Adventures of the Allens

Catch up

2009-10-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

I just popped into the blog circle and realized it has been a very long time since I posted anything.

We had our first Anniversary a while back and had so much fun celebrating. We took our wedding cake top and a Martinelli's to the Red Robin restaurant and when we started unpacking nice glasses the waitresses started drifting by one at a time to congratulate us. We had an evening full of laughter and good food and got home very late.

A couple nights later we used a gift card we got from DeRoests and had another nice evening out at Acapulco's. I was very impressed with the staff there and the food was awesome!

The patio garden is down now and I was a bit disappointed with the overall production. However it was fun and we did get alot of peppers and beans. We will definately do it again next year and we won't have to buy so much dirt next year so it will go in earlier and will likely do much better.

Ian started school 7th grade and is doing ok there. It is a bit of an adjustment to be in middle school now and we are finding alot of holes in his elementary education. Good thing he is so bright and can pick up those things quickly.

A couple of holiday projects are: I am collecting baby things for a baby girl due in the middle of November. My sister and I are putting together a baby shower in a box so if anyone wants to contribute just contact me and let me know.

Of course I have Mary Kay for sale this holiday season and can take orders until the first week of December and be relatively sure that they will get here in time for Christmas. I also do pamper of the month gifts for ladies that are close to us here in Portland. But this year I am also working to collect money for the Mary Kay Foundation. I will be providing a gift wrapping service at the Target or Fred Meyer stores hopefully with several other Mary Kay sisters. The donations that are given for that service will go to the MK Foundation which gives grants to those helping to fight Cancers that effect women and also those who work to stop Domestic Violence. Let me know if that is something you would like to be involved with in any way.

We are very much looking forward to the holidays and can't wait to start decorating for Christmas which we will start doing just as soon as the yucky holiday is over with. lol

Anyway, that is our life in a nutshell for now. Hope you are all doing well and we will try to post again soon.

Pam and Ron (and Ian)

It is Very Hot!!

2009-07-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wow when summer comes it really comes.
We are staying inside today with the air conditioner and planning our camping trip to the lake weekend after next. Ian will be off to his dad's tomorrow morning and Ron and I will probably take off for a while tomorrow for a date (hike or trip to the park)

The garden is growing well. We harvested the last of the peas and cleared them out to make room for the pole beans that Ian wants to let get big and eat raw, (he has some strange preferences in food sometimes) We are starting to pick cucumbers and the tomatoes and peppers are setting on nicely.

I am getting ready to get back into the swing of Mary Kay again as summer comes to an end and school starts soon. I am excited about building a team this year and looking forward to new friends and new faces.

Ron went out to check the mail and I am sure he will be roasting when he returns. Praise the Lord for air conditioning!!

Welcome little Alexandra Owuor!! We love you already and can hardly wait to meet you!

Ron and Pam (and Ian too)

Patio Garden

2009-06-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

Well spring has definately sprung and when that happens I get my green thumb itching and giving me fits!! Well even though I was raised on a farm I haven't been able to do much gardening since because I never lived anyplace long enough or had space for it. Now that we have this nice apartment and it has such a cute little patio I decided to try my hand at container gardening. I have had so much fun!!!

So far we have Peas set on and just waiting for them to get fat before we have our first harvest

We have Pole Beans climbing the lines to the top of the patio like crazy and starting to show buds

We have Cucumbers starting to climb on the patio rail and one even has a tiny little cucumber showing (never saw it bloom but it must have)

We have two Patio tomatoes hanging in Topsy Turvys and they are determined to grow back up into the planters. No blooms so far

We have two Cherry tomatoes hanging in Topsy Turvys and they are blooming like crazy with tiny tomatoes just starting to show.

We have two Cayenne Peppers hanging in Topsy Turvys and both are blooming and one is showing a almost full grown but still green cayenne

We have a Beefsteak tomatoe in a big pot starting to think about blooming, and several peppers (Jalepeno, and Hungarian Wax) waiting for their Topsy Turvys which will go up next week.

We have two big bins for the potatoes that I am trying a new method with and so far have failed twice with but I planted again today and we will see how they are going. If it succeeds I will post here to tell you all how to do it too. Seems it would be a huge harvest from each small plant.

Anyway that is the main thing that we have been up to lately along with Facebook and blending our family. All is wonderful of course and Ron and I are loving every moment we get together. Life and Love are good!!

