ChaNgE

We are calling this chapter 8 of the book of Allred. It is chapter 8 because this is our 8th move and it is going like this.....Right now we are-

Home-less
Computer-less
Money-less
Job-less (well, more like patient-less)
Jeff-less
but not hopeless!!!
There is a plan in place and it is going somewhat smoothly!!

We miss you honey and we wish you the best of luck while you are away from us. We are excited to be joining you soon in the land of "Way Better!!"

For all of you bloggers out there.....stay tuned for more updates on Allred Chapter 8 coming soon to a computer near you.

BirTHdaY giRL

I just wanted to wish a very Happy Birthday to the best friend a gal could have. I feel blessed to have Melanie as my dear friend and oh how I miss her so. I wish I was able to take you out for our traditional birthday breakfast. What good times we had. I found it strange that we spent 4 years together in Virginia and this is the only picture I have of you alone :-). Sorry Mel, I just couldn't resist posting this. I love it!! Hope you have a wonderful day.

OK, so I did find one more but I cut myself out of it.

I was big and pregnant and tired.

I Do

Needed ya, Got ya, Keeping ya, Love ya!!

8 years ago today....what a wonderful, extremely windy,

and absolutely whimsical day it was!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I was given this many years ago but I still pull it out EVERY Mother's Day and read it because I love it so much. It shows how important mothers are in the world and how much we do. I thought I would share it will all you wonderful mothers out there. ENJOY!!

Without women, the whole world would be void of color. As far as the eye could see, all would be brown, black, flannel gray and metal chrome.

There would be no need for bright fuchsia flip-flops, pastel Post-it notes, or Perfectly Pink lipstick. Why, without women in the world, all the lawns would look just alike: flat, boring grass and a tightly trimmed hedge.

Who would plant petunias by the fence or impatiens under the trees or put daisies in a pot on the porch? Without women, there would be no jasmine on warm summer nights or roses to grace your table.

If all the women were gone, the whole wide world would be cold and staid and serious. There would be no giggling, or sidesplitting laughter, no more surprises parties or spontaneous songs.

Yes, there would be still be old silver spoons, but who would stop to collect them and mount them in eye-pleasing fashion? Without women who would suggest picnics in the park or dances after dark? And who in the world would snap all the family photographs? and then blog them for all to see (I added this part)

One thing is sure: If all the women were gone, the global community would collapse. There would be no need for shopping malls, department stores; Wal-Mart would stand deserted. Billions of people would have no work; once-happy folk would starve and roam homeless.

But this may be the very worst of all - if there were no more women on earth, who would kiss the newborn's cheeks or rock a baby when he cries or sing that child to sleep?

One final thought from me....thanks to all the wonderful women in my life that have been mothers to me, Jeff, and my children. I know my children have benefited from many "mothers" they have already had in their short lives who love and care about them. We LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL!!

Happiness is having WICKED friends

Wicked came to Salt Lake City and I really wanted to see it. So as a surprise for me Jeff got up extra early and headed to work early so he could stand in line the day tickets went on sale. Little did he know that unless you had some sort of connection or slept on the streets near the ticket office the night before, there was no way you would get tickets. Jeff was in line forever and it sold out before he was even close to the front of the line. Oh well, he tried and I really appreciated it. Well, Saturday around 3 pm my wonderful friend Jen called and said she had one extra ticket for Wicked that night. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to go and it was AMAZING!!! It was as fabulous as everyone says it is. I am so thankful for the chance to go.....only now there is a problem, I really want to go again and take Jeff, Maddie, and Lauren. I know they would all love it. Too bad the tickets are gone and we couldn't afford it anyway. Well, at least I have my wonderful memories of a fantastic evening with my good friend and her family. Thanks again Jen!!

Good-bye Grandma

Jeff's grandma Marilouse, well I guess she's a grandma to all of us, passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday night. She was a wonderful lady and we will miss her!! My girls are very pleased to know that she is in a happy place where she can now spend her days golfing like she used to when she was healthy.

Lunch

Parker is at that wonderful age where he wants to feed himself. Usually I don't mind the HUGE mess unless I am trying to get somewhere in a hurry and keep him clean. Parker loves mac 'n cheese and as you can see, he really enjoyed his lunch.

