Allen Family Reunion 2011

This year we had our first Allen Family Reunion! It would be the first time in a long time when everyone would be there. We went to Island Park, ID and rented a cabin for almost a week. My sister, Paige and her husband Matt were in charge and did a pretty dang good job! There is a very high standard set for future reunions, if you ask me!

Matt drew a picture that depicted little aspects of each person which went on the front of the reunion t-shirt. Very funny and creative! On the back of each shirt was a name and what number they are in our family. For instance, the back of my shirt said "Cassidy" and "3". Brad was number 9, Brylie, number 12, Brody, number 14, and Olivia was number 16. Here's the front of the shirt. Can you pick each member of our family out? And if you know my family, can you decipher each from this drawing?



Here is our little family. Brad graduating with a beard...he always seems to have some sort of scruff. Brylie playing with a doll of some sort, in one hand is the body, in the other is the head. Brody wearing his boots and on a leash because that's the only way to keep up/track of him. Olivia is on my head because she is always clinging to me somehow, someway. I don't know what the dryer has to do with us but, the dryer that Brylie is sitting on.

Our cabin was awesome! Far more fancy than my house but very comfortable and roomy! We fit with room to spare! There was a little firepit out back for us to use for s'mores, etc.

We had many activities throughout the course of the week. Yellowstone, floating down the river, sand dunes, mountain man rendezvous, the Mesa Falls, eating, playing games, chatting, resting, relaxing and just enjoying each other's company. It was awesome!!

Here are all the pictures we took! There are a lot! It was such a good time!! Thanks everyone for your efforts!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!!

Click here to view these pictures larger

A new look...

Brylie has been begging to get her hair cut and I have been very reluctant to let her do it because her hair is so pretty long. But finally, I gave in after the brushing routine was a very emotional battle for both of us everyday. It also helped to see her cute cousins new do's and I knew she would look adorable with the cut. Thank goodness we have a wonderful aunt (my sister, Paige) who does hair and who we would see soon!

Here's the before:

The process:

And the after:

Doesn't she look so old? She loves it and has commented several times that "it's still short, Mom!" I think she was afraid it would grow overnight. We probably cut off about 8 inches or so. I'm not very sad because I know it will grow fast and be just as pretty as it always was and is.