Lights at Temple Square

I realize that many of you aren't around to see the lights at Temple Square so I thought I would attach a link for you.

http://kutv.com/slideshows/local_slideshow_331025246

Evan's 2nd letter

We got another letter from Evan today. It is great! I will put it on email because we need to start using that in 1 week when he gets to Seattle.
If you write to him on dearelder.com, his MTC address again is Box #321, departure date is 1205, which is when we will start needing to pay for the stamp.

Yokuts Park

I was going to go to Hart Park on Saturday and check out photo sites, but I didn't want to miss the glorious event on that day. So, I went by Yokuts Park on the way home from Rotary. This is what Bako looks like on 11/27/06. You cant see it in the picture but there is beautiful white sand and water in the river. Just for your consideration...

I have signed up with dearelder.com to send mail to Evan. It costs nothing while he is in the MTC and then is 39 cents (there would need to be an account with money) when he goes to Seattle. They print and deliver the mail everyday at noon MST so it can be same day delivery. Evan will be at the MTC until 12-05, so this is a good way to assuare that he will get our mail. The account is under Sue Allred, the password is Tudi52.

Evan's First Letter Home

Dear Home,

I am here safe in the MTC with my companion Elder Keller. They told me I have to write even though I just saw you a few hours ago so here's what I've done so far.
We waited in lines for everything. I got a Hep A shot and a tetanus shot which came to a bill of 66 dollars which I took out of my account with my debt card. Dad I need my line of authority mailed to me please. We then had lunch which we waited in another line for, it was good though. I've already seen one girl I knew from BYU-I but it was a little awkward. We just got out of a meeting with our branch in which Elder Keller was named District leader. He will do a great job I know. Hope everything at home is going great. I love all of you.
Love,
E Allred.

(I know Laura hates when missionaries write "Elder" so I figure she can imagine whatever she wants the "E" to stand for.)

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

I hope you all eat lots of food, and remember all the wonderful blessings we have in our lives. Here are some things we were Thankful for in 2004: If you would like to add yours to our lists, please do.

DAD
"As Thanksgiving approaches I have been thinking a lot about how blessed I am. I invite everyone’s participation in an exercise that helps me realize what a wonderful life I have. List 10 things that you are grateful for that do not relate to your family or the gospel/church. This is my list, in random order:

1. To breathe
2. Root beer floats on a hot day
3. Sequoia trees
4. The smell of a pine forest after a rain
5. Back rubs
6. Sunshine
7. Clean clothes
8. The sound of ocean waves breaking
9. Sunday afternoon naps with soft music
10. Chocolate
OK, so a couple of those had to do with your mother but you get the idea.

Love, DAD

UNCLE RUSS
Here's my list. I am grateful for:

1. A job that pays enough to pay my bills
2. My association with people who willingly give service
3. Fall leaves
4. A sense of humor
5. Good music
6. Food
7. Historic Architecture
8. Applause
9. Hope
10. Talents


LAURA
Great Idea!
Here's my list:

1. Fall- the colors, the smell, the fog
2. Home Ownership and the Equity that comes with it
3. 2:00pm-4:00pm... Nap time for the kids which allows me to read emails
from all of you.
4. A sewing machine- (okay, I don't have one. But what better place to do
a Christmas wish reminder.)
5. Cheddar Bialy from the Bagelry- a 12 year tradition
6. Airplanes- allowing you to live and explore places that before, could
not have been possible (Hawaii).
7. Epidurals- I have only recently discovered the joys of drug use.
8. America- and the men and women who are protecting it this very minute.
9. Weekends- We(Davin, Kea and I) get Brian all to ourselves-- unless
their is a football, basketball, baseball or tennis game on.
10. Cameras- to be able to remember our kids the way they once were, and to
send picts around to those very far away.

GMA
My list

1 St George
2 The Computer
3 Sun Rise and Sun Set
4 Flowers
5 Vegetable gardens
6 Letters to read and send
7 The face of a child
8 Not to have a operation on my knee
9 Good people to be with
10 Quilts
Do you want more?

