My how time flies...

Where has the year gone? Spencer and I were talking about how we only have two Sundays left this year. Aaahhh! The new year is upon us. And soon my JJ will be 5. Double Aaahhh! The holidays and birthdays have been keeping me busy, so here are the last 10 days of photos:

 

BATMAN RETURNS

We have unexpected visitors to our house all the time. 

 

The kids made a mega mess one day, it started out by playing "restaurant" they got out the toys for all the kids who came to eat. 

 

Thursday we went to the mall for the Christmas Concert, the kids enjoyed playing in the Dinosaur play area after.

 

Once there was a Snowman! 

JJ made a snowman mask and got dressed up in white.

 

On Friday we celebrated JJ's birthday at preschool.

 

Saturday Eva and I went to a dance program, she was very excited to see Santa, she drug me across the auditorium when I asked he if she wanted to see him.

 

Sunday we went for a walk, it was a great day for December.

 

Spencer gave me a DSLR for my birthday. I was playing around with it on Monday. It's been a long time since I used an SLR, I've got a lot to figure out!

 

On Sunday we celebrated the Pratt December birthdays: Jason, Myself, John, JJ, and Avery. A gift JJ received was broken upon opening, so I returned it to Target and let JJ pick out a toy. It took about an hour, he ended up picking out the toy story bucket of soldiers.

Busy Thanksgiving

Well life has been crazy. So here are about two weeks of photos:

 

The kids are getting so excited for Christmas. Eva wore this around for two days straight.

 

This is Eva's "why can't I go to preschool" face.

 

This snow capped mountain was beautiful. The picture did not do it justice. Now that we've had plenty of snow and freezing cold temps it doesn't seem so splendid.

The kids have been enjoying painting lately.

 

There's my smiley JJ!

 

JJ is so creative, he wanted an oxygen mask, so he taped a cup cake baking cup to his nose. Looks good to me!

 

Eva and Shoomp.

Thanksgiving started off with my Mom's family. I made a turkey and 4 dozen rolls. Later we went to Glen and Maryann's. I bakes 4 Pumpkin Pies for their house. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. At Glen and Maryann's house Eva fell in love with Chelsey's dog "Shoomp". Shoomp is a good dog, Eva wasn't the afraid of him, thankfully! Usually she gets scared of dogs, and I end up holding her all night. 

 

Congrats to Jeff and Sarah, who were married on Friday!

 There's my boys sledding!

 

Eva LOVES wearing dresses these days, she loved wearing her Christmas dress to church.

 

Monday was decorating day for the Festival of Trees. This year our theme was "Music Making Memories", we did it in honor of my Mom. My Mom is an amazing person, she's had a lot of trials in her life, but she always had music to brighten her day, and she would brighten our day when she'd burst out in song. Our home was filled with music, laughter, and yummy food. Especially at Christmas music takes me back to my childhood, "performing in the ballet", singing Jingle Bells as fast as Barbra Streisand, listening to music as we made countless treats for ALL the neighbors, ect... 

I love you Mom!!!

p.s. our tree was in a bidding war and sold for $1160. which goes to Primary Children's Hospital. 

If you get a chance to go, our tree is located on aisle M #8. Read some of the stories if you get a chance- it's very heartwarming!

 

I've been dying to put up the Christmas tree this year, I think JJ's enthusiasm is wearing off on me. I was excited to get it up.

And finally, many thanks to Lily and Avery for the Advent Calendars, JJ and Eva loved them. JJ said he wanted to sneak another chocolate, I told him I'd know if he did, because a day would be missing. We'll see what happens. Happy December to you all!

The Kids

JJ and Eva are good at playing together these days... for the most part. Here JJ is taking Eva on a "Zoo Tour". JJ spread out all their stuffed animals, pushed Eva around, while telling her all about the animals on his cb.

Two little monkeys swingin in the tree...

This is my not so little Eva. She loves getting her own water now. She can barely reach it on her tippy toes. 

