Ronan's View of Summer

Not being big enough to go outside by yourself. But loving every minute of playing on bikes, dangerous big kids scooters and skate boards. It doesn't matter if it is 100 degrees fun is fun. Becoming a complete nut in the pool. Jumping in over and over and over again. This boy has no fear!

We need a big brother over here to wrestle and punch with. At least a few times a day I hear, "punch me." Which I do lightly on his stomach and then get punched back. Sometimes it actually hurts.

Dropping the girls to friends and horse camp. Wanting to stay but not being old enough yet.

Potty training...sort of. Mom is putting it off. Loving to have his shirt off and being naked. Why wouldn't you run around naked wearing rain boots? Not understanding you can't go outside that way.

Too Much Fun for a Camera

Have you ever had too much fun to remember to bring along a camera. I feel like that has been our whole summer. We have done a ton of things. Whether I don't bring the camera because I already have bags and bags of stuff for our adventures. Or I don't bring it because I am always late yelling at the kids to get in the car. Or because all the places we go we have been before...you all don't want to see more pictures of the zoo. Anyway since this is my journal and it is all my kids will have to remember their young lives. I am going to document so they can't say we never did anything fun. The rest of you feel free to skip the rest of this post.

Zoo (4 times is way too much)
This is the Place Park
Tracy Aviary
Bear Lake
Real Salt Lake Game
Many different parks
Dinosaur Park
Cherry Hill
Amanda's awesome pool

Maybe I will get my act together and start taking my camera along. Or maybe I just need a new little one that fits in my purse so I don't have to remember it.

Leah's Puppy Party

5 things to do for a howling good time

1. Cute girls ready for pin the nose on the dog.

2. Dog collar craft

3. The ugliest but only dog pinata we could find.

4. Dog print cupcakes.

5. A few fun games. Dog dog puppy (duck duck goose). Dog trainer tricks.

Happy Birthday Ms. Leah

Happy Birthday to my first born. I cannot believe that 6 years have gone by. Even as a baby she loved to make us laugh. As she has said many times, "I was born to be silly." Looking through pictures for this post I have to admit there was some tears. Where does the time go. First they are this tiny baby, then a chubby toddler, and all of the sudden I have this beautiful grown up child. And we have only got to 6 I am sure it gets worse. It has a been such a pleasure and raise this girl. She can talk for an hour straight without taking a breath. I love hearing every detail of her day and all her thoughts. I kissed the Blarney Stone when she was in my tummy that is my only explanation. She is the BEST big sister I could ask for. She truly mothers and loves her siblings. Just 6 more years and I will have an amazing babysitter. Leah has a love of dogs, horses, and any animal. She would rather read an informational book about animals than anything else. Life is never dull with her around. Everything she does is with excitement. She truly loves life. Happy Birthday Leah.

DADADAAADAAAA It's Finished

After 3 coats of stain, 8 coats of polyurethane, searching for chairs to match, a 3 man team to get it in the door, here it is. We love how it all turned out. A quote from Leah, "you know what I like about the table...you have to let us sit at it if we are going to like it." Ok so I am a little uptight about it getting water spots or sticky. Hopefully I can relax or get a plastic tablecloth for the kids to eat at. Thanks to my talented father-in-law and wonderful husband for all their hard work on building this creation.

Red White and Blue Dessert

We had a patriotic themed Relief Society the other night. This is what I came up with. It is a cookie pizza. Pretty easy just sugar cookie dough and creme cheese frosting. I have got the recipe if anyone wants it.

As always Dave came home and bailed me out by finishing making it when I was in a time crunch.

Meet the Newest Member of Our Family

A soft and fluffy 7 week old Shichon puppy. A Shichon is a mix between a Bichon Frise and a Shih Tzu. They are suppose to be smarter than a Shih Tzu and hypoallergenic like the Bichon, a lap dog, and easy to train. You all can make fun of me for caving on the dog. Most of my friends have probably heard me say, "we will not ever get a dog." But look at this guy, who could resist! I actually had been looking for dogs for a few weeks to give to Leah for her birthday. My friend Shannon found these on KSL and we went to go see them. I actually had no intention of wanting one until I saw how good this guy was with the kids. I decided to say yes about a dog when every friend Leah choose to play with had to have a dog. It was getting quite ridiculous. And instead of going outside to visit friends they just went visit the dogs next door. I have waited years to see if the dog obsession would end and it had only gotten worse. So there you have it I caved.

Surprisingly I actually like him! He has been the dream puppy. We brought him home Wednesday night. I haven't once been awakened at night. He goes potty on a puppy pad in the bathroom if he needs to at night. During the day he has gone outside except for 2 accidents. I gave him a wash cloth bath today and blow dried his hair dry because he was shaking so much when I was done. I always thought I would hate having a dog, but so far so good.

His name is Lucky Clover Ratchford. Leah announced it, "we will name him Lucky because it is our lucky day, the day we get a puppy." The girls are obsessed and spend every waking moment I will allow mauling him. He just plays dead on their laps and they carry him around like a baby. But when put down he chases balls, chews on his bone, and runs and trys to hide. I have to lock the bathroom door where his kennel is to give Lucky a break from them. They will not be a shortage of love and affection at this house.

Leah's Big Dance Recital

Dance class pictures done by an amazing photographer friend of Marci's.

Waiting in line for their first number. A tap routine!

What a little ham. At one point she wasn't watching her teacher because she was so busy checking herself out in the mirror.

I am excited to use this outfit now that the recital is done. Isn't it FUNKY.

Eva wanted to stand at the side for each dance and follow along. She was suppose to be in the class but ended up wanting to stay with me instead. We are planning on putting her in next year.

Huge trophies for all the kids! I am sure it will be a prized possession for years to come.

Kindergarten Graduation

The class performed a selection of songs that they learned this year at school. Her teacher had a song for everything. Genius when you think about it. Kids can't talk when they are singing. That was one of the things I loved about Mrs. Piper they made everything fun.

I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. We loved her!!!! If you think about the perfect personality for a kindergarten teacher she has got it. She made each child feel loved and I never once saw her frustrated. That is amazing when you have 20, 6 year olds.

Eva's Preschool Program

There is my cute girl sitting quietly waiting for the program to begin.

This is her class minus 1 who moved and 1 on vacation.

Each of the kids had parts. Eva held the flag. Then she showed a picture of her favorite part about preschool, learning letters.

I am so proud of her. She is very well behaved in class. And when her teacher tested her she knew all her letters and their sounds. This year was a struggle getting her to go for the first 7 months. I almost gave up and then one day it just clicked. She would run happily into class like she never had a problem. Thank heavens. Tami was perfect I don't know if I would have let anyone else "help" her stay at preschool. She just let Eva decide when she wanted to come into class and it worked every time. I was so glad I had her somewhere that I knew and trusted the teacher. The year went by so fast I can hardly believe it.