And We're Back!

Between major computer problems, and busy lives, we are finally able to post again. We are finally enjoying the summer teachers are promised. Danny finished summer school and most of his basketball tournaments. He is preparing for one more in Medford the 3rd week in July. McKay is talking a ton in his "almost understandable" language. It's fun to have him start to imitate. His favorite sounds are a constant "lou, lou, lou" which came from a mix of 'hello' and 'no,' and when we ask 'What does the monster say?' he gives a fierce and hands in the air 'Roarrrr!'
Jordan and McKay just spent almost two weeks in Utah, (Danny couldn't come because of school and basketball). The vacation started off with Jordan's brother, Joseph, getting married to Julianna James in the Mt. Timp. temple. It was wonderful, and we are all excited to have another girl in the family. Their colors were lots of different shades of pink, so that is why McKay has his adorable necktie.

I was one of the bridesmaids, and here we are in all out get-up.

McKay's favorite part of the reception was the music. A family friend played the harp, and McKay paced back and forth and couldn't get enough. I love that he loves music. A friend suggested that the harp might be McKay's instrument, and I said I don't want to have to buy a Surban just the carry the instrument around.

The happy and beautiful couple after the wedding dinner.

The next week was busy with Mommy and Me swim lessons with Becca and Aidan. We took the lessons from our old dance and swim teacher. I have taken many years of swim lessons and was never able to accomplish diving. The whole week I was scared I was going to be asked to dive. Luckily, I wasn't. McKay did really well, and liked jumping off the side and going underwater the best. He was able to blow two little bubbles, which was a proud moment. The main thing to practice is floating on his back and putting his ears in the water. When we got back home to Danny we went swimming, and McKay showed off all his tricks. I so glad we did it.

Mom and McKay practicing kicking.

We had a good time being with Grandma and Papa, and all of my brothers and sisters. We were also able to go to an art show my dad opened in Ephraim. It was in the perfect place and we are all so proud of our dad. Becca and I thought it wasn't a good idea to have the little boys in an art gallery so we got a sitter for the night. What a relief for me! Coming home to Danny, I am so grateful for team parenting.

We hope you all had a good 4th of July, and make sure to read the post below about a strange this valley we live in really is.

You know you live in Ontario when...

...the "Suicide Race" is bigger then the 4th of July fireworks. Let me explain. Vale (an Oregon Trail city about 20 minutes from us) has this race where people ride their horses down a mountain, into a river, and then into the city's fairgrounds. Dynamite goes off to start the race, and the horses race over, and in 5 minutes it is over. Thousands of people show up for the event. Danny explained the race to me like it was a scene from "Man From Snowy River", so I was expecting 20 or more horses stampeding through the crowd of people. But no, there were only 4 horses. Very disappointing. The whole thing was strange and I keep thinking "Where am I living?"

A little more McKay

Like Father, Like Son.. Mimi bought McKay a recliner and now Danny and McKay can watch "Curious George" together.















Danny got done with school at the end of May, so we headed off to Medford to visit Danny's family for a few days. On Saturday we went to the lake and McKay loved it. We thought that he would just want to get his toes wet, but he turbo ran into the water. It was very exciting.















McKay relaxing after fun in the lake.















McKay loves Road trips.. What 16 month old doesn't like to spend 9 hours in a car.















And 30 Minutes later... McKay was done.

McKay and His Swim Goggles

Now that I (Jordan) have finally learned all the in and outs of working this blog, we can update our site a little more often. I don't have to count on Danny to do the blog, because he is super busy finishing the school year and planning the summer season for the girls basketball team. Yes! That is our big news. Danny was made the head coach for the Nyssa Girls Basketball team. I am so proud of him, and we are lucky to have a head coaching job in only our second year of teaching. I myself am having a tough awakening of how much time really goes into coaching and basketball, but I'm getting use to the changes and excited for Danny.
McKay turned 16 months on the 7th, and being a toddler more and more each day. Walking and simply exploring the house has turned into running, spinning, and reaching. His new favorite toy is a pair of swim goggles Danny and I use for cutting onions (we sob like babies). McKay puts the goggles on the side of his forehead, and so I call them his hip-hop goggles. I am so proud to say that he is my little reader. He brings me books all day, have me read one line of them, takes the book back, gets me another, and says "bou". I love it. He has adopted his Boppy as his reading chair and will spend minutes (hours in toddler world) curled up with his blanket and 3 or 4 books. With playing outside as much as possible, this fills our day up nicely.
McKay's colds and coughs hit an all time low this last week. What started with a small cough, lead to a full asthma attack within a couple days. This is the 5th time this has happened since Christmas, so I knew it was time for more extreme measures. I got so tired of the attacks coming on so fast there was nothing we could do. So now, added to the albuterol breathing treatments with a machine during a virus, McKay now
is on Pulmicort, a long term inhaled steroid, that we do everyday to prevent an attack. McKay doesn't care for the treatments, but "Curious George" helps, and hopefully this works out.
That's about everything. We are so excited for our new nephew from Todd and Kylene, Boston Ryder. Happy Mother's Day on Sunday!

