How many Allreds can you fit on one couch?

I love this picture (despite my double chin. I swear I don't have one. This is a great picture of my family and me, not so much.) But, there is this running joke about the Allreds that if three people are in a room and that room has three chairs, all three Allreds will be sitting on top of one another and the other two chairs will be empty. We are snuggly to a fault. When this picture was taken Andrew, Mike, Abby, Nacho, Maya and I were all having a little heart heart, Allred to Allred conversation on that tiny piece of couch you see there. In that same snuggly position you see right there. What a bunch!

What Christmas Looks like at our house

No Sammy! That you!

Kershinsnik's Nativity

In light of the completion my research paper, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Contemporary Images of Lactating Women, we loaded up the kids in the car and headed off to the UMFA to see this great painting Nativity by Brian Kershinsnik.

Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Sam loves to tell riddles and jokes. One of the many, is why did the chicken cross the road? The answer typically has to do with star wars, light sabers, and often has little to do with poultry or philosophy in general. However, the last time he posed the question, Stella exclaimed, "Chicken! GET OUT OF THE ROAD! ITS A DANGEROUS PLACE!" I'm glad to know she's been listening.

Romance and Religion

Read this article about how romantic comedies effect relationship expectations. Click here.

I would also like to hear your comments about how unhealthy expectations affect religious devotion. Is it possible to romanticize religion to the point that it inevitably disappoints you?

AN ADAPTATION

To all of those looking to get into the Christmas spirit, check out this wonder Christmas gem, a post-modern adaptation of Mr. Krugger's Christmas by our dear friends English & Kelly.

HEY STELLA!

I just read A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE for the first time and let me assure that I did not name my Stella after Stella Kowalski who is so nice and kind but for goodness sake, she needs to get a backbone. However, I thought you may enjoy this oft quoted scene. Marlon Brando, as the out-of-control Stanley Kowalski, is so vintage attractive, so wonderfully brutish and has no hint of his later Apocalypse Now look. (He's got nothing on Tom though!) Yet as passionate as this scene is, as a Landlord, all I could see is horribly loud neighbors. HEY STELLLLAAA! No way, not for me, not at 2 in the morning. No thank you. Put a shirt on and just go away Stanley.

Vespa Dies Again

This a follow up to my post a few months ago click here. Being that my scooter was built in 1979, I should have realized that parts and pieces are prone to wear out after a few decades. I also should plan on a pre-flight check each time I ride where I make sure there are no metal pieces on the verge of being sheared off exist. No detailed pre-flights have been done since 1979.

Today I happily arrived at work amazed that I could put on some gloves and still ride in on a cold but snowless December day. At about 3:30 I headed for home and on a straight away a big popping noise ocurred and my back wheel locked up forcing me to steer out of several fishtails to keep from laying the scooter down. Luckily I was able to keep the bike up after skidding for about fifty feet.

When a kind hearted passer by offered to help me get the scooter off of the street, the back wheel feel off revealing that the rear axle had broken in half.

Last time my scooter brokedown it took 3.5 years to get it fixed. I am hopeful that next spring will be all that I have to wait, that is if Laura will let me ride it again.

Thanks to any and all powers from heaven and on earth that kept me safe today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!

I'm glad that we share neighboring birthdays, neighboring closets, neighboring pillows, and neighboring lives.

I glad that you will go to (and more importantly be interested in) strange modern art museums with our whole family and still like us afterward.




I love you.

So the batteries ran out on our camera. . .

which shouldn't be a big deal because when we bought it, we got all of those nice rechargeable batteries. We have since lost said batteries after 'misplacing' the charger which we found just in time to not have any batteries. All in all, picture taking is requiring a little more of us that we are currently willing to give. and if I'm honest, (and a blog should certainly be a format for one's deepest confessions), my once always trusty talent of organization has gone out the window since a. starting grad school and b. realizing that a drawer organized, is a drawer 2 seconds later unorganized. Clearly, the batteries were at one point in the battery drawer. They must have grown legs as walked to the unknown locale of the formally hidden charger which suddenly appeared one day while looking for something else. I suppose one could chalk it up to letting my house turn back into its 'organic' state of chaos but there are days when I am feeling less philosophical and I realize that something must change. Like Brigette Jones, I make lists of goals, set new resolutions to most definitively find set spot for batteries and make well balanced dinners and really scrub that toilet. Unfortunately for her and I, another year passes and entries read the same.

As a band-aid, I offer pictures of my children, stolen from my sister's blog. Please Enjoy.

Stella at my/Tom's birthday.

Sam at my/Tom's birthday.

December 1:
Camera Batteries=still not working
Well-rounded dinner=pizza, soda and cake.
Toilet=not so much...

HAPPY B-DAY WILLA !!!

I cant wait to roast you next year on your 30th.

TEN

Ten years ago, Laura and I were married. A few days ago I was asked politely why I decided to marry so young. The authentic translation of the question was, "how could you be so nuts to marry so young? You are really lucky that it has worked out!" I can still remember Grandma Allred embracing me before the ceremony and saying, "I would like to be the first (she wasn't) to tell you that Laura is too young." So we were young, so what! I think that there is something to be said about building a life together while finding one's own individual identity. Over the years, we have seen a lot of really great times and like a roller coaster has its ups and downs we have supported each other through the peaks and valleys. I say simply with all of my heart that I love Laura more today then I did 10 years ago. Here's to the last 10 and forever to come. Love, Tom

SUPERBAMA

we know you don't all feel this way, but...WE ARE VERY EXCITED!

Almost done

PETE SEEGER

I don't usually cry while watching David Letterman but watching Pete Seeger preaching a sing-a-long sermon at the age of 89 about optimism and creating change was unexpectedly powerful and much needed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4yKFsanqSo

Thanks Pete.

DOVE

I would like know what you think about this ad campaign . . .

http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=7049560]/

Pumpkin Patch

Stella - Blurry But Worth It

Stella

Kitchen

Kitchen sink is done. Dishwasher in done.

K bye

New Family Photo