"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

In Utah, we found a few things we are THANKFUL for...

Creative Cousins...that taught us how to make friendship bracelets,

and "Oreo Turkey's" that adorned our Thanksgiving table.

SNOW!!!! with even enough to build "Frosty Jane"

Great Grandma Fryer, whom we all love and adore!

HOMEMADE ROLLS! Aliyah and I tackled this project. I think we made a total of 70 rolls, you have to have plenty of leftovers for those turkey sandwiches. YUM!

Grandma Sharon. The Amazing cook!
PIE...by aunt Christie

Football...on Thanksgiving Day, it doesn't get any better than this!!

Cute Girly Boutiques...only in Utah, so we have to take advantage. The girls were pretty cute in their new hats on Thanksgiving Day!

HUGS & KISSES

Birthday Cakes. We were in Utah for my niece's 15th birthday. So we thought we better make a cake, since this is one of our favorite things about birthday's!! This was my first attempt at fondant...I thought it turned out pretty good, and it is actually, I think, a little easier than frosting!!

Birthday Parties. Hope you had a fabulous birthday Calli. My kids think the world of you!!

FRIENDS...that invite us over for the BYU/UTAH game, and let our kids run wild!!

and then, send us home with a freshly cut Christmas tree. That's right the "Griswald's" hauled the tree all the way to Vegas!

And, lastly, this Thanksgiving Ammon was most Thankful for: J-E-L-L-O. The kids could not get enough!!

Ok, so in the title I said a "few" of the things that we are Thankful for; it ended up a little longer list than I had originally planned. But you know what, we are truly blessed, all of us!!! What a blessed holiday, and so nice to have the time to reflect and ponder on those things and relationships that enrich and inspire our lives. Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Aspen's 1st Triathalon

Aspen completed her first Triathlon, and actually it was a family affair! All of those in our family old enough to compete, signed up, and completed the St. George Turkey Triathlon. It was great for Darin and I, but I was definitely most proud of Aspen to commit to the training, overcome her fears of getting lost or not knowing where to go, and completing the KIDS portion... swimming 2 lengths in the pool, 1 mile bike ride, and a 1/2 mile run. She crossed the finish line at 24 minutes, which put her almost exactly in the middle, ranking 30th out of 63 participants. The minute she finished the race, she said, "I want to do it again!!" I was so happy to hear those words, obviously she had a good experience! It is such a testimony for me, the things that you are involved in, and the things that you expose your children to, can truly take root in their heart, and can influence their lives and their future. I love that we made this goal as a family, I enjoyed spending some individual time with Aspen as we would head out for a ride, take a run around our community, or spend Family Night at the YMCA pool. I hope Aspen will always remember that those things that are HARD will only make her STRONGER.
I think we might even have Aliyah persuaded to try the triathlon in April. There was a few other four years olds out there competing, I could not believe it, but I think with a little coaching mentally and physically, she may be up for it in April. I love this St. George Triathlon, it is perfect for beginners, and perfect for kids, it also doesn't hurt that I am in love with St. George...it's beautiful scenery, landscape, weather, shopping, and the fact that it is only 90 minutes from our home!!

One of the best parts: Aspen had 3 of her close friends that also took on the challenge. Aspen and Hanna had been waiting in line for close to 45 minutes, as they had to wait for the "Sprint" kids to finish before the "Beginners" could go. During this time, we took them to the bathroom, and asked them several times if they had to use the restroom one last time. As these two GIRLS approached the starting line, and actually were the very next ones to begin the Swim, we see them running in the opposite direction, all I could think was, "are they backing out now, did their fears get the worst of them", oh no, they just had to "go to the bathroom". Such GIRLS!!!
Here's pic's of her SWIM, BIKE, RUN

Our Cheering Section!!

We have very loyal supporters, and we appreciate their love, support, encouragement, and HELP with the younger children. We could not do it without them!! Connie and Eddie have been at all 3 triathlons this year, and my mom and Dad have made it to the last two. I really have to give a "shout" out to my mom, that made the 5 hour trek to St. George, manhandled Ammon for several hours (dealing with diaper issues, because Mom forgot to pack him a diaper, as she was worried about the insane amount of apparel and accessories needed for the event), and just 5 weeks before underwent a total knee replacement! I tell you, we are so blessed!

The Turkey Tri is now in the history books. This time, I did feel a little more of a competitive spirit, the last two triathlons my goal was just to finish. I guess that competitiveness gave me a little edge, I was able to beat my April's finish by 5 minutes, a time of 1 hour and 26 minutes. Darin finished in 1 hour and 27 minutes, this time I didn't even beat him by a full minute, kudos to Darin, his back was giving him some pretty intense pain. I love the race environment, I love that we had friends (Amber and Geneva you rock!!) that also decided to compete and inspire us along the way, and I love that we accomplished it as a family!

Thunderbirds Air Show

Come to find out, this Thunderbird, #7, Cerek Routt, is the father to one of Aliyah's preschool classmates.

#6, Rick Goodman, also has his son in Aliyah's preschool. We didn't know that we go to preschool with such famous people!!

Last year, I was blown away, and fell in love with the Thunderbirds and the show they put on the weekend after Veteran's Day. On Friday, they have a private showing for active military and their families. Once again, this was put on our calendar as a "must attend" event. I even called Darin's parents and highly encouraged them to take the time off of work and venture to Las Vegas for the amazing air show. I think I can say pretty confidently, that they were not disappointed! It is such a fun atmosphere, and one of the best parts, is that you don't have the crowds to contend with, the CROWDS will be there Saturday and Sunday!! Aspen is definitely a fan of the Thunderbirds, and will not give up until she has their autograph signatures. This year she collected 11 out of the 12 Thunderbirds signatures. I think I understand her desire, there is just something about a "man in uniform"!!!! Not only was it an amazingly entertaining show, but the feelings of patriotism, sense of pride, appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy, and the gratitude for the deployed men and women (and the sacrifice them and their families endure). I found myself emotional on more than one occasion. Ammon was also a fan of the "planes". In fact, Grandma Allred couldn't resist buying him an "F-22" of his very own. He carried it around all day, and still finds it's way into his hands several times a day! What a day...the weather was beautiful, the show was incredible, and it was rewarding to share with family a small portion of what the Air Force represents.

Valley Of Fire

For Veteran's Day, we decided to explore a part of Nevada that we had not yet discovered. We ended up at the Valley of Fire State Park. It was absolutely breathtaking, the colors in the rocks were amazing. Who knew that pink, purple, yellow, orange and red rocks could all be in one location, and the best part for the girls, is that the rocks created pink and purple sand, and according to them, the different colors of sand could produce special powers!! The kids had a great day exploring, hiking, and being with friends. We love the great outdoors, and I continue to be amazed with the variety of beauty that this state has to offer. I love that our kids WANT to go hiking, they WANT to explore, and they WANT to be outdoors enjoying the natural beauty.

Ammon and Josh loving the sand dunes, how can sand be this soft??

The beauties. My, my, these girls are getting tall!!!


The kids loved the "Beehive" rocks. They pretended that this was their house, and everyone that came by had to take a tour of their house...complete with a front door, bedrooms, family room, and kitchen.

Can you see the colors in the rock? The picture doesn't do it justice!


This hike had so much variety.


The orange color in this rock was absolutely beautiful.

A rock that doubles as a slide!!

2 Weeks of Halloween Fun!!

It never ends...the endless Halloween fun.
It started off with the Fall Festival at Kitty Ward Elementary, where the Lil' Wolves performed for the crowd...

Then onto the ward party and "trunk-or-treat", where Darin was the MC for the night, and our bishopric performed the "Monster Mash". And I will have you all know, our bishopric knows how to do it up right, they actually went downtown Las Vegas and had a professional make-up artist assist in the amazing transformations (after all, we do live in LV, you have to take advantage of the talent the city has to offer!!)

Enough fun and games for the kids, us adults needed to PARTY!! Ten years ago (way back in our medical school days), ourselves and the Taylors hosted an adults Halloween Party, and lets just say, we know that adults like to have just as much fun at a costume party. So...we brought it back (now that the we are again in the same ward as Jason and Melinda, there was no excuses).

Here's the invite:

BOO YA’LL

Call the sitter, put the kids to bed

It’s time for the grown-up’s to rise from the dead.

Come dressed in your costume,

either frightening, or fair,

Don’t miss the party, cause we want you there!

