One Holladay family’s reflections on the joys of summer

By Sona Schmidt-Harris | [email protected]

Summer is upon us, and no one is happier about it than Holladay’s youngest residents. This includes the Alldredge children and their mom, Amanda.

Owen Alldredge, 13, likes that he can hang out with friends, and like most kids, enjoys the fact that there is no school. “I also like reading Harry Potter. We’re doing a Harry Potter challenge,” Owen said. “I like soccer, and I also like video games.”

The Alldredge family went to Oregon recently. “We stayed in an Airbnb, and we got pizza from our favorite restaurant. We just played games together, and it was really fun,” Owen said.

Eleven-year-old Anna Alldredge likes swimming, and she is also reading Harry Potter. “I like hanging out with friends, and I’m also doing BYU soccer camp,” she said.

Nine-year-old Henry likes that he does not have to do any homework. “I also like going on family trips,” he said. “I like going to my grandma’s house and doing stuff with my cousin.” A burgeoning guitar player, Henry is taking lessons and practicing this summer.

The youngest of the Alldredge family, Charlie, is three years old (though he claims he is almost eight). “When we went to the beach, I was so scared of the water,” he said. Charlie found the new sensation of putting his feet in wet sand a bit startling. Also, when the waves came in and then retreated, Charlie felt off balance.  

In addition to her children, Amanda also likes the summer and enjoys having her kids home.  “Their friends come over. We have lots of late nights here,” she said. “I like the evenings in the summertime. Now that we have a puppy, going on walks at nine o’clock and having a cool down is great.”

She also enjoys family vacations and is looking forward to camping.  

“It's nice to have my husband home. He doesn't get time off a lot,” she said. “So, we can actually go and do stuff. We don't really travel a lot during the school year, but we do during the summer.”

Do you want to have as much fun as the Alldredge family, but need something new to do with your children this summer? Try the Free Concerts on the Commons behind Holladay City Hall. There is a playground where children can go during the concerts.