WOW! Has it really been almost 3 weeks since I last posted?! My life has been a little crazy lately, as I'm sure all of yours has been, and our computer decided it didn't want to work for a little while but I'm back and for a very special reason. My not so little girl was baptized today!!! I can't tell enough how proud I am of this amazing little girl! I love her so much and I know, without a doubt, that she was sent to me so early in my life for a very special reason. This girl is seriously the best! Madi we love you and are so proud of you!!

Ok, funny story: Yesterday we were in the car and I look back at Madi and I could tell that she was deep in thought about something so I asked her what was up and she asks me, " Mom, what am I going to do? We haven't picked up mine and dad's karate looking suits yet!!!". I thought it was hilarious! She does have a good point. They do look a lot like those suits. :)

“… the tests of life are tailored for our own best interests, and all will face the burdens best suited to their own mortal experience. In the end we will realize that God is merciful as well as just and that all the rules are fair. We can be reassured that our challenges will be the ones we needed, and conquering them will bring blessings we could have received in no other way. If we constantly focus only on the stones in our mortal path, we will almost surely miss the beautiful flower or cool stream provided by the loving Father who outlined our journey. Each day can bring more joy than sorrow when our mortal and spiritual eyes are open to God’s goodness. Joy in the gospel is not something that begins only in the next life. It is our privilege now, this very day. We must never allow our burdens to obscure our blessings. There will always be more blessings than burdens—even if some days it doesn’t seem so. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Enjoy those blessings right now. They are yours and always will be.”

My sweet Sister-in-law returned back to her Father in Heaven yesterday evening. This quote is how she lived her life to a T. I love her and will miss her dearly. I am a better person because of her and her example to me. And to my brother Justin, you are amazing! Or as Susan would put it AWESOME! I love you and more importantly, our Heavenly Father loves you and will be there with you during this heart wrenching experience.

Susan, you will be missed. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will love you forever!!!!!!!

SUSAN TURLEY

May 7, 1983-December 5, 2008

IT'S GREAT TO BE 8!

Today is my oldest baby's 8TH BIRTHDAY! Can you believe it? I have an 8 year old!! I want my sweet angel to know how thankful I am for her. I love her so much, I don't know what I would ever do without her. She is so caring and loving and so incredibly understanding of her crazy mom :) This girl has the funnest personality ever! She will make a best friend where ever she goes and everybody just loves her.

Here are just a few pictures of this silly little girl.......

(she used to just sit on the corner for hours doing nothing)


Her favorite messiest food to eat....spaghetti

before surgery

She just had to be baby Jesus last year in the childrens version of the story of baby Jesus. (I know it looks bad but she's just a kid :)

It was crazy hair day today so she convinced me to do it!

Madi Bear, I love you so much! YOu are the bestest 8 year old ever!!!

I am not going to go into much detail right now but I have a sister-in-law who is losing her battle with colon cancer. I feel so helpless right now so this is where we all come in. I would ask that whoever is reading this blog will please include her, Susan, and my brother, Justin, in your prayers. Thank you all, and I love you!

Megan

Oh, I am so excited!! We will be going to Disneyland for the Thanksgiving Holiday with the whole Allen famdamly :)
Hope you all enjoy your Turkey Day ................................... while we will be here.......................

I'M DOOMED!!!!

I haven't been posting because I'm soooooooo mad at myself! This is what I've been up to the last week or so............stuffing my face with these yummy treats! Uggg :(

FAILURE

DAY 1 (my second day 1) OF NO SUGAR - Failed miserably!!!!!! I do have high hopes for Monday though :) (I can't start a no sugar thing on a Saturday right?!)

TUESDAY (Day one of no sugar) - Good, did not cheat!

WEDNESDAY (Day two of no sugar) - Good, didn't eat any sugar, had a headache, but did not cheat!

THURSDAY (Day three of no sugar) - CRAPPY!!! Went to a Birthday Party and ate all the yummy treats I could get my hands on! :) And oh where those Oreo and cream cheese balls dipped in white chocolate soooooooo good! It was all worth it :)

I am so mad at myself. So now, on FRIDAY, I start all over at Day one! Once again, good luck to me :(

OK BROOKE, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! My last post consisted of me complaining about all the sugar I have been eating and the fact that I CANNOT STOP!! I have been thinking a lot today about this MONUMENTAL problem and I have decided that I will no longer be a slave to sugar. I know I am not the only one that feels this way :) I have never been one to stick to a strict diet, especially when you have to omit an entire food group, but I really need to do something. So I am choosing to post this on my blog to ensure a sense of responsibility to myself, to actually do what I say. So here goes..............................................wait for it...............................................................
I WILL NOT EAT SUGARY TREATS UNTIL OUR ALLEN TRIP TO DISNEYLAND FOR THANKSGIVING!!!!! Wow, that felt good! I'll let you know how long this lasts but I'm really crossing my fingers for this one!

Oh and by the way, Brooke, YOU are the cutest girl that I know and you are not allowed to be a part of this because you are pregnant and you have 3 children and you deserve to treat yourself to whatever you want. Now as for myself, I have no excuses!

Good luck to me :)

SUGAR RUSH!

