Skiing

We got our first snow storm and it put into reality that soon we would be needing all our ski stuff. So we took a trip to Reno and did a season rental for all the kids. Then Dave built them this awesome hill off our deck. To say that they loved it would be an understatement. I hoping this is a sign that they are going to go mad when they see the mountain they get to ski.

It took Ronan a few times but eventually he got it. 

 Eva surprisingly was the most balanced on her ski's and didn't fall once.

Leah was very sweet and thanked Dave and I multiple times for their skis. 

Here is a quick pictures from Leah's end of soccer season party. This was like a week before it snowed. Eva had a party too it was dinner at a restaurant with all the kids. Not my favorite evening keeping all 4 of the kids behaved. Dave left work to get there and save the day.

Halloween

The funniest part of Halloween for Dave and I this year was that we went to a Halloween Gala. I spent way to long making these mummy costumes. They looked a lot easier just looking at the instructions.

We really got a kick out of driving around waving at people.  

Here we are with Daves boss Bill and Jen his wife. 

I had my friend and her kids over to carve pumpkins. This is the first year I didn't carve all three pumpkins. Leah actually did hers all herself.

Our ward had a Harvest Party. Complete with Chili cook off and game booths. I was in charge of decorations. Flo and the kids helped me set everything up.

Halloween night we went to my friend Amanda's for trick or treating.We had quite the food spread for the adults.These are the kids friends from church. One thing I love about Halloween up here is there aren't any street lights so it actually is a little spooky to trick or treat. Next year I'll make sure we all have flashlights.

Here is a cute little pumpkin who was really only dressed up for about 15 minutes. The big round pumkin didn't help her with her crawling.

A week before Halloween we went to a carnival at Ronan's preschool. Then they have a gigantic Halloween parade downtown. I think the whole town turned out. Then you trick or treat to all the stores on the main street. It was really fun and we got a whole lot of candy really quick.

Here is a good shot of our cute down town with my cute trick or treaters. Eva was a skeleton, Leah a witch, and Ronan wolverine.

Grandma Flo's Visit

We had the pleasure of Grandma Flo's visiting over the Halloween holiday.  

We took a Sunday drive around Lake Tahoe.  

We were able to do a hike that we had wanted to do over the summer. It was these rock stairs up to a waterfall. The kids loved it and would have kept going. We will have to go back again.

We climbed all around the rocks the kids kept finding new places they wanted to get to. 

This picture was actually taken on a timer not to bad ehhh 

The waterfall wasn't as cool as the walk to get there. Maybe it is bigger in the spring. 

Ronan's preschool class does a celebration once a month. Grandma Flo was able to come to one.

One of our favorite spots above Donner Lake.

 We took the kids to Reno to go to their new childrens museum. It is an old city office building that they converted. Very cool. Clean spread out. I didn't feel like I was going to lose one of my kids all the time. The kids are in a large climbing structure made to look like clouds.

Below is this big water feature. 

Leah and Claire in the pond projector. It kinda ripples when you step on it.  

Old western room

Claire 7 Months Crawling!!!

Claire at 7 months is divine. She sits and plays with her toys but yet can't get anywhere yet. Love it. She is falling asleep by herself in her crib and sleeping through the night.

 This picture was taken just 2 weeks ago and man the changes in the past few weeks have been amazing. She crawled last night, crawled!!!! I will post a video. There was a small tear partly because my baby is not so baby anymore. Also because my life is over once the mobility starts things get crazy. She also started jabbering a lot more. First recognizable sound was dadadadadada. If no one is talking she just sits and talks in a cute sing song voice. Here is her crawling. She waited until the whole family was around. It was nightime so look past the outift and missing bow. I am glad that everyone especially Dave got to see this.

Boys Boys

Nearly every Saturday Ronan asks Dave to take just him out. One day the girls went to a girl sports day. Ronan and Dave spent the day together. They went climbing above Donner Lake.

They went further than we went with the baby in tow and were able to get to the old railroad shaft. Ronan said it was spooky.

A couple weeks ago Dave had some friends come stay for the weekend. They golfed and swam in the lake, watched movies and ate out. I am choosing to not blackmail these guys with the swimming photos that I have. But they better watch it because one wrong step and they are going up on Facebook.

Sunday Walk

One great thing about a Sunday walk around here is that you can go some amazing places. I grew up going on a hike up the canyon every Sunday. I would love to have my kids exerience the same thing.

This is a rocky crag above Donner Lake. Probably one of my favorite spots in Tahoe. 

Ronan heard water so we explored til we found this little mountain stream. 

 So the baby loves being in her carrier. You should have seen the jumbling around she got and she slept the whole time. We finished out hike and it was off to dinner at the Smiths. And it was yum. 

Echo Day and a cute baby

Another article Dave wrote for the blog at work

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I have some amazing kids. My oldest daughter Leah is 8 years old and has the wisdom and insight of someone way beyond her years. She's always picked up on things quickly and been keenly tuned into some of the bigger things that life throws at us. Since moving up here at the beginning of the summer we've been able to spend a lot of time outdoors as a family. When Northstar's Vail Resorts Echo Day was announced,  I asked if Leah wanted to join me

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as we cleaned up a part of Martis Creek that needed  some help. She said yes and when the day was upon  us we went out with smiles, rakes and gloves to help  do our part. It was a great chance for me to explain  why we give of our time to help people and places  that the earth needs our help. She totally got it. Ever since then Leah has been very aware of her surroundings. On a recent hike I noticed her picking up trash along the trail and putting it in her pocket. I told her I was proud of her and she said 'we all need to do our part.' She is a special type of kid. She is also now joining the "Eco" team at her school and continues  to remind us to recycle at home. I love that VR Echo  gave me an opportunity to teach and learn with my own  children. It made a difference in the work we did that  day and with a little 8 year old girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. David Ratchford Director of Brand Marketing Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort

Elder Rothart one of the missionaries that served in our area. Just a couple days before he went home after his 2 year mission. We love having them over for dinner.

 A slightly abnormal picture of baby Claire without a bow.

Oh she is one sweet girl. We went to the doctor recently. She weighs 15 1/2 pounds and is in the 50% for height and 25% for weight. Actually she stayed exactly on the growth cart curve which I guess doesn't happen very often. Lately I decided to get her used to sleeping in her crib. Now I can just lay her down in the there and she goes right to sleep. She is such a happy mellow baby.

Alright to those of you who thought I would never blog again. I have updated 17 posts to be exact. And caught you up with a whole summer of adventures in the life of the Ratchfords. I promise to be better and not let it go so long next time. Please check back with us and I promise not to bore you with the same pictures for three months straight. And since I have to have things in order of when they actually happened for journalings sake. You will have to go back to the beginning of June to see all the new ones. I have no excuses except for....new baby....moving...baby who loves to be held....driving everywhere we go....alright I'll stop. No excuses from here on out.

11th Anniversary

On the 23rd Dave and I celebrated our 11th Anniversary. Can't believe the it has been that long. We are just realizing how old we are going to get quick. I told Dave this year. This is as good as it is going to get. I am starting to look old. But I can't think of anyone better to grow old with. We left the kids and went for a kayaking adventure at the lake. Then out to dinner.

The lake is so clear that you can see down for like a mile. It was pretty spooky because there are these huge rocks. A monster could be lurking beneath and you would never know it.