Jackson Hole

Friday, April 25, 2008-Darrin and I shared a weekend away in Jackson Hole... sans les enfants! (Jack and Megan were able to share some special alone time with their grandparents, so that Darrin and I could have some adult time.)

Well on our drive up, it started to snow and a lot...hhhmmm! Despite the colder weather, we still walked around Jackson and walked through lots of stores, leisurely. Darrin showed me where he used to work and live the summers he worked up in Jackson. It was fun to see these all too familiar spots, yet see how much Jackson has grown. If you want a vacation home, it is beautiful up there and this is coming from a beach girl.

Saturday, the weather cleared up, lots of sunshine, though a little chilly. We drove out to Tetan Village and then to the Elk Reservation, where hundreds of Elk roam the fields. That night we ate at a great BBQ place (the closest BBQ you will get outside of Texas). Despite our fullness, we shared a fresh homemade piece of key lime pie-yum! It was even yellow, not green (a true sign of real key lime pie). My favorite is still from Bosten's in Boca Raton.

Sunday, April 27, 2008- We took the more scenic route on our drive home. We drove through Afton, Wyoming/Star Valley where Darrin's family is from. The yellow house is Grandma Swensen's old home. And the big tall "glacier" no clue, we just found it interesting. There were several of them. The then drove around around Bear Lake and then through Logan canyon. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful and perfect for a long (er) Sunday drive. It was so nice to get away, even just for the weekend.

This is what 13.1 miles looks like!

Saturday, April 19, 2008- I and my two good friends-Tami and Alysia-ran the Salt Lake City Marathon/ Half Marathon. (Alysia and I ran the half while Tami ran the whole-go Tami!) The only picture Darrin got of me is when I was just about the cross the finish line at The Gateway in downtown SLC. Unfortunately, my MP3 player died just after 3 miles-ggrrr. So I sang to myself the rest of the way-not fun, especially when I hit mile 10 and just about wanted to be done! Well, needless to say, I ran all 13.1 miles in one hour and forty eight minutes and one sec- 1:48:01. I beat my last run by over 15 minutes! I couldn't believe it. I actually ran the first 8 miles in one hour and four minutes. I am starting to think I need to train a little harder to run a little faster...aahhh, maybe next year...today, it just hurts to sit or walk down stairs.

That night, Alysia (left), Tami (middle) and I celebrated with our families by going out to dinner. We indulged on our every want. Ok, so I still ordered a Diet Coke, but I did get dessert to go. These two friends have become my sweetest and dearest. It's funny that something as simple as running could bring us together and what's even more fun, I just adore their families. (Alysia actually has triplet boys just 10 days younger than Megan-so fun!) Girls, we may just have to do this again...next year though, as I need a break.

The Chuck Allred Clan

We had Darrin's brother, Charlie, and his family over for dinner last Sunday. We thought we would try to get a cute picture of the children, minus Marissa. She's still a little too little to sit on the rock without assistance. Well we didn't seems to have much luck getting that perfect snap shot photo, as you can see the last picture says it all. Megan was done!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Bad Day...

A couple of weeks ago, we rented "Alvin and the Chipmunks." The movie starts out with all three of them singing: "Bad Day" and it happened to be one of those for me. I just listened to these chipmunks fully explain my thoughts at the moment. Well last night I finally got around to downloading the song and thought I would share my sentiments:

Where is the moment we needed the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

They tell me your blue skies fade to gray

They tell me your passion's gone awayAnd I don't need no carryin' on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low

You're faking a smile with the coffee you go

You tell me your life's been way off line

You're falling to pieces every timeAnd I don't need no carryin' on
Because you had a bad dayYou're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't knowYou tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

The camera don't lie

You're coming back down and you really don't mind

You had a bad dayYou had a bad day
Will you need a blue sky holiday?

The point is they laugh at what you say

And I don't need no carryin' on
You had a bad day

You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know

You tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

The camera don't lie

You're coming back down and you really don't mind

You had a bad day
(Oooh.. a holiday..)
Sometimes the system goes on the blink

And the whole thing turns out wrong

You might not make it back and you know

That you could be well oh that strongAnd I'm not wrong
(yeah...)
So where is the passion when you need it the most

Oh you and IYou kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
Cause you had a bad day

You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know

You tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day

You've seen what you like

And how does it feel for one more time

You had a bad dayYou had a bad day

~Daniel Powter~

Bad Day

Here's one for the gipper...

Fill in the info and forward to your friends. Also send it back to the person you received it from.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:40am (later than usual, sad I know)

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? 21

4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy (desperate to know what happens to Izzie)

5 What do you usually have for breakfast? toast with eggs or anything with syrup on it these days! (Jack and Megan rue the breakfast chef!)

6. What is your middle name? Don’t have one. I took on my maiden name to be my middle name.

7. What food do you dislike? Indian food (curry, yuck!)

8. What is your favorite CD at this moment? Don't have one, though I would like Daughtry or Collective Soul

9. What kind of car do you drive? Depends on who I am driving around either a 2004 Passat Stationwagon or our 2007 Durango

10. Favorite sandwich? Either pastrami with tons of sour kraut or roast beef

11. What characteristic do you despise? People that complain about everything-AMEN Kiersten and dirty hands and feet!!

12. Favorite item of clothing? My bra (If you only knew how much I despise my massive boobs, but I love my bra.) In the past month I have had 6 different people ask if they were real...

