Gathering Place

My three sisters
their families
my parents
and us Allred's
gathered ourselves
all together
in Dubois, WY.

All four sisters trekked 17 hours each
to check out the parents new stompin' grounds.

Dubois was just the meeting place though.
We spent two nights
in the Longhorn Lodge.

Fishing worms . . .

 Rodeo . . .

 Park and picnic . . .

 Sheep Museum . . .

 Surprise baby shower for Stef . . .

Finally gave Macie her b-day present,
only two months late . . .

Night's Like This

Every once in awhile
it's like the stars align--
everyone in our home gets along
and there is laughter
and a simple evening at home
goes even better than
E and I could have planned.

Every Monday night is our Family Home Evening night.
But tonight's FHE was the last of the summer vacation.
School starts in just two days.
It felt like we needed to do something
before we send our boys off into the world
for 7 hours a day.
I came across a quote today
and wrote it up on our quote board and
E and I thought it was fitting
and a perfect time
to lead a little family discussion
about
effort.

It was not a perfect, complex, or life-changing lesson,
but a simple discussion
as a family
that felt satisfying.

Two years ago we started the tradition
in which Eric gives a father's Priesthood blessing
to each of us
before school starts.
He did that tonight.
And as I sat there on the couch
and I listened
to the blessings
I felt love for each of my boys
and proud of who they are becoming.
I felt so grateful for the Priesthood
and that Eric chooses to be worthy
to use the priesthood which he holds.
I felt how important families are
and how happy I am to have mine.

Later, after enjoying a few oreos,
we picked up the book
Chickens in the Headlight's
and continued reading it where we had left off
before our vacation.
This is one of the funniest books ever.
We all laugh and laugh through every chapter.
At one point, Eric was laughing so hard
I had to take over the reading.
Even Kacin asks to read this book,
so you know it's a good one.

And basically that is how a rare
near perfect
evening went in my house tonight.
It's night's like this
that make me glad to be a wife and mother,
even though I still think they are all crazies sometimes,
there is still a lot of good and happiness and fun
in my life
because of two boys and a handsome man.

Essentials

There are a few things one needs on a long road trip.

If you are me,

you need a cute, hairy man next to you.

Cold water.

Happy kids in the back

and, apparently, a camera.

If you are E,

you need Spitz.

A navigational device.

And a DP. or two or three or four of them.

If you are a boy,

riding in the back seat,

you need good movies.

 Pillow Pets.

 Something soft and warm.

 The occasional use of the ipad.

 And Gummy Bears.

And that's how we all get through 17 hours in the car.

Cub Scout Day Camp

Archery, fishing, food, wood working--

Kyler was in heaven

for four whole days.

He came home each afternoon

dirty

and filled with happy stories and fun memories.

His Wolf bank from woodworking. . .

Watching the Egg Launch with his den. . .

In this girl's hand is Ky's Egg package.
He did it 100% by himself.
I just listened as he explained his idea
and watched as he created and tested.
He did two layers of batting and tinfoil
around his egg.
He taped it together
and viola!
One egg ready to be lauched.

Did it survive?

You bet!
Well, it survived until he showed his den leader
went in for a high-five
and dropped the egg at the leader's feet.

His certificate at the end of the week. . .

To think,

next year I will have TWO boys off to scout camp!

Sunflower

Our sunflower opened!

Is Disneyland Hiring?

Kacin found the facepaint.

And the next thing I know they were running around like this.

Kyler thinks they should be the new Disneyland characters.

I can't wait to see their movie . . .