Mondays are get up and get er' done days usually.  Yesterday Lucas was a pretty good helper.  We vacuummed all the carpets and hardwood floors upstairs, did all the laundry (Robbie snuck his in somehow too), made 2 batches of bread, made a rosemary/lemon cake (from the food co-op meal plan), let Luke watch too many shows during laundry ;), cleaned our room and then washed the mountain of dishes that accumulated, made dinner and cleaned the kitchen.  Last night we finished switching beds for the boys.  Robbie got a full size bed from Tara (he is SO happy to finally fit on a bed and not have feet hanging off) and we took Luke's crib out and put Robbie's old twin down there for he and Blake to have matching beds (We didn't put them up as bunk beds for now).  He was sooooo excited and all the kids had him super pumped to have a bed.  I hope it doesn't change much.  He has been able to get in and out of his crib for a few months now so hopefully nap time isn't affected by not having a crib.  (Cross fingers).  

Tara and Dan got engaged last week.  It's hard to believe it finally is here.  I am so grateful for miracles that happen that help us make decisions that are scary.   They are getting married June 11th.  After waiting for long for this day its hard to believe that it's about to happen.  I am sure they feel way more so than I do.  I just am so happy for them--I can't wait till Tara is Tara Housely.  They are already so good at communicating and working together and understand what being committed to each other means more than your average newlyweds.  It'll be awesome! 

Blake gave a talk and Clara memorized a scripture for sharing time this last Sunday in Primary.  It was a "sit down Sunday morning to think about it" type situ. But he talked to Ryan and came up with some ideas and jotted down a few notes.  Then he and Clara wanted to practice downstairs, so they made a podium downstairs flipping the piano bench and using books.  I went down to listen to them practice.  After Blake had done his talk, Clara said "that reminds me of the President Monson story about when he was swimming laps and the Spirit told him to go right away to his friend that was in the hospital".  Blake said "that's the perfect story!" So we ended up watching the conference talk of PRes. MOnson telling the story and then Blake practiced giving his talk a few more times.  It was SOOOOO good.  I was amazed at the Spirit that he gave his talk with, and how much he really wanted people to feel.  It was so neat to see him telling both the Alma (Returning to Ammonihah) story from the BOM and Pres Monson's story all with details just from his memory.   He is a tender boy! 

I got a text last night from Carol Ann Allred in our ward re: his talk  (she is currently the Primary pianist--which is being so humble in my opinion since she is a professional musician.)

Hallie Blog

 This is me, Hallie, writing now. I've never done this so I don't really know what to type. But I've read our blog books so I think I might have an idea :). 

   In the past two weeks, we've had Aubrie's prom, lots of hanging out with family and friends, multiple extended family birthdays, and anniversaries. Also. yesterday was Dad's (do I say, Ryan or dad?) birthday! He's 43 now. 

   I'm pretty sure that Mom or Dad (Ryan and Amber?) already blogged about Aubrie's prom, but I'll share my perspective. So, a few weeks before the actual prom, Mom and Aubrie went dress shopping. They came back with a beautiful sequined teal-colored dress. 

   On the day of Aubrie's prom, there was a lot going on. Mom and I were making and preparing the dinner we were going to have at the Pratts dining table. In the early afternoon, Mom and Aubrie went last-minute shopping for food, for the dinner. And the boys went somewhere, (but I don't remember where.) And that meant that I had to watch Lucas while he napped. I was allowed to invite a neighborhood friend over, so I asked if Lacey could come (who lives just around the block.) 

   When Lacey got here we drew and jumped on the tramp. When Mom and Aubrie got home Mom allowed me and Lacey to go to Woody's, which is a place that I go to a lot with my friends, that has hamburgers, shakes, ice cream, and fries, etc. So we got some money and headed over there. When we got there, we both got shakes. 

