44 Allens take Disneyland by Storm!!!

Ty's family had a 3-day family reunion at Disneyland this week. Amazingly, everyone was able to make it there. Between our family, Ty's parents, his siblings, and his sibling's families there were 44 of us there total. We got lots of stares and questions when we walked around together with our Allen shirst on. Some people actually asked us "What does 'Allen' mean?" and "Where can I get that shirt? My last name is Allen too.". Seriously?! We all rode a couple of rides together too. Somehow I got the wettest on Splash Mountain. There were too many great pictures to choose from so I made a slide show. Just before we took the pictures with Lightening McQueen and the picture with all the grandkids Luke spilt his slushy all over Grady. That's why Grady is screaming in the McQueen picture and naked in the grandkids picture!

This was Luke and Grady's first trip to Disneyland. Ty and I had so much fun showing Luke around and taking him on all the rides. Disneyland is just as much fun for the parents as it is for the kids! Ty and I didn't feel like we were missing out on anything spending most of the day on the little kid rides. The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean. Both boys screamed almost the entire time. After that we took them on some different rides that they liked a lot. Luke's favorite rides were the 3 different train rides, the teacups ( I think we rode those at least 10 times!), and Dumbo. He also really enjoyed just walking around Toon Town and seeing the Aladdin and Playhouse Disney shows. Ty and I had fun too riding the rides.

Tonight at dinner Luke was making "Monorails" with his noodles and carrots. We all had such a great time. A special thanks to Ty's parents for making this happen!

My little boy and his truck

The sun is setting. It's getting cold. His pants, socks, and shoes are soaking wet. But none of that matters, because he's a little boy. I call to him, and tell him it's time to go home. He doesn't hear me. All he can think about is the next puddle he wants to run his truck through. This was Luke yesterday.

Friday

Sunday

Fun with Photoshop

Last night I felt really guilty as I sat and played with my pictures on the computer while watching about the destruction in Haiti. Those people are suffering so much, and life just goes on like normal at my house. Realistically, I know that there is nothing I can do for them besides pray for them. I just felt bad that I would spend my time doing something so frivolous while there is so much suffering. I guess it's another reminder about what is important in life.

That being said I just wanted to share one more 6 month picture of Grady. I was feeling really creative and wanted to try doing something a little more trendy in Photoshop. This is what I came up with. I wasn't going for realistic. I wanted to make it look like it wasn't taken against a boring wall in my house. I included the original uneditited version, just incase anyone wondered what it looked like. Let me know what you think!

P.S. Aren't his little rolls just too cute!!!

Pictures!!! Pictures!!! Pictures!!!

First off, Grady is now 6 months old! I had so much fun taking these pictures of him! I haven't finished processing them all, but these are my favorites so far. He is just too cute and happy! Ty thinks that this first picture of of him looks like Tommy Boy, because he's just so fat and happy! I like this second one, because I think, at first glance, it looks like he is checking out his own fatness. The third one is a retake of his Christmas picture, because I wanted to print them off and wanted a really updated picture of him.






























I had such a good time seeing my old roomates Meredith and Savannah over the holidays. Savannah let me take a few pictures of her adorable little girl Rhylan. It was absolutely freezing cold outside when we took these pictures. This first picture of her is possibly one of my most favorite pictures I have ever taken. I love her expression, and I absolutely love how you can see every little detail in her face. Just look at those eyes and precious little freckles!!! I have this same picture just a little more zoomed out, but I absolutely love this little face close up!

Meredith is as beautiful as ever! Congratulations on your new baby boy! I wish we would have had longer than 45 minutes to spend together!

And finally an updated family picture that we can keep in our house all year long! I used the self-timer on this one. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with it.

Yummy Sugar-e-ness

While we were in Utah, I went to the Rockie Mountain Chocolate Factory in the mall and bought a delicious little marshmallow creation. I went on and on about how good it was, and my cousin told me that I could probally make them at home. I tried making them today. I started with a normal store-bought marshmallows and dipped them in homemade carmel using a recipe I got from my friend Erin's cooking blog, The Untalented Chef. After the carmel set I melted some white chocolate chips mixed with a little bit of shortning and dipped the carmel marshmallows in the white chocolate. Then, just because they wern't sugary enough, I rolled them in cinnamon and sugar! Yum!!! Mine didn't turn out as beautiful as the ones at the Rockie Mtn. Chocolate factory, and they probally made everything from scratch, but I am still really enjoying them. They were really fun to make and fairly easy (I'd never made candy before by myself.). I wish you could taste them through the computer! If you live nearby fell free to stop by because I made way way too many to eat myself! Right now I'm feeling pretty good about myself, like I'm now officially a homemaker! Now if only I could get my house clean...

Christmas

We've had a busy last two weeks. We've had a lot of fun, but it's good to be home. A couple of days before Christmas we got together with Ty's family to make some Brenley bears. My niece Brenley was born really early and spent her first Christmas in the NICU. Every year her family makes these little bears and gives them to the newborns that will be spending their first Christmas in the same hospital where Brenley spent her first Christmas. She is now 13 and healthy, beautiflul and talented. This year we got to help put the bears together.

We pull the big switch-er-roo on the kids for Christmas this year. We celebrated Christmas at our house on the 24th. That afternoon we suprised my parent's by showing up at their house and spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with them.

Christmas morning was so much fun for me! Nothing is better than seeing your kids so excited and happy. Luke loved his train set, and helping his little brother open his presents. Even though Grady is just a baby, I think he realized that there was something special about that day.

Ty's mom stopped by to say hi and give the boys a couple of presents. They love their Nana.

At my parent's house Luke told Grady repeatedly that he was too little for candy, but that didn't stop Grady from trying to steal it from Luke when he wasn't looking.

Grady loved the wrapping paper, but he didn't love wearing his little santa hat.

The day after Christmas we drove up to Utah. My grandparents celebrated their 50th anniversary this December. We all celebrated by spending a couple of days together up in the Provo Canyon. Almost everyone was able to make it there. We went on a sleigh ride which Luke absolutely loved. We also went swimming in a crater that was 65 ft. deep in 90 degree naturally heated water. One morning we went cross-country sking. Just spending quality time together was the best part. It meant a lot to my grandparents to get to spend time with my kids, because they are their only great-grandkids. Below is my cousin Jessie posing almost 6 months pregnant in her husbands snow pants.

We went to Temple Square one night to watch my cousins perform some Celtic dancing in the Tabranacle. The whole day it was snowing like crazy. I would have liked to have spent some more time walking around, but it was way too cold for this Arizona girl!

Luke in front of the temple.

Grady with my cousin Jessie and my Grandpa.

My cousin Jessie was kind enough to take a family picture for us, and I processed it. We had a great time these past few days, and now it's back to real life again :( ! Happy New Year everyone!