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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Buddies


KA REALLY, REALLY loves our dog, Billie. This evening she thought it was necessary to "read" a story to Billie. I'm not sure if you can tell but she's "reading" a discipleship book she found in my stuff. She informed all of us that the the book was a story about an alligator.

A "Pea" Party



Our Kati Ann loves to have tea parties. She & I often have tea parties with apple juice during an afternoon snack. For Christmas, Aunt Kate gave Kati Ann a Fisher Price Tea Party set! The excitement is obvious!

Christmas Morning Violin Concert



Jared & I gave Kati Ann a little violin for Christmas. It plays songs by touching the bow to the strings so we quickly had a concert on our hands!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

One of the Big Kids

 

 

 

 

Monday night we had our Annual Special Forces Christmas Party at our house. The first couple of years, Kati Ann enjoyed the party but this year Kati Ann was absolutely elated to have the students at our house for a party. Kati Ann loves to PARTY!! The students made gingerbread houses and Kati Ann was right in the middle of the fun. Its days like this its especially nice when your dad is the youth minister. What other 2 year old parties with middle schoolers?!?
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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Its Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Christmas Flowers Jared sent me up close

Christmas flowers on our kitchen table

Christmas Tree (next year Jared says we'll have a bigger one since we have the space now)
 

Fireplace with Four Stockings this year...even one for Kie!!
 

Our Dining Room
 

Thomas Kinkade Village (my parents have given us a different piece every year we've been married)

 
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This time last year we didn't have Christmas decorations because I had a broken arm and quite frankly it was all we could do to get everyone showered everyday much less decorate for Christmas. So this year, all my bones are connected and I have some medicine that is working to keep my nausea and sickness under control so I was excited to decorate this year. Kati Ann was really excited as well. She loved that we put up a Christmas tree at our house. Wherever we go that we see a Christmas tree, she says, "I have one at my house!" So, here are a few pics of our endeavors to make our home look like we're celebrating a very special birthday!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Visit to Grandma Joan


For Thanksgiving, we visited Jared's grandmother, Grandma Joan, in North Oklahoma. We spent most of our Thanksgiving Break in the car but it was nice to visit family and enjoy some UNBELIEVABLE food!!

The Rainbow



For Thanksgiving, we journeyed to Miami, OK and decided to take the "long" way and make a stop at the St. Louis Arch in St. Louis, MO. As soon as we pulled into town, Kati Ann spotted the arch and said, "Mom, look there's a rainbow." We didn't go visit the arch until the next morning and she continued to refer to the arch as the rainbow and thought it was amazing (at least from the outside). We took the tram up to the top of the "rainbow" and all 3 of us weren't nearly as impressed by the inside as we were the outside. It was fun to make memories!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

And the winner is...

I really wanted to do something cute to announce our little guy's name. My cousin's wife, Jennifer, made a cute video with their older child to announce his little brother's name but since we're not telling Kati Ann about the baby yet I didn't think that was a good idea. And well, that was as far as my creativity could take me. So, we've decided we're just going to tell people the normal way...by just telling.
Jared and I have talked about a name for a while and finally settled on one last week. We kept it under wraps so we could practice saying it and make sure we really liked it as well as making sure we agreed on a spelling. So, last night we decided that we were sure. Our sweet little boy's name is (drum roll please):

Kie Matthew Allen

We can start monogramming now!!

Friday, November 13, 2009

First Golf Lesson

 

 

 

 

This morning was beautiful and Jared had the day off so we all headed outside. Jared thought it would be fun to hit some golf balls and Kati Ann thought that sounded fun too. So, the two of them got out in the back yard and had their own mini-golf lesson. Kati Ann discovered that Jared liked to wear a glove when hitting the ball so she too needed a glove to help her swing! What sweet memories!
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Shaking Things Up



Today, we went in for our 16-week appointment. Our doctor told us that she would look at 16 weeks to see if she could tell what we were having and sure enough...its a BOY! There was no mistaking this identification. We have some very conclusive pictures. Jared & I both hardly know what to think. We've come to identify ourselves as girl parents but that's soon to change. We'll be learning a whole new world as we become a little boy's parents too.
With Kati Ann, we had a name by the time we found out what we were having but we don't yet have a name for our little guy. We'll have to start narrowing it down and hopefully will have a name to start calling our little guy soon.

