'Tis the Season...

Time flies! We have been so busy lately, with lots of different things. I don't mind being busy, and being exhausted at the end of the day feels pretty good sometimes, however today is one of those rare days that has time to include my very favorite thing-a nice break. It doesn't happen often. Shawn has finals so he has been studying since 630, I on the other hand slept in, went to the gym, took a bath, and even wrote in my journal. I love the holidays, and the music and the lights we can see from our window. Today when I was in our empty apartment I couldn't help but think about how much I have loved this holiday season, and how blessed I have been in 2009. Here is a picture of Shawn just relaxing, I haven't seen him do this since the semester started..the picture also includes my red couches which are my favorite thing that I own, thanks to my Aunt Lori. And a lot more pictures that include a few of our recent exciting events


We went home this year for Thanksgiving, I love having Idaho as my home to visit. My mom worked so hard to have us home and I REALLY appreciate it, it was obvious how much time she had spent-our house was decorated so cute as usual, and she even put up some lights outside all by herself, which I was impressed with-I could never do that. Here are a few thanksgiving pics, my favorite is the sign Abby made to welcome us home and to her room which was where we stayed while we were home. Abby is the greatest little sister a girl could ever ask for. She is everyone in the family's biggest fan, it feels good to know she is always up waiting when we go home.





We went to my grandparent’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Tyler has always been so good with our little cousins, and Shawn has joined right in on the fun. They both are also so good to Abby, and now even to her new dog Bentley. I am not a dog person, but even I became a fan. Abby loves Tyler and Shawn, It’s nice to have boys around in the house again.

A few weeks ago we went to Callie’s wedding. She looked so beautiful, her reception was perfect! The majority of memories most associated with Callie and I in our younger days are probably not very precious ones. Fortunately for us, life’s all about doing better next time. I sure love that girl and she is one of my favorite people alive. We also love Tyler and are happy they will only live a short drive away from us. It was my first opportunity to witness a sealing and be in the temple for a wedding, I was so excited and was not disappointed.


Also, Shawn's family took us on a cruise last weekend. It was not only the same cruise line, but the same ship we went on on our honeymoon. I'm not much of a romantic person..and even for me I had a few flashbacks, it felt exactly like our honeymoon again. It was SO fun not to mention soo nice of them to take us. I have never met a boy who loves his family as much as Shawn does. The weather was a little chilly sometimes, but the fun we had had nothing to do with our destinations on the cruise-it had everything to do with the fact that the entire family was together. I can't believe I have only been a part of Shawn's family for 4 months because it seems like so much longer, they are SO fun and easy to be around-and I really don't know how I survived 22 years without them. I am very lucky to be a part of another great Allen family. We had so much fun I will post more pictures later..
This time we had windows in our room...it was so cool to see the ocean at night. I wish the little bum was mine, but it's Shawn's little sister Megan's.




P.S. WE have our OWN christmas tree!! Shawn waited to get this tree on sale at 3 am at Walmart, all by himself with my brother in law Tyler. I was so proud of him for staying awake, and getting the right tree at the right price, and the right size ha. Us girls were already gone shopping by the time they left-they stayed up all night playing nintendo so I was worried they would miss it, but they came home with everything on the list-including this little piece of joy!


we had to be pretty cheap, I used leftovers from our wedding..haha it's nothing like my mom's but we love sitting in our living room with the lights on. Happy Holiday's everyone..