Birthday Celebrations!

In the Allen family, a birthday is not complete until the angel food cake has been properly made complete with lemon frosting, candles are lit on top and a song is sung with the special spatula.  This tradition began before I joined the Allen family.  Grandma next door was always the maker of the cake for her children and then her grandchildren.  I remember after she passed away, my kids asked who was going to make the angel food cakes.  I wasn't sure who was going to because years ago in Utah I had totally failed in the making of an angel food cake for Paul (where did Marki go that afternoon anyway??!)  All of my family can testify that after several FAILED attempts that first year of passing that assignment onto me I finally figured it out and the tradition continues!  I still miss Phyllis more than normal at birthday times!  Hers were the best!

Celebrating BOTH birthdays with the same cake...

JAY

AND MEL!

(with limited candles, there is a system to these.  Kind of like the roman numeral system though instead it was the Jay system)

The week after Mel's birthday is mine.  I was going to opt out of the cake this year, but Jason volunteered to make it so I couldn't resist!  

LORI

(Jason's first cake attempt was MUCH better than mine!  GREAT job Jason!  We got to frost our own pieces...you get more frosting that way!  Lori's favorite!)

A quick update for you...

A pageant apostle in the making...doesn't the beard look apostle-like?!  It's fun!  I can imagine he will look much younger in a couple months when he shaves it.  For now, we like it!  We are happy to be able to be in the Mesa Arizona Temple Easter Pageant this year.  I have wonderful memories of participating as a youth and then with Taralynn one year when she was a teenager.  There is something good about hearing the story of Jesus' life at Easter time and something amazing at hearing it over and over at Easter time.  He lived a perfect life and His mission was for each of us.  I am truly grateful for the knowledge I have of Him and the love I have for my Savior.

I love Jay! He has played some church ball this season.  He continues to work hard and serve well.  He is a great father and husband.  We are looking forward to spring break together as a family.  

SCOTT got yet another acceptance to college...BYU!  And the decisions continue.  When I asked him what he thought he would do he gave me his normal Scott shrug.  The next day, Amy informed me that his facebook status indicated that "he was Provo bound for the summer and then to somewhere where there was snow in fall and winter."  That was helpful!  Scott and friends sold another half-pipe and are looking into making a quarter pipe to sell next.  Scott amazes me and Jay with his entrepreneur-ness.  Scott got a job at DI.  He works a couple days a week.  Comes home tired.  Nothing wrong with that!  His senior-itis continues...and my realization that he is leaving me sooner than I want to admit makes me sad.

JASON has his first track meet this Wednesday.  He will high jump, triple jump and run the 4 by 4 (Amy reminded us that that was Grandpa Mel's race).  I think long distance runs are still somewhere in his future but we will see.  I am excited for him to compete in these events.  Jason seems to love socializing most these days.  He has got a shrug of his own, but still answers most questions.  We got to go to Grandpa and Grandma's for FHE this week.  By the end of the night Jason was the only kid left with us old adults!  We played SEEK.  Jason did fabulous and taught us a thing or two!  We will try to remember to catch the "prayer ball" when bad thoughts come into our minds.  We love the lessons learned at Grandpa's house.  Always replace those thoughts with prayer. 

 Amy escaped the camera at the birthday celebrations, as did Sam and Liesl for some reason, who were there celebrating with us.  Amy is doing great!  Have I told you I love having a daughter home?!  She had her formal evaluation for her internship and got very high marks! (of course)  She enjoys what she is doing and is not quite sure what the future holds for her, though graduation time is coming soon!  Speed dating is popular among young adults these days.  She has had her share lately.  A few "real dates" have come from them too!  Some of Amy's friends are coming home from missions.  It is a fun time.  Amy looks forward to Jason's track meets and visiting Provo for spring break!

