Before Christmas

It just doesn't seem like Christmas if we don't go see the lights at the Mesa Temple.

They have a wonderful display.

This is just one of their displays - of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem.

In front of the shepherds - out in their fields.

(when I used a flash-the lights don't show up very good - sorry!)

Inside the visitor's center they have an amazing collection of nativities from around the world. Each year it seems like they have some different ones too.

Beautiful - aren't they!
This whole room was filled with them. I just posted a few of my pictures of them.
Mikel helping the kids make their gingerbread house.

Sitting on Santa's lap at the ward party.

Carson LOVED Santa.

We had told him he needed to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas so he could bring it to him. Well...he first saw Santa at Bass Pro Shop and told him what he wanted.

When he sat on Santa's lap at the ward party, he came into the kitchen where I was getting things ready and he was a little upset. He said, "Santa didn't give me my present. I told him what I wanted before and he didn't give it to me." Oops - I guess we didn't explain how Santa works to him very well. He finally figured it out though.

Dani talking to Santa. We had a couple of rooms for the kids to go to have stories told to them.

It was great!
One thing about being Ward Activities chairman is that I can use my family to help.

That said.....for a part of the program

Kristi was an angel, Jason a wiseman, with Matt, Xyonane, and Liam being Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

Long post - I know.

That's what happens when I am so far behind.

Coming...

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Do Re Mi, Stomp and Stacatto during the Holidays

Concerts - choir & band

Recitals - piano and dance

All part of what happens in November and December.

Here's just a glimpse of the few we attended

Dani's piano recital - playing a duet with her teacher of

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

Dani's band concert. Her first year of playing the flute.

Maybe someday we could have a flute trio - Mikel, Kristi and Dani.

Carson enjoying the concert.
Kristi's dance recital - clogging. She's the one in the front.

Dani's school choir concert.

When Jeremy/Jo were down - she went to the Westwood choir concert with us to hear Jason.

At the end, they invite former choir members to come sing with them.

So - here's Jo!

And Jason in the Honor Choir. Westwood has an amazing choir!

Kristi's band concert.

Dani was invited to participate in a concert with a few 5th grade students from all the elementary schools in Mesa. She really enjoyed it!

This was just a sampling of the concerts and activities we went to in November and December.

I will have more pictures of each of the kids soon.

I am going to do an individual update about each child.

Of course that's after I get a few more things posted of the family.

So much to post.

So far behind.

But, I'm catching up - slowly but surely!

Let's Go Back to.....

Visitors!

Towards the end of November and first of December we had a houseful.

Jeremy, Jo and EmmaLee were here for Thanksgiving - and just a little longer.

My mom came to visit during this time too. It was great having them all here.

Problem was - I kept forgetting to take out my camera and get pictures!

So -- here are a few I did take.

Jo's brother, Dan and Devery (his fiancee' now) came by to visit. Devery has a little girl that Carson and Emma enjoyed playing with.

Here's Kendall with Grandma and Liam as we were getting ready to take Grandma to the airport.

Carson's turn with Grandma.
Jeremy and Jo with Jeremy's good high school, Jesse.
Jeremy had quite a few friends stop by this week - but, this is the only picture I took. Sorry!

I bought these new curlformers to do ringlets in my girls hair. I tried them out on Emma.

So cute! (sorry - no after pictures)

Grandma with her new great-grandson, Liam.

She really enjoyed being able to hold him so much. She said she doesn't get much of a chance to hold babies anymore. She misses it.

Grandma and great-granddaughter, EmmaLee.

That's it for right now.

We did have other things going on.

So -more to come.

What's coming ......................

So --yea---it's been awhile since I have updated. Life's crazy.

But........

Here's a preview of what will be coming up...

Wisdom teeth removal..

babysitting....

Little Warrior cheerleader day...
Stake Youth talent show....

ditto........

Wrestling.....

baby blessing.........

Christmas (told you it's been awhile)

piano recital........

Grandma visit........

Santa visit......

oh and more - NAL comptitions, birthdays, family pics, and other changes.

Are you ready for all the updates?

Hope so -

because

THEY WILL BE COMING!!!

Jason is 17 Years Old Today!

Happy 17th Birthday to my handsome, athletic, wonderful son-

Jason!

Here he is - 17 years ago for his baby blessing.
With me and Doug - don't we look young!
(we were young in 1993!)
Jason DID NOT like getting his hair cut!
Jason absolutely LOVED anything to do with cowboys.
He loved the hats, clothes, guns - all of it!

He loved dressing up as a cowboy for quite a few years!

Jason loves little babies.

He loves to play with Carson.

Here he is the first time as an uncle holding EmmaLee.

Jason in an outstanding athlete.

He does 3 sports - and has done since he was a Freshman (when he was the outstanding athlete of the year), did it as a sophmore, and is on the way doing it as a junior.

He was the starting centerfielder on the JV baseball team as a sophmore.

Was a starter on Varsity football this year, playing defense, offense and special teams.

Here he is making a tackle - he's #13!

Jason was a starter both years on varsity as a wrestler. (152 lbs)

Jason has such determination and to do his best in all sports.

He is a fierce competitor.

That has shown in his personal life in other areas too.

Jason pushes himself harder, and demands more of himself than anyone else.

He is a excellent student, and is also in the honor choir for his school.

He is such an amazing young man - one whom I look up to - in many ways.

I am honored and proud to be his mom.

I love you Jason.

I hope you had the best birthday possible - you deserve it!

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours!

Merry Christmas to one and all!

I finally sent out our Christmas card and letter on Tuesday.

Some of you may be getting them - some of you may not.

Some of you in the Phoenix area may already recieved yours.

For those of you who have not - or those who I didn't send them to

(sorry - but I couldn't afford to send them to all of you)

A Very - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Alldredge Clan!

I tried to add our Christmas letter that was saved on my computer to add.

But - it just wouldn't let me - I'll try again when I'm not so busy!

Thanks to all our friends and family for your love and support.
We couldn't have asked for better!

Randomness

Just a few random thoughts and happenings at our house this weekend........

.

.

.

Caught Carson with my cell phone, as Mikel went to take it away he said:

"No...you can't have it.

I'm texting people."

.

.

Hmm,

a 2 year old that already knows about texting.

.

.

then

our home phone rang a few minutes later.

It was Matt.

He said,

"Jo just texted your phone and got a strange answer.

Who has your phone?"

.

.

that would be Carson.

.

.

He texted back

.

.

"weeeeeeee"

.

.

.

One other thing:

If you were to wait in line for over 2 hours to get a black friday sale item at

Walmart

What would it be?

.

.

Big screen TV?
.

.

Video game console?

.

.

Something major?

Well.....

Mikel ran into Walmart just before 5 am to check and see

if there were too many people in line

for the TV she wanted.

She couldn't find the right tv size

so she went to ask a worker that was standing by the

46 inch TV's.

A lady was going ballistic with everyone

afraid there were butting in line

and she had been there since just before 3 am.

She was going to be the first to get her item!

The TV?

Nope, the item next to it

.

.

.

can you guess what it is?

how about a

.

.

.

$3 pair of pajamas?

That lady needs a life!

.

.

One more random item:

We didn't do Thanksgiving dinner on

Thanksgiving.

We are doing it tomorrow, on Sunday.

.

.

Doug, Jason and Jeremy are hunting.

.

.

I am making pies and rolls today.

.

.

ALL of my family will be here tomorrow.

Jeremy, Jo and EmmaLee are down from Idaho. YEA!

Dinner for 14.

Tomorrow at my house.

Gotta go -I have pies to make.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving dinner.

We'll be enjoying ours tomorrow!