Christmas Break!!!!!

       I remember back in the day when I would get so excited about Christmas break, I mean come on what kid wouldn't get excited about 2 weeks off.  Then I started working and then Christmas break meant I walked around jealous that everyone else got 2 weeks off.  Now I am at home AND my kids are off for the next 2 weeks. YEAH!

       Now what do I do to keep them busy for the next 2 weeks?  I don't like them sitting in front of the T.V all days so I want them to stay busy.  One of the great things about living in New Mexico is that 99.9% of the time they can play outside but living in a largely populated military neighborhood means most families are leaving the area. We live in a very small town so there really isn't much to do around here....

SO MY DEAR FRIENDS HELP ME!  ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS?

A bittersweet moment....

Many of you probably do not know but my mother passed away on December 7th 15 years ago.  I was young and have had to grow up without her.  One of the hardest things for me truthfully is that most of the people that I hold so dear have never met her.  It is sad because she never got a caught to met them but also they do not know her.  It can be a lonely feeling. 

This December it was a snow day for the kids and with them home I was distracted.  Paul went into work until mid afternoon and when he came home he had gotten me flowers and had stuff to make chicken alfredo.  This was so sweet on so many levels!  

First of all it meant that I wasn't going to have to cook lunch, hehehe.  O.k so on an honest level I was so touched that he remember ON HIS OWN.  To me it meant he respected how much she meant to me and that I never wanted to forgot her.  Also my BFF would take me to Olive Garden and we would have chicken alfredo (a very good comfort food) with bread sticks and salad and dessert and then maybe a sack in the car on the way home...ok now looking back I may have been eating away my grief with my friend as a safe person who wouldn't judge me as I was eating half a cheese cake.  He was recognizing that not only was I mourning my mother but also a great friend that was no longer right down the road to hit up our favorite restaurant.

There are days that you feel like your husband isn't listening to you or that he doesn't understand any female emotions.  And then they do something that makes you remember how awesome they are, that is bittersweet.

By the way, do not judge me on how I look in this picture.  This is my rockin "hot momma who is staying at home with the kids all day" look.  Also Trent took this picture....didn't he do a great job??

Sydnee's Christmas Program

For the last several weeks if you were in my house you would have heard Sydnee singing many Christmas carols over and over and over and over and over and over (are you getting my point?) again.  At first she started singing them soft and low but the longer she practiced them the louder and louder she got.  She wanted to make sure that she was could sing these backwards and forwards.

Thankfully, Aunt Susie and Uncle Gary every year sends Christmas outfits.  

The morning of her performance we got up extra early to make sure her hair was straight (she did not want any bumps in it) and that her clothes were winkle free (because Mrs. Davis told her that.)  The whole time we were getting ready she was belting out all of the Christmas carols she knew.  Doesn't she look pretty?!?!?!?!

She was in the second row and was so excited.

The program was a mix between carols and poems.  

She was so excited that she was bouncing off the walls and would not let me take a good picture.

Here she is while she is doing her solo in one of the poems.

Great job Sydnee.  She worked so hard and was so proud of herself!  We were very proud of her as well.  Trent was also very happy that she finally had her program.......because he was "sick of hearing the same songs all night every night." - Trent

The Silly New Edition to the Clan!

Trent and Sydnee were so excited for their Daddy to graduate from school.  It wasn't because they saw how hard he was working or because they wanted to move or have a better way of life.  No, none of these were good enough reasons.  They wanted Dad to graduate because for the last 2 years when they would ask Mom and Dad if we could get a dog the answer they would received was, "we are not even going to think about it until after Dad graduates."  So Dad is in his black robe, the ceremony music is playing, he is given that very expensive black leather binder and they say, "so when are we getting a dog?"

FAST FORWARD

We move to New Mexico, boxes are not unpacked and they ask....."so when are we getting a dog?"    We had decided that we wanted a life loving (so she could keep up with Trent), kind hearted (so when Sydnee just belly flopped on her to get love she wouldn't bite) and would scare off strangers type of dog.  You know, the average Joe type of dog!  This was not an easy task.  One of our first friends here in our new town found our dog!

FAST FORWARD

It is 8:00 in the morning and I am sitting in my car in front of the dog rescue.  My dog is number 37 but it is first come first serve and "officially" she isn't mind yet!  So I wait, they open at 10:00 am and I am determined she will be MINE!  10:00 am rolls around...they don't unlock the gates...a short phone call and I find out they are short staffed and they will open when they open.  I wait.......

