A Happy Thanksgiving

The kids all celebrated with parties and costumes at school.  

We were able to have the Ratchford cousins come stay Wednesday night to Thursday. It is great to have them close by now.  As Thanksgiving tradition we hosted the meal. We had a great crowd with a few extras that we normally don't get. It was really fun to have everyone.  Our guests included all the Garreth Ratchford clan, Grandpa Tom and Grandma Merrily, Grandma Nancy, and Grandma Flo. Unfortunately we were so busy cooking I didn't get any pictures of everyone together.

Saturday Leah had a performance for her theater group at the Kaysville Nativity. It is Nativities set up from all over the world. With performances that go through out the day.

This reminds me that I really would like to collect Nativities from all over the world.  

 This year Leah is taking theater class. They have 3 Christmas performance that they sing at. The end half of the year involves putting on a performance of Annie. I can't wait to see it.

At 8:30 This Morning

The kids were so excited to play in the snow this morning. I had to force them to eat breakfast before they went out.

It was a good chance to take an inventory of the snow clothes. Yes Leah is wearing a red jacket with purple snow pants that are too short. And we wont mention Ronan and Eva are in their rain boots. I kinda thought I might have another month before I needed this stuff.

I am not sure what it is about getting kids in snow clothes that makes me grumpy. But I am going to sit back with my diet coke while they all stay busy outside. Because my excuse was that my snow clothes don't fit over my belly. Listening to them they are having the time of their lives so the few minutes of dressing is totally worth it.

Riding Bikes

This week both Eva and Ronan learned to ride their bikes without training wheels. It was amazing and surprising. Eva was outside waiting for her ride to school and figured it out on her own. Now she is a old pro using her own bigger bike.

Ronan once he saw Eva riding on his bike had to be taught how. He only needs some balance and a push to get started. Then he flies down the street and has a very graceful dismount.

We went on a ride around the block yesterday and he thought it made his legs sooooo tired to ride.

Eva could have gone around the block 3 times in the time it took Ronan and I to make it. She is loving it. The only sad thing is we probably wont get to ride much now that there is snow on the ground.

19 Week Ultrasound Surprise

We had a big surprise when we went to get our ultrasound this last week. Dave and the kids were all able to be there. Our doctor who had been 95% sure we were having a boy at 12 and 16 week ultrasounds had been wrong. This little baby is 100% a girl. We are thinking it was the umbilical cord that was between her legs at our last appointment. She hadn't been very cooperative that time and was turned away from us with her knees tucked. The technician checked the gender like 8 times and told me she would pay for my boys clothes if it wasn't a girl. I probably should have got that in writing. We are all excited for another delightful girl around the house.

Here are the baby legs. I thought this shot was quite darling. Even in creepy 3-d.

Here is a face shot. I didn't get a good print out of the babies face in regular so it looks a bit like an alien. The technician was saying that the ultrasound goes straight through so we are seeing a bit of the brain in this one.

Halllloweeeennnn

We had a great Halloween this year. And I count the rain we got Halloween night as a blessing because the kids ended up with way less candy. They all picked their own costumes.

Ronan was a transformer who refused to wear his mask even for a picture.

Leah who wont be anything unless it is scary was a vampiress.

Eva wanted to be a witch again but not the costume from last year.

Ronan had a fun Halloween party at school. I got to go help.

Here is Eva at the school Halloween carnival.

Ronan doing the candy walk

Here they all are before we went to the carnival. I love this picture.

Pack's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Eva and I joined Ronan's preschool class on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. It is somewhere I used to take the kids all the time when they were little. I have a lot of my favorite pictures of them here.

This smile is genetic and just the same cute smirk that Dave does.

This pumpkin patch is darling. It even has a cute little maze made out of hay. The only problems was that 10 preschools decided to take there field trip on the same day so it was super crowded.

Ronan's darling little class.

Crazy Hair Day

I love messing with the kids hair. Especially to do something funky and fun. It is crazy hair day at the school. Although I wouldn't want to spend this long on the kids hair everyday. It is so fun once a year.

I am sure Leah will not be happy I found the hair color spray after she had already left for school. For some reason Eva's hair reminds me of a My Little Pony.

The End of Fall Soccer

Eva's soccer team is the Bumble Bees. We never lose her while she is in her jersey.

Leah's team the Firepower has done really well this season. Except for Saturdays game they got creamed! Leah was trash talking this was boo to the other team. We had a talk about it afterward but I laughed so hard that Dave got a picture of this.

Leah has really stepped up her soccer game this year. We are really proud of her. She is showing real hustle and determination. Also she has played goalie a bunch of times and is really good. She dives on the ball and hugs it so no one can get it in the goal.

Eva also loves playing this year. She is a great defender. Usually she can be found getting between the other team and the goal.

Saturday there game was super hot. This was the place Eva decided to sit and wait while playing defender.

Mueller Park

We took the kids with some friends up to Mueller park to "camp." Or as close as we are going to get to camping this year. There was a campfire, smores, hotdogs, lots of climbing and getting wet in the river.

I was going to do hiking shoes then I remembered the river and decided shoes that could get wet were probably the best bet. How can you keep your kids out of an obstacle course like this anyway?

Leah upset about something. I love having pictures of the kids when they are sad. Just a different perspective of them to remember I suppose.

Ronan spent most of the evening on this really tall rock. I love this one of him totally comfortable up there.

The Hike

The kids school had a fundraiser that involved the kids running laps to get donations for the school. Leo the Lion and his handler (Davy) came to cheer the kids on.

Ronan getting a lift from Leo. After the ride Ronan said, "there is a guy in there I saw his eyes."

I love how tired Leah looks in this photo. She was running pretty fast.

Leah showing off her wrist band counting the laps.