Pretty Baby

Sienna really wanted a baby sister. But she is doing a great job making due with Conner!

Happy Birthday BSA!

Last Tuesday we had our annual Blue & Gold Dinner and we celebrated 100 years of scouting. Up above, RJ is proudly displaying his cake he made with his dad. If you can't tell, it is supposed to be a cubscout neckerchief, and some of the icing came off with the plastic wrap! Below, RJ just received an arrow point from me, his den leader. :o) RJ is now 10, which means he is now in the Webelos. Here he is being officially welcomed into the Webelos den and getting his new neckerchief from Brother Wood. A big night for RJ! He also earned his religious knot, way to go!

Nothing Like Relaxing With a Good Book...

Christmas Morning

What a fun day, everyone was happy, and I'm secretly glad that we're done for another year!

Bill Ben Allen

Bill Ben Allen 1934 - 2009 Bill Ben Allen passed away at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Dec. 27, of a severe stroke on Christmas night. He was born on Sept. 25, 1934,in Salt Lake City, Utah which he always referred to as the "Cross Roads of the West". He was put in an orphanage at a very early age. He lived in Foster homes for a number of years before moving to Rangeley, Colo. where his half brother lived. He finally ended up living with Robert Steele, who was the uncle of his future wife, DaVone (Allred) Allen to whom he was married for 54 years. Together they raised six beautiful children; David William Allen, Tressa Kim Kahler, Kara LaDawn Allen and Douglas Wayne Allen, all living in California, Vincent Clay Allen living in Washington, and Kami Racuel Powell living in England. He was the grandfather of 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He loved people. No one was a stranger to him and he never harbored a grudge against anyone. He was always very forgiving. He was the personification of the Good Samaritan, helping anyone in need wherever he found them. Bill's motto in life was: "There are mountains to climb, rivers to sail and oceans to cross." He lived his motto. In high school , in Rangeley, Colo. he lettered in football, basketball and track, excelling in all of them. He was one of a very rare breed who actually wrestled a bear. Professionally, he was an Engineer in the Teamster's Union, Oilfields worker, Steel and Iron worker, Real Estate salesman where he was awarded Salesman of the Year. He was an excellent, self taught mechanic. He was a jack-of-all-trades and mastered them as well. He was an avid conservative and very knowledgeable on Constitutional law. His hobbies included skin diving, boating, hunting, dancing and taking the family on wild, uncharted excursions, fulfilling his adventurous soul. Above all this, the highlight of his life was to serve an honorable two-year proselytizing and humanitarian mission with his beloved wife, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Siberia, Russia along the Mongolian border. There will be a memorial service in his honor at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel at 3501 Loma Vista Rd. in Ventura on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. His remains will be cremated then interred in Vernal, Utah at a later date.