   After about 20 minutes we started heading back home. When we got home it was complete mayhem! Mom was curling Aubrie's hair and putting on her makeup. Dad and Blake were making the "menus" for the dinner. Robbie wasn't there at all. Mom was trying to take care of getting Aubrie ready while watching Lucas and trying to finish up the dinner all at once. Everyone was freaking out because it was 4:20 (I think) and we had to have all the decorating and food ready for the dinner in less than 30 minutes. Lacey and I quickly helped Mom by letting her get Aubrie ready, and we finished up the dinner and brought it all to the Pratts. 

   Once everything was ready (luckily in time) we all went into the Pratts kitchen. Blake, Thomas, and James were waiters and took everyone that was there for the proms' orders. It was cute to see the "waiters'"  run in and out of the room, dressed up in their Sunday clothes. Lacey, Mom, and I  prepared their orders on plates, and the boys' brought them in. It was really fun to prepare some of it, and I think everyone had a good time. 

    Lacey and I hung out a couple times in the past weeks and some of my other friends from school.  All my friends from school are; 

1.) Zoe, she's my best friend. She's a writer, and she's written almost 5 books! She and I are always laughing and talking about the most random things.  

2.) Avery, she's one of my very good friends. She's another school friend, and she just transferred from one of the other seventh grade classes into my and Zoe's. She really loves to color in adult coloring pages' books. She's a little more serious than Zoe and me, but she's really fun to talk to and be around. 

3.) Kissanee. She used to be in our class, but now she's doing all online school (because of coronavirus). She's very artistic and thoughtful. She's another one of my best friends. She also has a very cool style. 

4.) Annabelle. She's my best friend in the whole world. She moved to Arizona about a year ago. She was very sweet and kind. She was always thinking about others. I'm still very sad that her family moved, but I'm glad that their family is doing good. 

5.) Hannah. She's one of my newer friends. She's also very artistic and can do manga VERY well. 

6.) Lacey. I already said that she's a neighborhood friend. She's also into art. We like to talk and laugh, and sometimes play Minecraft. 

I have some more neighborhood friends, that I play volleyball with, Maggie, Lucy M (She and Maggie are sisters), Lucy N (She's the chelloist's (from "the piano guys") daughter.)

   I play lots of volleyball, and just ended a volleyball camp with those friends! We're starting another season though, with another team, that's a little more competitive. I can do an overhanded serve and make it over the net! I really enjoy playing volleyball, especially with friends on my team! 

   Yesterday, Aubrie had her shift at her work, My Pie. We all went there for Dad's birthday! It was the best pizza I've ever had. I had almost a whole pizza for myself. I was so hungry! (Probably because I didn't have lunch, and we had dinner at 8:00.) 

   Oh! I forgot to mention that my birthday is soon! (May fourteenth! I was born in 2008, so I'll be 13!) I'm just going to write down my "birthday wish list" here,  and keep adding to it. 

-A dog (More than likely not going to happen...ever)

-A cat (Dad's allergic...)

-A camera

-A phone

-Nana (Translation: CANDY. *when Lucas was little he made up all these words, and my family caught on. Sometimes I "speak" it and my friends are like "Whaaaaaa?" But I'm teaching them the "language", it's funny.)

-A bird (Mom says they're too "smelly")

-A turtle ("Also smelly" -Mom)

-A PET!!!!!!!! ("NO!" -M+D) *Mom and Dad*

   I think that's a pretty good update for the past couple of weeks. I'm going to try to write in here every Sunday. And maybe my parents will let me print my own blog book! 

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Haha, I said I'd write in this every Sunday.

   

An April weekend

 Friday night we went out on a date with Jared and Keri and Cal and  Raegan came to hang out with the other kids.  It was such a fun night with them chatting about everything under the sun. 

