Christmas Traditions

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged...and I've missed it! I got back from my sisters weekend which was awesome, fun, heavenly, much needed, invigorating, etc. etc. and I don't think I've had a spare minute since!!! Thanks Lisa and Wendy for an awesome time...and thanks to Alan and my kiddos for holding down the fort and not totally destroying the house while I was gone...OK flash forward...we had Halloween, it was so fun (and I still haven't had a second to download my pics..but trust me, the girls were adorable as a vampire (Josie) a monkey (Joely) and Nemo (Jenna)...Jonah & Jeremy dressed up too...Jonah was a very good zombie Ute football player and Jeremy was the Joker (Heath Ledger-type) and he was VERY scary...and most of all...they were safe and had a blast....they covered the entire neighborhood and then some and ate so much candy we will keep the dentist in business!!! We had a lovely November....I got my wish as to no snow...THANK YOU!!! and Alan's parents hosted Thanksgiving and it was fun....it was us, Al's brothers Mike, Kenny & Wayne...the other two Phil and John weren't able to make it. We had a nice dinner and hung out with everyone all evening....we left happy, grateful for a wonderful family and FULL!! Now we are in December and I seriously can't believe how fast it has gone by...I really will be shopping on Christmas Eve I'm sure...to finish everything up. I'm not going to berate myself for it anymore. I'm dealing with the reality of shopping for six children and unless I start in July, there just isn't enough time to finish up much before Christmas Eve. And I admit...I love shopping during the Christmas season (minus Black Friday which I avoided this year as well as last) because it just makes me feel all Christmasy (is that a word???) and I love this time of year!

We put up our Christmas tree, house lights and inside decorations and on Sat., Dec. 6th we engaged in our long standing tradition of going to Temple Square to see the lights...Since we've been back in Utah, we have been going with our friends the Andersons...Scott was Alan's roommate at Snow and Christine has been my best friend since birth! We meet at Crown Burger, gorge ourselves and then walk it off (yeah right, I know) on Temple Square! This year it was especially enjoyable because it wasn't so freezing cold...and there wasn't snow covering up the lights. We forgot our camera (hence, the generic picture) but we had a great time! It is one of mine and the kids' favorite Christmas traditions!!!

So, I hope you all comment...I want to know how you all are doing...and Merry Christmas to you all!!

Sisters Weekend 2008

Well, I'm off to Houston in a couple of days for our third annual "Sisters Weekend"! It is really something Lisa, Wendy and I look forward to all year long! This year, I'm flying down to Texas and we are going to hit the town of Austin (close to where Wendy lives) Hopefully, we will get to do some shopping, eat some good food (Wendy wants to try Indian food...yummy!) and also get to sleep in at least one day!!!! My mom is picking me up from the airport on Thursday evening and I'll get to hang out with her for a couple of hours and then Lisa will pick me up at her house Friday morning and we'll scoot on over to visit my Grandma Pistorius and her husband Stuart. Then we're off to Austin for some sister fun!!! It's a blessing in my life to have such great sisters! They inspire me, motivate me and are my two bestest (is that a word??) friends! I'll for sure post some cute pics of our adventure in Austin when I return. Let's just hope Al and the kids can survive for a few days without me...yeah right!!!

Tagged

OK, I have seen these "tagging" bits on other people's blogs...I've never done it, but I was reading my sister-in-law's (super cute) blog and saw this...and saw down on the bottom that she tagged me! So here goes....

I am....Amy- a mother, friend, my husband's girlfriend, softball player, piano & preschool teacher, daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me

I want...too many things....most are superficial like losing weight, getting in better shape, but most of all I just want my family and friends to be happy and safe

I have everything...my family, friends, health and the gospel

I wish...that Alan and I were independently wealthy so he could retire and we could do all the things we want to do with our kids (you know...all the stuff that costs a lot of $$$$)

I hate....snakes..I just killed one a minute ago...I thought it was a baby rattler...don't know???

