Snowbird Weekend

The best part of an awesome family vacation is when it is free. Dave's boss hooked us up with a 2 night stay at Snowbirds Cliff Lodge. It also came with activity passes and free breakfast. The hotel is so nice that we had enough space in our adjoining rooms to invite the other Ratchfords up to stay with us. We felt like we were in the Alps. It is just gorgeous up there.

The kids loved this pool and I loved the 3 hot tubs.

Bungee trampoline was a blast. We managed to get in line for this first thing in the morning and didn't have to wait in the really long line later in the day.

All the kids figured out how to do flips and thought they were hot stuff.

Kay so I thought I would try this and then was so winded after 10 minutes of jumping around. I attempted a double flip and sorta landed on my head. I am too old for this.

We bought lunch and rode to the top of the mountain on the lift. It was much colder up there and there was still a little snow in spots. And the views were breathtaking.

On the tram riding up.

The Garreth Ratchford family

Mechanical bull always a great laugh

Rock climbing all of the kids thought this was really cool to try.

All of us at the top of the mountain. I am so excited for these guys to be closer now. They just moved to were at least they can drive to see us for a weekend.

WORK. We both hate it.

These two are the cutest thing together.

Alpine Slide. The line was forever but we did go on a Saturday. I recommend a weekday if any of you are going to try doing the all day pass. By the way Costco has them 4 for 90.

We all enjoyed ourselves with only driving 45 minutes up the canyon.

The 4th & Leah's Birthday

Here are a few pictures from our fun 4th of July celebrating. I felt like the holiday when on for 4 nights with the way it fell on the weekend. I love the 4th so I hope it can be that way every year.

We went swimming and had a potluck lunch at our friends pool.

I love this picture of Eva. I had to come up with 3 days of holiday wear for each of us.

We did fireworks with our neighbors at night. Every year we try to figure out how to take pictures of our names spelled. After many tries we finally got it. This is EVA in case you can't tell.

Cool shot of the fireworks.

Ronan in Ethan's hat. I think we have the same type of photo from lasts years fireworks too. Ronan thinks that kid is "awesome."

Brave Leah with the sparkler wand.

Mine all mine

Leah had quite the day for her birthday. Her dad took her to The Last Air bender movie. Then we went swimming. After we got home I took her to Boondocks. Then we did fireworks outside with our neighbors. It was a great holiday and celebration of our Leah.

Celebrating with our friends at the pool

I am so proud of this girl. She has gotten very mature of late. She is reading chapter books, riding her bike like crazy, swimming by herself. Being so helpful and sweet to have around. This has to be my favorite ages so far. I love hanging out with her. She is greatly anticipating being able to babysit by herself, which is not for a few more years. I hope she is still excited about it when the time comes. It has really been a dream summer with much thanks to my helper. When we go run errand and the little kids are being crazy she waltzes over to me and says, "those crazy kids." I remember just a few months ago when she was the crazy one at the store. I am dying that she turned 7 and is going into 2nd grade. And whats more crazy I will have 2 kids in school in about another month.

We did presents in the morning after everyone woke up with chocolate chip pancakes and whipped cream. Leah got Kirby for her DS, Super Mario Brothers for the WII, Zhu Zhu pets and accessories, and goggles.

This is the Place Park

We had an adventure last week to This is the Place Park. My mom has been gone all summer visiting my sister in Alaska. So were happy to have her with us this time.

There was a fire that started in the barn and the park lost the barn and some of its animals. It was sad to see the beautiful livery gone. They are planning on rebuilding it. They still have the petting zoo and horse rides the entrance is just different.

Handsome Cowboy

There are some new exhibits this year. One is a giant ship that that kids can go in. Ronan was nervous to go on at first he said, "mom is it going to take off." Then they have panning for gold. What kids doesn't love wading in a stream and add that to finding gold. It was a huge hit.

My mom with the kids on the train.

Elders VS Young Mens

Our ward came up with a fun activity for this summer. It was a soccer match of the Young Men against the Elders Quorum. Everyone had a great time watching and playing. The Young Men won in a shoot out at the end. Better luck next year big boys.

My hubby he's still got it.

Naughty boy trying to go to the bleachers. I laughed so hard seeing these 3 neighbors carrying him back to me.

The whole gang

Kite Flyin Tree Climbin

My mom found a kite that we had as kids. It is a classic great kite. We took it for a spin the other day. Dave got it so high. The kids each took a turn flying it.

