Christmas Letter

I decided to take advantage of having a blog this year and post our Christmas letter here, instead of making copies and sending it to everyone. So, here’s what we’ve been up to this year!
Parker is of course busy growing up no matter how much Mom tries to stop it. He is 2 years old and keeps both of us very busy! He is talking more every day, sometimes putting as many as three words together. He loves to sing, especially using Aunt Heather’s microphones for her Wii. He loves music and dances every time he hears it, no matter what he is doing. He loves playing with his cousins and when they aren’t around, he loves looking at pictures of them on the computer. Some of the noteworthy events in Parker’s life this year: Several head CT scans, the last of which came back completely normal! In Feb Mom and Dad leaving him overnight for the first time. (More traumatic for Mom than Parker, probably) He started attending nursery in May and loves it! A summer full of popsicles and playing in the wading pool in the back yard. Several camping trips to Bear Lake, trips to the zoo, a few University of Utah football games, playgroup and his first experience miniature golfing.
I started out the year getting a part-time job at Michaels. My mom moved into our basement apt. last year and was a great help in watching Parker. After nine months, a new church calling and a nervous breakdown, I quit at the end of Oct. I was called to be YW Stake assistant camp director and two days after returning from camp, was called to be the 2nd counselor (over Enrichment) in the Relief Society. I have had my moments of feeling overwhelmed, but am still plugging along. I am enjoying being home with Parker, although some days are more challenging than others. On those days, I have to remind myself that I prayed for this and that his birth parents and Heavenly Father entrusted me with this sweet little boy. I need to make them proud! Despite these days, I still get baby hungry sometimes and we hope to apply for adoption again soon. Even though we aren’t officially ‘waiting’ if you hear of any birth parents looking to place, let us know! I still try to do a little scrapbooking here and there and have recently discovered American Idol on Heather’s Wii. (Did I mention Heather moved in with Mom in Oct?) We can be heard, several houses away I’m sure, belting out songs and screaming and cheering when we get a perfect score.
Bryan is still working for Old American Insurance and Kansas City Life. It still has its ups and downs, but overall, every year is better than the one before. He has earned three trips so far. Two of which we took earlier this year. We went to Kansas City, MO in Feb to the home office. They put us in a very fancy hotel and fed us very well. The President of the company even gave the wives some fun money! It looks like we will be returning in Feb for the annual awards ceremony. While we were there, Bryan’s Uncle Mike took his agents and their wives to see some of the church history sites. Liberty Jail was one the more memorable places we visited. Uncle Mike also took us to Bob Jones Shoes, “the biggest shoe store in the world” where Bryan got two new pairs of shoes for work. We also went to Mesquite, NV where Bryan golfed every day. It was extremely hot, but we had a lot of fun. I got to relax by the pool, get a manicure and pedicure and see the movie, “Mamma Mia” with the girls. He has already earned a trip to Las Vegas in May next year and is working on earning a trip to San Diego in 2010. We had season tickets to U of U football again this year. It was another exciting year up on the hill with the Utes going undefeated. Parker now recognizes the Utah fight song and says, “Go Utes! Fight! Fight! Fight!” Bryan is looking forward to the Sugar Bowl on Jan 2nd. He also enjoyed seeing, “Dark Knight” in the theatre TWICE a rare treat in the Allen household! Bryan has discovered his inner rocker and enjoys playing Guitar Hero on the Wii. He and Heather rock out whenever they can and I occasionally join in. One major change in Bryan’s life, after 11 years of mostly primary callings (he almost got to graduate again) he was released and called to teach Elders’ Quorum. He says it’s not so different from teaching primary. Recently, Bryan was very excited to receive 4th row center court Jazz tickets. We may never be able to sit in the upper bowl again! I’m sure a blog post with pictures is coming soon!
We’ve had another wonderful year full of fun times and many blessings. We look forward to the New Year and the many adventures it has in store for us. We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

So Grateful!!!

We were in Idaho the whole week of Thanksgiving and are still trying to get back into the swing of things! I wanted to take the opportunity to 'count my many blessings'. Parker had yet another head CT as well as a wrist x-ray before we left town. His pediatrician was concerned that he might have Rickets (trouble metabolizing vitamin D) and she has been monitoring a couple of concerns she had with his head growing too quickly and other things. Anyway, she called me Monday and gave me the wonderful news that everything was normal! The 'area of concern' in his brain is completely gone! Hopefully this means no more head CTs! YAY! I am so grateful for Parker's birth parents and the sacrifice they made so that we could be parents. We love them so much and thank Heavenly Father constantly for them. I am so grateful for such a hard working, loving husband. I am grateful for the priesthood in our home. I am also grateful for my brothers, brothers-in-law and father-in-law who are all worthy priesthood holders. I know that if Bryan is out of town, I could call any of them and they would be here in a heart beat. I am also thankful for all of the women, family and friends, in my life. They are such great examples of true daughters of God. I am so grateful that I am able to stay home with my sweet little boy. I am so thankful that he is happy and healthy! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Idaho with our family and can't wait for all the holiday parties and celebrations in the next month. I am so grateful for all of the blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me!