A New Year...Let's Start at the Very Beginning....

...After we finish the end.....(of 2011, that is...)

I am behind in recording the past three months.(I know...shock!....not really. I am always behind!)
So much has happened...where do I even begin?
I'll do a brief run-down and see if I can keep up better in 2012. (It could happen!)

It seems that I didn't mention in Oct, that we celebrated Kyle's birthday. We usually give the kids a token gift, then some money for their birthdays. Kyle has lost a bunch of weight so his Hawaiian shirts are all to big for him. While Mikel and I were in Astoria, Mikel found a Hawaiian shirt at a consignment shop that looked to be Kyle's new size. So....in Kyle fashion......


















Yep...I gave him his $ in $1 bills, pinned to his shirt. It was pretty funny!







November rolled around so we celebrated Ric's birthday by having him and all the girls in the family (besides Mikel and all the grandsons) over for breakfast since the other guys were at work. Ric does not like having his picture taken but I managed to snap one. By the way, we gave Ric a big container of chocolate covered raisins (one of his favorite) along with his $.

















Little Coralie has kept us entertained with her ever changing fashion show. I love seeing little girls all dressed up in their frills and bows, and Mommy Roy'l is doing a good job! It's also fun to see the little boys dressed in their boy stuff...camo, sports, trucks and trains...the list goes on. Babies are just fun and our babies are the best!

Coralie























Daniel












In November, my daddy, Reas Harold Allen, passed away. We spent his last hours with him, holding his hands, talking to him, praying over him, and saying goodbye. I got to massage his head one last time. We shared good memories with his nurses and doctor who showed such compassion. Tony entertained us for a few moments when he walked in wearing full paper scrubs along with his mask. When we told him he didn't have to wear the scrubs, he pulled them off but had a hard time putting his mask on again. It was nice to have the comic relief at such a sad time.


(This picture was taken just a couple weeks before he passed away as we celebrated our parents 70th wedding anniversary.) I love you Pops!

















































Daniel and Coralie met Great Grandma Ruth the day Great Grandpa Reas was buried.









































My brother, Lonnie, and my sweet sis-in-law, Sandy came for the family gathering and burial. We don't see them often enough so it was special having them with us, even for just a few hours.


















My hero nephew, Anthony Maureas DeRoest was home for the family gathering and burial also, along with his cute boys and sweet wife. (Anthony was born the day before my birthday, so I consider him my birthday present so many years ago. He was named after his father, Anthony, (Tony) and both of his grandfathers, Maurice and Reas. He has brought honor to all of their names!)
Anthony is in the Air Force, and has now been deployed over seas, protecting and rescuing those in harms way. I am so proud of this guy! One of the most touching memories the day my dad was buried was witnessing Anthony standing before daddy's grave after everyone else had walked away, mouthing something only for his Grandpa Reas to hear, I am sure, and then watching Anthony saluting the grave. I had thought of taking a picture of that tender moment, but decided that it was too precious. It is a memory that I will hold dear to my heart forever!





God Speed Anthony! Come home safely!












Eddie and I celebrated our birthday together again....probably the last time for years to come. I love you Eddie boy!














We also went to watch Celeste perform in The Christmas Carol. She did an awesome job and we were so proud of her! We presented her with a rose after the play. Her eyes lit up and she loved it!
















Mikel and I spent 9 days in Utah with Mikel Jr., Brooke and Adam. We had a wonderful time, as usual and were sad to have to leave them, but excited to come home. Isn't that always the way it is?

The first day we spent in Utah was Adam's birthday. Mikel Sr. and Mikel Jr. were attending a concealed weapons certification class so Brooke and I took Adam out for the day. First we took him to Karate, then out to lunch at Carl's Jr. and let him play for awhile, then to the Dinosaur Museum. It was a wonderful, full day!















































































Adam and I put together a gingerbread house. We loved it!














We also made melted snowmen.
















We attended their ward Christmas dinner where the Primary put on the nativity. Adam was one of the shepherds. He's in the red shirt next to the little boy wearing the black beard to the right of the little "Kings" wearing the crowns. I think he was trying to get a look at the baby Jesus....maybe....














We also went to Salt Lake to see the lights on Temple Square. It is always awesome!
Usually we eat at The Gardens, but the waiting time was over an hour and we could get into The Rooftop right away....so guess where we ate? It is our new favorite restaurant! These pictures were taken in front of the tree on the main floor of the Joseph Smith building. It was beautiful!






























....and the lights on Temple Square....breathtaking....





























































































We celebrated Adams birthday with his Utah grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. It was so good to see them all again!





































Look at these handsome Dover guys!














We put up their Christmas tree.....or should I say, they put up their tree and we watched....







































We also attended Zoo Lights in Utah while we were there.






























































































Did you know there is a captured Caterpillar at the Hogle Zoo? Well, there is!















Back home again in Oregon, little Coralie was blessed on Christmas day....such a pretty little thing!



























































Celebrating Christmas together was a bit delayed because Church was at 9:00 AM. Everyone went home and changed back into their pajamas before gathering for brunch, then gift opening.























































Ric was with us also, but when we took his picture, instead of Ric, we got a heavenly being....haha














I did get a picture of him after all.
















On Monday evening, after Christmas, we went to Zoo lights with the family here in Oregon. It was also the last evening we had to spend with the Hunter family before their move to Kentucky. The evening was so bitter-sweet.





















































































All in all.....2011 was a very good year!