Here are some patio garden pictures if I can get them up ok.
Pam

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Valentine's day yesterday!

After breakfast out, we went to visit Mom and Pops and had a fun time there. Spent some time on mom's computer getting it to work better and had dinner with them, then came home for a nice quiet romantic evening together, music, chocolate, and Martinelli's included.

Wow what a romantic guy I have!!

We wish a belated Happy Valentine's Day to all the couples who read this! May your love truly last forever!

Pam and Ron

It's Been Awhile

2009-02-12T16:04:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,
It has been a while since we posted but not because nothing is happening. We had a wonderful Christmas and a Great New Year and then about the middle of January got some bad financial news from SSI. We both wanted to do something to fix the problem and so when I went to do my Mary Kay Ron decided to do a business too.

As it turns out the SSI problem may have just been slow wheels turning and it seems that all will be well again soon. We have plans to go there next Tuesday to make sure, however Ron is enjoying his work so much because he isn't bored and he wants to keep working.

So here is the deal for family and friends and anyone else who wants to take advantage of it. Ron is shredding junk mail for 20.00 a garbage bag full.

He also makes basket filler for gift baskets from colored paper in his new Strip Shredder, he has several colors of tissue and regular weight paper and some brown recycled paper also. Eventually there will be a website with gift baskets and shred available at http://www.lightbrights.com

I never saw someone shred all day and love it but he says it is fun, and much much better than just sitting around all day watching TV. Please get the word out to anyone who wants to get rid of junk mail in a safe way. Ron uses a crosscut shredder so it really pulverizes the paper. The shred gets put into bags and goes down our garbage shoot into a dumpster here at the apartment we live in.

I will try to be better about keeping this updated so you all know how we are and what is happening.

Love Ya All,
Pam

Our Open House

2008-12-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was so much fun!!
We had several family members and friends over for a Christmas party and we ate sugary snacks and visited all day. It was great!

Thanks to all you who came and made our day so much fun.

Here is a cookie recipe that I was asked for and thought others might like as well.

1 cake mix
2 eggs
1 stick of butter or margarine (melted)
whatever you want chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, dried fruit, etc

Mix in mixing bowl spoon onto cookie sheet and bake.
Be careful not to bake too long. Just when they start to turn brown pull them out and they will firm up as they stand.

Thanks for coming and Thanks Cathy for the use of your chocolate fountain, it was a huge hit.

Happy Birthday Cathy

2008-12-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

Cathy,
I just found out from Ron that today is your Birthday. I hope it was very very happy!
We are looking forward to hearing how your trip went. Loved the pics on your blog of Thanksgiving and little KaeLynn. She is so precious but they all are!

We are getting ready for our Holiday Open House this weekend and decorating and planning for our first Christmas together. This time of year is so much fun!

2008-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ceremony Continued

2008-10-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

Cesha sang a song that we remember from when we were children. I have always loved what it says and asked her to sing it as my words to Ron. I have long wanted a man that I could say those things to and Ron is the perfect one to make those promises to. Our pianist didn't come until the ceremony was ready to start so Cesha got stuck doing the song acapella. If it had been any other soloist I might have worried but I know my Sis can really belt it out and she did a wonderful job even without the benefit of an accompaniest. Thank you Sis.

Our vows were adapted from some vows written for another couple who are friends of mine. As I sat in their wedding two weeks before ours I couldn't help but think that their vows were perfect. I read them to Ron and he said they were just right, Ron and I had tried to write some but weren't getting very far, so we put the list of things we knew we wanted to say into the middle of the vows that our friends used. Ron was emotional reading them and said later that he was very overwhelmed with "This is really happening" thoughts.

There is supposed to be another video here and I will try to keep uploading it but it is long and it seems to not want to take it. The song, rings, and vows are on that video so it is most of the ceremony, I will get it up as soon as I can.

Since Ron and I planned our wedding in Red, White, and Blue in honor of Ron's independence and also because they were Ron's favorite colors, we decided to have fireworks go off when we kissed. I thought it sounded like a nice idea but when it happened it was so perfect. Then when we watched it again it was even better. The recessional looks fine on the video but it seemed to be almost slowmotion to me when we were there. I wanted to run and jump up and down. I was so happy I could barely contain myself!

Next post the reception.

