Just Because Two People Fell in Love

WAY back at the beginning of November, we travelled to Tennessee. We had something really important to celebrate. So important, in fact, that the majority of the Allen clan drove or flew in for the celebration. It was Grandmother's 79th birthday, but more importantly, it was Grandmother and Grandpoppa's 60th wedding anniversary. Sixty years. That's an amazing number to me. Brent and I have been married for 9 1/2 years--one sixth of the time they've been married. I hope that when we look back 51 years from now, we'll have the same loving family and wonderful memories. Below are some of the highlights of the night.
Bennett and Jackson are cousins who are only a little over two weeks apart in age. It was so fun to give the two cousins a chance to get to know each other. They're going to be all sorts of trouble someday!

Nan couldn't wait to get her hands on this little sleeping charmer! He is so cuddly and kissable while sleeping. She loved getting some cuddle time with her youngest grandson.

Below: Much to Grandpoppa's dismay, we got everyone together for photos. It's amazing to see the product of a couple's life. Because Carol Doris and Bill Allen met and married sixty years ago, there are twenty six people who are here to live on and carry our their legacy. Pretty amazing stuff! We gathered the children together first. Claudia, Grandpoppa, John, GG, Chuck and Tracey.

This was the most amazing photo to me. The whole Allen family minus just a few. The girls had to get in the annual Coke photo. We take a traditional Coca-Cola photo every year around Christmas time. It's fun to look back at the photos from years past.

The grandkids, minus Matt. These guys had a great time growing up together.
Below: Bennett with his GG. I pray that he has a chance to grow up and know his GG for the wonderful woman that she is.

GG and Great Grandpoppa with our crew! They ALL look so excited to be in a photo!f We're so happy that we were here to spend this very special day with you Grandmother and Grandpoppa!

Grandmother and her sister Dot.
Below: Poppa knows his way to his grandson's heart. Poppa found this John Deere hat and made Tristan's week! He was so proud of this hat. He kept readjusting it and when I held him up to look in the mirror, he just giggled and pulled his hat lower over his eyes. Poppa then proceeded to take Tristan to a big farm where he got to crawl all over the tractors and even start one. Big times for this big boy!

One highlight of our trip to Tennessee was the chance to see Amy, Ava and Myla. Amy flew in for the party and we're so glad she did. I love my little nieces and I hate that we don't see them very often. Ava is only six months older than Tristan and Myla is seven months older than Bennett so I want them to really get to know each other and enjoy getting to be cousins together. Amy loved getting some time to hold Bennett, even if she did have to pull double duty.

Below: One of the highlights of every Tennessee trip for my kids is getting to watch movies and eat Poppa's popcorn. Ava and Maura had a big time together down in the TV room. Poppa was a good man and he suffered through Barbie Fashion Fairytale for his little granddaughters. Now, that's devotion!!

We were lucky enough to get to witness some of Myla's first steps. She had started walking the week before and she was really moving by the time we saw her!
Below: Poppa and his littlest man.

DOUBLE TROUBLE! These two had some pretty serious games of chase and some small difficulties sharing, but on the whole got along great.

Below: Maura and Ava in a jam session. Ava on the tin guitar, Maura on the swinging beads. I think this band is going to be a success!!

Love this photo! It shows their personalities pretty well: Sweet, Sassy, and Hungry. So glad we got to spend the time with our family, especially Nan, Poppa and the cousins.