Amy enjoyed an internship at Lakeridge Jr. High in Orem in the counseling department and comes HOME to begin a new internship at Arizona Children’s Association in January!
Amy - a Senior at BYU!
Cross Country Solo Flight to Tucson!Scott is close to becoming a licensed pilot!
Of course I don't have a picture of Scott flying. Here he is with the neighborhood after he and friends finished building the half pipe. Scott stays busy making fun for all! We love that about him!
Family Half Marathon Experience—complete with photographers and fans to cheer us at the finish line!(Thanks Amy for motivating us!)
THE RUNNERS!
THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND FANS!
Jason made the Poston Jr. High basketball team. (I must take my camera next time! He will love that!)
Jay & Lori met Taralynn & Kory in Vegas; another time, Jay, Lori, Scott and Jason met Amy at the PhoenixAirport, continuing on to San Francisco!GREAT MEMORIES MADE!
VEGAS!
Meeting at the Phoenix Airport!
We enjoyed a day of bikes--across the bridge--with the Costello Family!
Friends!
Kory, currently working as a Deputy Sheriff, graduated from Post (Peace Officer Standard & Training) in April.It required five weeks training in Boise.
Kory and Taralynn graduation day in Boise!
National Jamboree 2010 for Scott & Jason-visited church history sites and traveled in the East for two weeks then spent a week at the Jamboree in Virginia!
Jason and Scott in Washington DC. This picture is Mom's favorite!
Scott got to help prepare the Sacrament for the LDS Troops at the Jamboree
Boys will be boys.
People of Haiti were helped with money raised at Jason’s Eagle Humanitarian dinner.Jason officially became an Eagle Scout in October!
Taralynn and Kory, in February, moved into a beautiful, new home built by Kory and his Dad, with the help and support of Taralynn!
Go visit! It's great!
Temple Experiences
Gila Valley Temple Open House with Cowley Family
Oakland California Temple after baptisms We also visited San Diego Temple, Idaho Falls and Salt Lake Temples with the kids Lori continues to work in the Youth Center in the Mesa Temple and loves it Jay and Lori visit the temple as often as possible Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen are currently serving in the Mesa Visitors Center
Our Thanksgiving week was fantastic!I hope yours was too.
Thanksgiving morning began with our tradition of running the Turkey Trot.Scott got out of it this year as he was a bit under the weather.Jason’s goal was to beat his last year’s time of 44 minutes, which he did at 41 minutes.I was bracing myself to run it in just over an hour but Amy kept me going and we finished under an hour (57:40)! As we began the run, Amy said, “We should beat Dad.”I told her to go for it and I would see her at the finish line!BUT when we saw him at mile 5 we snuck past him and beat him by about thirty seconds!Jay’s goal—as always—was to finish, which he did at 58:06.He is the most mild-mannered runner with the best attitude I know.
The Thanksgiving feast was at our house!I can’t remember the last time we had ALL my siblings for Thanksgiving.We didn’t have all their kids, but we had a crowd of 39 and it was great!The food was delicious, of course, but the company was the best.Some of us got to meet Monica (Austin’s fiancé) for the first time.Dalton was the most popular—he has grown since last we saw him and he is adorable!He has his Dad’s eyelashes and everyone wanted a turn holding him.It was nice having them from Colorado and Tyler from DC!We seldom get Heather and David and Scott and Lynette at Thanksgiving but we got both of them this year!I always love whatever Lynette brings.She is a great cook and I wish I had her talents!I loved that my boys, Heather’s girls, Haley and Erik’s boys played games and watched football together!Great bonding time for cousins!Teena, Rick and Cassidy all made the drive to my house, with good food to share.And, best of all, Grandma Webb and Mom and Dad joined the party!Without them, we would not be the people we are today.Jay gave a nice Thanksgiving thought, reminding us how important family is, especially parents.The scriptures provide insights from the past to help us with our current situations.We have much to be grateful for.
The day ended with a movie, which is also tradition.Jay, Scott and Richard saw, “Unstoppable.”The rest of the movie goers saw “Tangled.”(and at the movies we got to meet Charity—who Nathan is dating)
Amy came home for the week.She got out of Utah before the snow—and went back to it in a big way.I think she had a good time here—with family and friends.She is on the countdown now for when she comes home to stay!We can’t wait!
