Chef Lauren Marie

At the age of eight years old, Lauren gets in and gets the job done. She loves to bake and cook. The project you see before you is something she set out to do all on her own one Sunday after church. We are so darn lucky to have such a little lady in our lives. She has even taken breakfast in bed to her sick brother before. So far he doesn't seem to realize how lucky and spoiled he is because of her.

Scientific Research Project!

For Garren's school science project he decided to see which type of pop would have the biggest spray after shaking each can 20 times. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, Garren or Mark.

The Bird Saviors.

While waiting to pick up Chinese take out at a drive through facing a busy street, we watched a bird get clipped by a car. Our eyes were then completely captivated by the bird now struggling around on the pavement as we cringed and made sorry sounds each time a car just missed or drove over the top of the little creature. Finally Mark (whom didn't share the same sorry and worried feelings) jumped out of the car, grabed a plastic bag and ran out into the street between passing cars and picked up the bird. He sat the bird on the lawn and came back to the car. Mark had completely won the hearts of his children and wife by his heroic act. Of course then we were worried about a cat or other animal carrying off the little bird. In a weak moment we some how talked Mark into letting us take him home and nurture it back to health. It wasn't long and that bird was flying all around our garage and instead of babying the little feathered friend, Mark was chasing it with a broom, trying to get it to fly outside and stop making all its little deposits. Oh the memories...

Birthday Party Fun!

When Lauren first brought up the idea of wanting an ice cream party, I couldn't imagine what she was trying to get across. Then she elaborated a bit and let me know that it was really an ice cream fight she wanted. Of course, being the responsible parent that I am, I told her that was crazy and we would have to come up with another idea. Several months later my thought pattern changed and it hit me...why not? So as you can see by the pictures, she got her ice cream fight and it was a major hit with all. The swimming pool water was a nice milky color and the kids were in heaven over it. It's amazing what kids can teach you when us big boring grown ups will actually take time to listen.

Birthday Party Fun!

A night of trauma and medicine!

Another night of dress up for the dance studio. Mark went as Dr. Love and Garren as a victim of yet another skate boarding accident.

I'm not sure if the wrap on that kids head is the Japanese flag or a bandage of some sort.

Summer 2009

With Lauren's baptism and Garren's priesthood ordination, we had a great summer this year. We were lucky enough to have Mark's sister Christine come and spend several days and also Mark's mother came to visit. Having company (especially family) come and visit is always so exciting since it rarely ever happens with us living so far away from home.

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It is amazing how one person can make the world such a better place to live. We miss Chris already.

Enjoying family visits.

We feel so incredibly lucky as of late. Mark's beautiful, fun, and absolutely adorable sister flew out here to be with us for a short stay for Garren's priesthood ordination and Lauren's baptism. Our days were shortly numbered with her, but we enjoyed every moment of having her with us. Hopefully it won't be too long before we get to be with her again.

Yee haw! We had a great time at the cowboy costume contest and won another bunch of free dance lessons. As you can tell, the kids had a great time too. We go dancing nearly every Friday night and we are all learning a lot. It has been great to find something we can actually enjoy as a family.

He loves to entertain.

On Tuesday night was the performance as Mike TV, then on Wednesday he was chosen along with several others from his school to participate in a talent show case at Georgetown College. He sang a solo from the musical "Music Man" called "Gary Indiana". We thought he was great of course. Sure wish our family could have been there to cheer him on.

Great Mammoth Adventure

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Mammoth Caves and Kentucky Downunder

For spring break this year we decided to surprise the kids and venture into our own back yard (sort of). We spent several days at Mammoth Caves National Park and Kenucky Down Under. We really enjoyed the cave tours and were absolutle amazed at the beauty of them. Our tour guides were great, especially Ranger JOE a retired school teacher. I think Garren is already thinking he wouldn't mind that job when he retires.

We also went and checked out Kentucky Down under and besides touring another cave there, the kids petted kangaroos, baby joey's, fed birds, panned for gold, etc. All in all it was a great adventure and we hope to do it and more again some time.

Idaho/Colorado moments

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Christmas 2008 Update

The week before Christmas was a bit more stressful than usual this year. I had a slithery little thing hiding under my bed for nearly seven days. I will admit that it was fun to think up how we might wrap such a gift in order to make a real wow factor. We were worried about the creatures lack of oxygen, we decided to wait and wrap him up first thing in the morning. Besides, we were up late enough as it was, but it wasn't because we were putting anything together, it was because of a long standing Allen tradition. Every Christmas Eve Mark comes up with some new and challenging booby traps to keep the kids from sneaking down to the Christmas tree without getting caught. I must tell you, it really makes gift opening somewhat dull in comparison. It's great to see Mark carry on such a fun tradition from his father, and it is even more enjoyable to hear the kids talk about it in anticipation. Needless to say, we had a great Christmas and yet we are breathing much easier knowing it is all over for another 11 months. Spring is now my dream and focus. Already I am tempted to look in the garden for the peeping of a daffodil, but I have refrained knowing I would only be disappointed. Snow and ice have dropped lightly from the sky now and again to remind me to stop dreaming of blue sky and flowers.

Our creepy costumes for performing Michael Jackson's "Thriller"

I just found this picture and thought you all might enjoy seeing what we might look like if we actually had crawled out of the grave. After teaching myself, I taught five others how to do the dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". To make my sparkly Salvation Army dress look old and haggered, I ripped up the dress and then soaked it in tea and cocoa. I may have looked like death that night, but I smelled of apples and spice tea and chocolate.

New Years Eve and More.

Last night we ditched our darling kids at a friends house for the evening. While Lauren and Garren celebrated the night with fireworks, games and food, we went out dancing. The night held lots of fun for all of us, yet I believe that my age is starting to catch up with me. Staying up until the wee ours of the morning is no longer that fun and exciting. My bed really does seem to call out for me. Although I started to die out when it got late, I didn't actually get home and into my bed until about 2:00 a.m. this morning. Garren and Mark snuck out and played a few night games about that time on unsuspecting friends who deserved a good pay back after last years pranks on us.
When the alarm went off at about 7:00 this morning, both Mark and I could hardly pull ourselves out of bed, and we wouldn't have, but we had previously invited more than 30 hungry mouths (our friends) over for brunch today. Luckily we somehow got all the food ready and the gathering was a great success. The only problem is that now we are expected by those same friends to make it a yearly tradition. I guess sometimes it just doesn't pay to do good...just kidding.