Date: Friday, October 30th

Time: 6:00pm

Place: Allred home.

Calling all witches, ghosts, and ghouls…

Will your costume be the one that rules??

Costume contest and soup contest!!

And here are the fun people that showed up on our doorstep:

The Mobsters: Boopsie , Sticky Fingers, and The Needle.

CSI, and her "Knock-Out" husband

Wendy and Colonel Sanders (yes, I really look like a dork!)

Jack and Jill, with a broken crown and black eyes

Audrey Hepburn and the King himself... Elvis

The Fantasy

Candidates for "Best Costume"... Mit Romney and Sarah Palin

Medusa and the man she turned to stone (aka our bishop)

Marshmallow man and the "Ghostbuster" (costume contest winners)

Snow White and Grumpy

Whoopie and the cowgirl

The doctor and "pregnant" nurse

Roll Reversal, FBI Agent and Pregnant Mom

The Party was complete with Yummy homemade soups, bread, and desserts. Followed by a donut eating contest, relay games (yes we are in Southern Nevada, and we can still play outside!!), charades, finding spider rings in ice cold water (only feet and toes allowed), and we all took a final bough when we took the stage and acted out our costume!! It was hilarious!

Bishop didn't mind getting down and dirty! This was his strategy, getting the donut on the ground, and eating it off the ground -YUK. What people will do to WIN!!

The relays...

The spiders on toes!

A fun party, a fun tradition. Thanks Melinda and Emily for all the help!


Aliyah's preschool party and parade.

Aspen's 2nd grade party

And lastly, we reach our final destination, Halloween night. We had a block party, with food, tables, chairs, and children in the street!! Then, the moment we have all been waiting for... "Trick-or-Treating"

We decided to go "Halloween Traditional" this year. With the Witch, the pumpkin, and the bat. But of course my two beauties were not just going to be any ordinary witch or pumpkin. Aspen had to be the "Glamour Witch" and Aliyah had to be the "Pumpkin Princess"

The Aromas in our kitchen...

one thing that I love about this time of year is the food. Once the weather cools down, and you feel that fall is in the air,I start thinking about cooking and spending more time in the kitchen. If you know me, I am not one to spend hours in the kitchen, but something about this time of year beacons my more domestic side. I love the aromas, the cozy feeling, and sitting down around the dinner table to share a down-home meal. So, the last couple of weeks our kitchen has been filled with Homemade chicken noodle soup, spaghetti squash, homemade bread, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cookies, carmel apples, and on the menu soon...Chili simmering in the crockpot all day (and we will have to throw in some corn bread). What are your favorites this time of year? If you have any great recipes or fall traditions, I would love for people to share!! Here's some pic's of the kids making carmel apples, always a favorite in our home.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5, YUM!!

Who Rocks The House??

"I Said The Wolves Rock The House

And When The Wolves Rock The House...They Rock It All The Way Down!!"

Yes, we have a cheerleader in the house. At the end of first grade Aspen tried out for the "Lil' Wolves" cheerleading team. The Lil' Wolves is comprised of 1st and 2nd graders at her elementary school. I just kept saying, I can not believe I am at this stage in my life, my daughter is attending 3 days of "cheer clinic" and then will have "tryouts"...are you kidding me, she is in 2nd grade!! But Aspen really wanted to give it a shot. 50 girls tried out, and 25 made the team. I was totally prepared with a rejection speech, and thought either way, she will have to face these challenging situations sooner or later in life. Fortunately for Aspen, the rejection speech was put in mom's back pocket for a later date.
This past Wednesday the Lil' Wolves had their first performance at the Fall Showcase, where all the performing academies performed for parents and the student body. It was a fantastic show, I am super impressed with the quality of teachers, staff, and administration at Kitty Ward Elementary. Aspen and the other Lil' Wolves performed to the song, "I want Candy", followed by a couple of cheers, "The Kitty Ward Rumble", and "K-I-T-T-Y W-A-R-D". It was super cute, and yes I was in tears by the end of the show, I don't know why I get so emotional at these things. It truly has been a good experience for Aspen. The entire show was titled, "Cloudy With a Chance of Pumpkins". There was songs, musical instruments, a play, a hip-hop routine, and cheerleaders that all contributed to a fun fall showcase.  It was also fun to see many of our friends and ward members perform and share their talents!

More to come at the Fall Festival...

Saturday Morning Hike...

at Red Rock...Beautiful!

The Best of Both Worlds

Right now, I am loving living in North Las Vegas. I don't know of too many places where you can enjoy boating one day, and a few days later enjoy a pumpkin farm and fall time activities. This is just what we did this past weekend. On Saturday we spent a great day at Lake Mead, the weather was perfect, not too hot, but definitely warm enough to hang out on the sandy beach. We basically just hung out on the beach, as the wind had brought huge waves, and after much crying, whining, and pleading, we convinced Darin to turn the boat around and just play in the sand. I tell you, those waves had white caps, and it was a rocky and wet boat ride...the kids were crying and the moms were not far from tears, those "worry wart" mom's!! So after our adventurous beginning we just enjoyed a relaxing, playful time at the beach!

Fortunately for us, our beach neighbors made this great "Slip-n-slide" into the lake, and invited us over, well at least I think they invited us, or maybe we invited ourselves!!

Thanks Walkers for spending a great day with us at the lake, oh, I mean the BEACH!!

On Monday we headed for St. George Utah, to enjoy a fabulous Pumpkin Farm. St. George, I am REALLY beginning to love this place!! After living in Ohio for 5 years I became accustomed to some great pumpkin farms, and this was tradition for our family every October. Since moving to Vegas I have been a little disenchanted with their pumpkin farm, we went last year, and it was OK, but didn't hold a candle to Ohio Pumpkin Patches. So my friend Geneva had this great idea to call and see what St. George (only 90 min. drive) had to offer.

We found this...

Ammon was hilarious. He loved this train, he couldn't get enough! The first time I went with Ammon, and I was glad I did, it was more of an adventurous train ride than I had planned on. It was faster and a little more on the wild side than your average train ride. The ride came to a halt and Ammon and I exited. Well at least I thought Ammon went to the exit, I soon found out that he had climbed back in one of the cars, and the train was off, all I saw was the back of his head!! I was NERVOUS, just hoping he would stay seated, and would "hang-on" for this wild ride! Before I knew it, he was back, waving and smiling ear to ear! I think he must have went on the train at least 8 or 10 times!

All in All, a great day. I think Aspen would agree, a great way to spend a day out of school (staff development day). Thanks Geneva for planning such a fun adventure, and letting us keep alive our tradition of attending a FABULOUS pumpkin farm!

Mommy Daughter Date

One of the things I love is spending some individual time with my children. This time it was a Mommy Daughter Date, and since I have two beautiful daughters, it was double the pleasure this time!! We had the great opportunity of seeing Annie live on stage in Tuachan. If you do not know, Tuachan is an outdoor theater in St. George Utah constructed right into the beautiful red rock landscape. I have heard of Tuachan numerous times, but never had the privilege of experiencing it for myself. I am a fan. It was Amazing, beautiful, and the weather could not have been more enjoyable. An evening under the stars, snuggling with my two beauties, and celebrating with such a fun musical. Oh, and we had great friends to accompany and share in the evening, isn't everything so much more fun when you have friends to share with!! "It's a Hard Knock Life", "Tomorrow", and "I think I'm Gonna Like It Here", continue to resonate in our home, such a classic, so fun to share with my girls something that I have fond memories of as well!! What an evening, thanks girls, and friends, for making such a memorable evening.

The girls had to get a picture with Molly, she was one of the favorites!

We DO live in Las Vegas

It hit home today, we really DO live in Las Vegas..the gambling capital of the world!! Aspen brought home a story that she had written in her class, titled Olivia Goes To Hollywood. After clarification, yes, she did create this story all on her own.
Here's the story:
"One day Olivia's family went to gamble. And her Dad won. But...instead of money, a ticket to Hollywood came out. Her Dad was so surprised. Then he told Olivia. She jumped up and down, and screamed. Then they drove home. She couldn't wait. When she got home she ran and packed her bags. So they were off!! They went on a plane. When they got there a man said to Olivia, "You won - your're going to be a super star" He put glasses on her and a feather boa. For the rest of the day she was a super star. She got a free ticket to drive in a limo.
THE END."
What a fun story, but to tell you the truth I was somewhat shocked that she knew about gambling. So I said, "How do you know what gambling is?" She said, "Mom, I know because I see it when we go to the casinos." AHHH, that's right, we DO live in Las Vegas!! I don't think I knew what gambling was when I was 7 years old, and really doubt I could have come up with this detailed story. These 7 years olds these days are just way beyond their years!!! Is this good or bad??

