Thoughts on a Sunday

Since I started blogging, I haven't written in my kids journals. I am OK with this because blogging is so much more fun and I can put pictures with the stories. But, the one thing I miss is writing down the little things, the day to day occurrences and the funny things that don't necessarily have a picture to go with it. I have nowhere to document those and so I will attempt to start my thoughts on a Sunday like my wonderful sister Sarah. In time, I hope to come up with my own original name for it, but until then, here are my thoughts on a Sunday:


*Tyler went to his first Stake dance last night. He really didn't want to go and has had no interest in dances whatsoever. But, he has good friends and they forced him to go. He almost backed out when he found out it was church dress, but after reluctantly putting on his shirt and tie he shuffled out the door. He came home at about 11 and I think I detected a little spring in his step. He actually enjoyed himself. And after claiming he wasn't going to slow dance at all, he ended up dancing every single slow dance. I am proud of him and so very thankful for his friends who didn't give up on him.

*Kara went to a missionary farewell today for one of her friends. Is she really that old? I so remember the days of going all over the stake to my friends farewells. Those were good times.

*I made my second attempt to potty train Ashlyn this week. It didn't go well. When your daughter holds her pee for 12 hours one day and 18 hours the next you just have to give up. It was either that or have her bladder explode. I chose to give up. She had actually become kind of depressed and lethargic during the process. Today, being back in a diaper, she is happy as a clam, laughing and chatting and running around the house without a care in the world. I put the singing potty chair back up in the closet....again. I don't know when we'll see him again.

*Ethan has scored 3 goals so far this season. He is thrilled. He keeps telling everyone he has scored 3 goals in his whole life! He loves soccer and is enjoying his team, the Lemonheads, very much.

* I have been so busy this week that I haven't had much time to talk to my sisters. I miss them.

*It's caselot time and so my food storage room is overflowing with boxes of cereal and canned goods that need to be put away. I still wish we didn't have to eat, so that I didn't have to go through my food storage and actually rotate it. But we do eat, we eat a lot, so I am grateful for these caselot sales that help keep my pantry stocked.

*Trevor and I went on a date last night. It was the first one in a long time. We needed it. We went out with some friends. We ate and talked and laughed a lot. Just like I am thankful my kids have good friends, I am thankful we have good friends. They uplift and inspire me. I wish we could do it more.

Until next week!

Friday's Favorites-My brain

As I type this I am anxiously awaiting my new planner to arrive in the mail. I can't wait! I am going crazy with a current planner that ends on September 26th. I have little scraps of paper all over the place with things that need to be done or scheduled after September 26th and no where to write them down. This little planner of mine is definitely one of my favorite things because it is personalized AND cheap!

For years I was using a planner from BYU that was almost $20. But, I liked it and so every year made the trek down to BYU to get a new one. Then Trevor's wonderful cousin Ellen showed me her planner. She ordered it from Costco.com. It was exactly the same format as my old one, AND you got to pick the cover, put your own pictures in it AND it was only $5.50! I was sold! On my outgoing planner I had my family stand in the front yard and they were all holding something that I had to help them with or do for the front picture. This year I put a picture of all of us on our fantastic vacation to Oregon.

This planner really is my brain. It is what keeps this family running fairly smoothly. Without it I am lost and therefore my family would be lost. So I am grateful for a new brain that is personalized (I get to look at my cute family each time I open it up and remember why I run like a chicken with my head cut off most days) and is is cheap! Now that's my kind of brain! Thanks Costco!

Tradition Tuesday-The Candy Shop

I can still picture the pool. I can, for sure, still picture my swim teacher, Honey. She had short blond hair and was VERY tan. We took lessons from her for several years. I learned to swim although I never really learned to love to swim. I remember a lot about swimming lessons, but what I remember most is the trip to the candy store on the way home. I bought some sort of candy called oompa loompas or something like that. They were a peanut butter chocolate ball and they were delicious. It made the trip to swimming lessons so worth it.

Every summer I take my little ones out to swimming lessons in Alpine. They love it and are learning to swim. (You should see their 'monkey, airplane, soldier") They enjoy the lessons and teachers, but really look forward to the tradition I have carried on. The tradition of the trip to the candy shop on the last day of swimming lessons.

