Tiffany and Mckayli's visit

Jim and I had known for a month or so, but Mary and Billy were sure taken by surprise when Tiffany, her mom and her daughter Mckayli came to visit this past weekend. Mary was surprised at her volleyball tournament in Missoula. Billy got the shock on Saturday night. It was so neat to see Tiffany and be able to really visit with her--the last time we saw her was at her wedding, a week before she delivered Mckayli. So, there really wasn't much time to visit and we had yet to meet the newest member of the family. Mckayli is a doll and everyone took right to her, even Uncle Tanner. Any time she started crying, he would rush over as if to see what he could do to help her. He loved giving her kisses, as did all of us. Eric wanted to know every minute where Tiffany was. Amelie just wanted to hold her little niece and even called some of her kindergarten friends to tell them that her baby niece was here and that meant she was Aunt Amelie.
See my facebook for more pictures of our visit.

What a day!

A lot of great stuff happened today, so I am just going to go through and report on it all.
This morning, I took the second day of Parisi speed school classes--it's the free intro week at the gym. It was a great workout--totally different from what I usually do. In fact, sometimes, when I am in step class (which I really do enjoy), my eyes will wander tot he clock and a curse a little under my breath that only 5 minutes has gone by and we 'get' to go through the routine one more time. But today, the Parisi class was over long before I thought an hour had truly passed!I am a little sore--my quads, my lats and delts. It's a great program!
Then, once I got home, as a light and wet snow fell, we said goodbye to Tiffany and Mckayli after having had a wonderful few days visiting with them. They were on their way to Missoula to watch Billy's last football game of his freshman year. It was a very good game--His team won 21-15 and he played pretty much the entire game. I have really missed watching the last couple games as they were all away in Missoula. I did help a few other moms help make lunches for him and his team the night before and that was a great opportunity! He is such a great young man. I am so thrilled that he did so well tonight. Now it is on to wrestling . . .
Well, after Tiffany left, Jim, Tanner and I headed to Eric's Joy School for the Halloween program. They sang a few Halloween songs and paraded in their costumes. They were so cute!! Eric is such a cute kid! There is nothing like it when just lately, every so often he will tell me when I am helping him do something, 'Mom, you are the best Mom ever!' It just makes my heart melt and makes me want to try even harder to be a better Mom.
Then, after work and Amelie's first Dentist's appointment and some Pampered business, Jim, Amelie, Eric, Tanner and I headed across town to Glacier High for Mary's last region game. Last time we played Glacier, it was at Flathead High and we lost in 5 very intense games. Tonight, we won the first two games fairly easily--we were ahead the whole time and there wasn't much worry. However, in the 3rd game, they rose up and it was close--27-25, I think, was the final score. So, going into the 4th game, I was already on edge and anxious. It was neck and neck the entire time. Finally at 22 a piece, we finished the game, set and match. Yeah!! It was thrilling. We may see them again next week for playoffs, too! Oh boy!! Thanks to so many friends who came out to cheer!
After the game, Mary was on a local radio that broadcast the game. It was her second time on the radio but first time live. Plus, last week, the Flathead Beacon did an article on her for their newspaper (see the link to read the article). As well, the news covered the game highlights and showed a dig and a hit by Mary!!! She is a superstar and we love her so much!! We are blessed with six truly wonderful children! They are by far, our pride and joy!

Check it out: http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/faces_mary_allen/13665/

We should be able to post a link to the news report tomorrow~

Congrats, Mary!

We really are so thrilled that Mary decided to live with us this year! She is such an awesome young woman and a tremendous daughter! She is so spunky and lovable that everyone has taken to her like paper to glue. She was voted co-captain of her Varsity Volleyball team and has truly shone on the court (and off). She is now being actively recruited by several colleges and it is so exciting. And with ample reason . . . she is Top Ten in three areas in the State volleyball stats: #1 in Passing, #9 in digs (a pass from a hit) and #9 in kills per game. She NEVER subs out and is just doing a phenomenal job on the court. She is a great athlete with drive and determination. I am so proud of her accomplishments and know she will succeed! Way to go, Maren-ens!
If you would like to check out some photos, go to mtmediaplus.com and find games with the Flathead Bravette's Varsity team. There should be some good ones against Big Sky. You can also see some of Billy playing football (Flathead Braves Freshman Team) against Missoula teams. This guy is good--

A new school year

This fall has brought some excitement with the new school year. A week and a half before school began, I was hired by Kalispell Middle School to teach two periods a day of French. I teach a seventh grade class and then an eighth grade class. It's only a twelve week class, so I just give them the basics and hopefully instill in them a love for the language and people--enough that when they have the chance, they will take French in High School.
Billy not only started seminary this year (the Book of Mormon!) but he is also in his first year at Flathead High School as a Freshman Brave. Mary started her Senior year as a Bravette, Amelie started kindergarten at Peterson Elementary and Eric started Joy School. Needless to say, it has been crazy busy and quite an adjustment to have so many activities going. Mary is the Varsity Volleyball Co-Captain and is truly tearing up the court with her kills, digs, serves and serve receives! Billy is doing a great job on the football field as a Defensive Back. He's a real hustler and a great asset to his team. He is also about ready to get his Eagle Scout stuff together, which is awesome! Amelie is in a free cross-country program run by a local bank. She will start basketball with the Parks and Rec program in October. I haven't heard yet if I am going to be coaching again, but I sort of hope so!
So all in all, the school year has been full of new and exciting events and we wouldn't have it any other way!!

