Grandma & Grandpa (boston) visit

It is so nice to be able to spend time with my Grandparents. I have always had such a good relationship with them although they live hundreds of miles away in Massachusettes. We had a BBQ at my Uncles for some ribs and some homemade spaghetti and meatballs...yum. The next day I kept Madison and Davin home for school to meet up with Grandma and Grandpa Lucente. Of course we ate first, and then we sat outside in the seasonably warm weather to watch the kids play in the splash pad in Old Town Gilbert. The kids (great grandkids) got spoiled with gifts. I am so thankful that my kids can come to know my Grandparents. I too am thankful for their love in my life.

haPPy haLLoweeN 2009

PR lake and park

yEAh for cooler TemPs!!

Is it fAll??

@ VerTuccio Farms........ Petting zoo + Kettle corn + playground + pumpkins+ cow train + peddle cars + Corn maze = Fun

Not sure who won, but we laughed the whole time. The Derfs are pretty competetitive!

I'm pretty sure my brother won this race .....wait I mean ...... I'm sure my hubby won, cuz he's the best!

SwEEt Blane on the Cow Train... ALL Aboard!!

What a BuNch

The corn Maze was so fun. We had a competition to see which family could make it out first... and guess who won.......??? Of course we did! Well we were one short in our family, Madison mid way through became a traitor and went with her Aunt Jenny and Grandma. When we were getting close to the end, we started to run through. We had to win, ya know.

A tRibute....

to a wonderful Grandma. My Grandma D (red) passed away on October 11, 2009, unexpectedly. She was 79, almost 80 years old. I thought she had a good 5-10 years left. Time moves so quickly with lifes many twists and turns. One thing I know for sure is that she is now being able to live forever with her all of her loved one's who have passed before her. She is also being able to LIVE without fears now. I know she is perfectly happy.

Words @ her Funeral

I just wanted to stand and express the great love I had for my grandma.

I have to say, she was my most favorite grandma.

She sure knew how to leave an impression. She made friends easily and was loyal to those she loved.

She was so proud of her kids, grandkids and her great-grandkids. On more than one occasion, she proudly stated this to me, “out of all of my grandkids and great-grandkids… I don’t have one ugly one.”

I can speak for her as a grandma, she really enjoyed being a grandma. I have so many fond memories of her. She loved having her grandkids stay the night and as a child I loved it too. I remember how cozy she made me feel, as I lay in bed listening to her voice sing me to sleep….somewhere over the rainbow. She was a kid at heart. I remember her at this very time of year for the past 30 years of my life. I will miss having her here to celebrate the coming seasons. I smile when I think back on the little things she did. She was young at heart and loved shopping with her Grand daughters at the mall in all the young teenager stores. Grandma was 29…….right?? I will really miss this about her. I will miss her smell, her red hair, her humor, her wisdom, her sarcasm, and her love.

I can speak for her as a great grandma too. My kids loved their Nana and she loved them. When I would see my Grandma, whether it was out to lunch or dinner or at my home, she most always paid attention to her grand babies. They really did bring out her fun and happy personal;ity. She would sit and play games and sing to them. I can remember watching her with them and thinking to myself….”this is what I love about my Grandma”. When I found out the sad news, my kids were so concerned. Davin, my 5 year old, looked at me as I was crying and said to me…. “Mom, I feel like crying.” Madison, my 7 year old, also expressed to me her sadness at Nanna’s death.

I will miss my Grandma for a life time. I feel peace knowing that she is in heaven with our maker. My very last conversations with her were very spiritual, maybe she knew life here on earth was coming to a close. I am happy to think, just as my Dad said to me Yesterday…… Grandma is up there living life to the fullest, care free and doing everything she always wanted to do, but was too afraid. I will carry her spirit with me forever.

I love you Grandma.

AlreadY ONE....... seriously?????

I can't begin to say how much I love this sweet boy of mine. He is so cute, so happy, so serious, and so loved. He loves to eat, but you wouldn't know it by his size. He pretty much only bear crawls every where he goes and he is super fast. He likes to clap his hands. He likes to lift his shirt when I ask me where his belly button is. He likes to lift my shirt to find mine. He is cruising all around the furniture. One of these days he will take his first steps........ I am in no rush for it and either is he. He is a great sleeper and sleeps for 12-14 hours straight at night. He makes such a great addition to our family. He is such a mellow baby. We are so happy with our Vancey Pants!

Allen Family Reunion Sept. 2009

He did NOT like sitting on this ground. He had his toes curled up and was making such a funny face.

Dason and his brothers like to give all the kids a mask and tell them to run and hide.

This was so fun for the kids and the temps outside were perfect too.

Dason really wanted to build a zip line this year and he worked hard to make one for the kids. This was the first one they built. Go Davin!

Grandma Sharon is so crafty. Here the girls were each making their own flower hair clips and head bands.

Madison LOVES her cousins. They will are best buddies.

This was so funny. Fear Factor Night. The kids were so anxious AlL day for this. Shane came up with a bunch of gross ideas. This one was actually just a Twinkie cut in half and all the kids had psyched themselves out. We were laughing so hard!

Another one of Grandma Sharons ideas.... Tye Dye shirts. all of the kids designed what they wanted and did the work. so much fun.

This is the second zip line that Dason and his brothers built. It was was high! It started out 12 feet high and went down to the meadow. It was high and fast, but fun. ALL of the kids 5+ zipped down it so fast. They loved it too.