Recap of 2011

While we prepare for 2012 I remember the good and bad of 2011. Certain things I’ve been working on for many years are wrapping up for me on the close. It feels really good. 2011 was full of good and not so good memories.

The year started out with a bang as it usually does. I have regular traditions to follow and love to celebrate with loved ones and the kids.

Super Bowl 2011, was not really all that intriguing for me. Neither team was a huge interest for me but the team I did pick won. My payout for a bet I had made and won was $20 in pennies. Lesson learned, be clear in betting.

Valentines Day brought four dozen roses from the man who loves me and says Valentines Day is just another Hallmark Day. But every year he continues to take time out of his life to remind me I’m loved by him. And not just one day a year, all year long. I’m a pretty lucky person.

Steve’s truck even though it didn’t want to participate all year made it over 200,000 miles after some minor repair work. Couldn’t tell you what it was though, just that it looked like it sucked when Steve was working on it.

Nate’s 14th birthday in March. Time is going so fast and childrens birthdays remind me of that. I love to decorate for the kids birthdays and even though I didn’t decorate his room I got the living room and he got a face full of cake. Thanks to his Dad pushing his head into it after the candles where blown out.

This year also brought the addition of my first blood related nephew. Jeff and Emily welcomed James on March 22nd. He is already nine months old and I’m really excited to be an Aunt and watch this new one grow up. Having a baby in the family again is exciting for everyone.

Spring time also brought horse lessons at Camp Berachah for Emily. She loves to go out there and ride. So far it’s just recreational but she really does enjoy it.

Zach took on a new adventure that I hope he will have many fond memories from. The one thing about loving someone else is putting ourselves out there and even though we might not even think it’s something we’d do, we do because it makes the person we cherish happy. Zach attended Tahoma High Schools prom after years of saying he’d never go to a high school dance. But it made his girlfriend happy and I believe he had a great time. Good company will do that though.

Emily celebrated her 11th birthday. Always so easy cause it’s the year we are in for her age. She decided to have a huge sleepover. Was done with that after a few hours but the girls settled down and had a pleasant evening.

Right after Emily’s birthday, Cali our German Shepherd, celebrated her first birthday. I even baked cake (dog friendly cake) for Boone and Cali to eat. The devoured the cake so they must have enjoyed it!

With May came a lot of nervousness. We knew it was coming and weren’t looking forward to it. Steve had his third and hopefully final back surgery. While the outcome and the three days following were a roller coaster for all, the healing process and results have been good. We did manage to make it to Gold Bar over Memorial Day weekend because Steve was doing so well. The kids always have fun up there and we enjoy ourselves as well.

Kids finished up school in June, Emily finished fifth grade, Zach ninth, Nate eighth and Jessica her junior year. It was time to start preparing for their summer activities and visits to Alaska.

For Fathers Day the kids, Steve and I packed up and headed to the airshow in Olympia. It was a lot of fun for everyone even though I thought it was only going to be fun for Steve. We were able to sit right on the side of the run way and watch the planes. Steve got to play with his camera and that always makes him happy.

Steve and I took our annual trip to the ocean with Cali and Boone. The weather wasn’t all that great but it doesn’t matter. On our way down I remembered to stop in Aberdeen and see about finding my Great Grandmothers grave site. The cemetery was ginormous and thankfully there was someone there who could help us. It only took a few minutes to locate her and was a really special experience.

We had busy summer weekends filled with game night, backyard fires, bbq’s and swimming. Yup, we purchased a pool last summer, had the back yard leveled out and hoped for hot sunny days to spend floating in the pool.

Fourth of July was a great time even though I got caught in the middle of an exploding mortar. We had family over for dinner and fireworks. Friends came as well and we were up late into the night with the fire pit going in the front yard.

It finally had to be done this year, Steve and I purchased a new couch for my living room. It’s a great big brown sectional couch. I love it and it’s so nice to be able to fit all of us on it at once. Better than the three person couch that ate you when sitting on it. Along with the couch though, had to come a new tv.

