Forever linked...

When we choose to be parents, we accept another human being as part of ourselves, and a large part of our emotional selves will stay with that person as long as we live.

From that time on, there will be another person on this earth whose orbit around us will affect us as surely as the moon affects the tides, and affect us in some ways more deeply than anyone else can.

Our children are extensions of ourselves.

--Fred Rogers

I cannot express all the wonderfully deep ways my children have affected my life. I am a different person because they are part of me. They have changed me for the better and have given me a new reason to love life. I hope and pray I can give back the same positive affect to them. I am so grateful that I am able to be with them for Eternity.

Dear Santa...

When my kids were writing their Christmas list this year they kept asking me how to spell certain things. I absolutely refused to help them because I think the very cutest thing about their lists is seeing the way THEY spell things.

They know they do NOT get everything they ask for but they think it's fun to sit down and dream about it all! I wish so bad I could remember what I asked Santa for when I was little.

I just wrote down for Avery whatever came out of her mouth when I asked what she wanted Santa to bring her this year.

Christmas Morning 2009

I absolutely love Christmas morning. Sure the presents are great, but what I really love about Christmas Morning is the look on my kid's faces, the excitement in the air, and the squeals of joy. I love every single second of it, and hope that I can capture these moments so my kids will be able to remember them forever!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve 2009

We had such a fun Christmas Eve this year. We spend the day going from activity to activity with absolutely no schedule whatsoever. We took the kids out to eat and then went to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks new movie. It was cute and the kids really liked it.

When we got home we made Gingerbread houses. LOTS of fun and LOTS of MESS!

Brecken was very meticulous and careful with every inch of frosting and piece of candy.

Tate was the frosting monster!! He slapped it on quickly, the more the better I guess.

Here are the finished products.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

Well hopefully soon anyway!!

Allred Family Christmas Party

We had Bubba's family Christmas party on the 22nd. We started the night off this year with a yummy meal and the kids sang us some Christmas songs.

The kids then got their yearly Christmas Pajamas from Nana and Papa Jack.

And once the pajamas are on it means only one thing...The Elf hunt begins.

Some sneaky little elves leave clues around to guide the kids to some fun presents. The kids get so excited to read the clues and run all over the house not knowing where the gifts are hidden.

We all have so much fun eating, playing games, kissing kids, and spending time together

Here are Nana and Papa with 10 of their 15 grandkids. The only thing that would have made this night any better was if Aaron and Kate and their girls could have been with us. But they were actually very busy in the hospital (in Iowa). Kate gave birth to beautiful twin girls while we were here at the Christmas Party!

My favorite thing is being with my sweet husband watching our kids make new Holiday memories that will last forever.

Lights at Temple Square

For family night we took the kids to see all the beautiful lights at Temple Square. They loved it. They were so hyper and silly all night. They were having so much fun that they didn't even mind the cold. It such a fun night.

The kids love looking up at the temple.

Avery even got a little help from her dad. I think she loved being up high above the crowds where she could see everything.

The bigger kids loved seeing the life size nativity and the Christus.