He starts out using just his hands inside his bowl

Then he picks it up to get a closer look

Then he puts it back down and uses his hands again

Finally, he picks up his bowl and put his whole face inside

Happy Birthday Jeff

Today Jeff turned 30 and I asked the kids why they love their daddy and this is what they said....

Top 10 reasons we love our daddy (in no particular order)

Because...

1- He is a boy

2- He is funny

3- He fixes teeth for us

4- He is a good horse

5- He is bigger

6- He is a good prince for me

7- He speaks Spanish

8- Everything he does is more much better

9- He reads us lots of stories

10-He is funner than mom

Thanks dad...You're the best dad ever! That about sums it up. I would just like to add

1- He is a good provider

2- He sometimes remembers to unload the dishwasher

3- The toilet seat is ALWAYS clean (I really appreciate this)

4- He is super spiritual

5- He always does the right thing

6- He never speaks badly about anyone

7- He is super positive

8- He is enjoyable to be around

9- He never complains about my "Honey-Do Lists"

10-He puts up with me....a tough thing to do at times

and finally...

11-He mows the lawn while I sit inside with my feet up and watch

Best Decision!!

Eight years ago today Jeff and I got engaged in the back seat of my car while I was wearing sweats. It's a crazy story and had I known I was going to get engaged, I would have worn something a bit more fancy than my sweats. We were supposed to go tubing on a super fun snow hill somewhere but the weather changed, the situation changed, and I didn't change so warm sweats it was. Thanks for asking Honey!! Saying yes was the best decision I've ever made...but who wouldn't want to marry Prince Charming???

10 Things I Love

In order to help me be more loveful on this Valentine's Day I decided to make a list of 10 things I love

1- Jeff - my hard working happy husband

2- Maddie - my very energetic, fun loving, barking daughter

3- Lauren - my girly girl BFF princess daughter

4- Parker - my toddling, jabbering, blue eyed, Little Buckaroo

5- Family - who love me because they have to

6- Warm fuzzy non-attractive pink pajamas (poor Jeff)

7 - Secrets/Surprises - for me or someone else no matter how big or little

8- Convenience - if it makes my life easier I love it, if it doesn't who needs it

9 - Good Friends - who love me because they want to

10 - Religion - where would I be without it?

Parker's Party

On Parker's birthday we had a small party with some family. It was a great day and we had a lot of fun. Parker has figured out that he can do lots of great things with his face. We captured some pretty silly poses of him. We think they are priceless pictures!

Parker started off his day by eating breakfast off the floor

One of his many silly faces

The cake

Parker loves this racetrack

Parker with some of his cousins...Zac & Rachel

Parker really enjoyed his cake

More silly faces

And finally, we can't have a birthday at our

house without a sign on the front door

Happy Birthday Parker

February 6, 2009 - Happy Birthday to our Little Buckaroo!! I can't believe he is already 1 year old. It seems like just yesterday he was born. However, I am very grateful that it isn't last year....I didn't enjoy the trauma we had with Parker. I am so very thankful that Parker got better quickly and is part of our family. He is such a joy to have around!! I love my girls but there is something special about baby boys. Everyone should have at least one to see what kind of magic they have. WE LOVE YOU PARKER!!! Below you will see some of our memorable moments with Parker over the past year.....as always, there are lots of pictures. I just can't help myself.

Parker 1 year old

Parker 2 hours old in the NICU

Our glowing yellow jaundice boy

I LOVE his crooked toes!!

Parker's newly shaved head

First time in the pool

Stinky Boy

San Diego

GO UTES!!

Baby Blue Eyes

Parker screaming like a skeleton

My new favorite picture of my little guy

My little helper and my little climber

Enjoying Christmas morning chocolate

Smooch-a-licious

Grandma is spoiling us!!!

Thanks to Grandma, Maddie and Lauren were treated to pedicures and manicures. They got to choose what color to have their toes and fingers painted and they both loved it. Of course, who wouldn't love to be pampered a bit!!! They keep asking when they can go back and I told them not until mom gets one....it's my turn next :-)

Maddie chose pink and blue

Lauren chose pink with white flowers