Easter Pageant...

It was a great year to be in the Easter Pageant.  Mom and Dad are serving in the Visitor's Center!  Amy was a supportive spectator!  And we had an amazing experience participating!  More details about the pageant to come in the next update...

DID YOU SEE US????

Jay:  Apostle Thomas.  Look at that beard - and the make up!  I think this experience really changed  him - not because of the make up, but because he got to spend time with some amazing men and really think about what those apostles did as they "left their nets and Followed Him."

Lori:  Follower of Christ with Jason.  It was always nice to have Jason there with me.  I'm sure families followed Him and listened and were amazed at His miracles and His love, just as we were each night during pageant...oh to have really been there!

Scott:  He's supposed to look tough. Doesn't he?!  A Temple Guard.  He got to experience Christ as a child, and as an adult and the effect He had on those in the temple.  I think Scott really listened and internalized the events portrayed in the pageant.

Jason:  A follower of Christ.  A Temple Guard (understudy for Scott) on Thursdays.  And Pilot's Servant.  Pilot took great care of his servants.  I think Jason learned a lot from him.

The man in the back - Judas - also known to us as Bishop Denton.  Dear friend, neighbor and Bishop!  We love him and his family!

HE LIVES!  I KNOW IT!  I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT KNOWLEDGE...AND FOR ALL OF YOU.

With love always,

Lori

Happy April!

Well, it's been a busy great week!  April Fool's Day was off-the-wall in kindergarten mis-match day!  One of the teachers after school said she had very low expectations of getting anything done going into the day and in the end she got more done than she expected.  She decided maybe she should go into every day with lower expectations!  Being in the classroom is very fun (and challenging) for me.  I really do love it and at the same time I really am so grateful that I have not had to work outside the home and have had the title of Homemaker for all these years.

I've decided that the busier I am, the better I manage my  time.  It's an amazing thing, really, as I realize what is most important to me--FAMILY...dinner together, time together, scriptures and prayer together.   With pageant practice every night and homework we are all busy, but I love the time I am able to spend with my family. 

The kids got to go to the Suns Game with Jay on Friday.  I had Easter Pageant practice.  From the pictures, it looks like they had a fabulous time!  We did all go to dinner together before and it was great spending time with them, hearing them tease each other, laughing together and enjoying making memories.  

Scott delivered another successful ramp built on Tuesday.  Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen came to the track meet.  Mel even changed scouts to Tuesday so he could come with us and cheer Jason on at his meets!  Jason jumped 5'2 last week and 5'5 yesterday!   The relay team RAN FAST always take it!  So many watching comment on Jason's running style - so smooth and quick!  Amy continues working and bringing home fun things that preschoolers say.  She is not going to Utah for graduation but is planning a trip to visit some of her friends there and make it up to Idaho to see Taralynn.  I miss Taralynn and Kory, but they are busy and happy!  

We always enjoy Conference Weekend as a family.  Usually we go to the mountains, but this year we stayed home.  We missed the coolness of the mountains, but conference is great in the family room!  I also got to go to dinner with Mom, sisters, Amy and Haley which was very fun.  The boys went to dinner after Priesthood with Grandpa and friends.  I have such a testimony of preparing for conference, asking to learn specific things pertaining to my life.  Once again, I was directed and look forward to reading and studying the conference talks for the next six months.  I will try harder to be more kind and serve others in need more.  I will try harder to testify to others what I know by my words and actions.  I will try harder to attend the temple regularly and remember covenants.  I am so blessed to live minutes from a temple!  I will try harder to become better.  We had our fun night with neighbors to review conference on Monday - a very fun tradition for us!

I think I am forgetting something, but that is the update from here.  Like I always say, I'd rather be busy than bored...!  But keep balance always.

love,

Lori

a quick update

FIRST!  Amy took her last exam and had her exit interview for her internship TODAY.  In other words...AMY IS DONE WITH COLLEGE!  She officially graduates April 22.  Currently she is planning on NOT being in Utah for the graduation.  CONGRATS to AMY!  She will continue helping out in the schools where she has interned and look for more work (and school) opportunities in the future!

Scott is one the countdown to graduation too!  Only 9 more weeks of high school for him.  Scott is busy - with school, work, church, friends, life.  He is currently starting a business with two friends building skateboard ramps.  They are working hard.  He has registered for classes at BYU for summer!  It is mind boggling to think how soon he will leave us.  Scott is a temple guard in the Easter Pageant!  Look for him!

