Tuesday Tell-All: Women's Day

They made me.

Topic for this week: Who has been the most influential woman in your life, and why?

Sunday was International Womens Day, which is something that has been around since 1911. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. In some countries it's a national holiday. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. So, basically a day to celebrate the awesomeness of women:).

Along with most people out there, I would have to say that my mother most influenced my life, and definitely for the better.

10 Important and Not-So-Important Things My Mother Taught Me

1. Always stand up straight - be proud that you are tall!
2. LOVE your husband (she taught me this by example - my parents are crazy for each other, and everyone knows it.)
3. Remain calm in crisis (I am still perfecting this).
4. It's OK to come undone once in a while, as long as it really is only ONCE in a while.
5. Go ahead and salt before you taste. Salt is good.
6. White shoes make your feet look big and horizontal stripes make you look wide. Wear with caution.
7. Love nature. Love the outdoors. Love camping. Love to hike. Love to fish.
8. It is possible to love salsa but hate tomatoes.
9. Give your all to your church calling, and then give a little more.
10. (I know I have said this about her before, but it SO defines her, I had to say it again) Cheer REALLY loud for all your children at their sporting events!

As I look over the list, I realize that a lot of these things come from my Grandma Pratt as well - like mother, like daughter.

At least, I certainly hope so.

Tuesday Tell-All: 5 Words

It's National 'Words Matter' Week! Did you know?

Yeah, neither did I.

BUT - in the spirit of National 'Words Matter' Week, I give you the 5 of the words that matter most to me, and more importantly, why they matter.

FAMILY
I know. "Duh!" you say. I love my family more than any amount of words can express. This of course includes my husband and two boys, as well as my siblings, parents, in-laws, cousins...all of them. They are what make me who I am, and I am fiercely loyal to all of them.

ETERNITY
I know that I can be with my family (see above) forever. This is a knowledge that gives me great comfort. Hard to comprehend, but I am so, so grateful. Matt and I get to gaze into one anothers eyes forEVAH! Wahoo!

QUIET
Now, by nature, I am NOT a quiet person. (I just heard 15 of you go "No kidding!") But I think it is important to sit back every once in a while and just be still. I have found that in quiet moments I usually come up with my best ideas. Quiet allows me to reflect, to mourn, to find a little peace in an otherwise loud and hustle-bustle kind of day. I love one-on-one quiet time with my children. It is then that we discuss the value of one Pokemon over another, or have a lengthy discussion about who was the most powerful Sith - Count Dooku or Darth Maul? Priceless quiet moments.

FRIENDSHIP
Where would I be without my posse?? I have been lucky to make and maintain great friendships through the years. They keep me sane!

BEAUTY
No, I'm not talking about hair and make-up. I am talking about nature. I try to look up and around every once in a while and appreciate the little things - clouds, sky, mountains, grass...and I hope I am passing that along to my boys. I know my parents passed their appreciation of nature along to me. Thanks mom and dad!

Happy 'Words Matter' week to all!

Tuesday Tell-All: Halloween Traditions

Halloween traditions/memories from my childhood:

• Trick-or-treating ALL over town - with no parents. Life was simpler then. And safer.
• 1977. Me: Princess Leah wearing an old wig of my mom's. Jess: R2D2 made from a box and tin foil. Homemade costumes ROCK.
• The ward Halloween Party. The year Jess had a sheet over her head with eyes cut out. Mom wrote BOO! really big on the sheet. It was so NOT scary, but a great memory!
• Cake walks
• The Halloween party at Grandma Cooper's house - throwing candy off the deck.
• Cheeseburgers with the cheese cut out in Halloween shapes.
• WAY too much candy around the house!

Traditions NOW:

• Carving pumpkins
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• Trick-or-treating in our very festive neighborhood
• Ward TRUNK-or-Treat parties
• Decorations in the yard (happy ghosts and mummies - not scary ones.)
• Scary movies for Matt. Me? I go somewhere else. I have turned into a big baby in my old age.
• Taking WEEKS to determine the answer to that age old question, "What am I going to BE for Halloween?"
• 
• Pumpkin cookies
• Still - WAY too much candy around the house!
• 

Tuesday Tell-All: You Can't Scare Me

In the spirit of Halloween, This week's topic is to tell about a scary experience in my life, and how I overcame it.