We did our annual Seafair airshow watch. We love to watch the Blue Angels. This year instead of just watching the airshow from Boeing Field when they take off we went out to Lake Washington and watched them fly during practice too.

Emily went to overnight horse camp for a week again this summer. Along with doing Spring lessons and both the kids doing Fall lessons. We are getting ready for them to start up Winter lessons.

Emily also did the Seagals camp in August. It was only a couple of days of training and then halftime performance during one of the Seahawks preseason games but she had a blast. And I was fortunate enough to be at the game to watch personally the halftime show.

The end of August brought extreme heart break. Steve’s Mom Chris passed away August 23rd. It was very unexpected and something I wish no one to go thru, even though it happens. Not having her in our lives the same way has been and will continue to be an adjustment for us all. She is absolutely missed every day.

Our (Steve and my) birthdays were again low key this year. We did some running around with friends but that was about it. Steve’s Dad, sister, brother in law, Steve and I all went to a new restaurant for us, the Woodman Lodge in Snoqualmie for dinner. Not very often we get treated out to that type of meal but it was delicious and a lot of fun.

Steve and I did the Puyallup fair this year though, it’s been awhile since we’ve done that.

Steve, his Dad and I went to Oktoberfest this year too. Good food, good beer, good entertainment. If we couldn’t make it to Vegas this year we celebrated in Puyallup. Makes me crave wiener schnitzel and spatzl already.

A long time friend of the family married this year. Kenny and Brenda were married October 1st and all of us celebrated with them. Steve and I helped capture their memories by helping to take pictures for them.

Halloween was special this year and we got to go to my friend Maries house for a Halloween party. She goes over the top with her parties. The boys got to scare people in her haunted forest which they loved. She even replaced pictures on her walls with old newspaper clippings of terribly scary stories. She didn’t miss a single detail.

Steve and I decided to take a photography class. We knew he’d be bored thru it since it was a beginner’s class. But it’s something we can do together and I’ll learn something so I can take better pictures. I look at it as though I have a personal tutor at all times when I’m not in class J We’re moving on to level two in 2012.

And we went to the home Seahawks games. I went to some of them and Steve went to all but one game, the Christmas Eve game.

Thanksgiving was held at our house with our family and Steve’s Dad and Aunt. After dinner we headed to the casino to have some fun. None of us won anything but we did have fun.

We had to renew our drivers licenses in September and decided to go with the Enhanced Drivers Licenses so we could travel to Canada. We made our first trip to Vancouver and I hadn’t been there since 1986. I loved Vancouver, could spend a lot of time there learning about the town. We hopped on a train that took us around town and made travel super easy.

We were treated to an eclipse this year. Which meant on a weekend I woke the kids up super early and we headed out to find the perfect viewing spot. Well, maybe that didn’t work out so well since we ended up on the top of the parking garage in Auburn but we were treated with super yummy food at the Sunrise Café afterwards.

Zach celebrated his 16th birthday and although he didn’t receive a truck he did get the computer he wanted. It’s hard to have a birthday stand out five days before Christmas but I believe he had a memorable time.

Steve and I tackled Christmas shopping this year mostly online. It was great, keeps my brother employed and convenient for us! I hope the kids will keep their amazon wish lists updated so I can start earlier this year. Christmas time was busy, splitting it all up between families but we did it. We even had a little time for just the six of us. The kids I think enjoyed themselves. Zach got to do Forgotten Childrens again this year and because he is 16 now can ride on the trucks to deliver presents with Santa and his Elves. It’s an eye opening experience and he was able to give to people who might not have had a very happy Christmas season otherwise.

Work this year has been just what it always is for me. I wonder sometimes if there is something else out there for me but then I’m reminded quickly starting over at this point is probably a bad idea. I’m grateful I have a job that isn’t too terrible to go to.

