four

This picture.... oh my.

Let's just say, this picture is a metaphor for our marriage. First of all- the dress looks like it fits, right? WRONG. It zipped up about halfway up my back and then Tyson held the top part together so it wouldn't look too awful for the pic. This is a lot like our marriage-

Tyson holding me together during the not-so-perfect times.

We've been through a LOT in our four short years together. And it seems like everything has always been timed in such a way, that when one of us hit rock bottom, the other was remarkably holding together fine and was able to pick the other one up and hold EVERYTHING together until things were okay again.

When our sweet little Zoe came and went so quickly, I think we were both a little dumbfounded at first, but by clinging to eachother (and the Lord), we made it through. The months following this time, were filled with uncertainty and much tribulation-- Tyson was my rock during this time. He was always there with encouragement and endless amounts of LOVE. He made it worth it.

And when we found out, just six months later, that I was pregnant again, Tyson took all my freak-out sessions in stride. He put up with the endless "what if's" coming from my overly-stressed brain, and put them all in perspective.

Just 8 3/4 months later-- when we welcomed our beautiful Quinn into the world, he was there to celebrate with me. (And take care of her endless tears that first night, while I was completely unconscious.)

Tyson is the love of my life-- MY WHOLE LIFE. I thank my Heavenly Father that he gave me the patience to wait for such an amazing man to enter my life.

PS- see the bump that just looks like my train, to the left of me? Quinn's under there :)

Things may have gotten a little crazy.....

Just a day in the life.......

The smiley face on her chest was my doing- felt a little rebellious that night :)

a top-notch fix-it and mitten-hands

Yes, you saw right- that is electrical tape holding the thingamadigger on-- and Tyson didn't show me that until after I did this...


Too bad I didn't know, "Good luck!" was code for "You better be prayin' that back wheel doesn't come off." Next time, oh next time..... I will be better versed in motorcycle talk.

And this is the cutest part of my day--

Quinn found mittens in the front closet and spent the next 30 minutes demanding that I put them back on every time she yanked them off....

PS- how many dashes can you fit in a title?

What the?!

Get ready for a VERY shocking truth....

....We. were. toilet-papered.

I know, I know. I'm a little shaken up too. I walked into the living room and found this.....



and then turned and found this.....



Yes, my very own daughter did this! After all I do- After all I've done!

I love that little ingrate! :)

especially that little "oops" smile.

Helpin' daddy

Monday night- our fhe lesson was on the blessings of hard work (okay, okay- this is only in retrospect. In reality we forgot it was Monday night, and just really wanted to get our new computer chair up and running.). So Quinn helped dad put together our new computer chair and she even ratcheted on a few of the bolts. Atta girl!





And now.... the blessings of hard work..... (along with a cute little pose, to show how much she is enjoying this blessing)



Tyson pushed her around in this chair for probably 30 minutes, and she just giggled until she could giggle no more. And then she fell out of the chair and cried for 10 minutes- at which point we decided it was probably bedtime.

Ahhhh... those happy endings do it for me every time! :)

RoDeO 'n' ice cream

Friday night was the famous Preston Night RoDeO! complete with all the Allen's in their best cowboy/girl clothing and hats, and of course the neverending supply of melted chocolate. We forgot to bring the camera to the rodeo, but here's Tyson and I after arriving home at about 11:30 at night...

..... tired much?

Saturday was filled with the typical Tyson: "If everyone chips in, we'll be finished changing all the oils in 45 minutes TOPS." ...........
2 1/2 hours later ......... "okay, just one more bike and then we're done."

Oh, how I love my husband. Seriously. But after that was over, we ate some delicious dinner, followed by some delicious ice cream.....

... and then played the wii until we all fell down (into bed, that is).