JJ and Eva love to paint and color. The kids use a ton of paper everyday.  Good thing we recycle!!!

Here's my cuties on their hut, they made this one all by themselves!

Wednesday Firefighters went to JJ's school. It's revived his love for firefighting!

JJ loves writing notes. Last week he left notes all over the house. Today he decided he wanted to send his cousins notes. I thought it was a splendid idea. He wrote them all by himself, sounding out names, he spelled, I luv yoo frum JJ a dozen times. I couldn't be more proud of him!!!

Last Week...

My Handsome Boy!!! We went and got our family pictures taken last Thursday.

On Friday we went to the Zoo with some friends. The weather was beautiful that day. It makes me sad to think about warm weather. :(

Friday was PTC at JJ's preschool. JJ is doing so good. He loves preschool and he really loves his Teacher and his best friend Michael. JJ has started, "inventive spelling", as his teacher calls it. He sounds out words and writes them. I'm amazed!!! Here is a little note he wrote...

LUV MOM AD (and) DAD

Saturday we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house the kids had so much fun playing in the leaves!

Sunday we went for a drive. We stopped at Sundance. It was a little chilly, but we had fun.

I pulled out my Barbies the other night. Eva loves the "Pretty" Barbies. She carried around one of the Barbies all day. I think JJ has enjoyed playing with them too.

Me and Eva snuggling. We love to snuggle in front of the fireplace!

Today we went to the Children's Museum with some friends. Thanks Carolina, Marc and Andy!!!

PARTY!!!

Well last week was one party after the next. Monday we went to dinner for our friend Carolina's birthday. JJ had a Halloween preschool party. The kids went to a party for their cousin Italia on Friday. Saturday I took Eva to her cousin Emily's party and then we met Spencer and JJ at the Truman's house for Payton's birthday party. Saturday night we went over to Jason and Kris house for our Halloween shindig and Trick or Treating. To finish off the evening we went to our neighbors house for another party. Whew! Makes me tired just thinking about it! Sunday we finished off the festivities at my Mom's house. We had our annual Halloween Party and we celebrated the October birthday's in my family. Happy Birthday to Jamie, Didi, Italia, Tayor, Mason, Emily, and Jon.

 

Here is my cutie getting his teeth cleaned, he was so excited to scare the Dentist with his vampire teeth. He was so giggly, it was funny!

 

Even Darth Vader has a sweet tooth!

JJ decorating cookies at school.

 

Spencer and I went out while the kids were at a party. The sunset was gorgeous, this picture really doesn't do it justice.

 

JJ's Jack-o-lantern

 

Here we are all dressed up... even me!

 

My Little Giraffe Trick or Treating!

 

Trick or Treating at Grandma Julia's house!

Things are pretty much back to normal. I really don't have anything to show for this week, I left my camera at my Mom's on Sunday. Oops, no pictures of the day for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, but there were plenty of pictures from last week.
Now I'm gearing up for Sarah's Bridal Shower.

A little of this and that...

Eva loves to read! I tried to capture ALL the books she had on the floor, but you just cant see how many she pulled off the book shelf. She loves to read out loud, of course it's her own version, but it's so cute to hear her!

Life is about the little moments. One night before bed I turned and rocked the kids in the rocking chair, they had so much fun. JJ still talks about this night, it's the small things that count!

Friday night I went scrap booking with a friend. Spencer took the kids to Chuck E Cheese, they loved the "concert", apparently Eva wouldn't take her eyes off of the characters.

Wish this photo would have turned out better, the Temple is all blurry and the rainbow didn't show as bright as it was on Saturday, it was really beautiful!

Sunday we went to our friends house for dinner, the kids had a lot of fun playing with Marc.

Monday we woke up to snow, and Tuesday. Today we got about 8 inched, yuk, so not ready for it yet.

The kids wearing their Halloween shirts.

Last night the phantom ghost visited our house. They left some fun stuff for the kids. JJ loves these Vampire teeth. He had to wear them with his pirate stuff, because "sometimes they have slimy teeth".