Something to think about while I am at Girl's Camp!

This is Wade's FAVORITE picture of me as a kid. He says it is the epitome of my personality on film. Do you think it is true?

Really he just thinks it looks like I am going to go punch someone in the face. Which I guess he thinks is funny. Just look at those big brown eyes! Is that the face of someone who is going to give someone else a knuckle sandwich? I don't think so.

A Visit with the Other Allens.

Ok the visit was with ONE of the other Allen families. And it was a blast!! Thank you to Blaine and Tirsa for inviting us for a whirlwind weekend!! First we did a little shopping. Sorry I didn't take any pictures of it. Then we went swimming. Sorry I didn't take any pictures then either. But then we went up into the mountains to Tirsa's sister's cabin and did some repelling. Now that I did take pictures of!! The problem is I took like 86 pictures. So I have been trying to narrow them down to post them. Here are some of them. For the rest of the Allens that we didn't visit this weekend you will probably see all of them in 2 weeks at the reunion! Aren't you so excited?!?

This is looking down from the MEDIUM repelling rock! Wade was on his way down! Hello little tiny people!!

These are totally out of order and I am too tired to figure out how to get them back in order so you are going to have to suffer through some randomness.

Don't these girls look like they are having a blast?

On the way up to the cabin we saw ELK!! They were huge! And they were in the road! There were 10 that Tirsa and I counted and they didn't care that we were there! Then two started to butt heads but I didn't get a picture of that!

Totally cool right?

Ezra... I love this kid. He really really really doesn't like me. Go figure right?

Hannah dropped Luke's glasses into a crevice and Wade had to fetch them out. Isn't this picture hilarious?

Can you see him trying to get them? They came out relatively unharmed, just in case you were wondering.

This is a close as Luke would get to repelling. At one point he said he would do it. That is really good for him, normally he would scream and cry. He is getting braver!!!

This is Blaine repelling. Seriously, I barely could get a decent picture he went so fast. Guess I need a smaller and a faster camera!

This is Lizzie. This is as far as she got on the kiddie cliff. She was so brave!

Bella tried a little too! She got just a bit further than Lizzie. Won't be too long before she is as good as her dad!!!

Wade was having a great time.

Yes, this is my beautiful daughter Hannah hanging from a cliff...... and loving it! Thank you Blaine I think you have helped to create a new thrill seeking junkie. What's next jumping out of planes?

Drum Roll Please.......

This is what the front of our house looks like. Wade has done such a good job on the yard! So far so good!

Look! Raspberries!!! Do you see them? I don't think we will actually get any since Lizzie is watching them like a hawk and I suspect they will end up in her belly before we even know they are ready!

This is Wade's favorite plant. It is called a Lupine. One plant two different colored flowers. Go figure. Not to mention he has planted it in the Bermuda Triangle of our yard. I hope it survives. He has killed one already.

This is what we are doing with all the rocks we have pulled from the yard.... lining out the flower beds! Doesn't it look quaint?

And the moment you have all been waiting for.... the grass we have been watching grow for the past months!

It is getting better and better everyday. There are still some issues that could be blamed on the dirt, cats, birds, bugs, weeds and every other plague that affects grass. But it is so much better than the weeds right?!?

Orchestra Camp....

Hannah had Orchestra Camp this week. It is always really fun. This is the week they really get to have fun with the music they are playing. Not to mention the movie and the swimming party and the really cool t-shirt they get. This year they were able to play a song called The Dory Anne. It is composed by a man named Robert Frost. Not the poet. He has taught music here in Utah and has written a number of pieces for orchestras. He has also written a few method books. Lets just say this guy is really cool to Orchestra dorks like Hannah. So Robert Frost was able to come out and work with the kids and then conduct that same piece at the concert. Hannah worked really hard all week. It was a great experience. Thanks to Rachel Wheeler who keeps this program going and keeps the kids excited about playing. Next up, Youth Symphony!

Provo Falls

On our way up to check out Bear River Lodge and Mirror Lake (where the Allen family reunion will be held in July) we encountered this:

Provo Falls. Isn't it gorgeous? 

The kids had a great time playing mountain goat on all the rocks.

Trying to decide.....

We bought some of these today. Do you see where it says Strawberried Peanut Butter? Wasn't sure these would taste good. You know what? I am still not sure what I think.  They aren't that bad but they aren't the best. What do you think?