Primary Program Stars

Today was our primary program. The girls did so well, I was a proud mama!! Aliyah had a small speaking part, and Aspen sang "He Sent His Son" in a small group. Aspen was a little nervous, but she was definitely prepared! Unfortunately Dad has been out of town this weekend, so he missed the program. My heart was truly aching and tears began to well up when they started with the opening song, "God gave us families." Not very good planning on our part, Dad misses the primary program about Eternal Families. I was so proud of Aliyah, she stood up there and sang every song, did all of the actions, and confidently spoke into the microphone. I was a little worried...at the practice she was crying and didn't even want to sit on the stand. I love all of the primary children, they are amazing, beautiful, and have a way of conveying such a sweet spirit. It was a beautiful sabbath day. At the end of the program, as the children sang the first verse of Families Can Be Together Forever, and the congregation joined in, I began to feel the lump in the throat and the beginning of tears, I truly was touched by these spirits that shared their testimonies of families and Heavenly Father's plan for all of us. Aspen came off the stand and fell into my arms for a big hug, and she quickly said, "Mom you didn't cry, we didn't make you cry?". I said, "actually, I was teary eyed when you sang Families Can be Together Forever." She replied, "I didn't see you crying, Geneva (Hanna's mom) was crying, and her nose was all red, Your nose wasn't red, and it doesn't look like you have been crying." Oh dear Aspen, I truly was touched and I definitely was moved to tears. After talking with the Primary chorister, I guess she had told the kids that if they sing incredibly well, they might be able to "bring their mothers to tears." Ok, I guess I better make it a little more visible next time!!!

Fall Activities

I guess I can call these Fall activities, even though it doesn't feel much like Fall here in LV... any way, this is what we have been up to...

Aspen, Aliyah, and their cute friend Mia decided to design, make, market, and sell some fashionable seashell jewelry. They did it all on their own, before I knew it, they were out front with the sell in progress. Our neighbors were so kind, and I think they ended up making $4 for the day! This is was being a kid is all about...it's not only about lemonade stands anymore!!

Apple Picking. This is definitley one of my favorite fall activities. For Aliyah's first preschool fieldtrip we went to the local apple orchard, which I might add, they have the most delicious fresh apple juice (all natural). We had a great time, just a little different, we were all in shorts, t-shirts, sweat was dripping from our brow, and we were constantly searching for the nearest shade. In Ohio that is one thing that I loved, pulling out the sweatshirts and jackets to head for the apple orchard or the pumpkin farm.

Yard work for FHE, Dad had this great idea. And you know what, the kids loved it, they love to help Dad and trim bushes, mow grass, and tidy the yard. And afterwards we headed for the Hot Tub, we havn't used it all summer, hmmm, I can't imagine why:)

Lucky #33

As my husband called it, when I woke up to this wonderful surprise on my 33rd birthday...
"Lucky #33. Happy Birthday!! This could be the last Birthday of yours we celebrate together here in Vegas -- So, we better do it up right!! Mr. Trump offered us a room at his place down town. Thought we would dine at the cuisine of your choice, then take a night flight over the strip in a helicopter. Don't worry about staying out late - you can sleep until 10am - when we have our couples massage scheduled!! We can then lounge by the pool, go shopping, or find more good food to eat! It is sure to be 24 hours you won't soon forget!!
Love, Your Hubby"

I think I will quote Aspen when I say, "This was the best birthday EVER!" We really did have an amazing time. My husband went above and beyond this time. It is true, this may be my last birthday in Vegas that we celebrate together...next year he will be deployed, and we may have moved from Vegas the following year. So we had to do it up right!!! And we are so lucky to be "locals", and we can get some amazing "local" discounts, I am telling you right now, you tourists can get a little taken advantage of!

I absolutely loved the Trump International. It was beautiful inside and out. And the best part, it had no casino!! No smoke, no gambling, and no skimpy outfits on the cocktail waitresses. Another great part, Darin was able to priceline it, and got a fabulous deal on a 5 star hotel!!

We dined at DJT (Donald J. Trump) Restaurant. They sat us in one of their secluded booths. It is basically a little room, with a curtain you can close for privacy, we were laughing and making jokes!! It was a fun and romantic atmosphere, and once again, we were able to dine for an incredible price. I think they are running dinner specials in hopes of getting the locals to dine more often, to boost their numbers in this trying economy.

Our helicopter ride. It was one of the most exciting and thrilling things I have ever done. I was extremely nervous at first, in fact I told Darin, "Maybe we should take separate helicopters just in case, I don't know if I can face my children losing both parents!!" The fear soon wore off once we were airborne. It was AAAAmazing. I would do it all over in a heartbeat. The down side was that the ride itself was only 12 minutes, 12 minutes for all that cash, but I have to say, it was worth it!!
Oh, and the Massage. Heaven on Earth!!

Darin took the day off of work, so we went shopping and just hung together for the day. What a sweet husband, so thoughtful, considerate, creative, spontaneous, and always up for a good time! Thanks honey, for a definitely memorable birthday. And as always, a huge thank you to my parents that were in town and took care of the children while we enjoyed 24 hours child free!

Lake Las Vegas Triathalon

Yesterday Darin and I completed the Lake Las Vegas Triathlon - Sprint Distance. It was intense!! Just two weeks prior to the race, we found out that they had increased the distance on the swim and the bike, they wanted it to be a "qualifying" event for some future race. Not only were the distances further, but the terrain and design of the course was more difficult than we had planned. With all that being said, it was still an amazing experience and definitely a GOOD challenge. It was a race that challenged my mind and body in every aspect, but I am actually learning to enjoy these challenges and push myself a little more than I thought possible. Races are always an emotional experience for me, I find myself on the verge of tears occasionally throughout the race, but it is the good kind of emotion, the tears are not coming from pain or discouragement, it comes from the feeling of accomplishment, the gratitude I have for a healthy body, and the happiness I feel from the OVERWHELMING support and love from family and friends. My parents, as well as Darin's parents came to show their support and to help with the children. I know for a fact that my children have been blessed with the best grandparents in the world!! They were there at every transition cheering us on, it makes such a difference to have that cheering section! I think the kids thought it is pretty to cool to cheer mom and dad on, and they were so proud to ring the "cow bells" and raise the hand-made poster in the air. I love seeing their smiling faces, it gave me even more determination as I would imagine in my mind our reunion at the "finish line". I am so proud of my husband, he has not participated in a Triathlon since he was a youth, and he was Amazing. He pushed himself and gave it everything he had. He was not excited about the swim, in fact, he kept telling me that he was just hoping that he didn't drown. I kept telling him, "you won't drown, don't even say that," but guess what, I saw boats and kayaks pull 3 people out of the water that were not making it. That was a little terrifying!! But he completed the 1/2 mile swim (a 1/2 mile may not sound far, but in the water, let me tell you, it is FAR!), then onto a 14 mile bike ride, and finished with a 5K (3.1 mile) run. We did it, we did it together, it was fun to train as a couple, we would often compare training tactics and workout distances. On occasion we would train side-by-side, but with children it was a little tricky, so we resorted to Darin riding his bike to work, and I would hit the gym while he was at work. Overall it was an amazing journey, and just one day later I am already saying that I will do it again!! I guess that's a good sign! Oh, and by the way, our times: Darin 2 hours and 10 minutes. Jen 2 hours and 8 minutes. That's right, I beat the hubby by 2 minutes!!! This is what Darin has to say about it, "I just know how to keep the wife Happy!"

Lake Las Vegas. It is absolutely beautiful. We had never ventured out to Lake Las Vegas, so this was a treat to explore a new area, and I think we may be visiting more often!

The Loew's Hotel, where we stayed and where the race began, was Incredible. Aspen loved the pool, in fact, she said that it was her most favorite pool out of all the hotels we have stayed in. Aliyah also loved the pool, and the water slide, she even went down the water slide by herself, that was a huge accomplishment for Aliyah!! I think Aspen and Aliyah must have went down the water slide at least 50 times.

Grandma and Aliyah on the slide!!

The Race. Here is a look at the transition area. A little crazy, you just have to remember where you left YOUR stuff!!

