Retirement

I can't say that we weren't expecting my parents' retirements. One can't work forever, you know. I suppose, though, that we just got used to hearing, "one more year, one more year," so many times that we never thought it would actually happen. Well folks, it's actually happening. Both my parents........ Keith and Cheryl Allred, decided that it was finally time. They're RETIRING! Woo Hoo!!! I come from a family of educators, there's no doubt about it. My dad began his teaching career at Weber High School (go Warriors!) and then moved to Weber State University (go Wildcats!) when I was in 4th grade. My mom did the SAHM thing and then went back to college when I was about 10. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for her being a full-time student, being a full-time mom and wife, and staying involved in church. She's amazing though, and somehow she managed. She taught Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec. to the over-40 crowd) at Bonneville High School (go Lakers!) before going into administration. She'll be finishing off her career as an Assistant Principal at Roy High School (go Royals!). Together, they've been in education for almost 70 years. Wow.
I'm SO PROUD of both of them! I love them more than words can begin to express. They have lived, and continue to live their lives in such honorable, upstanding fashion. They are the best parents and grandparents that one could hope for. We're so excited for this wonderful and exciting time of theirs. I hope they get to do EVERYTHING they've been looking forward to. :)
We were more than happy to help celebrate with them recently at a lovely family dinner. We're always looking for a good reason to get the whole crew together. If this isn't a good reason, I can't think of what is! Congrats Mom and Dad; we love you very much.

Field Trip Texts

So, for the past 10 years, field trips were always MY thing. Volunteering for field trips, as painful as they sometimes were, were always things my kids enjoyed, so I did it. I saw butterfly cities, pioneer villages, dinosaur parks, etc. I loved being able to do this for my kids. I knew, however, that going back to work this year would end those types of things. Let's face it, though: Neither Caitlyn nor Zach could give a whoop. But Brynn, well, that's a horse of a different color.

Did it surprise me that Brynn roped her dad into going on her 3rd grade field trip? Hardly. Was I the least bit fazed when Mrs. Hjorth emailed me, thanking Brook for volunteering and to "just come to school with Brynn?" Not in the least. Was I happy that he got to go? You betcha. And I'm sure Brynn is too. The two of them are quite a pair.

Our text exchanges on April 23rd:
9:32 a.m. One word..... Chaos!
10:41 am Gotta love field trips.
10:42 a.m. I have only lost two of Team Pink Ponies
11:17 am Take pictures!
11:39 am Where is the field trip to anyway?
12:42 pm. Hansen Planetarium at Gateway
1:02 pm Oh fun. When are you leaving there anyway?
1:04 pm Eating lunch now and then heading back
2:13 pm. We are home! I have Miss B.
2:24. Awesome. Did you have fun?
2:36. Tired!

Grandpa B's Birthday

Grandpa Buhrley's birthday had special visitors this year. Trisha and her cute little family flew in from North Carolina to spend a few weeks visiting. I'm SURE she planned it so that she could be here for Mad Max's birthday. It was so much fun to see her. Her children, Mia and Truman, are getting SO BIG!! And they WON"T stand still for pictures. They wanted to PLAY with their cousins. As you can tell from the photos, there was a LOT of cousin-playing going on when we SHOULD have been concentrating more on Grandpa Buhrley. It WAS his birthday after all.