On a side note: I've had requests for Belly Pics. As it would work out, I've lost SO much weight from being sick (which I continue to be) that I am actually wearing clothes loosely that were tight before getting pregnant. I'm not showing at all so my belly pics would be to show you a belly that was flatter than before I got pregnant. I actually am starting to have some pretty "cut" abs from my "exercises" over the toilet. So, at some point others may know that I'm pregnant from looking at me but as of now...I don't have much to show.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Abby Cadabby in Texas just not in Alabama

The week prior to Halloween, Jared and I had a conference in Dallas and so Kati Ann spent the week with her MiMi & Poppa in Carthage. While there she attended the Fall Festival at their church. The pictures you see are courtesy of MiMi & Poppa. Her grandparents were sweet enough to make an extra effort to bring her back to Huntsville in time for the Fall Festival at our church on Saturday afternoon. After traveling most of the day, they arrived at our house so that Kati Ann could change into her Abby Costume and we could go to the Fall Festival. However, apparently Abby was reserved for Texas alone because she insisted that she would wear her Halloween shirt and not her costume. There are definitely issues that I'm willing to push but wearing a Halloween costume is not one of them. So, it was a battle we chose not to fight and Kati Ann went to the Fall Festival in Huntsville as Kati Ann. We still had a great time. Without the Fall Festival in Carthage we wouldn't have these adorable Abby Cadabby pictures.



Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Funny



Kati Ann & I visited my grandmother's small little church on Sunday morning. Typically, Kati Ann is not in church with us but my grandmother's church is small and doesn't have childcare. So, it came to the time for the "Children's Sermon" and Kati Ann wanted to go down with the other kids but wanted me to go with her which was fine. So, she and I headed down to front and sat on the floor. She immediately started talking to the gentleman that was trying to do the Children's Sermon. She pointed to the big stained glass window behind the alter (very similar to the one in the picture above) and begin talking about it. The gentleman asked her who was in the picture. I whispered to her that it was a Jesus and she told him it was Jesus and then she went on to tell the gentleman that "Jesus was mowing." The poor, unsuspecting gentleman looked at me and I at him. He asked me if I understood what she said. Being the upstanding Christian, I played dumb and told him I had no idea! How was I to tell him that Jesus was MOWING in the beautiful stained glass picture! From the mouths of babes!

Going to the Beauty (as my MiMi calls it)



This week we did something that has needed to be done but something that I've been a little nervous to do...we got Kati Ann a REAL haircut. I'm not one of those mothers that doesn't want to cut her hair and in fact I've done my own "magic" (if that's what you want to call it) on her a few times. However, I'm no beautician and I knew she needed a good quality haircut. I was pretty nervous about it because though my child is usually well-behaved in public she often throws a fit when we touch her hair. Washing, combing and fixing her hair is a daily battle. So, you can imagine my trepidation at taking her into a poor beautician that was supposed to give a "good" haircut to a screaming child. So, we talked up how much fun she was going to have going to the "beauty shop" and what a big girl she was. We walk into the salon and I'm feeling the anxiety mounting inside me. I introduce her to "Ms. Cindy", the beautician. As children will often do, Kati Ann completely proved my nervousness vein as she practically jumped into the chair and sat still and quiet as she got her hair cut. Go figure! I fight daily to even run a comb through her hair but she walks into a strange place, sits down with a strange person with scissors and does beautifully! I was actually quite proud, surprised but proud!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A God Story

There has been lots happening in our lives in the last month or should I say the last several months. In April, we started the process of building a house. The contract was contingent on the sell of our house and if you've read past blogs you know that has been somewhat of a roller coaster. We did sell our house and have been preparing to move to our new house for the last month. We were scheduled to close on both houses on September 21, 2009. The closings were 2 hours apart and so we would spend our first night in our new house following the 2nd closing. Jared & I packed the truck and vehicles to the hilt. In fact, there were things that ended up staying at the old house simply because there was no place to pack them. This was no easy task as I have experienced tremendous sickness from being pregnant and was not the usual help that I normally would be. However, we cleaned our house, showered and headed to the first closing. We had our animals in the van as we signed the papers to sell our house. As we sat in our first closing, Jared received a phone call that our second closing was being cancelled. I made it out of the closing and into the van before having a complete meltdown. We were packed to the hilt with no where to go.
But our God was not having a meltdown, instead He had a plan. We have some gracious friends in our church that have an empty basement apartment that offered to let us stay (with our animals) until we got in our new house. They also have a quiver full of children that Billie & Kati Ann thoroughly enjoyed playing with. So, for about 24 hours we waited. While we waited, I was able to rest and actually feel the best I had felt in weeks.
So, at 1p.m. on September 22, 2009, we closed on the house we were buying. I never look forward to the next part, unpacking. However, the God that knew my state of mind and body sent an army of people to my house that evening to unpack, make beds, put contact paper in the cabinets and make my house a home in a matter of hours. It was the most incredible experience to stand back and watch what would have taken Jared & I weeks to get done get done in a matter of hours. I was able to park my van in the garage the very first night! (If you've ever moved you know that's a 3 month milestone!)
So, to God be the glory great things He has done!

