The Nativity

The cast:
Baby Jesus= Baby Bryce
Mary= Jacqui
Joseph= Josh
Angel= Jenny
Donkey= my dad, Brent
Shepherds= Kyler, Kacin, and my mom, Barb
Innkeeper= E's brother, Stuart
Wisemen= Laura, Eric, and Chad
Narrator= Stefanie
Cameraman= Tyson
Audience= Grandma and Grandpa Allen

The Performance:
It was our first Allen Family Nativity ever. It was beautiful, and yet probably the most odd performance one would ever see (which I'm afraid could get us struck with lightening if we ever try it again). The stinky socks hanging as the donkey ears were a nice touch to the costuming . . .  The third gift given was a Dr. Pepper piggy bank . . . Jenny volunteered, but was declined the opportunity for an angel solo, but overall we sang, we acted, and we celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ in a joyful, artistic way.

Recent Adventures

Adventure #1: My dad cooked breakfast.

French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage.

It was impressive.

Much better than that time he went all gourmet

and cooked the eggs in a pan of bacon grease and sunflower seeds.

Adventure #2: Grandma and Grandpa Allen moved in with my parents.

I love having them around more,

listening to stories and watching grandma tease and love on her great-grandkids.

Adventure #3: The wheelchair

Adventure #4: Christmas houses and songs.

We went to grandma Mary's and built some yummy little graham cracker houses.

Then we were each given sticky note tickets for a Christmas concert performed by all the cute kids.

Adventure #5: Kacin's Pre-K performance.

He sang, shared a special treat he made, and gave us the cutest Kacin ornament ever.

Adventure #6: Kyler's Kindergarten Christmas Celebration

Kyler has LOVED being in Mrs. Rudolph's class (and is soo sad to be leaving)

and what better way to celebrate than a Rudolph party with reindeer cookies, Pin the Nose on Rudolph, and a reindeer craft.

 

No, He Does Not

My grandpa smiled and asked me today,

"Does Kacin ever hold still?"

My answer,

"No, he does not."

I thought I could say he does while he's sleeping,

but then I realized he falls out of bed on a regular basis

 so my answer is still

 "No, he does not hold still."

I just have sisters.

And so my boys quickly had to teach me that

boys are very different from girls.

They enjoy wrestling, tickling, running,
 falling, jumping, climbing,

 tying eachother up and pulling eachother over.

I think boys are a bit cuckoo.

But these ones are mine, so I'm ok with that.

Can I just say . . .

. . . how glad I am that it is the middle of December

and we can still run around in shorts!

And how entertained I am that

Kacin chose to run around in this outfit all day!

Please note (since the picture does not quite do it justice) the yellow sunglasses atop the head (also worn over the regular glasses when in use), the red hat, the blue with stripes jacket, the red lanyard around the neck, the plaid shorts, and the tall, tan socks.

Please also note that I do not miss the snow. At all.

Reminiscing . . .

Here we are.

Some of my childhood/highschool/neighborhood/ward friends:

Lisa (and baby!), Jenny (me sister), Linnelle, Me, and Trisha.

Not pictured: Heather, Alyssa, Jill

We had a girls night.

And made my mom take a million and a half pictures.

Photogenic we are not,

but good friends we are.

I love that even though we don't get to see each other so often, when we do meet up, it's still so comfortable.

I think that's because there was a time when we were practically inseperable.  Between church, school, and just hanging out we spent most of our time together. We have so many fun memories . . .

When I see them, I can't help but reminsce a little about the good times with each girl. . .

Lisa: my partner in crime when I got "grounded" at church girls camp, driving around in Dixon the car

Jenny: playing monopoly until all hours of the night--and cheating a little, entertaining stories about Princess Bob and, in a funny french accent, the day I was attacked by a poodle 

Linnelle: dressing up as a two-headed monster for Halloween, being attacked by Alyssa's birds and breaking the closet door

Trisha: driving in her white car, "Banilla" frozen yogurt where she worked

Heather: singing and dancing--perfecting the "bum" dance, talking boys, the importance of avoiding ducks while driving

Alyssa: Murrrrrrr and Falfie

Jill: riding matching bikes around the neighborhood, walking home from school

These days, our lives are very different--we're moving, raising families, going to school, working, getting married. I'm glad every once in awhile we can still find the time to get together and catch up on life.

You can't beat that.

Allblue

I have begun working on a little wall hanging with our last name on it:

Allred

Kacin was studying it today . . .

K: Mom, why does that say "red"? (red is one of the words he can both spell and read)
Me: Because that's part of our last name, All-red.
K: Why red?
Me: Say our last name, All-red.
K: UGH!! I don't like red!! My favorite color is blue! Why can't it be All-blue?? The Allblue family.

Once . . . Now

Once plain popsicle sticks. . .

Now glorious, glittery creations.

Once a simple tree . . .

Now Christmasy magicalness.

Once a clean floor . . .

Now we are walking on a sparkly mess.