We're Grandparents!

Tiffany always joked about making me a young Grandma!! On July 31 at 12:2?, Mckayli Tiffany Abel was born in Mesa, AZ. She weighed in at lbs. and was inches long. (I think I remember but am waiting for Tiffany to help me fill in the blanks with the EXACTS so I don't totally mess it up :) She is a doll and I am SUPER jealous of everyone who gets to hold her and take care of her since I have yet to see her in person. Tiffany was induced on Thursday night and everything went very well. Baby Mckayli is totally adorable and has done well from day one. She is now old enough to go out to church and other outings with her mom and dad. From the adorable photos and updates from Tiffany, Mckayli is growing stronger and bigger every day. I cannot wait to see her in person!!!!!

Tiffany and Brian's Wedding

The excitement of July did not stop after camping--we returned, get cleaned up and started the drive south to get to Tiffany's wedding. She and Brian decided to get married about a month or so earlier, so we all did our best to get things in order to be there with her to celebrate. It took Billy, Amelie, Eric, Tanner and me 2 LONG days to drive. We left Monday afternoon and I drove all night, stopping to take naps as needed, of course. I slept at my sister Becky's in Utah that next morning while the kids played with their cousins. Then we took off again that evening and I drove again most of the night. That is certainly the best way to get through Hoover Dam quickly--there was no traffic at night!
Amelie, Tanner and I got to go to Tiffany's bridal shower that Wednesday evening. Amelie loved being the little sister and wanted to be there beside Tiffany all night to help her. It was really cute! Then on Thursday Amelie and I again helped decorate for the wedding and reception in the cultural hall of a church just down the street from Tiffany's mom's house. I got to visit with my sister-in-laws Susan and Debbie who also had come to help. Friday morning came quickly as we all got ready for the big day. We took a few pictures before the wedding and then more after. Tiffany looked beautiful and Brian was very handsome. I had made bowties for Eric and Tanner which worked out very well. Amelie wore her Flower Girl dress from Adam and Cynthia's wedding, with a few modificiations (I added a purple ribbon around the waist.) Mary had a beautiful dress that Tiffany found for her and Billy had on a snazzy new suit. Amelie did a great job walking down the aisle, scattering white flower petals. Then, Brian's little brother came carrying the rings. We actually had one false start because Mary had gone to the bathroom when they originally started, so they had everyone go back and start again. Tiffany's Bishop married them in a short and simple but sweet ceremony. We waited around for about an hour before heading to another chapel for a family luncheon that Brian's mom Peggy had organized. It was wonderful. They had decorated the gym--on each table were pictures of Brian and Tiffany framed, a stuffed red and white love dog, love candies, chocolates and nuts. The lunch was fabulous--her sister runs a catering business, I think, and wow, it was so good! That evening was the reception where Jim and I got to stand in the receiving line with the other parents and the newlyweds. It was so nice to meet some of Tiffany's friends as I had heard their names and now had a face to go with the name. Tiffany did very well--a little tired, of course and a little sore from all the standing, but otherwise feeling good and so beautiful. Secretly, I was kinda hoping she might go into labor only for selfish reasons as I really wanted to be there when the baby was born. She was actually induced the following Friday. But I'll leave that story for the next post. It was a long but wonderful day with a smiling, happy daughter and a just-as-happy new son-in-law to add to the Allen family tree.

Family campout

After we got home from Trek, Mary took off for Volleyball Team Camp in Oregon for the entire week, Jim returned to work and Billy, Amelie, Eric, Tanner and I went camping in Glacier National Park with my sister Becky and her family and my Mom. It was a great week despite the rain the first three days. We went up to Logan Pass and hiked around and we hiked Avalanche Lake all 5 miles, I think it was, with all the kids--we didn't realize just how hard the hike would be for the little ones, but Amelie and Eric even made it--with some coaxing from Billy and me! We stayed at FishCreek Campground and hiked around there and enjoyed the beach to Lake Macdonald that was just down from our campsite. I love camping and being out in nature! We all had a wonderful time with our family enjoying the beautiful creations that Heavenly Father has given us.