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.
