Hi Everyone!

Yay! I'm so glad we're doing this! So much has happened this past year! I spent the last half of 2007 and the beginning of this year finishing my latest album. It always takes a lot longer than I anticipate, but it was worth it. I had my CD release party in June, and this time I put together a full band to play with me. John played bass, we found a drummer on short notice and instead of having a lead guitar player, my friend Steff played mandolin. It was so much fun!

After that show, I kind of dropped off the face of the musical earth because I had to plan a wedding in 3 months. Luckily, I have my mom and sister that took over most of the planning, and everything came out beautifully! The wedding was just how we wanted it to be; small, mellow and without rain. It was so great to see everybody, too!

After the wedding, we went to Sedona, AZ for our honeymoon. It was nice to just spend a week outside not worrying about anything else. We went to Slide Rock State Park, the Grand Canyon, and went mountain biking.

We're renting a house from the Thornburgs right now that we are going to buy any day now. It's nice to start making our house a home. There's a converted garage that John is working on turning into a recording studio, and big backyard for our dogs, Jaco and Phoebe.

Since Barry got home, we're finally putting together the band we always dreamed of having. John's playing lead guitar, Barry is on bass, and we found a really cool guy to play drums. Things are coming together and it's really fun! We just need a band name now...suggestions??

Right now, John is working as a manager for technical support center for AT&T, but is currently looking for a job that better suits his personality. He's tired of babysitting people and is ready to do more hands-on computer stuff. If anyone ever needs help with their computer, he is the guy to call! He can even fix it over the phone, I'm sure.

I'm still working for my mom full time, but I'm looking into getting my teaching certificate to be an elementary school teacher.

We're going to stay here in Albuquerque for Christmas. We'll probably go to John's sister's house in the morning and my parent's house for dinner.

I look forward to reading everyone's posts! Merry Christmas!

Magen

Myriah & Jaiden!

Hey everyone! How exciting! I love that we're doing a blog! Let's see, the last year has flown by and is somewhat of a blur, but I'll try to remember some things to tell you :)

Jaiden and I moved into our very own little condo last September. It's perfect for us with 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (1 downstairs and 1 for each BR upstairs), and a little yard all tucked away in a quiet and safe little complex. 

I have been going to school full time for graphic design. I haven't been working until recently- A local restaurant signed a contract with me to redesign their menus for them. I've completed their catering menu and am now working on their restaurant menus. I only have one semester left at CNM then I'm graduating! Yay! I've taken up lots of different random hobbies in the last year, one of which is modeling. No, i haven't gotten any paid jobs yet, I just do it for fun. It's a creative outlet for me because it involves creative concepts, make-up( ive been building up my makeup artistry portfolio as well), and photoshop! I love photoshop.

Jaiden is 3 1/2 and she started school this summer. I enrolled her in a montessory school, which is awesome! She has learned so much and made lots of friends. She's just a girlie little princess who loves to play dress up and loves her ponies and barbies. She's also quite the little artist and started being able to draw people this year :)

K I think I've rambled on enough. lol.

Wow! New Blog!

Well let's see. A summation of my year would be interesting to say the least. As everyone knows, I finished off the last 8 months of my mission and got home mid-august. That was the best experience ever! The relationship I have with my Savior has grown so much! What a blessing is is to have Him there for us. We trully are blessed!

During the two years of my mission I served in 6 areas and had 17 companions. I had companions from Utah, California, Idaho, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Johanesberg SA, Sowetho SA, Lesotho and Uganda. I will be forever greatful for the lessons they taught me! I made a slide show of some of the things I did and people I grew to love. You can watch it using the links at the below (it was too long for youtube, so I had to divide it into 3 videos so check out all three links to see the whole thing).

Once I got home I tried to hit the ground running. within the first week, I signed up for school at CNM, began work with Lisa and started practicing my bass again. It's been another big learning experience to adjust back to "normal" life. For example, it's much easier to make scripture reading a regular part of your daily life when it's your job to help others do the same. I would say that the adjustment has been made in it's largest measure now.

Now, future goals are to finish up my assoiciates degree and find a music school somewhere. The fire is still burning!

Love you all!
Barry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO-oSJgo65k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ucQQQ2aoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZh9QRaQQTg

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE ALLEN'S

Hello Family and Merry Christmas!

It has been so long since we've seen some of you. I know everyone has had plenty of adventures over the past year. We can't wait to hear from all of you! We have had a very eventful year. Creighton is growing and changing everyday. When he was 3 months old last Christmas we traveled to New Orleans to watch Florida Atlantic (where Jared played in college) play in the New Orleans bowl. We then flew to Colorado to spend Christmas skiing in Breckenridge with my family.

We spent most of the spring staying home in Edmond. At that time, Jared was busy working in the medical sales industry. In June we traveled to Breckenridge with Jared's family for a wonderful vacation filled with rafting, hiking and biking adventures. We went back over the Fourth of July to stay with my parents. There's no place we'd rather vacation in the summer than the mountains.

Jared was offered a new job in July working for a sports training company. He now hosts quarterback camps and competitions all over the country, as well as selling a football based software program and personally training quarterbacks. He is working from home and loves his new job. I'm staying home with Creighton so we all are able spend lots of time together!

With DJ and his family within driving distance, we have traveled down to Houston a number of times this year. Creighton has a blast playing with Dawson and Drue and we enjoy going to DJ's games. When we weren't at one of DJ's games this past fall, we were attending an OU game or an FAU game. Fall is the busiest time of the year for us and we love it!

For the most part Creighton goes everywhere we go. He's a very calm, happy, cooperative child. When he's not with us he stays with my parents, Jared's parents or Jason and his family. We have plenty of babysitters here in Edmond and we are very grateful for all of them! He loves to play outside and learning more and more everyday. He has been walking around since he was a year old and is now increasing his vocabulary daily.

We are looking forward to spending Christmas here in Edmond with our families. We will be spending New Years in Breckenridge with my WHOLE family! It will be the first time we've ALL been there together.

We can't wait to hear from all of you! We wish you all a Merry Christmas. May God richly bless you all in the year to come!

Love, Jared, Brynn, Creighton and Dutch Allen

Below are some pictures of us throughout the past year.... enjoy!