Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas Day....Merry Christmas..

Smile, Melissa and Parker
Dennis, Josh, and Virginia.
thanks for Having Christmas dinner with us.. Merry Christmas, we had
a great time!








Caleb and his new cars pajamas, and slippers.


Nathaniel so excited to get his DS... YEAH!!!

don't you just love the look?
Caleb is having a blast with the Nerf gun, he can't quite pump it but


he loves it!






Give me more nuts!!!
Nathaniel having fun shoveling the snow...







Christmas night was a white out..




Caleb getting ready to jump off the stool..







OPEN! OPEN!
YEAHHHHHH





Hopefully everyone had the best Christmas ever!! Just wanted to post a couple photos.. Love you all...



Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Welcome Home Ryan.....


Just wanted to say Welcome home to my brother Ryan. He arrived home tonight from Hong Kong, he has been gone for four months. I'm sure that your family is so excited to see you and having you home is the best christmas gift ever. I love you so very much and sorry that we haven't talked for a while.. Hope that you all have the best Christmas!!!!! Love you all!!!!!!!!

Welcome Shepherd Baby Girl....

Introducing the newest Shepherd Baby Girl.....





Just wanted to post the good news.. My brother Adam and Chantel had their little baby girl today, just a couple of hours ago.. I am so happy for them, I'm sure they are relieved that it came today. What an excellent early Christmas present... I'm not sure what they are naming her, they talked about Phoebe Amelia, but they haven't said for sure.. She weighed in at 7lbs 7oz. and 19.5 inches long.. I am so excited to see her .. Congrats Adam and Chantel. We love you!!!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Merry Christmas...2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Love James, Melissa, Nathaniel and Caleb Pratt....

Finally....

not my best..
Caleb was so excited to open his gift, it took him five mins. to open it
one little piece at a time. lol Nathaniel was trying to hurry him up.. Smile big Caleb...




What a slacker I have been the past few weeks, I'm so sorry, life has been so crazy around here!!! Between my family, Young Women's and Business, I haven't had anytime, not to mention everything going on for Christmas.



Merry Christmas to everyone, I can't believe that it is going to be here in just a couple of days, this month has gone by so very very fast, I think that we are finally all ready for Santa to come, I know that my boys are! Caleb has been having fun trying to open all of the gifts, so far he has only had a chance to open one, thank goodness! Nathaniel is just ready to see what Santa will bring him.



It has been snowing off and on for the past few days, and it has been extremely cold, I love the snow but I don't like being cold. It will be nice to have it be a white Christmas. Nathaniel has been such a big helper, each time it snows he volunteers to shovel the driveway and the walks, he is such a lifesaver!! Thanks buddy I love you so much....



Let me post a few photos of the kids, Merry, Merry , Merry Christmas to all and to all a great year!!!!!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Reduce Stress..

Sunday I gave the lesson in Young Women's, it was a great lesson, I think that it was just what I needed to hear. It was about reducing stress in our lives, and prioritizing.. I thought that I would share this article.
Five Ways to Reduce Stress
By Paula J. Lewis
Feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Ask our Father in Heaven for help, and consider these approaches to reducing stress.
Paula J. Lewis, “Five Ways to Reduce Stress,” Liahona, Sept. 2000, 241. Prioritize. If you feel you are trying to do too much, examine what you are doing. Some activities are less important than others and require less time and attention. Decide what is best for you to do, then focus on those priorities. Separate the essential from the nonessential. Essentials include rest, nutritious food, prayer, exercise, Church callings and attendance, and scripture study. Other priorities depend on your own circumstances.
2. Take a break. Another way to relieve stress is to take a break from your normal routine. Such a break could be a half-hour nap, a walk, or a family activity.
3. Ask for help. If you need help from others, ask for it. One overburdened mother prayed for guidance, discussed her feelings with her husband, and then presented her concerns during a family council. The family decided to divide up many of the evening chores. As they worked together, the mother began to feel better and the family grew closer.
In another family, the birth of a disabled baby quickly overwhelmed the parents’ resources. But with the daily help of Relief Society sisters, the parents were able to manage their responsibilities.
4. Eliminate nonessentials. Another way to deal with stress is to eliminate some items from your to-do list. One year our local school could not find enough volunteers to hold an elaborate holiday carnival. When the event had to be canceled, parents planned small, manageable parties instead.
5. Do it. There will be times when, through prayer, we realize the best option is just to do what needs to be done. At such times, we need to remember that those who “put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions” (Alma 36:3).
As we attempt to do what is best, always praying for confirmation, Heavenly Father will help us resolve our concerns. With His help, we can use our time and talents wisely, bring balance into our lives, and find joy in the many tasks before us.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Pratt Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Genelogy - Geneology

Pratt Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family reunion - Free family tree template

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Grandma and Grandpa...

Caleb was determined to sleep with grandma...

Caleb loves Grandma so much....


