X-Mas EvE....

We are pretty dead set on this tradition. It is so fun to see the kids get so excited. They each open a present (new Jams) of their own and then they have a shared present to open (X-mas movie). We get some hot chocolate ready and take it in the car to drive through the neighborhood looking at lights. After we get back home, we make sure Santa has his plate of cookies & milk and that we leave carrots by the door for the Reindeers. Then the kids settle onto the couch to watch their new Christmas movie. Then off to bed. Our kids could not fall asleep this year....they were so excited for Santa to come!

He CraCks me up!!

One night Blane was relaxing on the couch before bedtime and he started to tell me that he was tired. He said this to me "Mom, I am really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really TIRED". No joke, this is ReaLLy how many times he said really. We kept waiting for him to finish and everytime he would say really I thought it was going to be the last One. This was so funny...I didn't want to forget it. We love you bud!

SanTa SantA..... Ho Ho Ho

It's greAt to be 8

Congrats Madison! We are so happy for you!

Madison had her baptism the day after her birthday on Saturday, December 19, 2009.

Madison had a late night the night before and her baptism was at 9am, so she woke up in not the best mood. She was a little argumentative with everyone. It's crazy how the adversary tries to drag down even the youngest of souls.

Madison was so somber at the church. She looked unhappy, but really was nervous to get baptized. She went to sit up front with her Dad, then came back to give everyone hugs before the service began. she started to cry after she gave Grandma Sharon a hug. Poor girl.

She was the only one in our ward getting baptized, so it was just our families in the room where she was baptized. We walked back and I took Madison into the room to get baptized. She was visibly nervous so I said a prayer for her to trust her Dad and heavenly Father. We walked out and I led her to the few steps into the water and Dason walked through the water and grabbed her hand and took her into the water. She was immersed in the water and came up smiling.

She changed into her white dress with my help and we talked about the feelings she was now having and she said that the water was kind of cold, but it felt good. Grandma Sharon came in and put a white necklace around Madison's neck for her to keep and remember this day forever.

Dason was then able to lay his hands on her head and confirm her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints and to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Everyone in our families came back to our home for a little brunch and little birthday/baptism celebration. Aunt Nell, Uncle Jarred and Tate were @ home taking care of their new baby Kendric. Uncle Ricky and Sara were coming into town for Christmas so they couldn't come for the baptism. Uncle CB was home sick. Papa Dan and Nana were watching from heaven.

PooR Madison has had Pneumonia!

Poor girl got sick on Saturday, December 12th. It's actually quite humorous. Janelle went into the hospital @ 10am because she started labor, so Tate came over to our house. Fast forward to 1pm and Blane has a 102+ fever, then Madison gets a fever of 102+. I think "great" 2 kids
sick ..... I'll deal. I leave Dason at home with the now 5 kids so that I can go into the hospital to see my new niece/nephew born. When I get to the hospital and into my sisters room, I can tell she is upset, so I ask, " What's wrong?" She begins to cry and tell me that the on call Doctor does not want to do a VBAC delivery and tries to "scare" my sister into having a C-section to deliver her baby. I ask my sister if she would like Dason to come down and give her a blessing for comfort and peace to decide what to do. She started to cry and she shook her head "Yes". So Dason loaded all 5 kids and drove to the hospital. My Dad went out to the car and stayed with all the kids while Dason and Cody gave Janelle a blessing. It was pretty spiritual and Janelle said that she felt peace and comfort immediately after it. Got to love the power of the Almighty.
After that, I walked out to the car with Dason and told my kiddies "bye" and noticed that Vance felt like he had a fever. Yikes 3 kids with fevers!!

We decide no church for Sunday and then realize that Tate now has a fever of 101+. I hoped he would not get sick with a new baby coming to his house. Oh man! Tate stayed over for 2 nights while his Mom and Dad were in the hospital. Alright, Back to Madison and pneumonia....

On Monday I took Blane into the Doctor because he had a fever and had been sick for awhile and I was worried that he may have bronchittis or Pneumonia. Turns out he had an ear infection. That's an easy fix. Some doses of antibiotics will do the trick. We get home with some donuts for everyone to snack on and find Madison extra sick. After visits to the doctor we always get donuts, kind of our tradition.

When I checked Madison she was 106 degrees! We got her in a cold bath quick to start to bring down her temperature. It worked and it went down a couple of degrees. The doctor checked her for the flu which came back negative so she got a chest x-ray which came back Pneumonia. She has taken medicine and is feeling much better. She missed almost the whole week of the last week of school before winter break. She went back to school on Friday, December 18th. It was her BiRthdaY.

Everyone is on the mend in the Allen household....thank goodness!

It's a.........

GirLy girl GlaMour PaRty!

The girls seemed to have lots of fun. We decorated Little mirrors with jewles and we made little clay snowman pencil toppers. The girls all picked two colors of nail polish to get their nails painted. They ate Madison's faVorite pizza from Dominos(thin crust square pizza). We sang "Happy Birthday" and the girls wanted to play the rest of the time. We had bracelets and ornaments to make, but they just wanted to hang out with eachother and play.

Man...we have an 8 year old? ReAlly??

Just a little note to my first born daughter on her special day.....

Dear Madison,

Happy Birthday Mats! I have so many dreams for you in this life.

My most important wish/dream is for you to choose happiness for your entire life. I hope and pray that you will stay close to your Heavenly Father and believe that Jesus really did die for you. I hope and pray that you will be strong through all your trials and that you will draw strength from our God in your times of need. I am so excited for you to be baptized. I hope you will remember this day forever with the fondest of memories.

I love you and have enjoyed having you as my daughter for the past 8 years. Heavenly Father sure trusted me with your care. We will be buddies, especially since you do not have a sister. You have grown so much spiritually and academically this past year. I am really proud of how hard you work on your school projects and homework.

I hope you have a perFect day at school on your birthday. I am sorry you had to miss schhol all week because you had Pneumonia. You are one tough cookie.

I love you Mats!

LoVe,
Mom