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Scandinavia or England

14. Favorite brand of clothing? DKNY, but my budget is more like Old Navy

15. Where would you retire to? Northwest or Northeast

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Last year (31st birthday). Darrin and I celebrated an evening at Ruth's Kris. After wining and dining for 4 hours, we came home and talked till 2am... Best night ever.

17. Favorite sport to watch? Swimming

18. Furthest place you are sending this? put it on blog instead

19. Person you expect to send it back first? No clue.

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning, but would love to be able to stay awake past 10pm

21. What is your shoe size? 9 double wide (and even after bunion surgery)

22. Pets? Would love a golden retriever one day

23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Darrin will be a Microsoft employee before the end of this week! He decided to bat for the other team. For those who don't get that; he is moving from open source (Linux) to Windows.

24. What did you want to be when you were little? I wanted to be an OBGYN, but after taking Microbiology and Physiology and Chem at BYU and spending hours in the labs and barely passing...not for me.

25. How are you today? Great

26. What is your favorite candy? See's, Neuhaus, Leonidas or peanut MnM's

27. What is your favorite flower? Yellow roses & tulips (Kiersten, they are called hibiscus..."those Hawaiian flowers")

28. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? April 25th-Darrin and I are spending an extended weekend alone in Jackson Hole!

29. What is your full name? Alyson Ford Allred

30. What are you listening to right now? American Idol

31. What was the last thing you ate? Spinach with Alfredo sauce and salad

32. Do you wish on stars? You bet!

33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red

34. How is the weather right now? Snowed earlier today, but sun is out now.

35. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my dear friend, Tami

36. Favorite soft drink? Diet Pepsi (lime or cherry or plain)

37. Favorite restaurant? Ruth's Kris, but most of the time, Macaroni Grill

38. Hair color? Blond

39. What was your favorite toy as a child? "Little People"

40. Summer or winter? Depends on where I am living...summers in England for sure!! Winters in California

41. Hugs or kisses? Definitely kisses

42. Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate

43. Coffee or tea? Neither

44. Do you want your friends to email you back? didn't

45. What is under your bed? Nothing (been my goal since we got married)

46. What did you do last night? Worked on M&S contracts and e-mail

47. What are you afraid of? death

48. Salty or sweet? both

49. How many keys on your key ring? No clue

50. How many years at your current job? stay at home mom? long time

51. Favorite day of the week? Friday

52. How many towns have you lived in? Yikes! Born in Sunnyvale (CA), then San Jose (CA), then Los Gatos (CA), then Austin (TX), Rexburg (ID), Laie (Hawaii), Provo, Marseille (FR), Perpignan (FR), Salon de Provence (FR), PG, Lehi, Redhill (UK), Highland, and now South Jordan-PHEW...I think I got them all...

53. Do you make friends easily? I think so. I may not have a lot, but the ones I have are forever keepers.

54. How many people will you send this to? I dunno

55. How many will respond? Whoever is bored.

Why Wedding Dresses are White!

My cute neighbor, Jana, e-mailed this to me. Had to share, only for those who feel like it is true...sometimes...


A son asked his mother, 'Mom, why are wedding dresses white?'

The mother replies, 'Son, this shows your friends and relatives that your bride is pure.'

The son thanks his Mom and goes off to double-check this with his father.

'Dad why are wedding dresses white?'

The father looks at his son in surprise and says, 'Son, all household appliances come in white.'

I would like to comment that now, stainless steel seems to be the "standard" and I can say that is the case for most women, especially those with children!

Humorous Signs: The English know funny...

My dear friend, Laurie, sent me an e-mail with several humorous signs. These were my top two:

AMEN!

Halley's Wedding

Darrin's brother, Halley, finally got married-LONG STORY! After a 3 week "notice" for the wedding and reception, and then just hours notice of the wedding colors, this is what we came up with for Jack and Megan. For their last minute surprise, the colors were changed to black and white. (Who does black and white in the Spring time????) Let me rephrase: Where in the HELL can you find black and white clothes for children the first of April? FYI: Salt Water Sandals have overnight delivery-the perfect shoes for children.

Fortunately, I have the best neighbors who allowed me to borrow clothes for Jack (black cords) and Megan (dress and hair ribbon) b/c after spending several hours shopping over the weekend (we were only told Saturday night [reception Thursday] that the bride and groom now wanted black and white instead of purple-gggrrrrr), I didn't have any luck finding black clothes; however, I found lots of pinks, yellows, blue dresses and shirts. Hello, this is what happens when you fail to plan a little ahead-hint hint! Didn't the bride or groom ever see "Father of the Bride"? No wait, they were barely talking & walking in the early '90s! ...ok enough said.

Princess Megan

March 25, 2008- We went to my brother's house for dinner one evening when my sister form Texas was visiting. Whenever we got over to "Paige'n'Reagan's" house, Megan always heads straight to the dress up box. Well on this particular visit, Megan just couldn't leave home with the dress up shoes and dress. Megan wore the whole outfit to bed, even held the shoes while she took her nap and then even put them back on after her tubby. Needless to say, we have since bought her pink "dress up" high heel shoes, but somehow, she always gravitates back to the purple princess shoes. Our Megan is all girl!