Trying to survive Sin City....one day at a time!

Monday, July 24, 2023

We are post, post, post COVID. It's 2023. How did that happen?

It's 2023. Where do I begin? Maybe with a snapshot of my life at the moment? Here we go.

Jude is 13. He's going into 8th grade. He plays golf for Canyon Gate Country Club, middle school basketball and does BJJ for Hybrid JiuJitsu. He's a loaner QB for his little brother's flag football team. He makes straight A's and is in the National Honor Society. He's about 5'3'' and asks everyday if he's taller than me yet. He can't wait. I can. I've got 1 inch on him and that's it. He's a rule follower, not really into girls yet and is sports crazed. He loves the NBA, but can spit out any stat from any sport across the board.

Noah is 11. He's going into 6th grade. He wrestles for Chase Pami's Gold Rush Wrestling Academy. He's currently the 3 time State Champion in Folkstyle, Freestyle and Greco and the Triple Crown winner. He had quite the year last year. He also does BJJ at Hybrid JiuJitsu in his free time. And, his wrestling teammates usually play flag football before the season. He really enjoys most sports. He is a straight A student and is always a class favorite. He loves to tell jokes and make people laugh. He's friends with everyone. He's a very kind kid. He loves playing Fortnite.

Eli is 8. He's going into 3rd grade. He started playing golf this year with Canyon Gate's Jr PGA team. He had a great year! I think he'll be a great golfer if he sticks with it. He's got a great disposition out there. He also does BJJ at Hybrid JiuJitsu with his older brothers. Eli struggled this year academically, but he was diagnosed with ADHD and that has given us a path toward success. With medication, therapy and a reading specialist, he finished the school year with all A's too. Eli's superpower is kindness. He is soft and gentle - almost to a fault. We are working on toughening him up and standing up for himself. He is the sweetest helper at home and at school.

Porter is 45. He's going into his 4th year of Benson Allred Injury Law. He's been very successful. He's struggling with work/life balance. He works long days...waking before we do and coming home very late. We have learned to function as a family without him. I have drivers who help me get the kids to where they need to be. He's starting to take better care of himself. He's lost 30 lbs and will start back lifting soon. He loves his dog, Watson, more than life itself. He watches BJJ documentaries (yes, he does it too!) in his spare time. He likes to golf as well.

I am 45. I am going into my 14th year as a single mom after a career in pharmaceuticals. I was a research scientist for several companies, including Pfizer. Life now consists of running kids all over town and trying to keep everyone fed. I feel like an Uber driver and Waffle House cook. I do get to carve some time out for me in the mid mornings after school drop off. I like to workout and stay in shape. I just put my Crossfit membership on hold and I'm leaning toward trying TruFusion. I like to eat lunch with friends. I like shopping...more so online. I like to travel a bit. I love summers in Florida and quick winter trips to Utah. We are preparing for our first international trip as a family coming up this fall. It's a secret!!

Well, there ya go. Judge away. =)

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Watson Wants To Know WHO Is Still Reading This Blog.

Whoever is out there. This is Watson. Our baby Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. A 97 lb puppy, I might add. He wants to be involved from now on.

Leave a comment below with your name and blog addresses, so we can be friends. Have you read before? Or, just started? How did you find me? THANKS.

Monday, June 29, 2020

Is Anyone Still Out There?

I stumbled upon this old blog...12 years of words, pictures and the best memories. I've spent a good hour with a smile plastered on my face flipping through photos. I feel like I should start back. Not sure. Is anyone still reading?
It's 2020. I wouldn't blame anyone for disappearing...and giving up on this little blog. Hell, we've had enough to worry about with COVID and quarantine and politics and conspiracy theories. Life has been turned upside down.
Is anyone still out there?

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Sometimes Change is Needed.

The second half of 2017 was rough for me. I battled some medical issues that I really never got answers to. I had a major surgery. I completely stopped working out. I got really out of shape and for some reason could not pull myself out of a downward spiral.
I bounced around from gym to gym...tried everything under the sun because I was convinced Crossfit was no longer an option for me. It turns out, I just needed a new Crossfit gym. I found a new home in Crossfit Social City. New friends and a new environment and a new schedule really breathed life back into me. So, here I am. 40 years old in 2019 and trying to get back on the bandwagon. It's important for me to feel good about myself and have my children see that I make physical fitness a priority. I already feel so much better.

This Is 4.

Four year old boys are my favorite thing in the world. The mixture of baby and fierce independence is awesome.
Eli is obsessed with Toy Story. He got all the characters for Christmas and they go everywhere with him. He loves to line them up and watch the movies with all his "friends".

Eli loves Oreos. His best friend is Jude. Noah is his mortal enemy at the moment. He is constantly asking everyone to play with him. He loves play-doh and art projects. He has greatly increased his list of foods - so we are moving past some of our sensory issues. He crawls in our bed every morning at 5 am to sleep the last hour with us. I let him get away with it because he's so adorable. He likes to bowl, watch movies, play video games and be with his brothers. He's affectionate and loving.