Kory had to work Thanksgiving weekend. I think their Thanksgiving was kind of uneventful with that work schedule. But they enjoyed dinner at the Sibbetts and games with family.Their BoiseState played Saturday and that was a bummer of a game.A real heartbreak!Amy got home just as the game was ending—in overtime and LATE—and she was surprised that I was still awake!It’s funny the things you do (even late into the night) when your kids care about it.A couple years ago I could have cared less whether Boise played/not played, won/lost, but now look at me!Disappointed.
Scott went to Six Flags on Friday with his Winter Formal date and her brother and friends.Six Flags is one of Scott’s favorite places ever.He still was not feeling 100% but he seemed to have a great time and said they walked on to all the rides except one.Saturday was his night cross country flight.He said it went well.In between that Scott also completed his BYU application and submitted it!We’ll let you know!He has applied to all BYU schools, but his favored choice would be BYU Provo this summer and then on to BYU-I in the Fall.
Jason had a busy weekend too.Basketball, family and friends.One of his friends at school passed away and Jason went with friends to a memorial service for him.Jason also did some Black Friday shopping with me, Amy and Jay!He wanted to camp out at a store Thursday night, just for the experience, but I said no.I told him I would take him shopping at whatever time he woke me up.Jason got up by 8, but we didn’t head for the stores until about after he and Jay (and the missionaries) got the Christmas things out of the attic, put up the lights on the house and set up the Christmas tree!He found time to hang out with friends too.
I got to take Grandma Webb to see the Christmas lights at the temple on Saturday.They are beautiful and a wonderful way to feel the spirit of Christmas.It has been so nice having Grandma here for a month.She went back home Sunday.We loved celebrating her birthday and Thanksgiving with her.She prepared and sent out personal Christmas letters/cards.I was impressed by her thought for each detail.I am always amazed at her strength, both physically and spiritually.She is a true example of how to live life, working hard and doing the best you can in everything you do.She loves the Savior and follows the prophet and that is evident in her actions and words.I love that she is my Grandma and that she takes the time to come visit Arizona!
Today is transfer day.We said goodbye to Elder Edmonds, who will serve in Fountain Hills and said hello to Elder Thomson, from Hawaii! We look forward to getting to know him.Jason had his first basketball game yesterday—against their biggest rival.Jason started!He got some good playing time in and made 2 points!We were proud!The game was close the entire time—within two points—until the last four minutes when Poston (Jason’s team) pulled ahead.They won by 10 points!It was a great way to start the season.We hope Jason and his team continue to play well and that Jason will get some good playing time in and improve his abilities.
So, life continues to be good and happy here at the Allen home.Take care and know that you are thought of, appreciated and loved.
We are doing great!I hope you are too.I love this time of year when we focus more on the blessings of life.I have many.At our Stake Conference on Sunday one of the speakers said that thankfulness is in our words and gratitude is shown in our actions.I loved that difference!I have been grateful for the gratitude shown me by my family lately.I hope my actions show all of you how grateful I am for you!
Taralynn and Kory—will stay in Idaho for Thanksgiving.Kory has to work Wednesday through Saturday of Thanksgiving week.Crazy.Thankfully, Taralynn will be surrounded by the fun and wonderful Sibbett family while he’s at work.We will miss them!Taralynn showed gratitude by calling me this month, thinking of me and wanting to help.I love that about Taralynn! She does think of others often.I love when she tells me about what she is up to and the fun things she and Kory are doing.She shows me gratitude by her kind e-mails and updated blog.She shows her gratitude to Kory by putting the toilet paper on the roller!(see her blog—
http://tk-sibbett.blogspot.com/)Kory shows gratitude by keeping Taralynn happy always.
Amy is doing great and will be home in less than a week!She has been getting everything in order to come home for good in December and finish her last semester at home!She shows her gratitude by calling me everyday.I love when I hear her ring tone!I know these daily calls won’t last forever, but I do enjoy them now. We look forward to her being home for a week!Many of you will get to see her, I’m sure.
Scott and his friends had a day off school and began a new project!Along side the skateboard half pipe (which is now complete with a landing, couch and speakers!) we have the beginnings of a snowboard ramp!How proud they are of this project!The barn is a haven for boys who love projects!Everything they need is right at their fingertips!We are grateful to Mel for sharing his treasures!Scott showed me his gratitude on Sunday, doing something that in some ways was out of character for him, but made my day and I will never forget it!He has also said thank you more, it seems; one time being for the pizza brought out to him and his friends Friday night out at the ramp.