FAST FORWARD

Stella is ours!  Trent loves "his" dog, Sydnee thinks she is to big and does not like how she always wants  to be in "her" business.  Sydnee will warm up to her but it has to happen on Sydnee's terms.

FAST FORWARD

Apparently when you are bread and born in Clovis as an animal you do not like snow.  When we got hit by that snow storm we would have to pick her up and carry her outside.  SHE DID NOT WANT HER FEET TO TOUCH THE SNOW.  Mind you she is a 45 boxer who is as tall as Sydnee and she was acting like a 3 pound Pomeranian; named Sammy.  The dog did not go "potty" for 24 hours, NO JOKE!  Finally I sent her out with the kids.

Once she realized that she could eat the snow all of a sudden she wanted to be outside all the time.

The problem with this is she would get so cold so easily and the snow would stick to her lips.  Once she was inside she would stick her cold, wet, slummy face on us!

A Real Snow Storm

       Paul and I crawled out of bed at 6:00 this morning to check outside and to our surprise everything was white.  Shortly after we found out that the kids were actually getting a full snow day!  The kids were so excited and at 7:00 this morning they wanted to build a snow fort.  I was able to hold them off until 10; it may sound stupid but I was thinking it would be warmer by then, it wasn't.

All of us were socked to see that we actually have several inches of snow on the ground when we opened the garage.











     



Stella was NOT happy about being put outside, apparently she prefers 90 degree weather.

Even while playing in the snow she has to be girlie!

Heaven forbid my boys dress weather appropriate!  We are lucky the young one is in boots and a winter coat.

       No one had there eyes open because it was snowing so hard.  I took this picture 4 times but with all the snow flakes coming down and the wind we were destine to take a bad picture.

      We were going to play outside but after 10 minutes of having the snow blown into our faces we were all frozen solid.  We decided that a Star Wars marathon and hot chocolate was better suited for the day.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

       A few days ago the weather man got everyone excited because he informed us that we were going to be getting the winds that hit California and the snow from Colorado.  The town of Clovis is only about 50,000 people and let me tell you what....the whole town shut down!  People were canceling things because of the possibility of snow.  There is nothing wrong with that, I mean I am not totally heartless, people need to be safe.  However, in my past experiences it is never as bad as the weather man says.  We were suppose to be hit on Friday, that didn't happen.  The weather man says Saturday, Paul and I had a decision to make.  Should we cancel Sydnee's birthday party?  Well no way was that going to happen, a girl turns 6 only once!  Guess what, that storm didn't hit us Saturday either.  So finally the weatherman says Sunday...at this point all of us Allens laugh and roll our eyes......GUESS WHAT!?!?!?!?!  The weatherman hit it big this time...third time was the charm!  We have snow!

We are suppose to get 7 inches in the next 22 hours. YEAH!  The whole family is super excited about it.  We all want a snow day for the kids (especially them!).  Close your eyes and imagine; cold snowy night,   a big fire going in the fireplace, all the lights off but the Christmas lights and hot chocolate....that is what it is like in the Allen house tonight.

Sugar, Ten 6 Year Old Girls and a Cotton Candy Machine.....

   



       In true Allen form we can not have a birthday party without a winter storm.  For the last 3 days the buzz around town was about the wind/snow storm we were going to be hit with, the buzz in the Allen house was about Sydnee's birthday party.
      Sydnee was very worried that we were going to cancel her party so when it was finally here she was so EXCITED.  She decided to move a "Drive In" movie theme and have it at the Bridge Building at church.  We made cupcakes, girl band christian music, cotton candy and watched her favorite movie.

Sydnees favorite movie is Mickey's Once upon a Christmas, how appropriate for this time of year.

After the movie and cotton candy we had cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches....you know just more sugar!

This hat was knitted for her, goes with her new earrings.

Sydnee's friends and family spoiled her roughen this year.

I would call this one happy 6 year old.  She got to spend the afternoon with great friends, lots of sugar and she was the center of attention.  Yup, it made Sydnee's day!

Decorating the House Prt 1

Yes you looked at that right.... it says part 1.  One may think that it is because we have so many decorations or even that our place is that big.....neither are correct.  We are so busy that we have to do it in parts, inside first than the outside.  Outside is Paul's least favorite part so that always take some time....