Taralynn and Kory enjoyed family at a cabin in Pine Basin for the weekend.  LOTS of snow, games, food and fun.  You can learn more about what they are up to on Taralynn's blog.
http://tk-sibbett.blogspot.com/  Taralynn is home alone this weekend as Kory has  gone to St. George to golf with friends...though the weather was not looking so golf-worthy and I haven't heard if any golfing was actually done.  We haven't taken advantage of skype as much as we should, but I hope to be better about that soon.

I had a great birthday.  I tried to let the day pass quietly by taking a sub job (kindergarten wouldn't have been too quiet I suppose, but it would have been fun), but it got cancelled at the last minute.  So I got to enjoy lunch with friends and visiting with Mom and Dad.  I enjoyed talking to my terrific sisters and brothers too.  That night we went out with the other Allens to dinner and the first ASU baseball game of the season!  It was fun!

Amy woke up (on my birthday) to me washing dishes with a few tears in my eyes.  I was remembering so many birthdays - I can't remember one not like this - when Grandma Webb would call and tell me about the blizzard in Wyoming the day Bunny was born.  Bunny, my Mom's sister, and I share a birthday.  Her formal  name was Lorian, though she was seldom called that.  I was named Lori Ann after her (thanks Mom!).  I love my namesake even though I have yet to meet her face to face.  That afternoon, I visited Mom and Dad.  Mom gave me some of Bunny's things including her senior picture.  I went home and was looking through the cedar chest and found a letter written to me, from Grandma, on my birthday several years ago - telling me about that blizzard in Wyoming.  I am grateful for the many letters Grandma Webb wrote to me over the years.  I miss her.

Spot is home from his mission!  He looks great!  It was nice spending the day with family today in honor of his return.  I loved that he shared so much with us.  I am grateful for a good family who love and care for one another.  Life is good.

Love,

Lori

P.S.  I hope to change my blogging habits and post once a week.  Look for it!

Tribute to Grandma Webb

February 9, 2011

Dear Family,

It’s been almost another month since I’ve written.  Time seems to move faster these days.  I stay busy but am always trying to improve how I use my time.  But, here’s how our family has used some time lately…

Grandma Webb passed away January 28.  I can’t help but imagine the reunion!  It has been over 50 years since Grandpa passed away.  Her parents, siblings, daughter and two grandchildren preceded her in death.  She loved her family on both sides of the veil so much.  It was evident in all she did.  To the end she was obedient and shared her testimony with them.  I will miss her!  Though I only saw her a couple times a year, usually, we wrote to each other regularly.  She read my letters and sent me love, encouragement and advice.  As she shared her experiences in life with me, I grew and became a better wife and mother.  As she is my last grandparent to leave this earth, I reflect on them all and hope that my children grow to love their grandparents as much as I grew to love mine.  How grateful I am to KNOW that I will be with them again someday.  It brings me great peace as I continue my journey here on earth.  I was privileged to travel to Wyoming with my siblings for her funeral.  It was a great tribute to her, filled with music, words of wisdom and testimony.  Her family gathered round to honor her, as she deserved.  It was a beautiful, sunny, COLD Wyoming day.  She has been laid peacefully to rest next to her dear husband, Paxton and daughter, Lorian, lovingly known as Bunny.  I feel confident that she gave them each a hug from me when she saw them.

JAY had a birthday!  Yep.  Another year older and wiser.  Jay and I went to Las Vegas for his birthday weekend with five other couples (Allen, Costello, Rose, Bauden, Peterson).  It was so fun!  Good friends, good food, entertainment and JAY! What could be better, really?  The new memory made on this trip, believe it or not, was that Jay and I renewed our wedding vows at the Wedding Chapel…with Elvis!  Crazy?!  Yes.  We arrived in Vegas at lunchtime on Thursday and found us a yummy lunch.  As we were visiting, Lori Costello, called her cousin, who works in Vegas and invited him to join us.  Come to find out, he is part owner of a wedding chapel.  Quite the business for a family man from Gilbert AZ.  He has done this for about 20 years and has been quite successful, weddings almost every ½ hours every day of the year.  BUT, there was a half hour time open that day, so he invited us to come check it out.  He sent the white limo to pick us up and when we arrived asked if anyone wanted to renew vows, so we could really get a taste of the business.  Everyone else in the group was too shy, so Jay volunteered us!  This tiny wedding chapel provides the limo service, flowers, and pictures (including video of the entire ceremony.  You are welcome to watch it anytime!), even cake for the reception!  Elvis, the other owner, took charge of the ceremony.  It was a memory for sure!  I have neglected to tell you that Jay and the boys and me are in the Easter Pageant this year.  Jay will portray the apostle Thomas.  He has begun the process of growing a beard!  It is soft (with a touch of grey!).  Grandma Webb loved Jay and often commented on what a kind and loving husband and father he is.  I agree Grandma…