Several of you have requested pictures. Here is some pics of the outside of our house. I will continue to post more pictures as we finish rooms but there are still lots of things to hang on the walls and find the right place for so as we do that I'll post more pictures.

The Outside of our House
 

A New House going up down the street
 

The view of the mountains out our front door
 

The 18 acre lake across from our house
 
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Sesame Street Live

 

 

 

Better late than never!! So, on September 8, 2009, we took Kati Ann on a very special outing to the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. As Kati Ann said, we went to "Elmo's house." We thought it was precious to find out that Elmo lived at the Von Braun Center. We actually attended Sesame Street Live. We had to really prepare for this event because it didn't actually start until 7p.m. Well, for a two year old we're quickly approaching bedtime at 7p.m. So, Kati Ann took a late nap that day and did great! We had so much fun watching Elmo & his friends dance.
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Friday, September 18, 2009

Why Go to Church?



A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!"

Monday, September 14, 2009

Good Bye Old House

 


This week is our final week in the house we bought when moving to Huntsville. We've made so many memories in this house and have actually lived in it longer than any house Jared & I have lived in during our married life. I've been kinda sentimental about leaving this house because we started our own "Adventure with Kati Ann" here. Jared & I have continued to grow as a couple and parents here. Not to mention, I broke my arm in this house and for this house!
I'm grateful for our sweet little house where we introduced Kati Ann to our family and transformed this house into our home.
So, "Thank you, Old House! We've enjoyed your comfort and we'll cherish the memories we made with you"
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Saturday, September 5, 2009

Kati Ann's Big News



Kati Ann is proud to announce that she is going to be a Big Sister! Mom & Dad went to the doctor and have seen a sweet little heartbeat and the doctor says that everything looks great! Mom & Dad planned to wait a few more weeks before we shared our exciting news but due to Mom's relentless sickness is cannot be disguised much longer! We're looking forward to meeting the newest Allen around April 27, 2010.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Real Estate Update


So, for those of you that are interested in our real estate drama. As of last week, we did, in fact, release the buyer from the contract. God graciously provided us with a new buyer the following day with a similar deal. So, we are "planning"AGAIN on moving the middle of September. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!


Thirty-two years ago today, my life was changed forever. Well, I know what you're thinking..."Bobi Ann, you're only 29!" I know, but 32 years ago my parents vowed before God to love each other and stand beside each other until death parts them. I'm so grateful they made those vows and more importantly that they kept them.
Jared & I are so blessed to have 2 sets of parents that have been such a great examples of allowing God to be the center of your marriage. I'm thankful for parents that not only pointed me to Jesus but showed me what it means to sacrifice, compromise and love one another. Happy 32nd Anniversary, Mom & Dad! We love you!

Real Estate Rollercoaster



So, I posted a while back that we were moving to a house that we have built. Fortunately, when we began the process of building we added a contingency to the contract that our house had to sell in order for us to buy the other house. Our house was under contract and I was already packing. Jared & I have both prayed fervently that God would direct our steps and we didn't want to live in the house if it wasn't God's plan.
So, we continue on the Real Estate Rollercoaster...
We were "told" that the contract fell through exactly one week ago and today found out that it has not fallen through. The contract was contingent on inspection which the buyer had done and we've agreed to fix everything they asked. However, the buyer thought she didn't have to buy our house because of what the inspection showed. However, the contract states that if we agreed to fix everything she was legally bound to buy our house. We find ourselves in a precarious situation. We don't want to force anyone to buy our house. However, there has been some "funny" business with the buyer's realtor and we don't want to be taken advantage of just because we're nice.
So, we've been told to consider ourselves still in a binding contract. The buyer was going to be informed today that she was still legally bound to purchase our house. So, we're just riding the Real Estate Rollercoaster to see where it lands us! Please be in prayer that we will be wise and obedient to God's leading in our lives.

If Ever We're Homeless

 

 

So, we've got a TON of boxes around our house that we may or may not get to use (that's a different post). So, one of them was especially large and not very practical so I decided to make a house for Kati Ann. She found it quite interesting. The thing she found most fun was showing it off to her daddy.
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Sophia

 

 

 

This week has been a week of transition as our summer babysitter went back to school but KA doesn't start school until next week. My colleage, Cassie, (our interim grade school minister) had the same dilemma I did so we invited her sweet little girl, Sophia, to come to our house and play so her mom could work.
Kati Ann had so much fun with Sophia. They played, made cookies and had a "lemonade" party. It was such a joy to have Sophia come play. She's such a joy and would have been an amazing big sister if she wasn't the youngest of 3!!
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