Grandma Allen

Carma Hansen Allen March 27, 1927 ~ December 23, 2011

Allicia says it so much better than I can, so I am just going to paste what she wrote the day Grandma died:

" My Grandpa, Carling Allen has always been a romantic. He and Grandma could never be in the same room without wanting to have their arms around each other. They would dance and kiss in front of us all the time. They went through some of the hardest times a couple could face yet showed my family how an eternal couple should be. They were married 65 years ago today in the Manti LDS Temple. Typical Grandpa came this morning just after 9 AM to sweep his bride off her feet again and take her to the mansion he has been preparing for her since May 12, 2004. Grandma and Grandpa, I love you both so much! Happy Anniversary! I miss you both but am grateful for your example and that you are able to celebrate your 65th anniversary as it should be celebrated..together on a second honeymoon".

The first time I met Michael was at Grandma’s house for a Christmas party, and of course I met Grandma at this time as well.  I was amazed at how much love everyone had for one another. It wasn’t long until I discovered the root of the love was from Grandma and Grandpa. Through their example of the Savior and their testimony of His love they were able to teach their children, who taught their children and now I hope that I am teaching my children.

From the beginning I have felt that I am truly a part of this amazing family and always felt like Grandma and Grandpa are truly my grandparents. I can’t tell you how much this means to me as I was never super close to my grandparents.  I am so grateful to have felt this love from them and be a part of this family. 

As I heard and read so many sweet stories of Grandma I am glad I named my Carma after her. What an amazing legacy she has to live up to. I know she can do it, I have seen grandma’s sweetness in her already.

I invited Grandma to be there for my C-section the day Carma was born. I wanted her to be one of the first people to meet my Carma.

Grandma was a temple worker the day Michael and I were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogus temple. I remember her helping me in the brides room. She encouraged Michael to ask me out in the first place and was always "on my side" when Larry and Darlyn weren't so sure of what to think of me.  Thanks Grandma for having my back:)

I loved listening to Grandma tell stories of her mission at the Navoo visitor center.

A funny memory of Grandma is when Michael and I were helping her with her sprinkler system. I love cats and was excited to see that one hopped over the fence to her side of the yard.  I said in excitement “Oh a kitty!” and before I even finished the sentence Grandma was picking up a clod of dirt to throw at the cat. She chucked that dirt so hard that she could have been a pro baseball player. The dirt exploded against the fence and the cat jumped so high in fear.  I was in shock because the sweetest lady I have ever met hates cats so much and second at how good her arm and aim was. I laughed and laughed for hours after. I am still laughing.   I love you Grandma! I will cherish your memories and love always!!

Christmas Magic

I made this elf costume for Carma for her "Santa's helper" costume for School Spirit day. She loved it (that is how I bribed her to finally go to bed when she was so excited about the Christmas party).  Her teacher, Mrs. Warnick, loved it and said she looked too cute in it. I have to agree if I do say so myself, and I DO:) I made this page using Starlight Design kit from Shabbypicklesdesigns.com, Merry Christmas kit.

Christmas with my side of the Family

Since Dana and Jared were going to Louisiana for Christmas we decided to have our Christmas party the week before Christmas. They all came over here and we had dinner and exchanged gifts. Carma got a fun make up set and this picture of Dana and Nonnie cracks me up. You can see that she had fun trying on the bright pinks.
Judson was excited to get $10.00 from Nonnie and Jared. Wyatt had fun with his Spiderman toy that shoots webs.
I love my siblings and I am glad that most of us live close and glad that we stay in touch with each other.

Um Wow, has it really been this long since I have posted!!
Obviously it is time. My New Years resolution is to update at least once a month, hopefully twice. (Don't tell anyone, but I think it was my resolution last year too)

Here is the gist of what happened last from my Christmas letter that I never sent:

Michael is on his second year at Access Data as a Software Engineer. He won first place for his “angry bird” costume at work (check it out on his facebook page). He took 3^rd place in his spelling bee getting thrown off by Ba-nan-a.  He serves as the Eleven year old scout leader in the ward.. it is fun to have him be Judson’s leader. We celebrated 12 years of marriage this year! Hurray! He is such an amazing husband and father, I still think of him as my “mission blessing”. I don’t know what I would do without him. His super power is Patience. 

Our favorite place in the world! Hotel Park City. Celebrating our 12th anniversary!