Jason has basketball everyday.He comes home hungry, tired and happy.He uses his time wisely.Jason showed his gratitude by thanking me and Jay (without any prompts!) for taking him to the Suns game for Family Home Evening.Jay had a client give him two tickets for row three behind the basket.Jay showed gratitude by giving those tickets to Scott and Jason…and then Jay found a deal—two tickets for $28.00—for me and him!When we got to the top (our seats) the man I sat next to said he was going to get a nose bleed!We sat with a fun group of people and enjoyed a great Suns win!
Jay is the best!He doesn’t know how to NOT show gratitude.He has straightened the house, made the bed, gone to work, went dancing with me and the list is never ending.I love him!We went out for German food and enjoyed the temple, Leadership Training and Stake Conference together this week.He is a terrific Dad and loves his kids and would do anything (and everything) for their happiness!He teaches me Christ like love.
The temple continues to be one of my favorite places on earth.Jay and I did sealings this week for Stake Temple Day and when I walked into the sealing room it was more brilliantly light than normal!I immediately noticed the new chandelier!Oh it is beautiful and so bright!The sealer told us that the temple had recently replaced the chandeliers in all the sealing rooms—and they are hand-me-downs—from the Hawaii temple that has just recently been renovated and rededicated.He said when he was told they were getting “hand-me-downs” he felt a little cheated…until he SAW the hand-me-downs!They make the sealing rooms sparkle even more then they did before!New walls, new carpet, new kneeling padding for the alter, new chandeliers…and new chairs coming soon!Look for them—they aren’t even hand-me-downs!As a total side note from this—I bought me a lamp for my bedroom!I love the new light it brings—peaceful and inviting.It was not a hand-me-down, but I was proud of the great deal I got!New light sometimes gives me a new perspective.
At this Thanksgiving time I realize that maybe one of my greatest blessings is my life’s experiences.They are unique and personal to me. Yours are unique and personal to you.Life allows us to interact and help each other; to learn from each other, to help and serve one another and to grow closer to God because of it. I should take time to tell each of you why your influence specifically blesses me, but hopefully my actions show my gratitude.Heavenly Father is in charge.He knows what we need, when we need it, and who can help us.The Savior made life and eternity possible.I am grateful for this knowledge and hope my actions reflect it.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week! I hope to see many of you!
Many of you have been so supportive of Jason trying out and MAKING the Poston Basketball team and have asked about his games. Here's the schedule!
POSTON BASKETBALL GAMES
Tuesday November 30@Poston vs. Stapley
Friday December 1@Poston vs. Shepard
Tuesday December 7@ Perry
Thursday December 9@Poston vs. Maryvale
Monday December 13@Freemont
Thursday December 16@ Stapley
Thursday January 6@Skyline
Friday January 7@ Highland
Tuesday January 11@ Poston vs. Taylor
Thursday January 13@ Mesa High
Tuesday January 18@Shephard
Friday January 21@ Dobson
Tuesday January 25@ Poston vs. Corona
Friday January 28@ Poston vs. Fremont
Thursday February 3@ Poston vs. Dobson
Friday February 4@ Gilbert
I am so proud of Jason and excited to go watch him play! He worked hard to prepare and be ready to try out, worked hard the week of tryouts and continues to be diligent and work hard now that practices have begun! It's not an easy adventure, but so worth it when you put in effort and see progress. I have seen growth in Jason not only as a basketball player but in all areas of his life as he has dedicated himself to this goal. I hope it is a fun season for him and his team!
These are the pictures that wouldn't download from my camera to my computer. Weird, I know. But I finally got them printed and scanned and thought some family members might like seeing them. Great tradition even though we are all getting older! Grandma Webb loved being there this year!
Can you guess who did which pumpkin??
The cousins with their pumpkins...and an extra cousin just for fun!
Here's who showed up that night! We missed some, but had a great time with those who came.
Okay so not the greatest picture but Grandma doesn't come to town very often so I needed one!
JASON is an Eagle Scout!Yes, on Halloween day, Jason had his Board of Review and passed with flying colors.I was able to sit (without participating) in on the Board of Review.For Scott’s I had to sit in another room and strain to hear as much as I could!Brother Smith must have known that my hearing isn’t quite as good now! Jason did great and proved that he lived the Scout Law and learned in scouting things that would help him succeed and serve throughout his life.I was and am a very proud Mom.
In the Board of Review his scout master commented that he didn’t know that Jason wanted to be an architect and that he was a straight A student.So, justfor the record, if you didn’t know, ALL MY KIDSARE A students!Yes, there are a few Bs scattered here and there to keep them balanced and remind their Mom that they are not perfect…yet!But they are great students and I am proud of them.
