Getting Ready for Thanksgiving!!!

WE are OFF in two days!!!!

I don't know who is more excited... me or shay.... I have so many things planned while we are down in CA. I'm sure that Eddie and Kendall will be glad to see us come home.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!! Eat well and be safe if traveling.... To my family that I will not be spending time with, we will be thinking of you..... We love you all.....

What a month!!!!! OR is it TWO??!!!

Britney was baptized on Nov.1. We are so proud of her!!!! She had a big choice to make to be baptized and she made the right choice.

Britney and proud dad!

Happy Family after the baptism!!!

Two weeks later Courtney and Shane and Ethan were sealed in the temple!!! What a day that was to see this great event... That is such a great moment for a parent to witness. Of course I forgot my camera.... Look at Skyler's blog for the great pictures.

Later that same day we really got into our remodel... What a mess!! Thom and I worked on the taking down the fireplace and the brick that was up. I think the longer it sits the harder it is to get off... We both took turns with a power chisel. It still took us 7 hours to get the brick and cement that the brick was stuck too... I don't think it was ever meant to come down.

Finally it's done!!!! Then next time you see this spot, you won't recognize it.

The stair well is closed in 3/4 of the way down. We had to leave a space at the bottom so we can get furniture and other things down there.

Here is a picture of it in the family room.

Our water heater framed in with it's own closet... We have room for more water storage!!!

This is how the new addition looks. We added about 3 feet to the smaller wall.

We also had the lights put in the ceiling down the hallway.... What a concept of lights in the ceiling.... I'm sure when this house was built it was to code...But every one who comes and looks at it shakes their heads in despair!

I BELIEVE......

Read this slowly and enjoy!!!!!

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if We understand that friends change.

I Believe....That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe... That you can do something in an instant That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe....That it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe.... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....That we are responsible for what We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe....That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry, But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....That maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had And what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are, But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....Two people can look at the exact same Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give,
when A friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...That the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything.

This past week.

Last night Skyler and Alyson and I met Heather and her friend Vickie at the conference center for the annual Relief Society Conference. It was wonderful!!! The speakers were so great and the spirit was wonderful.

As we were walking in the conference center, I over heard that there were three hundred women at each stop light, waiting to get to the conference center. It was great to be among that many women.

It was an uplifting night and we went to dinner with Nic after wards. It's fun to have him up there, so that we can enjoy so of the fringe benefits. ( My stake did get tickets and I did see some of my ward members up there.)

Next week it will be the men's turn to go up and listen to their counsel.

Couples Post

Couples post

What is his name: Thomas Eugene
What is her name: Jan
How long have you been together: 31 years in Sept.
How long did you date: 5 months
How old is he: 56
Who eats more: He does
Who said I love you first: He did
Who is taller: He is
Who sings better: I do..
Who is smarter: We both have our strengths
Who does the laundry: I do, I don't know if Thom would know how to start the washer!
Who pays the bills: I DO
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Thom
Who mows the lawn: Stewart and I do
Who cooks the dinner: I do. If it was left up to Thom he would starve!!!!
Who drives: Both of us.
Who is more stubborn: Me
Who kissed who first: He kissed me.
Who proposed: He proposed.
Who has more friends: I do.
Who has more siblings: Same, both have 6.
I tag: Keera, Kendra, Erica

Weekly Update!

Thom was taking more of the walls out this last Sat and hit our wiring for the air conditioner. It went out. Shane and Courtney were coming down to move the water heater to another spot, but Shane helped Thom get the air up and running again. That took all day......
I took Courtney, Riley, and Ethan to the movie to see Mamma Mia. (I've seen it 5 times and every time it's great!!)
Riley really enjoyed the movie and so did Ethan. (How could you not with all of that fun, good music!)
We were also COOL!!!!
Thom and Shane and Stew went to Dark Knight later that night.
So we didn't get much moved that day. So we will try again in two weeks when Shane can come down again.
In the mean time we will be knocking down more things.
I'm off to Arizona were it is going to be HOTTER!!!! I'm going for work. We are going for four days. I work with a great bunch of people and we should have fun....
I should hear about the job that I applied for a month ago. I hope my evening dress and tiara will look ok when I make my acceptance speech!!
Till I get everyone keep cooler than I will!!!!

What has happened this week!!!

Sunday morning I got to turn on the sprinklers and found this huge tree limb in the front yard!


















