Carson's 1st Snow Fun!

On our way home - there was NO WAY - we were going back through Vegas and Hoover Dam. So - we went over Kiabab instead. It was a nice day - clear and beautiful. We stopped at Jacob's Lake and let Carson get his first feel of snow. We were only stopping for a minute to let him touch and feel it. He loved it - without even any gloves on his hands. He kept digging in the snow and playing with it.

He even wanted to play in the little patches of snow.

Doug and Carson by the BIG pile of snow!
Doug showed him how to make snowballs. He would make these little tiny snowballs and throw them at Kristi and Dani.
And would laugh and laugh when he threw them.
This kid loves to throw! He kept calling it "ice" "play ice" is what we kept hearing.

When We went to put him back in his carseat - he threw a temper tantrum.

He made his whole body stiff as Doug was trying to put him back in.

For the next hour or so he would sniffle and say "No Daddy - ice".

Poor little boy - we took away his fun.

I just had to take this picture. I don't think I have ever seen snow down on the flat area when you come off of Kiabab. This is the overlook before you take that winding road down.

Here's another shot of it.

We finally made it home. It was fun seeing everyone again. It's good that Carson is getting to know his Grandma's and cousins.

I was glad to be home.

Sorry Lisa - I know you love your Honda Odyssey - but we did not like traveling in ours.

Doug said it was his one and only trip in the van. It is now up for sale. Why? Too noisy when we traveled. It made our ears ache! We could hardly hear our music from the wind noise. Next trip - different vehicle. Don't know what yet - have to sell the van first.

Horatio

I'm not very good at telling my kids about their family history. They know some - the basics about them, but not like they should. This trip we stopped and let them see the "Horatio Pickett House". Horatio is my great-grandfather. His family helped settle St. George - with his mother and brother. Horatio was born in Winter Quarters. His home in St. George has this plaque outside of it:

Here are Kristi and Dani standing outside the house. It has been fixed up and someone lives there now. It's good to see old homes like this taken care of.
AS we were leaving - Kristi wanted to know if I had known personally Horatio Pickett. Let's see - he was born in Winter Quarters while his mom was crossing the plains, he built this house in 1869 for his wife and kids, he died in 1939. Hmm - do you think he was alive when I was born? I'm not THAT OLD Kristi! (I guess she didn't read the plaque - at least the last of it)

St. George Trip

Surprise - is what we said when we arrived in St. George. Doug and I decided to take a quick - and surprise trip to St. George. We hadn't been up for over a year - in fact, since Jeri's funeral. Danette and Carl were the only ones that knew we were coming (hey - we needed to let someone know so we had a place to stay!) Kristi, Dani and Carson were the only kids that went. The others had work, wrestling practice, or whatever it was.

We usually always go over Kiabab on our way, but there was suppose to be a big storm, so we went Vegas way. MISTAKE! The trip was going pretty good until we got close to Hoover Dam - when it came to a stop! It took us 2 hours 15 minutes to go less than 5 miles. An accident? Construction? No - pedistrians crossing the dam. There are no "walk now" lights - just crosswalks. So - the pedistrians just crossed constantly. About 1 car would get through at a time - every few minutes. UGGH - very frustrating.

The girls were good - watching movies or listening to their MP3 players, playing games. But Carson - you would have thought he would be crying and wanting out. But, he is such a good kid and we heard not even 1 cry. He kept himself entertained. One time I turned around to check on him to see how he was doing and saw this:

Crazy kid! At least he was happy.

Another interesting happening: One of the many times we were stopped - we saw two small bighorn sheep coming down to the road. They stopped - looked both ways - then crossed the road - right in front of our car! (Carson LOVED that and didn't stop talking about it for the next 2 hours!) Here is a quick picture I took after they crossed as they were getting ready to go up the hill.

We were two lates for the surprise party Danette was having at her house. We were suppose to get their for the family dinner - but didn't get there until they were about done playing games.
We really surprised them all - especially Doug's mom. I'm glad Cheryl took pictures - because I didn't! I'm also glad Cheryl took pictures of her little boy - Zachary and Carson playing together. I meant to take more pictures while there - but didn't until it was almost time to come back home. Oh well, at least I have memories.

St. George

Just a few pictures from our time in St. George (hmm-is 8 pictures a few?)

This is the get-together at my mom's house of my family. I didn't get pictures of all - but most.

This is Kathy and Brad - with a few of the great-grandkids.

Most of us were in the livingroom visiting. I love getting together with my family!
It had been over a year since I had seen them - so we had a lot of catching up to do!

l-r: Aunt Nancy, Doug, Brian, Hiromi (Brad's wife), and Kelsey- the oldest great-grandchild!