 And a very full Saturday.... We didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn to go to soccer games.  That was wonderful!  We ate breakfast, I got pork on for Aubrie's prom dinner, got all the kids dressed and headed to Blake's soccer game and then Clara's game right after.  We drove home and  Ryan left immediately with Blake to go coach/play in his baseball games.  I started making the rest of the food for dinner that evening.  Aubrie came home from her day date with Brad etc bowling.  WE ran to Trader Joes to get flowers and a few last-minute snacks for Hallie's game night and for prom dinner.  I dropped Aubrie off to shower and then ran to Karlas and we spent 45 minutes putting up lights, set the table and make all the flower arrangements for the table.  Ran home and helped Aubrie do her nails, makeup, and hair.  Ryan came home with Blake and Hallie got home with a friend and we all went it to scramble mode.  Ryan get the meat ready, Hallie and LAcie starting to make the molten lava cakes, and Blake writing up and printing the menus.  We all ran to Karlas to finish preparing as all the kids got here to our house.  BLake Clara and Thomas got all dressed as waiters and went above and beyond.  They were the absolute cutest! 

They all walked to Pratts from our house and were seated for dinner (so cute watching the little kids). It all went great.  The food was good and the kids all had fun.  After they left to go take pics, we all scrambled to clean up Pratts house and head to our house to watch the BYU VB game--they were in the NCAA semi-finals.  Hallie had invited some girls over and Liz and Jimmy came too.  After the game (BYU lost quickly playing number 1 seed) Liz and Jimmy helped us clean up our bomb of a kitchen mess.  We bathed all the kids, Hallie's friends went home and we swept and mopped the house.  Set out more snacks and got ready for the 30 (!) kids that ended up at our house after Prom--watching a movie and chatting and hanging out etc.  At midnight finally, they all left and A&R came in to debrief the day and all of us almost fell asleep on the bed after talking for an hour.  I finally kicked them out and Ryan and I fell asleep in .5 seconds.  I was so exhausted.  Lucas came in the early morning and I got him to climb in bed with us to try to go back to sleep which he did.  I was in and out of sleep stressing about my lesson for Sunday school I had to teach at 10:30.  I finally got up at 8:00 and locked myself in the laundry room to finish preparing.  I feel like it went well--there was a good discussion between some of the kids and I love that! We talked about unity and being One and what creates divisions among us and how to be more united (as teenagers with family or friends or as a ward). 

I am so excited to get into bed tonight and try to catch up before another full week starts.  It feels so fun, so full and so exhausting all at the same time.   I sure love the kids and what they are all doing/learning/growing in.  And sometimes I want to slam them too;)

Spring is always such a busy time.

Aubrie finished ACT, one prom and is rehearsing for Tuck Everlasting, started wrestling (!), is constantly dating/hanging out, working at MyPie, trying to start reffing for soccer, and throws some homework in there whenever possible 

Robbie is playing baseball which is 3-8 hours a day depending on if they have a game or not. Spends hours a week fixing up the dirtbike their flipping, is umping 4 games a week at Crown Colony and just started aerating and mowing lawns for the summer.

Hallie just finished Murray rec VB and is starting up with Radiate club at CHRC.  She takes piano lessons from Ryan.  She has painting class on Tuesday nights. 

Blake is playing comp baseball *ryan is the head coach in their second year with the Stingers* and has 2-3 games and 2 practices a week, and plays soccer with Troy Barnes team (they are so good its fun to watch) and has a practice and game a week, he tries to fit in piano with me every week (we still are not back with Mlisa because she still only teaches over Zoom).  

Clara is just soaking up all the older kids.  She and Abby started soccer again and have that twice a week, ballet is Wednesdays and her, Abby and Sophie go together to dance.  Their recital is in 3 weeks.  They are always so good!  

Lucas is my driving buddy and we get to spend mornings together.  He, Jacob (Cubby) and Jane all have a playdate every Tuesday which is so fun and good for all of them to interact with each other. He loves to be with people.  I love our mornings together.  He is such a cutie right now. 

Ryan is still in the bishopric, he works 1/2 time at home and 1/2 in Lehi.  He opted out of softball this season since its so far away right now because our local fields are still closed from Covid.  He coaches the Stingers which takes up a ton of time but he mostly loves it. He has Young Mens every Wednesday and then games all day Saturday.  And in his spare time he works on the yard. :)