Our neighbor, James (a policeman) was driving by to look at some of his damage and told me that a micro burst wind had come through this morning around 4:00 am. The tree limb had hit Nic's car!

















There is a big dent on his roof and scratches all down his trunk. We pulled it off to the side of the house and then called our insurance company to find out that they don't pay for "acts of nature."











Nic will have to use his insurance company to have the damages fixed!!!!

We are pretty upset, to think that you pay all that money and have peace of mind of having insurance for this very reason and then they have loop holes that don't apply.
ON A HAPPIER NOTE!!!!!









WE HAVE STARTED TO REMODEL!!!!!! FINALLY THE BASEMENT IS GOING TO BE REDONE............

This is were the hot water heater is sitting now. In the way of the furnace.

Here are a few pictures of what we did today.... I had fun knocking down the walls.... I didn't know they would be so hard to knock down. So I will keep you posted each week of what is going on!!!

It is going to get allot worse before it gets better. Eddie, I'm sure that you are sad that you can't help in the re doing part......

Last week's post

As many of you know, that Nic is back down here in Utah! Thom, Stewart, Skyler, Jaxson and I went up last friday to move him down.
We had a great time laughing and talking and singing. In fact we had such a good time we missed the turn off. After about a half hour drive, Thom said ,"I think we are driving to no where." And we were going to Butte, MT.

We found a turn around and headed back to Rexburg and went in through the back side. I think Jaxson was a little worried, but the moon was bright and it was smiling at us and showed us the way to Nic's. By the time we got there, most of the truck was loaded and every one was gone.
















Sat we got up and finished packing the truck. Jaxson ran his little legs up and down the stairs for us and up and down the ramp. He was such a big helper!!!
































Here is a picture of Nic's house just before we left. He had six people come through his house his last week he was there, so hopefully it will sell fast.

About my week

It's time to post again.......

I had an interview with my work on Monday. (It took about 8 hours to get ready for the interview.)

It was a three hour interview and it went really well. In fact it wasn't as bad as I had thought it was going to be......it was the wait to hear if I had gotten the job.....

So Thursday we had our meeting. Five of us interviewed and only two of us were there for the meeting and we were told that they are going to hold off for three more weeks before making a decision... They don't have a full team and they will in three weeks. So the wait will continue!!!
I will just keep working hard and what will happen, will happen. I still love my job.

Also in order to get this promotion that I'm going for, I have to be going to school. (They want to see if you can go to school and keep up with your students that you are taking care of.)

So I'm taking two classes. So far they have been very enjoyable, and I'm doing quite well in them.

I had a chance to talk about the church in one and got quite a stir from one of my classmates.
I never thought that I would have gotten that reaction from someone. It made think about our missionaries in the mission field, trying to reach out to everyone. Having issues and telling people our beliefs and then have that person turn on you. It gives me a better apperication and love for our missionaries than before.
I had about three other classmates stand up for me and that made me feel good.

So that has been my week in a nut shell!!! All is good.

And I love being a member of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!!!!!

KENDALL LOOK WHO IS COMING TO THE SCERA!!!!!

BOYZ II MEN IN CONCERT

Showing:Thu August 28, 2008
Times: Thu showtime(s) at 8:00PM
Prices: GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 Adult, $10 Child/Senior/Student RESERVED SECTION B: $20 Adult, $15 Child/Senior/Student RESERVED SECTION A: $25 Adult, $20 Child/Senior/Student RESERVED FLOOR: $30 Adult, $25 Child/Senior/Student CHILD-(age 3-11), SENIOR-(age 65+), STUDENT-(w/ID)
more get tickets

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!!!!

Today Dad and I went to see what Nic was up to at the Scera Park. He will be there thru the weekend. It was a whole display of Ellis Island.

You could pretend that you were coming to America and go through a tour. You could take a test to see how well you knew about American History... There were about three different booths that you could go to.

The last booth was where Nic was.It was a great performance about coming to America. How people were willing to do anything to get to this free land. The music was very good and the actors were good as well.

It was a great tribute to alot of people like Joan of Arc and Paul Revere (fighting for freedom) ,signing of the Constitution and other great moments of time.

Nic was doing the sound. He sure knows what he is doing.

Some of the songs that were song were "Coming to America" and "Glad to be an America" "the star spangle banner" and other patriotic songs.

They had the children come out of the audience and help with a song about Paul Revere.