Just in case you didn’t believe me!  Here's the wedding party!

It was bitter/sweet when the half pipe was taken away...
I think Scott will miss the TacoTime sign most!

 SCOTT got accepted to BYU-Idaho!  Yeah!  Actually it happened quite a while ago, but we didn’t know it.  Stamps are too expensive, I guess!  Everything is on line these days and you have to know where to look.  He is still waiting to hear back from Provo, but has some good options to think about.  Scott has flown again recently.   He continues to keep having fun, snowboarding a couples times since the last time I wrote and going to the Barrett Jackson car show/auction.  But the big news for Scott is that he and his friend sold their half pipe…well traded it for a big screen TV.  Does Scott ever do anything the easy way?!  Just kidding.  When I asked him why he couldn’t just wait to sell it for MONEY he reminded me that a TV is much easier to sell than a half pipe.  He is so wise.  It only took a few days actually to sell the TV.  He is quite the negotiator and could hardly wipe the smile off his face as the guy placed bills in his hand.  Success!  Between the time they traded the half pipe and sold the TV they had bought a new half pipe.  Like I said, nothing Scott does is easy in my mind!  It needs a little fixing and then they can sell it for more!  You can just see the money signs in Scott’s head!  Oh boy.  So the business has begun, I suppose!  But, I gotta say, when Scott is busy with a project he is much happier and actually kinder to his Mom so I will not complain (much).  I love his spirit and just have to get used to the idea that, for now, Scott is not doing things the “conventional” way, but he is working and learning and is happy.  What more can a Mom ask?  Like Grandma Webb always said, “love them for who they are.  See the good and always love them.”

Taralynn came to visit!  We loved having Taralynn home for a quick weekend.  She didn’t have time to eat at all the favorite spots but she did get to enjoy, Angel Sweet, Sweet Cakes and Someburros…and Mom’s mashed potatoes and gravy!  We did some unnecessary shopping, making sure everyone went home with something new, played Skip-bo, watched the Suns, and laughed at JesterZ.  She was able to visit with friends, enjoy a back rub from her Dad, fuss with her siblings, enjoy church without the nursery (!) and wash dishes with her Mom.  I will admit, I thought about extending her trip for her, but while she was here, Kory’s Grandma passed away, so I couldn’t keep her longer even if I tried as there were funeral services to attend and family to be with when she got home.  We send our love to the Sibbett family at this time of loss.  Grandma Sibbett had a lot of spunk and will be missed.  Taralynn enjoyed the warm sunshine and hopefully took a little back with her.  Grandma Webb loved Arizona this time of year to warm up and enjoy the citrus!  But always loved home best…I think that is how Taralynn felt.  It was so great having her here.  Thanks Kory for sharing her.

We had Jason’s Eagle Court of Honor, honoring him and three other Eagle Scouts in the ward (Paxton, Mitch and Adam).  It was a really nice program.  I am proud to say that I produced my first movie!  I put together a movie with pictures of these four scouts.  It was a lot of fun.  I am grateful to my kids for adding the music to make it even better!  When you come to visit, ask to see it!  Unfortunately I forgot my camera that night so if any of you took a picture of my Eagle, I’d love one!

