Monday, November 24, 2008

Hallelujah!


I realize the entire nation is breathing a collective sigh of relief so I don't need to say much. However, the Allen budget has been dramatically affected as our Denali no longer costs over $120 to fill one tank of gas. I am almost brought to tears of gratitude when the gas meter stops at $55. Hallelujah!

Halloween Fun


The Trio


Happy First Halloween, Blake!


It's time for some catch-up...We had a really fun Halloween. After years of dressing the kids up for tradition sake and taking our oblivious, tired kids to about 4 houses before they tuckered out, this year they got it! It was a gorgeous, unusually warm Colorado Halloween night. Kali kept saying "more houses, more houses!" An exasperated Trenton would reply, "Kali, you have plenty of candy." This is probably the last year we will be able to talk Kali out of the inevitable princess costume and into a darn cute $2 garage sale lion costume. And we lucked out that Trenton wanted to be Mr. Incredible again this year (I'm vaguely remembering some parental influence in that decision). Blake rode so peacefully bundled up in his pumpkin costume (which we got on clearance at Old Navy last year for $3), and tuckered out by the end. I don't know why the fact that we spent $5 total on costumes this year gave me such a thrill, but it did. I don't remember a single meltdown or argument, but I'm sure that's my motherhood coping mechanism kicking in, because is that really possible? Or maybe I should put 3 weeks between the event and the blog more often. The kids could have been poster children for sharing with each other, and Trenton gave me all their Heath bars. Steve said, "I love being a parent on nights like this." I agree.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Strength


I was honored to witness the birth of John & Emily's beautiful baby boy on October 20th. Emily let us know she was in labor Sunday morning. I was at work and Steve was at church, but we've never gotten on the road so fast in our lives! Poor Steve went home to pack with all the kids (which I was going to do the next day - darn it!) and I handed off my patients to my coworkers. We were on the road within 30 minutes with lots of love and prayers from the ward and my coworkers at the hospital. The kids were so excited to meet Baby Johnny.

Emily had labored for almost a day by the time we got there that night. She stayed at home for most of the labor and I got to be part of a special team made up of Sharon (Emily's mom), Tami (Emily's sister) and myself, to help Emily get this special baby boy here. I realized between the three of us we had birthed 15 babies, but this one was like no other. I have never witnessed such strength.

It was like a dance - peacefully floating in and out of the room, supporting Emily through each contraction. Each of us knew our roles and quietly took turns by Emily's side. She chose to do hypnobirthing and all who worked with her were witness to her strength and grace. I witnessed the strength my brother gave his sweet wife through the veil. I witnessed the strong bond of a sister's love. I witnessed the comfort of a mother's voice and the strength of a mother's prayer, answered by a doctor who performed a miracle turn. I witnessed the strength of Baby Johnny who handled a long, stressful labor with no problem. Finally, I witnessed the supreme strength of a mother's love when John Harold Alley Jr. was placed in his mother's arms. After a 2 day labor all time stood still for Emily as she laid eyes on the perfect angel she'd created with her eternal companion.



A sister's love, as they both saw Baby John for the first time.




Grandpa Alley (my dad) who waited hours in the hall of the hospital to meet his grandson.


Boy, do we have a story to tell you!

The kids were enthralled with their new cousin,
but wondering 'why won't he wake up more to play!?'

Meeting Uncle Steve



Hero #4

"Sister Ann"

There are angels who enter your lives whose influence you will feel forever. Ann Steers is one of those angels. The day John's body was found, Emily's sister Tami looked at me and asked "How are you going to tell your children?" I looked back at her realizing the awesome task this was going to be. I had almost forgotten my little ones in Colorado, who only months earlier had been splashing in the Florida ocean and looking at planes with Uncle John. Who every time they saw a plane said "There's Uncle John's plane," and who were so excited about Uncle John's baby growing in Aunt Emily's tummy. Who woke up Saturday morning to find Mommy gone to Florida to help look for Uncle John because he was lost.

I was hundreds of miles away and couldn't hold my little ones and find the words to teach them about the plan of salvation in a way they would understand. All this went through my mind while looking at Tami, and the only thing I knew to do was pick up the phone and call Ann. Ann is Trenton's preschool teacher, Kali's nursery leader and my dear friend. Her LDS preschoolers call her "Sister Ann." As my friend said, "She speaks to children as I imagine Christ would speak to children more than anyone I've ever met." In nursery she had the children playing the ressurection of Christ from the Tomb. Children feel like a million bucks around her, and I feel she was specially prepared to help our little family.

I'll never forget the conversation that ensued. She said calmly, "Julie I know what to do. I have been praying about this and have felt so strongly about what to tell your little ones. I'm going to go over tonight and have a Family Home Evening with Steve and the kids. When my grandpa died we had a family party at the beach. I will tell them about this party we had when Grandpa went up to heaven. I will remind them of the parties you had when Blake came down from Heaven to join your family." And she did just that. She took the kids to the store to buy party supplies. She and Steve held FHE and explained that coming to the earth and returning to heaven are joyous events. She had Steve tell them that John had died and was now in heaven and explained that there were so many people there having a party with him, welcoming him home: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc. She showed them the picture of the trumpeting angels at Christ's second coming and gave them party blowers. They had a party, lit candles and had treats. The ward had passed around a sign up sheet to watch the kids so Steve could be with me in Florida, but Ann wouldn't hear of it. She did not want them passed from house to house and insisted on keeping them until JeVonne arrived.

Her lesson has shaped my children's testimony in a way I will forever be grateful for. When our fish, Midnight, died, Trenton said with a grin, "It's OK Mom, Midnight's in heaven having a party with Uncle John right now!" We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

For this Sister Ann is my hero.



Ann with Trenton after the "Where the Wild Things Are" Preschool Party.

Birthday Boy

I am so blessed to be the mother of this little guy who turned 5 on September 26th. Here is my Trenton Top Ten list - the Top Ten things I love about my man:

10. His big brown eyes and beautiful smile
9. Watching him learn to read
8. When asked who is best fried is he replied, "Kali."
7. How he loves to cook with me
6. Watching how he loves to make Blake laugh and protect him from his big sister
5. His passion, tender heart and cautious spirit
4. That he sees life in black and white - it's right or it's wrong
3. His strict obedience (he takes his time, but is always obedient)
2. How he loves to cuddle
1. When he says "Mommy, do you know how much I love you?"

Happy Birthday Buddy!

This year Trenton wanted a Space Party. We made space packs for each little astronaut out of cereal boxes and water bottles, launched 2 liter bottle rockets, went on a meteorite finding mission (Starbursts & Milky Ways wrapped in foil) and made & flew UFOs.

One of my favorite days to be a parent is birthday party day. I have sooo much fun planning and carrying out parties for the little guys. This is one of the few times I remember I have a creative side! Actually I simply know how to Google, then get inspired by others' creative sides :)! I like to have the most fun for the least $.




Astronaut Trenton working on his Flying Saucer UFO.


The rocket cake!


Saturday, November 1, 2008

She did it again!

Yep, she did it again. Julie amazed me and inspired me yet again as she fulfilled her relief society "University Of Excellence" goal/challenge to train for and participate in a triathlon. It was wonderful and inspiring to watch her train day after day swimming, biking, running, preparing for the big day. The following video shows some highlights of the triathlon.