Here we are: #221, and #220

Swim

Bike

Run

"At The Finish!!"

Our Amazing family!

And, our Amazing friends! In my mind, this is the only way to do a triathlon, with friends there to help, encourage, and PUSH you along the way!

We did it! I think it is just a little bit sweeter because it was a goal we set out to do together, and we were at the finish line together!

Allred's make it 2 for 2!!

We have 2 sets of friends that have been getting together for Memorial Day Weekend for the past several years. As you all know, we have been living in Ohio for the past 5 years, so making it for "Memorial Day Weekend" was impossible. Fortunately for us, the one set of friends decided to do Labor Day Weekend this year. Thus, we made it 2 for 2, we were so ecstatic to be able to reconnect and reunite with both sets of friends this year!!

So, Labor Day Weekend was spent in Surprise/Phoenix, Arizona. We had a great time, and I truly enjoyed the time we had to reminisce and pick up right where we left from almost 7 years ago!! These are our Elder's Quorum buddies, the four men where in the Elder's Quorum presidency in our Surprise Ward while Darin was in Medical School. We had a blast then, and let's just say we still know how to "PARTY". Friday night we left the children in good hands with 2 babysitters, and headed out on the town...dinner at Firebirds, a little shopping at XI Clothing (my great friend Denise, and her fabulous clothing finds!!), and then Games at Dave & Busters. I have never been to a "grown-up" Chucky Cheese, but it actually was a lot of fun!! Saturday we woke up to an intense rain storm, I haven't seen that much rain since we moved from Ohio, the kids had a great time playing in the rain, and it felt good to see so much moisture coming from the sky! That afternoon we headed for the resort, we stayed at The Arizona Grand in Tempe. The pool was definitely the best past, with a lazy river, a wave pool, water slides, and a fun little kids area. On Sunday we ventured to the Mesa Temple to see the Joseph Smith movie, and the fairly newly remodeled visitors center. I love the Mesa Temple, it is so unique and beautiful. We couldn't leave the temple grounds without a few pictures of the "gang". So here you go, a few pic's of our weekend...

Some of the kids that took advantage of the Arizona rain storm!

The entire crew!! You know we are a little crazy when we go to a restaurant and ask for a table for 8 adults and 15 children!

A HUGE Thank You to the Mariner's , the Ruff's, and the Cannon's...you guys are all amazing, and it was wonderful to hang out with your amazing family's. Especially, a big thank you to Jason and Denise, that organized, planned, and even let us crash at their house the first night!! You guys are the best, and we look forward to this tradition being carried on!

The whole gang at the pool at the beautiful Arizona Grand Resort!

Star of the Week

Ms. Aspen Lynn Allred

Aspen and her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Cayer

As "star of the week", a portion of the classroom wall is dedicated to this special person. Lots of fun pictures, the estimation jar complete with starbursts, and Aspen's very special Russian Dolls that Grandma Sharon brought back from Russia.


Ammon and I had the privilege of eating lunch with Aspen as part of her special week. Aspen requested "Panda Express", so Orange Chicken and Chow Mein noodles instead of Cafeteria food today! I think Aspen thought it was pretty cool to have her little brother at school. All of her classmates and teacher thought he was so cute!

What a great way to start off a new school year!

Back to School...first week in the history books

Big 2nd grader. Kitty Ward Elementary watch out!

















Aliyah's 2nd year of preschool.

I don't know why it is nearly impossible for me to take just one picture of my children. When I went "Back to School" I had one picture, that was it!!



Everyone was happy at the end of the first "Big" week. Actually, Aliyah just went for "Open House", and the real fun will begin on Tuesday. I am so excited about her preschool teacher, I think it will be a fantastic year.

Aliyah and Mrs. Kathy

To end the week our very clever neighbors brought us these cupcakes to celebrate "first week down".

And then, mom thought it would be clever to take the kids to a Las Vegas 51's baseball game to continue the celebration. It was fun, but I don't know if I was totally thinking, Darin was out of town this weekend, so I took the kids to the baseball game by MYSELF. Fun times, but I definitely recommend at least 2 adults to manhandle 3 children at a baseball game.
But hey, my thoughts are, you have to attend at least one baseball game a year, it just makes me feel more all-American! And the tickets were free, thanks to the YMCA. Gotta love baseball, even if it still was 100 degrees at 7 o'clock at night!!

Summer Tradition

This is the 3rd summer that Aspen has gone and stayed with her grandparents. She stays for at least a week with both grandparents. What a fun tradition, to be spoiled rotten by your grandparents!! To enjoy that one-on-one time, to participate in their everyday lives, to learn more about her grandparents, and to strengthen that bond that she will cherish forever. This summer, we began to run short on time, so I asked Aspen, if you really want to go spend time with grandma's and grandpa's this summer, it will basically consume the last 3 weeks of your summer vacation. Without hesitation she said, OK, I want to go!! This past weekend we went to pick her up in Utah, we returned home on Sunday, and school began on Monday...it really was her last Summer Celebration.

While in Northern Utah with Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Dennis, Aspen had lots of time to play with cousins, Liam & Zoe. Just recently my brother moved from Arizona to Utah, so Aspen now has a few more cousins to keep her entertained. The cousins love to play games, they really like it when they can get the adults involved! I think Aspen and Zoe's favorite card game this trip was "Old Maid"

This didn't happen while Aspen was in Utah, but I did want to include the fact that Aspen and the crew were able to talk my parents into a trip to the lake. This happened while I was at girls camp. So, Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Dennis have now experienced our boat and Lake Mead. I think my Dad nearly DIED, and I think my mom had an enjoyable experience. The difference being, my mom got in the water, and my dad stayed aboard (I think it was 107 degrees that day!!)

Aspen loved the time she spent with her cousins and grandparents. They went swimming, took trips to the library, had many family "get-togethers", and Grandma even took her and Zoe school shopping!

In Monticello, where Aspen visited Grandma and Grandpa Allred, she spent many hours at Silver Scissors Beauty Salon. How fun!! I would have given anything to "play" at my grandma's Beauty Salon. Grandma even put her to work, dusting shelves and folding towels. Of course, she was "on the clock" and earning money. I think she earned a total of $13 for the week, not bad for a 7 year old.

She loved being Grandma's little apprentice and practicing on the mannequin's.


She had to take a picture of grandma in action. That's right, she took her own camera and did fairly well at taking pictures of her week in small town, U.S.A.

Of course she had to get all "dolled up" at the Beauty Salon!!

Swimming in Blanding, Utah. Unfortunately Monticello is without a city pool for the moment. They tore down the old one, and are in hopes of a brand-new, state-of-the-art pool next summer.

I think Aspen and Grandpa went for quite a few 4-wheeler rides. This is one of Aspen's favorite parts about Monticello and the Blue Mountains. They made it up to Abajo peak, the highest peak in the area. I have never even been to Abajo Peak, I see where you rank Aspen!!

They loved spotting wildlife. Deer, turkeys, cows, they all roam so free! Aspen had fun taking pictures, can you see the deer in this one??

Another fantastic grandma that took Aspen school shopping! This actually is one her school outfits, they just added a few accessories!! She really didn't get a cowgirl outfit for school, I don't know, she was in Monticello for a week, maybe she turned cowgirl on me. Just a side note, when I first started dating Darin, my mom told some of my friends that I was dating a "cowboy", I guess she just assumed that because he was from a small town:)

On Aspen's last day in Monticello she went miniature golfing. Connie called and asked if it would be ok if she went miniature golfing. I said, "sure, why not?" Connie said, "well we are going to busy at home packing, so I was just going to drop Aspen and a friend off "downtown" at the Monticello Merc; they will just call when they need a ride home." I guess she also explained this to Aspen, and Aspen said, "you better ask my mom!" She is only 7, and going "downtown" by her self. Ok, this is Monticello, not Las Vegas, everyone knows everyone, she will be with a friend, and Darin and his siblings did this type of thing all the time when they grew up!! I quickly said yes...my baby is growing up, and apparently she can run the town!

Overall, I think she had a fabulous couple of weeks with her grandparents, wouldn't you agree??

Aliyah's dream comes true...