I fear...Barack Obama getting elected and our country becoming a Socialist nation

I hear...Joely singing and laughing with her friend and Jeremy playing the piano and teasing his sisters

I search...for good recipes (easy and cheap), and ways to be a better mom!

I always...listen to Rush, Glenn Beck and Dr. Laura when I'm in the car

I usually...don't know what to cook for dinner

I am not...a patient or perfect wife or mother

I miss....living close to my family and my dad and brother

I love...my family, friends and living in Utah

I never...get enough sleep

I rarely...get to sleep in

I cry...in the shower or in my closet (for any number of reasons)

I am not always....on time

I lose...my car keys

I am confused...by how blessed I am...great hubby, kids, family and friends

I need...a diet coke (but I swore off them this week...to see if it helps with trying to shed a couple of pounds)

I should....be cleaning my house and making dinner instead of doing this blog

I dream....of seeing my children grow up into healthy and happy adults, traveling the world with Alan and some day going to Hawaii!!

Ahhh, I love fall!!

I just love the fall season! It is so beautiful and the air is so cool and crisp!! We won't have too many days of this blissful weather...I know snow is on the way! I'll take the good stuff while I can get it!! We finally finished up with soccer and football (although Jeremy might be doing a football tournament). Jonah's 6 weeks of inactivity are just about up and I've had one Parent/Teacher conference and one to go! Piano is coming along with Josie and Jeremy and Joely and Jenna are loving their preschool! I have one softball game left (did I mention I'm playing in a rec league??) and church volleyball is underway (did I also mention I'm an asst. stake sports director???) OK, it is busy, but its fun. I am however, looking forward to a much needed (and deserved I say) break next week!! I'm heading to Houston for our annual "Sisters Weekend"! This will be year #3 that me, Wendy and Lisa have gotten together for a weekend alone with NO KIDS!!! I flew down to Texas in 2006 and we stayed in San Marcus at a B&B and shopped and had a blast! Last Oct. Wendy and Lisa flew up here to SLC and we stayed in Park City and went to conference together in the conference center! It was cold, but it was awesome! This year, I'm heading back to Texas and we're staying at Wendy's in Austin! I'm looking forward to sleeping in, trying some cool new restaurants, and just catching up with my sistahs!! I'll blog when I get back home!

My sweet little girls......

Josie Lynn Pratt

age 6 1/2 (First grader)

Joely Elizabeth Pratt

age 4 1/2- (Preschooler)

Jenna Grace Pratt

age 3 years (Preschooler)

We had a great lesson in church during Sunday school and the topic of journal keeping came up...of course someone mentioned "blogging"! What a great way for us busy moms to take a second and record a little bit about our lives and our children! I am a HORRIBLE journal keeper- I think I write in my journal a couple of times every decade...so of course I miss out on recording and thus later remembering, many little details. I've blogged a bit about my boys...so now its time for the girls. After having three boys, I never thought I'd be a "girl" mom...but I must confess how much I love being a mom to three precious little girls. Josie, Joely and Jenna are such joys and we have a lot of fun with them. So, just a few little details of their daily lives! Josie, in first grade...loves all things "girly"! Pink rules the day, and so does Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty! She is a great student, and loves her teacher Mrs. Lamb. She is taking piano lessons and really doing well! She loves to ride her bike, color and draw, jump on the trampoline and play with her friends! She is my little "kitty" as she loves to curl up either right next to me, or on my lap! Right now she is trying to master the jump rope and spends many hours practicing! Joely is going to preschool this year with me and Jenna (I teach another 4 yr. old class and Jenna goes to a 3 yr. old class). She is learning her letter names and sounds and learning to read! She loves to play with her sisters and friends, and she loves her puppy Nacho and our adopted cats Tiger and Oreo. She loves to sing and and can't wait to start piano too! Jenna is also going to preschool and she adores her teacher...she is so big and smart...she loves to play with the big girls and right now is into catching moths in the backyard! She loves elephants and has about half a dozen different ones on her bed. Everyone adores her and she is truly the baby of the family! Right now her favorite movie is "The Little Mermaid" and she can be heard singing the songs all over the house! We never presume to know what she wants or needs...Jenna will for SURE let us know if we are missing something...even though she's number six, she does NOT get left behind...EVER! So there's a bit about my girls...what a blessing they are. I love them so much!