Jaxson wasn't sure what to do but he said that he had fun!

I'm so glad that I live in this country. I can't explain my gratitude for the men and women who have gone to war and given their lives for us to live in a free country.

As they were sing the songs I was overcome by emotion and how proud I was to be an American.

It made me have goose bumps when they were singing the Star Spangle Banner and everyone stood up out of respect.

May each of you and your families have a great and safe fourth of July. Take a moment to ponder the greatness of this land that we live in and the freedom that we enjoy daily!!!

CUTE BOY IN FRONT OF THREE HUNDRED AMERICAN FLAGS!!

ALLEN FAMILY REUNION

This past weekend my mother's side of the family "The Allen's" had our reunion.
It was in Park City and then went to Lagoon.

We rented a condo and went up Wed morning, we just to beat a deadly crash up Provo Canyon.
The Condo was nice and ready for us. I made lunch for Nic,Sky,Thom and I. Then Sky and I walked up main street. It wasn't very busy and it was a beautiful day!!!
We went into every store that we wanted to. We then met up with Heather's family and went swimming. That was alot of fun to watch the kids swim and see Shawn get braver and braver in the water. Jeff said that the water was tooooo warm. He had to keep putting out his arms to cool off.

We met up with Dad and Chris for dinner that night at Ba ha Continua. I haven't been there for about nine years. It was good food and better company.

Later that night Heather,Sky and I went for a Slurpee run and went to see Dad and Chris and there condo. We talked for a couple of hours and Jeannine met up with us there.

Finally about 2 hours later Nic called looking for his drink.

Thursday morning we got up and went swimming again, this time with Courtney and her kids. They were so cute and got to be pretty brave in the pool. Another great day in the sun......

After swimming, Heather, Jeannine and Sky and I went to Walmart to buy prizes for that night for the scavenger hunt. (I also had to buy shoes with a toe and a heal in for Lagoon.)

Courtney ordered pizza and gave the delivery man the wrong room number. After awhile we realized that and we found him, looking for us. I guess he had been in the lobby and the staff were trying to find a Courtney that was registered!!

That night we finally met everyone and the lobby and had a meat and great. It was great fun to see everyone!!!!

Jeannine has us divided into groups and we were off on our scavenger hunt. It was alot of fun and the little kids were running and helping as much as the big kids were.
We had to go every where to find answers.

Britney and Riley were having so much fun that they asked to spend the night and they had fun with Oliva. We made another Slurpee run and then they watched a movie and ate popcorn.....
They went to bed very easily.

Friday we went to Olympic Park for the day.... What fun we had!!!! We took with us the newlyweds, Quin and Erin. I think they were worn out by the end of the day! But it was fun to have them with us.

It was so cool to watch the skiers ski off the slopes into the water. Most of them were beginners, but there were a few that were unbelievable.

Everyone did there own thing and that was fun. I went on the zip line with my cousin Jonathan and it was a beautiful ride up the tram. We watch skiers long jump off into a grassy area.(know that was suicide!!) they jump so incredible long!!!!

We got to the top and low and be hold was our Uncle Edwin going down for his fourth time...

It was a great ride down, but way to fast.

Keera and Courtney and there families took the kids down the Alpine slide. They all loved it. Even their husbands, who hadn't been done before.

We meet at a Park in Heber for bring your own dinner and visit and played games. Another great night.

Sat Lagoon day!!! Skyler said that I'm quite the trooper.(don't know what that means) but I'm taking that as a good thing. We started off with the White Roller Coaster....


Then we did more rides. Eric was a trooper and went with us with little to no hesitation.

We had lunch and then watched Shawn for a little while.

After dinner and playing some games and visiting, at our pavillion, we were off again for more rides..

My cousin Marcus came with us this time. We went on the Samurai. It tips you upside down and round about and all around. You are going so fast... I though for sure that I would throw up so I made my apologies before the ride started to all the people near me. I did great, didn't even get sick.

Then we went on the rocket. It shoots you up 200 feet in three seconds, and then brings you down again. I did really good on that one too. Jeff however didn't fair so well and barely made it to the garbage can and then the rest room where he lost his dinner.

The things we do as adults to still fit in.....

All in all it was a great time and it was fun to go again. I haven't been there for about 13 years....

It was good to see cousins that I haven't seen for three years or longer. I'm glad that we are doing this so that we can keep in touch with each other.