The Allred Family Goes Camping!! Aliyah has been asking all summer to go camping, and constantly reminding me that Aspen and Aliyah are the only ones in our family that have not been camping. So fortunately for us, some friends planned a camping trip, and we rearranged our weekend plans to make sure the camping trip fit in. It was so much fun, camping is always a lot of work, but this time, it was definitely worth every bit of work, effort, and planning that took place. Aliyah was absolutely in heaven...she could dig in the dirt, collect rocks, sleep in a tent, roast marshmallows, and mom didn't even care that she was dirty!! The one draw back, was that our sweet Aspen was not back from Monticello, so she missed out. I didn't want to tell her, but knew that eventually she would find out, and she did, and the tears began to flow. She was definitely sad that she missed the camping trip, especially because we camped with some of her very best friends. There will be another camping trip soon, and besides she had an absolute BLAST in Monticello and loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Allred.

Here's the Allred Family camping (and a few others)...

So fun to camp with friends!! And yes, Aliyah was in tears when it was time to leave:(

It feels GOOD to be HOME

We have been traveling so much lately, I was basically gone from our house for 3 straight weeks. And it seems like overall, we have been gone quite a bit this summer. This past weekend I kept thinking, "It feels so good to be at home." It feels so good to sleep in my own bed, to shower in my own shower, and to kind of get back to my "routine". Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, but really, there is no place like HOME. This past weekend we cleaned out the garage, something I have been wanting to do for months, and you know what, it felt really good. It was nice to just have a Saturday where we could get things done around the house. Every time I walk into our garage now, it literally is like a breath of fresh air. I love the organized feeling!! I also just enjoyed hanging out in the backyard with the kids, going for a walk in our neighborhood, and working around the house. Sometimes I feel a little over scheduled, and feel like we always have to have "plans" on the table, but I actually just enjoy the basics and having a "low-key" weekend. Aspen is in Utah with her grandparents, so things are a little more quiet. We are starting to miss her, but know that she is having a fabulous time in Monticello. School starts a week from today, and then the scheduling madness will begin, but for now, I am trying to enjoy the slower pace and find joy in the "everyday's"

Top Ten things I love about visiting Utah

# 10 Riding the high-speed commuter train (The Frontrunner) to downtown Salt Lake to spend the day at the Gateway.

# 9 Playing with cousins in the fountain at the Gateway




#8 Exploring Fort Buena Ventura in Ogden. I had no idea there was this little escape in the middle of the city. The kids had a blast, and it was so nice to be in the great outdoors!



#7 Playing near the pond, and catching moss. Kids are so easily entertained!!

#6 Canoeing

#5 Eating, Eating, and more Eating! After all we are on vacation when we go to Utah, so we live it up! And who can resist that yummy food that Grandma Sharon always has in abundance.

#4 Venturing out to Promontory Point, also known as the Golden Spike National Historic Site. This site commemorates the incredible accomplishment of our nation's first transcontinental railroad. Lucky for us, we chose to go on the day that they do a "live" reenactment of the events that took place in 1869, when the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit. It was very interesting, and the kids loved the steam engines.

#3 Taking family pictures. Ok, maybe this wasn't one of the main highlights for the children, but it is one of the main reasons for our trip to Utah. We had all 19 of my family members together, and family pictures were way over due. I will have to post the pictures of the big group later, but I did sneak a few pictures with my camera.

#2 Playing games with Uncle Ty and Uncle Doug!

#1 Hanging with cousins and family for an entire week. Playing, laughing, exploring, driving the adults crazy, eating, bonding, renewing relationships, and making memories.

Girls Camp

This past week I had the opportunity and privilege to attend Girl's Camp. I have not been to Girl's Camp since I was 13 or 14 years old. It was an amazing week, I was so impressed with the Stake and Ward leaders, they truly went above and beyond to make this a week that would leave a lasting impression on the girls and their leaders. When I look back on my experiences as a youth, I can't help but notice the staggering differences. When I went to camp, it was all about having a good time, spending time as a ward, and hanging with friends. Now, Girl's Camp is different, don't get me wrong, there was plenty of fun to go around, but there was also numerous spiritual activities and many opportunities for spiritual growth. As I reflected on these staggering differences, I couldn't help but come to the conclusion that "these girls need this", they need a week of spiritual feasting, they need this to combat this world that tries and tests them at every corner. The activity that had the most impact on myself was the "Life Line". I learned a lot about myself and a lot about this life, the Plan of Salvation, and the beautiful Gospel that we have been blessed with to help us make it through. I wish I could "bottle" the feelings that I felt. It was also wonderful to spend time with the other leaders (whom I consider my close friends), and to spend quality time with the Young Women, I love each one of them and truly consider myself blessed to be able to serve in their midst. It was a wonderful week, and AGAIN, would not have been possible without the love and unselfishness of my parents and niece, Calli. They traveled to Vegas to care for my children, so I could escape to the mountains and enjoy God's many beautiful creations. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Calli -- you are the best, and I don't think Mom is even missed when you are around!!

Coming Full Circle

This past weekend we had the opportunity to celebrate Pioneer Day (July 24th) holiday in Monticello, Utah - Darin's hometown. As I spent 5 days in Monticello, I had some of those "Full Circle" moments. When I first started going to Monticello, early on in our marriage, I struggled. Monticello is a very small town (population approx. 2000), and very different from the community and atmosphere that I was accustomed to. I remember during one of my first visits to Monticello finding myself in tears and complaining to my mom saying, "this town is so boring, I have nothing to do, and I don't think I could even find a book to buy if I tried." So, needless to say, Monticello was not top on my list of places to visit. Don't get me wrong, it had nothing to do with the in-laws, I have always loved my in-laws and enjoy spending time with them, but MONTICELLO...maybe we could just rendezvous someplace else.

Well, we have now been visiting and making the trek to Monticello for 13 years, and you know what, I have truly grown to love this small town. We arrived in Monticello late Tuesday night, so Wednesday morning I put on the running shoes and headed out the door. From the moment I stepped out the door, I felt something different. I felt free, I felt safe, I felt a cool summer breeze, and I inhaled fresh mountain air (a little bit different from Las Vegas, Nevada)!! As I came back from my run I sat out on the front porch with Ammon, and I couldn't help but notice the only sound I heard was the chirping of birds. It was so peaceful, so quiet, and extremely soothing. I couldn't help but smile and think, "you know what, this place has really grown on me." Ammon and I ventured into the backyard, where the Allred's have the most amazing mountain view, and right smack in the middle is the "Horse Head." Again, when I first started coming to Monticello, I couldn't even see the "Horse Head", and did not understand all this talk about the "Horse Head", and could not relate to the sacredness of the Blue Mountains and the Horse Head that kept watch over this quaint town. But once again, I have fell in love with the Blue Mountains, and have fond memories of cookouts, fishing, camping, riding four wheelers, exploring Lloyd's Lake, and spotting deer and elk that roam the land so freely.
Another thing that I have grown to love is the people. There are so many people in Monticello that have made an impact on my husband's life, his siblings lives, and most importantly his parents - Eddie and Connie Allred. I love the stories, I love the memories, and I love the enormous impact that one little town has made. One of the main reasons I may be having these "Full Circle" moments, is that, Connie and Eddie have chosen to retire next summer, and will move from Monticello. When I think of them leaving, it is hard not to get a little emotional, and is very difficult to not reminisce about the things that I love and will miss. For me, one thing that truly makes me sad; is that the small town will be gone. We have no other family that lives in a small town, and now that I look back, it was my escape from the city, my escape from the hustle and bustle, a place where I could put my guard down and my children could run a little more free, and a place that felt like "Home." So we will make our final farewell in a year, but for now, Monticello treated us right, and we enjoyed the peace, the love, the traditions, the beauty, the memories, the people, and the good old Horse Head watching over us!

Here's the "Blue's" -- Blue Mountain. Can you see the Horse Head? I'll admit it, I didn't see it at first, but now that is the ONLY thing I see when I look at these mountains. Sometimes it is a little easier to see in the winter, when there is snow. Any way, I think it is pretty cool......Now!!

Riding Grandpa's four-wheelers and having a cookout on the mountain...our children are in love!!

The four-wheeler ran out of gas on the way down the mountain. Lucky for us, it really is "downhill" most of the way!

Grandma had this great idea to take the grandkids swimming in Cortez, CO. (about an hours drive). They had a great time at the rec center pool, and then she took them to "Stage", a clothing store, where they could each pick a new outfit for the July 24th parade. Grandma loves playing grandma and spoiling them rotten, and I think the kids are fairly fond of Grandma Allred and her spoiling tactics!!