We've made it 16 years together...can you believe it?

Today is Alan and I's 16th wedding anniversay...so you are going to have to bear with me as I blog a bit about being married to the best husband on the planet for a minute! OK, we all know, NO ONE is perfect, but if there was a close call to it I think my Alfie would top the list. I'll give you some empirical data to prove it (can you tell I married an engineer???) First off...he does laundry- ok it totally annoys the heck out of me HOW he does the laundry, but hey, with six kids and two adults, who cares HOW it gets done as long as it gets done. Second, he rarely fights with me. Now, those of you who know me, know I WANT him to fight with me, but instead he laughs and then I usually see how ridiculous I'm being and the fight dissipates before my eyes! Third, he hardly ever complains about my "girls night out" or my "sisters weekends" or my "scrapbook USA" or all the other activities I participate in for my own sanity's sake. Fourth, he still likes my body (we won't go into too many details on this one, but I have carried, delivered and breast-fed six kids- use your imagination I don't have a supermodel body!!) Fifth, he loves his children and they KNOW it... even if they do get annoyed sometimes by it! Sixth, and not last by all means, he honors his priesthood and uses it to bless my life, and our children's lives. The list could definitely be longer and sweeter, with better examples like how good he provides for us, how hard he always works, how he spends his vacation days doing things I want to do or what the kids want to do...etc, etc.

At the end of the day, I couldn't be more blessed or more happy to roll over and have HIM by my side! Love ya Alfie! Can't wait to see what the next 16 years bring!

Football, Soccer and a fractured skull!

Jeremy just finished up an awesome football practice, and Josh a soccer game tonight! I just have to say that even though I usually spend at least an hour or more per day driving my "athletes" all around to practice and games...its worth watching them learn, excel and have fun. Jeremy is playing tackle football for the second year in a row and having a great time. The first part of the season he was a little disappointed b/c he was playing offensive line and not really getting any "action". I tried the usual "parent pep talk" about being a team player and having fun, and working hard so the coaches would see how good he really is...blah blah blah to his ears, I know! Anyway...he is now the Defensive Captain and playing Defensive end and kicking some tail! He told me he had quite a few sacks of the quarterback at practice (they scrimmaged a 6th grade team) and his coach said he was MVP of the game! Kudos to Jeremy for being so awesome!

Josh is playing on a competition AAA Under 16 team- the Lehi Arsenal. They have a lot of talent on their team and really decent coaches..there is just STIFF competition out there...so they've only won 1 game this season...but Josh is as dedicated a player as I've ever seen. He never misses a practice, runs on his days off and plays his heart out every game. I love watching him run (for you Nacho Libre fans..."He runs like a gazelle!") and he really has improved his technique and ball handling skills tremendously this past season. It's super fun being the soccer and football mom this year!

Jonah is not doing a sport right now (he was due to start karate a couple weeks ago) due to the fact he fractured his skull and gave himself a concussion last week. He is doing fine...a trip to the ER and a doctor visit later (not to mention the $$$$- ok I won't complain..he is my kid!!!) But...no physical activities for about 6 weeks! Long story short....he made a little swing out of some webbing (rock climbing rope) and in the basement was swinging in the doorway over the concrete..lost his balance, flipped around and landed on the back of his head. I knew he was really hurt when he said his ears wouldn't stop ringing, and then he started barfing! YUCK! Thankfully, he will be ok, as long as he NEVER does that again. Six kids..three boys and the only bones they have broken are the ones that can't be cast- Josh and his tailbone and Jonah and his skull! I hope we have filled our broken bone quota...but I sort of doubt it! Joely and Jenna still need to learn to ride a 2 wheeler!!!