The Best Gifts

Just celebrated my birthday.  Nathan got up at 5:15 am to cook me breakfast and bring it to me in bed BEFORE seminary.  That's a lot of selflessness for a 17 year old!  And the omelet was delicious. (Notice the dog waiting patiently for a taste)

 

All of my kids did a great job of giving a gift of self.  Brandon and Julie were here visiting and shared with us their beautiful daughter and their time (besides a thoughtful gift).  Spending hours on transferring old videos (family) from 8 mm to CDs  is Garrett and Saryn's gift.  Matt send me the nicest letter, a keeper.  Todd took the day off, giving me the gift of time and fun memories.

I am so blessed.  Thanks everyone!

Temple Trip Disaster

Last Monday evening I accompanied Todd to a bank meeting he had to attend in Keokuk, Iowa.  Now, as you all know, the Nauvoo temple is only 15 minutes away, across the river and up the road, so I accepted the invitation, the thoughts of attending the temple on my mind.  Arrive late in Keokuk, but enough time on Tuesday during Todd's meetings to attend the temple.

Well, apparently I had A LOT on my mind, because we were 2 hours down the road, 7:30 pm in the middle of Nowhere, Missouri, when I looked in the back seat to discover I had forgotten EVERYTHING.  Oh, no, not everything....not the bag of snacks (heaven forbid, don't forget the snacks!) I had in my hands and not my purse, but everything else...my overnight bag, temple clothes, running clothes, toothbrush, makeup, etc.  Agony!

I did not drive 5 hours to Keokuk, Iowa, just because I wanted to be with my husband, as delightful as he is  (although I love to be with him, but I did have ulterior motives here).  I was disappointed.  Todd, trying not to laugh, suggested that we stop in the next town and buy something  I could wear to the temple.

Lucky for me Chillicothie was only 10 miles down the road.  And even luckier, they had a Wal-mart.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I love new clothes.  However, Walmart does not sell a large variety of dresses and/or skirts.  Also, because I'm tall, Walmart dresses/skirts never work.  They hit me too high in the waist and are too short.  Couple that with my desire to be careful with our money, and I was not happy about spending money I didn't want to spend on an outfit from Walmart that I was pretty sure I'd never wear again.

Are you ready for the fashion show?  Here's what $4.99 at Walmart gets you  for Sunday dress...

Not bad.  However, flash backs of my sisters, Kathleen and Miriam, in their JB waitress uniforms came to mind.

And here's the shoes:

Not so bad for $5.  I might wear those again.

I won't tell you what I found to run in.  It was so ugly I couldn't even take a picture of it!  And the $1 makeup?!

The peace and beauty of the temple was worth the $9.99 Walmart outfit (did I hear faint snickering and laughter from a few of those temple workers at my outfit as I was leaving?).

I leave you with a look at down Parley's Street as it was last Monday:

Ruff (puppy quilt)!

Here's another sewing project I made recently.  And it's already broken in...I found Nathan had grabbed it and cuddled up with it while watching ESPN.  He was sound asleep, wrapped up in Pink!

Love & Birthdays

Elder Hendrickson has been on his mission for nearly 7 months.  We miss him but are grateful for his hard work, sacrifice and faithful service.  In keeping with the Allred tradition we sent him a giant sugar cookie.  And one for his companion as well.  But it said "Elder Shroering."


A few of Todd's best friends stopped by on Friday to wish him the happiest of birthdays.  What would we do without Lincoln and Drew?!  They could not believe Todd was 48...perhaps because to them, he's a five year old (could it possibly be his level of sense of humor?)!

Education

Nathan has attended school six days in the last five weeks.  Christmas holiday/vacation consumed 2 1/2 weeks of that break, but the weather has been the main contributor to his lack of education lately.  Last week one day of school, this week so far...one day.   Yesterday when Grandpa came down to breakfast he asked if Nathan had school because there was a cloud in the sky!  It's about that bad!

In the last several weeks we did get significant snow.  And cold temps.  This somehow frightens the good people in Missouri.  When school is not in session due to the cold and snow, the kids have a hay day playing outside....in the cold and snow!

cRaZy

Challenge:  2011 Sew More

My sister shared her challenge to sew a project once a month , and since I had set a goal top sew more in 2011, I was delighted to hop on board.

Month #1:  Hot pads.  I started out making three from valentine scraps of fabric I had from last year's Valentine sewing project (table runners), then I caught the bug.  I ran and bought more fabric to make just a few for my visiting teaching sisters.  Then I thought about my daughters-in-law, and my friend, and then another friend....

 Snow day today....sew, sew, sew.  Fifteen hot pads!

It's a snow day again tomorrow.  Sigh.

All Good Things Must End

Sad, but true.  Christmas has come and gone.  We loved, loved, loved having the kids home.  For one day they overlapped and we had them all here (except Elder Hendrickson, of course).  

We did the usual Hendrickson traditions....caroling on Christmas Eve at the old folks home, taking the missionaries out for breakfast on Christmas Eve (all 10 of them!), ice skating, Japanese New Year celebration with loads of friends, and so much more.

Besides talking with our missionary son on Christmas day, which I did not get a picture of, here are a few highlights...

Madelyn gets a ride from a rather unhappy Jackson

The 1st Annual LS 1st Ward Father/Son Basketball Tournament

The cutest Santa in the crowd cheering Nathan on at his b-ball game....

Nathan's the one in red (white guy) at top of the key...LSN pulled off a win.

Our friend, Giana

 One of the blessings we enjoyed in December is Giana.  Her mom, a good friend, was having a difficult challenge.  Giana came over Friday nights and stayed until Saturday night all through December.  What a joy.  She brought a different perspective to our lives.  We enjoyed the Nutcracker together, the ward party, a movie, shopping and house cleaning.  She was a reminder of what really matters most at Christmas.

Ice skating with friends

Garrett and Saryn

We spent a night at a hotel on the Plaza.....soooo fun.