After all, how many times does one really get to be in a parade in their lifetime?? This is Aspen's second year in the Monticello parade, and I think this is her favorite part about coming to Monticello for the July 24th holiday. All she could think about was being in the parade and "throwing candy"...I guess her wish came true! The theme for the parade was "Our Legacy". How appropriate, so we made a little float with the "Allred Legacy". They were cute, and absolutely loved being "in" the parade!!

Wathing the parade! The Allred crew was in the beginning of the parade. So towards the end, they abandoned ship, and had the opportunity of watching the parade and "collecting candy!"


Grandma and Grandpa Allred. We sure enjoyed many hours down at Grandpa Allred's "Ball Fields". Eddie is the city recreation director. Each July 24th weekend, Eddie and the City host a "Men's Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament". It is fun to hang out at the ball fields, connect with fellow Monticelloites, and see Grandpa Allred in action.

After the parade, there is always a town celebration at the park. There was plenty of Navajo Tacos, snow cones, and funnel cakes to go around!!

All in All, a very fun weekend. Our children were able to get another glimpse and learn about Monticello, and participate in activities that make it so great. For Darin and I, I think we truly started to appreciate Monticello's rich history, heritage, legacy, traditions, and beauty.

My Worst Fear Has Come TRUE

Aspen is 7 years old now, and Aliyah is 4, so I thought for sure that I made it past the days that I had to be extra cautious with where I put the scissors, and that I didn't have to worry about them practicing their "hair cutting" skills. But I guess I was wrong:) Aliyah came down stairs a couple of days ago with this "new do"


She gave herself some bangs. She said, "Mom, I just wanted to look like Clara (her cute friend that apparently has very stylish bangs). She actually did a half way decent job, I think we can make the bang thing work, or they are long enough to be pulled back. I just kept telling myself, "It could have been worse." Lucky for us, we are headed to Monticello this weekend, and we have the most amazing hairstylist that can work her magic. Thanks, Grandma Allred, we know we will be in good hands.
Here's a picture of her hair that she had hidden in the corner of her bedroom...

Summiting Mt. Charleston

Prior to Girl's Camp at the end of this month, our 4th Year Girls were to complete their hike. And, let me tell you, this was no small hike. 3 of our YW, myself, Bishop Martin, and Brother Eckersley hiked 18 miles, taking us 12 hours, and we peaked at 11, 918 feet above sea level. We climbed over 4,000 feet to reach the summit of Mt. Charleston. It was Amazing. The view was breathtaking, and the mountains that we climbed mentally, physically, and spiritually will forever be imprinted in my mind. I don't think I understood fully what I was getting myself into, but it challenged my mind, body, and spirit in every way possible. The girls were amazing and awesome, as I kept reminding them of this for the entire 12 hour journey. They never complained, they kept their mind and body focused on our goal, and tried to have fun and make the best of our situation. It was grueling at times, legs were cramping, feet were blistering, we never knew what to plan on with the weather elements, but you know what, we kept moving...one foot in front of the other. For myself, there was times that I could see the big picture (imagining the summit and how glorious), other times it was the small picture (just one foot in front of the other, just seeing the dirt and rocks on the trail). I get it now, I know why they do this hike, I truly understand the growth and life lessons that can take place. So many gospel analogies, so many life analogies. The peaks, the valleys. The goal we set out to do, the feelings of accomplishment. As I walked, rested, waited, and assisted others, I couldn't help but think, "this is what life is all about", we are all in this together. We have been sent here to earth, with an ultimate goal in mind, and we have been sent here together. We help, encourage, support, and love one another. We need to make sure that each one of us reaches the summit, and then makes it back safe, unharmed, and able to recognize the growth that has taken place. I will forever cherish this opportunity, and will never take for granted "hard things that will only make us stronger". I was telling the girls, now that you have summited Mt. Charleston, you can do anything...nothing can stand in your way, there is no mountain too big to climb.

The legs were a little sore the next day, and I don't think sitting has ever felt so good as the moment I came off the mountain. Soreness goes away, blisters heal, but the lessons I learned will last forever. Megan, Alina, Genoa, Bishop Martin, and Kevin...you are my hero's. We truly were in it together! We have an amazing Bishop, and I had just one more glimpse into his Christ like abilities and characteristics. He is one of those that will be helping and cheering each one of us on, making sure we reach our final destination.
Way to go guys, we can now say that we summited Mt. Charleston, something that only a few Las Vegans have experienced. Mt. Charleston is the highest peak in Southern Nevada, and the third highest peak in all of Nevada. The mountain beauty was phenomenal, and we were blessed to experience one of God's amazing creations.

All smiles before we began the Climb!

On the way, the Girls and I!!!


Megan and Alina pointing out our destination.



We made it!!

The Waterfall Ward girls, in front of the Waterfall!!

Bishop relaxing on the Summit!


There was a shelter up on the summit. It was nice to take a break from the elements, believe it or not, it was cold and we saw snow in Las Vegas in July! Bro. Eckersley was helping a girl that sprained her ankle on the way. We had a bite of lunch, and headed back down for the 6 hour trek (that we thought might only take us 2 0r 3!)

I love the flag that is mounted on the Summit!

4th of July Weekend

For the 4th of July we had visitors from Utah and Arizona. Darin's parents, and his sister and her family decided to do July 4th Vegas style. For us these days, Vegas style means jumping in the boat and heading for Lake Mead. This was the first time we had family out on the boat, and I think they would agree, that a boat in Vegas is just what we needed! We spent the entire 4th of July (Saturday) out on the lake, I can't believe we spent all day, when the mercury was reading 107 + degrees. It makes a huge difference when you are on the water and can jump in at any time. The water temperature was absolutely perfect! We played on the beach and in the water, fed the HUGE carp at the marina, Darin and I practiced our triathlon swim in the lake, Darin made a few runs on the wake board, and Aspen LOVED riding on the tube (well not actually a tube, it's more like a big air mattress that you lay down and hold onto, I couldn't believe how long that girl could hold on!!) The kids loved spending the weekend with grandparents, aunt Tori, uncle Ryan, and sweet cousin Paisley.
When we got home from boating, we were exhausted, we had high hopes for fireworks, but I think Aspen and Grandma were the only ones to catch a few fireworks as they ran down to the park to see the display at Aliante Station Casino.
We had a great weekend, with a little "hoe down throw down" dancing, Aliyah finishing up swim lessons (I am amazed at how far she came in just 2 weeks...she went from screaming/crying, not wanting to put her face in the water, to actually swimming a short distance...So Proud!), boating and swimming at Lake Mead, and to wrap it up on Sunday, Aliyah gave a talk in Primary, and the Allred Family was the "family spotlight".....so fun to have family attend and support these events. All in All, a very nice weekend, and we're so happy our family decided to head our way!!

Aliyah with her swim teacher, Ms. Janette

Darin, with the hoover dam in the background. The bridge is almost complete, I think it has been one of the most amazing engineering feats in the world. Once the bridge is complete, the road will be finished over top, making travel to and from Arizona much more efficient.

Aspen, creating her name in the sand.

Grandma with her grand kids.

Tori, Ryan, & Paisley

Paisley Grace Kelly

We hope you all enjoyed your 4th of July Weekend!!

Walker Family Photo Shoot

So, my cute friend Whitnie entrusted me with their family photo shoot. This was a big leap of faith, considering I am fairly inexperienced, and have basically just played around with photography with my kids. Someday, I would love to take a class, and really know what I am doing... Any way, 266+ pictures later, we ended up with these...

The minute we were on "location", the boys took off running and snatched this newborn baby peacock..."boys will be boys". I have to hand it to Connor and Ethan, family pictures truly are a drag, but they stayed with it, and we made the best of it (we also had the promise of milkshakes hanging over their head:))

Aren't they a gorgeous family?!?! I had a great time taking their pictures, and spending "family night" with the Walker family. I appreciate the opportunity. I love photography, I love capturing LIFE's moments, and LIFE as we know it!!

Dance Recital -- June 27, 2009

Aspen and Aliyah both did a great job at their dance recital. I was most impressed with Aliyah, because she has been a little "clingy" lately, and she definietely is the more shy one. But, she amazed me and got out there on the big stage and did her thing, she even had facial expressions and was Smiling!! Aspen performed a tap routine to "Let's Get It Started In Here", she did fantastic, this was her first tap performance. Aliyah also performed tap, and performed to "Love for Mommy" -- it was absolutely darling, those little ones are so cute, no matter what they do...even if they get up on stage and just stand there in costume...they are just so dang cute!! It was a fun dance recital, and I guess I'm not too sad to have dance lessons over for the summer!

