Team Allen

I have this weird obsession with the pioneers.

It's just plain odd how much I think about them.

I'm constantly comparing my life to theirs.

Some questions I regularly ask myself...

Did pioneer women yell at their kids as much as I do?
Did pioneer kids act up as much as mine do?
I wonder if the pioneer moms used the same swear words I do?
And were all the good swear words invented then?

Ya know... stuff like that.

Or when I'm micorwaving my taquito for lunch I'll think, "This would blow the socks right off the pioneers." (The micorwave, not the taquito)

Or when my kids whine about having to walk 3 blocks to school, I yell in my mind, "Oh Ya! The pioneer kids had to walk miles in the snow without breakfast or a coat!"

Some of it is probably ridiculous and exaggerated. Some maybe not.

I also wonder if the pioneers snuggled their kids as much as I do?

Do they wish they would stay little forever?

Did they think their kids were the cutest things they've ever seen?

Did the pioneers think, "If I have to pick up one more block (lego) I'm going to freak out?"

I don't know why I think all these things. It's not like I do my genealogy and read a bunch of true stories.

When I was about 15 years oldish, I read the series The Work and the Glory. I'm guessing that's where most of my knowledge about the pioneers comes from. (Thanks Jenny T. for lending)

I often think I could never of hacked it as a pioneer.

Do you think they would have rather lived in our time?

Do you think they would see our Target, Costco, and gas stations and be totally sold on giving up their life for ours?

For 3 weeks we were without hot water in our shower. It took that long to get it fixed. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't enjoyable. And I would get a mini anxiety attack every time I showered. All this resulted in my showering much less. But every time I did shower I would rant and rave about how awful it was. And then by the end of the shower I would think, "Shut up Lisa, the pioneers would kill for your luke warm shower."

What do you think would blow their minds the most?

Costco?
Hot shower?
Cars?
Planes?
Amazon.com?
Facebook?

My guess is it would be the ability to fly. I wonder if it would make them sad to know that the huge trek they took that was so devastating to their families could be done in a matter of hours now. Or would they think it's cool?

P.S. I have no idea where I'm going with this post.

On the flip-side...

Sometimes I'm jealous of them.

Here in Chicago you have to apply to get into public schools. Yes. That's right. Asher's preschool application was an inch thick. Getting into schools here is an awful task that all parents are completely obsessed with. You have to get eye exams, lead poison tests, dental exams, and blood work before you get in. And some of those test have to been repeated every year. And then getting into the school you want might not even happen!

I remember when I was filling out Asher's application I thought, "The pioneers didn't have to go through this (swear word)."

And I'm jealous they got to have a garden.
And be around their cousins all the time.
And most people believed in God.
And they got to breathe fresh air.
And ride horses.
And kids said ma'am and sir.
And maybe tip their hats when saying hi to a girl.

Ya know... stuff like that.

In 100 years are my great-great-great grankids going to be wondering how I managed to survive without teleporting? Are they going to think how awful it was that it took 4 hours to fly from Chicago to Phoenix instead of in the blink of an eye?

Maybe?

Raise your hand if you think any of this stuff too?

Or am I the only weirdo?

Ahh. That feels good to get it all out in the open.

I'm going to go eat my pre-packaged lentil soup now and eat it in the amount of time it would have taken the pioneers to dice the onion.

Bu-bye now.

Oh hi there Blog.

Um... Uh... how are you?

Ya... it has been awhile.

Where have I been?

What can I say blog...?

I found a younger, faster, easier version of you.

I've been cheating on you with Instagram.

Don't look at me like that.

Can we get past this?

How about a therapy post to reconnect us?

Quit crying. You're just a program. You don't have any real feelings.

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Okay. For reals now.

Yes, It's been like 7 months since my last post. Let's just pretend that it has been a couple days and skip over the huge catch up session.

Okay?

Awesome.

I'll start with why I am even blogging...

I've got more time on my hands. Now please imagine me bursting into tears due to pure happiness.

