Lots to be THANKFUL for...

The Allen's have the FUN TRADITION of "PIE NIGHT"
the night BEFORE Thanksgiving! You know how you are always STUFFED after dinner & have barely any room for dessert? Well, everyone brings a different pie & we all DIG IN...BEFORE we are too full from Thanksgiving Dinner!

This year we had APPLE PIE, PUMPKIN PIE, COCONUT CREME PIE, FRENCH SILK PIE & PECAN PIE.......YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!

Parker wants to be just like his Grandpa & be a Fireman when he grows up:)

After stuffing their faces with pie & icecream...these TWO are finally winding down at the end of the night in their jammies...they are SO CUTE!

Even though he was already in his jammies, Parker decided he needed a bath when he got home...
and in case you didn't know....
Parker gets WHATEVER he wants!
He's just TOO CUTE to resist!

Thanksgiving was so much FUN this year!!!
We ate dinner @ the Allen's & the food was DELICIOUS!!!

The weather was GORGEOUS from all of the rain & these 2 decided to do a little skateboarding:)

Parker is SO THANKFUL for his Grandma & Grandpa...on BOTH SIDES (but we didn't get a pic with my parents)
After eating & relaxing & visiting & eating & watching football & relaxing some more @ the Allen's...
we headed out to see my side of the family @ the Desert.

My mom's side of the family has Thanksgiving Dinner in the desert every year & we have fun visiting & riding horses/quads/golf carts & more. It was dark by the time we got out there this year, but it was still fun to see all of the cousins & we got there just in time for the campfire!
Here are my adorable nieces Gemma & Hallie at the Snack Table...picking all the CANDY out of the Trail Mix:) Smart Girls!

Hanging out by the campfire:)
Doesn't Matt look COMFY in his recliner camping chair!?!

Parker got MY LOVE for Tomatoes...not his Daddy's!
He ate a whole CUP of cherry tomatoes! Better than the candy corn he was eating minutes before...

Lots of family keeping warm by the fire:)
We didn't stay out long this year, since it started sprinkling soon after we got there...BUT at least it was CLEAR all day for everyone that was out there earlier in the afternoon!

It was GREAT to see so many COUSINS! Even the Littles were in TOWN...my cousins who live in Cedar City! ( I'm sure I will have more pictures to post of them after this weekend, since they are staying with my parents & we are bound to have lots of parties!)

After the Desert...I went home & put my BOYS to bed...well, except for the one in my belly, who never sleeps I have decided.
Matt & Parker were EQUALLY exhausted after all that eating & playing & crashed EARLY!
I headed over to my parents to watch KUNG FU PANDA with a bunch of cousins...which is realy a pretty cute movie:)

It was SUCH a GREAT THANKSGIVING!!!
I feel like we have SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL for this year, my list goes on & on.
We have truly been blessed & I hope you are able to see the blessings in your life as well!

PS...I have 2 weeks to go...and we have NO NAME for the child in my belly!
I'm kind of getting worried...
Maybe my nephew will get his way & he will be called Washington George Allen:)
Send any & all suggestions our way!:)

4 Years Ago...

I snatched up this guy...

And I get to keep him...
for a really long time...
like...FOREVER...and I'm not sure that is long enough!

Poor Matt didn't know what was coming. He innocently returned home from his mission, thought he was going to have a couple of years to get adjusted to normal life again, hang out with his friends & family, go to school, get a job, etc...but instead I decided I wanted to marry him & I ALWAYS (well...usually) get my way!!! :-)Just shy of 6 months off the mission...we were sealed for Time & all Eternity...
I GOT MY WAY!!!Those of you who know Matt, know how incredible he is. Those of you who don't know him...you are missing out. We've known each other for 21 years now and it just keeps getting better! I continue learning new things about him...all which make me love him even more & he makes me laugh like nobody else! He is so fun to be around & such an Amazing dad to Parker! These past 4 years have been WONDERFUL with him at my side! I can't wait for the next katrillion+ years together!

Birthday Wishes!

This BOY was in heaven Friday night...
he got to play BASKETBALL over & over & over again @ Peter Piper Pizza!

