Back at it!

     It has been a long time. I want to be able to keep in touch with family and friends as we embark on a journey back to China.  This blog was started when our (then) 3 children were playing soccer, hence the title.  Our oldest son, Zachary, is now in his 3rd year of college and no longer plays soccer ;(.  Our 15 year old son, Lucas does play soccer and is hoping to be able to play on his high school team this year. Olivia is no longer playing soccer but has switched her sport interest to fast-pitch softball.

     That said, I would love to change by blog title to something neat and catchy to reflect my life and what is happening in my life.  There are sooo many blogs out there with some really cool titles and I just draw a blank.  I would love some feedback with some of your thoughts on a new title. We do live in a very rural area, the "sticks" some would say. I do have a son with Cystic Fibrosis, and have adopted a daughter from China. AND!! we are on our way real soon to adopt another beautiful baby girl who we have named Sophia. So, please help me out an send some suggestions. Maybe that will get my creative juices flowing. Thanks :)

     So HERE WE GO! These are some updated pics of my awesome kids: 

and here is our latest edition:  Zhuang Lu Yu, aka Sophia.  She is waiting for us at the Yifeng orphanage in Jiangxi, China. She is 16 mos. old and we cannot wait for the day we can bring her home.

Such a bad blogger.....

Well, what can I say, I'm not a very good blogger. Since last June 2010:

1. Zachary is in his 2nd semester at VCU. He loves living away from home. Great for him, not so good for me. I miss him every day.

2. Lucas had an O.K. check up at MCV 2 weeks ago. His PFT's were lower than before, so he is on some Bactrim for awhile. His lungs sounded good, his weight was GREAT, and he is taller. So, hopefully in 3 months his lung functions will have improved and he will be hospital free, no tune-up needed. Soccer is getting ready to start for the spring. We just purchased a new pair of cleats that he HAD to have and some new shin guards.
3. Olivia has been in full fledge cheering mode since September. She has had 4 competitions and has 3 left for the season. She is doing an excellent job as a flyer for her team and she loves every minute of it. Her tumbling has improved to a roundoff- double back handspring tumble pass. She is so excited to be doing some more difficult stunts now. Softball has also started back for the spring/summer season. She is looking forward to playing ball again.
Terry and I are still plugging away at work and staying busy with lots of church activities...

Here are a few pics of what's been happening with the Allens'.

Visiting with the grandkids in Summerville, S.C. ...

Terry, Brandy and baby Rachael ...

Lucas and Olivia at the Daytona Race July 2010...

Olivia riding the waves....

Visiting Mickey and Minnie at Disney...

Riding rides!!!...

Meeting Mulan....

Having fun at the river ...

Fun with cousins Alicen and Emily at VA Beach.....

Trip to Ohio to spend time with special friends....

Experiencing Brody's first ride on the log flume!

Lots and lots of soccer games.....

A little pumpkin carving........

Halloween pumpkins........

Lots of cheerleading.....

Lucas sang and Olivia was a singing, dancing angel at our church Christmas Cantata....

Visiting my Ma on Christmas day......

My family celebrating Christmas at Johnna and Mark's...

Skiing at Massanutten on Christmas vacation...

Celebrating Olivia and Amanda's 8th "Gotcha Day" at Peking Restaurant

I think that about does it.

School achievements and All Star Softball

Lucas and Olivia ended the school year with all A's. We are so very proud of them! Olivia wanted to play softball this year and she even made the All Star team. She had a great time, had some great coaches and loved every minute of it! Here are a few pics of their special days:

Look Mom, all A's!

Olivia being recongnized for Honor Roll

Olivia's All Star Softball team

Little slugger getting ready to hit!

Graduation!

IT'S OFFICIAL!! We have a GRADUATE! Terry and I both had the day off last Thursday, so we both took Zachary out for lunch and to do a little shopping. We had a great day together, and at 7PM we watched Zachary walk across the stage and receive his diploma. He was also recognized for Outstanding Attendance. He had only missed 1 day in 13 years of school. He had pneumonia in Kindergarten and had to miss ONE day!! We were so proud of him. He graduated with an Advanced Studies Diploma. Here are a few pics of his special day:

Proud brother and sister!

Best friends since elementary school, band mates, and college roomies!

New Church Directory Photo

Hi everyone,

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated ;o( I have come to the realization that I am NOT a very good blogger. Life is so busy. I am working 2 PRN jobs, taxiing kids to cheerleading, soccer, softball, and trying to watch all of Zachary's soccer games. I get very teary eyed when I think I will never watch him play again. He is such a good player and I am so proud that he has stuck it out for 4 years. In 2 1/2 months he will graduate and go to college. My little boy is not so little any more;o(. He was accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University! He is so happy that 2 of his band members will also be going to VCU. His CD is almost in the making. He is going to prom, and is very busy these days getting ready for graduation.

Lucas is doing great. The CF walk is coming up on the 15th, the same day as Zach's prom. Lucas will be going back to MCV next month and we are praying for a good checkup. He is still making all A's in school and is playing his heart out on the soccer field.

Olivia, our little athlete, is busy with tumbling, cheerleading and fast pitch softball. She broke her daddy's heart when she did not play soccer this spring.;o( She said she would do that again in the fall.

We had our church directory updated and here is our family picture:

More Snoooowwww !!!!

We had another huge winter storm move into our area Friday and Saturday. For a winter baby, I'm lovin' it. We had a birthday party to go to today, so we ventured into the cold, winter wonderland. Here are a few pics I took along the way.

Driving up our gravel road, headed to the main road

Looking through the woods at our house

Our house on the hill

Snow Days 2010

Here in Virginia, we had a great snow!! This is our second of the year and we love it! The kids spent Friday and Sat. night with aunt Ashley. Zachary was in Richmond with a friend and Terry and I had the house to ourselves ;o) It was veeerrrryyyyy quiet...... So quiet, it was rather eerie. There are not many times that our house is quiet at all. We were able to catch up on all the shows we have tivo'ed and lots of movies. We watched Australia and loved it. It was 15 degrees with a windchill of 9 so we brought the animals into the basement. Isabelle didn't know what to think. She has never spent the night inside before. Sunday our church was closed so we took the kids and went sledding. We always have a great time. Here are some pics of our day: