Family Pictures 2

Saturday we went to Mueller park for crazy family photos. Many thanks to Emily for getting these amazing shots.

Family Pictures

Leah's Take on the Candidates

Dave and Leah were watching TV tonight when a clip about the campaigns came on. She asked Dave who the 2 men were. He responded, "they both want to be our President, which one do you like?" Leah quickly answered, "The one on the left he looks nice. The one on the right looks like a skeleton."

Disaster Was His Name

Ronan as you all know has a knack for getting into trouble. He also has had a few growing up milestones this last week. He no longer has a binky and or a bottle. It wasn't too bad. There was one night that he was up til 1 and awake at 5. Then I made him scream in his room for an hour and a half. The next night went much better.
Here are some photos to document just a few of them that have occurred in the past few days.

Very scented lotion all over Ronan and my carpet. He opened the container by himself. This happened 10 minutes after he threw his waffle in the bath water I was preparing for the kids.

My grand niece came over for a visit. He loved and hated her all at the same time. Wanting to hold her then pushing her over. The pushing over was more wrestling that he would do with the girls. I sat by the baby the whole visit to protect her.

Within 2 minutes of getting home from church. Ronan helped himself to some cereal. The whole box full to be exact.

I haven't had a chance to prove to you all that I am not a neglectful mom and my son does have his bed, not just a mattress on the floor.

We have been...

Going to school everyday. Leah always asked when she gets a break. Here is her school photo. I love it the goofy smile and all. Eva has preschool twice a week. Yesterday was a breakthrough. She went without any crying or running after me.

Last week we went to the zoo. The weather has been absolutely amazing.

Packs Pumpkin Patch for pumpkin picking.

Love this cute photo of Leah, see she can smile normal.

Step 1 in our Kitchen Remodel

Thanks Brent for climbing into this mess and risking your life in our ceiling.

Dave and our neighbor spent a few hours transforming my kitchen.

I have to say thanks for making my kitchen look like Christmas time. And for coughing up their lungs up for a few hours.

Yay say goodbye to florescent lighting and a warm welcome to can lights.

Trouble and Growing into More Trouble

Ronan went to the doctor for his 18 month appointment last week. He ran up to the doctor to be held. Then only looked annoyed when the nurse gave him his shots. The doctor said he looks like he will be naturally muscular. Dave liked that one. Here are his stats

weight: 28 pounds, 76 Percentile
height: 33 1/2 inches, 82 percentile

He also learned how to get anything he wants in the kitchen with the help of these little chairs.

He can now get his own drink from the fridge

Climb to any counter he wants to get treats. He has a container full of gum, his very favorite treat. So the end of this new found freedom was a smarter mommy. The little table and chairs are downstairs. Then the real table chairs are tied to the kitchen table. Have I taken it a little too far? I dont think so I need some sanity folks.

I love this talking stage where they call other kids their age babies. Here is Ronan and his adorable cousin Jake.

Can't Catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man

I am enlisting the help of all of you who live out of Utah. I got to help in Leah's class last week. The teacher made a gingerbread man. Then I helped each group of kids make their own. After the cookies were baked the teachers gingerbread man was missing. They have looked all over the school and can't find it anywhere. The gingerbread man is going around the world having a really great holiday. Please send a postcard or letter from where you are saying that you saw the gingerbread man in your town. The class will then get to learn about many different places and where they are on the map. Please show the love for my little Leah's education.

Mail To:

Heritage Elementary
Attn: Mrs. Piper's Class
Leah Ratchford
1354 West Weaver Lane
Layton, UT 84041

October 9th

On October 9th Real Salt Lake will take the field for the first time in our new stadium. We have all worked our tails off to get to this point and it feels really good to have a home of our own.

Anyway...if you follow the link below you'll find a 30 second commercial that we created last week to showcase the stadium. When I try and describe what I do for a living, nobody really understands. Well this is what I do for a living. So get off your butts, buy your tickets to our games on October 9th and 18th and support your very own professional soccer team in Utah, Real Salt Lake.


Real Salt Lake Stadium Commercial from Shawn Francis on Vimeo.

Fast Shoes Leah

(By Leah) It was my first soccer game. I am on the white team. I almost scored a goal. My name is Leah. I have two coaches, Davy and Mark. I played lots of kinda hard games because I didn't get to use my hands. I like to run. On my second time I was sleepy head and it was my last game. The End. Did you forget my name was Leah.