Allen Update: Great Week for ALL in the Allen family!

November 8, 2010

Dear family,

It has been a great week at our house.

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, just for the record, if you didn’t know, ALL MY KIDS ARE 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 4:50 a.m. and appreciate mornings, like today, when we can sleep in until 6:43 a.m.! 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!

love to you always,

Lori