It’s been a good year of many memories. Usually when I sit down and want to write things like this I can’t remember things I did. This year I made a list and looking back over the year, it was fun. Bring on 2012, always have good years in the even years.

08-23-11

August 23rd, 2011

It's a date that changed a whole lot of peoples worlds. I received a phone call that morning from Steve to tell me his Mother, Chris, had passed away. Talk about a shocker. Never in my wildest dreams would've any of us thought this was near.

I had a lot of time to think that morning while we waited for the next step at his parents house. Every thirty minutes the Grandfather clock would chime. Like it was announcing to the quiet house every minute that passed so life could go on. The awkward conversations to try to keep the tears from flowing. Realizing my strength for life wasn't as strong as I thought. Feeling bad because I knew deep in my heart the person I couldn't be strong for would've been for me. Had been strong for me on many occasions. And even though I only had her in my life for about five and a half years she is my family. I wished I had her for more years.

Death can make or break you. It's an intimacy with an entire family, including friends that brings living to a different level. We're supposed to celebrate a life, believe that she's in a better place without pain. Perhaps it's my selfishness that doesn't care and wants her back here where she belongs. It wasn't supposed to happen this way, there are things in life for years to come she was supposed to be here for. How can I get thru these things knowing she isn't? People say we can still talk to her and she is watching but for someone that has been filled with science and had any sort of faith wiped away, am I supposed to switch because I can't let go of a memory?

I have many memories, memories I will hold onto for a long time to come. And I suppose the family will continue to make memories without her and somehow find a way to honor the truly amazing person she was.

L to R Back Row: Chuck, Erick, Lee, Steffen, Shaun

L to R Front Row: Chris, Sue, Kelsey, Corinna, Steve, Me & Emily, Zach, Jessica and Preston, Nathan.

Danielles wedding in 2009

Zach went to his first high school dance and Amanda (his girlfriend) last high school dance. Tahoma High School class of 2011 prom. We went to Amanda's house to meet her parents exchange corsages and boutonnieres and take some pictures of just the two of them. Then we went to Amanda's friend Tanners house to get group pictures of all the kids. 22 kids total, they rented a party bus to drive them from Maple Valley to Seattle. Which we all thought was a great idea so the kids wouldn't have to worry about driving downtown. After waiting a few minutes longer than we thought, one person had a problem finding the place, they were off for an evening they'll never forget. Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and prom at the Seattle Aquarium.

Zach and his girlfriend Amanda

The group together inside

The group inside the party bus on their way to the Spaghetti Factory and the Seattle Aquarium where prom is.

He's arrived!

James Leland Pratt was born on March 22, 2011 weighing 9 pounds 7.4 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long.

Happy, healthy and home now, Mom, Dad and baby James are doing well.

It's been eleven years since a baby has been around. I'm very proud of my brother for taking on parenthood and can't wait to watch him experience the good and bad of parenting. Shoot, by the time James is a teenager my kids will be well into their own adulthood.

End of 2010

Christmas is finally over. All the preparation, planning and shopping is done and in 35 minutes the kids unwrapped all their presents and it was done. We had a good Christmas, lot's of running from house to house to see family. Someday we'll have it at our house and the families can all come to us! The kids scored in the present division though, I think everyone got what they were wanting from Santa.

Recap of the last couple of months ~
The kids came back from their summer vacation to Alaska and we got them ready for school. Jessica off to 11th grade, Zach into 9th, Nate in 8th and Emily in 5th grade. Seems like we blinked and it's already Christmas. The time just flies by. We keep busy with the kids daily activities and the days just disappear. I can't even focus on one specific thing we do to keep the kids busy. Steve and I celebrated our birthdays at the Seahawks game. We had a good Halloween that seemed crazy. Zach joined DECA and went to a conference to learn about competing. We had our first snow around Thanksgiving, not much just a couple of inches but enough to shut down school for a couple of days. And it seems like we've had a few more windstorms this year than normal.

