Hooray for Crew's First Birthday!

Ok, so I am proud to say that after this post I am officially caught up. We kind of disappeared for a while over the holidays. When we got back Matt had his surgery and Crew was sick for a week so I think our lives are finally coming back together! Anyway, time for the reason to celebrate, Crew turned one on January 10th! We had such a great day! That morning we made his cake and then took him to the Bean Museum at BYU. It is a great museum with so many amazing animals to look at and it is free! Crew loved being able to wonder around and look at all the animals.


Crew and I in front of some animal (I'm sure Brett Cooper could tell us!)
Matt, Crew and a moose!
That night we had a few friends over for a party! The Coopers, Brutsch's, Hunters, and Katherine and Neil came to help us celebrate.
Crew and Mylie Hunter
Cason Brutsch (in yellow) and Wyatt and Brielle Cooper

Opening gifts
Crew's Grandma and Grandpa Allen gave him a basketball hoop for Christmas and he loves it. So we decided to do a basketball cake.
Crew started slow. He is a very observant kid and so he had to really check it out first.
Making progess
We were so glad Wyatt was there to help show Crew what birthday presents and cakes are all about.

So the pictures got out of order but I don't have time to fix them but this is after we rinsed off all the cake and for some reason he loves the clothes hamper!
Ahh, 30 minutes before the last picture. Not too bad eh?
Cake was everywhere and it was great! Well done son!
Katherine and Neil were representing Phoenix because they were off to a Suns game after the party. Go Suns!

Anyway, Crew had a great first birthday and he is finally over his sickness so life is good!

P.S. A side note on Matt, he had his ACL repaired on Jan. 15th and still uses crutches to get around but is doing much better. He had his first interview with the University of Utah's Physical Therapy program today and is interviewing at Midwestern (Chicago) and Duke in February. Exciting times!

El Centro

My dad grew up in a little town just east of San Diego. Actually it is way east and practically in Mexico! It is called El Centro. Most people just think of this town as the little town you drive through on your way to San Diego. But my dad grew up here and we have grown up coming here often to visit my grand parents and go to the ranch! My grandpa has a river ranch that has earned a special place in our hearts for all the fun memories we have had there. So this year we took off to El Centro to meet all my dad's family.
Crew playing with his croquet mallet. Crew loved being able to be outside all day and play in some serious dirt! It was a great break from Utah cold!
Grandpa with Carson and Crew on the tractor
Crew and dad overlooking the ranch (it is usually green with a crop but it was still fun)
Crew and I on a wild ride by uncle Cam on the quad
Grandpa and grandma Richter (great picture of them don't you think!)

Next came Christmas...

We had a great Christmas! Arizona was perfect! The snow is beautiful and all but honestly, a white Christmas has nothing on perfect 65 degree Christmas! It felt so good! We spent Christmas with my family down in Mesa. My parents of course did way too much for us but it was so much fun. Crew got into the festivities a little but hopefully next year will make more sense.

Crew and Carson got matching PJ's to wear Christmas Eve
Pulling Crew and Grandma around the front yard in the wagon
Crew going for the wisemen in the Nativity. Smart boy!
One bummer during the trip, other than Matt's impaired functioning, was Crew got sick. He caught a cold while we were in Az and it turned to Croup. It was so sad! He had a couple rough days but then perked up again. But considering not feeling well, he still was a pretty good boy.
So one of my favorite traditions with my family on Christmas Eve is we do luminaries. My dad's parents started the tradition in their neighborhood and my parents have passed it on to ours. Christmas Eve our entire neighborhood lines the sidewalks with luminaries. It is so beautiful! So here we are getting our luminaries ready for Christmas Eve. Of course, later that night we all went for a walk through the neighborhood to enjoy this wonderful Christmas tradiation. It was great!

Where to start??? Let's begin with the bowl game...

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl Game
Ok, so we started our Christmas Break the Tuesday before Christmas by heading down to Las Vegas for the BYU bowl game. We took Crew out on the town for his first time in Vegas! He got to do a buffet, see some of the lights on the strip, and my personal favorite, watch the fountains at the Bellagio. He was actually really good and had his eyes wide open everywhere we went. The next morning I flew with Crew to Phoenix and dropped Crew off with my parents at the airport then flew right back. He was so excited to see them, but I couldn't help crying as I left my little buddy with his grand parents! It was tough! But I flew back to Vegas and we were able to do some fun activities with the team. We saw the show KA, volunteered at a boys and girls club, and just got to spend some time together which was nice. My parents brought Crew back to Vegas with them on Friday afternoon and it was so good to see him! Crew came with us to the game and actually was really good for the first half. Then my sweet mother was good enough to take him back to the hotel so I could stay and watch the end of the game. If anyone knows what a die-hard football fan my mom is you will know what a nice thing that was for her to do. The game was tough. Matt got injured in the first quarter and then came back in with his ankle kind of fixed up. Unfortunately in the third quarter he tore his ACL so then he was done for good. We are luckly we got all the way to his last game before having these serious injuries! But it was a great ending as we won by blocking the field goal! Go Cougars!
Crew and I with Grandma and Grandpa Richter at the Bowl Game. Did I mention that it was freezing!!!!
Crew and I enjoying an amazing fountain show! This is the best thing in Vegas!
This is at the Buffet in the Planet Hollywood. We got our money's worth!

Matt and Crew were a handful to travel with because of Matt's injuries but luckily my parents helped us get back to Phoenix after the game. They are both cute though so it makes it easier to push them around!
A picture of the "Allen 10" groupies (minus mom and Crew) after the game.
What would we do without the Brutsch's? Ben represented the family and was our photographer after the game. Thanks guys for all your support!
I love this picture because it truly shows Matt's personality. This was such a fun chapter of our lives and it was a great way to end the season even with the injuries.
Grandpa Richter, Crew and I in the Bellagio Conservatory before the game.