ALICIA
My Thanksgiving List

1. Sharing a bed with someone at night.
2. The beach, the mountains, the forest, etc.
3. More experience with (and thus a better
understanding of) different people, cultures,
lifestyles, experiences than I ever thought I would
have.
4. Hope for a happy future
5. A BYU education (that one is for Scott)
6. First time experiences
7. Sunday naps
8. Travel
9.Self confidence
10. Feeling happy and satisfied with life every day

JESSICA
So here is my list, I could go on for days.

1) Dental Hygiene, as I have dealt with some people without it I have come to value it more.
2) Carpet without fleas
3) Warm jackets and blankets
4) Hot Chocolate with junior mints stirred in with a candy cane and sipped through a grasshopper cookie.
5) the founding fathers & the constitution
6)Economic and political stability
7)Computers- word processing, spell check
8) A job- Thanks Melody
9)The internet- Email, attachments, blackboard, google, online databases and journals.
10) Technology- airplanes, cellphones, satellite transmission

I am especially grateful that all the statues of BYU remain safely wrapped in their saran wrap cocoons to protect them from the heathen at the U of U the whole week.

TERESA
Some of the blessings I was thinking of have already been taken, but I will try to be
unique:

1. Watching a child learn
2. Way of life in the United States (today, particularly the way our government is run.)
3. Yummy, inexpensive restaurants
4. A constant paycheck (even when it doesn't go as far as you would like)
5. Crafts
6. A comfortable warm home that keeps the cold and rain out
7. A body, especially a fully functioning one. (the missionaries where over last night, and inspired that one)
8. Wonderful friends no matter where we live.
9. Marriage
10. Second hand stores! :)

LANDON
the Thankful for things seems like a good appetizer for thanksgiving, so
here's another addition.

1. Sarah (she is not yet technically "family" so it is okay to list her)
2. Computers (half of my classes wouldn't exist without them, but I don't
know how life would work without them either)
3. A science based major
4. Cars
5. Christmas songs
6. The Coco-Motion
7. Shoes that make walking all day comfortable
8. Climate control
9. Taste buds
10. That no one has to stay simply "engaged" forever

that's all folks.
Landon

STEVE
Here are mine, in random order:

1. Germany
2. Bed Time (Kids)
3. Missionaries that appreciate me
4. Arabic Studies
5. Naps on Sunday
6. The computer
7. Arriving in Germany and already having friends in the church
8. Calling my folks
9. The Christmas season
10. A Blue-Eyed Brunette sleeping next to me

Outside of those, I am thankful for the missionary work and for the
chance I have to serve those embarked in the great work.
And for all of you.

Steve

MOM
Here is my list. I left off bedtime because that was copying Steve.

1. Freedom and ability to travel
2. Freedom to have so many choices
3. A busy life - something to wake up to each morning
4. Health
5. Changes in the weather
6. Friends
7. Teachers
8. Mountains - different geography
9. Love
10. Being a stay at home Mom

Love, Mom

Are you sure?

I know. I know. We have given up on the beach family picture idea. And I understand why . . . although I don't think it would be that hard - we are going to be getting ready for the day anyway and we have less going on that day than the day of the Proctor party. Just as I was coming to grips with the new plan, my sister-in-law (Laura) posted her family's newest family picture. It is gorgeous. They were at the beach as a family and had it taken. Here it is. What do you think? Are you sure you want to give it up?
I've also included others that I found on the internet a couple months ago when I was looking at what colors might be good for us to wear. Looks pretty nice, huh? I guess Rod at Hart Park will do.

Christmas travel times

Jessica is buying her ticket home for Christmas. So that there is some coordination, here are the travel times as I understand them.

