FIND THE BIG, PUFFY, PINK MARSHMALLOW

OK, so the last time we played this game Teresa complained about the quality of the pictures... my pictures will look better when I can find a USB connection for my real camera.
Laura complained that she couldn't find the elephant. I thought the contest was pretty easy but I guess Laura needs a hint because she is not all that good at games. Afterall, she lost to the Master of Catan last night who drew 9 soldiers. (Hint: It's a Utah marshmallow)

Christmas

I have loved reading your blogs and seeing the pictures of our Christmas together!!! I had a wonderful time, too, despite the dead tree and not doing everthing I had planned. I cannot remember ever not making sugar cookies for Santa. I am so happy that everyone was here and comfortable. I think as a parent, when your children are happy, you are happy. I also think that I have finally reached the age where it is not so stressful to have company and I have realized that I don't have to keep everyone happy - maybe it is because you have grown up and can now keep yourselves happy and I am not the first in line to keep grandchildren happy.
Thank you for making the effort, sometimes large, to be here. I love having everyone together and watching you interact as adults. I love being with my sisters and their families and Dads brothers and their families, and for you to see your cousins. It was a perfect Christmas for me, too. I am happy that everyone is safely home and starting their lives again.
Evan will be home in two years.

All because two people fell in love...

Proctor Family Party

This is a photo of the Proctor sisters' family party. The only one that was playing Waldo is Sue.
We had a great time together and appreciate the sacrifice of those who had to come long distances to be at our home.
Please notice the well-behaved grandsons in the foreground.
You can also see that our black & white baby joined the festivities, much to the delight of our daughters.

My Christmas Tree

Just so that you don't think that all New York is, is subways and their contents. Here is a picture of our Christmas tree. It is also shipped in from the north. Putting the lights and decorations on is left to a group of professionals and the "lighting" is attended by hundreds millions either in person or via television. It is the lovely tree in Rockefeller center.

If anyone tried to steal a silver bell off of this tree they would be arrested. Watch out Brie!

Merry Christmas!

Santa on the Subway

So the other day as I climbed on to my subway on my way home from work I realized that a very special person climbed on with me and took a seat. He sat by himself and didn't say much, just like everyone else. I was thrilled as I realized that given the option of sleigh and subway Santa chose to ride the C local. This particular Santa Claus was about 6'7 and black. Then a woman got on at 86th street and wanted to take a picuture with him. He would say nothing but HOHOHO. Which I thought was odd, since it doesn't say anywhere that Santa is like an animal with only one generic noise to make. Then I realized that this was a Harlem Santa (I realized this because he was on the local and didn't get off at 110th so he must live in Harlem) He was probably some crazy, drunk bum that found a Santa suit and thinking it would be warm put in on and slid the beard and glasses on just to be stylish.

Lesson Learned: When you are a dirty bum, dress up like a well beloved figure like Santa and Buddah and Tinkerbell and people will be happy to see you.

I hope you are all learning valuable holiday lessons this season.

PS Consider this my Christmas card as I have no plans to send any.

The Christmas Tree

Well, our tree is here. It is a grand fir and it is GRAND!!! It is really, really huge. The top goes to the top of the upstairs hall ceiling (15 ft.) it is 9 ft in diameter and beautiful and smells great. The 5 strings of lights I found won't even start. I am so excited, it is braced so the grandkids can play around it.
I was thinking - since the picture is on the 28th, and we want it outside, if we undecorate the tree, we can be in front of it. With a 9 ft diameter, we will fit. It could work really well.
So, I will consider this my Christmas present. We will send a picture when we get the camera back from Tawna.

nother letter

We got Evan's first letter from Seattle! It is on e-mail; does everyone look at e-mail, or do I have to put a note on the blog every week? We still don't know his e-mail address, or if he will have one, though I can't imagine he won't. Bryce do you use your byu account or your other one? Also, Alicia and Teresa which account do you use? Thanks

Family Foto Again

I couldn't imagine what this would look like, so I tried to look it up. This is right. Right? Except for we'll have 5 or maybe 7 different colors and the colors will be darker.

Regardless, in interest of a deadline to get this decided, Sarah is leaving on Sunday (out to Utah while I take finals) so if you want her to influence my choice of shirt/pants/shoes etc. (I really do) then we'll have to know by Saturday.

Also, this is going to be outside right? So sweaters are okay?

Allred Christmas 2006-shirt idea

I think Jessica was supposed to be in charge of this but we still don't have "Allred Christmas 2006" puff-paint shirts. I think this needs to go to a vote. To puff-paint or not to puff-paint?

I'll let Rod know we want to take the family picture in them. Is that okay with everyone?

Any thoughts? Do we want to create your own puff paint?

Materials Needed:
1 Cup Salt
1 Cup Sugar
Food Coloring

Instructions:
Mix together the three ingredients and place in a squeeze bottle. Squeeze paint out of the bottle onto shirt!

Tis the Season to be in NYC

So, I love NYC this time of year. It really is magical and amazing and hasn't been all that cold until very recently.

Mercedes and I love the NYC Marathon. We went last year and again this year and find it so inspiring. The runners run by our street at mile 22 so some of them are in pretty bad shape. It was so much fun to scream and yell with lots of other people.















A tradition for New Yorkers is to go and watch Macy's blow up their balloons on the Upper West Side. So a few friends of mine and I went and watched. This is me in front of Snoopy.

















Then on Thanksgiving day we went and watched the parade. It was cold and rainy but lots of fun. We went for the last half of the parade so most of the parents with kids had given up and gone home because they were cold and wet.

Evan's Spot

Since Evan was really bad in scheduling his whole mission thing, we now have an open bed for our Pismo trip. The choice came down to Scott's bee girl and Gma. Gma Won!!!!

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.