Here are my mom, Kallie's friend, Kenzie, Jeanene, Gary and Kallie.

Brian's family: Corey, Stephanie (David's wife), Hailey, and David

We were able to help celebrate Tina's birthday while we were there.

Korie, Carson, and Justin were caught having a tea party in the bathroom. At least they weren't using toilet water!

I wish I had taken more pictures at this party - but I was too busy talking. Imagine that - me talking too much!

Danette and Carl were wonderful hosts and let us stay at their house. Our kids loved it!

Here's Kristi with Danette's boys playing the Wii. Someone always seemed to be on that game!

Dani and Kinzie loved spending time together. Dani wishes we lived there so they could play all the time!

Carson and Grandma Pickett have something in common - they both LOVE popcorn.

Carson would just sit there and share Grandma's popcorn bucket.

It would be nice to see everyone more often, but life is life - and a job is a job - so here we are in Mesa and they are in St. George.

Christmas in January

We really didn't do Christmas in January - that's just when I'm posting the pictures!

Here are all our stockings filled Christmas morning. Quite a few - wouldn't you say!

Jeremy, Jo and Emma stayed the night - then Kris was at the house early to be there for the present opening, so of course Santa filled his stocking too!

Before the presents were opened.

Now you may think that's a lot of presents but divide it by all of us - wasn't really that many idividually. Remember - 8 kids, 2 parents, 1 grandchild, 1 daughter-in law and 1 daughter in law to be, Kris, and oh yea - Oscar, the dog. Even he got some presents! So - that's 15 of us.
Here's Carson - reving up his engine on the new power wheel.

Dani enjoying her DS.

Jason playing his new Xbox game - with Kristi waiting to play her new Wii game.

Kendall showing off his new stereo.

Mikel and Kris playing her new electronic battleship game she got. Never again will we have to hear about the one Jeremy broke at Christmas that she had just gotten. (By the way - do you like Mikel's footsie pajamas?)

This was just too cute of Carson and EmmaLee sharing a ride on his powerwheel.

Christmas Day and Eve are now done! Still more posts to come tomorrow of other Alldredge clan activities! Aren't you glad you have something to look forward to.

Christmas Eve 2008

I am - FINALLY - getting around to getting our Christmas pictures up. Shame on me!

Christmas Eve - and Day - we had all the kids here. It was so nice. We also had

Xyonane's mom, step-dad, and other family members with us. It was great getting to know all of them. Kris also spent the evening at our house. We had lots of good food (couldn't go without those bacon-wrapped chestnuts!), sang songs, read the Christmas story and each opened a present.

What a surprise - PJ's!!

Here's Carson in his new pajamas - and playing with Matt.

A view of a lot of the family/friends - with Jo feeding Emma (in her new pj's). I guess she didn't eat much before.
Jo with her mom and step-dad.

Jason and Santa's little elf, Kristi.

Mikel and Kris, Matt and Jo with EmmaLee.

Well, didn't get pictures of everyone - but they were all there! My picture taker must have been sleeping on the job.

We Have a Date!!!

July 17th!

It seems like a loooonnnng ways away - but it will go fast!

check out Jo's blog: http://joalldredgephotography.blogspot.com/

for more pictures of Matt and Xyonane - new engagement ones taken just over a week ago (and some really cute ones of EmmaLee!)

.

.

Oh - and I promise

I promise to get some blogging done this week -

updates from the crazy life

of the

Alldredge Clan in Mesa!

Draper Temple

I ran across an article about the Draper Temple and its open house.

Look at it here and see some beautiful pictures of the outside and inside. http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/090114tour.html

Sure wish I could take my kids and go visit it!

Blue Boy

Blue boy Carson - literally. And before you go much farther - no - I did not get pictures!

As I was taking care of some stuff - Carson was quiet - too quiet. I started calling and went looking. At about the same time he started screaming - not a good sign.

He came walking towards me - hands out, mouth open- crying/screaming. His hands were covered in blue - and blue was coming out of his mouth - with his lips, teeth, chin all blue.

Instead of taking a pictures (which any good scrapbooking mother would do) - I rushed him into the bathroom to find out what it was all about (as any regular - not scrapbooking mother -would do!). Stripped off all his clothes and diaper and threw him in the tub with water running - with him still screaming. I washed and washed and washed his hands - and he even let me keep putting a wet washcloth in his mouth trying to get the color out. Out came the toothbrush and toothpaste to use on him - which really helped. Kept washing - got a lot off, but not all. My blue boy. Come to find out - he found an old Easter Egg box in the bottom of a drawer (which he obviously emptied) and put one of the dye tablets in his mouth. It must not have tasted very good. I think when he went to take it out - he saw his hands getting blue from it - which scared him and made him cry and scream - which made more dye coming. Crazy kid.