Conveniently, there is a quaint little candy shop right around the corner from swimming lessons. We drive by it every day to and from the lessons, but they know we can't go in until that last lesson is over. And when that day arrives, what a treat it is. They wander around and very carefully pick out some treats. Because I am a nice mom and a sucker for candy we get several things but we never leave without the grand prize, the traditional last day of swimming lessons.....

....GUMMY EGG!

For me it was oompa loompas. For my kids it is a gummy egg! We can't go in this candy shop without buying one for everyone.

"I'll have 9 gummy eggs please!"

I recommend them. For a gummy thing, they aren't bad. And those gummy eggs, well, I think my kids will remember them as fondly as I do my

oompa loompas!

You gotta have a plan

So, about a year ago, I really started thinking about pornography. I guess I should rephrase that, I really started thinking about pornography prevention. Pornography is everywhere and I know it is a problem because for 1 full month in sacrament meeting that was the topic. And almost every month in the Ensign there is an article about it. And it has just been on my mind, a lot. How could I protect my family? What should I do? I figured it had been on my mind for a reason and I wasn't going to just sit around and wait for something horrible like pornography to invade my family.

I am a firm believer in prevention and early intervention and so after many articles read, many prayers and a lot of research I came up with the

Allred family anti-pornography plan.

We had a Family Home Evening on pornography and how to avoid it, what to do if you see it and ways to protect ourselves from it. We went over scenarios and talked a lot about it. We came up with a list of rules, typed them up, had everyone sign their names to it and then framed it and put it right beside the computer. We review that list every month in family council. Trevor also asks the kids each month in his father's interviews specifically about pornography.

We encouraged the kids to pray for the ability to resist temptation and every morning in my personal prayers I specifically ask that my kids and husband will be able to avoid pornography. Trevor takes a family picture with him when he travels and puts it on the TV in his hotel rooms. We also installed the K9 protection system on our computer. It is free AND from multiple sources I have heard it is one of the best and most reliable ones. Only I know the password.

And finally, we put this picture right above our computer. A final reminder as they sit down at the computer to act appropriately at all times and in all things and in all places.

(about 2 weeks after this FHE we were at a bookstore for Ashlyn's birthday. With panic in his eyes Ethan ran up to me, desperately pulled at my arm and said, "Mom! Come quick, Ashlyn's looking at pornography!" I got over to her and sure enough there was a very innocent drawing of a little bum in the children's book she was looking at. We praised him for his quick thinking and for telling mom right away and we were able to again teach what is right and wrong. I smiled all the way home, this little plan just might work!)

It's Great to be Eight!

What is even greater than being 8 is having a daughter like Alyssa. Everything about her is great! She has such enthusiasm for life. She is always happy. She is so very helpful around the house. Everything she does or tries, she does with a smile on her face and with great excitement. If only everyone had her zest for life!

This great 8 year old can play with anyone who happens to be around, she is no respecter of persons. She gets along with everyone. And everyone, especially little kids, love Alyssa. She loves school and church and parties and anything that sparkles. She is independent and kind and tenderhearted. She is talented and beautiful and so fun to be around. She is ready to be baptized and has a strong testimony which she bears often.

This cute 8 year old wanted a REAL tiara for her birthday. She got three! And she deserves every one of them. She is a true princess in every way shape and form. A great daughter of God and one of the greatest blessings in my life.

I love you princess Alyssa!

Happy Birthday!

Now it's Really here!

Finally the day arrived for Ethan to start school. It had been a long week waiting for this momentous event in this little boys life. He was so excited to be going to the school his brothers and sisters went to. He was so excited to finally be a Lion. He was so excited to walk home with the big kids. He was just plain excited! As we were walking outside to take the traditional first day of school picture he said to me, "Mom, you know how all the kids hold up fingers to show what they are in school? Well, what do you hold up for kindergarten?" I didn't have an answer for him. So he came up with the closed fist to signify you are in kindergarten. I like it! Doesn't it scream

I AM STARTING KINDERGARTEN!

I think so too. I think I am done. Done buying underwear and socks and new school shoes. Done buying notebooks, calculators, pencil sharpeners, index cards, dry erase markers and college ruled paper. Done buying Kleenex and Clorox wipes to donate to each classroom. We are ready and stocked and are now trying to settle into the routine that will shape our lives for the next 9 months, early mornings, late afternoon snacks and homework and early bedtimes (in my dreams)! It's going to be a great year. I can feel it.

I am especially looking forward to some one on one time with this little one.

She needs it.

I need it.
Yep, it's going to be a great year!