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done and it took me months to work up the nerve to do it. But I let go of a few clients. I no longer work at night or on the weekends. Hallelujah. I only work during the day and mostly while the kids are at school.

So in short, my life is suddenly awesome.

I'm actually exercising again. And reading books! And apparently blogging again. And making bread and other random things you can't get to when you are super busy.

Unless I have to, I'm never going back. This feels so good.

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Asher is 4 1/2 years old. (I love his guts by the way.)

He is obsessed with throwing parties.

A few months ago when he earned his new bike he threw a Bike Party and had all of his friends over with their bikes and they rode around, did races, and he gave out suckers.

Just last week he threw a "Friendship Party" which basically consisted of an Easter egg hunt. FYI- It was September. He just really likes Easter eggs no matter the time of year.

And he is throwing a Beyblade party next week.

He is such a good boy.

He shares. He snuggles. He laughs and smiles. He rocks Minecraft. He loves his mommy.

He's a keeper.

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Hannah is almost 6 1/2. My birthday is her half birthday and vice versa. It's a fun little detail in life.

She is still obsessed with chickens. Have I ever told you that? Yes. For quite some time now... maybe 2 years. Chickens. Baby chicks to be precise. Who would have thunk?

She lights up my life. She is so funny and creative. Her little brain comes up with some entertaining inventions and concoctions.

Just last week she invented something to hold her spool of thread at her desk. It would spin as you pulled the thread and hold it as you cut the thread. I realize this invention has already been invented and being used in Ace Hardware as I type. But I was still impressed at how crafty she was with tape, twist ties, and pipe cleaners.

It's just one of a hundred things she has come up with.

And I still think she is a gifted artist.

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Jared is a fisherman now.

What??????

Ya. A fisherman. One who fishes for fish. Like with a pole, hook, and net. The whole shebang.

He took a fishing trip this summer with a bunch of friends and he will never be the same.

Since he came home from the trip he has been fishing regularly at a pier here on Michigan Lake. And finally caught something this week.

It was a big deal folks.

And it was a huge fish.

Trout. 16 lbs, 34 inches long. And delicious.

It was some serious excitement around here. I can't wait till he catches another one. I fully hope to be eating fresh fish for the rest of my life.

Oh. And he still works from home and still loves it.

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Now, for my random thoughts that have nothing to do with the next. Keep up...

A couple weeks ago I was driving away from a clients house when a fight between two teenage boys broke out in front of my car. I nonchalantly took a sip of water and drove around them. I think I might be desensitized to violence.

I'm obsessed with the pioneers. I'm constantly comparing everything I do to how they did it.

For the last 5 years we have not owned a car. Then last month, dear friends who are moving to Paris for a LDS mission gave us one of their cars. Wow. Wow. It was very very generous of them. Dear Mary and Shaun, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I'm obsessed with my bad posture. But I don't do much about it. It's a problem.

I'm trying to switch to almond milk. I've been so loyal to cow's milk my whole life. I hate that I feel better without it. I love milk more than anyone you know. It's so refreshing. I would drink it over any other liquid any day. Sigh.

I listen to music while cooking. It's my therapy.

Most people hate commuting. Twice a week I have to drive 30 minutes downtown to see some clients. I love it. I listen to music, I sing, I even dance a little. It's forced alone time with a beat. I totally look forward to it.

I'm obsessed with wanting a garden someday. We are a couple years away from buying a house. One of my top requirements will be a spot for plants.

I tried to eat salmon this week. Again. And I still hate it. I had to plug my nose to finish. I'm trying people! I don't think we are tasting the same thing. I don't understand why others aren't dry heaving along with me.

Hannah is a skilled barfer now. She is neat and tidy about it.
Me: "Hannah, how was your field trip? Did you barf?"
Hannah: "No. Only on the way there!" She said happily and proud.
There is a 50/50 chance Hannah will barf on any given car trip.
We just keep a box of Ziploc's in the car now.

