Is anyone else miffed about our groceries shrinking in size?  I first noticed this probably 6 years ago with Bounty paper towels.  About that time I would get approximately 90 sheets per roll.  (I’m sure at one time it was 100)  Anyhow, it then went down to 85, 75, etc.  Today I get 52 sheets per roll!!!  Is that insane??  What a waste of packaging.  Of my time in having to change the rolls so often.  Of, well…..  It just makes me mad!

I have since seen my pasta, pasta sauce, mayonnaise, and various other items shrink over the years.  And now, it has happened to my tuna.  I was at Wal-mart last week and I went to buy some tuna and I thought, boy, these cans sure look different.  They look shorter!  I checked the size and sure enough, they only held 5 oz.  Now, I was pretty sure that tuna normally comes in 6 oz cans.  However, every single can on the shelf–every single brand–was only 5 oz.  I came home and compared my new can with my old can and I was RIGHT!!  SHRUNK AGAIN!!!!!  Hense, the picture….  I meant to check Macey’s and see if they had converted all their cans to 5 oz when I was there and I forgot.  Has anyone else noticed the smaller tuna can?

I used to call the companies (Like Bounty and Best Foods) and complain, but it did no good.  They just give me some spiel about how the manufacturer doesn’t set the price and due to yada yada yada, the only way they can continue to make a fortune is by shorting us stupid Americans who won’t really notice a few ounces or sheets.

I’m noticing.

Yesterday morning when the boys went outside to do thier morning outside chores (Feed/water Rooster and dump the compost) our thermometer read 1 degree F.  Yikes!  Now, that’s cold!  It makes me really grateful for a nice warm home and a nice warm car and warm clothes and warm food.  I am so blessed!

Last week we met Grandma and Elizabeth and Brayden at the Monte L. Bean Mueseum in Provo.  It is an incredible museum with real stuffed animals.  Everything from bugs to birds to buffalo.  Here are a couple pics.  It is amazing to walk around and see all the wonders of our Heavenly Father’s animal creations.  I so wanted to reach out and touch the hippopotamus skin, but you can only look.  No touching.  Bummer!

We have done a lot of sledding this year.  In fact, that is where John and the boys are now (hence me getting a little blogging in).  I don’t have too many pics  (In fact, I shlepped these first two from Nicki’s blog.) but just know that we have enjoyed it all.  These photos are from a couple weeks ago.  A couple other home schooling families and us went to a local park and did some sledding.  It was a blast.  As you can see from the last two photos, it wasn’t Avalon’s idea of a good time, but she had a good nap in various arms, regardless.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I went sledding.  Here is Reed and I getting ready for a run.  It was way fast and way fun!

I guess if you live in Utah, you must take advantage of the weather.

We had a fabulous time ringing in the new year.  We stayed home and played games as a family (Including our new “Ticket to Ride” game from G&G Allen–John won.)  We also watched “Christmas Around the World” on byu.tv (Which featured folk dancing from around the world.  It was great fun!)  We drank some sparkling cider at around 10pm for those going to bed a little earlier, and the rest of us (Cal, John, and myself) played “Settlers of Zarahemla” (I won) until it was time to welcome 2009.

Part of the festivities included building with little tiny blocks.  Ivan built this cool house and wanted me to post it.  He especially worked hard to get the inside pic of his house just right.  Cool, huh?

So, a funny story is that when we were “toasting” in the new year we went around the table and said what we wanted to toast.  We toasted 2008, friends, family, good food, our new home, toast with jam, and other fun stuff.  Then, when I was cleaning up the glasses, Reed said, “A toast to Papa’s big fat belly!”  We all just died laughing.  I guess Reed has a low cider tolerance….

On New Year’s Day we went to G&G Pratt’s house and spent most of the day.  We ate some traditional Czech food including Zelli (A sauerkraut dish) and other yummies.  We played games and had an enjoyable day.  Relaxing and fun.

Here is Grandma wearing the new hat I knitted for her.

Guns and carrots.  What more could a girl want?

Happy New Year, everyone!  I can already tell that 2009 is going to be AMAZING!

Hallelujah!  My baby girl has enough hair to wear a bow!!!  A real bow!!  Now, I may lament the day she has unmanageable hair, but I am totally loving this!  Aunt Jen made Avalon some really cute bows for Christmas, including this one, and she is all prim and proper now.

Here are some cute videos that we have taken recently of Avalon.  Both were taken during household chores.  Dishes and Folding Laundry.  (Anything to get out of working….)

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Avalon has one heck of a tongue!  Some days she just is so fun as she sticks her tongue out all day long.  She pants as she crawls along…Just like a little dog.  So cute!

So, I did a little research to see what side of the family she gets this amazing tongue from.  Let’s see…..

Uncle Jared (PRATT)

Yes, he can even PICK his nose with his tongue!  (Calvin is jealous.)

Papa John (PRATT)

Brother Calvin (PRATT)

Mama Lisa (ALLEN)

I forgot to get a pic of Uncle Josh when he was here, but as I can remember, Uncle Josh can’t even do “taco tongue”, so I’m sure he falls in the ALLEN category.  Yup.  She’s a PRATT!!

Oh Yahhhh…….

Josh and Andrea and Lily came for a visit after Christmas.  Lily must have taken a few sugar pills before she came because she was wired!  Like an Energizer Bunny.  Andrea says this was normal behavior as Lily is a very curious and busy girl.  Lily (who is younger than Avy) was a bit of a bully and made Avalon cry.  It was too funny.  We had some yummy breakfast and a very nice visit.  Thanks for making our Christmas even better!  We love you!

Cutie Pie, Lily…

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas with lots of cousin fun.  All of John’s siblings and their families where here in UT for Christmas.  We couldn’t have asked for a better week.  Sledding, ping pong, games, gingerbread houses, bubble baths, babies everywhere, presents… you name it!  A wonderful week.  Lots of great memories.  If you click

*******HERE*******

you can see a gallery of some of our fun shenanigans.

Brayden, Avalon, Ashlynn, and Emily

(All born this year!)