Scariest moment ever, by far: Dylan's first seizure, and the diagnosis to follow.

When Dylan was 5 years old (he's 7 now), he had his first seizure. Terrifying. Simply terrifying. The news to follow, after much testing, was also scary. Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Of course, I had never heard of this. After many hours of internet research, talking with the doctor and also the family doctor (thanks, Josh), I began to understand what we were up against. A lifetime of trials. This is not something that was going to go away, so we had to face it and deal with it head-on.

In the last two years, Dylan's seizures have gotten under control. None for 6 months now. I know that this could be the calm before the storm, and I also know that it could just be calm from here on out. Either way, I am grateful to have my Heavenly Father, my wonderful eternal companion, my family, and my friends by my side every step of the way.

How did I overcome the fear? I haven't. I am still afraid every day that something could happen to him, or to Zack, but I am stronger than I was at first. I face each day with a bit more courage than the day before, and with faith that I will be sustained through whatever is to come.

Tuesday Tell-All: Reality TV

If I could be on any reality show, it would be a toss-up between two. First, The Biggest Loser. Mainly because I am so totally inspired by the people on the show - they are incredible and the amount of dedication they have is amazing. Plus, Jillian is seriously BAD (Bad meaning good, like the Run DMC version of BAD). If anyone could kick my butt into shape, it would be her. I am sure I would call her names behind her back, but eventually, we'd totally be BFF's.

Jillian, The Bad One

Next, Survivor. Don't laugh. I have been a fan of the show since the second season, and I think it would be challenging and even a little bit fun to be on it. Of course, I would probably complain about bugs and rain and the lack of food, but hey - I'd get to meet Jeff Probst! Score! I will never apply to be on the show though - I would be too afraid that I would boss everyone around too much and end up being the annoying lady that they vote off FIRST. How embarrassing.

The Survivor Golden Boy

I don't think I would have even a small chance of winning either one, but don't you think it would be kind of fun just to try?

Tuesday Tell-All: Celebrity Showdown

The assignment today is to list my five favorite celebrities and why I like them. This is a tough subject for me, because there are SO many I like, it is hard to narrow down to my absolute favorites. I decided to stick with actors, because of I branch out to another category, I will spend forever trying to narrow it to just five. My answers could be completely different on any given day. And so, for right NOW, at this moment...here are my favorite celebrities (actors) and why I like them:

Ahhh, Brad. I remember first seeing Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It with my friend Sheryl. (Thelma and Louise had already come out,but we hadn't seen it yet.) We stayed for the credits of the movie because we wanted to see just WHO this guy was - we loved him! We looked at each other and repeated his name - saying, "We need to remember him. He is incredible." Was I right, or what? I am really looking forward to seeing him in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.


Kira Knightley. Queen of the corset. I liked her in Bend it Like Beckham, and Love, Actually, but I truly learned to appreciate her when I saw her in Pride and Prejudice. Her portrayal of Elizabeth was understated and beautiful. She is truly talented. I think she is going to be around for a LONG time. Looking forward to seeing her in The Duchess coming up.


Christian Bale. Totally under appreciated in Hollywood for many, many years. I think he should have won a few Academy Awards by this point. I liked him in Newsies, but got a bit of a crush on him when he was in Little Woman with Winona Rider. He can completely transform for a role. So happy to see that Hollywood is finally noticing him and giving him the big roles he deserves. LOVE him as Batman.


Cate! Cate! I love this woman. Elizabeth is one of my all-time favorite movies. She is truly wonderful in everything I have ever seen her in. Cate Blanchett was great as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator, and with Brad Pitt in Babel. Can't wait to see her and Brad again in a movie together soon. Her fashion choices are nearly flawless!


This is my lesser known choice - Kevin McKidd. I watched the TV show Journeyman with him in it last year,and nearly cried when they cancelled the show. Of course I was THRILLED to see that he is now on Grey's Anatomy. If they are smart, they'll keep him there! Some may recognize him from Trainspotting or one of the many other roles he has played. He's been around for a while. He just seems very real, not too flashy and OH so likeable :o) I also love a man with a Scottish accent...

That was hard! I have many favorites, but these are the ones that are on my mind today.