Jason is busy with school, track, church, friends, life.  He still cheers his Suns on but they have had a few heartbreaking games.  He plays basketball with friends when he finds time and is one of Pilot's servants in the Easter Pageant!  Look for him!

Taralynn enlisted Jay's help this week - to help with a baby shower she is planning!  She was re-writing words to "These are a few of my favorite things" with "little girl things" and knew that her Dad was good at rhymes and songs!  He helped and it is so cute!  Her sister in law is expecting a girl after two very busy boys!  Taralynn never complains (I guess she has nothing to complain about!) and is happy whenever I talk to her.  Kory works a lot and hard.  He's good to her.

Jay is Thomas in the Easter Pageant!  Look for him!  He is enjoying the experience so far and have I ever told you - I love Jay!

We gave 160 medals out on Saturday at our SEEK 13 Challenge Walk.  Young women and leaders walked/ran 13.1 miles!  There was an excitment in the air that was fun as well as rewarding.  It was a GREAT day!  The girls were proud, as they should be.  The weather was perfect (a "young women miracle") and I have not heard any negatives yet!  

I accepted a long term sub job - a month in Kindergarten!  Can you think of anything funner?!  I start tomorrow!  

It will be a busy month with teaching, Easter Pageant, young women, family, life.  How lucky I am!

Hope all is well at your house!

love,

Lori

Spring Break Memories!

We enjoyed another GREAT spring break.  When Jay and I were in college, vacation time was an important part.  It continues to be as we raise our kids.  We want them to enjoy memories that will help them in life and we love making those memories with them!  

Highlights...pictures...and words...

(I stayed awake for the entire movie!)

WE VISITED IDAHO!  Taralynn and Kory's home is still as beautiful as ever.  We loved the additions in decor since our last visit (especially Kory's framed world map).  It is comfortable and they are great hosts!

SKIING, for the boys!  They skied at Targee, Snowbasin, Solitude and the Canyons.  (Kory just got to ski one day.  He wasn't  on vacation!)  They connected with friends at each place--Ben, Paige, Quinn, the Stewarts, the Arnetts and Dan

TIME TOGETHER, SHOPPING, FOOD, for the girls  I love spending time with my girls.  We visited friends and cousins, shopped for things we needed...and didn't need, and enjoyed time together.  We saw the Carl Bloc art exhibit at BYU(and are ready to travel to Denmark!).  Here's Amy and some of her friends (she has many more!)...fun lunch in Provo...at one of Taralynn's favorites...California Pizza Kitchen!  We enjoyed dinner in Rexburg with some more friends and I forgot to take a picture!  Bummer!

TEMPLE!  We try to include the temple in as many family vacations as possible.  It is a great tradition.  This time we did baptisms in the Idaho Falls temple.  We walked Temple Square after seeing the Joseph Smith movie.   I've learned that some of the things we did as a family when the kids were small, the kids have forgotten...so we are doing them again (like a tour of the Beehive House)!  I must say, that visiting local DI stores also is becoming a tradition of family vacations.  Jay found some "new" skis and the boys each purchased a shirt!

FAMILY, FAMILY and more FAMILY!  It doesn't get much better than family.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner, complete with angel food cake, prepared by Amber,  Kati and Adrianna for Marki's (and Marya's) birthday!  We got spoiled by Amber's Marriott rates and enjoyed soaking our feet in the hot tub after a day of shopping! We were entertained and amazed by Alex!  We celebrated a new job for John!  Marya was in the country!  So many good times.  Thanks Baxter family for everything!

If there is something to climb on...Scott does!

Timing the perfect shot is sometimes hard!

  

This picture will always make me smile!  Boys will be boys!

 LAUGHS, QUARRELS, CRY and then GOOD BYE!  Like any typical family (I hope) there was much laughter, a few sibling quarrels (let's just say Scott packed a ping pong ball!), only once did I cry (only Taralynn knows why!) and then we had to say good bye - to Provo and friends, to snow filled mountains, to extended family and to Taralynn and Kory  (The elevator picture by Scott...they were waving before the doors closed!)

Timing is everything...!

