Pretty Girls!

The past 2 weeks were filled with many fun events watching a few of our darling granddaughters. Jenna and Nicole had their end of the year dance review and each were in 2 fun numbers. They are such good dancers now. Jenna especially has the grace and rhythm down and seems like a natural. Nicole is so fun to watch. She has enthusiasm for dance as she does for everything she tries. I invited Lucy, Averie and Addie to go with me and they loved seeing their cousins dance. The next Wednesday we got to see Taylor and Sydney at their preschool graduation. They looked so beautiful. Taylor threw her hat up in the air after she was done--wonder where she learned that? After they got hugs from Mom and dad Addie also had her preschool graduation last week. Here she is doing the ABC song, rap style. Her graduation outfit was really cute--made from a black garbage sack. It was fun watching our granddaughters and always we beam with pride. We wish we could see all of our little ones! And, as a side note, T&K and family left for their annual trek to Lake Powell. We hope they are having a great time!

The Place to Be!

Our Hawaii trip is just a memory now, but what a great one to have. Thanks to Christie and Darren for taking us along with their family and providing a great get away and vacation. Now I know no one really wants to see vacation pictures, but oh well, here they are anyway--in my journal form. The airport was an adventure in itself. Dad and I got on the early flight but by the time the rest of the family got to LA the first plane had gone. So, that meant a 6 hr wait in the airport with hungry and tired children. So, bring on the game boys, the computer movie, the running up and down the corridors, a scavenger hunt (find someone with crazy hair--not hard, someone in a wheel chair, someone with a hat, etc) and McDonalds. A few even got in a nap. Funny how that picture isn't on my camera anymore. I wonder how it got erased! The flight over was uneventful. Dad and I watched Avatar on the itty bitty screen, but it passed the time. We got in, got all the luggage and caught the shuttle and drove the 45 min to the hotel. Next morning at 5:00 the kids were ready to hit the beach. We made them wait a few hours longer and then it was sand and surfing. Next day we hit the big beach. You'll notice the smiles--that's cause they are looking at the nude beach just behind me! Friday we went to some little shops and ate at Cool Kats--actually we renamed it to "Fat" Kats. Their burgers were huge. After that we climbed huge trees and fed the pigeons and birds. Everyday the kids swam and stayed in the water for hours. Zack is a fish just like his dad. Christie and I got to see many whales jumping out in the ocean. It was really awesome. So, on Saturday, we went on a whale watching boat and it got up pretty close to a mom and baby and "escort" After we went to another beach. Darren found some sea urchins. The kids loved looking at them Sunday we got to go to church--heard some awesome talks, then took pictures. The girls The whole gang It was one of those down days cause you know your vacation is just about over. We also made a quick trip to the forest part of Hawaii. They loved swinging on the vines for a minute We got to the airport and were holding our breath that we got on the flight. Which we did but when we got to LA at 5:00 in the morning Monday, we heard the sad news that the flights were overbooked. By a miracle of fate, all the Pratt's got on so that was good. Dad and I spent the day there and said lots of prayers. When we finally got on a flight later afternoon cause one of the international flights had been canceled , dad accused me of my prayer causing someone else grief. Hopefully it didn't work that way but we sure were glad to get a flight home. We had such a great time. We loved being with our grandchildren and feeling their excitement and watching them have such a great time. I loved being able to visit with Christie again since we rarely have time to talk much anymore. I loved the beauty and spirit in that land and it makes me so grateful for this wonderful world we live in. I loved spending time with dad also. So a big thank you again to Christie and Darren for taking us there!

Catching Up

I didn't realize that I had not written for so long, so this will be an attempt to recreate some of the events in the last little while--don't know how far I will get. Two months is almost too much for me to remember! We celebrated Averie's birthday. She turned 7 years old and is very happy that she is getting so grown up. She is usually very happy and can get very dramatic about all the wonderful things in her life. She loves her family and has some good friends, but especially loves cousin Nicole. Happy 7th year, Averie girl And, since we are talking about celebrations, Jer and Liz celebrated their anniversary in March as well.Jer loves posing for pictures! They didn't do much celebrating though because they have been spending all spare moments fixing up the house they bought. It needed lots of work! But, things are coming together for them and it should be a great house, with lots of room. Happy Anniversary, Jer and Liz! Little Ben turned a big 2 year old this year, also in March. Wish I had one without the bink cause he has an adorable, melt your heart smile! It is so cute to hear him talk now. And, he gives great hugs. I was a little worried after reading Kim's blogs about what a mess maker he was, but when they visited at Easter, we only had one mess--rice krispies (with the Cherrio's threatening to follow) dumped out. I tried to follow Kim's example and take a picture, but Daniel was faster cleaning up than I was finding my camera. He is so cute, though, how do you get mad? I didn't--I thought it was funny. Also, the first of April, Isaac had a school play that was a spoof on Little Red Riding Hood. He got to play the couch potato father in the story. He did a great job and his voice projected so well that we heard him great. He has lots of supporters if he decides to stay in drama. We had a great "surprise, sort of" family mini reunion in April, for Easter. Trav and Allison and family made their traditional trek to our home for Conference. They got to come a whole week early as their kids had spring break. And, Kim thought it would be great to spend Easter with everyone, and her kids also had spring break, so they made the trip also. (And she was dying to see her new little niece!) They didn't get to spend very long though--just Friday till Monday morning, but we take what we can get. Conference was so great and TJ and Brody love going. I can tell it makes an impact on them when on Sunday they were watching it with the family here and they even sang the rest songs. That was great! Kim was so great to do all the traditional Easter things with the kids. They loved dying the Easter eggs. Only problem was that the eggs didn't get cooked all the way. Whoops! We discovered that when a few were dropped, so back into the pan they went, colored and all. The kids had so much fun the next morning when they did the Easter egg hunt. The weather was awful so it was inside, but they loved it. Trav and Allison and Kim and Daniel took them downstairs where the Easter bunny had hidden eggs and baskets and goodies. (This picture of Trey looks kind of weird--don't know why. It is really cute on the computer but it came over to the blog looking strange. sorry Trey!) I insisted that we take a few pictures--not nearly as many as we should, but the kids cooperated--on threat of no dessert. We let the girls stay inside. We took the boys outside for theirs. I love these pictures. It was a hoot getting them to do it, but well worth it. Olivia's first Easter After dinner and pictures, Allyson had the kids do Easter baskets for dessert. They had a great time making and eating them Other Easter memories: And who doesn't love doing a game night??? The next week we took off for Hawaii, which was wonderful. I am going to write a separate post about it, but can I just say that I am ready to go back! or anywhere for that matter! The Sunday after we got back we celebrated Jer's and Dad's and JD's birthdays. (the birthday boys!) Dad really scored this year. He got lots of books to read--thank you everyone so much!--and he got lots of steak. Now that doesn't sound like a good birthday to me, but since he doesn't get red meat very much he thinks--not true, he got spoiled. I took him to Texas Roadhouse, thanks to a gift certificate, on Saturday, Sunday was roast and then Monday, Christie and Darren had us over for--steak. Now if that wasn't enough, Jer and Liz took him to lunch on Thursday at Tucano's, where he got all the steak he wanted. So happy birthday and eat lots of oatmeal now to unclog all those arteries. JD wasn't sure what was going on with his cake! Oh! It is a castle! Family shot Well, that is a synopsis of a few events. At least it is a start!