I think there is hope to get them all up before the end of next week. I have been surprised how many times this upload wizard closes in the middle of an upload or gives an error message. If anyone knows of an easier way I would certainly be interested in learning it. I love the little video clips everyone has on their blogs it is so much more fun than just reading. If this is what you all go through then I have even more appreciation for the videos you include.

Pam

Wedding Video

2008-10-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the video from our special day. I have been having some trouble with the uploading so I will try to put it in several posts. I think the video may be making the posts too heavy for publishing.

Here is a quick video of our entry table and some of the guests and a picture of the gifts table.

My boy Ian seating the mothers, and the Men enter. Isn't Ron so very handsome in a white tux?!!!

Next post Women's processional and ceremony. I will put them in tomorrow it is getting late and the boy goes to school at 7 in the morning.

Bye for now,

Pam

Congrats Rodney and Lauren

2008-10-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

We want to wish you all the joy you could possibly know as you start out on life's journey together. Some advice: Talk about everything, and never go to bed with anger or frustration festering.
Your reception was beautiful and fun. We had a really nice time and it brought back many happy memories especially getting to dance together. Thanks for giving us that opportunity to reminisce.
This family is so wonderful! I enjoyed seeing so many little ones Celeste, Javen, Ethan, Eddie, Savannah, and of course little KayLynn. I got to carry Kay Lynn around for a while and she went to sleep while we danced to the swing music, that is a memory I will keep for a long time. Thanks Cavin and Sarah for sharing your little treasure with me.
I also enjoyed meeting Michael and Naomi, and the other Pamela Jean in the family, as well as several other friends of the family who all seemed very friendly and welcoming. I love being in this family and you are all a wonderful part of my new life with Ron, I thank you very much for that.
Pam

1 month milestone

2008-09-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to have today be a comfortable day together. We wished each other happy one month anniversary and then went on about our day. We had such a nice time. Went out for breakfast, then did a little shopping. We talked about working together on the Mary Kay job so that Ron can be involved in the things that I am doing, then we came home and played on the computer all evening.

We joked a bit about still being in love a month later but things are so solid between us now that I told him I wasn't even worried about that anymore. He shows his love so well and so often that I am feeling really secure.

Not much else going on but life is good.
Pam

Ok I take that back

2008-09-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tried to pick just the best pics and put the story together in a post but it didn't work. Even the shortest set of pics is 65 pictures. Too many for a single post so I think the best thing is to move on and post about life now.

Which is wonderful by the way. We are finally starting to feel at home in our house with our stuff unpacked and things put where we want them.
Ron is daily reminding me what a wonderful man he is with his loving words and actions.
Mom is still here but has decided (I think) to move over to Forest Grove area after all. I am sad to not have her near but it might be best for her. She is not used to the big city and gets very stressed around too many people.
Ian started school and is doing well. Sixth grade seems to be going much better for him than it did for me. I am thankful. He is learning division finally and seems to be catching on quickly.
Ron and I are planning (tentatively for now) to have a sort of open house party near the end of September or first of October. It would be a drop in and out party because we don't have room for every one at once but we want to share our new place and visit with friends and family.
I thought at the same time it might be a chance to have a Holiday Collection Preview of the new Mary Kay line of Holiday products. I went to a Collection Preview last night and the new stuff is so wonderful. I am very excited about it!
Tonight Ron finished some sorting and we had a nice visit while mom watched the Mariners get stomped. I started on a crocheted baby blanket for the shriners hospital gifts that the relief society are planning to give soon. It is so much fun to sit and crochet and work on projects like this. It has been a very long time since I did something like that just for fun and to give away.
Anyway, life is good! Thank you God and Ron
Pam

More Wedding Pictures

2008-09-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Ok I have been trying to figure out which pictures didn't make it into the album in Picaso that has the link below. I put all 721 pictures in the album and it said that it only took 500 but there was no way to know which ones got in. I went through them and the rest of the pictures are here. Getting them into order is another thing which I will be trying to do in the next couple days.

I will also post a blogpost soon with our favorites in the text for those who would rather have a few good pictures to look at instead of the overwhelming 721 we got.

By the way, Thank You, Thank You Kathi Knowles for the Awesome Photography!!!

Pam

Well We are Back

2008-09-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth it, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Matthew 13 KJV

I love this verse and even though I know the correct interpretation is about spiritual things I can't help but apply it to my wonderful husband and the love we share. Ron spent so much time hidden in a field and I feel like I have found the most precious treasure there could ever be in him and his love I bought the field last weekend and now I am enjoying the treasure that is Ron.