We were lucky enough to have some friends who had an extra tree that we could use this year.  To be honest it is the best fake tree I have seen in a long time.  Trent is great at fluffing.....

The best part of the tree.....

Sydnee wanted to put the angle on the tree.  I am pretty sure she wanted to do it because she felt that Trent had more stuff to put on the tree.  (Each kid gets to put on their own items.) When Paul tried to explain to Sydnee that it was because Trent was older she didn't find that an acceptable argument....

The Allen family tree is not one that you would find at Pier One or Dillard's.  We have colored lights because the kids love all the color and nothing matches.  A third of the ornaments are handmade from the kids and they are allowed to put them on the tree where they want.  All of this equals the Allen family tree.  The kids are always excited to see the tree complete.  I am very happy this year because I was actually able to put out all of my decorations.  We are all looking forward to seeing what the front of the house will look like.  Will post more later........

Jet Tub Night....

     The bath tub in our apartment in Oregon was the size of a match box.  We move to New Mexico and BAM we have a jet tub! Sunday night is called Jet Tub night, both kids love Jet Tub night.  Sydnee enjoys it because she feels like she is swimming and loves the jets because they are like waves.  Trent enjoys it because he has a room all to himself where he can blast his music and zone out.  Mom and Dad love it because we do not have to actually buy bubbles.  All that form is from shampoo!

Coming Down from our Turkey High

This Thanksgiving my family went to see Granny and Pawpo in Texas.  They are located in a town about 7.5 hours away; however, as those of you with kids already know the odds of us getting there in 7.5 hours were minimal.  To get in as much time there as possible we decided to leave at 12:15 am on Wednesday and get there in time for breakfast.  To make this happen Paul came home from work at about 5:30 and was in bed by 6:30 to get a quick nap.  Trent and Sydnee went to bed in the clothes they would travel in and Stella spent plenty of time outside to burn off some energy.  

   
       This is at our one and only pit stop of the trip.  YES we were able to pull that off, don't ask me how, it will probably never happen again.  Even though we left so early Trent and Sydnee were awake most of the trip.  The interstate that we spent the first 4 hours on is nothing but farm country.  This means at this early hour it was completely black out so one would assume that the kids would get bored and fall asleep....NOPE....not my kids.  Stella (that is her head sticking up from the back) did great on her first long car trip.  I was very surpised to see 8:00 am flashing on the car clocked when we pulled into Granny and Pawpo's.
       We spent most of Wednesday talking and looking at pictures.  Sydnee has not seen them since she was 3 so this was all completely new to her.  Trent was a lot more comfortable and just made himself at home.  He has no problem doing this anywhere he is....

       Granny had done a lot of prep work for our Thanksgiving meal so cooking time on Thursday was minimal.  I felt very special because she even decorated the table for us.

Trent rockin his Thanksgiving Day out fit.  He sure can clean up nice!

       After our meal we went to Pam's (Pawpo's oldest daughters)  for dessert.  Granny and Pawpo were excited to show off their Great-Grand kids (I would like to say they were excited to show me off but we all know that wasn't true) and I was very excited to meet people I have heard about all of my life or haven't seen in years.  On a side note Paul and I come from small families compared to the whole "Ball Clan."  I consider everyone in my family very out going but when you walk into a house with 30+ people you are a little overwhelmed.  Everyone was so nice and excited to see us that I don't think I stopped talking for 3 hours!

Two of my favorite man in the world!

We look great considering we are in a "Turkey" coma and just want to be in our  sweat pants.

I have to say that I think my grandparents get shorter every time I see them....that or my son is getting taller.  I will let you decided....

       O.k o.k I have shared all the family mussy stuff now lets get onto the totally awesome part....

Pawpo told Trent that he could drive the pick up truck if he helped clear some brush.  (Fun Fact:  I learned how to drive on this exact pick up truck.  You suddenly feel really old when your child is learning in the vehicle that just yesterday you were learning in!)  I have never seen my son work so fast!

Trent did a great job and for all of his hard work Pawpo held up all his of the deal and let Trent drive....

I will be honest here.  I was nervous, the poor kid could hardly see over the steering wheel!

and drive...

       

       I am glad to say that Trent and Pawpo both lived long enough to visit with Uncle Boyd.  For those of you who do not know Granny is 1 of 16 but all of her siblings live in the south so I have not had an opportunity to meet them.  We were able to share a meal with him and swap stories.  

