Allen Family Update

Hi Grandma and Carter clan! It's Frank and Courtney here together to give you a little update. (We wish we were there to give it to you in person.)

Howdy! It's nice to keep in touch this way. Thank you for starting this blog. I recently started working at a physical therapist clinic doing massage on injured clients. I am taking a bit of a breather from my busy last four years. It's nice to be home more and spend time with my family. I have been enjoying helping kids with homework, playing ball and wrestling with my boys and taking my little "tiger cub" to scouts every week. I got to meet Karen and Dan's baby Gus this past week and I'm very proud of all three of them. He is a sweetie. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the reunion next year or hopefully sooner if it works out. Frank

It's a beautiful season and thankfully the Lord is blessing us with some time to regroup and strengthen. This is the first year with our kiddos off to public school. It's been an adjustment, but has already proved to be the right step. I spend my days teaching classes, studying and keeping little brother out of trouble. I love the older kids daily return from school where I get plenty of hugs and all the "oh so big" updates on the day. The kids are all well and growing too fast. - Here is a fun picture after a yoga session with Susan, Karen, Katie, Carli and I. We thought it would be fun to fan out like flower petals, but had no idea how off we were. The camera man thought we "looked great" in our asymmetrical pattern. (We won't mention who that camera man was.) Courtney

Here is Frank at a party with the boys. They really know how to have a good time together.

We hope that this harvest season has been fruitful for you all. Hugs to you Grandma Beth!

Wishing you all peace in the love of our beautiful Saviour,

Frank and Courtney

P.S. Have a wonderful Halloween with all your kiddos!

Rylee kissing new baby sister, Sydnee!

Sydnee Lynn Smith

Blessing of Pratt Cole Smith March 29/09

After a long day- a few pictures of the handsome baby boy.

Darren and Candice with brand new baby daughter, Bentley Ava Christensen, born 10 March 2009 weighing 5 lbs. 10 oz., 16 1/2 inches.

Last Friday Laurel, Elizabeth, Holly, and Pam cross-country skiied up Cub River 4 miles to the Boy Scout Lodge where we spent the night and then skiied out the next morning. Greg and their 4 children loaded up our packs and brought them in by snowmobile for us. The accommodations at the lodge were not quite like a hotel, but we had a great adventure. The cabin you see in the background was built by George Dominicus Carter and his brother, Warren, when they homesteaded this ranch and then lived there for several years. They sold the ranch to the Boy Scouts in 1916.

Baby Hayden D. Reutzel

Hayden D. Reutzel was born to Jeremy and Christy on February 23, 2009, weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. in American Fork, Utah.

Frank Allen N' Company

Hello there Carter cousins, aunts and uncles.  A special "HELLO" to Grandma Beth! Here we are, hoping to reunite with all you wonderful relatives. This is Frank's wife Courtney writing, and so you know, all thoughts, questions and feelings are from your sweet Frank too. 

I can't tell you how excited we are to be here today with this opportunity before us to not only get to know you all, but to express our love for you. We are looking forward to the next reunion, where we will finally be able to embrace each one of you and share our life with you. We thank any of you that put your prayers up for us over the years. We needed them and can't tell you how much your love means to us. You are in our hearts. 

Frank and I have shared the last fifteen years together and so you know, Frank is truly a remarkable husband and father. (I do have to say that the Carter genes are strong in him and he is quite known for his good looks.) Frank is working towards medical massage and hopefully will be finished with school this summer. We have already opened up shop in our home, in which Frank gives massages and does personal strength training. He is a wonderful provider so while he is building his practice, he earns a living as a painter (big homes) and works at a dental office. This keeps him busy. As for me, I have been home schooling our three children for the last four years which has been a wonderful experience for both Frank and I. I am a yoga instructor and not only do I love teaching it, but I love my clients who at this point are Susan, Aunt Karen and Cousin Katie. I can't tell you what a joy it is to have that time with them. Susan shows her love for you all and continues to share your beauty.