More Pictures

what happened

Last week Jordan and I wrote our heart out so that we could have a great blog. We saved it as a draft and it when I went to school to add the pictures it was gone.
Devastated I thought about stopping the whole blog, then I remembered all of the blogs fans, people that deeply rely on this blog. Like the Parkins in Philly, the Pratts in NH and the Bennions in Medford. I realized that this blog is bigger then Jordan and I so we kept on going.

Two weeks ago we spent Spring Break in the warm weather of Salem Utah. While Kristi and company were getting nauseous with the mixture of non alcoholic drinks and hours of relaxation on the beaches of Mexico the Pratts relaxed through snow flurries and 50 degree weather. No worries I wore shorts and flip flops the whole trip anyways.

McKay had his first real taste of Aidan (McKay's 2 1/2 year old cousin). Aidan was really really excited to see McKay. If Aidan was a Pratt family dog at the sight of McKay he would of peed all over the carpet. McKay was a little taken over by the high energy level of Aidan the first day. Remember, McKay been in a car 7 hours and it is past his bed time and then a tornado of energy is running circles and giving amazing hugs. McKay just put up his arms and begged for mom or dad to lift him up and once again get a privacy bubble. Day two was still a little hard on him (bad night sleep) but after that McKay just got used to Aidan and they became what their mothers wanted so badly, "best buddies." McKay was at the top of his game this week, the Wing family was not used to McKay's desire to scream high pitch sounds whenever he wants anything.
Jordan went all out this weekend and had a great time. I think that Jordan would enjoy ice fishing if her family was there with her. Jordan was able to spend time with her best friend and big sister, Becca. Jordan had the perfect vacation, good food, bought a pair of jeans, watched a recital with her sister in it, and relaxed. Jordan also threw Easter a week early so that McKay could spend it with his cousin. Jordan and Becca spent a lot of time and money but the boys flew through the egg hunt (neither really understanding what they are suppose to do) and Jordan and Becca were left wondering if it was all worth it.
Danny played basketball and read a great book watched college basketball and played with his boy. It was my best trip.
Talk to you later

A lot to catch up on

Hello friends and family. The Pratt family has been busy as ever (reason why we have been so bad keeping our blog up to date). Lets just get started.

McKay has decided that he is no longer a baby. He no longer wants to be breast Fed. This has been hard for Jordan because nursing was usually the only time Jordan could slow down McKay and have some quality time. Jordan has told me that he is not a baby any more. I believe he is a baby as long as he sleeps in a crib and wears a diaper. McKay also has become a walker!!! This has been a welcome surprise. Everybody told us to enjoy the time we have before McKay walked. Jordan and I couldn't really understand until yesterday. Jordan, McKay and I decided to go on a walk (favorite hobby) after 20 minutes in a stroller, McKay wanted out to walk like his parents. Jordan and I agreed and got McKay out and placed him on the sidewalk. McKay got really excited walked five steps and then fell. Fell is the wrong word because it happened so fast and with so much power. McKay's head slammed into the concrete and you could her the duuud as it hit. Poor Jordan swooped him up only to see his nose bleeding from being grinded against the sidewalk. McKay was a champ and fought through the pain and played with his toys the rest of the day. McKay has a desire to be better understood. To accomplish this desire McKay has began to scream for no apparent reason. Whether he is happy or sad watching tv (mainly baby Einstein) or eating chicken nuggets (favorite food) McKay will scream to get us to pay attention (even if we are paying attention).
Jordan's brother Joseph and his "special someone" Julie came to visit us last weekend. It was great to have them visit. Besides Joseph was growing tiresome listening to McKay screaming (we all were) everyone had a good time. Jordan loves her family so much and when ever they make it up to Ontario, Jordan and the rest of the crew feel so lucky. Jordan has been doing so good since the last blog. She has been moved in symphony to a more important role (I forgot the name of it but...... IT IS A BIG DEAL.... IT'S HUGE) and played a concert that was a success. Jordan also had to go four days without a husband when I took off to the state tournament for the Nyssa boys basketball team.
Danny has been adjusting well to coming home right after school instead of going to practice. I love seeing the family more and helping out. The state tourney was great. My parents came up to Salem and became adopted into the Nyssa community. After the girls won the state championship dad was on the court hugging the coaching staff.