Fresh from the oven

Before Kara started kindergarten I read this idea in a magazine. I dog eared the page and tired it out on my first child's first day of school. It was a hit and we have been doing it ever since.

The tradition is simple.

The tradition is cookies.

Every year on the first day of school my kids know they will come home to a pile of homemade cookies fresh from the oven. The house smells good, the cookies are warm and gooey and mom (and sometimes dad) will always be there to go over every detail of the first day of school. Questions are asked, how do you like your teacher? who did you play with at recess? what was your favorite class? Some questions are answered, mostly by the girls who give all the details, a few by the boys whose typical answer is "GOOD." I hope that they will remember the coziness of it all, that their mom is interested in their cute little lives, that school is important AND that their mom can actually make something from scratch (even if it is only once a year :)
Happy First Day of School!

At last...it's here!

It's not like I have been counting down or anything to this, the most wonderful time of the year. (OK, maybe I have)

Do you blame me? Seven kids and all their friends all summer, all eating, all wrestling, all over my house!

I was very ready for this day to arrive, and actually I think my kids were too.

I think.

Kara was a little bummed that the whole first week of 11th grade she had to wear her student council sweater and therefore couldn't strut around in new school clothes. (Do girls strut?) I told her she could wear all her new school clothes the 2nd week of school when everyone else had exhausted their new wardrobes. I don't think that helped. I still think she looked cute.

Tyler left early for 9th grade because he is taking early morning seminary this year. He just had too many classes to fit in his schedule (remember Japanese?) He has really good classes and teachers and I think it will be a great year for him.

I have 4 kids at the Elementary school this year. That is a new record. But only these 3 started school today (My kindergartner was inside sulking since he didn't start for 1 more week, torture for him and ME!) Brandon is king of the school in 6th grade. Bryson will be in 4th and Alyssa is in 2nd. They left happy and came home happy. That is a good sign. I am so grateful for good teachers and can I say it one more time....so grateful for the first day of school!

Madame President

The mighty Junior Class Council 2010-2011!

The girls! Smart, beautiful and ready to rock the cave!


With a president with this kind of spirit-what a year it will be!
Go Kara!
Go Cavemen!
Go Madame President!

A decade ago....

A decade ago, at the start of a new century, a tiny baby came into my life and took over my heart. Ten years ago, my sweet Bryson was born. Ten years ago this quiet little soul became a part of our family. Ten years ago he found his place as the 4th child and now 10 years later finds himself smack in the middle of all his siblings, a true middle child. Ten years ago his love for his brothers was born and to this day they are his heroes and his very best friends.
Ten things Brycie loves: Bionicles, Legos, Books, Heroscape, Wii, Rolls, Jello, Sword Fighting, Nerf Guns, Being at Home.

Ten words to describe Bryce: Quiet, Smart, Thoughtful, Shy, Happy, Skinny, Imaginative, Spiritual, Devoted and Content.

For ten years we have been blessed to have him in our family. For ten years we have loved him and learned from him and laughed with him and cried with him. For ten years we have been so grateful that he is ours.

Happy Birthday Bryson!

Boredom Buster

What do you get when you mix a box of paper clips, wire and junk found in dad's tool box and out on the street with....

....a little elbow grease and creativity AND...

...4 boys trying to beat the heat and keep themselves busy without TV and video games during the summer?

You get some pretty amazing little creatures we call paper clip men. They are so fun and interesting to look at. My boys have now made tons and they just get better and better and more creative with their features and of coarse, weapons!(Swords, guns, spears, tridents, whips, knives, bows and arrows, and even a mace) They have spent hours doing this, they have taught many other friends and neighbor kids, and they aren't sitting around fizzling their brains with too much screen time.

I'll take it! These little guys are welcome in my home anytime, weapons and all!

Put a sock on it....Please!

This picture does not do these feet justice. They were filthy! Black between all the toes and up onto both ankles. What in the world do they do outside in the summer to get their feet so dang dirty?! It is sick! And it's even sicker that then they come into my house, 12 of these dirty feet every night (thankfully Kara has outgrown the dirty summer feet syndrome), and run around on my carpet and floor. There have actually been some nights where I have made them crawl with their feet in the air up to the bathtub because I couldn't stand the thought of them walking in my house.

We have 3 weeks left of these dirty tootsies and then thankfully we will be wearing socks and breaking in the new school shoes!

My carpet and I are can't wait!