what a week

It's been busy, busy, busy! A couple that we are very close to is expecting a baby the first week of June. The whole pregnancy, *L* has really been struggling. She's been sick a lot and the last two weeks she's had a lot of contractions. Today (Sunday), she went to the hospital for the 4th time to get checked out. I've been over to their house a lot the past week to check on her and to help out. On top of that, her husband *A* has been having some health issues of his own so needless to say, they've been having a tough week!

Between helping A&L out and keeping up with my own home and family, I haven't done a whole lot of other stuff.

Last Sunday we went to hear our nephew Andrew Zundel speak in his ward for his missionary farewell. He has been called to the California San Fernando Mission, Spanish speaking. He will enter the MTC on Wednesday, May 27th. His older brother Zachary is still serving in England. Zach will come home in September.

I had my annual Deaf Mentor evaluation this past Friday and I am happy to say that my supervisor and boss are pleased with my work and I am still employed. Har har har. My department head was so happy when I told her I would be willing to take a family back in January. I'd have to do something so incredibly stupid to get fired that it's incomprehensible. Still, in this time of economic uncertainty and with the state facing budget cuts across the board (including USDB), I am happy that I have a job!

I am so looking forward to summer! We'll start off with a week's vacation with Steven's family in Alaska. Steven's parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year and two years ago they told their family they were taking their six children and spouses on a cruise to Alaska. Originally we were going to go in August but Steven's younger sister is expecting a baby in November and the cruise line won't take anyone more than 24 weeks, plus one of the brothers in law is a college professor so the trip was moved to the second week of June to accommodate his teaching schedule and Shauna's pregnancy. We fly to Seattle on June 5th, board the ship on the 6th, and cruise through Alaska's Inside Passage then return to Seattle on June 13th. We are especially excited that our last night on board we will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary!

At the end of June, we will gather with my siblings to get Mom and Dad Allen's home ready for their return from Africa. They are scheduled to arrive home on July 1st. Sometime after that they will speak in church to report on their mission. We have an extended Allen family reunion scheduled for July 18th at Cherry Hill in Kaysville. Mom and Dad Allen have also told us they want to take their family on a vacation too. When and where have yet to be determined. There's a Dean (Steven's mother's family) family reunion in August, and then we are back to school Aug. 24th. In between we'll go swimming, picnicking, visit parks and other tourist places around Salt Lake City, visit grandparents, do some summer learning activities and just enjoy being together.