I am so thankful I have 2 more years of half day school with this guy. He's my side kick.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Allred Cousins

These are the Allred cousins living in Utah.

My boys are obsessed with their cousins. It's a foreign concept to me because I did not grow up close to my cousins. I didn't grow up hanging out with them. I didn't take trips with them. But, the Allred family has always been different. My husband grew up with very tight knit relationships with all his boy and girl cousins. And, we try as hard as we can, to keep those relationships close. So, I choose to foster these relationships that my boys have. They always talk about the next time they'll see them.We spend as much time together as possible when we are in town. And, I see the pay off. These kids love each other. They are a super cute bunch and I can't wait to replicate this photo for years to come.

Where did 2018 go??

One day, I'll make this blog a priority again. Maybe I'll add it to my list of 2019 goals. I'll try and update weekly. It needs to be important to me bc these stories and pictures are great little reminders of how awesome our life is.
2018 saw Jude play year round soccer & baseball...again. Both are still tied for his favorite sport and I don't see that adding anytime soon. We are fortunate to play on teams that understand the importance of being multi-sport athletes. The coaches work around our schedules. We have surprisingly few conflicts. Anyway, Jude saw more action up front on the soccer field in an attempt to make him more well rounded. He can play defense in his sleep, but really struggles with being proactive as a forward. In baseball, Jude made the move up to kid-pitch and was hit with many wild pitches. Not fun. He's developed into a great little infielder. He plays second base. And, once we realized he needed to wear his glasses at bat, he became a good little hitter. He hit a double in the last game of the season. That hit is actually his favorite memory of the season. He wrote about seeing the dugout and his parent cheering for him in that moment. Jude is excelling in 3rd grade...and joins 4th grade for spelling and reading comprehension and 6th grade for math. Still though, his favorite part of the day is recess.

2018 was probably the best year yet for Noah. He's really grown and matured and come into his own. We discovered that he's amazing at wrestling. We joined Faith Lutheran Wrestling Club and he's taken 2nd place in both tournaments he entered in 2018. We've seen a level of toughness and bravery and discipline in Noah that we never knew existed. We could not be more proud!! He also continued with year round baseball making the big jump to machine hit. He's a great hitter and an enthusiastic teammate. Porter still coaches his team and they enjoy that time together. Noah made huge strides in school this year. His MAPS testing showed him pulling away from the pack of 1st graders with all hi scores. For us, this is a huge accomplishment because Noah got off to a slow start with his speech and hearing problems. He experienced some adversity in math with a teacher from hell. He made a C on a test which is unheard of in our household. We worked extra everyday together because we had NO help from his teacher. He was able to maintain an A average for the term and climbed back to a 98 after weeks of hard work. Again, the level of maturity Noah showed blew me away. He is understanding the value of hard work. Noah is my lover child. He still covers me with hugs and kisses and compliments. He's one of a kind. Now, if I can just make him be nice to his little brother! Goals for 2019.

The biggest change in 2018 came for little Eli. We decided to hold him back and repeat 3 preschool. It was the best decision possible. He's now a rockstar and leader in class. We kept him in his little homeschool program with Mrs. Charlene. She is his biggest fan. I will forever be grateful for her. We added a private school on MWF at Faith Lutheran - the same school that Noah wrestles with. It's a play based program and very God centered. He has blossomed socially and even found a little girlfriend named Sloan. Sloan in a triplet and he called them all Sloan. Eli picked up an indoor soccer class and has seen success and enjoyed time with his friend, Avi. We have continued speech and he impresses us daily. When you can impress your own speech therapist, it's a great thing. I continually thank everyone around Eli who has helped him become the little guy he is today. He so cute, full of life, funny, the life of every party. He loves Disney Jr. and Toy Story and Oreos.

My brother came out to see us over Thanksgiving. His visits are few and far between, so we always try to soak up every minute of our time together. It's always funny to watch the transitions over the first few days he's around the boys. You see, he's a bachelor and lives alone. It's a BIG change entering the Allred house. The noise level and energy level is not exactly what he's used to. But, he comes around and ends up really having a blast. My boys absolutely love him. And, I am enjoying being adult friends. We had times when we were younger that were difficult. But, we overcame them and we are close. I am his biggest fan. We can't wait for him to visit again.

As parents, we just tried to survive every day of 2018. We are always busy transporting someone to a lesson, a game, a school event, an appointment, etc. But, I wouldn't change our dynamic for the world. Porter has grown into an amazing and dependable co-parent. We are constantly working on bettering our relationship. And, as much as we want to strangle each other from time to time, I wouldn't want to navigate life with anyone else.

We are already almost a month into 2019 and it looks to be another good year!!