I talked Michael into letting me do this for Halloween. We won $20 from his work costume contest! First place baby. (OK we tied for first, but it sounds better to just say first place.)

Michael helping Judson with one of his Arrow of Light requirements.

I, Kiki, had an exciting year. I was able to have a 10 lb benign tumor removed from my uterus. (I can think of easier way to lose 10 bls, but hey, I will take what I can get). Recovery was about 12 weeks and I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it. But now I am so grateful that I was able to have that taken out. I feel great and have more energy than before. I also was able to lose over 60 lbs, so that helps with the energy level as well. I ran the Las Vegas Ragnar again this year and it was a BLAST. (I think we should do a family team one year). I am serving as the Relief Society secretary in our new ward and seeing the blessing from that calling already. Her super power is Determination. 

Before and After Stevie (my 10 pound tumor). Umm, why didnt' anyone tell me I looked 7 months pregnant?

The Las Vegas Ragnar. My Ragnarcisist team was AMAZING! We had so much fun!

Michael and Kiki and Dana and Jared sealing to the babies.

The Tassin siblings together again. Ben came out on a "mini-mission" to help out one of the youth of his ward. It was so fun to all be together again.

Judson is 11 and  in the fifth grade. He is growing up so fast that he is almost as tall as me.. I know, not saying much.  He is defiantly a tween, I am getting more eye rolls than I used to; but he is still a sweet kid for the most part.  I will enjoy the cuddles while I can get them. (shhh…don’t tell him I told you that he still cuddles). He is quite the artist and loves to draw and paint.  He started taking art lessons in March and we have seen dramatic improvement. He even won first place in his age group for the Strawberry Days Art Contest (Check out my blog for some of his art).   We are so proud of him for  earning  his Arrow of Light and loves having Michael as his scout leader. His super power is Obedience. 

Judson's first day of 5th grade. He and his friend designed the Logo for their School mascot. He is wearing the T-shirt with the Logo. Pretty Cool!

Carma is 6 and in first grade. When I asked her teacher how she was doing the second week of school her teacher said “She is driving me crazy!”. Hahaha!  Well, I know, she is a talker and marches to the beat of her own drum. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree there. That Michael is a talker…haha. She is doing better in school now and the teacher has discovered her brilliance. She is the best reader in her class and reads at a much higher level than the rest of her class.  She was a trooper this year when she got her tonsils out. I honestly have never met a sweet child than Carma, she is without guile and such a wonderful example to me of love. Her Superpower is Love.  

Carma's first day of First Grade.

Carma was having a hard time adjusting after our ward split, she only knew one child in her class. So, I had a tea party for her to get to know the other children in the class. It was so cute and fun.

Silas's mom captured this picture, it is one of my all time favorites. They are not posing, this is normal behavior. How cute is that?

Wyatt is three.  He is our baby and doesn’t mind being the baby. When asked if he wants to go on the potty he says “Nope”. I say “Wyatt do you want to be a big boy or a baby?” He says “Baby!”.  There you have it, he is a genius. He knows what is up once you “grow up”.  He loves Spiderman. I have never seen a child read books, song books, magazines, newspapers, coupon books the way he does. His hand reenacting a scene from Spiderman or some Superhero show. You will have to see my video on Facebook to know what I mean. It is a crack up. His superpower is Imagination.

Michael grew these sunflowers in the summer. Look how tiny the kids are next to them.

This is my sweet boy. I just can't quit kissing him and when I look at these pictures I know why. He is precious!!

Wyatt's thrid birthday party was a Car's Theme. (He wanted Spiderman, but I talked him into Cars b/c I have the feeling that he is going to be into Spiderman for years. He loved it. I had fun making this Mater cake.)

2011 has been good to us. I can’t believe the year is over. The older I get the faster it goes, and I swear I say that every year. We are blessed with family, the Gospel of Jesus Christ,  health, employment, and so much more. We have been blessed to have my brother, Timmy, live with us. We love having him here and my kids adore him.  I am so grateful for the Lord and His hand in our lives. I pray to know his will and have the courage to live it. I hope to have a stronger relationship with my Father in Heaven, the older I get the more important I realize that I  know nothing and AM nothing without Him. It is amazing that the older I get, the less I know. I am so grateful to feel the love of our Savior through this amazing family that I am so blessed to be a part of.   I love all of you so much!! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and an even better 2012.