In the Merry Month of May...

I was going through my pictures and found some pictures of posts I was going to post and never did. Since this blog is effectively my journal for my technologically advanced posterity, here is a quick view of May with the Allreds...

I just thought this was cute, of Leah trying to help Daddy! And of course, I had to catch Ryan doing the dishes. It's really not that rare of a happening. He does the dishes more often than me!

We went to Silver City to visit Spencer and Tricia for Dakota's 5th birthday. While we were there, Monica got to go with Sailor to her ballet class. Monica LOVED it!

Just some fun pics of the party. They had a pinata, water balloon fun, cupcake decorating and gifts!

I know, Monica's face looks burned. But 10 minutes and a glass of water got her back to her normal shade. No worries! These girls had a lot more fun together than this picture shows. Monica loves her cousins!

Leah discovered the fun of eating bubbles. And with her hair in a ponytail all day, when I took the elastic out, she had a Leah Lou Who hairdo!

Ryan gave the girls their bath while I did the dishes one night and afterwards Monica came up to me and said, "Look, Mom! I look like you!!" She was so proud. I just have to document these moments for the future when she tells me I ruined her life. At one point, she really did want to be just like me! :)

What's more fun than a spontaneous date night?

Making it a double! Our friends, Kyle and Stephanie Milberger. We saw "Star Trek" together (which I HIGHLY recommend) and then got some ice cream and had some laughs.

On Sunday, May 25, we looked out from the window in the den and saw an incredible, this-picture-does-not-do-it-justice, bright double rainbow! So we all went outside for a few minutes to admire the beauty. I bet if the clouds weren't so dark, you could have seen a third rainbow. It was gorgeous!

For Memorial Day, I dressed the girls in red, white, and blue. This was the best attempt of getting a good picture. I think it turned out pretty well!

With only 5 days left, I have to say this has been a busy and fulfilling month! Ryan and I also started school, and it has been fun to take a class together. I wasn't entirely sure I would like our instructor. He sort of antagonizes the class to provoke thinking. But I am slowly liking his way of teaching. Ryan loves it, even though he hated it at first. This is his second class with Jeff. My other classes are Writing for the Media, Juvenile Delinquency, and Cultural Studies. I am LOVING studying again. And if you're wondering why I am going for an English degree, the plain, simple, honest answer is that I'm doing it for me. I don't plan on having to do anything but expand my own mind, increase my writing skills, and help my children in the future with their papers. I'm doing it because I want my own degree. I want to continue learning. Besides, how can I expect to encourage my own children to further their education after high school, if I never did? AND- something cool I just learned, an interesting tidbit of info- 20-something women who are college-educated, religious, and wealthy are 43% less likely to divorce than their uneducated, agnostic, poor counterparts. I'm doing my part to preserve the sanctity of marriage! Ok, so it's probably not that big a part, but it's a part.

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

A FULLY bloomed rose bush and spanish broom bush! SO- I decided to take some pictures of all my beauties, floral and offspring.

(Hee hee, get the pun?

offSPRING?

Am I being like Bob Saget and the only one laughing at my own joke?)

Well, anyways, here they are!

Aren't they beautiful?

Oops! I did it again...

A few weeks ago, I went to Savers with Grandma Kathy. I was trying to find a fun alphabet-ish toy for Monica to help her with her ABC's. She picks them up fast some days, and not so much on others. To make a long story short, what we found instead has given hours upon hours of amusement. It's this Barbie guitar that we found for $8. With Grandma's 30% off, it was only around $6. Monica finally learned some of the words. It only has clips of 3 different songs. But on the "I'm not that innocent" part, Monica either sings "I'm not that elephant" or "I'm not that hm a nit." Just watch! So mostly, I think it's cute. But every once in a while I scratch my head and wonder if I should take the guitar away because, seriously, do I really want my little girl singing Britney Spears?

P.S. Can you hear Leah singing along???

Mom, Can I Have the Honor?

That's what Monica said when she saw me filling up the pool.

I was so surprised by her question that I didn't respond at first.

Then she gently took the hose from my hand and said,
"Please, Mom? Can I please have the honor?"

How could I resist?!

So she filled up the pool.

And we had our first swim of the season!

Monica named the floatie Miss Dragon.

Of course, Leah had to join the fun...

Ryan had a great idea to put the umbrella shade from the lawn table near the pool to block the sun so little Miss Leah can join the fun without being in danger of burning. She is so much fairer than Monica and me.
So if you want to come over and play with us, bring your swim gear!

I LOVE SPRING!

Last night, I made a discovery.

I knew I had a dark rose bush at my front door.

What I didn't know was that I had pink bushes on the side of the house!

Mix in some Spanish broom blossoms and...

VOILA!

My very own bouquet from my very own yard.

I LOVE SPRING!

Mother's Day 2009

After a busy weekend in Silver City (pictures to come in another post) we came home to celebrate Mother's Day.

Me and my mom!Me and my Grandma Kathy!

Four generations!

Withdrawals and Cupcakes

PRELUDE:

About 5 1/2 years ago, I moved to Germany and met Lesa for the first time.

We struck up a friendship that was more like a sisterhood and it was like we had known each other forever!

A little over 2 years ago, we parted ways.

WELL!

This weekend was seriously F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!!

Because what is better than a great conversation with one of your best friends?

Having them VISIT!!!

Unfortunately, most of the good pictures are Lesa's camera.

So I have just a few good ones to post, until I get the rest from Lesa.

Here's how the weekend broke down.

FRIDAY NIGHT:

Lesa flew in at 9 and we stayed up talking til 2:30 in the morning.

SATURDAY:

We just hung out most of the day.

Then made Jeaneice's cornbread salad recipe.

THEN Jeaneice and Ciana came over!

They drove up from El Paso to see us.

Then the duets concert...and it was FUN!

I accompanied Holly singing a song from an opera and she was AMAZING.

And I played in "The Stars and Stripes" quartet.

Videos to come later.

SUNDAY:

Church...of course!

Then we saw the temple.

Lesa took our family pictures.
They turned out GREAT, but you'll have to wait for those too.
And we made cupcake bites. I actually have pictures for those!

MONDAY:

We hit up Old Town!
I almost got us killed on the way.

There was a car seriously speeding through my blindspot.
I can't believe I've been back for nearly 2 years and haven't been to Old Town.
It was a lot of fun.

Then we saw my mom and said hi.

Shopped at Target.

Sat on the roof to watch the Sandias turn pink.

The kids made us get down sooner than it was time.

Ashlynne didn't like Ryan too much.
And that night we saw "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past".

It was pretty cute.

A little heavy on the innuendos, but it was fun to be out and about.

TUESDAY:

*sniff* Lesa went home. *sniff*

WEDNESDAY:

I am in withdrawals.

I had such a blast!

THANK YOU LESA FOR COMING TO VISIT!

And good thing I have cupcake bites to eat...