So - I get him all dressed again and when I was talking to Jo on the phone - he gets a pen and drew all over his legs.

Yep - it is one of those days. I will really need the peace at the Temple when Doug and I go tonight - so nothing better stop us from getting there!

And The Winner Is..............

Friday and Saturday I went to a tournament that Kendall and Jason were wrestling at. It was a 17 team tournament. It was team competitions - with 2 pools of teams. Each team had 7 matches within their pool. The top 3 in each pool went against each other for the top 1-6 placing. (Out team didn't do too good -too many kids gone so we had forfeits) However - they also kept track of how each individual did in each weight to have a individual competition for the top kids . Kendall won all his matches - and so was up for 1st place. He went up against a kid who had only lost 2 matches this year. He has been in the final match at a few other tournaments the last few years and ended up taking second those times. He was determined not to have that happen again - and it didn't! It was a very exciting match with Kendall winning 12-8. He was so happy when he won - worn out but happy! My stomach did somersaults watching him. I was as glad as he was when it was over and he had won! Way to go Kendall.

This is a picture of quite a few of the players watching one of the team championship matches.

Jason was really focusing on this team competition.
Kendall watching one of his teammates go for 1st place.
Kendall and two of his other teammates that also took 1st place.

Kendall in the championship round.

Here's Jason cheering for Kendall just as he won!

It was a long couple of days. The first day started at noon and they had 5 matches. Whew - that is tiring just thinking about it. Jason won his first match (with a pin) but in his second match started feeling dehydrated and cramping up. (He hadn't eaten that day to make weight. Crazy wrestlers!). He got that taken care of but his coaches kept him out the rest of the day. Saturday he wrestled one match and won. Saturday started at 6:15 to meet the bus - and Kendall got back at 8:30 that night. Like I said - two long days but it was great to see Kendall do so well - and Jason too! Just about a month left of wrestling!

Happy Sweet 16 to Jason!

Happy 16th Birthday Jason! It is so hard to believe that he is actually 16 today!

Jason is such a good kid. He is a teenager - and has his moments - but he is a good kid through and through! This last year I have seen such growth - physically, emotionally and spiritually in Jason. First of all - he had this huge growth spurt. I would see him go walking by me in the house and I would think it was Matt. I would always look twice because it seemed he grew taller every day. Along with that growth came some real physical strength too. If you saw him wrestle you would see what I mean! Jason has not only physical strength - but such will power he astounds me. He decides he really wants something - he goes after it and usually gets it! He works so hard in his sports - I don't know if anyone is a more dedicated or harder worker. Since his last birthday he took second in city wrestling, starter on the freshman baseball team, starter on the JV football team (sophomore)-offense/defense/special teams - and was called up to be on varsity, and is now on the varsity wrestling team. Wow! I have watched him grow this year spiritually too, and it is so noticeable in his demeanor and attitude.

I am so very proud of Jason - for his accomplishments, but more importantly in his development into such an outstanding young man!

Happy Birthday Jason! I love you.

Enjoy these pictures of Jason throughout this last year!

Here he is with his driver's permit - looking forward to getting his license soon!

In last year's city wrestling tournament.
He is on the HS men's choir - and getting ready to try-out for the district honor choir.
Varsity football - #44 (the white legs tell it all!)
Last spring - receiving the freshman outstanding male athlete award!
(look at the first picture again - see how he has matured!)

Loves riding that dirtbike!

He just had to roll down the hill at the Manti Temple.

At General Conference last April.

Wow again! What an amazing year he has had. What an amazing kid he is!

Blogging Time?

Are you ready for me to blog about....

Christmas?

Wrestling?

New Years?

Quick trip to St. George?

All of the above?

So am I!

and I will

when I have time

and awake enough!

Right now

this one is taking all my time and wiping me out!!!

4 am wake-up

until 9 am naptime

(my naptime too!)

or

only napping

all

night

long

going to bed

at

6 am!

Little Stinker!

He climbs out of his bed

Anytime

He wants!

Today

I am taking

a break!

He has a babysitter.

I am off to this:

An all afternoon/evening wrestling tournament

with Kendall and Jason wrestling varsity.

It goes all day tomorrow too!

Good luck to them

and hope for me to get

a good night's sleep

TONIGHT!

Hopefully - if all goes well

the blogging will begin

this

weekend!