Ammon Celebrates 2

While in Utah we celebrated Ammon's 2nd birthday. It was nice to be with family and friends that usually miss out on these events. Dad missed out this time, but he was ok because he knows how much our children adore their cousins and grandparents. We had a "BALL"...literally! If you know my son, he has an obsession with balls. Basketballs, baseballs, footballs, bouncy balls, beach balls, tennis balls, you name it, and he will throw, kick, or carry it around. So it seemed fitting to throw him a ball themed birthday. The birthday party was complete with a basketball and a baseball cake, he had to have two balls, because he is the big 2 years old. A huge thank you to my sister and niece that helped me make the cakes, and stayed up until 2am, fun times and fun memories. Ammon loved the cakes, he kept just pointing to them and saying, "Ball", "Cake" ... his two favorite words!! We had a fun party with the cousins and next door neighbors, complete with water balloon volleyball, lunch, presents, cake, and or course a few balls were tossed around! It is also nice to throw a party with the assistance of my mom, sister, and 14-year old niece. Here's a few pic's, because you know I always take just a few pictures:)

SURPRISE!!

What a surprise party for Grandma Sharon!!
A few weeks ago I decided that myself and the 3 children would head to Utah and surprise Grandma Sharon for her birthday. Darin was scheduled to be out of town for four days, and I said, "I bet I can do it, I can drive to Utah by myself." So Thursday morning we headed out, and arrived just in time for a fabulous "Surprise" party. Thanks to my brother that ran all the errands and had the house decorated to the hill. The best part about it all, was that Grandma really was surprised, and had no idea that we were making the trek from Vegas. The look on her face said it all, especially when she saw me and the children!! At the end of the evening she commented that this was one of her most memorable birthday's. My mom does so much for others, and it was fun to have a day that was dedicated to her, and one that she truly enjoyed! In fact, my Dad kept her out of the house ALL day, and if you know my Dad, this was a huge deal. He took my mom to lunch, to a movie, and then ran numerous errands. Towards the end, my mom was beginning to wonder if he had lost his mind. But it was all part of the plan...SURPRISE!!

We made a fun calendar for Grandma...complete with pictures of Grandma and her cute grandkids!

So, we are glad we came, and we are still in Utah. We have had a good time with cousins and friends. We will celebrate Ammon's birthday on Friday with the fam, and then head for home on Saturday. We miss Dad, but we will be home in time for Father's Day!!

What a week for our 3

Ammon attends his first "Father's & Son's"
Darin was excited about taking Ammon on their first Father & Son's outing. I was all for it, and thought it would be a great experience for both of them. Just before they left I started to get a little worried, Ammon is still fairly little, and what if he wandered off, what if he became lost, what if he was freezing cold, what if he climbed out of the tent in the middle of the night, what if he didn't sleep and cried all night long, and the list went on and on. Darin assured me that they would be fine, and he promised that he would have a least one eye on him at all times!! So off they went, it was cute, from the very get go, Ammon was so excited. As they were packing the car, he would not get out of the car, he wanted to stay right in there with all that camping gear. They had a great time, and not one of my fears came true. It all ran smooth, and actually, Ammon just enjoyed sitting in the camp chair and taking it all in...what was Mom so worried about?!?!

Aliyah graduates from Preschool

3-year old preschool comes to an end. Aliyah was excited for the year to be over. She started having some separation anxiety towards the end of the year, and did not want to leave mom. On many occasions she would ask why she still needed to go to preschool, she would say, "I am a big girl, and I don't need to go to preschool anymore!" Ms. Heather ran a darling preschool program, and I felt like it was a great place for Aliyah to be. I love those cute preschool projects and crafts that come home. Aliyah was always so proud of her creations!! And, we are proud of her, way to go girl, 3-year old preschool is done!!

Aliyah & Ms. Heather

The only picture I got of Aliyah at Preschool graduation. She was being a "turkey" and would not perform in the program!

Aspen completes 1st grade

The year comes to a close, with an Awards Ceremony, and a Luau party to celebrate all the first graders and their BIG accomplishment!

Aspen received an award for straight "A" Honor Roll, and for Physical Education. Kitty Ward Elementary really is a great school, and it was fun to see each child individually recognized for their accomplishments and achievements this year!

The Luau Celebration was a lot of fun. Aspen and her cute friend Lauren decided to take the lead and start a fun train; that soon had most of the first graders up on their feet, dancing, and hanging on for the ride! It was quite the celebration with LOTS of food, fun Hawaiian music, and plenty of friends to laugh and play with. We look forward to another great year at Kitty Ward!!

Aspen and Lauren

Aspen's 1st grade teacher - Mrs. O'neal

Some of the classmates

(Connor, Ruby, Emily, Lauren, Aspen, Kendyl, and Matthew)

p.s. Connor may be Aspen's "first crush"

Best Buds - Aspen & Kendyl

Congrats Aspen on a great First Grade year!

Memorial Weekend...

and the Allred's FINALLY made it!! Our college friends have been getting together almost every Memorial Weekend since our college days, but we have always lived too far to make it for the weekend. This year we decided to get together in St. George and rent a house with a fun pool!! It was a hit, I think the kids lived in the swimming pool all weekend long. We also did some 4-wheeling, and played an Ohio tradition - Corn Hole! It was a fantastic weekend, just the right balance between fun activities and some relaxation. I just enjoyed catching up with friends, reminiscing about our college days, and basking in that great St. George sun! This will definitely be a tradition that we will include for many years to come!!

Dad even found a frog. The frog joined the kids in the pool!!
This was Aliyah's absolute favorite thing about the weekend. She loved "winnie". She asked many times about getting a cute puppy of her own!

Out to the Lake

This time it was just our little family, because we now have a boat of our own!! Well, not our very own, we actually went in on the boat with two other families in our ward. I think this is definitely the best way to go about buying a boat! We had such a great time. I think we are going to like this boating thing. The kids also really enjoyed the day, Aliyah is a little hesitant at times, but she is slowly overcoming her fears. Lake Mead is a nice lake, and fairly close to where we live, so we just couldn't resist when the the offer was available. If you come and visit, we will take you out to the Lake, just another incentive to come visit your friends and family in Las Vegas!

Aspen really wanted to try and knee board, but I was hesitant to let her try, it is difficult to pull yourself up and onto the knee board. But she was adamant, she wanted to try. Of course, she proved MOM wrong. She was able to get onto the knee board her second try. I think she will continue to practice and improve her knee boarding skills, maybe we will even try ski's next time. And Aliyah, well she finally got into the water, what a big accomplishment for her!! Ammon loved to swim in the lake, he would cry when it was time to get back into the boat!
Here's a photo of the boat...

American Girl Weekend

One last stop before we headed back from California...
Some friends and I decided to do a girls weekend and take our girls to "American Girl Place". So, my kind husband, dropped Aspen and I off in LA to meet up with our friends for a very "girly weekend". Darin headed back to Vegas with the other 2 children in tote, the trek back took him 7 1/2 hours --- remember LA to Vegas is "supposed" to be a 4 hour drive!!!!

I thought this would be a fun weekend for Aspen and I, but it truly blew my expectations out of the water. We spent Friday and Saturday in LA, and then had to head back for Mother's Day on Sunday. I couldn't have planned a better way to spend my Mother's Day weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed my one-on-one time with Aspen. Before our friends got there on Friday, Aspen and I just hung out in the hotel together. We relaxed, watched some TV, and brushed Aspen's hair. I know that may sound a little strange, but it was so wonderful, I actually had time to just sit there and brush her hair. With other children and all the crazy schedules, I really don't know if I have ever just sat there and brushed her hair for fun (how sad!) So we had a few mother/daughter moments, and it just really felt good to be together, and for a little R & R after a busy week at Disneyland.

My amazingly talented friends showed up with these darling gifts for the girls.

A large hot pink Chinese take-out box for our daughter, and a mini one for their doll. They were filled with candy, nail polish, lip gloss, and the most importantly - matching friendship bracelets for the girls and their dolls.

We then headed out for dinner at The Grove, to dine at Maggiano's. I think it was a hit with everyone!

Hannah . Mia . Aspen . Kaitlyn

Then for a little photo shoot at the Fountain!

