Sydney Kaye Allen...

came into the world on Saturday September 11th, at 4:35pm. She was 8lbs.4oz, and looked just like her big sister Kloee. (Simply Adorable!:) Sydney is Darren & Tessa's second child (Luke's little sister), she did an amazing job during delivery, and had a successful VBAC, Great job Tess!

We love babies... and are so excited for our baby to come:)

We had to go see the new baby,... so we jumped in the van after church on Sunday 4:30pm ish:) Drove 2 1/2hrs to Moscow, ID... held Sydney, and chatted for a little bit, then drove 2 1/2hrs back home... it was well worth the quick trip, we love our family!:)

--Adorable picture of Tessa & Sydney (I stole it from her blog:)

Camping with The Stevens...

Another fun tradition that we've started with Luke's family, every year for the last several years we've gone to Emigrant Springs for a few days, family, food, & lots of fun! The girls love it, and so do we.

We stay in these fun little cabins. (Electricity, Heat, & Beds)



We eat lots of yummy food, and most definitely roast mallows... "We want S'more"




--One massive tree, 4 little kids:)
We love to hike around the mountains, the weather was a little chilly, but beautiful.

The girls love their Auntie Megan, she only has 3 little boys, so every chance she gets, she's being girly with our girls:) She put flowers in Jodee & Jayda's hair on the hike through the woods... they were so pretty, and loved it:)



While camping, we almost always play games, and do some sort of crafts. (Didn't get any pictures, but we had a great time playing "Giant Spoons"... I WON!:) Good Times!



The kiddos made some binoculars, and painted rocks!

Can't wait til next year...

Boulder Cave, Labor Day 2010

The last few years we've started a fun family tradition with Lucas' family... we go to Boulder Cave for the day. We always have so much fun hiking up & down the mountain, down into the cave, and then back up and down the mountain. The girls did such a great job this year, they hiked the entire way all by themselves. (Last year they whined most of the time, and wanted to be carried:)
--The very beginning of the hike, the easy part:)
--Half way there...
--We made it!

... heading into the cave...


End of the day, dirty & tired, but happy:)

We love nature, it was the perfect day, sunny & cool! We also love being with Luke's family, playing games, eating, and just enjoying each other's company!

First Day of First Grade...

My baby is now a 1st grader! She was ready to start 1st grade as soon as Kindergarten ended... she didn't care about summer, she wanted to start school:)


Rhenley was so excited about going to school, on the first day of school, she was awake bright and early at 6:30am. She woke up, picked out the outift she wanted, got dressed, and was waiting for me to fix breakfast. She was so cute on her first day, I just love my big girl:)

(It's amazing how much happens in a short period of time, and how far behind you can get on blogging... I'm almost caught up:)

Bowling...

While Leslie & the girls were still here (I think is was the day after The Fair) we decided to go bowling. I haven't been bowling in years, and I don't think my girls have ever gone bowling. Grandma Nea, Auntie Leslie & her girls, and Auntie April & her kids all went...
The Crew

We had a really fun time, and the girls did really well. Bumper pads, and the ball rack thingy (don't know what they call it) were the best invention for little kids. We'll definitely be going again:)
The girls were natural bowlers, I was surprised they could even carry the ball:)


Rhenley & I, and our Strike X, high five:)
And without embarrassing anyone, or their performance, we'll just say that I won:) (Ok, so I slaughtered the competition, lets be honest:)
Thanks Mom, Leslie & April for a Good Time!:)

Benton Franklin County Fair

We got home from Georgia at 11pm... the very next day my sister Leslie, her girls, and my mom wanted to take all the kids to "Kid's Day" at the Fair. (Thanks Mom for paying for the fun... we were a little short on cash after our trip:)



--Silly mirrors were entertaining...
The kids got to ride a few rides, eat snow cones & elephant ears, and just walk around:)
(my expression says, "I'm hot and tired... no pictures!"
--Jodee, Jayda, & Peyton all rode on the balloons by themselves, they were so brave:)


--Kendall & Rhen checking out their stashes from the fair fun!
--Jayda & Auntie Leslie (Jayda did fall asleep on the ride home... she looks tired doesn't she?:)
The highlight of the trip for the girls was riding on the bus... Weeeeeeeee! (We took the bus to the fair, it was cheaper and way less crazy, Thanks Ben-Franklin Transit:)

While We Were Out...

So, while we were on our trip to Georgia, our little girls were watched by our parents. They spent 5 days with Luke's parents, and 5 days with my parents. We are definitely blessed to have such awesome grandparents for our girls! They love their Grandma Jiggy, Grandpa Ray, Grandma Nea, & Grandpa Bob:)

Here are a few pictures that my sister Leslie took of some of the girls adventures while with Grandma Nea. (Leslie & her girls were in town and got to join in on the fun:)







They got to go to the park, swim, and had a ZuZu party (Leslie is always winning House Parties, the ZuZu pet party was her latest:)
ZuZu Pet Party of the year:) The first thing my girls showed us when we got home.... their new ZuZu Pets:)


Man, we missed these little girls, I got teary when they were there waiting for us at the airport:) Thanks everybody who helped with the girls while we were away... We were spoiled to have all your help, and we know the girls were spoiled too:)

Southern Adventure...

After Lucas' training, we had 5 days to drive around and explore the south. We were in the car for more than 1,400 miles, and a few times we ended up in some very run down, dodgey places, it was still an amazing trip.

"We're Glad Georgia's on Your Mind"
"Welcome to North Carolina"
--Smokey Mountains

It was an exhausting climb, I'm not going to lie... it was difficult, we stopped many times along the way, but it was still a really nice time:) (We look happy here because we're going down:)

Tennessee, The Volunteer State, Welcomes You...
--Gatlinburg, TN, was such a fun tourist town... I loved how all the shops looked, and the uniqueness of the town. Definite bummer was the heat & humidity... we were dripping by the time we were done walking around... ewwwww:(



--Coolest building we saw as we were driving near, Dollywood, this building was actually upside down... I would have loved to have gone inside:)
--Cumberland Gap, TN


Here were the other states we visited on our adventure... most we just went through, went to a gas station or visitor's center, used the bathroom, got a drink and snacks, found a State magnet and then went on our way:) (Listed in no particular order)

Welcome to West Virginia, Wild & Wonderful
"Virginia Welcomes You" Virginia: Open for Business
"Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places" Welcome to South Carolina
Welcome to Kentucky, Unbridled Spirit
"Welcome to Alabama the Beautiful"

Although I didn't get a picture, we did have a lay over in Minnesota, so on our trip we visited 9 different states:) I was pretty excited about that fact!
THank YoU Lucas for taking me on the trip with you, I loved checking off states as we visited them:)