It's fun to everyone with grandchildren. It was great fun to visit with Uncle Edwin and Aunt Grace.

I'm glad that Dad and Chris were able to come.

Let's keep it up!!!!

My kids that went want to do a shout out for all of those who made this possible.....

It may take me a week to recover.

Updating.......!!!!

So I was told by someone that my blog was boring and never updated. So from now on, I'm going to try to up date every week!

This summer is going by fast!!! Here are some of the things that have happened so far:

Keera and Eric Married

Ethan getting blessed

Eddie Graduated

Kendall and Eddie moved

Having a major flood in our basement....now we really have to remodel!!!

Landon getting blessed

Quin and Erin getting married

Work going well and moving our offices up to SLC

Family Reunion ( I can hardly wait, to visit and laugh with everyone!!!!)

Getting ready to go back to school..... I must say that I'm pretty nervous......

And it's only the middle of June...


Who knows what else the summer will bring. But that is life.

I've Been Tagged!!!

Courtney tagged me and wanted me to list 6 words that described me.

So here goes.


Today......happy, accomplished, loved, older, helpful, appreciated.

5 years ago...... coping, healthy, fun loving, hardworking, younger, mother-in-law.

10 years ago.... sad, defeated, world ending, unreal, worried, upset. ( Grandma was sick, and given two weeks to live.)

I tag, Grandpa Sigman, Heather, Jeannine.

SOMEONE LIKES SCRABBLE!!!!!

This has got to be one of the most cleverE-mails I've received in awhile. Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble!

DORMITORY: When you rearrange the letters: DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:When you rearrange the letters: BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:When you rearrange the letters: MOON STARER

DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters: A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES: When you rearrange the letters:THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:When you rearrange the letters: HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:When you rearrange the letters: HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:When you rearrange the letters: CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:When you rearrange the letters: IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:When you rearrange the letters: LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:When you rearrange the letters: ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:When you rearrange the letters: IM A DOT IN PLACE THE

EARTHQUAKES: When you rearrange the letters:THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:When you rearrange the letters: TWELVE PLUS ONE

DON'T QUIT OUR DAY JOBS!!!!!

Last weekend, Nic came down. Stew bought a new game guitar hero.....

So after dinner, those who could come over to the house to play did.

We had a great time playing and trying not to get boooed off of the stage. Some were pretty good at playing the game.

It's amazing how hard you find yourself holding on to the guitar and concentrating on what you are doing.

Let's not quit our day jobs!!!


Stew has practiced for a good week!

Kendall liked it better than she thought she would.

Nic practiced all weekend.

I think I surprised everyone at how good I was.

Eddie is into it!!!

Braden's try at it. Not bad either!

Sky gives it a try.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR SKYLER!!!!

My baby is 21!!!! I don't know where the time has gone!!!

She is working today and Keera, Courtney and I went to lunch with her.

She is going with her sister's to look at wedding stuff.

She and Braden are going out to dinner tonight to her favorite place in the world. Chillies.

I hope that she has had a great day!! Even if she had to work.

BAG TAG!!!

This is my bag.



Eddie calls this my funeral bag, becuase of the gold lining.




See, I don't have alot of items in my purse. Only those things that I know I'm going to be asked for.

Grandma has arrived!!!!

I know that I have arrived, when my grandchildren want to comb my hair.

I remember doing that with my grandmother. She would let us for hours on end comb and curl and rat and spray her hair. She said that it felt good.

I remember my children combing my mother's hair also. She would sit on the floor and let them comb and brush for hours also.

Last Friday, Courtney and Riley and Ethan came down to visit me. I had the day off. We had a great visit and Riley played with Jaxson.

After everyone had a nap, Riley decided to do my hair. So she got the brush and comb and played with my hair for hours. She was being so gentle with me. We had a great time and laughed alot, and it did feel good!!



Riley is telling me to look at her.


Hold still Grandma, I'm making you look beautiful!!


The next day (Sat) we went to Max and Cheese. Jaxon and Shaylee were so excited!!!

They played in the play room while waiting for their lunch. After eating we let them play some more. I think we could have left them there for hours and they would have never missed us!!

The food was great, the atmosphere was fun, the employees very helpful. I think it will be a great success!!!!

McKenna couldn't keep her eyes from moving and looking at all of the fun things.

I had a hard time to get Jaxson to look at me, he didn't want to miss a thing


Shaylee playing with the school bus.