Krista's Eighteenth Birthday Party

These are my favorites from the birthday party.


Lovely ladies.


The party planner takes a minute to show everyone how it is done. She is adorable.


Three of my six favorite daughters resting from all of the excitement.


Pump it Up! 'Nough said.

LuLu's Birthday

Thanks to the diligence of Sue, we did celebrate Laura's thirty-something birthday. That doesn't seem possible since Sue and I were only thirty-something a little while ago.


We were happy to have Heather Chaddock and baby with us. We lost Tawna though.


Meanwhile in the kitchen...


We set something on fire in Laura's honor.

The Football Game

Lila and Zach had a scrimmage to keep themselves from getting bored.


Zach opens the hole with his slobbery face while Lila dashes through.


Lila hands off to Zach.


We're not sure that Zach gets the concept of the flea flicker, but it doesn't really matter because Zach's dad says he will not be encouraged to go to BYU.

Other Graduation Favorites

It was a beautiful graduation day. We took our comfortable place on the grass behind the graduates rather than baking in the bleachers.


The view from our vantage point. I don't know that it really matters where you are, since no one pays attention until their favorite graduates- then you scream like a banshee. As I have always said, the celebration at a graduation is inversely proportional to the eventual academic achievement of the student.


Krista with the root beer and candy leis that Laura made for her.


Brian being patient, as he has grown accustomed to being.


Roger and Sue, the proud parents of another graduate.

Krista's Graduation

The parents sighed a big sigh of relief when #9 graduated...well...you know why. All I can say is that in the beginning we worried about "C"s, because the Allred children are better than average. In the end, we worried about more basic things.


Find Waldo, or Krista, you choose.


Seven of the previous eight graduates. We put the least photogenic in the very back.


Krista takes her rightful place with the rest - Alicia, Teresa, Laura, Jessica, (Landon was with Sarah and newborn Norah in SLC), Bryce, Evan, Tawna & Krista.


All of the clan that showed up for the event.

Swim Party

I wish we would have had a pool for the kids when they lived at the house, but we are trying to make up for it now. Sue uses the pool once a year, if there is someone to sit with, so we are grateful that the kids and grandkids make full use of it.



The "it's too cold" swimmers in the spa.



Lila and Jessica relaxiating.



Pool lunch, including sushi. For Landon - What is a lawyers favorite type of sushi --- Sosumi.

Pre-Graduation Lunch

We went to Macaroni Grill to celebrate with Krista before the graduation because she had plans for afterwards. Ben Starkey volunteered to take Landon's spot.



Roger and our two babies.



The crew.



I'll have what he's having.

Choir Tributes Night

These are the pictures I liked from Choir Tributes night.



Krista's friends that sat with Sue, Tawna, Bryce and me. They are Natalie, Landen and Jaime (I think).



Krista and Christopher Borges. I am very grateful that Krista had him as a teacher at BHS. He is a dedicated and talented teacher.



Jessica Ellsworth (Bishop Ellsworth's daughter) and Tamara Lawenya (Spelling might be wrong.)

Arizona again

I finally downloaded all my pictures from my new camera, so these are some old ones for your enjoyment. The camera is a Canon Powershot SD780. It is small, Sarah gave it a thumbs up and I love it.



Bryce and I at the University of Arizona.



Bryce in front of the building where he will begin his Masters Degree program in Sep. Notice the bat up by the light over his head.



Sue and I at the hotel where we stayed. It was nice but it also had "indoor/outdoor carpeting" according to Sue.

Baby Girl Allred

Here are a few more pictures of the unnamed baby.

Our Arizona Trip

In order for us to show our contempt for politicians who would criticize or boycott Arizona for upholding the Federal law of the land, we decided to spread our wealth around the Great State of Arizona. Oh yeah, and we decided to visit Bryce also.


Bryce suggested that the three of us go to the Mesa Temple. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Well, Sue was disappointed that we stayed in a 2 Star Best Western motel. It was clean, but "it had indoor/outdoor carpeting." The motel was .6 miles to the temple and there were 6 Mexican restaurants on the way.


This is Sue, Bryce and Bryce's friend Brianna Price. Brianna came with Bryce to do baptisms. She is a wonderful woman and we enjoyed her company.


We all went to lunch and these are the worms that Sue had on her salad.


This is Bryce on the University of Arizona campus, in front of the physics building. The campus was very nice. We went to church with Bryce at the Institute just across the street from UofA. This is the only picture I took in Tucson and all were with my phone. Why did I bother buying a camera? We loved Tucson and Arizona. It was wonderful to see Bryce so content in his new home. Sue prepared a delicious Sunday dinner for us and his roommate, Marcus. Sue and I really enjoyed the whole trip.



On the way home, I took this picture of Sue at In-n-Out in Blythe, I think. Anyway, I IM'd it to Tawna and told her when we would be home. She IM'd back, "Remember, you took all data off our cell phones!" I laughed out loud!