Interested in participating in Tuesday Tell-All? Click HERE!

Tuesday Tell-All: School Memories

My earliest memories from school: I remember chasing a boy named Mike around on the playground, and I remember playing Red Rover in Kindergarten. I remember that my Kindergarten teacher got married that year, and she came in to class with her wedding dress, her new hubby, and a wedding cake for us. Awesome. I remember that her husband had boots on. I remember that we had naps on a mat at school. I remember that there was another Nicole in my class, and that's pretty much it!


What I loved about the first week of school: Getting to wear all my new clothes, and using my new Trapper Keeper. Mine had puppies on it.


My favorite subjects: Music and Drama, of course. I remember being horrified that I didn't get a lead part in the Elementary School musical, Go West. I wanted the part of the narrator. I spent the whole time glaring at the girl who was the narrator, knowing I would be SO much better than her! Her name was Melissa. Grrrrr.

Favorite playground game: Four square. I had some pretty mean moves, baby.

Tuesday Tell-All: Summer Blockbusters

Our favorite SUMMER movies so far...

THIS one has my number one spot...



and THIS one was fantastic...


As a family, we really loved THIS...


...and THIS.


and coming up, our whole family is looking forward to THIS!

Tuesday Tell-All: My Exercise Routine

What is my exercise routine??

Going up and down THESE...

is pretty much the whole regimen these days.
I know.
Sad.

Tuesday Tell-All: The Five Senses...Taste

Favorite things to taste...

-TOMATOES from Dad's garden (all gardens are good, but my Dad's is the best!)
-Salt and Pepper chips
-very sweet grapes
-Pickles
-Homemade ice cream
-My boys faces (kisses!)
-Joe's steak at Tahoe Joe's
-Mom's Corn Chex Chicken
-Milk Duds during the movie
-Artichoke with butter (mmmm...)
-Matt's tuna melts
-warm artichoke dip with crusty bread
-Fettuccini Alfredo
-Apples with peanut butter
-Celery with cream cheese
-Bagels
-Strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar (Really! So gooood.)

Oh, I could go on and on...I like food waaaaay too much.

Tuesday Tell-All: The Five Senses...Smell

*sniff sniff* Ahhhh - some of my favorite things to SMELL...

• the pavement after it rains
• a baseball field - that mixture of grass and dirt
• clean baby, just out of the tub
  
• baking bread
• the ocean
• vinegar (I know that's weird)
• a crackling fire when camping
• dutch oven potatoes when camping (memories of childhood!)
• bacon frying (mmm...now I am getting hungry...)
• Chanel No. 5 perfume
  
• vanilla or cinnamon candles
• Aqua di Gio cologne (only on Matt, of course...)
• My Grandma Pratt (she always smelled so soft and good)
  

Tuesday Tell-All: The Five Senses...Sound

Some of my favorite sounds:

• Rain pitter-pattering on the window (as long as I am not driving in a car).
• Babies making gurgle-y noises in their sleep
• Michael Buble's voice
• Handel's Water Music
• Vivaldi, Spring
• Laughter of my boys (Zack, Dylan, AND Matt)
• REVERENCE in Primary!
• My Wicked CD
• Ocean waves crashing
• The crack of a bat hitting a baseball
• Applause
• Kids coming in the door after school
  
• SILENCE

Tuesday Tell-All: The Five Senses...Sight

For the next five weeks, I'll talk about my favorite things about each of the five senses...this week? SIGHT.

Some of my favorite things to see:

• My kids goofy smiles
• 
• The sunset in the desert
• Flowers
• 
• The beauty of the ocean
• 
• Matt - coming in the door and home to ME!
• My mom when we leave Kanab after visiting...she stands there, waving and waving until we are down the road and out of sight.
• Brad Pitt. I like to look at him. It should be a crime for a man to be so pretty.
• 
• The garage door opening after being away for a while
• The battery on my cell phone showing that it's fully charged
• The gas tank showing on "FULL"
• The red rocks of Southern Utah...home.
• 

