Spring break

Mother, daughters, sisters, friends

Before Kate heads back to college, we knew we needed a girls trip. Adult daughters and mom (cuz they like me but also cuz I'm the one with the money;)

So off to California we went. Lots of yummy food, fun music and lots of great discussion about what makes us who we are.

We visited the ocean in February cuz we are Allen's ;) And then off to Universal the next day cuz theme parks have a feeling to them that is just so fun!

I love my daughters. I became a mom pretty quickly after getting married and never once have I been sad about the timing. My kids are all close together which means they are all close.

So thankful to be their mom and to have memories like this to last the rest of my life.

State champs

These two girls. Little blonde robotics champs, thats what they are.They were part of the winning team for the Nevada Elementary School State Championship.

 I think Payton's mom calls them popcorn? Cuz every time one of them is driving, the other is jumping up and down giving encouragement and direction to the other.






I don't think they were expecting the win, or to feel the way they did when they won. The crying went on for hours. It was a pretty intense day. Until this year I knew nothing about robotics or competitions. Its pretty intense to watch and the kids get very excited and focused and emotional and all the feels. All of them.









That is not laughing, it is full on emotional release crying.






So proud of these kids. All three teams from Nate Mack Elementary school made it to the World Competition in Kentucky. They practiced 3, 4 days a week after school and then on Saturdays. They had to keep good grades and good behavior to stay on the team. Nora maintained straight A's the whole time while also being on Student Council and in honor choir.

It was amazing to watch them all accomplish so much and their AMAZING teacher Mrs. Juliano worked tirelessly to get them to this point. I'm so grateful Nora got to attend Nate Mack elementary school and learn about her capabilities and a new found love for STEM.

She’s home.

After 18 months of being away from home, of serving the Lord and the people of Argentina and Paraguay, Sis. Kate Allen is home. I learned that my heart can reside partially in another country. I learned that for 18 months at least, Mondays are my favorite days. (emails home)

I learned that someone can change a lot while staying themselves. And I learned that someone doesn't have to be older than you to set a good example for you.

We all missed her so much. We experienced a lot of things without her and her without us. But in the end we are a family. Eternal and bound together by really strong ties.

Kate is an amazing person in every sense of the word. She is lovely and loving, she is smart and capable but vulnerable and inquisitive and having her home after such a long time is the best gift I could be given.

The only thing better than hugging your missionary after 18 months, is the first time you hold them as a newborn.

Well done Hermana Allen.







Here is me still in awe that I am actually talking to her face to face. Such a beautiful moment.






I love this girl more than I could ever express in words. So grateful she chose me as her mom:)

That time we went to Disneyland by ourselves!!

For our birthdays this year, we thought, wouldn't it be crazy and awesome to go to Disneyland together?

And so we did. And it was awesome. We spent a day at Disney then a day at the LA zoo.

And the best part? We held hands the whole time. Like the whole time. And I realized that holding hands is pretty much the best thing you can do to be aware of how much you love someone and how great your life together is. 

We got to watch Fantasmic finally. Which was fun. But cold and my bottom hurt after sitting on the ground for 2 hours. But did I mention that we got to hold hands?