Rides you should be scared to go on at Liberty Park

But we weren't. A perfect way to finish the day are Liberty Park.

I love this picture of my mom with the kids. First of all she hates getting her picture taken so I have to catch her to get one. She has quit her job and has time to kill. Every week she comes down for a day or two. She calls it her volunteer work. I get to grocery shop by myself, get a pedicure, have a break from the kids, or just have a side kick for whatever activity we are doing that day. Last week we all went to Cherry Hill together.

So funny story about Leah's cute new smile. 2 days before this Leah had a really, really loose tooth. She wanted to be brave but just couldn't. Finally I got her to hold still to pull out the tooth. It popped out so fast that she didn't even know I had done it. Minimal bleeding which she was the most scared for. Mission accomplished until she tried to rinse it in the sink and lost it. We had to write the tooth fairy a note. She still left money under the pillow.

Then we were getting dinner after Liberty park at McDonalds. Eva is just plain grumpy and yelling at me. Ronan is screaming for his kids meal toy. Then Leah tries to rip open the package with her teeth and her other tooth shoots out somewhere into the car. You would have thought her leg had been severed off from the scream. I have to pull over the car on a busy road. Clean up blood and look for the tooth in a messy car. I turned to my mom and said, "would you like 3 kids you don't even have to give them back." We didn't find the tooth until we got home. Those teeth really are tiny once they are out of the mouth. Luckily we didn't have to write the tooth fairy another note. We all laugh every time we talk about it.

Liberty Park

Speaking of not posing for pictures. Why is it when the lighting is perfect they will not cooperate. Liberty park has a water play area that is a series of rivers. The kids floated boats down the rivers and waded in the water.

Eva would not take this boat out of her mouth...ewwww.. I was totally grossed out.

Leah mad that I am making her take a photo. She was not impressed with the rivers. The last time we went I think she was 3. It was a lot more exciting then.

This guy loved it! The best part about this place is you can sit and relax and still see your kids.

The best photo I could get of the 3 of them.

Syracuse Nature Park

We went to Syracuse Nature Park one early cool morning. The weather was perfect. Activity simple and easy. My kids had just as much fun as when we take the whole day to drive to the zoo. I sweat and curse by the end of those long trips. Why? If they are completely happy with a walk around a park and feeding some ducks.

The girls didn't really cooperate as models but I can always count on Ronan to pose.

That sweet face I could just eat him up.

This picture reminds me of how responsible the girls have been with the dog. Eva picked up poo the other day without anyone asking. I rarely have to fill his bowl with food and water because they take care of it. And everyday at least a few times they have him out on a walk.

Loved this photo in black and white.

My Dog Ate....

Our dog has been a pretty good puppy. Minimal damage to my house and belongings. Completely potty trained. Great with kids and other dogs. Pretty calm and easy. But it is only those things that are keeping him out of the pound today. Sunday we are all upstairs getting ready for church. He is up there with us most of the time. I come downstairs to see a 2 by 4 inch section of carpet gone from the living room. It is right when you walk in the door and completely noticeable. Not sure how he managed that one so quickly. But it was time to go to church so we put him in his room and left. When the girls went to get him after church they said he had an accident which he never does. When I get to the bathroom I found at least 1/2 cup of carpet thrown up all over the room. Disgusting huh. Some of the chunks were so big I wondered how it was even possible to swallow them. It was more carpet than he took out of the living room so now I am wondering where else he has ruined my flooring. Leah said, "please don't make me clean that up." Lucky for that puppy our living room carpet needed to be replace anyway. Secretly I was happy, make way for wood floors that I have been dreaming about since we bought this house.

Leah's New Do

Loving Leah's new short hair. My mornings are twice as fast with no fancy hairstyles to worry about. Her hair is so much healthier. Why did I wait so long?

Sorry for all the posts to follow but I pretty much haven't blogged for the entire month of July. It has been busy work wise and with all the holidays and fun who has time to blog.

We Are Sort Of Famous

Dave needed some bodies for the Days of 47 Parade. At the time I thought this sounded exciting and a good way to see him on the 24th. After sitting on the float for 2 hours we decided never again. Not only do we think people out to be paid to be on a float. We think you have to be crazy to go and watch a parade when it is 95 degrees. To top it all off I locked my keys in the car in downtown SL. Dave had to drive us home to get the extra set and back down to pick up the car. We finished the night with the Real Game. Which was very exciting the team scored 4 goals in the 2nd half for a win. So to those of you who saw us on TV. We did look like we were having fun and it was because the TV camera's were in the first 10 minute stretch of parade route.

Too Hot to Be Fun

We took a trip to This is the Place with our friends the Blotters. We left at 9 in the morning to beat the heat. But the heat still beat us. By the time we finished up it was 103 on my car temperature. Really it was fun besides sweating to death. The kids rode horses, made arrowhead necklaces, designed leather, and made Pioneer pockets. We had ice cream rode the trains, played at the park and headed home.

Horse Camp & Cousins

It was a doubly exciting week for the kids. They had 2 things that they have been looking forward to all summer happen the same week. First horse camp started Monday. They went Monday through Thursday from 9-1. We packed lunches for them and they got to spend a huge part of the day at the stable. They loved it! Then on Tuesday afternoon Dave's brother Garreth and his family arrived. We love have the kids play with their cousins. Spending precious hours after the kids fall asleep hanging out and playing the tradition Risk game. On Wednesday we went to Cherry Hill. Then got babysitters and were able to go to the MLS All Stars Game. Thursday went up to the Park City Outlets for some shopping. Again I don't have many pictures of all of us together. Erin you will have to email me some. Here is what I do have.

I love all these kids in their cowboy boots.

After we were done riding the cousins got to pet Tee the girls favorite horse. He was the calmest horse and didn't move a muscle while they were surrounding him.

My horse loving girls. The first day Leah said it was the best day of her life.

The teachers sit behind the girls and helped them learn the feel of riding on their own. They had them do balance practice by putting their arms out to the side. They learned to turn the horse, have the horse trot, and stop.

Erin with Declan and Sam.

Eva waiting her turn to ride.

Grace and Liam came to watch. The girls were so excited to have their cousins as an audience.

Leah watching as the other kids ride.

This is the classroom where the girls learned their lessons. It was pretty structured. Eva came home and told me, "they have rules." The girls learned everything from the different types and colors of horses, to the parts of the saddle, to how to lead a horse and ride.

In true Ratchford fashion Uncle Garreth built an exciting ride to keep the kids busy.

We Did Celebrate The 4th

A BBQ and fireworks show at home with neighbors.

Lots of sparklers and pops. Next year I will invest in all long ones vs. the cheap Walmart brand.

Thanks to the Carmacks who invited us along to their family breakfast and the Centerville Parade. It was yummy and fun.

And thanks to mother nature for providing the best 4th weather I can remember. Seriously parades are fun when you aren't sweating.

Eva in ready position for candy grabbing.

Ronan in Ethan's hat. There is nothing funner than dressing everyone in their red white & blue.

Darling girls!

Leah's Fireworks

Every year Leah tells everyone that her daddy puts on fireworks for her birthday. I love that she believes our lies. And thanks to Real Salt Lake that has a game and fireworks every year on the 3rd.

I love this stadium. It is beautiful. The games are always entertaining. One of the perks of you husband being gone so many Saturdays.

Girls were so excited to see their dad.

A brilliant fireworks display from the field. There is something special being down there on the grass. If you look real close up it still looks fake.