New Years Eve

Trent loved New Years Eve!  We bought snacks, he had a friend stay over and he got free range of the house which means any gaming system he wanted to play.  Plus come to find out there are a ton of people in our neighborhood that light off fireworks so we got a great show at mid-night.

Sydnee and I had some much needed "girl" time.  She got to have a nice long bath in the jet tub and got a mini pedicure.  She picked out an aqua blue with a top coat of purple sparkles polish for her toes.  Her Auntie D would be proud.

Paul spent 24 hours at the church on New Years Eve.  He and 8 other adults had a lock in with about 50 students.  He had an activity planned at all times so he spent most of the night being sweaty and on a caffeine high.

I watched some movies and made sure that the boys didn't burn down the house.  So very exciting I know! =)

Trying out our new Scooters

For Christmas Nana and Grandpa got the kids new scooters.  Trent got one of those electric scooter and Sydnee's was hot pink (totally matches her personality).

See that black and blue dot in the upper right corner....I am pointing this out because Sydnee got so frustrated that her brother was zooming all over the place and wouldn't wait for her.  She did not understand why she didn't get an electric scooter, when I tried to explain to her that she needed to master this scooter frist she told me that if Trent could handle that scooter so could she.  Between you and me, Trent did have like 3 accidents in 24 hours....

I am zoomed in but this is Trent waiting very patiently for his sister.

Sydnee took a dive so she decided she would walk the last little bit.  Paul and I were not sure if she would ever touch the scooter again because she acted so put out by the whole experience but she has asked to go out everyday and ride so it has been a hit.  Trent is hardly ever home because he is out "riding."

Christmas

O.k so I am sorry that I have not blogged in FOREVER!  We have been busy plus I was having technical difficulty.  So here we go:

Nana and Grandpa were here for a week.  This was a great chance for everyone to show off our new town, church and school.  The kids were very excited to see them!  It took only about 20 minutes to show them our little town so we spent a lot of time playing cards and Monopoly by the fire.

The kids were very excited to show Nana and Grandpa this house.  I believe this family has every blow up Mickey Christmas decoration.  Plus there front window is a Mickey Christmas Village theme.  INSANE!

It didn't take Stella long to make friends with Nana and Grandpa, she was sure they came to visit her.

We all dressed up for the candlelight services at church.  Don't we clean up nice?

Ok lets face it.....this was their favorite part of the whole vacation.  Everyone was so blessed this Christmas with all of the family thinking of us even though we are so far away!

On Christmas morning we woke up with snow on the ground.  The Allen family has not had a white Christmas in a long time.

For Christmas dinner we had family friends over so our house was full.  Nana was a great help in the kitchen and we made enough food to feed a small army!

I do want to say that this year we missed our family and friends greatly.  Christmas wasn't the same without you....

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?

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

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........

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.