ARRIVALS:

Hughes - Thursday, December 14, 7:00pm at LAX - we pick up
Buchanans and Sarah and Aiden - Wednesday, December 20th, 12:30pm at LAX, renting a car.
Landon - Friday, December 22, 3:45pm at LAX - pick up or shuttle
Bryce - driving down Friday, December 22nd


DEPARTURES:

Buchanans - Thursday, December 28th, LAX return car
Hughes - Saturday, December 30th, LAX - we deliver
Allreds - Wednesday, January 3, LAX - we deliver
Bryce - BYU starts Monday, January 9th

Other agenda items:

Housing - Hughes downstairs at Allred's house
Allreds big bedroom upstairs at Allred's house
Bryce at Allred's house or Davin's bunkbed
Buchanans guest room at Skinner's house
Jessica at Skinner's house with Kea or at Allred's

Itinerary -

Saturday, Dec. 23: Proctor party here
Sunday, Dec. 24: Church, Evening program and dinner
Monday, Dec. 25: CHRISTMAS!!!,
Tuesday, Dec. 26: To Pismo, morning
Wednesday, Dec. 27: Home from Pismo, evening

The family picture is not finalized yet. We will let you know. We are very much looking forward to this time together! Any additional plans, let me know.

In Response

As you might suspect, there are a lot of Political Science Majors in law school, and I get my fair share of political opinions. So, in response to Dad's editorial, here is a video possibly representing the other side's position.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD6qZSsgv-8

Enjoy,

Landon and Sarah (and Aiden)

Everyone is Entitled to My Opinion

Laura gave me a sign that says, "Everyone is Entitled to My Opinion." Accordingly, I am sharing the Letter to the Editor, dated November 14, 2006.

New minority
As I read the paper recently, it struck me. I am a minority.
I know that now because I believe that: we are at war with Islamic fundamentalists; you need to shut up if you don't have a better idea; "W" is smarter than all of his critics and has more sense than the rest; Wal-Mart serves me well; the government serves me sometimes; attorneys made unions obsolete; man has an inconsequential impact on global warming; God and our Founding Fathers know that marriage is between a man and a woman; killing an unborn baby is not just a choice; a culture of hedonism is more dangerous than overpopulation; politicians cannot repeal the law of supply and demand and the moral majority is neither.
-- ROGER C. ALLRED, Bakersfield

PS We had a great time in Utah. You have heard the stories. I am just glad that Elder Evan is under the supervision of a good mission president to whom he will listen.

Evan's address

Thank you, Alicia, for a great blog on Evan's entry into the MTC. He seemed excited to go, but in a very subdued way. I am proud of him for his choice to serve.
What I noticed during the trip was that he spend a LOT of time on the cell phone. I really wondered how he would do when it was time to give it up. I half way expected there to be a new part of the MTC program that was the giving up of the cell phones, I am sure that he is not the only young man who uses one.
After he took his luggage in, he called the company to disconnect the service. He was shocked that the phone went dead as he was listening, but I am proud of him for his obedience. He will be a great missionary.

His address is: ELDER EVAN STANLEY ALLRED
MTC Mailbox #321
WA-SEA 1205
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

The 1205 is his departure date from the MTC. He will be in there for Thanksgiving. We were able to have a good dinner together at Tracy and Lauren's house on Sunday.

We had a great trip home. It is really nice to travel with 4 mature people in a car large enough for every one to have there own row.
Have a wonderful time together, Teresa and Jessica!!!

Evan Goes to the Temple

On Saturday, November 4th, Evan went to the LA Temple for the first time. It was wonderful for your mom and me to greet him as he came into the Celestial Room. What a blessing for us all.
As we stood there, I told him about the time that we were all together in the Jordan River Temple. The satisfaction of knowing that your children and children-in-law are faithful is greater than I can express.
I will let Evan respond to this Blog, since he says that he doesn't know how to post one.

Christmas exchange

I made the change on the Christmas list. Landon now buys for Laura.

