First week in a new year.

I feel so good about this new year. It's not only a new year but the start of a new decade! As I reflect on this last year I realize it was a difficult one for me. Jonathan and I were uncertain for a big part of the year if we would be able to build our home; All the while living at Jonathan's parents home and welcoming a new baby into our family. It seems when things have been temporally hard for me they are also spiritually hard. I wish this wasn't the case but it is something I need to work on.
When I think back on the last tens years there are no regrets. Jonathan and I were married, have lived in Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona. We have bought and sold two homes and designed the home we plan to raise our family in. We have had four beautiful children, and have said goodbye to some dear family and friends. We have had successes and also failures and through it all have grown in wisdom and maturity.
My hopes for this year are to get my life in order again. I want to be more consistent with my prayers and scripture study. I also want to get some dates on the calender scheduled for the Temple. I want to improve my fitness level and expand my knowledge of Yoga. With me being a few months away from weaning Oliver I will be a lot more energetic and able to play with my boys more. I am looking forward to that.
As for this next decade I hope to be done with birthing children and settle into growing with them. I would like to improve on my talents and assist my family on recognizing theirs and nurturing them. Most of all I hope to be alive and healthy. Life is precious and I want to be blessed to experience all of it, the joys, pains, trials and miracles.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Our family is still up in Utah wrapping up our vacation at Jonathan's folks place in Eden. I love this valley. Pine view Reservoir freezes over in the winter and Jonathan and I took Noah and Owen out for a snow mobile ride today after church. Besides Jonathan flipping us over once we had a great time! It was beautiful.

This has been another wonderful Christmas with memorable visits with my mom, my sister and her family, Jonathan's parents and brother Aaron and his family, and a surprise visit from Jonathan's cousin Kelly and her family. I cherish the quality time I spend with different parts of our family and the opportunity to create good memories.

I am so grateful for this time of year, the giving and receiving spirit I feel, and also the sense of renewal I have as I approach the new year with new intentions, goals, and hopes. I love reflecting on Christs birth, his life and teachings, and also the role he plays in my life and that of my family's.

It has been quite the week. Owen has been home sick with the flu. I came down with the shingles, I have piles of laundry and my dryer has just broke. I am seriously close to a break down! And let me tell you there is no sympathy coming from my husband. Let me ask you this..... Who takes care of you when your not well?
You know I feel better already by venting to my computer. I just can't wait for me and my family to be well again. I don't have the best coping skills when it comes to being sick. Honestly maybe I shouldn't be mad at my husband for being unsympathetic. I am kind of a witch when I don't feel good.

On a happier note. Halloween has come and gone and besides Owen getting sick on Halloween day we had some fun! Pumpkin carving and cookie baking were a few of our holiday activities. Here is a picture of my kids after Saturdays festivities. They were pretty worn out.

Spotted Frog, Pea Pod, Einstein, and Mr. Bones

Fall colors in Telluride

Cute little Ollie.

Pretty colors. I love when the aspen leaves cover the trails.

Nice view of Telluride.

The boys always find a good rock to climb. There were a lot on this hike.

We just got back from a trip to Telluride with our good friends Tia and Tim and their kids. We stayed in a really nice hotel called Capella. It was something we never would have put out the money for but we got a family discount which made it possible. It was fun but I think next time we will have to do a couples trip. Not that I don't like traveling with my kids because I do, but some places make you want to be alone with your husband and Telluride is one of them.

Unfortunately I only took pictures the last day we were there. We stayed a little longer than our friends and went on a hike up to the waterfall and ate lunch in town.



Thanks Tia!

End of summer road trips.

When the last week of our kids Summer Vacation approached we started to feel a little guilty for not taking any trips out of state, so we planned a last minute trip to Colorado. We decided to do an ambitious loop starting in Durango, going up into Ouray, then over to Telluride, and finally back home to Flagstaff. We did this all over a four day weekend. It was a little rushed but packed full of fun and adventure, and oh my gosh mountains!

This was at the bottom of Box Canyon is Ouray.

Looking up at the bridge that crosses the Canyon.

Looking down at Box Canyon from the bridge. Kinda scary.

There we are. On the bridge, with the wind blowing!

Back at our hotel in Ouray. We stayed at the Best Western. They have their own hot spring that warms the pool. It was sooooo nice!

Family Bike ride.

I love that our kids are getting old enough to do small rides. We just started doing family rides this summer.

LAKE POWELL

Next Weekend.....

So we barely got back into town when our good friends Jamie and Elisha let us know they would be at Powell the upcoming weekend. They live in Idaho so there wasn't even a question whether we were going or not. I didn't even get done packing from our Colorado trip before I had to get ready for our Powell trip. It was a bit windy but still a lot of fun.

Four out of the nine children that were there.

We woke up to ducks at our camp.

Noah doing a little cliff diving.

This was a slide our camping neighbors set up. They were great. We played on this slide for a good hour the next day.

I purposely had a mellow summer but it was fun to go out with a bang.

July Wedding, Family, Fun!

July was a crazy, FUN, ParTy PacKed month. My baby sis got married to a guy we all adore and tons of family came into town to join in on the festivities. I had so much fun catching up with family we haven't seen in awhile and it was great getting to know my newly inherited family!

The waiting groom.

They did a traditional Native American hand tying ceremony.

Jonathan's sisters family and his Grandma and Uncle Ben.

Me, Amy and the kids at the Grand Canyon.

Ethan and Noah

Ember and Owen

Tanner and Sophie

Oliver's Baby Blessing

Our family ready for the big day.

Oliver Van Allen,
Some of the things your Dad blessed you with.....
To be strong mentally and physically, seek truth in life, courage to stand for what is right, passion to understand the world around you and for learning, speak your mind sincerly, be a good example, humble, stay close to church, priesthood holder and enter the Temple,
be a good brother,
a good husband,
and a good father....

What a lucky boy.