New E-mail

Friends!!!

I have a new e-mail address:

aly.allred@gmail.com

Bandages, Bandages, and more Bandages

Tuesday, July 24, 2007-Megan was starting to feel left out of the whole bandage thing and so felt that she needed to be included on all the tape... Then Jack felt like he needed one of his head too-vicious cycle amongst children, but I surely love them! Now we just have to hope that his stitches and laceration are coming together well.

Radishes

I have always had a hope that one day I would have my own vegetable garden, where the vegetables actually grew. I tried it once a couple of summers ago with tomatoes, and no luck...

Well, I am still trying to grow tomatoes (and from the look of them in the garden, it looks like they are growing), but radishes have come up already! (I planted radishes too, obviously.) I am so excited. Jack even attempted to eat a radish and both Darrin and I admit that they are pretty strong. Now I just have to start praying for my cherry, plum, and apple trees...
Thursday, July 19, 2007

I Love You, Darrin!

July 2007

The other day, while driving into work, an old familiar tune on the radio played. As I drove and listened to the words, I began to cry because as I contemplated more about what the song was about, the more I realized (and remembered) why I married the man that I did. With the recent events in our personal lives, yes, I love you just the way you are, Darrin.

Don't go changing, to try and please me;

You never let me down before.

Don't imagine you're too familiar

And I don't see you anymore.

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble

We never could have come this far

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are. ...

I need to know that you will always be

The same old someone that I knew

What will it take till you believe in me

The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever

And this I promise from the heart

I could not love you any better

I love you just the way you are.

"Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel

Premonition-movie corner

Next to Nicholos Cage being my all time favorite actor, Sandra Bullock is at the top of my list (above my friend, Nick) for favorite actresses. I just love her movies. My very first film I saw her in was Love Potion No. 9. If you haven't seen it, rent it! Then, of course, came While You Were Sleeping, A Time To Kill, In Love and War, Hope Floats, etc.... http://movies.go.com/sandra-bullock/f1023927

Anywho, Darrin and I watched Premonition last night. I have to admit that I actually liked it. It was enjoybale, entertaining, and fun to watch. There were a few parts that needed a little more explaining, but other than that, I still adore "Sandy." I would love to be her next door neighbor. If only we could move back to Austin-since that is where she has been living since forever! I knew that there must be another reason why I like her, she lives in the most beautiful (hot though) city.

Jack needs stitches...

Darrin and I always feared the day when one of our children would need to be rushed to the ER for stitches or a broken arm, etc... Well it finally happened, and I wasn't even there. What kind of mom am I?

Yesterday, we were at the pool swimming with neighbor friends. Megan was getting tired and so I took her home to put her down for a nap. I thought that I would change my clothes as well, since I could feel my shoulders frying already. I left Jack there playing with his buddy, Cade (Cade's mom [Andrea] was there). Jack, the little stinker, tried sneaking into the pool without his floaties, but when Andrea yelled to him, he flinched while jumping in. Needless to say, he hit his chin against the pool deck. He hit it so hard that he broke the skin all the way to the bone. Well 30 stitches later, a gash about an inch and a half wide and a bruised chin, Jack seems to be doing well. I will give him until the codine wears off!

(Accident occurred Friday, July 20, 2007, but these pictures were taken Saturday, July 21, 2007.)

Our Little Swimmers!!

We have enrolled Jack and Megan in extreme survival swimming. It's amazing what they both have learned already this summer. They both have a couple more weeks of lessons left, and so it will be amazing how much more they will learn from now until then.

Watching them swim and be so pool safe makes going to our pool so much more fun for all of us. Jack can float and swim in the big pool all by himself unassisted. Megan is doing so great in the little kiddie pool and can float and swim all by herself in the big pool. We surely love our little swimmers. June 27, 2007

Megan

Jack

Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke

For those who know me, they know that I love soda and not just any soda-Diet Soda! And then to be more specific, I prefer diet cola. My all time favorites are Diet Pepsi with Wild Cherry and Diet Pepsi with Lime. I love Diet Pepsi over Diet Coke, but beggars can't be choosers most of the time. So whichever deal is going on at our local Harmon's, I stock up. So the week of July 4th, Harmon's was having their 5 for $10 deal and so I had to make several trips to the store to get my one month supply. Sadly, I go through several fridge pack boxes a week. I need something good, calorie free, and legal to help keep me sane most of the days. I had a great neighbor back in Highland-Becky-who totally understands this need. Heck, when one of us were running low, we knew where we could get a drink and sit down to a good long chat!

Friday, July 13, 2007

This Tahoe trip has really worn us all out. For some odd reason, I couldn't sleep, and so was up and running on the treadmill by 5am and when I came back to take a shower, this is what I found. Sad to admit, but this situation is quite normal for us. Our children somehow end up in our bed each and every night! And people wonder why Darrin and I are so exhausted?! After my shower, I ran over to Target and bought out every "Car" I could find that Jack already didn't have, as well as every matchbox car imaginable to bribe him with the dream fairy to get him to stay in his own bed every night. This bribery worked with potty training, why shouldn't it not work with bed time?