Hopefully these pictures and words somehow relay to you the great time we had together.
Family is central to Heavenly Father's plan.   I believe time together strengthens us in more ways than we know.  I love the line in the Joseph Smith movie when Joseph is describing his upbringing.  He says, "We were taught to trust in the Lord and take care of each other."  I truly hope my children have been taught this too!

Love,
Lori

Do all blog posts need titles?

I am not very creative and thinking of a title for my updates is hard.  So really, this is just another weekly update from me - nothing fancy, nothing too thought provoking, just what we are up to around here...

Poston's first track meet was quite successful for JASON.  He took first in the high jump (5'5) and their relay team (4 by 400) also took first place.  Jason ran the second leg of this race and ran STRONG!  He was awesome!  Poston won with no problem.  It's going to be a fun season watching Jason and his friends on the track team!  Amy loved the meet - has great memories of Poston track.  Grandpa came as soon as scouts was over, just in time for the start of the relay (last event of the meet).  He has changed his scouts to a different day to come and cheer Jason (and Poston) each week!

Spring break next week - takes us to IDAHO to visit TARALYNN and KORY!  We can't wait!  Yes, skiing will be in the schedule as well as shopping, visiting friends, eating and playing games.  We hope to find Taralynn a spring wreath for her door as well as fill the pantry with good food!  We will also see family in Utah.  Amber is coming from San Diego, Marya from Qtar, and Heidi from North Carolina ALL to Utah when we will be there!  Good timing.  Mel will also join the family affair!

SCOTT has ONE more quarter of high school.  That is CRAZY!  He wishes we were going to Hawaii for  Spring Break, but Utah and Idaho are his second choice!  He has had so many snowboarding days this year!  We won't even think about the spring break in Utah when he broke his leg...

AMY has just a little over a month left of college!  That is CRAZIEST!  She is looking forward to visiting friends in Provo almost as much as she is looking forward to fun family times together!

JAY bruised some ribs playing church ball.  He really may have to let the younger ones play!  It was an intense game and they pulled off a fabulous WIN!  The next night they played the singles ward, were ahead the ENTIRE game until the final 1:40 (when it counts) and lost by a basket.  It was a very disappointing loss!

I walked 13.1 miles!  We did a practice walk for our Stake Young Women SEEK 13 Challenge.  The girls will walk/run in a couple weeks!  The challenge also included 13 Personal Progress experiences, memorizing the 13 Articles of Faith and 13 Conference talks read.  It has been fun for the past 13 weeks to visit with young women on how they are doing.  Most are looking forward to the challenge of walking 13.1 miles to end the SEEK 13 Challenge.

Life is GREAT at our house.  I am almost finished reading President Monson's biography.  I must say it has been  most inspiring to me.  He is an amazing man, so Christlike.  I have learned many things that I am trying to apply to my own life.  I think the most important one to me is to listen and hear the spirit directing me and doing what is required.  Not always easy...

Pictures of Spring Break next week!  Enjoy the beautiful weather and whatever you do!

love,

Lori

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

Christmas Photos--compliments of Scott!

One of the regrets of the Christmas season is that I didn't have a family picture taken. It was a plan in my head that never became a reality, mostly due to all the fun memories we were making (and family pictures usually do not make for fun memories in this family).  

Scott did take some fun ones while we were in Strawberry Christmas day.  So here you go!  Enjoy!

Compliments of the photographer...my own Scott Allen!

The holidays really began when Taralynn and Kory arrived!  Notice the shirt choices!  Notice her long beautiful hair!  Notice their smiles...Alligiant flight straight from Idaho Falls, arriving EARLY on Christmas Eve day!

A new fun lamp--doesn't it look just like her?!

A surprise from one brother to another.  This is not just a backpack.  There are special pockets AND  speakers for the IPod.  Who would think?  Cool, huh?!

Watch out--College here I come!

Thanks Dad!  Amy's new running friend!

and her new reading friend--the snuggie (thanks Scott)!

A giftcard for the handyman, Kory

Seems like EVERY year someone takes a picture of Jay looking like this!

This is one of my favorite pictures that Scott took.  Yep!  He took it!  

But, he didn't take this one!  (though he did edit it)
This is Scott's heaven on earth...and another favorite picture that makes me smile.

I love pictures of my family.  My children bring me great joy!  I love them all so much!