Let the Adventures Begin!!!!

WOW!! It's that time! In just a couple of hours I will be on my way to France and then on to Africa.

I have to admit, I am having a hard time keeping my emotions at bay. I am completely excited for this experience and yet I am having a VERY hard time saying goodbye to my family.

Thank you so much for all of those who have helped make this trip possible. I will try and post while in Europe but if I can't, I will for sure post more in 2 weeks upon my return.

Wish me luck!!

---Allison

Christmas Followup

Christmas, as always, turned out great this year. The kids loved all of their gifts and we enjoyed the time that was spent together as a family.

Tim's sister, Liz, and her family spent a few days with us as well as his cousin Chloe. It is always nice having them stay with us. Whether Tim admits it or not, he gets lonely being the only one in his family still here in Utah. His loneliness tends to show more around the holidays. However, just spending some time with his family really seems to fill up his bucket.

My pictures will be non existent in this post, not because I didn't take any pictures, but because I took them on the SD card that is now in Emily's camera and I can't find it at the moment. So, when it is found I will have to post some of our Christmas pictures.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. We love you all.

---Allison

Christmas Village

One of our family traditions is to go up to Ogden and visit Santa at the Christmas Village. The kids look forward to it every year. We always get hot chocolate to keep us warm and there is usually a Christmas performance to entertain while we wait. This year Ethan was actually able to get out of the car and "sit" on Santa's lap. However, as you can see in his picture, that didn't go over very well.

Off the subject, it's less than 2 weeks before I will be in Africa. I've decided that I will get my "pay it forward" gifts while I am there. I am excited as to what I will find. I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

---Allison

The Winners Are...

Yeah! So the winners of this game are Emily, Brynn, and Rachel! What I need you to do next is to email me with your mailing information so that I can send you a gift in the mail.

Now, I am also bending the rules a little bit and I am going to ask the 3 of you if you have a preference. I have not bought anything yet because I wanted to see who my winners would be first. So, with that being said, you have a choice to make. I can send something off in the next couple of days and have it to you by Christmas, OR, if you are willing to wait a little bit, I will get something for you while I am in Africa, but you won't get it until mid January.

So, send me your contact information and gift preference at allisoncurtis19@hotmail.com. I will let you know what the decision is when I hear back from everyone. Thanks for playing!!!

---Allison

Do You Want to Play Along?

A few weeks ago I was checking in on one of our heart friends and "Gavin's Mommy" had a fun post that I wanted to participate in. Basically, the first 3 people to make a comment on that post would receive a small gift with the promise that they would continue to pay it forward. This cute ornament is what I received in the mail a couple of days ago.

So, now it is my turn to "pay it forward." Would you like to receive a fun gift and then give a gift in return? If you would like to participate, here are the rules.

THE RULES: The focus of this is to do an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and "pay it forward."I will send a small gift to the first 3 bloggers who post a comment on this entry. In turn, those three will post this information and the game will continue!! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found, anything you want!! Just a gift that will make the person's day!!

If you are interested in participating, simply be one of the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment!! You have to promise that you will then post about this on your blog, link back to me, and then send something to the first three people who sign up to play along through your blog. Doesn't this sound like fun!!??

Don't be shy. In fact, here is a special invitation to all of you lurkers who never comment. Now is your chance to make yourself known and say hello! :)

Anyway, let the games begin!

---Allison

Home for the Holidays

My oldest brother Bryan has spent the last 6 months in Saudi Arabia (which he volunteered to do). This is not the first time that he has served our country and I am very proud him and his service. (Also in the the top picture on the left side is my brother Adam who served 6 months in Iraq about a year ago). I am very proud of them both and I am happy that we can all be together this year for the holidays.

---Allison