Motivation in a Minute

Check out this weblink and watch the short movie. You'll be glad you did.

http://www.thejoymovie.com/

A Best Friend...

A best friend is someone who asks how you are doing, then waits for the answer; a best friend is someone you can sit with quietly, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like you've had the best conversation; a best friend knows the struggles going on in your life, even when you have the biggest smile on your face; a best friend will always tell you the truth about yourself and love you anyway; a best friend will stick up for you, do stupid things with you, and will always be there for you no matter the distance life takes either of you. Most people in life, have many, many friends, but only one or two best friends that they will have for their lifetime. I have a friend like that in Tami, though we live close to each other, our lives run busily in different directions with our children and work; Mike has that friend in Larry, who he has known since high school; and James has his friend Nik. Though I'm sure if they read this, they will think I'm totally lame, James and Nik have been best friends since 3rd grade. They are both in 9th grade now and are growing up to be fine looking teenagers. I hope the friendship they share now will continue on throughout their lifetime, through high school, dating, a mission for Nik, engagements, marriages, jobs, children. Life will take them many places, but I hope the friendship they have now will grow and endure a lifetime.

Trick or Treat Street Oct. 2008

Last night James' soccer team and a few brave parents volunteered for a 5 hour shift at the South Town Expo at the Trick or Treat Street venue to raise money to help pay for the boys' futsal fees. Then I turned around and did another 5 hour shift with Kaylie's soccer team this morning. Ran home for 15 minutes and we were off again to Kaysville for Kaylie's last game of the season. Between last night and today, I'm exhausted but I'm really trying to get into this blogging thing, so decided to update before heading to bed. I have to say that I did enjoy watching Lia's daughter Kowhai pass out candy and everyone commenting on her beautiful snow witch costume that Lia made. It was a fun night, even though a few of the boys got a little carried away - too much sugar, too many girls in cute costumes - who knows... they're teenage boys, but either way I always enjoy hanging out with the soccer parents no matter what we are doing.

Hubby Tag

I got tagged from Lia...
1. What is your husbands name? Michael Allen (Mike)
2. How long have you been married? 15 1/2 years
3. How long did you date before getting married? 4 years
4. How old is he? He is 47
5. Who is taller? Mike - even on the rare occasion that I wear heels, he's still taller than me
6. Who can sing better? It sure isn't me - can't carry a tune to save my life!
7. Who is smarter? That's an unfair question - we are both smart in different areas
8. Who does the laundry? That's easy - me!
9. Who pays the bills? I do
10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you walk into the bedroom and face the bed,
Mike sleeps on the right side closest to the door.
11. Who mows the lawn? Mike, me, James or Kaylie
12. Who cooks dinner? Mike, who's a fabulous cook, cooks dinner most nights and I do the
cleaning up
13. Who is the first to admit they're wrong? Both of us will admit to being wrong, if we're wrong, but I think I apologize easier than Mike.
14. Who kissed who first? I made the first move, I think.
15. Who wears the pants? That's another hard question. We both take turns I think
depending on the situation, maybe....?
Okay, I now tag Stephanie and Jennifer......

...and some More!

I think I was a photographer in another lifetime...

More Picts from Murray Park

Murray Park with the Cousins

Sunday after church, the kids and I picked up Lauren, Austin and Jordan and we headed to Murray Park with scooters, a football, basketball, a frisbee, and my camera. (In 2 1/2 hours I took 100 pictures!) We had such a great time and we really enjoyed this park. I have a friend who does their family pictures there and they are so pretty that it was about time to check out the park. I'm so glad that we did and we need to go back with Mike and take family pictures there. It's been about 5 years since we have had family pics (I like to be behind the camera, not in front of it), but I'm going to have to make an exception. It was a great afternoon spent with the kids, and they graciously humored me with all the "photo ops" I called for. We ended our day with dinner at my brother's, Mark and Lauren had Christmas play rehearsals at the church while the adults had home group "Nothing is too hard for God". It was a perfect end to a perfect day!

Mike's Man Cave

So I have to poke fun at my hubby, unfortunately he is not here to defend himself, he is deer hunting, and he'd only say that it's all MY stuff in the garage, but here are some "AFTER" pictures of Mike's garage after I spent 2 FULL DAYS cleaning it. Silly me forgot to take the "BEFORE" pictures but if any of you have had the priviledge of seeing the garage before I cleaned it, you'll agree it looked like a tornado went through it! (My poor Suzuki had to be parked in the driveway even!) I hope Mike will be as happy about the nice, neat garage as I am and I know his quad will be happy to have it's spot back in the garage also! :)

Death of a Piano

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. The 1920's piano that I had high hopes for restoring, came to an end when the heirloom piano expert told me "don't waste your time, don't waste your money, IT'S FIREWOOD!" James and his friend Sam started to smash it up, and next thing I knew all the neighbor boys were in our yard taking turns turning it into firewood. Smashing things up is definately a boy thing. They had a blast and I was sad to see a dream die. :(

Dree, This is For You!

These pictures are ones that Kaylie took when we had our first snowfall last week. She wanted me to post them especially for her wonderful cousins in Arizona, Adrianna and Ashlynn. Love you, and wish you were here!

How We Came To Be the Utah Allen's

We moved here over 8 years ago on Mother's Day 2000. Mike worked for the family business for years until he decided to try something new. He was offered a job with KK Mechanical on a 6 month only job working out at Luke Air Force Base. When that job ended, he was offered a job with them, but it would mean moving to Utah where the company was home based. He gave it 3 months, in the dead of winter to see if he would like Salt Lake. He fell in love with Utah and was ready to move. I was 5 months pregnant with Mark by the time we moved here. I spent 2 months re-painting and packing up a house (with alot of help from our best friends, the Jones') while working full time and taking care of two young kids while Mike was here working. Even though the winter's are COLD, and driving with snow and icy roads aren't fun at all, we wouldn't trade the seasons, the mountains, and the wonderful friends that we've made since we made the big, scary decision and moved away from our Arizona family. We left all the Allen's there to move here, and that's how we became the "Utah Allen's".

Champions of the President's Cup 2008

The Warriors made it to the Championship game in the President's Cup and won their final game 3-0. They played the Redhots from Rose Park area and never gave up, even though it was extremely cold and windy. Kaylie is on a team with a great bunch of girls - they all get along and have a great attitude toward each other. I'm glad that Kaylie enjoys being around these girls and that they've had such a great season together! Way to go girls!