A Great Day

Our family took a day trip this weekend.  We left Saturday morning and drove to Muir Redwood Forest.  We hiked through some beautiful redwoods.  The kids did so great!  I was proud of them.  Then we went to Muir Beach.  It was beautiful.  We set up chairs and umbrellas and let the kids play in the sand.  It was a wonderful afternoon.  Then we went to Muir Overlook which we could see San Francisco and then up the coast far north.  There were beautiful cliffs and the ocean was so sparkly.  It was a great day.  Here are some pic.  Enjoy...

Here we are at the entrance to Muir Woods.

We are at the base of a large redwood.

We LOVE Clark!

Clark took my map and led the way!

Jaron took some great shots of the forest.

Yes, I am standing in a tree!

Here are the kids at the beach.  The played so hard and got covered in sand.  It was a great day!

Jaron was a good dad and helped them build a sand castle.

Take a runny nose and fall face first in the sand and you get a great mustache!  I think he looks like Hitler!

Here we are at the overlook.  It was beautiful.

Over Clark's shoulder is San Francisco.  This was a great view!  It was a great end to a great day!

Weekend Fun

Last weekend we had some fun.  First, we had a pirate birthday party to go to.  On Saturday, we did some sight seeing.  We drove up the coast.  It was beautiful.  Here are some pictures from last weekend!

I didn't have pirate costumes, so these were my homemade versions.  Vienna decided she was a girl pirate.  

Clark loved this little pirate ship.  He drove it the whole time.  He even says, "ARGH!"

We stopped at this beach right by the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was freezing, but Vienna was determined to build a sand castle!

This beach had some beautiful views.  The ocean was to the left, the bridge to the right, and ships were coming in.  In the summer this is a "clothing optional" (nude) beach so we were OK with it being so cold!

Inside of Our Martinez, CA Apartment

We are all unpacked and settled in.  I actually like have a one story small apartment again.  It is easy to clean and cozy!  The kids are adjusting well, thought Vienna still says that she misses Arizona, her house, and her friends.   I will post pictures of the outside, but here are a few of where we live.

This is the front half of our living room.  It is a rectangle, so the front half is the tv room and the back half is the kids play area.

It is nice to have carpet on the kids play area.  Hopefully it helps drown some of the noise for the neighbor down stairs.

This is our dining room.  We brought that cupboard with us since we had bought it for the house, but never attached it.  It makes for a nice pantry.

This is my kitchen.  It is small, but cute and it works.  

This is our small bathroom.  Leaves much to be desired, but it will do.

This is our bedroom.  It is quite large.  We even have the computer desk in there.  We only have a very small closet for us to use.  My shoes are stacked on top of each other.  Other than that, it is a great room with lots of windows.  

This is the kids' new bunk beds.  Vienna decided she was too scared to sleep on the top, so we put both kids on the bottom bunk.  They are too long to sleep feet to feet, so we put them horizontally on the bed.  It works nicely.

The kids room is so large that it fits all of the toys.  It's nice to have a place for everything and everything in it's place.

We have a small deck off of the family room where we have stored a few things, but after a huge garage sale, we fit nicely in 900 square feet.  There's a lot of love in this little place!

California Travels.

When given lemons, make lemonade!  That's what we decided to do.  Since we were moving from Arizona to Northern California, we saw that we were somewhat passing by Anaheim.  So, Jaron took a vacation day and we stopped.  The company moved us so all we had were our suitcases and van.  We also had enough Marriot Points to stay in the hotel across the street for free.  This was a great day.  It was rainy so not many people came.  We walked on all the rides, saw all the characters and had the best time.  This really helped us leave Arizona because we were excited about Disneyland.  Now we are in California and with all the rain we are getting, we are missing our beautiful spring weather in Arizona!  But we are here and healthy!

Here we are at the famous front gates!

The Princess Castle!

They had redone It's A Small World.  The kids loved it.  One time we got a frozen banana to eat in line, but Vienna decided it was hers and would not share.  Can you blame her?  They are YUMMY!

Here we are in line at Jungle Cruise.  The kids loved this ride but I had to remind them it was just pretend.  

We got to meet Mickey Mouse!  Vienna said to me later, "Mom, Mickey Mouse is just a puppet.  It is just a person in a costume."  Well, how do you answer that one?  

Clark pulling his classic silly face.

 
Vienna's favorite ride was the merry go round.

On Saturday we did some sightseeing to San Francisco.  We went to Fisherman's Wharf.  From this spot we could see Alcatraz, the bay bridge (in the background), The Golden Gate Bridge, Boats, and other islands.

In the background you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.

At Pier 39, Sea Lions bask in the sun on the docks.

We stopped to watch a street performer.  Jaron got called on stage to help.  He was a good sport!

California, HERE WE COME!