JASON made the POSTON JR. HIGH BASKETBALL TEAM! Try-outs were last week—everyday early morning; cuts on Wednesday and again on Friday.He was nervous and we were all relieved when Friday afternoon finally came!I was proud of Jason as he dedicated himself to making the team.He worked very hard, disciplined himself, was obedient and succeeded.Unfortunately, with the making of the team come more early morning practices!But Jason and I are getting good at seeing the clock read and appreciate mornings, like today, when we can sleep in until !Life is good.The first game is the end of November and the season goes until February.We are excited for it.
To celebrate Jason making the team, Jay got tickets to the Suns game for Scott and Jason.It turned out to be quite a game!Double overtime and a win!We love when our Suns do good!The boys had a great time.
SCOTT FLEW SOLO TO TUCSON!Yep!He is doing great and I am a proud Mom!I love the flying aspect in Scott’s life as it is one of the few things he takes seriously!And he does take it seriously.He prepares well and I love when he leaves, ready and prepared, and arrives home, safe and happy.He is so good at texting me when he lands safely and that is a blessing to me.People are always impressed that Scott flies.It is an amazing thing to say that my son, at 17 years old, is flying alone!The next flight will be a cross country at night, with his instructor.
Scott got asked to Winter Formal yesterday!A good friend—since birth!Complete with Hershey kisses, hugs and Sparkling Cider, the note read, “I’m not looking for kisses, I’m not asking for hugs, just a sparkling night with an old bud!”There was the cutest picture of the two of them when they were (I would guess) 9 months old!It was a perfect way to ask. Now, we are trying to think of the perfect way to answer!It should be a fun time for them.
AMY COMES HOME in two weeks for Thanksgiving!We are excited to have her here for a week.She has been busy with school and continues to stress and then do fantastic.She is so like Jay was in school.I love talking to her everyday.I am so excited for her to be home to stay!I miss my girls.She continues to meet new people and has fun stories to tell about college life.I am proud of her.
TARALYNN and KORY WENT TO BOISE for a BOISE STATE GAME!They have been looking forward to this trip for a while.They are dedicated fans—as are most people from Idaho, I’m learning.Taralynn even mentioned yesterday that someday when they finish their basement their theatre room will be decorated Boise-style, complete with blue turf!(that made me laugh)Unfortunately, Taralynn got sick. Bummer.She said she spent the first half of the game in the car and then tried to enjoy the second half.I was sad for both of them.But, knowing them, they made the best of it and enjoyed their time together.Kory got sick the day after they got home.I think they are both feeling better now—just in time for the first snow of the season! Taralynn and Kory are happy and good to each other.I am a proud Mom!Their next trip, I believe, is to ARIZONA for Christmas and a little sunshine!
Jay and I had our first dancing lesson!Yes, I said dancing!A couple months ago I got an e-mail from a friend informing me that some couples were going to take some dancing lessons, just for fun.I called Jay, knowing that he would decline the invitation, and HE SAID YES!I guess I learned that if I ever really want Jay to say yes to something, I just need to ask a friend to suggest it!ha!So, for the next three Friday nights our date nights will be our dance lessons!It's fun, with lots of fun friends.And, yes, Christiansens, I wore my stretchy pants!
Halloween illusion
We had the annual ward Halloween chili dinner in the yard. It was so fun!The neighborhood came together for good food, including loads of candy, games for the kids, costume judging and parade and this year the Garry family set up an illusion that was spectacular!It was very cool and everyone had fun trying to figure it out. I always love my friends more on Halloween when I see how clever they are, something that I never am good at!
GRANDMA WEBB is 92!We had a wonderful family party to celebrate.I love when she comes to Arizona to visit!She seems to be doing great.She announced that she has one more year—that Grandpa Webb told her she would live to be 93 and twice as ornery!I know she longs to be with Grandpa again.I don’t know many who have been separated as many years as they have been, but what a blessing Grandma is in the life of her family.We didn’t get to know Grandpa Webb in person, but Grandma has kept him alive to us and has kept her family connected by her goodness and love.It was good to be with her and my family on her birthday.
So, there you have it! I have enjoyed e-mails from family telling the good times in their lives--band competitions, plays, swim meets, grandbabies, wedding plans etc. Thanks for them all! I love my family very much!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We are doing great. We have the annual 30th Ward Halloween chili dinner in our yard tomorrow night. It’s always a good time. Scott asked at dinner last Sunday why we don’t eat as families on blankets at that dinner. It didn’t take me long to realize that he, and his fellow priests, had been asked, once again, to bring tables and chairs from the church for the dinner! My friend said that there should be a merit badge for moving tables and chairs!
