December Happenings

 Just a few random activities...

some definitely more memorable than others!

Sneaky photo credit to Curt...

 I had to have a tooth extracted.  Long story, ugly picture.

I am officially old!

 Brett, Tia and Landon visited Great Grandpa Breinholt

and took him his favorite treat...a Sonic chocolate shake.

(He is Landon's Great-Great Grandpa!  So glad they got a picture!)

 Had fun with my 8-9 year old Activity Day girls 

seeing the Christmas displays at the Temple

 Cassidy and friends attended an ugly sweater party

 Each of my children, except Bennett,
 had Mrs. Claypool for a 1st or 2nd grade teacher at Hawthorne.

Katie, Cassidy, Maddi, Lauren, Parker and Carie were able to attend her retirement party.

Mrs. Lopez is a wonderful aide and all the kids know and love her, too!

Mrs. Claypool and Mrs Lopez even attended Tia's wedding reception last year!

We love them and are so grateful for their influence in each of our children's lives!

 Haley was happily reunited with her high school girlfriends!

Four of the above have their mission calls:

Peru, Dominican Republic, Richmond Virginia Spanish speaking 

and Washington DC Visitor's Center.

All are reporting early this spring and there might even be more calls coming!

 Haley's Christmas work outfit

Landon found his thumb!

Curt found this jeep!

(We are not keeping it!)

 The kids are all having fun learning to drive a stick shift.

Curt and I even took it for a spin last night, all bundled up with hot chocolate in hand,

 looking at Christmas lights!

Finals are over and life is good!

Three days until Christmas and I think we might be ready!

One of Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

We have been Christmas Caroling with the Brown Family for more years than I can count!

It is one of the most anticipated activities of the season!

This year Grandma Charlene and Mel hosted the dinner at their home.

Ally and Courtney

 Cassidy keeping warm by the fire pit.

It was raining all day and wet and misty most of the evening,

but during our caroling it was clear and not too cold!

Hallelujah!

 So many cute cousins!

Braden, Madison, Ally

 Naaman enjoying the homemade Chalupa

 Curt, Chuck and Mel

 Part of the gang on the flat bed semi trailer.

We had over 80 people there...the more the merrier!

Chuck and JuDene do an awesome job of decking out the trailer

 with lights, tinsel and bales of hay.

Jalee, Cassidy and Alison

Hannah and Grammie JuDene

Clark, Emily and Caleb

 Baby Clarity

 David and Haley

 Santa even caroled with us and had some sweet moves as we sang!

 Carson and Jen with Jace, Isaac and Austin

 Thanks, Uncle Chuck and Aunt JuDene for the awesome ride!

Thanks, Grandma and Mel for the delicious dinner!

Hope this tradition lasts for many more years!

Toro Basketball

 Bennett loves basketball and we have loved watching him play so far this season!

 How can you not have fun when you are playing with most of your friends?!

 Bennett is a great defensive player!

 Love my #34!

 They are undefeated so far...5-0!

Let's hope the streak continues!

Football Banquet

 Earlier this month we attended the Mountain View Football Banquet.

There were a lot of moms that put in a ton of work to pull this off.

 Outback catered the dinner, just as they had done all season long

 for the players before each game.

 The set-up in the gym

The Senior Display

 The dessert buffet

 The entire banquet was a bit long...3 hours!

We watched the highlight video, ate, passed out awards, presented the coach's gifts, etc.

 Clark received the "Impact Player Award"

 The trophy is pretty cool and it was fun to spend an evening with Clark

Great season, Toros!

Toro Camp will be here before we know it!

Winter Formal 2012

 Winter Formal was held this weekend and Clark was able to attend with Rachel.

Their day activity was held last Saturday
and they headed up north to a friend's cabin for tons of fun!

 Rachel, Clark and Heather

They took pictures, ate dinner at BJ's,

went to the dance, had a hypnotist perform

and ate smores for dessert.

Always fun for the cousins to get pictures together!

Thanks, Rachel for showing Clark a good time!

Holiday Dinners

I have mostly fond memories of choir in Junior High and High School.

I shudder when I reflect upon the solos that I had to sing for my grade...

("You Light Up My Life" and "Superstar" by the Carpenters haunt my memory!)

the frumpy outfits that we were required to wear,

and the insecurities I felt having to learn new choreography.

BUT...

I loved learning new songs, singing Christmas carols,

performing in the Nutcracker at ASU 's Gammage Auditorium,

and getting goosebumps as we sang the National Anthem 

or Battle Hymn of the Republic at graduation.

My girls played in the orchestra, so there was no room 

in their academic schedule for another music class.

So, without any competition from a violin or trumpet,

 I convinced my boys that the best way to complete their Fine Arts credit

 was to participate in choir.

I am in heaven...

the tuxes, the concerts, and this year, for the first time the Holiday Dinners!

IT WAS SPECTACULAR!

 I got goosebumps all over again, 

but this time it was being surrounded by hundreds of high school students singing 

"STILL, STILL, STILL" and Bennett was one of those cute singers!

 We loved sharing a table with Kent and Heather, Roc and Sydney and Grandpa and Grandma

Thanks, Bennett for humoring your Mother

and "Lighting Up My Life"!

You are a "Superstar" in my little choir bubble!

Blessed

 Landon Brett Allred

 was given a name and blessing by his father 

on November 25, 2012.

It was an honor to be present and hear Brett give his son such a beautiful blessing.

We are so lucky to call this cute little guy our grandson!

(Brett and Tia are pretty awesome, too!)

Landon wore the same blessing outfit that both

Clark and Bennett wore when they were blessed.

 Can you tell that we can't get enough of this cute baby?!

 He is loved and adored by everyone!

Great Grandpa and Grandma Clark

with their first great grandchild!

Most of the Allred clan was in the valley for Thanksgiving weekend, 

so it worked out perfectly for them to be at Landon's blessing.

(I am so sad we didn't get a big Allred family picture!)

After the meetings, everyone came over for a light lunch of soup, salad and rolls

before they headed back to their homes in Willcox and Bowie.

 Look at how many cute cousins Landon has in the Allred Family!

He is #29! (I think)

It was so fun to visit with Brett's siblings! 

 Tia and Landon are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family!