Choir Tour

As you know, my camera got stolen from an unlocked vehicle during Seminary. I thought all my precious memories were lost forever. I found these on my phone. I have them because I forgot to take my camera to these locations. They are kind of fuzzy, but you get the idea.


Sue and I on the Santa Barbara City Hall tower, about 6 stories. The ocean is in the background.


Krista singing during Mass in the San Luis Obispo mission on Sunday. I got a call from the Stake Executive Secretary as I was leaving. He wanted Sue and I to come in to have Sue set apart as the new Stake Primary Counselor. I told him that we were just leaving Mass in San Luis Obispo. He said, "UH, wrong church, wrong place."

An Answer to Your Prayers

I know that all of you have been wondering why I haven't posted any pictures of Piko, since your mom got her a new hairdo. Well, I had this camera (that I loved), but someone decided to take it to school and she left it in an unlocked car during Seminary. Someone else removed it. So, now they have all my choir tour pictures and other memorable shots.
Of course it is my fault, so your mom said I could buy a new one for my birthday. WHOOHOO! I know that you are all celebrating too because now we can share Piko in all her newly groomed glory.
TA-DA...Here she is!



That is the face we all know and love.


She is sooooooooooooo adorable.


I do miss her scruffy look but your mom likes her more this way.


This is a picture of your mom working on Scout stuff. I am still working on how I can become as interesting as the computer.

PS I will be more careful with who takes my camera.

Sue made it to The Big Apple

Jessica sent me this photo to prove that Sue is in NYC. I am not sure where they have red steps, but anything that is ALL RED is good by me. (Note to file: UofU colors are red and white)
Happy Birthday to my dear wife. I know that she is a Cougar, since she is a BYU grad; but is it also true because she is now older than me?

Kids at church

3-year-old Reese :
'Our Father , Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.
Amen.'
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A little boy was overheard praying:
'Lord , if you can't make me a better boy , don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am.'


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After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally , the boy replied,
'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,
and I wanted to stay with you guys.'


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One particular four-year-old prayed,
'And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'


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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
were on the way to church service,
'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?'
One bright little girl replied,
'Because people are sleeping.'


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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons , Kevin 5 , and Ryan 3
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
'If Jesus were sitting here , He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake , I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
' Ryan , you be Jesus !'


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A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand , and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand..
'Daddy , what happened to him?' the son asked.
'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
'Did God throw him back down?'
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A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table , she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
'Would you like to say the blessing?'
'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied.
'Just say what you hear Mommy say,' the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
'Lord , why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?'

Bakersfield Highlights

This is probably more than you want to know of all the fun stuff that has been going on recently in the lifes of the Bakersfieldians.
1/22 Visited Dr. Kobashigawa in LA. He is moving his practice to be a part of Cedars-Sinai. Your mom said that it was great because that is where all the movie stars go (and where Michael Jackson died). Anyway, the Dr. said that I was doing great and might live my whole life without needing a transplant.
After the Dr. visit, we went to the Proctor Christmas party. Don was the only one absent and Dick, Ina, and Mitchell Proctor were also there. We had a nice time. We stayed in the temple apartments and did a session and a sealing the next day. The sealing was your mom's great-grandparents. Your mom and I both felt the spirit very strongly when that ordinance was being done.
1/29 We went to Stars Dinner Theater to see Steven Kinnison perform in The Sound of Music. Krista and Emily Judd joined us. It was a very nice evening.
1/30 I went to 6 hours of Rotary meetings in the morning and a 4 hour Scout dinner at night with your mom. She won the award for her service in the potato booth.
2/6 We went to Davin and Blake's basketball games - not much dribbling, but a lot of shooting. No one keeps score, so it doesn't matter. Krista and your mom helped at Davin's birthday party while I worked at home. I went to the YM basketball game at night.
2/12 We sold tickets at the BHS Talent Show (there was some talent) and then went to the Stake Valentines Dance for about an hour.
2/13 Ward Confernce and Lila's birthday party. You will have to go to the Skinner site for documentation of the party. Flash photography of the testimony meeting was discouraged.

Now for the pictures - on Saturday, Laura ran in a 10k race at CSUB. Brian was coaching the boys and your mom went to the game to bbsit the kids. Piko and I decided to walk to CSUB and watch the race. Krista went to the race with Emily.


This is LuLu on the homestretch.


Laura's cheering section - see the fans go wild!


Laura and her racing homies from the Ward.



On the way home, I wanted to get an ice cream from Rite Aid. The last time I went there, with Piko stashed in my jacket, they were none too pleased. So, this time, I asked Krista and Emily to meet me and I would buy us all an ice cream. The plan worked without a hitch.
This picture was taken by Krista as they drove home. Piko and I decided to stop and rest on the gas main in front of Applebees. We enjoyed the treat - she got most of the cone and then we headed home. A lovely time was had by all.