Mama's Little Helper...

I love that little girls are "Mommy's in Training"! Emma wants to do everything I am doing.


She helped me make cookies yesterday...


And helped me eat the dough...of course!

A Week in Review...

Since I am kind of using this blog as a journal and to keep my sweet mother-in-law up to date in our family, I thought I would continue with "A Week in Review". Last week I shared what I had learned. Not that I didn't learn anything this week, but I am going to share what I am thankful for this time. Here are just a few:

• Family Home Evening - We had family night with some great friends last week and made a list of what we needed in our cars to be prepared. After it was over, Jesse e-mailed eachof us a list of the supplies with "kitchen sink" as the last item. Seriously...if you saw the list you would agree that each of us needs to buy a trailer to pull behind the car for all of the emergency supplies! We also read a great article from President Eyring.
• Good Friends - We have a babysitting group of four couples that has been trading babysitting once a week for date night. This has been going on for THREE years! Once in a while we actually get our own babysitters and go out together. This was one of those times. It is so fun to spend time with these couples! They are each amazing!
• Good Ward - Our ward did host dinners this week. We got to be the host with 3 other families invited. We had dinner and a great time getting to know one another at our house, and then dessert at the church. So fun!
• The ability to read - I LOVE to read for myself, but I especially LOVE to read to Gabe! We are already on Dragon Slayer's Academy #5. I better get to Barnes and Noble this week to see how many more are to come!
• Patience - Emma has figured out to open the bottom drawer of her armoire, climb into it, and then empty it of all its contents - mainly clothing and shoes. Over and over. And over.
• An accountant - I just sent my taxes in. I can't think of many things worse than trying to do your own taxes. Not my area of expertise.
  
• Officials - Don't laugh. I am the Stake Women's Sports Coordinator and those women can get out of control! The officials seemed to change the atmosphere.
• Saturdays - I think Saturday is my favorite day. Number One being that I get to spend it with Jesse and the kids. Just kicking back, running errands, being together.

Our Favorite Books...

Gabriel and I like to read together every evening at bedtime. We like to pick a series and read EVERY book in the series. Then when I new one comes out, we can't wait to squeeze it in! The last full series we read was Spiderwick. And you already know how much we enjoyed those! We read all 5 in about 3 days. His teacher is now reading them to his class. We just started the Dragon Slayer's Academy. We are on number 3 and really enjoying them! They make Gabriel laugh!


We have read all of the Magic Treehouse books, and we are patiently waiting for number 39 to come out in March. Gabe just read the entire series over again in preparation for the new one! This is my favorite series so far with so many fun facts!


Gabe got this entire series for Christmas last year, and we read all 26 in about a month. Now that he is done with Magic Treehouse, he is reading A to Z mysteries again. He likes to try to solve the mystery himself.

Of course, who doesn't love Beverly Cleary? We read all of the Ralph S. Mouse Books and Ramona. I still love Ramona!


We started the Junie B. Jones books, but Gabe thought they were too girly, so we quit about book 8. I think she is the funniest little girl! She reminds me a lot of my niece, Jenna. Maybe that is why Gabe wanted to stop reading them. Hmm.... Maybe I will read them for myself!

A Week In Review...

It seems like this week has been a busy one for the Allen family. I thought I would write down a few thoughts about what I learned this week, and why not just blog about it? Maybe this will become a weekly tradition. We will see. So here is what I learned:

• I need a car with 4 wheel drive. The next car. In like 8 years.
• Never underestimate mother nature.
• I need a supply of food and water in the car in case I am stuck on SR 92 with the rest of my neighbors for 6 hours.
• I need more friends who do not live on our mountain in case I need a place to stay (see above comments.)
• I have the best neighbors. A friend was at the school when the storm hit Wednesday and was able to bring Gabe home with her. I knew he was in good hands and wasn't worried.
  
• We do not have "terrible twos" at our house. We have "tornado twos". I cannot keep on top of all of her messes!!
• It's the little touches on Valentine's Day that count. This I learned from Jesse, who cooked us heart shaped pancakes for breakfast, and Sheila - a friend who is always doing the sweetest things for her family. I want to be more like her.
• Any special time spent with your children is irreplaceable. Gabe and I went to the movies together on the day school was canceled. I love spending time with just me and him.
• A mother's reflexes are much faster that a father's. Especially in the middle of the night when vomit is involved.
• A husband who is willing to clean the entire house while I am gone is an angel. (Thanks, babe!)
• It is near impossible to find brown dress shoes for a toddler right before Easter. But there are some really cute white ones, so I got those too. Thank-you, Target.
  

Special Valentine's Date...

I had a special date for Valentine's Day with one of my sweethearts - Mr. Gabriel. His school, Ridgeline, was the school that was snowed in on Wednesday evening. He actually did make it home that night around 11:30 and was happy to find out that school was canceled yesterday. So...that left an afternoon open to go see this...


We read the books together this winter, so we HAD to go see the movie. I liked the books better than the movie. They left out a lot of parts and changed some of it for Hollywood. BUT - I really did enjoy it. So did Gabe. If you have really little ones, I wouldn't take them. There are some scary creatures in there!

Cabin Fever...

Yesterday was so beautiful! We couldn't resist taking the kids to the park to play in the snow. Emma kept saying "side...fun". It was refreshing to be outside...even if it was for only one afternoon!

Honestly...

I hopped in the shower for FIVE minutes the other day, and this is what I found when I came out....


No really - how does a 20 month old cause so much destruction in FIVE minutes. (The kitchen was clean when I left it.)

Happy Birthday Jesse!

There are so many reasons why I love this man....


Here are just a few of the things I love about him...

1. He has a strongest testimony of the restored Gospel. I love hearing him share it.

2. He is the best Daddy.

3. He makes me eggs for breakfast every morning.

4. He knows I hate to be cold. On really cold nights, he warms up a rice bag and puts it on my side of the bed.

5. He lets me drive his truck sometimes, even though I know he is cringing inside!

6. He inherited from his parents and grandparents the love of hard work.

7. He introduces new foods to me that I normally would have snubbed my nose at. Who knew I was going to love sushi??

8. He has shoveled the driveway with every bad storm we have.

9. He is strong - physically, mentally, spiritually.

10. He loves me!

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

Miss Busy Body...

Not even up a half hour and our princess has been busy....Here is what is on her agenda: Eat a cinnamon roll for breakfast, color all over legs with pen.

Here, let me zoom in for you...


Next, find Daddy's iPod...


What now??

Bear...

We are considering the nickname BEAR for our miss Emma. She has many similar characteristics to the Jazz mascot - Bear. Check out Bears' ears and Emmas' pigtails. Both a little stocky, same expression, walk the same. Do you think he may have an obsession with toilets??? That would just be way to much!