I love Captain Crunch so very much. Oh so much. But I only get it once a year for Christmas. I firmly believe each bowl takes a day off the end of my life. Totally worth it.

So now that I have a car, I struggle with fixing it up, getting gas, paying insurance, and all the junk that goes with having a car. Will someone please come and change my headlight? Youtube videos are not going to do it. But I'm still grateful I have a car.

I've had a few unpleasant run ins with people in the last 6 months or so. Where they yell at me for some reason and to my surprise I yelled right back. Each time I tell myself the next time someone yells at me I will put them to shame with kindness and calm words. Hasn't worked so far. And the sad truth about where I live is I'm sure I'll get another chance soon.

I'm less sad about fall this year. Every other year fall has only brought upon the fear of winter looming ahead. I'm feeling better this year. Maybe because I won't have to ride my bike in the snow this year.

P.S. I still love my bike. So much. It folds up into a little cube. Which comes in handy in tiny apartments.

Asher prefers his milk warmed. It's annoying, but I still do it.

I don't think I will ever want to get a dog. Maybe a cat. But the cat will be strictly an employee.

Oh ya... A mouse recently died behind my kitchen counter where we can't get to him. It's hard to describe the rage that flows through me when I smell his rotting dead carcass. It's been about 2 weeks. Now we only smell him when the dish washer is going. (Enter swear word of your choice)

P.S. I swear more than usual these days. And a few days ago I decided I wasn't going to do anything about it.

I love my ward (congregation). I love the lessons at church. I think the people who are in charge of the lessons these days are so good at it. I always leave church edified and inspired to do better. I know everyone thinks this about their congregation, but I think my ward is the greatest ward ever. I love going to church. I would be lost without it. Too bad I suck at reading my scriptures, praying, and all the other church stuff we are supposed to do the rest of the week. I am trying to work on that though.

I am addicted to peppermint oil.

I watch Vampire Diaries and love it. But hate myself for loving it. It's my guilty pleasure.

Have you ever tried Choffy? I love it. Do you know what it is? It's raw chocolate beans brewed like coffee. Mmmmmm... yes please.

Because of my love for essential oils, I generally smell like a weird hippie.

And if you want to know what we look like these days...

I bought a parsley plant and about 2 weeks later we realized it came with a bonus.

For a few months, Asher was obsessed with wearing this pink dress.
I rolled with it.

I walked by the bathroom and saw a little grin just sitting there.

Asher likes his water balloons tiny.

I love my job. A couple times a week I get to walk this guy to the lake.

Asher's morning snuggle smile.

I made Asher clean the house for 35 days to earn his bike.
He marked the days off by drawing a bike wheel instead of an X.

Picking june berries in June.

Hannah loves taking pictures with her camera.
It's fun to watch. (and photograph)

The bike. It had to have a basket and a bell.
He wouldn't have it any other way.

His bike party.

I just love putting that kid in tank tops. Just love it.
It's the tiny biceps.

Took a trip to Nauvoo with my mommy.
I love her.
I'm so lucky. She's a really good mom.

Took a trip to Madison WI for a family vacation.

Hannah dissected a moth and taped it together for art.

Before putting his laundry away, he puts a cape on and makes it a game.
Complete with sound effects.

First day of school. 1st grade and preschool.

I LOVE taking Asher to Costco.
It's so easy making his dream come true. He loves being there.
It's fun to see a boy so happy to be somewhere so simple.

My bestie came back for a visit.

It took me 2 years to work up the guts to wear this dress.

The bean.
I'm one of the tiny dots in the middle

The boy has some pretty good bike skills.
He can skid and turn like a pro.

The party tent.
We are a camping family now.

I met ZZ Top in Nashville TN.
I don't think I've ever listened to their songs.
But asked him for a picture anyways.

Beyblades. They are big deal over here.

Took a trip with my dad.

Because there are boy butterflies too.

I just love this picture. I'm not sure why.

Do you move your clean laundry from the floor to the bed over and over until you finally work up the energy to fold it and put it away a week later? Ya. Me too.