Today my brother ROB turns the BIG 3-0 & we were able to celebrate with him on Friday...
Lots of FAMILY & FRIENDS showed up to CELEBRATE with him!

My sister-in-law JULIE planned the whole SURPRISE & everyone had such a great time enjoying pizza, cake, family & friends! And the kids were VERY entertained by the games! It was such a FUN night:)

AND This CUTE girl...my niece ABBY...turned ONE this past Sunday!!!
Sadly, we missed her party :(
BUT I wanted to wish her a HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY anyways!!!
She is the cutest girl in the world!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROB & ABBY!!!

Midnight Madness

16 girls + 1 Midnight Showing of Twilight=FUN!!!

I couldn't believe I made it through the whole movie, without falling asleep! It helped to chomp on ice & popcorn throughout the whole movie...SORRY everyone who was sitting around me & had to listen to me!
I'm not much of a night person, especially in the last month of my pregnancy...but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to go see this movie with all my GIRL COUSINS! And I didn't have to get a babysitter @ midnight...a definite plus! We had so much fun together AND my cousin Kambi even got us all FREE TICKETS! Thanks Kambi!!!

I've heard MIXED reviews on the movie. Some people hated it, some people loved it.
What did YOU think?!?!

ROAD SHOW

Our Stake put on a ROAD SHOW this past weekend! It turned out to be SO CUTE & a LOT OF FUN for the youth!
Our ward was given the THEME of "FAMILIES" and we were the "BRADY BUNCH"We were given the songs "Show Me" & "Great Balls of Fire" & had to rewrite the lyrics to fit our plot. We also had to use a spatula throughout the play in 3 different ways & use the phrase, "Here yonder Peasant Boy, Fetch me My Sword" twice. We traveled from church to church to church...performing 3 different times Saturday night & had 2 minutes to get on & off the stage & 10 minutes to perform.
CRAZY??? Yes.
But our ward did a FANTASTIC job of pulling it all together!

SOME of the AMAZING leaders that made the ROAD SHOW a SUCCESS!!!
Shanell...you are ROCKIN' that hair, I must say!

...It was FUN...
But I am VERY glad it is DONE!

Is it TOO EARLY...

...to start DECORATING for CHRISTMAS?!?

I think NOT.
If 99.9 can play Christmas music all day long...we can CERTAINLY help Granny put up her tree...even if it is early November :-)

Granny with SOME of her GREAT-GRANDKIDDOS!

MS WALK

Saturday we woke up & headed down to the Zoo for the annual MS Walk!


We walked last year & had so much fun, that we decided to make it a tradition. Many of you know that I have an aunt & an uncle that have both passed away from Multiple Sclerosis, so this walk gives me an opportunity to help raise money & walk for all those that have suffered/currently suffer from MS.

Parker may have been the CUTEST walker on the route...

I LOVE the giraffes!

Me, My mom & My sister Heidi:)
My sister Kylie ended up going to a wedding, so she wasn't able to make it:(

This is everyone on our "TEAM" that walked!
We had so much fun, walking with cousins from both sides of the family this year:)
My amazing cousin JAKE also printed us up some GREAT shirts for us last minute! THANK YOU-THANK YOU!!! Have any silkscreen/embroidery needs??? My uncle owns Shirtail & does an AMAZING job!!!

Parker could have looked at the "Shishies" or Fishies...all day long!!!

He lasted in the stroller for a LITTLE while...but mostly wanted to walk on his own:)

I LOVE THE ZOO!!!

We are going to try to get MORE people to walk with our team every year, so next year I will let you know info in advance...in case you want to join us!!!

Cafe Rio & Volleyball

My GOOD friend ALLY was in town this past week from Idaho, so we had to CELEBRATE!!!

She just had the CUTEST baby girl named Kynslee 6 weeks ago, so all the girls got together for dinner @ Cafe Rio & we decided to turn it into a baby shower while we were at it :)

Tiffany & her daughter Reese, Amy, Bettina & son Beau, Ally, Jill, Me & baby Kynslee

It was so great to see you Ally & finally meet Kynslee! NOW...you need to move back home, so we can see you more often!!!