After a short night of sleep, some of us couldn't stop talking, and it wasn't the girls. Those silly mom's that like to pretend they are still young, and can have just as much fun at a sleepover!! It was time for American Girl. I have to admit, I had been to the American Girl Store in Chicago, and I really felt like it was a little indulgent..buying outfits for your doll, taking them to the "cafe", the dolls can even take a visit to the salon, or to the hospital for repairs. But you know what, it may have been slightly indulgent, but it was a BLAST! We had so much fun picking out just the right outfits for Arika, and those little outfits even have all the accessories to go with!


Off to the Cafe to have lunch with our "big dolls", and their "little dolls".

The luncheon was amazing, with mini cinnamon rolls as a pre-appetizer, followed by fruit kabobs and some veggies to start off. Chicken sandwiches for the mom's, and pasta for the girls. Then to top it off with the most adorable dessert, oh yes, and of course "Pink" lemonade to drink!! Here's the pic's, I had to take pictures of the food.

Some fun conversation, and dining with your dolls. What could be better as a All American Girl?



Okay, so we took a FEW pictures of our "Girls" this weekend!! These girls had paparazzi, or as my friend referred to us as, "mamarazzi". We had to capture the Moments, after all, they are only little once!!

This was hilarious, the girls were posing as models at Crate & Barrel. Everyone thought they were cute and very creative!!

Thanks Aspen for spending an American Girl Weekend with your mom.

Family Vacation

We just returned home from a family vacation to California. We had to take advantage of the amazing "military discount" that Disneyland so generously offered, and the fact that we are only 4 hours from the "Happiest Place on Earth" (well everyone says 4 hours, but we did not experience 4 hours, you always must add on time for traffic!!)

On behalf of our family vacation I think this is what Darin would say, "I don't think I would call it a vacation, I would call it a family trip, when you take 3 children to an amusement park, it is not much of a "vacation"!!

Disneyland is not one of Darin's favorite places to visit, he just really isn't a fan of the the crowds, waiting in line, and then the possible nausea after the ride. But I think we planned it well, we went the first week in May (kids are still in school, and our first grader had no problem missing a week of school), we chose the three least crowded days; Monday - Wednesday, and we enjoyed 80 degree weather! So I think for Darin, Disneyland was pretty good!

The best part for Darin was hanging out with his kids for an entire week. Even though it was a lot of work, I think he really did enjoy the time he had to just be with his kids, no other responsibilities or distractions. Darin and Ammon have become quite the little "best friends", it is cute to watch them interact, and to see how attached Ammon has become to his "DAD."

For me, JEN, it was all Amazing and Wonderful. Of course I just love to watch my children when they are so happy and excited. I think I truly become a kid again. The last time we went to Disneyland was when Aspen was 2 years old, and she really didn't remember anything. So this was such a New and Exciting experience for all of them.

It was also fun to bring back some of my childhood memories...the "Tea cups" were my absolute favorite!!

Together, for one Week, Making memories that will last a lifetime.

Okay, I have to admit it, I think Aspen had the best time of all!! She thought Disneyland was amazing and out of this world. She knows that it is "The Happiest Place on Earth". After each ride she would say, "now, I think that was my favorite ride". When it finally came down to it, I think she decided that Space Mountain, California Screamin' (roller coaster), and Hollywood Tower of Terror were her favorite rides! This girl was not afraid to go on anything, she wanted to do it all. I think she also enjoyed that fact that they weren't all fast amusement park rides, I think she really enjoyed the variety and the magical wonders of "DISNEY". This girl did not get tired, we were there everyday from the time the park opened until the time it closed. She was at a perfect age, she enjoyed the little kid rides, the big "scary" rides, and everything in between.

"It's a small World" ...a definite classic!

A little cotton candy, a carmel apple, and some salt water taffy. Sitting on Main Street U.S.A.

Ahhhhh...nothing better!

Meeting the Princesses!!

So here we are watching the Parade, and of course, Aspen has to work her way to the front row. I was back a few rows, and would periodically peek and see how she was doing. About half way through the parade I look up there, and she was GONE. This is where I found her....

Out on the street shaking her tail feather!

Fun moments with her Brother and Sister.

At California Adventure they had a big "High School Musical" street performance. Aspen and I had planned that this was a "must attend" event.
Ms. Aspen Allred was lucky enough to be pulled from the audience on two separate occasions to dance in the street and be a part of the performance. The second time they even announced her name and where she was from. It was one of the moments that I bet she will not soon forget!! It was fun to sing all of those "well known" High School Musical 3 songs!

Aliyah had a good time, but it really is tiring for those four year old's. Overall, she did great, and I too think she is a fan of Disneyland. On the second day when we entered the gate she said, "Mom, it's the Happy Spot!" Remember, I had been telling them that Disneyland is the "Happiest Place on Earth!" HA HA HA

Dumbo, the flying elephant! Probably the favorite ride!

Chocolate covered Mickey! A definite favorite!

Meeting the Princesses, we thought this would be a favorite, but she was a little nervous, hence, the family picture!!

Loved, Loved the beach!

Poor Ammon man, the first morning we were headed for Disneyland, he fell and smacked his head on the wall. So he had this lovely "goose egg" all week. Let's just say that he drew at little attention!

He loved the beach, loved the sand, and especially loved burying his sister in the sand!

Ammon just outside of his favorite ride...POOH BEAR! I guess it was his favorite, he went on it 5 or 6 times...it had no line!!!!

A little nervous and scared about the characters. But we had to get a family photo with Mickey and Minnie.

And we ALL had a great time with our friends - The Taylor's. We spent a couple of our days at Disneyland with them. We have been friends since our days in medical school. Our kids enjoyed having "friends" at Disneyland.

Overall, it was Amazing. I need to go to bed....Goodnight!

Birthday Weekend

We went to Utah for some birthday fun...

First, we helped celebrate Landon and Brandon's 4th Birthday (that's right, Aliyah has 2 CUTE twin cousins that are just 5 days older). It was a fantastic Spider man party!

The next day we celebrated Darin and Aliyah's birthday with a family "get-together" at Grandma Sharon's. These two have labeled themselves as "birthday buddies!" Darin's birthday is on April 25th, and Aliyah's is the 27th. And I want everyone to know that my Sweet husband went to my high school Alumni dance concert on his Birthday...now I think that is "True Love".

While in Utah we ventured to Thanksgiving Point. They were having a "Birthday Celebration" for all the new baby animals. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Utah has so many great things for kids!!

And one last Birthday Hooray...we came home to Vegas and Aliyah hosted a Princess Party!





The party ran so smooth...I was a little worried because Darin was working. But, Aspen, my seven year old, stepped right in and was the biggest help in the world. She put make-up on the darling princesses, helped them make their wands and tiara's, took their order for cake and ice cream, made sure they all had something to drink, and was on the run at my every request! And to top it off, Ammon took a nap the entire 2 hour party, HOORAY!! And above all, I think Aliayh truly felt like a Princess for the day!

I love the TRUE smile! It makes it all worth it!!

Take Your Child To Work Day!

Dr. Aspen Allred was privileged to go to work with her Dad for the day. And actually, she spent the morning hours practicing her role as a "stay at home mom". Aspen helped to unload the dishwasher and complete morning chores. We then headed out the door to do some Visiting Teaching and a Workout at the gym. While Aspen was in the daycare with Ammon, I told her that she was responsible for Ammon, she was in charge of playing with him and making sure he was happy.
At noon, Aspen ventured to the hospital at Nellis Air Force base to practice her Orthopedic skills. I think Dad was just as excited as Aspen was. In fact, Darin ordered her some "pink" scrubs for the day, and even had them monogrammed with her name. She really did look cute!! The scrubs even came with a stethoscope.

When Aspen came home, she walked through the door with a HOT PINK cast on her arm, that's right, they let all 3 kids that came to the office try a cast on for size. And of course Aspen didn't want to take it off, she wanted to wear it to school today and see if she could draw a little attention!! So Aspen had the opportunity of visiting with patients, watching stitches being taken out, looking at x-rays, learning about and "playing" in the casting room, and observing her dad in action. When Darin asked her about the "coolest" part of the day, she said, "when you talk into that headset and it automatically types the words on the computer!". She was impressed!! It was an awesome experience for Aspen, and for Darin, I think he truly enjoyed having his daughter share is something he has worked so hard to become.
Personally, I think this whole idea is phenomenal. And I think it is becoming more and more popular. What a rewarding and memorable experience. Now we just have to start planning for next year, as Aliyah has made it well known that she too wants to go to work with Dad for the day!