HELP! I seriously cannot stay away from the dang sugar! Ya know, I love Halloween but I sure could do without all the sugar. It didn't help me any by starting out the Halloween weekend by going to the Arizona State Fair and eating my, oh so delicious, FRIED Oreos! I know they're terrible but they are oh so good!!
When I looked at this picture I just laughed so hard because Dani wanted to go "rest her legs" but 2 seconds after sitting down she ran right back to me and said she was done resting and now looking at this picture I know why she was done so quickly. I mean look at this guy, does he n0t look a little scary to you?

On Halloween, Dani's class put on a little performance of some very cute Halloween songs. She did great!

Of course we couldn't miss the Halloween Parade! Here is Madi with her Wonder Woman pose.

And of course Dani as Super Woman. We called them the Super Sisters!

After the parade and Dani's performance, Jake and Dani participated in the pumpkin carving event. Dani was so proud of her and her dad's work.

That night Jake's parents neighborhood has a chili and fry bread dinner that we go to every year before we venture out do our trick or treating. Here are most of the cousins. I was really impressed with all the creativity this year for all the costumes.

We own a choo-choo train that the kids just can't get enough of! Thanks to their Grandad they arrived at the dinner in style.

On Saturday I woke up early to go to the gym to try and work off all the crap I ate and I came home to my wonderful husband outside feeding my kids their Halloween candy for breakfast!!

(I know, Kash looks awesome. It's a free-for-all when dad's in charge :)

I think I'm a better blog-hopper than a blogger but I really am trying. I know it's Halloween today but I thought I would post our Mexico pictures now so I wouldn't get so behind. 2 weeks ago we took a quick trip to Rocky Point and joined my ever-so-sweet sister and her family. Holy Crap! We stayed in my new favorite place, the Las Palomas Beach Resort. I don't think I can ever stay anywhere else ever again, I'm hooked!!!!! Just look at the view from our room.
Of coarse, we could not go to Mexico and not get the girls hair braided. That's the first thing my girls wanted to do when we got there.

This is my silly sister. She had just got done running (by the way, who goes running while on vacation, I mean come on!! She didn't just take jog around the place, she ran 10 miles. She's nuts!)

Do they not look drunk to you?!

My Kash man was glued to this guy! This is my oldest nephew, Jase, and he is the best!

Yes, he really is picking his nose with his tongue!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm holding on to him so tight because there was a stray dog walking around and he would not leave me alone and I'm pretty sure he had some disease. (not jake, the dog)

Kash walked around with this thing the entire 3 days!

This is how the kids slept. Aren't they precious?!

Kash got sick of eating sand so he stuck to the pools.

Oh yes, I cannot forget to wish my fabulous sister in law, Liz the Happiest Of Birthdays today! I love you Liz!!!

A few weeks ago I went up to Utah to visit my sister Mauri, and let me tell, it was a blast!! She is such a good host! Here is a picture of her bathing her duck, yes I said duck, Daisy in her kitchen sink!!!!!! She really is hilarious!

The first 2 days were gorgeous and then all the sudden we woke up Saturday morning to this.....

YES THIS IS SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My kids were in Heaven :)

So, a few months previous she had offered to throw a suprise sweet 16 party for one of my neice's friends so all night we were prisoners to her master bedroom. For real, there was 10 of us in their room but it actually was quite fun. The boys all called the bed so they could see the tv better so us girls sat on the floor and had a fashion show with all of Mauri's clothes. (Thanks Mauri, you are definitely the fun aunt now :)

It was such a fun trip. So fun, in fact, they talked us into going down to Mexico to spend a couple of days with them on their vacation.

(Those pictures to come at a later date)

AND WE'RE OFF!!!!! BIENVENIDOS A MEXICO!!!!!

IS THIS FOR REAL?

Seriously, am I ready for this? I thought I was and I really was so excited to go to Utah and escape these dang 90's that we can't get away from until I scrolled down and looked at FRIDAY!!!!!!!! Are you stinkin' kidding me?!!!


Detailed Forecast for Cedar City, Utah
Tonight
Mostly ClearLow 39°F
Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

Wednesday
SunnyHigh 79°F
Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

Wednesday Night
Mostly ClearLow 41°F
Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s.

Thursday
WindyHigh 71°F
Windy...Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to southwest 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night
Partly CloudyLow 39°F
Breezy. Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. South winds 15 to 25 mph in the evening.

Friday
Chance Of RainHigh 65°F
Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain. Highs in the mid 60s.

Friday Night
Chance Of RainLow 30°F
Partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Lows around 30.

Saturday
SnowHigh 45°F
Snow likely. Highs in the mid 40s. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Saturday Night
Partly CloudyLow 29°F
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Highs around 50.

Sunday
Partly CloudyHigh 50°FLow 29°F
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!! Today is my sweet moms birthday! I love her very dearly and am so thankful for her as she has put up with 27 years of me! (I don't think anyone else could or would do that) I'm not at my computer so I don't have any pictures to post but I just wanted my mom to know how much I love her and how grateful I am to her for giving me life and teaching me how to live it to the fullest. I love you Mom!!

I HATE MOSQUITOES!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND GRANDPA!!

Today is my Dad's Birthday!!!! He really is such a great person. He has set such and example for all of us kids and I just want to thank him for that! There is just something about him that makes all of the grand kids just flock to him. He's definitely not a little man, he stands at 6 foot 5 inches, but yet he is the biggest teddy bear ever! Dad I love you dearly. I'm so blessed to have you as my Dad!! And Grandpa, we love you!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!