*****************

After dinner, some of us girls headed over to MHS for the girls last HOME Volleyball Game this season.
They did an Alumni Night & had lots of old V-ball players come back & honored Coach Kerby & Coach Emrick(my old v-ball coaches) who are now retired from coaching. It was really fun to see old players & Emrick & Kerby deserved a fun CELEBRATION...since I think they coached for over 25 years! Unfortunately Kerby was out of town, but we had fun celebrating with Emrick.

Monica(her 2 cute girls), Bettina, Coach Emrick, Coach Strawn, Me, Tiffany
(The 4 of us girls graduated together & still play City Volleyball together after all these years!)

This is Coach Strawn. She put the whole "Alumni Night/Retirement Party" together & did such a WONDERFUL job! She currently coaches Varsity(my little sis Heidi plays for her) & she coached me for YEARS! I had her way back in 8th Grade After School Sports, 9th Grade...then she moved to coaching higschool & she was my coach my Sophomore & Junior year as well! It is ALWAYS great to see her & it has been so much FUN watching her coach my little sister this year, as I've been able to go to several games:) I guess this is a new TRADITION from now on, to have Alumni come back to the last Home Game every year {so all of you that played MHS V-ball...plan on it every year} We might even scrimmage next year!

Here are the Alumni that came(there were more...but this is who was left towards the end for the picture) Coach Emrick in the middle & a whole bunch of his V-ball players!:)

I'm already looking forward to watching my sister Heidi play NEXT YEAR, as a big Senior! :)

Shane's Funeral

If you weren't able to make it to Shane's funeral...it was UNREAL. The Phoenix Police Department were INCREDIBLE & truly HONORED Shane in every way they could.

The program was perfect from start to finish. Governor Napolitano started it off by honoring Shane with an award that she presented to Melisha. The Phoenix Mayor then spoke, followed by memories from fellow Officers. His good friend, Mason & his brother Austin did an AMAZING job speaking, CELEBRATING Shane's life & all the good he accomplished in his short 25 years. His Bishop & Stake President gave the closing talks, focusing more on the spiritual side of the siutation & I couldn't stop thinking of what an amazing missionary opportunity his funeral was. There were SO SO SO MANY people there, the majority of which were not members of the church...sitting there, learning about the Plan of Salvation & why we believe that Families are Forever! It was AMAZING.

Shane REALLY accomplished SO MUCH in his short life here on earth. Matt & I have had a tough week, as we have dealt with this news...but Matt helped me realize that Shane was able to experience EVERYTHING GOOD IN LIFE! He had a wonderful wife & just recently was able to experience the JOYS that come with being a DAD! He really was able to experience it ALL!


The Pall Bearers @ the Mesa Cemetery...
Melisha's brother, Matt, Bryan, Britton, Mason, Shane's cousin, Austin, Bronson

We teased Natalie & Bryan that they are going to have to get pregnant soon, so Diana and I don't look quite so large! :-)

THE BOYS:)
Bryan, Nate, Matt, Britton, Mason
Matt..did you not get the memo to wear your shades?

More of the Boys...

The graveside services were INCREDIBLE. I couldn't believe it. There were over 100 motorcycle cops that lead the procession from Red Mt. Institute to the Cemetery...honorary guard/police & fire from SO many cities...bagpipe players...police officers on horses...police officers holding flags...police officers passing out water bottles...police officers in pretty much EVERY FORM you can imagine. Before the Dedication of the Grave, the family turned the time over to the Phoenix Police Department...who honored Shane in many ways...
There were helicopters that flew overhead in a "V", there were gunshots fired in the air, there were salutes & honors from every angle, they did Shane's "last call" over the radio & MORE. It was an incredible honor. His grandfather then dedicated the grave & friends & family stayed to visit for awhile, before heading off to the luncheon...

This is a picture of the BOYS & Melisha & Kynzlie at the luncheon. I KNOW these boys will make SURE that Kynzlie grows up, knowing what an AMAZING daddy she has!!!

To see pictures from the funeral go HERE