Ron has surprised me so very much with his gentle and unselfish love and with the ability to express what he is feeling. He is certainly the most romantic man I have ever met! I have said before that he should write greeting cards but since last weekend he is showing me even more romance and I am soaking it up and loving every minute. I am definately glad that I married him and I look forward to a long and wonderful life together.

I told Ron about a week before our wedding that if he still loved me and was still glad he married me on the first of September I would be the happiest woman in the world. Well here we are and this morning when we woke up the first thing he said to me was, "Pam my sweet wife, I am so very glad I married you!" So here I am the happiest woman alive.

We are buried at the moment in unpacking and organizing and will likely be there for a while, but it is fun to set up our home how we want it and we are looking forward to having family over when we are done so we can share our home with those close to us.

God is SO VERY good and we are so very happy!!
Pam

Our Wedding Pictures are here!!

2008-08-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
We tried to post all of the wonderful wedding pictures we got but there are just too many. So here is a link to our album where you can see most of them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/allen4826/OurWeddingDay

Our Home Yay!!

2008-07-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

Very excited to announce to everyone that Ron and I have our apartment. I will be moving in this weekend, and he will join me after the 23rd.

It is perfect! Right on the max train with all the accessible things that will make things easier for Ron. Roll in shower and everything. We are so excited.

We got our keys and made the necessary copies, and went through the apartment for a walkthrough today. Everything seems to be in working order and so it is ready for move in.

It is starting to feel less like a dream and more like reality as we get closer to our day. Neither of us is really nervous but we both feel the pressure starting to build as we try to get everything done and try to remember all the details that we need to be thinking of. We can't wait to share it with all of you.

Pam

Music

2008-07-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

Ron and I spent a bunch of time going through all of his CDs and listening to music that we might want to play at our reception. Here is a list of the ones that we liked most. Kyle please feel free to add any that you think would be good. We have a request for a mix of slow and fast music and would like to have a good family dancing time. I will also add a few worship dance pieces if we have anyone from the dance troupe that I was part of who come.

Miles to go before I sleep / Celine Dion
Just a little bit of love / "
Sory for Love / "
Have you ever been in love / "
I know what love is / "
Butterfly / Mariah Carey
Whenever you call / "
I'm Alive / Celine Dion
Right in front of me / "
A New Day has come / "
Everything I am because you love me / "
You win my love / Shania Twain
No One needs to know / "
Love can move mountains / Celine Dion
If you asked me to / "
That's the way it is / "
Power of Love / "
Halfway to Heaven / "
Holding on to Love / Shania Twain
From this moment / "
You've got a way / "
Penny Lover / Lionel Richie
Stuck on you / "
Hello / "
Biggest part of me / Ambrosia

If we find any more we will post additions and anyone who has a favorite can comment here adding suggestions.
Pam and Ron

Happy 4th

2008-07-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun at the Dover Independence day celebration yesterday!! The Bar B Q was absolutely wonderful and everyone brought such yummy salads and desserts. It was wonderful to hear so many very young children around and all the laughter of family having a good time together. I must say that I am very impressed with the family spirit I see among Ron's family and the fun that everyone has together.

The fireworks were great too. It was fun to see the guys take turns setting off fireworks and everyone sat around and enjoyed them. Ron and I were sad when we had to go and hope that next year we can stay for all the festivities.

Our first major holiday together was made more special by all of you who were there and we thank you. We are looking forward to many more independence days together and other holidays with family as well.

In case anyone has my old email I want to post a change. I have a new email RonsPam@live.com I will be using it from now on and will phase out the pamelawyke@hotmail.com hopefully by August.

Pam

A few new things

2008-06-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Ok there are a couple things different now. Because of the position of the video screen and the lighting we are going to face the entire ceremony the other direction.

The pathway will have several clusters of flower pots with plants but make it so that people can get through even with wheelchairs to get to the food tables during the reception without having to move anything.

Music will be on the stage so that will be better for cords and plug ins I am told.

My dress is finally finished and I love it!!! Thank you so very much Erica!!

