Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Saturday, December 8, 2007:
Tonight Hannah got to play in the snow for the first time! We got all bundled up and ventured outside. Hannah and I made a snowman, while Nic cleared ours and neighbors driveways with our four-wheeler (and attached plow!) Then Hannah and I got on the wheeler with Nic. We rode around the block and "helped" clear some more drives. I think Hannah had a great time. Except she kept falling over with her big snow pants and coat on. It was a fun little adventure. But we do need to get her some better (WATER PROOF) gloves.

The snow finally slowed down. We got a good 5 inches or so. In the winter Nic "gets" to plow the snow for work at various churches, The Shops at Riverwood [a local mall], etc. He's actually out now... Its just after midnight now. (I guess I need to stop waiting up for him.) He left around 7 pm. Hopefully this means he won't have to go in the morning! The weatherman kept saying it was going to hit last night. Its kinda nice it waited so he didn't have to get up at 3am last night and we could spend the day all together. We had our ward Christmas party this morning. (Last year Nic was plowing during it.)

Santa and Mrs. Claus came to the party! We stood in line to see them. Hannah even kept saying "Santa." She was happy... until we sat her on Santa's lap. Oh, no! She didn't not like that! Once she was off, she happily said "bye."

Monday, December 10, 2007:
We also had our annual Roach family gingerbread making last night (Sunday December 9th). There were some pretty creative ones this year. We almost didn't do one. The party was starting at 5 pm and we don't get out of church until 5:30 and still needed to come home and have dinner(we got there at 6;30). But Ashley (Nic's sister) offered to make the gingerbread for us and have the house all put together, so when we got there all we had to do was decorate. Wasn't that so nice!

Signing Time

Like I said earlier, Hannah is learning sign language and we love the DVDs "Signing Time." They are a great language builder (whether learning ASL or not) and they are really fun. There are lots of songs. "Signing Time" features the host, Rachel, and two kids, Alex and Leah. Rachel and Alex were at the Provo Mall last week. Hannah and I got to go, meet them, get autographs and get pictures!

Allen Family Photo/Thanksgiving

Our immediate family met early on Thanksgiving to get a picture taken. Here it is:

Top: Todd , Averie, Mom, Dad, me, Nic, Hannah, Chad, Carter
Bottom: Afton, Ellie, Aidie, Jennifer, Lisa, Ashley, Graysen

What a wonderful family I have! Our Thanksgiving was great. We had it with my Dad's side of the family. My cousin Lewis and his wife, Amber, were wonderful hosts! Hannah was very pleasant even though she didn't have a nap at all! By about 5:30 pm she sat down by my mom and crashed. Usually she only falls asleep in her bed or car seat, so this is a rare picture:

Favorite Christmas Decorations

I love Christmas time! I love the feeling and friendliness that accompany the season. I love the songs... the peaceful hymns and the fun jolly ones. I especially love being in the church choir this time of year. I love the "reason" we have to really focus of the Savior. (Not that we should need a reason.) I love the service and the giving. But I love Santa too... I love the lights and the festivities. I love decorating for Christmas. My two favorite decorations are my nativity (I really LOVE the one I have! Simple but elegant.) and my Christmas tree (I LOVE that too!) Here's pictures of both. Merry Christmas!

tidbits about me

I was "tagged" by Ashley (my sister) to share 6 things about myself. I told her I could just copy her post. Ashley and I really are a lot alike. Its funny because as kids... well, we were kids, we seemed different at the time. Now that we are older and both moms, Ashley has become one of my very best friends. Now onto my little tidbits about me:

1. One of my favorite things.
I love... LOVE a hot shower! Really. I could take a hot (not just warm) shower for hours (if it would stay that way, that is). Sometimes, it's like pulling teeth to make myself get out.

2. Show me a sign.
Growing up and especially in high school I thought I would end up going into deaf education or being an interpreter. Well my path went another way, but I've always loved sign language. I wish I could remember all that I've learned and really put it into use. The way I'm putting it to use now is by teaching Hannah. It really has been wonderful. Hannah knows probably 35-40 signs. She has often been able to tell me what she wants and needs. I believe it has been very fulfilling for Hannah as well. Plus I really believe it has helped her over all language development. (We love Signing Time DVDs!)

3. DIY -- Do it yourself.
I've almost always got some project going on. I love learning new crafty, creative things. There are several classes I want to take to learn more: scrapbooking and cardmaking, quilting, cooking, cake decorating, photography, decorating... I love decorating and designing... just wish I had lots of money to do it with.

4. Mmm, Mmm good.
I love dessert! Mmmm. I'm not a big candy person. I could pass that up any day. But give me dessert, brownies, warm cookies... and I'll gobble those right up! Here's three of my favorites: 1) Warm brownies with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and pecans (go to Leatherbys and get Amy's... something, I forget, but it's so good) 2) "BTS" Cake or we'll call it Better Than Almost Anything Cake. It's german chocolate cake with carmel seeping through the cake, cool whip as frosting, topped with Score bar or toffee chips. I've eaten almost a whole pan of this within a couple days. 3) Angel food cake topped with hot fugde and raspberries or strawberries. I think I made that one up. Wow, now I'm hungry.

5. Goooooo Coooougars!
Although I'm not a sports guru by any stretch of the imagination, I really do enjoy sports. I'm not very good at them, but I'm definately a fan. Even in high school my friends and I were faithful football, basketball, cross country and track attenders. Hey, someone needs to cheer and we would cheer with the best of them. I especially love BYU basketball and football. I love being there; I love feeling the spirit, excitement, and suspense of it all! Who wouldn't?! Go Cougars!

6. Oh, I don't know!
I have a terrible memory. I'm not good at remembering numbers, how much things costs, accounts, etc. I'm not good at remembering names. As a missionary, after meeting someone, I would always repeat the persons name a couple times... but 8 out of 10 times I'd forget it. I'm terrible at remembering what I read, learn and study. In college I tried so many different systems to try to help me remember what I was studying. I wish I could remember; I try to remember. It would sure make life a lot easier if I did remember.

Whew. I made it to six. Someday I'll have to add more. It's kinda nice to sit down, reflect, and think about what I'm like.

Okay, now, Jana and Sarah, tag you're it!