This is Sadie our neighbors dog. The kids love her and have even got to dog sit a couple times this summer. They love to check on her all day and take her for walks. Leah's pet sitting business is really taking off. She told me the other day that she was changing her price to 1$ a day. This is the kind of dog that someone has to just give me already trained and good with kids.

A little tree climbing. They got up by climbing off Eva's bike onto the limb.

Ronan and the kite way up in the sky.

Kids Quotes

Just changing the layout of my blog a bit and I needed to put these in a post to save them. You have probably read them before they are just the quotes from the side bar.


April 2010

Decorating Easter eggs. Ronan drops his and it cracks. He yells, "It's hatching."

January 2010

As Ronan is crying because Eva won't share, Ronan sings, "Eva should share iny meeny miny mo catch a spider by the toa, if he hollers let him go. And it is not Eva." Is is bad to laugh at your child while he is crying? I had no idea he even knew the rhyme.

December 2009

Watching So You Think You Can Dance last night with Ronan. He said, "I want to throw you up in the air like that mom." Then he kept trying to do all the tricks the dancers did.

Leah has been a very deep thinker lately. The other day she came up with this gem. "Mom sometimes I feel like I really don't exist. Like this house and everything we do is just a dream."

November 2009

Ronan is really into Batman. And has been asking to watch it non-stop. So everywhere he goes he has a laseo that he throws out and jumps after. Like the batman gadget he uses. It is cracking me up.

We were asking the kids what they might want for Christmas. Eva without hesitation answers first. "my own house."

Leah loves to define the words she uses. The other day she said, " Mom that is Loco. Loco means crazy and over reactive."

July 2009

Ronan asked Dave to stay home this morning. He told Ronan that he had to go to work. Ronan said, "to make money me...quarters for me. "I thought it was hilarious that he thinks of money in terms of coins.

Dave had just put colone on. Eva came in and said, "it smells like one of our Aunts."

Leah told me as I was doing her hair to go outside. "Mom I am not your little doll. You just want to dress me cute and do my hair. You only care about me looking good." I responded, "well you are my doll tha tis why I had little girls."

April 2009

Leah really really wants a dog. I on the other hand really don't want one. She was trying to talk me into it the other night. "Mom just imagine me and Eva and Ronan playing with a dog. Imagine us taking care of it, picking up the poo for you. Imagine how we wouldn't even go to a friends because we would only play with the dog..." She went on and on painting the perfect picture of a world where her mom would let her get a dog.

Ronans new cutest phrase, ohhh taa (OK) I love it.


March 2009

I was singing to Eva after being gone on a trip. Leah looking at us started to pretend cry. "I am just so happy to have you back, sniff sniff. " I looked up to see her licking her fingers to create fake tears stains on her cheeks.

Dave told Eva, "you are my princess." She responded, "you are my king, because you are in charge of the house."

February 2009

Ronan came into the room where Dave was repairing the ceiling. "Doooiinnng," he asked. "A job buddy." Dave said. "Wowww," Ronan responded.

A Few Classic Quotes

There has been a lot of talk about Jesus lately around here. Hopefully you don't find these too sacrilegious. The kids really said these.

Dave and I are going to vote and take the kids along. Ronan keeps mistaking vote for boat and is surprised when there aren't boats inside the elementary school. Eva asks, " are you guys going to vote for Jesus, or the bad guy."

Another great one from Ronan. Dave is putting him to bed and told him the story about how Jesus walked across the water. He leaves and comes back and there is a puddle on Ronan's bed. Dave says sternly, "Ronan did you spill water on your bed." Ronan responds, "Jesus spilled it and then he walked across it."

Salt Lake Temple Square

We spent the afternoon Wednesday touring Temple Square. The flowers were beautiful as always. And they have redone the smaller visitor center to all about the Salt Lake Temple. It has old photos and tools of how it was built. There is also a large replica of what the inside of the temple looks like. I found it fascinating and so did the kids. And the best part is it is FREE. Unless you have to go to the Lion House Pantry for some pie and maybe soup and maybe a roll.

Thanks Carmacks for the fun adventure! And here is to many more.

Simple Fun

With all the fun things we did while visiting at my parents this was still the favorite activity. The kids loved playing in this stream that is in my parents backyard. It did keep them busy. But they always come out completely wet and covered in mud. Don't ask me how you get so dirty in 2 inches of water but they do.