Carli Beth is our firstborn. Frank chose a good name and reminded me when he picked it that his grandma carries the name. Carli is eleven years old and a split 50-50 of Frank and I. She's a reader and a writer. She is good with children and wants to be a librarian when she grows up.

Bradey James is our six year old. He carries the Allen genes and reminds people of his uncle Richard. He's tough, but affectionate. 

Luke Thomas just turned three and is a spitting image of his daddy. I say he looks more like Frank then Frank. Everyone tells him often that he's a mini-Frank. He's got those Carter genes!

Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day this year! 

Love in Christ,

Frank, Courtney, Carli, Bradey and Luke

P.S. If any of you are on facebook, look me up. It's helped me connect better with my family and I'd love to do the same with you. (Courtney Nelson Allen)

Christmas Eve with Susan, Karen and Dan
Look closely and you can see Carli's little nose between Frank and Luke! She was being funny.

Left to right - Luke, Bradey and Carli

Pratt Cole Smith

Blessing of Ella Beth Smith

Karen and family

We are still living in Coeur d' Alene Idaho. Hannah is a Junior in High School and Katie is a freshman. Katie is going to begin Driver's Ed soon. Jonah is here with us and keeps us shoveled out. We've had the most snowfall and worst winter on record here. We have a pretty lively household with three teenagers coming and going, a dog and two cats, and of course a mom.
Wev'e enjoyed having Susan move back and spending time with her and also Frankie and Courtney. Rebecca and Emily live in Denver Co. and are both working and going to school. Happy New Year to everyone and look forward to seeing you all again at the next reunion if not sooner. Love, Karen

More Xmas Party Pictures

♥ So Happy Together ♥

Hello Carter Family! from Karen and Daniel Bell. If you're wondering where I come in, I'm Karen Allen Bell, Susan Carter Allen's daughter.

Daniel and I have been married for two years now since October 13th, 2006. It was so wonderful to have Grandma Beth and Aunt Laurel there for the sealing!

Daniel and I with Grandma Beth, Aunt Laurel and Aunt Karen.

Us on our Wedding Day outside the Spokane, WA Temple.

Daniel and I live in Moscow, Idaho and have been attending the University of Idaho. I just graduated with my Bachelor's in Dec. 08 in Clothing, Textiles and Design. Daniel has 3 more semesters before he graduates in Secondary Eduacation. He wants to teach Physics and Theater. He's so smart and talented!!! I'm so blessed to have him and I love him so much!!!!

Daniel and I met in Highschool, in Choir. The first thing he ever said to me was, "Hello Beautiful." He went on his mission to Suriname, South America: Dutch speaking. So after dating in High School, two years and lots of letters, and 5 months home off his mission we got married. Some things we enjoy together are camping, snowboarding, raquetball and singing together.

Love,

Karen & Daniel Bell ♥

Shannon and Michael

Shannon & Mike, fall at University Arboretum

Sadie...peekaboo

Merlin...Grrrr

Merlin in his house...when he was a pup

Shannon, Sadie, & Merlin (Our Shibas)

Shannon - Mirror Lake, Canada

Shannon & Mike, Mt. Assiniboine, Canada

The Rusca's Update: Mike and I live in Moscow, Idaho. Mike works for University of Idaho, as a computer network analyst and keeps very busy. I just started teaching this fall at Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington, in the Human Development Department. I have the best of both worlds, working with 3 to 5 year olds in our preschool lab and teaching undergraduates child development. I am loving my new job!

In our spare time, Mike and I enjoy hiking and backpacking, so I've included some pictures of our last backpacking trip in Banff Canada (also because I don't have any more current ones...oh well). This year we hope to take the dogs out for a few overnight hiking trips...we'll see.

Wishing all a Wonderful and Happy New Year! Shannon

Having our family Home for Xmas

Family Christmas Party