Arizona

This is a picture of Sue and Lenny. Lenny was our guide to see the Apache Nation, just outside of Scottsdale. Lenny was raised in the "country" and is married to an Apache woman. He was illiterate until he was 28 years old. He now speaks 7 languages (three of them Indian languages) and has lectured many times on the Sonoran Desert at Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA. He was kicked in the eye by a horse a couple of years ago. He survived the operation and is back doing tours. He was a wonderful guide and a fascinating person.
Sue and I went on a 1 mile hike by ourselves. It was beautiful. The Superstition Mountains are behind me.
Oh, and I am a much smarter CPA now. Thanks to Millennium Energy.

Rotavirus

Little Brie is sick. Apparently she picked up rotavirus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotavirus) in Bakersfield - thanks a lot Tawna!

Brie has had terrible diarrhea and a horrible rash to boot that sends her into a screaming tantrum everytime we have to change her diaper. I have found that the best solution is to just stick her in the tub in some nice warm water. When we get her up in the morning she has usually filled one leg of her pajamas with poop (I say poop because I know Davin thinks that word is hilarious), so bathing her right away is our only real option.

Dr. Brian said that Rotavirus usually lasts about 10 days so we should be nearing the end. He also wants us to watch that she doesn't get dehydrated because that is usually what hospitalizes the kids that catch it.

I can't wait until Christmas in Bakersfield when all the cousins are getting each other sick. Teresa will be bringing some crazy Euro-trash virus with her kids. Aiden will probably have Cavalieritis, the Skinner kids Valley fever and we are freezing some rotavirus for Brie to bring back to b-town. Gee can't wait, should be lots of fun! Really though, could it be any worse than when everyone got sick in Christmas 2003?

Bumble Buchanans

Because we liked the idea so much of dressing like the Bumble Buchanans in the family picture, we just found the perfect outfits?

Good luck to the rest of you in coordinating with us.

Love,

Bumble Buchanans (BZZZZ)

Allred Family Portrait

Yep, it's true. In just a couple short months we will all posing and smiling together for the new and improved Allred Family Portrait. We have lots of new additions - Sarah, Aiden, Jacob, Kea, Blake and Brie. And we have a deletion - Evan. You know me, I like to help with the coordinating of clothes for each and every family picture, so I thought I would start that discussion. Hopefully the plan will be to take the picture on the beach during our day at the beach after Christmas. Dad says he is finding a photographer. If that is the case, I'm assuming our clothes should be casual instead of formal, right? So, two ideas that Laura, Mom, Dad and I (Brian wanted nothing to do with it) threw around were:

1. We all wear jeans. Then each family will have a base color that is theirs for their sweater type tops. Mom and Dad want to be able to tell who belongs to which family. Laura is thinking this might look like "Rainbow Bright on the Beach", but I'm saying the colors don't have to be primary colors. And we aren't going to have all matching brightly colored Hanes t-shirts like we are going to Disneyland or a family reunion. You simply have your top mostly that color. The colors could be muted colors in blue or green or brown, etc.

2. (I think I like this the best, but then we can't tell family connections and everyone could think Tawna and Brian are married all over again.) We coordinate using the colors khaki, white, blues and brown. I think that would be gorgeous on the beach. You could wear whatever you'd like.

3. Or a new idea. Does anyone else have an idea for what they think would look good?

Ok. Thanks for your support.

Halloween in the Village

Every year for Halloween there is a HUGE parade in the Village. Anyone who wants can dress up in a costume and march down 6th Avenue or stand along the sides and heckle the procession of costumed freaks. I chose to join with the costumed freaks and march down the street amid cheers, jeers and nearly nude men and women. There were several Steve Irwin’s (Crocodile Hunter) complete with a sting ray stab wound, several strippers (of the firewoman, policewoman, nurse and flight attendant variety) and LOTS of people who chose to let halloween be their excuse to wander around in their trashy lingerie. It was amazing, energetic, insightful, educational and offensive all at once. (As so many things in this city are)

Any who, the shrek couple was one of my favorites. I can't get the rest to load. Which is probably best, so that our family blog doesn't turn into one of "those sites."