Tuesday Tell-All: One Word

This week's challenge is to answer all the following in ONE WORD ONLY. Here goes...
1. Your cell phone? ....................Slow
2. Your significant other?.......................Smart
3. Your hair?....................................HOT
4. Your mother? .................................Cool
5. Your father?..................................Supportive
6. Your favorite thing?..........................Family
7. Your dream last night?........................Silly
8. Your favorite drink...........................DietCoke (Look! I made it into one word!!)
9. Your dream/goal?..............................Eternity
10. The room you're in?..........................Chaotic
11. Your children?.....................................INCREDIBLE
12. Your fear?...................................Harm
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years...........Matt
14. Where were you last night?...................Movie
15. What you're not?.............................Perfect
16. Muffins......................................Blueberry!
17. One of your wish list items?.................Baby
18. Where you grew up?...........................DIRT

19. What you read last........................Sad
20. What are you wearing?........................Khaki's
21. Your TV?.....................................New!
22. Your pets?...................................Fish
23. Your computer? ..............................Communication
24. Your life?...................................Contentment
25. Your mood?...................................Happy
26. Missing someone?.............................Sisters
27. Your car?....................................DIRTY
28. Something you're not wearing?................Lace!
29. Favorite Store?..............................Furniture
30. Your summer?.................................BUSY
31. Like someone?................................Definitely
32. Your favorite color?.........................RED
33. Last time you laughed........................Today
34. Last time you cried?.........................Sunday

That was kind of hard to do! Interesting exercise in SELF CONTROL. I have never been very brief.

Tuesday Tell-All: Childhood Summer Memories

We lived in Moab, Utah for most of my childhood, up until I was 12 years old. I remember...

• First and foremost, my summers were all about the baseball park. We LIVED at the ballpark in Moab as a kid. I played, my dad played, my sister played. Still to this day, when I go to a ballpark and smell that grass-and-dirt smell, I get all nostalgic. It was the best.
• Playing on the patio at Grandma and Grandpa Pratt's house when we visited St. George. They used to turn the hose on to keep the patio wet and we splashed around. I also remember sitting on a bee with my bare bum and having Grandma take care of my poor little bee-stung bottom when I was very little. I think that is my very first memory. I still miss Grandma Pratt every day.
• Riding my bike at the school board office parking lot next door to our house. Jess running smack into the brick wall because she forgot about the brakes.
• Pushing my baby brother DJ around the block in a stroller again and again to get him to stop fussing.
• Walking down the street to Go-Fer Foods for a treat. Sometimes we bought candy cigarettes! Oh, the shame...
• Playing catch with my Dad in the front yard for HOURS. I loved it, and I think he did too.
• Watching Jess climb the big pole in our back yard, the little monkey that she was!
• Dad working in the garden out back. I remember that it was HUGE! If I saw the yard today, I wonder if it would still seem as big to me now?
• Playing with Vicki and Annette - listening to Vicki's Shawn Cassidy record in her room on her little pink record player.
• My dog Zeke
• Riding my bike clear across town to go to the swimming pool.
  
• Hanging out with Lisa Quinn.
• Eating hamburgers at Milt's.
• Running through the sprinklers.
• Playing Frisbee with my parents at the park.
• Baby DJ bouncing on the swing on our front porch...bounce...bounce...bounce...
• 
• The day my dog Zeke came home covered in porcupine quills after getting in a fight with a porcupine. I was horrified. So was Zeke. (He survived.)
• Our neighbor Lupe telling me that if I kept sucking the top of the glass to my mouth, the ring would STAY there permanently. I totally believed her.
• My mom's long, dark hair in a bandanna.
  
• Vicki Peterson telling me her dad came home when it was "peach dark."
• Sunflowers
  
• People hang gliding from the mountain behind our house.
• 
• Hiking in all the National Parks surrounding Moab. My Dad knew them like the back of his hand. What a lucky kid I was!
  
• LOTS of fishing in the Colorado River on "our beach."
• Camping with the family.
• Deep fried catfish.
• Just being a dirty, happy kid.
  

I could go on and on. I love recalling summer memories - I find it interesting that I remember all the little normal day to day things mostly...I hope my children have fun memories like this as well. Happy days!

