a year in one blog

What have I been doing for the last year since I last posted a blog...?

I ran the St. George Marathon!

I played air-guitar at the Salt Lake temple!

...lots of it. This one is air-ukulele!

I went to Cancun, Mexico!

I went to Wind Rivers, WY AGAIN!

Wind Rivers, WY

I'm pretty sure this blog has turned into a travel log...why not?! I'm a weekend warrior. The Wind Rivers is probably the prettiest place I've ever been. A couple of weeks ago Kevin, Jared, Nathan, John, Meredith and I hiked in about 15 miles. The macho guys made sure not to get too lazy on the second day and hiked a decent 12 hours to Gannett Peak. Meredith and I took some pictures after some healthy sleeping-in instead.

To start out the guys thought they'd only be gone until noon, but as the sun started going down we got more and more worried...or bored maybe. So, right before we assembled the rescue party of granola and avocados (Meredith thinks they're an energy food or something...), we sat some more.

I'd like to go again, who's with me?!

The Canyon that is Grand

I know I'm spoiled rotten and shouldn't have been able to go, but yes, I got to raft the Grand Canyon. I worked for my passage as an indentured servant and slave, a.k.a. a swamper. 118 farenheit in the shade. Throwing bags and supplies all day. Rigging the frigging boats. Cooking awesome meals and eating last. Tying the bowline. Getting backed. Waking up at the butt-crack of dawn. I'm a wimp. I didn't even have to do the groover duties! That's the toilet, by-the-way; they call it that so the pretty ladies and macho guys sound cool when they announce they are going to use it. In short, lets just say river guides earned a lot of respect in my eyes...good work you river addicts!

This is the confluence of the Little Colorado and the Big one...

and the Little again...


We went to some increadible waterfalls!

We rafted from the dam at Lake Powell to Lake Mead..280 miles! What an adventure!

oh mexico...

It happened. I actually turned 25. I decided that the best way to avoid the let downs that are inherent with lacking birthday calls or presents, I would get out of dodge! And what better place to arrive at 25 on the 25th of May than Mexico! You have to go big for the golden birthday! I woke up on the beach, the sound of the ocean was amazing, took a shower that gave me a brain freeze, ate as many street tacos as I could handle, set up a slackline and killed the competition all without breaking a sweat. "I eeben wen for a ryeed wit Juan Jose in dees sweet baja bug!"

I finally got a break from work!! I went to Idaho and Wyoming this weekend with a big group for a friend's wedding. It was beautiful. It was cold. It was necessary.

Here I am near my death bed from a night of the flu on a trip to hawaii. It turned out well because I'd been so busy snorkeling that I hadn't even busted out the uke. So here it is. I also just bought on new uke, so I'm on my way to the big times. I don't know if I gave in or finally stepped up, but...I made a myspace music page. please visit at let me know what you think!

http://www.myspace.com/emilyukulele

I'm so thankful

thanksgiving was really great this year. we had a party of about 60 family members come and only broke about 12 glasses. whoo!! crazy allens! it has been so nice to see people in my family lately. Davy especially. i sang a couple of songs with eliza and she is awesome playing or singing anything she tries. Davy is an eating machine and i spent a lot of time just watching him shovel the food in. i got offers to go live in anarbor, michigan with my aunt jane and just be a musician...an idea :)
Christmas was even better than thanksgiving! i got jumped on at 8 am...yeah Christmas! I'm so excited...no, i was still mad. the kids loved opening their presents and running all over the place causing havok. 7 of the 11 allen kids got together for this photo: that is a big deal. i'm working on getting everyone back here slowly. i also got a new ukulele from hawaii. i could barely sleep last night because i just wanted to keep playing it even though my fingers hurt.