Grandbaby Bliss

August 22: Keilie gets her first ultrasound picture of Grandbaby.  Happy Birthday!!

August 25: We celebrate Keilie's birthday and add a few extra pictures that can't be shown until later.  21 and pregnant with her first-- Best birthday gift!!

Overcome with the news, I took Grandbaby to visit Uncle Caden.  He would have been a great uncle!  We're all convinced he's showing Grandbaby all the ways in which to prank us, and make us laugh.

Just a few purchases.  Heaven help me when I find out the gender.  For now, "Grandbaby, you are already LOVED!"

Stranger Things

Three times now, we've found these MASSIVE mushrooms growing in our rocks out back.  When I showed them to my family, they mentioned that they looked like something from the Netflix show Stranger Things.  Apparently, they grow where stumps or wood shavings are, which makes sense as they're in the exact area where we cut down Aspens a few years ago.  Luckily, they're not poisonous.  In a way, they're beautiful!

Permission Granted

 WE'RE GOING TO BE GRANDPARENTS!!!!!!!!!!

Grandbaby Pratt due April 16, 2025.

Papa Randy, smile on his lips: "This baby is going to cost me, huh?"  Grandma Steph, unapologetic: "Yes."

Beautiful Brushing

Mira knows the pleasure of someone brushing your hair.  Look at her serene smile.  We sure love this precious creature.  Although she sheds puppy-size piles (truly, the only downside), we couldn't imagine our lives without her.  She's worth the extra work.

 

Hermiston XC

Tyson had his second Cross Country meet today.  His last meet was a 2-miler, this was his first (ever) 5K meet.

I didn't know what to expect, but I know I completely underestimated my son!  Remember, he ran his first solid mile in late June, and started running 2+ miles at practice at the end of August.  Here we are a mere three weeks later, and Randy and I watched as he crossed the Finish Line in only 24:05.  He said he got a pretty bad side stitch and had to walk for about 10 seconds, otherwise he would have been sub 24:00!

This is Kyle.  They met in Libby Middle School the year Tyson chose to go back to school in person.  They haven't been super close, until Cross Country.  Since then, Kyle has asked Tyson to go for runs, and spent every practice with him.  Tyson enjoys the friendship, but also enjoys the "encouragement" from Kyle to keep up.  He's better because of his friend.

Kyle: "If it is alright with you, I'm going to just remember your name as 'Tyson's mom.'"

I'm the luckiest girl in the world.  I am forever grateful to be known as "Caden's mom," "Keilie's mom," "Shelby's mom," "Brennon's mom," and "Tyson's mom."  I'm living my best life.  This is all I ever wanted to be when I grew up.

Flat Tires

Shelby found this when she needed to leave Richland High School for Tri-Tech.  Talk about stress.  Sometimes, car issues make me think that owning and maintaining cars is overrated...
 

HOCO 2024

 

Dr. Vigneri

The doctor that delivered Shelby, Brennon, and Tyson passed away unexpectedly.  Sad!  He was such a great OB.  I so appreciated his listening ear and understanding of a woman knowing her body.  I consider myself blessed he was my doctor.
 

Better w/ Friends

 Tyson had his first cross country meet in Friday.  I was super sad to miss it, even if my excuse was a good one.  I loved getting a video from Brennon, cheering his little brother on.

Official: 2-miles in 14'51.  

When they were making teams, Tyson was placed in the lowest group because this is his first time ever doing cross country.  He approached his coach and asked if he would consider advancing him to the middle group so he could run with his friend.  I love that he advocated with for himself, knowing what he wanted and going for it even though it was a little scary.  He said he almost regrets asking, because the running is more intense than he has ever done, but it's worth it to run with a friend.

When he was telling us about the run and how exhausted he was after, I mentioned how Kyle was going to make him a better runner.  "Oh, I know!  I would have slowed down a million times during that race.  But I wanted to run with him."  I can't wait to see what this season brings for my Ty!

Bookends

 Randy surprised me with Casper after the Sealing.  We had it all planned to go with Kimberly on the 3rd, but with Randy being laid off and all the stress that comes with trying to save money in that limbo, we cancelled our KOA reservation and stayed home.  I was super sad, but understood our Why.  So when he said we were going to go home via Casper-- an out-of-the-way trip of 12 hours-- I was super excited.

The red dot is our first home, the blue at the bottom of the screen is the location of the temple.  .7 mile!  Although we didn't know it at the time, it feels a little like I took that house for granted being so close to the temple.

It looks so much bigger outside than it does inside.  Having spent the last 12 years attending and working in a "mini temple," this one surprised me by being even smaller.  Columbia River has 16,880 sq. ft, Casper has 9,950 sq. ft.  Even so, it felt like the most special palace on the planet at that moment.  Obviously, I believe temples are important, but I prayed for this temple for many years (when I lived in Casper, and when we moved away), and just felt immense joy standing inside the walls-- FINALLY!

I got to bookend my day going into two temples I've never been to before, holding the hand of my Love, and just feeling so, so grateful.  It was definitely a red-letter day!

Thursday: 9 hours driving.  Friday: 7:45am-11:45pm, 3-hours of which were not driving.  Saturday: 12 hours driving.  Worth it!

Sealed

 Saratoga Springs, Utah

Dallin & Keilie Pratt, Sealed for Time and All Eternity

Sealer: "Your Heavenly Father is not surprised you are here today."  It was the most beautiful morning.

Beggin' beauties

 Keilie dropped Bailey off early this morning so they could begin their drive down to Utah.  Shelby was getting ready to leave for Tri-tech, grabbing a quick lunch, when this scene took place.

Cuties, all three.

It's going to be such a great weekend!