Well it was rematch time again for Jimmy and Tyler. First they wrestled with right arms.
I'm surprised they didn't bust a vein!
Then it was on to left arms...look at the cheeks on both!
A victory grin from Tyler. I am sure a rematch will be in order in the none too distant future.
Our Christmas Cruise started with a potluck picnic by the side of the lake. We enjoyed soup in bread bowls with veggies and desert. It was great food with even greater company. We went with our "cruisin" buddies, Richard's brothers and sisters and their spouses. We always have a ton of fun when we get together. The cruise was on the Dolly Steamboat and lasted about 90 minutes cruising around the lake. Beautiful scenery...the rocks are breathtaking.
Here is our group...left to right...the Lawlors, Taylors, Allens, Sparks, Reeds...and us the Allens! I'd cruise with this bunch any day of the week. Thanks Jolyn for getting this together, you are the BEST!
Proud Mom and Dad (and big sister Caprina)
This whole blessing thing can wear a body out!
After eating ourselves silly we decided to work off a few of those extra pounds with a fun swim. Richard and I were staying at a hotel that sported a heated indoor pool with jacuzzi. It was like a sauna in the pool room but was warm and toasty while the weather outside was anything but.
Some of us decided to enjoy the fun from the sidelines.
Just a few pics of the feast...and family...and friends. It was a wonderful meal and a great time to spend with those we love.
All of the Uncles are so sweet to the little ones. They will make great Dads themselves some day.
Levi has these two Uncles wrapped around his little finger...that is for sure.
Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving on the traditional day we all flocked to Flag to celebrate on the Saturday after Thanksgiving so we could all be together and also bless Reanna the next day. Our fun started with a quick trip to the bowling alley for a few frames. Look at this form...Oh baby!
We had some strikes, spares and a little screaming too for good measure.
Proud Dad and son.
Adam's Dad and stepmom were visiting and here they are enjoying the fun.
This ball weighs almost as much as Caprina.
Levi was fascinated by the scoreboard and by the ball return. He spent most of his time arranging the bowling balls as they were returned from the lanes.
Cheesy grin on Ben
And on Sam.
zion national park~amazing
our hotel bedroom....and my honey
St. George Temple
I love when the trees change colors...true fall which I don't get here in AZ.
Potatoes are a screamin deal at the grocery right now so I decided to add them to my long term storage. I'm in love with my pressure canner... though it does still scare me a little. Richard is the sweetest and helped me peel 20 lbs. of potatoes which the book called for to make 7 - 9 quarts. 
We had 3 bowls of taters and when it came right down to it we sure didn't need no 20 lbs. So it is 11:30 PM and the second batch of quarts is currently in the canner with another 40 minutes to go. This is way past my bedtime!
Here are the taters cut up into smaller pieces.
The before picture...getting ready to enter the canner.
Here is the finished product. They look pretty good after all. I have set a goal that each week I will do something for my short and long term food storage. Last week was our stake day at the cannery so rice and oats were added. Today it was potatoes and this next week we will all get together and pull meat off of the 4 turkeys we picked up. Should be a very disgusting yet productive activity.
Matthew loading his little daringer.
Here Kyle checks out his accuracy with Tyler and Becky in the background.
Richard, Tyler, Matthew, Kyle and Becky.
Richard and Kyle show off their expertice!
Hubba Hubba.
I couldn't bring myself to shoot the 357 magnum pistol I chose but I did like the 22's I shot.
Kyle shooting.
What form Becky has!
Tyler's stance.