Tuesday Tell-All: Hometown Favorites

My favorite place to...

grab lunch: Strings (a little Italian restaurant) or Max's (best sweet potato fries evah)

go for date night: Tahoe Joe's

pick up some creative goodies: Love to hit good old Michaels once in a while.

keep the kids busy: the Bogle's (our friends) back yard!

get wet: Grami Snow's pool in Fresno and the Veyo pool when visiting southern Utah

buy a treat: Cold Stone Creamery

shop for fun: all the little shops in Fig Garden. Isn't shopping just about anywhere fun??

get some fresh air: Even though I am not close to southern Utah anymore, I still have to say Zion National Park. Anyone know some good places for fresh air around here?? I asked Zack and his reply was "ummm, outside?"

splurge: anyplace for a pedicure! (I need one BADLY right now...)

drive for a weekend away: Avila Beach

Tuesday Tell-All: Laughing Out Loud

What makes me laugh?

• Zack makes me laugh - he is a total crack up, with a really quick wit. I love his sarcasm.
• 
• Dylan makes me laugh. I love how he runs around all day singing all the songs he knows.
• Matt makes me laugh. I especially like watching him play with the kids - he is just a big kid, too.
• Being with my brother and sisters makes me laugh. What a bunch of nerds. I love 'em!
• Kristen Wiig on SNL makes me laugh.
• THE SOUP on the E! channel makes me laugh - a lot! My guilty pleasure.
  
• Dancing with my boys at the mother/son dance was totally fun. They can BOOGIE, baby! That makes me laugh.
  
• The movie Juno.
• Watching Peggy Sue Got Married and listening to Nicolas Cage's ridiculous voice he uses in that movie makes me laugh.
• 
• One of our counselors in the bishopric cracks me up - he is totally funny when he conducts sacrament meeting. I love it!
• The little Cranney girls (friends in our ward) - they are so darn cute it makes me giggle!
• My Aunt Mace is the best - she is so funny she ALWAYS makes me laugh.
• THIS BLOG (click to see) makes me laugh - I love it!

Tuesday Tell-All: Professional Help

This week: For what activity would I want professional lessons?

Well, there are MANY activities for which I would love professional lessons, but for now I will choose SWIMMING LESSONS.

I have never been a strong swimmer. I am a good floater, and I am good at carrying little babies round the pool, but I am not a good lap swimmer, diver, or underwater swimmer. I can hold my breath forEVER when doing singing exercises, but when it comes to going under water, I panic a tiny bit and am up for air immediately. I vaguely remember riding my bike to swimming lessons in Moab, and I think I remember sitting in the bleachers when I was supposed to be swimming...could be part of the problem.

I have made sure that Z and D have had good lessons - they are already much better swimmers than I am!

I know, I know...it's never too late, I can still take lessons, blah blah blah...yeah, we'll see about that...

Tuesday Tell All (one day late): Living on the Edge

OK, I am on Matt's laptop, so I won't be able to catch up on posting until we get the desktop all set up...so no photos till this weekend. (Boo - I know...) But I CAN do the TTA topic this week!

This week's question: If you could do something dangerous just once with NO RISK, what would you do?

Well, there are several things I might try. First on the list:

Next, I have always wanted to do this:

Then definitely this:


and some of this:

But as life would have it, THIS is about the most dangerous thing I do these days:

Tuesday Tell-All: Made by Hand

I don't make many things by hand. Of course, I am a big fan of handmade things, and I always sign up for MANY projects at our ward's yearly craft-making extravaganza, but I am mostly a copycat when it comes to things like that. There are a few things that I have made that I truly love, but most of the handmade things I treasure are the simple things made by my children. I love anything they make - from simple scribbles to elaborate artwork (as long as it is NOT on the wall).

Dylan made this simple coloring on easter Sunday during sacrament meeting. Jesus on the cross. Very sweet, and I was happy to see that Jesus was NOT holding a light saber.

Dylan made this necklace this year in kindergarten. They were talking about Africa at the time. I love all the fun things they make in Kindergarten!

I adore self-portraits! Zack made this last year in 3rd grade. It is always interesting to me to see how kids see themselves. He looks like a happy kid here in this picture, and I don't see skulls, fire and flames leaping up behind him...we must be doing ok so far!


This last hand made item is also from Zack's 3rd grade year. This was a project that took a while to write. The teacher gave them the beginning of a sentence and then they put it all together as a poem at the end. Great insight into the very interesting mind of little Zack. Seems the kid has girl issues... (Click on the picture to make it bigger and read the poem.)


Treasures, all.