now.
6. Encouraged me to play the violin, run for Student Council, play after-school sports & MORE...all in Elementary School.
7. Encouraged and Taught me to Play Volleyball. STILL the love of my life!
8. Pushed me to excel in my schoolwork.
9. Came to EVERY Basketball game, Volleyball game, Track Meet, Piano Recital, Church Event...anything you can think of...she was there to support me.
10. Pushed me to go to College & receive my degree...no matter how long it took me. I played a lot throughout my college years...but I did finish!
11. Supported all of my crazy adventures! Was at the airport to welcome me home from Idaho, China & Utah...when I was done living there & ready to come back home.
12. Took me on the most INCREDIBLE Senior Trip of my life! I went with them to pick up my brother Matt from his mission from the Phillipines & we also were able to spend some time in Japan, while on that side of the Globe. What an incredible experience!
14. Encouraged...sometimes forced me to go on MANY MANY family vacations. Now they are my fondest memories.
15. Approved of the man I chose to marry. In fact...pushed me to date/marry someone like "Matt Allen" through ALL my teen years!
16. My Wedding! You can name almost ANYTHING & she did it! I think the mother of the bride is supposed to relax a little more...but she altered my dress/added beadwork & sash/made my veil, did ALL my flowers(corsages, boutenneirs, centerpieces & Bouquet!), made almost ALL the food(it was INCREDIBLE) & even handmade candies/suckers for Candy Jars on the Dessert table, spray-painted boxes in my colors for the centerpieces on every table, made my backdrop for the reception line, made the bridesmaids skirts, kept me calm & I could go ON & ON...she did EVERYTHING to make my day ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!
17. She is always available when I need someone to talk to.
18. Taught me how to cook, sew & MORE...even though I still have a long way to go...she gave me the desire to learn!
19. She was at the hospital, minutes after Parker's birth...flowers in hand. Decorated our house with an "It's A Boy" sign when we came home from the hospital. Been the most amazing Grandma ever since!
20. Been the Best Mom a Girl Could Ask For!!!


I Love My Mom So Much! She is the best example for me in my life. I am so grateful for all she has taught me & will CONTINUE to teach me! The same goes for my OUTSTANDING Mother-In-Law! I'm thankful that we could live close to home & that my children will be able to grow up and know how amazing their Grandmas are! I'm grateful for the examples they are in my life & for all they do for our family!

Married or Not...Kids or No Kids...I wish EVERY WOMAN a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Cinco De Mayo

Rob & Julie threw a FUN Cinco De Mayo Party on Monday Night! Thanks so much for the invite & food was DELICIOUS...topped off with Fried Icecream for dessert! yummy!

Is Green a Mexican Color? Me & My brother Matt & My brother Rob ALL showed up to the party in GREEN! We had to get a picture together:)

Emily is Julie's little sister, who lives with them & is the BEST at keeping the kids entertained! Here they are being Mexican Pirates:)

The kids had fun as ALWAYS...in Rob & Julie's playroom!

Hope you all had a HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!!