I got to sub in 1st grade today—the day of the Halloween party! Fun times. It actually wasn’t as fun as usual for me as there was a student teacher who did all the teaching. I got to grade papers. I did get to play BINGO with them at the party hour. That was fun.
The service project last week went well. We had about 250 kids/adults and we painted a wall, painted house numbers on curbs and cleaned 6 alleys full of all kind of junk! The kids seemed to have a good time. It was interesting after an hour of working how many asked if we were finished yet—when I told them we had only just begun and we planned on working for about 4 hours they thought I was crazy. But I give them my compliments because they all worked very hard until the job was done. Because of us, a neighborhood in Mesa looks better.
Grandma Webb is here for a month! She got here on Monday. We had the annual Andreasen family pumpkin carving dinner at Dawn’s on Monday night. It was a smaller group, but older. Weird. We missed the kids—Dameon, Morgyn, Henry—the only ones to carve pumpkins were Haley, Jason and Scott. I learned something new that night. After Haley carved her pumpkin and got the traditional group picture taken Haley promptly tossed her jack-o-lantern in the pool. Yep! Just dropped it right in. When questioned she taught me that they stay fresh in the pool. So, tonight, Haley’s jack-o-lantern is probably still nice and ready to be lit tomorrow and Sunday whereas ours our turning moldy and probably wont make it til Halloween! I can honestly say that was the first time I ever thought it would be nice to have a pool!
Tuesday Grandma got to spend the afternoon here while Mom and Dad were at the Visitor’s Center. It was great having her. She is doing great. Always so pleasant to visit with and I always learn about my extended family when I visit with her! She loves her family and keeps in touch with all of them so well.
That night was the last night of Teacher basketball in our stake. Grandma (and Grandpa and Grandma Andreasen and Grandpa Mel) got to go watch. They first had the Stake Extravaganza in which Jason was to participate in the three point shot competition. After a GREAT warm up and having the announcer even say, “if I were putting money on anybody, my money would be on that #18 (Jason)” Jason didn’t make any 3 point shots in his given minute. Such a bummer. After that our ward played for the stake championship. Jason and his friends played some great ball and they won—at the buzzer—by a point! But that was just the first game. Since the other team had not last any yet in the tournament, and it was a double elimination tournament, they had to immediately play another game. I’d say our team wanted it more and they played hard and won that game too! It has been years since our ward has won a basketball championship in the stake! We were happy. The grandparents seemed happy too!
Amy had a scare this week at the gas station. Somehow, the gas lever got into the lock position when it wasn’t supposed to be and sprayed gas all over her. It took some time for her to get someone’s attention to help her. She was pretty shaken up—and who wouldn’t be with gas on your clothes, hair and eyes! She was able to wash out her eyes pretty good, got some advice, like washing them out with milk, too, but she declined the free milk offered her. She went home, took multiple showers and got a priesthood blessing and before long the burning started to go away. She has taken her clothes to the cleaner and I hope her hair smells fresh tonight! We are happy she is okay. Those calls are never fun to get!
It looks like Amy will be coming home to stay in December! She got an internship in Arizona and will just need to take two additional classes online to graduate! Can you believe she will graduate in April!? How great is that? She is doing great despite the fact that they got snow in Provo this week!
Kory was unsuccessful in his hunt. Bummer. Kory and Taralynn seem to be doing well too. They haven’t gotten snow that I know of but the weather is starting to get cold. Taralynn is not looking forward to that! They go to Boise this week for the Boise State game! Fun memories to make!
I guess that is all I have for tonight. I am reading President Monson’s biography…and love it! I have always loved reading biographies, especially those of our living prophets. Now that we have a family memory of tubing down the Provo River, it was especially fun reading about his adventures on the Provo River growing up. He spent every summer there for two months, fishing, tubing, playing. President Monson is such a great example to me and I try to look for ways to help others and let the spirit guide me to how to make a difference to others everyday. How grateful I am for so many good examples in my life that teach me and help me. Thanks to all of you!
So, I have no idea what I am doing. But I decided to try doing my updates "blog style" and see how it works. It gets my story in writing--adds some pictures for interest and allows me to share what's going on in my world with my family and friends. I hope you like it! I hope I can do it with style!