In tradition we also celebrated Sydnee's birthday with the family on Friday.  She is very excited to be turning 6 and was so happy that she was able to be with Granny and Pawpo for her 1st birthday party.  See in the Allen family we get birthday weeks, how cool are we!  We made her a chocolate and vanilla cake with all kinds of girly stuff on top.

       This was Granny and Pawpo's first time to attend one of the kids birthday's.  It wasn't anything big but we were together and Sydnee felt special.  She got some new outfits and a very cute pair of boots.  She told Granny that she did a great job picking them out!  My fashion diva...       

I am sure that I am going to get flack about posting this picture but I just wanted proof that the "DUH" look my kids will get is a family thing.  It is in our gene's so not my fault....just sayin....

Hahahahahaha 

No matter how old you are, your Granny will always be your Granny.

They feel blessed knowing that I had found such a wonderful man to spend the rest of my life with...

After all this fun you would think that we would never leave!  Every vacation must end and at last so did this one.  Pawpo made us a great breakfast and we hit the road.....

The Start of a Great Thanksgiving Weekend!

       This is our first holiday not being in the Northwest.  WIERD!   It will be interesting to see how all of us do this holiday season.  We are going to see this as a blessing,  we get to spent Thanksgiving with people we have not spent a holiday with in over 15 years.  I am not sure if my Granny and Pawpo are up for it but we will be there in 16 hours!
       In typical Laura fashion we are leaving in 7 hours and I am still packing.  Thank goodness my kids are older and are wonderful helpers.  When planning out my laundry/packing deadline I forgot a very important fact, we are leaving at 12:01 am on Wednesday, therefore Wednesday should not count as a packing day.  Talk about a last minute dash!
      Trent and Sydnee are very excited to be traveling to a new place and meet new people.  Trent is very excited that he gets to show off Stella (The newest addition to the family.  She is a boxer and loves life just like Trent does!)

Stella

       So my Prayer Warriors we will hit the road at 12:00 am.  Please pray for a safe trip!  This will be a great road trip.

Progress Report Day

Today was progress report day at the Allen house.  Needless to say Paul and I are very PROUD parents.  Sydnee is NP on; Language Arts, Math and Science.  If anyone was like me and has no idea what NP means I will save you the embarrassment of asking, it means Near Proficient.  I learned after having an awkward conversation with Sydnee's teacher; Mrs. Davids,  NP means that Sydnee is right where she should be and I should not worry.  (My kids have now been to 4 different school between preschool and private/public school and let me tell you---EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO TO THE SAME GRADING SYSTEM!  Just saying...this Momma gets confused.)  She is P in Social Studies, which means Proficient, just in case you didn't caught that. (I didn't.)  The comment that Sydnee got was that she is doing great!







Trent has always had a love/hate relationship with school.  He loves recess, PE, math and lunch.  You know all of the important things.  He has always worked very hard for his C's.  This year it really feels like everything is coming together for him.

Lang Arts:  89.85% (B+)

Math: 89.15% (B+)

Science: 95% (A)

Social Studies: 91.67% (A-)

This I understand!!  Trent is doing awesome,  he is very proud of himself and all of his hard work is paying off!

How to Survive Being a Youth Pastors Wife

1.  You never laugh AT your husband ALWAYS with him.  When they decide to dance with a trash can on their head.  You hold your head up high and tell him how funny he is.

.  When they fall asleep mid-day, let them sleep.  No matter how much sugar and caffeine they ingest they will never have the stamina of a 16 years old so when they crash, they need it.

3.  Once in awhile you will have to remind them they can not fly.  Do this gently!  One of the reasons they enjoy youth ministry is because they get to act like superman at times.

4.  Yes that is Paul with a Mohawk.  Youth pastors will do whatever they need to do to get their students attention.  So when they do something over the top be proud that they care so much that they are willing to go the extra mile.

5.  When parents walk in on a game that may have gotten side tracked help remind them that the kids are having fun and their youth pastor would never hurt them intentionally.  

6.  Just because they grow and get older do not expect them to treat their clothes any better.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS have back ups.

7.  Remember that they are working for the Lord, so pray.  Not only for your husband but also all of the students that they ministering to.  It is our jobs to laugh, be prepared and love them.  If you do this right the ride is a GREAT ONE!