"People who say that they sleep like a baby usually don't have one" (Author: Leo J. Burke). Mind you-Mommy is taking the pictures!

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

Wednesday, July 11, 2007-After lunch, we headed back to the cabin, where we all changed back into our swim suits and shorts and headed straight to the water, where we all canoed the rest of the afternoon. If only we had one more day to play and get wet!

Daddy (Darrin) and Jack

Mommy (Aly) and Megan

Papa

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

Wednesday, July 11, 2007-We headed over to Kings Beach, where the children could run and walk on the shore; however, Jack and Megan just couldn't resist getting wet and even wetter. But at least they were enjoying themselves with their Nanny and Papa.

That afternoon, we headed over to Jason's, ironically, just next to the beach where we were parked (though, didn't realize that until after we drover around for a bit). We had the best hamburgers and french fries-wow! Of course, I had all the Diet Pepsi I could drink. (I actually prefer Diet Pepsi over Diet Coke, but I will take what I can get.)

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

Tuesday, July 10, 2007-The weather turned on us and so my mom volunteered to watch Megan while we took Jack to see "Ratatouille." (Jack called it: "Ratatuddy.") There is only one theatre on the west side of Tahoe. It was a local "ma and pop" shop kind of place. There was only 1 man working and he did the tickets, the popcorn, and the movie! Our tickets cost us $9 a piece, yes, including Jacks too! But it was fun for Darrin and I to spend an afternoon alone with him and take him. Jack has wanted to see this movie since Christmas (preview on "Cars"). I admit that I had a hard time getting passed the whole idea of a rat cooking food, but Jack surely enjoyed himself and I think that Darrin was just thrilled to be out doing something, other than work.

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

Monday, July 9, 2007-It wouldn't be considered a real vacation if Darrin didn't have some work to do or some conference call to be on. Fortunately, he tried really hard to not work, so that we could all really enjoy this family vacation, but some calls just had to be answered, yes, even at the beach!And you can see more Diet Coke. I swear, I need to work for them because I surely keep Coca Cola in business...

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

Monday, July 9-We headed straight to the water, where we played all day. Jack and Megan were having so much fun. It was nice to be outside in warm-not hot-weather with the whole gang. I don't think that I could have asked for a better moment.

Nanny bought these hats for the children at the local grocery store earlier that morning. Talk about a good investment! As much as the children didn't want to wear them, it protected their head, ears, and neck from burning. They will thank her later.

When Papa arrived, he brought this ski boat intertube-talk about pure entertainment for Jack and Megan. Heck, it looked like so much fun, that Darrin and I had to use it for a minute. We both just tied the rope up to our chairs and let the other person just float out in the water! I just could stayed out there all day, but needed more Diet Coke (as you can see from all the pictures, my cans laying around) and to get out of the sun before I baked to over well done.

Tahoe!!! July 8-12, 2007

We got up around 5am, so that we could be out the door by 6am (more like 6:30am...) and then arrived in Tahoe by 3:30pm. Between me and the children, we had to take several potty breaks along the way. So, after 8 long hours of driving, we finally made it to the cabin. The children were more than thrilled. Needless to say, so were Darrin and I. Nanny and Papa arrived shortly after us. Sunday, July 8, 2007

Megan, Daddy (Darrin) and Jack

Happy Independance Day!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

"Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society."
--Thomas Jefferson

Mommy and Megan in the backyard, taking advantage of the cooler weather before the heat and events of the day actually start.

We spent the afternoon with the Allred's. We had a BBQ, played volleyball (though quit early because it was too bloody hot!), and then sat inside to cool down and enjoy apple crisp with ice cream. Halley and Darrin played a game of pool, while Jack played with toys with Aunt Kiersten, Uncle Penn, and Jarom. I took pictures to help make the time pass and let my sweat dry.

We drove home and then did our own fireworks in our front yard. When we arrived home, we found this American flag, 3 Gatorades (red, white [clear], and blue favored), a bag of candy, and a sweet note from my old visiting teacher! How thoughtful (and cute idea) was that. The children found these two things the most fun.

"Let it be borne on the flag under which we rally in every exigency, that we have one country, one constitution, one destiny."
--Daniel Webster

Unfortunately, the hot weather and long day wore Megan out and so she missed out on all the real fun. (Fortunately for her, she didn't want to go to bed the Saturday night before and so watched the South Jordan fireworks display with us on our front porch, while Jack slept.)

After lighting several sparklers, Jack had more fun blowing them out then watching them sparkle.

Don't you just love the look on Jack's face-truly a child in heart and body. He made all of this the most fun and enjoyable. I am so proud to be an American and so blessed to be his mom (and Megan's too).