On the health side ~
I had some health scares at the start of summer. I went to the doctor for consults to have my gallbladder removed. While they were doing the testing (an ultrasound) it was noted there was a growth on my liver. I was sent for a MRI which showed there was not a growth on my liver but there was a growth on my small intestine. I was sent for an upper GI. Oh, and the MRI did confirm I do have gallstones. The upper GI cleared me of everything and the surgeon said it was probably food. Are you kidding me? All of that and I'm fine. Other than the fact I still have gallstones, and my gallbladder. At some point I'm going to have to have it removed but I just can't seem to find the time to take off work yet.

We also had a little scare the last few weeks with Steve and his heart. He thought he was having a heart attack and after multiple tests he has gotten the all clear and we believe it was stress, anxiety or inflammation of the chest wall. His cholesterol is good and the other tests show a strong healthy heart.

We attempted a family picture of the kids this year. And got brave and tried to include the dogs. Here's what we came out with :)

Day One

Never in a million years would I have thought to create a blog for our family but here I am attempting to do so.

Instead of thinking our summer is getting off to a rough start I'm going to take the approach our spring is coming to an end. All the little hurdles we've gotten over in the pasts few months are laying the ground work for a great summer. We still have a few hot issues on the table (I don't have my MRI/Ultrasound results yet), kids are still adjusting to being home all day and planning all of our summer activities. Little steps at a time though.

Today is Jessica's 16th birthday (the official day, we celebrated last weekend). She had a nice Alice in Wonderland party for her. Friends and family were plentiful and my little house became like a shrinking room in Alice in Wonderland as Alice grew into a giant. Roughly 30 people were here all at once. We had miniature food for dinner, Mozzerella sticks, mini tacos, chips, salsas, fruit, small spring rolls, basically snack food. For desert Jessica made carrot cake cupcakes at her Grandma Chris's house. Plus Grandma Chris threw in her to die for chocolate marshmallow brownies. There was no shortage of food! We did her presents and then most the kids, and some adults, went out and jumped in the bouncy house we rented for the evening. Most of the adults/family took off at that point and we had the kids playing rock band til after 11p. A mighty talented group of kids I might add.

Left to Right - Cassie, Nate, Jessica, Kelsey, Matt in back and Kelsey

Zach finished out middle school strong, was awarded the President's Education Award which was a surprise for all of us. Emily made some progress, I believe Sylvan is helping her focus in math and the extra help during the summer will hopefully get us up to grade level. Spring/summer training for high school football is going to have Zach busy busy during the break from school. There is only two weeks this summer where he'll actually get a break from doing something for the program. I'm excited to see him standing on the sidelines for those games though come fall time. Emily is all signed up for horse camp in August, in addition to Sylvan. She is excited but nervous about being away from home for one week straight. Thankfully it's just right down the road here in Auburn. I'm sure after a few hours she'll forget all about home! Other than that the kids just have their plans for vacation to Alaska. Zach and Emily will be gone for about 11 days and Jessica and Nate get to go for almost a month. I know they are all very excited. And Steve and I are very excited about having some alone time without any kids. We've talked about taking a mini trip ourselves but not sure where. Most likely somewhere within driving distance and only for a few days.

And on a sour note we are still all trying to get over the loss of our dogs. Price, was 12 and his health was deteriorating. For a big dog (Great Dane/German Shepherd mix) he lived a long life....way beyond his expected life span. Atticus was our three year old purebred German Shepherd that Steve and I got almost three years ago. He was our baby. He unexpectedly developed intestinal trouble and his intestines wrapped around his stomach causing serious bloat. It's a risk with big dogs and unfortunatley we had to put him to sleep. The worse thing I've gone thru. Each day is a new day and there are little reminders all around. We've done a lot of research now about dogs and diet and this condition. We will continue to learn as much as we can. As for a new dog, we still both have the emptyness but aren't being quick to fnd a replacement. Atticus will never be a dog that can be replaced and we don't want unreasonable expectations of a new dog.

Atticus the night before he passed away.