My family

Just a sneek peek of the pictures that my dearest friend Ginger took! She is so great! Thanks Ging for everything, I owe you!

Twilight

I have to confess that I have never read the twilight books. Everybody asks me if that is where I got Bella's name from, sorry people, I had no idea. However I did really want to see the movie. I did the same thing with the Harry Potter books. I never read one until I saw the movie. I do it like that because I dont want to get pictures of the characters in my head and then be dissapointed when I see the movies because they look different than I pictured them. So last night Chris said, Hey why dont we go see the twilight movie. I was shocked becuase that is so unlike him to suggest we go to a chick flick but I jumped at the chance. And I have to say that I am so glad that I didnt read the books because I really really liked the movie. I think most people who read the books were dissapointed. But I think that the vampires were very well casted, they all looked just like vampires. And I know people were complaining about Edward being ugly in the movie, but I thought he was perfect, he totally was a believeable vampire. So now that I have seen the movie, I am totally wanting to read the books! Sorry to all of you who already read the books and were dissapointed!

My 3 Candy Corns

Every year for Thanksgiving my Nonny (dads mom) would set the tables with little cups that had candy corn in it at each seat. We were supposed to say something that we were thankful for for each candy corn we had in the cup. For some reason I remember there were always 3, which may be because we ate most of them. So I was thinking, what would me 3 candy corns be this year. I could take the easy way out and say Chris, Chloe and Bella, but thats a given, right? So I am thinking outside the box of the usual ones ( church, family, ect) and thought it would be fun to see what other things I am thankful for.

Candy Corn #1: My Pressure Cooker. If you dont have one, you are totally missing out. If you have one and use it 3 times a week like I do, then you understand!

Candy Corn #2: Cereal. I could eat it every meal if I had to. Its healthy, ( at least the kind I eat) its a good snack to pack in your diaper bag, and its oh soooo delicious!

Candy Corn #3: The internet. I love that with a few clicks of a mouse I can connect with friends, check my bank account, make a photobook, find a recipe for dinner, get a personal progress idea for church, shop, and so much more!

Ok, now I really cant get away without a few Candy corns that have some depth to them.

Candy Corn #4: Family. A bit cliche but soooo true. I love them, all of them from Chris, to my kids, to my parents, to my siblings and their spouses ( and almost fiance), and my nieces and nephews, and my in-laws, and my grandparents, cousins, ect. Those of you who know us know that we are related to almost everybody and I am thankful for them all!

Candy Corn #5: Laughter. I love to laugh, ha ha ha ha, loud and long and clear ( did I just bust into a mary poppins song?) But seriously, I love it! Especially laughing with somebody, its the best. Most of my memories involve laughing in someway. I think it has healing power and keeps the soul young!

Alright I think this is getting a bit too long so I will end. Happy Thanksgiving everybody, and while you are eating your turkey and cranberry sauce ( which is my most favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal) maybe you could think about what your 3 candy corns are! OK I'll stop, thats way too cheesy!

Notice anything different?

Nope its not Katherine, its me! I got sick of being a "fake Blonde!" which I usually do around the time when my roots are 3 inches long. I am still shocked when I first glance in the mirror but I think it matches my eyebrows better. What do you think? Dont mind the scary looking picture, I had to take it myself, ( I know Im such a dork!)

Happy Anniversary

Today my parents celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary! I could get really mushy and teary about all that they have done and the example that they are to me and how amazing and wonderful they are and how lucky I am to have the most perfect parents with the most perfect marriage and how they are so strong ect... But I won't, I dont want to embarrass them! hee hee! I love my parents, they are so special to me and make me feel so important. I wish and hope that I can be like them in every way and that I can be to my children how they are to me. Ok I'll stop now! Happy Anniversary!

The Princess and the Peacock

Chloe and Chris carved the pumkin ( actually Chris did all of the work). Chloe looks just like me in this picture, messy hair and all!

Our beautiful Snow White taking a bow!

The cutest peacock I've ever seen!

Happy Hallowen everybody!

Only 9 months!

Yes folks thats right, she is only 9 months. Its really funny to see peoples reactions when I tell them how old Bella is. They all look shocked, I think its because of her hair! I've had people try to make me pay for a plane ticket for her because I didnt have her birth certificate with me at the airport to prove that she was less that 2 years old. At church a few weeks ago a man saw Chris with her in the hall and said, " somebody doesnt want to go to nursery today huh?". I guess people dont think to look at her teeth or the fact that she cant talk or walk. They just see the hair of a 2 year old and thats it. She does have great hair though!

On a side note after 9 months of living she is FINALLY crawling! Its so fun! I tell her not to feel bad that it took so long to crawl, after all she did sleep thru the first 3 months of her life!

Girls

Thank heaven for ( our) little girls!

Patriotism

We were driving by a gas station today and Chloe said, "Look mom, a flag." She then proceeded to say the whole pledge of allegiance word for word. I guess they do learn a lot in preschool because I know I didn't teach that to her!

Lazy and proud of it

I was reading a blog recently ( I wont name names) and it was very inspirational to me. This woman is such a fun mom and even though I dont know her I could just tell how much she loved her children and her divine calling as a mother. This got me thinking. When Chloe was a baby I remember having a conversation with a young boy who I am related to ( again I wont name names) about my job.

Boy: So who does Chloe stay with when you go to work.

Me: I dont go to work, Chloe hangs out with me all day.

Boy: Oh so you're just lazy!

Kids say the darndest things! But truly, I love being a mother. I am so thankful for my girls and now that I am a mother I love my mother ( and mother in law) even more deeply for what they did for me and Chris! Dads are Aweome too ( dont want to leave them out!)

