Kennewick

The second week of our trip 'home' was spent in Kennewick with the Russells.  We had a great time there as well!

The kids had a great time playing with more cousins!  They went swimming, played at several parks, watched movies, played dress up, went for jeep rides, ate ice cream, and spent a lot of time playing outside.

Celeste was so good for the trip.  She adjusted to the time change quicker then anyone else, slept better then usual, had lots of people who wanted to hold her, and was usually pretty happy.  She seems to be growing out of her evening fussiness and I'm not sad to see the colic stage go!

I was able to go to 'The Help' with my mother- and sister-in-laws.  We all loved it!  I did a lot of talking and eating!  Mike and I were able to get an afternoon almost to ourselves - we ran errands and went to lunch with Celeste.  We also had Russell family pictures which I am so excited to see!  I'll share them as soon as I get them!

Nobody was very excited to leave, especially Anna Elise, she wanted just one more week at each Grandma's house.  It was sad to see her reluctance to leave her family.  I feel grateful to have married into such a great family.  We had some special moments with Mike's family and every time we visit I feel closer to them.

Our 3 flights and 4 airports home were fairly uneventful.  The 5:30am flight was painful to get up for.  On our second flight we heard about the earthquake near Richmond and although the headlines said there was no damage, I was a bit anxious to get home and make sure we didn't have any cracks in the walls or pictures on the floor.  We were again so glad that our flights were over, but coming back here is never quite as exciting as getting there!  Someday we will be closer!

More details and pictures below:

 Calvin getting his toe super glued by Pops.  He cut his toe pretty good and then later sliced his other foot - typical Calvin!

Calvin on the swing zip line

 Mike watching the kids at a wading pool

Pop's holding Celeste

Celeste waiting for the family pictures

Madeline drying off at the pool

 Lilah hangin' in the pool

Cousin Aubrey drying off, waiting to get her 'full' diaper changed after swimming

Taking family pictures

Mattawa

We took our annual trip 'home' earlier in August.  It didn't start off well, while trying to prepare to take 5 kids on a trip across the country that included 3 flights between 4 airports and an hour ride in the car, I had a filling break which lead to an unexpected trip to the dentist, an emergency at work which required hours I didn't have and a trip to the office on the day we were suppose to leave, and a very grouchy, tired, throwing up Lilah the morning of our trip.  At one point while we rushed me home from the office so we could finish packing and eat lunch before our flight, I was listening to Lilah throw up in her bowl in the back of the car and nearly called the whole thing off!  Luckily we packed (we only forgot a couple of things), got to the airport on time, Mike gave Lilah a blessing and her stomach and disposition got much better and it turned out to be an ok trip!  Lilah only threw up once on our flight.  Luckily she was sitting on my lap so I got to stink too!  I was so glad to see my Dad at the airport and get everyone and everything loaded into the suburban for the last leg of our journey to Mattawa.  Even at 12:30 am (that would be 3:30 am my time) I was glad to be home.  My youngest sister Nancy and her fiance Marshall (whom I hadn't met before) were waiting up for us.  It was good to be there.

We had a blast amidst the stressful preparations for Nancy's wedding.  The kids played with their cousins, went swimming and boating, hit a pinata, blew GIANT bubbles, saw petrified wood, made balloon flip flops, launched rocket balloons, rode on the 4 wheeler and motorcycle, jumped on the trampoline (at 5:30 in the morning our first morning there), painted t-shirts, and had our annual water balloon fight.

All 6 of my siblings were at home and it was so good to see them!  I got to go to the temple with Nancy, go waterskiing and crash (it really hurt), talk and talk and talk with everyone, be at Nancy and Marshall's sealing, help clean up the reception and have a good time!

Going home can sometimes be hard emotionally.  It's so nostalgic for me, more so because my parents have lived in the same house since I was born! It always makes me wish I lived closer, could see my family more often, and pushes me to want to be a better person.  I look up to my siblings and their families so much!  I had a great time in Mattawa and it was hard to pack up and leave - but it was also exciting to be going to the Russell's!

More details and a lots of pictures below (although they are out of order):

 Jumping on the trampoline

All the Allen cousins in their 'tie-dyed' shirts

 

 Madeline taking a swing at the pinata

 

Anna Elise after she got doused during the water balloon fight

My girls outside the temple at Nancy's wedding in their matching dresses

 

Calvin and his cousin Parker chillin' with their punch at the reception

Watching the yellow rocket balloon

Anna Elise making a HUGE bubble

Anna, Lilah, and Calvin getting ready to tube

 Even Lilah could make HUGE bubbles all by herself.  I am excited to try this at home

 

Anna Elise knee-boarding for the first time!

 

Madeline taking her turn knee-boarding (Calvin tried too, but isn't on film)

A video of Nancy and Marshall at the temple right after being married!

Click here to see our water balloon fight:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTO6tIeF8Y8

3 Months Old

Celeste was 3 months old yesterday.  We went to the doctor and she weighed 13 pounds!  She is a big girl!  Celeste has a mild case of acid reflux.  We are trying to feed her smaller amounts, but more often - so far that has just made her hungry.  Our next option is to try adding cereal to her bottles or trying an expensive specialty formula.  If she gets worse then we'll look at medication.  Despite her problems eating she is usually happy.  She likes to smile and talk and loves the kids.  She likes to be where everyone else is.  She still sleeps great at night and she still doesn't nap well, but is getting to be more independent.  Despite our efforts to help her use a pacifier she has her fingers and fist in her mouth every chance she can get!  We'll see who wins this one...

I crept into Celeste's room to get a 'sleeping baby' picture and this is what I found:  that's how she typically naps - awake!

I moved her out to the couch for a photo session

and she didn't really like having her picture taken

turns out she really was tired and really did need a nap!

Sock Puppets

The kids have been waiting all summer for this project.  It took us a couple of days to finish them, but here are our sock puppets, complete with yarn hair, googly eyes, felt mouths and clothes!  The kids had a fun time making them.  I have to say that they required more adult help then I realized, but we had fun working on them.  Lilah won't wear hers for a picture.  She is not the most cooperative child right now.