There is the snow

The day we were suppose to have a huge storm we went sledding at Old Main. IT WAS RAINING.

The next morning we woke up to this! A foot of snow. I loved how beautiful my mom and dads house looked spattered with snow flakes.

The kids were outside by 9 am. Dave was out for 2 hours clearing the snow. The plow had build a gigantic mound of snow which the kids enjoyed.

Love this photo of Leah.

Weather Men

With announcement of a huge storm we thought that we wouldn't be able to drive to Logan for Christmas day. Well what do you know when we woke up Christmas morning their wasn't any snow. We opened presents skipped the traditional waffles and ice cream to rush and beat the storm. All day still no storm. But we loved spending the day at my parents. It is like Christmas all over again.

Eva still sad about the fur-real pet.

My hylarious mom and dad in their cross country skiing googles. I later caught my dad using them to snow blow outside.

Dad and Ronan just chillin.

Cute Leah who is sporting the slippers I had searched high and low for in Old Navy. The size I needed were stashed up in the front by the register.

Welcome Christmas

Leah loves this picture of what it looked like before they came downstairs. She has to show any friends who come over.

What is Christmas without some tears. I am not sure how opening presents ends up to be a sad thing but every year my kids get so grumpy.

Dave and his guitar. I was very spoiled and got a coat and a blow dryer. Leah's favorite present was her remote control car. Eva's was Leah's fur-real pet which proved to be a very sore topic all day. She also got a fairy pony that walks. Ronan really liked his vacuum.

Christmas Eve

Dave drove to 3 stores to find the kids a Gingerbread house. They had been begging for weeks.

Davy and the kids with the final product. Eva is eating the cookies for Santa that we made.

The night before Christmas story.

The kids opened their Christmas Jammies then heard Santa's bells outside. Up to bed they ran so that Santa could bring their presents.

December Fun

Ronan climbed in my mop bucket and told me slide as he teetered on the edge of the stairs.

Letters to Santa in the North Pole

The Christmas Sunday outfits

Dave's work had a party for the kids. I took the kids on a tour of the stadium. It was amazing with all the snow on the field. Then they had a Santa with professional photographer. Santa had a present for each kid and there was cookies and chocolate milk. I loved showing the kids where daddy works, it was their first time there.

The Other Ratchford's Christmas Visit

Dave brother Garreth and his family came to town for the adoption of their baby Declan. It was such an amazing experience to be part of. Then we had a big pre-Christmas dinner.

Here is everyone

My niece Candy announced that she is expecting. That is a baby doll that we wrapped up to tell Elaine.

The bedtime push ups and sit ups that the other Ratchfords have started to do at night before they go to bed.

Christmas Dance Memories

Our good friends Emily and Josh had to chaperon a high school dance. What sounds more fun on a Saturday night, nothing. It was at the Capital building which is 10 steps ahead of the choices we had in Logan. We invited ourselves along. It a blast, jamming out like 80's dance stars and posing for pictures. Those high school kids didn't know what to think of us I am sure. I re-lived so many memories of my high school days. The best were the awkward kids trying to dance with no rhythm at all. Then the dresses were half the entertainment. Girls dresses now are so fabulous. I should probably start a savings account now for when my girls reach the dating age. I have so many Christmas pictures to post I don't want to start. I promise an update soon.

The Look Of....

The scene...a breakfast of shredded wheat and chocolate milk with the king in his throne. Ronan was really enjoying the game until I got out the the camera. What is this face?

Can he really already know I will show this to future girlfriends.

He seriously looks mad at me for daring to take a picture.

Don't worry there will be more blackmail to come he does have 2 older sisters. Do I have to go into how he likes me to paint his toenails. Shhhh don't tell Dave.

The Christmas Setup

For most of you a tree that has matching ornaments is not so monumental. But for me I would like to say TADA. It only took 8 years of marriage to finally put all the mismatch ornaments back in the box. They will get their own tree though maybe during the after Christmas sales. And we actually have stockings hung by the chimney with care. The girls thought they needed to model with the ornaments.

Some more family photos

I know it looks like all we do is take staged photos and we don't really go out and play with our kids and take natural "kids being kids" photos. We do that all the time, but these photos are just really cute. I'm a big fan of the turn of the century Irish farmer look that Ronan has going on. He looks ready to pull some turf out of the ground. All he needs is a pipe in his mouth and he's set.