One Crazy Summer!!!

When Drew and Holly's musical started this summer, we just couldn't keep up with it all. So I had to put something off - ended up being our Starr Clan Blog. So here's our summer's update all in one package! Complete with quick summaries and pics!!!

Drew and Holly were in Les Miserables at the Fullerton College summer production. Holly was in the ensemble and Drew was the "bad guy" Javert. We went to all 5 of their performances.

Joan Simonek, their voice instructor, plus many other family and friends came too! Thanks for all of your support you gave them!!!

We went to the river for 10 days at the end of July. It was hot and dry - but so much fun! The Penrod Family visited for a few days. I think we almost converted them! LOL

We celebrated the Allred summer birthdays with dinner at the Balboa Bay Club. Here I am with my mom and brothers, Vern and Dean. :)

Jeff, Drew and Luke went on their annual Mammoth fishing trip!

They stopped by the old mining ghost town of Randsburg. It took out 60 million dollars worth of gold at $20 per ounce back in 1895! Pretty good, eh?

This may be Drew's last fishing trip for a couple years. He will be 19 in March and serving a mission before August rolls around again!

But Jeff luckily will have Lukey all trained and ready to go it alone by then. He'll be a pro when Drew gets back. He'll be 9 years old!

I just love this photo and had to put it in - father and son!

Luke went rock wall climbing (with crocs!) and zip lining up there too!
An adventurer in the making!!!

So while the guys were fishing, us girls did our trip to La Jolla for the week!
And guess what we did?


We walked all over and saw the local La Jolla seals, about 200 of them. They had babies on the beach and swam and played all over the bay.

We also had quite an adventure treking down to Tijuana! Fun shopping and bartering! And Jeff was shocked to discover that we went 5 hours without using a bathroom down there! That must have been some kind of record for us girls!!! I prepped them really well before we walked over the border. They knew as soon as they complained we'd start back home - no one said a word until we crossed back to the good 'ol USA! :)

We opened oysters and made neclaces.
Look for us wearing them sometime!

I love this photo of Noel too!
I think she's growing up a little too fast - don't you?

We visited the San Diego Temple and walked the grounds by where the newly married couples come out. I told the girls a little about my wedding at the L.A. Temple - fun times up ahead - waaay up ahead.

We found the yummiest bakery. They made all kinds of beautiful cookies. This is a pelican - but they had sharks, turtles, flamingos, flowers, and dolphins just to name a few!

The last 2 days of the trip, Drew and Luke joined us while Jeff went back to work. We stayed at the beautiful historical La Valencia Hotel. We had a view of the water and delicious food!

Drew actually left one day out, but Luke stayed for our last girl's night.
He got a facial mask with us! Ha! Ha!

Our last day there we went to Sea World. The best show was the night time Shamu Rock Show. It was all choreographed to rock songs with the killer whales and then fireworks at the end!
Very cool!

We all loved the polar bears the most...

We were guests of the Penrods for an evening of dinner and then seeing the amazing Bernadette Peters in concert. She was fabulous and wonderful to see and listen to. The girls waited over an hour for her to come out of the side door to leave. They got her autograph and photos taken with her. Very worth it for them!

We had our last Family Night with Drew the Monday before we left to take him to BYU.
He was so excited!

We were too - but also a little sad. ;(

We took Drew to his favorite restaurant the Wednesday before he left.
Of course, it's the Melting Pot!

Grams joined us...

We had a really good time. Everyone gave Drew their advice and told him what they loved about him and what they'd miss most about him. Mine was - him giving me that big 'ol bear hug he does! Nobody gives a hug like Drew!

BYU Here We Come!

Drew went on a leadership retreat for 3 days.
Jeff and I set his room up!

It was fun to do - and Drew loved it! Everything was organized - now the question is,
Will it stay that way???

We walked all over the campus and went to the BYU Bookstore. We all got BYU shirts and wore them to the first football game of the year.


We beat Northern Iowa 42-17!

Drew and all his new friends from the dorms went together. We sat near him and enjoyed watching these boys getting into it!

Noel, Shera and Luke were interviewed by the BYU show, TRUE BLUE. She asked them why they were true blue and Shera said, "Cuz it's an awesome school!" Noel said, "Cuz my brother Drew goes here and it's an amazing school!" Luke just smiled and that was enough for him! Then they all yelled, "Go Cougars!"

We ate with Drew at the Canon Center Cafeteria.
This is where he will eat most of his meals.



The hardest part was Sunday morning saying goodbye to Drew.
We all were crying and hugging him. We love you Drew!!!