I found my shoes at Walmart and was glad to see a selection of strappy sandle type shoes there (Didn't find any at Nordstrom, or Macy's, or even at Payless Shoes)

Ron and I did our Walmart registry and had so much fun. We are already registered at Target. It feels like Christmas going around scanning everything that we would pick if we could pick just anything. What fun!! Choosing colors and styles together has been a blast.

Well I hope everyone has a very fun day.

Wedding plan changes

2008-06-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
The hosting went out on dexcaps and so I have to change the plans and coordinate the wedding plans from here which is probably easier for most anyway.

I am sorry I haven't kept it up like I should have and many things have changed since the last post on the forum.

Here is the scoop as of now, but I am learning that everything is tenative. That is what makes it fun. lol

Colors have changed to Red White and Blue. Not stars and stripes though just a beautiful deep rose red and a dark royal blue with white.

The wedding ceremony and reception will both take place in the same room and so the seating will be seating at tables instead of in rows and it will be a garden theme wedding. I checked with the Bishop and it is ok with him if we put down a white paper walkway. We will put a little fence along it and decorate the room in our garden theme.

Bride party attendants should choose a dress they like that is white, sleeveless, full skirted, and tee length. A red lace shawl will be provided. Shoes should be strappy white sandles. Toenails and fingernails will get treated at the wedding party's party at the brides house the night before the wedding. There will also be a Mary Kay makeup party that night.

Groom party attendants should choose white dress pants and white shirt. A blue tux vest will be provided and only Ron and the Best man will have jackets. Shoes should be black.

Flowers will be mostly silks with a few real roses. Mens boutineers will be red roses with a small blue flower or maybe blue ribbon, and women's corsages will be blue carnations with a touch of white and maybe a red ribbon. The bouquets for the brides attendants will be silks mostly roses red and white with a small blue flower in them and baby's breath unless something else looks better when we get to it. Bride's bouquet will be white roses.

We are hoping (haven't talked with Sandy yet) to have a cake like this one. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/baqhnara/weddingcake.jpg

The flavors will be chocolate mousse on the bottom and top layers, fresh banana on the 2nd layer and white with strawberry flavor filling on the 3rd layer. Do we need to choose another flavor or are their only 4 layers?

The punch will be white grape and 7up, with an ice ring with blueberries and strawberries frozen into it. Then we will float either vanilla ice cream or pineapple sherbert in that.

Ron and I will be writing our own vows, and there will be a screen up behind us so that when we kiss there will be a fireworks video played and the children will all pop their party poppers and people can cheer, then the music will start to open the reception. There will not be a recessional.

I will post more as we get more info. Sorry this is getting a bit long.

Welcome to the Family little Javen

2008-05-26T20:44:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the family little Javen!! Talk about a cute little one, and smart too already rolling over at such a young age. Congratulations to mom and dad Casey and Roy'l as well. Here are pics and a short video at Nana's site. Doverfamilydoodles.blogspot.com

We are looking forward to meeting you Javen, May all your days be filled with love and God's richest blessings!!

Your Great Uncle and Aunt,
Ron and Pam

At School Tonight

2008-04-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight Ian (Rons future stepson) had a special program at school. He read a story he wrote and took turn with the other students in his class. Ron came with us and it was really nice to have him there. Ian enjoyed getting his class to understand how to make room for Ron's chair and introducing him to his friends and their families. We had a nice time and enjoyed the stories, cookies, and grapes.
Pam

Love this gal of mine!

2008-04-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love her very much, and I hope the rest of the family will love her just as much. She is a very sweet person, and she is the first one to ever love me before I had a chance to mention anything about love. She actually came out and told me she had feelings for me, and I told her very soon after that I had feelings for her too. Our favorite hang out became Burgerville. We like to listen to the "old" music. We like being together, and now we feel like we can't be away from each other very long, without feeling lonely. So I definately feel like we belong together. I know we didn't have very much of a dating period but I felt it was the right time to make it permanent, so I asked her to marry me. This marriage is going to be a very special day for us, so I hope everybody agrees with us.

Ron

Yay Pictures!

2008-04-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well here is a link to our engagement picture album. We went to Laurelhurst park in Portland OR and had so much fun with our wedding photographer Kathi Knowles. Kathi was great and as you can see from the pictures we had a wonderful afternoon taking them.
Enjoy

First Post

2008-04-10T00:29:00.000-07:00

We thought it was about time to start a blog together and share with family and friends what is happening in our lives.
Welcome to our blog, and we hope you enjoy reading about our adventures.