Jason played his last basketball game while Taralynn was here!  It was nice that she got to see him play.  The season was good.  Jason worked very hard and I’m sure learned a lot.  We loved watching him play.  He was always happy to play as much as the coach would let him.  He was intense and was a great team player.  He will continue to play and practice and enjoy the game for a long time, I’m sure.  The last game was a Friday and Monday Jason didn’t come home on the bus, as I imagined he would.  Apparently, track season began that day.  Jason plans on high jumping and running.  He has some ingrown toenails to take care of though…and then he will begin working as hard in track as he did in basketball.  I’m proud of him.  Jason continues to be a top student and loves hanging out with friends.  He still watches the Suns and will always remember Grandma Webb cheered for them too, except when they played the Jazz…that was her team of choice!

See how she keeps us balanced??!

Amy is enjoying her new internship at the school around the corner.  She gets to work with the kindergarteners mostly.  They love “Miss Amy” and she is growing to love them.  She comes home happy and always has a fun story to tell about them.  Amy told me a few days ago that she misses her friends in Provo.  I was sad for her, but happy that she will get to visit them for Spring Bread next month.  The boys Amy’s age are beginning to come  home from missions.  It’s a fun time to have Amy home!  I am proud of Amy for “putting herself out there” to meet people here.  She is active in the singles ward (not even going to church with us when Taralynn was here!) and enjoys spending time with us too (Amy went to all of Jason’s basketball games and encourages him to run fast in  track.  She is a great sister to Scott and sticks up for him sometimes when I’m grumpy and Amy loves when Taralynn visits!)!  I love having her around.  She tends to keep our family more balanced, I think.  She’s a lot like her Dad that way.    She gave a fabulous talk in church about preparing for the future…using the scripture “Press Forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God, and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal Life.”  Amy does press forward with steadfastness in Christ…So did Grandma Webb, who endured to the very end of this life…

Austin and Monica got married!  Ted, Erin and Dalton came to Wyoming!  Katie came to Wyoming, leaving Ashton for the first time in their marriage!  Erik and Michele made their annual anniversary trip to Disneyland!  Wonder if they renewed their vows there??!  Mel made me some fresh orange juice today!  I’m spoiled to have him for a neighbor!  Liesl and Sam sat with us in church!  Marya has plans to come visit in March!  Dawn and Haley came to watch Jason play basketball! (I regret not having pictures of all these!)

Seems like I always get to this part in my letter and think, who needs to know about me?!  I enjoy my family and all their activities. Like all mothers, when they are happy I am happy.  I enjoyed very much being with my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins in Wyoming.  Some I haven’t seen for a LONG time.  I wish I had the chance to interact with them more often because they are such great people!  I know why Grandma loved each one so much.  I enjoy my neighbors and friends who look after me and are kind.  I enjoy serving my Heavenly Father in the Young  Women program.  We gave a SEEK 13 challenge to young women and leaders in the stake to read 13 Articles from the last conference Ensign, memorize the 13 Articles of Faith, and complete 13 Personal Progress Experiences in 13 weeks.  At the end of the 13 weeks we challenged them to walk/run 13 miles with us.  We are half way through and I am hearing some positive things that girls are doing to rise up to the challenge.  I am enjoying positive things by participating myself.  Sister Dibb came to Arizona recently and taught Young Women leaders.  She has a wonderful spirit about her.  The leaders in Salt Lake have encouraged young women to be PROS at Praying, Reading the scriptures, Obeying the commandments and Smiling!  I enjoy serving in the temple.  I enjoy running with Jay and my friend Brit.  I enjoy reading when I take the time to.  I enjoy working hard and doing my best.  I enjoy writing to you and sharing my life with you. 

Though these letters began to just my Grandparents, they have been extended to you and because of that my love for you has grown.  Funny, that when I go to send this e-mail, even though I have you all “grouped” so I don’t have to put each address in individually, I often look over the list and think how happy I am to be connecting with YOU because I love you each for different reasons.  Thank you for being a part of my life, for teaching my by example, for loving my kids and for being my friend!

I love you and will miss you Grandma!

Have a great week!  I hope to write again soon.

Love,  Lori