Dear Family and Friends, 2009-2010

We missed sending out a letter last year so we have a bunch to update! We hope you are all healthy and happy this holiday season! Here it goes for the Allens…

Dusty joined the Idaho National Guard in March 2009 was at Fort Leonard Wood, MS for 14 weeks completing basic training and AIT for combat engineer. Since he has contracted with the ROTC program at BYU-Idaho and is busy completing a degree in Automotive/Military Science/Agriculture Technology. His unit is currently serving in Iraq but the ROTC program opted to keep him here to finish his schooling/training for which we’re grateful. He expects to graduate in April 2013. He also bought his dad’s 1977 Chevy Nova that he is excited to restore. He really enjoys driving it.

Melanie is keeping busy with 3 kids! I quit my teaching job and am now working part time for a residential habilitation agency working on home programs for adults with disabilities. I loves being able to work when I want to but still serve those with disabilities. It has been wonderful to be home with my kids. I started an at home pre-school with 3 other families this fall for Brian and that has been a lot of fun too. I served for 2 years as the Primary music leader at church and helped the children learn and perform a program each year. I really enjoyed it but it got pretty difficult with a baby so now Dusty and I are the Bear Cub Scout Den Leaders which has been a lot of fun.

Brian is now 4 and has finally discovered letters and numbers. He LOVES to point out all the Bs and will count just about anything! He always asks before going to sleep at night what we’re doing the next day. On the days we don’t have anything planned, he keeps asking until I come up with something to satisfy him. He’s having a hard time with the early winter and not being able to play outside as much but he’s learned how to put on all his snow gear by himself- snowpants first, then boots, then gloves, then coat-so he can stay toasty warm while playing. He has also discovered Legos and is getting really good at building ships and planes and guns. The other day he even built a Lego cow!

Samantha is 2 going on 7. She loves imaginative play and is always roping Brian into being her “dad” or “baby” or “doggie” etc. She is very stubborn but just as cute as can be! Much to daddy’s dismay she often shouts about the house, “I want my mommy!” but is actually quite independent when it comes down to it. She loves babies, the color purple, paper, stickers and sucking her thumb.

Nathan was born into our crazy family on July 12, 2010. He weighed in right between his siblings at 10 pounds 1 ounce and 21 ½ inches long. When I went to nurse him for the first time, the nurse jokingly said, “He doesn’t want milk, get that boy a Big Mac!” He was born with lots of long, golden hair. He’s already scooting all over the front room, mostly backwards but definitely covering some ground. He is now 5 months old and absolutely loves solid foods. He will lunge forward for the next bite.

Much love, The Allens