We have been really busy the last couple weeks after getting back into town. We were glad to be back to America and back to all the family, but not glad to be back into reality and our hundreds of things to do. Since we sold our vehicle before we left, buying a vehicle became one of our first priority’s, we looked around at several vehicles and finally decided on a 2001 white Denali XL we figured we were ready for a suburban soon. It’s nice to have a bigger vehicle again after driving small cars all through Europe. We were also excited to see gas under $3.00 a gallon as compared to $6.00/gal. in Europe.
Christmas was less than a week away so we had lots of Christmas shopping to do and doctor and dentist appointments. The grandmas were very excited to see their grandkids and we were eager to go on a date and get a break so we dropped the kids off and had a nice peaceful dinner without the kids.
The kids had fun decorating the Christmas tree at the Pratt's house. My mom and sisters and I enjoyed our annual baking fest (that's when it really feels like Christmas) We spent Christmas Eve walking around the Temple lights and then the traditional milk shake at Jack in the Box.
Christmas day was very busy as usual, we spent the morning with my parents where we had Santa gifts and exchanged gifts with my brother and sisters.
It was so fun to be back together with the family again. Then off to the extended family of Pratt’s the gathering is getting bigger and bigger as more of my cousins are getting married and having children. We had the traditional breakfast and lots of presents
. The girls loved the dress up clothes from Grandma and couldn't wait to try them on.
After this we went to Brett’s Grandmothers home in Mesa for another gathering to see family we don't see as often.
Last off to Brett’s parents for more food and gifts. The kids are very spoiled and we are so blessed to have family all around. We had a very enjoyable day!
On Friday (2 days after Christmas) we packed up the suburban and headed north to our cabin in Duck Creek Utah. My parents, Jenna, Derek, Emily and the Wallace family joined us. Saturday we rented snowmobiles for the day and had a blast riding them around the cabin and on the old quad trails. They were double snowmobiles so we were able to take 2 people at a time and we switched off so everyone could get a turn.
We all had a blast! We tipped it over and got stuck a couple times but nobody was hurt and we created lots of fun memories. Sunday we went to church down the mountain in Cedar City, it’s a beautiful drive and neat to see the lakes frozen and snow everywhere! We drove up to Brianhead Ski Resort and picked up our ski’s for the next day. Monday was my favorite we went skiing at Brianhead all day with Brett, Dad, Spencer, Lois, Derek, Emily, Nelson and Avery. My mom and Jenna didn’t want to go and volunteered to watch the kids. It was a very cold day it was negative 4 when we left the cabin in the morning. We put on lots of layers and the only thing that was cold were fingers, toes and face. We made the mistake of leaving the ski boots in the truck overnight so they were frozen to begin the day. We started on the green hills, we had more trouble getting on and off the lift than skiing! Once we felt a little more confident we went on the blue hills which are a little more difficult but a lot of fun! We didn’t have too many wipe outs and everyone had a great time! We also had fun in the evenings playing Xbox 360 games like Dance Dance Revolution, Scene It, and watching movies.
Brett’s family joined us at the cabin the day after my family left for more family fun. More to come on that...
On Presidents Day we were up at the cabin and Brett had the day off. After the drywall texture guy was done we left and headed to Bryce Canyon National Park. It's about 45 minutes from our cabin. It was a nice day and the place was beautiful with the pink mountains topped with white snow. We went to the visitors center and saw the video on Bryce Canyon. We also saw the wildlife museum which the kids really enjoyed all the displays of animals. Then we took the 18 mile scenic drive and stopped at the viewpoints along the way and took short little hikes. We had a great time. I love to see beautiful places, you don't appreciate them as much when you are a kid but the kids enjoy being outside in nature. 
We have been spending a lot of time at the cabin over the past 3 months. We have been working on finishing the basement and are managing the project ourselves. Brett has the advantage that he can still do his job from there so he doesn't have to take too many vacation days. I’m not too big on living in the snow. The kids don't like the snow too much, especially when it's windy and cold outside. We had a few sunny days that we enjoyed going outside and sledding down the huge snow drift behind our cabin. 
We attempted to make a snowman but the snow was so powdery that it didn't stay together very well. 
Sledding was fun- at least Alana enjoyed it. Addy was pretty scared but went down a couple times. She really doesn’t like the snow and cry’s if her gloves fall off. 
Brett has spent a lot of time working on the basement and we've made a lot of progress. The plumber, electrician, and HVAC guys got their work done. We got a nice big Jacuzzi bathtub for the bathroom downstairs. 
The hardest part was carrying Allden up the hill. It got up to 50 degrees so it was really nice, snow was melting and icicles were falling off the cabin. The roads were getting all muddy. I like the sunny warm days but hate the cold snowy days that we can’t go outside.
Saturday was a beautiful sunny day so we went down the road and went tubing down a big hill. We had a great time. Alana was having so much fun going down on a little sled by herself and Brett and I would take turns taking Addy and Allden down the mountain. The last run of the day I was watching Alana fly down the mountain and all of the sudden she turned her sled and crashed into a tree! My heart stopped it scared me so bad! She was crying, and said her back hurt. I ran up the hill and Brett ran down to get her. After a few minutes she was fine and wanted to tube the rest of the way down with Brett and she wanted to go to another hill to keep sledding. She was lucky and we thanked Heavenly Father that night for protecting her.
I used a bundt cake and a bowl then frosted them together and decorated it like a dress and poked the Barbie down in the middle. It turned out pretty cute. I got Addy a beautiful Barbie dress up dress, a Barbie My Size Throne and Barbie movie. 
She also got a couple new DVD’s an outfit, puzzle, blanket, play makeup, game etc. We got balloons with helium and she got to eat at Burger King and play at lunch. 
Addy is getting so big! She loves to play dress up (she is all girl!) She loves trying on different outfits and shoes. She also loves to dance, play dolls, and play at the park. She is also quite the reader she opens up the book looks at the picture and tells the story....she is very creative and talkative.
Aaron came in to get his keys to move his car and couldn’t find the keys anywhere. We searched all afternoon and couldn’t find them. 