Bargain Shopper

4 bottles of shampoo ( 12 ounces), 2 bottles of conditioner, and 2 bottles of visine eye drops. Retail value (according to K-mart) $33.87, what did I pay you ask? $ .87 that is about 10 cents per item! K-mart is doubling coupons this week so Stock up!

Thanks to all

We were invited to the lake on Saturday and it was so much fun. We wakeboarded, Skied, wake surfed, tubed and just swam. Holy Cow, my body is so sore but it is totally worth it! Thanks so much to Ben and Sarah, Aaron and JoAnna, and Jeremy for letting us use your boats! They are all so nice and so fun! We cant wait to go again ( hint hint ) just kidding! I didnt bust out the camera until we were done and out of the water so here are the few shots I did get! Thanks again for the fun time guys!

House after move in

Though it isnt totally decorated and finished, here are somewhat final pictures of the house. I love it soooooo much!

This is for you Jeni

Mom told me that you wanted to see picts of the kids so here you go! Dont say I never do anything for you! J/K! I love you and miss you guys, you need to move here!

Bootsy

She is not your average 8 month old, at least not to me. Everybody thinks she is older than she is because of her hair, definatly not normal for an 8 month old to have that mop! She still cannot roll from her back to her stomach, I dont know if she cant or just wont because she is just content to lay there. She can however go from her tummy into sitting position and crawl/scoot backwards. She is getting her 2 vampire fangs which we refer to as her snaggle teeth which makes a total of 4 teeth. She has started clapping her hands and waving bye bye. It was really cute last night we put Chloe to bed at 6:45 ( I know, it was LOVELY) and then I told Bella she was going ni night and to give daddy kisses. So she kissed him and then waved good-bye! Oh and her nick name is Bootsy, thus the title of this post. We love her to pieces!

Fluffy

Im still alive and doing quite well! I will have picts of the new place once I can get it all cleaned up and no boxes- that may be a while. But I have to tell a funny story about Chloe. We were swimming last week and I needed to go inside and clean so I said it was time to get out of the pool. We closed the gate and I gave her a popsicle which she loves and usually will just play on the patio until she is finished. Well I noticed it had been about 15 minutes so I looked outside and she was on the side yard in the dirt but I thought oh I will just not bother her if she is having fun. Then about 2 minutes I heard her knock on the back door so I went to let her in and she said, " Mom, fluffy needs some water." Who needs water, we dont have a cat, so I told her to show me where fluffy was, expecting there to be a stray cat or something. She took me over to the side yard where we have some bird baths ( yes there is more than one) and showed me a bird bath that had a statue of a bird on it. Fluffy was the statue. So we went and got some water and poured it in the bird bath. She loves fluffy and has to feed her water everytime we go swimming now! Kids are so fun!

house progress

New tile in the kitchen, this is before the grout. Much better than the linolium.
Our new granite countertop in the island. Yes that the oven in the family room, good spot for it!
The new sink and countertop, before the faucet was installed
painting, painting, and more painting ( that door really doesnt go there)
Tile in the master before the grout ( nice shot Brady!)


The house is really coming together. Chris is amazing, he is very handy and can do just about anything. He will be able to build us a house next! And I love our new granite and sink in the kitchen, I dont know if I am at liberty to tell who/ where we got it from but you know who you are, Thank you so much! It looks fabulous! We are moving shortly and I will post pictures of the final product! Thanks to all who have helped us out with everything!

Bunko

For a year now a bunch of us friends ( 12 usually) have been getting together once a month to play bunko. I had not been for 6 months because of Bella but I went again last Saturday. There are never the exact same people that come but its always a blast! Oh and Brooke should have been in the picture too but she volunteered to take the picture! Thanks girls for all of the fun times! PS- it was pajama night this time thats why we look so comfy!

New Digs

Love the curtains and dining table light! The house was built well after the 80's but I guess the owner was just stuck with an 80's decorating mentality!
Yes the pool ball walpaper border is already down. Its a family room not a game room!

I love Chloe's face here!
We have already been swimming a few times, Im kinda getting fond of the grecian lady statue!

Yes we finally got a "new" house! Its closer to Chris's office, its "inland" and bigger than what we have now. WE have some fixing up to do as you can see from the picts, but we are excited to pick the decor and get moved in! Here are a few of the before picts!

A few of my favorite things

I love the expression on her face here.
The WHOLE D.P. Allen family
I feel like this picture pretty much sums up each persons personality to a T! Definatly this years Christmas Card!
Sammy is one of the cutest little girls in the world!

Bella and Sarah wearing Sarah's favorite color, which Sarah always looks stunning in!

If you know Chloe, she is in her element here!
They are so sweet together! Chris is her favorite person!
The grandparents have just as much fun as the kids do!

6 month check up

Bella is such a sweet girl and is growing so quickly. Last week she got her first 2 teeth and started rolling over again. At her doctors appt she was in the 84th percentile for her height, 60th percentile for her weight ( I thought it would be greater than that), and the 15th percentile for her head size. She was so good with her shots and didnt cry until the 3rd one and then stopped as soon as I picked her up. She is so sweet.

More picts from SD

I Have a billion pictures from our trip thanks to Michael, our official family photographer ( these pictures actually were taken with our camera) So I just might have more to post later. If you will notice in the background of this first picture you can see Shannon, Katherine, and Devin and part of dads arm ( looking buff dad!) I dont know where Bella got her cheeks from but they are yummy! And you can kinda see that her roots are turning blonde, it is the strangest thing!
Chloe loves the Merry go round especially now that she has seen Mary poppins!
This one was just Bella's size
Chloe and Remy at our favorite ( well one of mine for sure) seafood restraunts