This past week has been so fun, my mom and dad stayed with us Wednesday night, and Thursday, thanks for coming and spending thanksgiving with us.. Grandpa went home Thursday night, but Grandma stayed with us for a couple more nights, because she had to work. Friday morning she didn't have to go to work until later in the day, we got up at 4am and ventured out on a shopping spree, it was a blast, we accomplished a ton! Saturday we visited and made some Christmas gifts. I loved spending time with you mom. Thanks... I love you so much Mom and Dad!

Christmas Tree

Our small little tree.. Maybe next year we will get a bigger tree..
Nathaniel and Caleb were so excited to turn the lights on and see the star twinkle.
We put a small tree for their room, they love it.
The boys having fun decorating the tree..





Christmas time is upon us again, isn't it so much fun to get the tree and decorations up!!! Nathaniel, Caleb and I had a great time putting up the tree. Here are a few photos. I love the feeling that Christmas brings, I wish that that feeling would be with us throughout the year.....

Uncle Adam Visiting...

My brother Adam was out here a little over a week ago for an interview at Primary Children's Hospital. He is almost done with Dental School and will be specializing in Pediatric Dentistry. It
was fun to visit with him, we don't get to see each other very often,
since they live thousands of miles away~ I just wanted to tell you Adam that
I love you so much, you are a great brother and such an example to
me in my life!!! I am so excited for you in all of your accomplishments~



Happy Late Thanksgiving.... Happy Birthday James....






On Thursday it was also my sweet husband James 37Th Birthday!!! I love you so very much James, Happy Birthday I'm so blessed to have you as my husband, you are such a great husband and father!!!! ! You are my true love !!!!! I LOVE YOU







Smile Grandpa...

Caleb and Grandma cuddling..


Yummy Pumpkin Cheese cake pie..









Give me more mommy peassss..






It has been a little while since I have posted anything on here, life has been so crazy, and I just haven't had the time. Hopefully everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving, our family had wonderful Thanksgiving!! James birthday was on Thanksgiving also, so we had a big celebration!!! Mom and Dad came to our house for Thanksgiving, it was fun to have them here with us. It was fun to make dinner with mom, and just spend some time visiting with them. First thing Thursday morning my dad and Nathaniel went to breakfast and shopping, when they got home Nathaniel was beaming from ear to ear, Grandpa bought him a Star Wars Lego toy, and he bought Caleb a Spider Man Bouncy ball, Caleb and Nathaniel loved it!! (Thanks dad, you are the best grandpa, my boys love you so very much!!) They had fun playing with the spider man ball for hours.


Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful, I love the turkey , potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, squash, and of course the pumpkin pie!!! It's a lot of work cooking and putting it all together but it's soooooooooo worth it!! I love having the turkey left overs for a few days, but I think that the kids are all turkey ed out!! (is that a word??) Well anyway enough about turkey.. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!








Saturday, November 15, 2008

Singing Singing Singing....

Caleb really loves to sing "I Am A Child Of God, and Popcorn Popping"

he goes around the house singing it all the time. The other night we sitting at the table

and he began to sing, it was so cute I had to record it. Enjoy!!!!

Young Women In Excellence....

This past week was so busy, on Tuesday we had our YW in Excellence program, it was
awesome, we did a Miss Value Pageant. Our Young Women dressed in
formal gowns and did their hair up , they all looked like a million
dollars. Everything went perfect!!










Sunday, November 9, 2008

Super Saturday Projects...
















Yesterday was our wards super Saturday. These are a couple of things that I made, it was a ton
of fun. The aprons were fun and easy to make, I think that I am going to got to the craft store and buy some more materials to make a few more!! Great for gifts...

Friday, November 7, 2008

My big helpers..







Today we decided that we had better clean up all of the lovely leaves that have fallen, before it snows. We were running out of room in the trash can, so the boys got in and smashed the leaves. At first Caleb didn't like it at all, but then he didn't want to get out...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Trying to be crafty...

I love how this turned out, I bought four cork boards, covered them
with some material, and hung them on the wall. I found the cutest
saying about brothers it says "Brother will you.. Build forts, Shoot hoops, Teach
me to skip rocks, tell me stories in the dark, always be my friend.. Then
I found some pictures of
the boys having fun together and hung them on the board.I loved this quote also:
"Life is a Journey.. And you hold the map.."
On the opposite closet door I will be putting a vinyl picture
of the Liahona, and a compass..

This isn't the best photo, but these are the new curtains..



I decided that it was time to add some decor to my home, I had fun making curtains for the
kitchen, and making a fun picture board for Nathaniel and Caleb's room.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well they turned out. Yeah!!!! My salon needed some decor on the walls, so I had some sayings printed up in vinyl and applied them to the walls and the mirror, it worked out perfectly! Next I need to get a coat hanger for the wall, some greenery and another mirror. Isn't it fun to make your home beautiful!!




My salon... The walls are still a bit empty...







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