So, just when life is going just how you want it, something has to change and turn it up side down!  Last Thursday Jaron was informed that the company was down sizing and we were being transferred to Oakland, California.  We will be moving in a few weeks!  He will be working on a job site where they are building a large hospital.  We will live outside of Oakland and Jaron will ride the transit system to work.  Oakland is right across the bay from  San Francisco.  We are preparing for our new adventure!  Here a few pictures of Oakland, our new home!

Christmas Vacation

In December, we went home for Christmas and my sister's wedding.  We had a wonderful time. Here are some pictures from our vacation.

Jaron was the video guy for her wedding.  We are making her wedding video.  He was so dedicated in getting good footage.  He did a great job.  It was a long day for Clark!

Vienna had a great time!  She ran around the reception with the biggest smile on her face.  During the dancing at the end of the night, she danced the night away!

Jaron and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary!  I love you Jaron!

When we got back, we had Jaron's 29th birthday party.  Vienna made sure the whole house was decorated.  I don't think Jaron blew out one candle, he had too many helpers!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARON

As I sat in my sister Millie & her new husband Robert's wedding ceremony, I felt like I was watching my own ceremony. I sat directly behind Millie and Robert, so I could not see either of their faces. All I could see was Millie's red hair and the back of Robert's head. So, it was easy for me to put Jaron and me in that situation. My heart was so full as I thought about how much I love my husband and how grateful I am to have been sealed to him in the temple. When I was engaged to Jaron, so many people would say, "You are marrying Jaron Allred? You are very lucky." Sometimes I got sick of hearing that. Wasn't Jaron lucky to marry me? I thought I was a pretty good catch. I now realize that I am the LUCKIEST woman in the world to have caught such a great man like Jaron. Thinking back, I realize I was a blind twenty year old in love. I did not know the true Jaron. The good news, he is a million times better than I thought when I said, "Yes, I will marry you." So here is my ode... Jaron is the kindest person I know. He is a good listener and truly is interested in what you are saying. He doesn't try to solve my problems. He listens and gives me sympathy. He knows I need to work out my own problems so he lends a shoulder to cry (or SCREAM) on. He is always there for me when I need him. Jaron is so loving. He loves to give hugs and kisses. He loves to snuggle on the couch. He loves to hold my hand. He is so loving to me and my children. His favorite thing is to sit under a blanket on Saturday morning with both kids on his lap and watch cartoons. He knows how to love. Jaron is a great father. He changes diapers (dirty ones too!). He gives baths and puts kids to bed. He knows what the kids like to eat. He brings home a treat for them everyday (usually 1 starburst for each kid in his lunch box.) He plays barbies with Vienna and throws balls with Clark. He wrestles and tickles and reads stories. Jaron loves the Lord. He served a faithful mission where no one was interested in the church. He can count the number of baptisms he participated in on one hand (maybe even on one finger) yet he loves his mission and was a good missionary. He didn't care about his title. He only wanted to serve the Lord. He carries that same love into his life. He leads family prayer and scripture study. He supports family night. He does his calling. I am so happy to have such a faithful priesthood holder leading our family. So after six years of marriage, I look back at that twenty year old girl and think, "YES, you were a lucky girl to be marrying Jaron Allred." HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARON. I LOVE YOU! Joni

Christmas Card

Merry Christmas!  Though I tried really hard, I am sure I was unable to get my Christmas Card to all of my friends and family.  So, if I did miss you, I am posting our Christmas Card picture on my blog and am wishing you a Merry Christmas!  Love the Allreds

Scared of SANTA

We went to our ward Christmas party last night.  Santa came and Vienna made sure she told him what she wants.  Let's hope Santa doesn't mess up because she has now told him TWICE that she wants a Dora backpack.  She was so brave.

Clark on the other hand, he wanted nothing to do with the big man.  Let's hope he still gets a present:)

Merry Christmas!

Life is crazy, as holidays often are.  I am finishing up school.  A week and a half and I will have finished all the credits needed to re-certify as a teacher.  I am also doing a bunch of video editing projects for family.  And now my sister Millie is getting married, so we are preparing to come to Utah in a few weeks.  So, my blogging has been infrequent but here is my post to say MERRY CHRISTMAS.  I hope you all have a  happy holiday and let's hope the new year finds me visiting the blogging world more :)

 

After Thanksgiving we drove a couple of hours to the mountains and cut down our Christmas Tree.  There was snow on the ground and it snowed while we were there.  It really felt like Christmas.  When we got back we put on our T-shirts and decorated the tree.  It feels weird to be in the 70's and 80's in December, but the weather is beautiful.

Gilbert city had a tree lighting concert and Santa came.  Vienna told me over and over she needed to sit on his lap so he will know what she wants.  So, we waited in the longest line and she sat on his lap!  I thought she would be scared, but she sat down and said, "I want Dora's backpack."  Clark would have nothing to do with him except when he gave him a candy cane!  I hope Santa brings what Vienna asked for :)