Olympics-Ratcliffe style

This was family night tonight. Play this song as you scroll through the pictures. Just to get you in the mood.

Team USA (the boys)

Team The Pinks (the girls)

First event: The Hurdles. Verdict: Boys won

She struggles a bit under pressure.

Second Event: Equestrian. Verdict: The Boys. (Rylee didn't even make it on my back.)

Rylee needing a little pep talk from dad

Third Event: Discus Throw. The Verdict: The Girls (well it was a little rigged. We are teaching Cade how to lose and handle it well.)

He takes compeition very seriously.  

Rylee was not exactly on cloud 9 tonight

Fourth: Swimming (the rug was the pool).Verdict: The Girls

Fifth: Volleyball (except in our version you just had to catch the ball 5 times). Verdict: The Boys

Medal Ceremony

Team USA: Gold

Team The Pinks: Silver

 Cade was really proud. He asked if he could keep his medal forever.

Our Little Beach

This is what the kids call it. Our Little Beach. The Tuttle Creek State Park is close by and they have some swimming and fishing areas on the Tuttle Creek Lake. It is nothing more than low quality sand and questionable water but it is perfect for the kids. It makes for a pretty fun family day at the "beach".

Cole and I had a little raft we used to float down the Provo river when we were engaged. It has sat in storage ever since. So it was fun to pull out and use. It was such a novelty to Cade. Rylee was less than impressed.

This summer has been so nice with Cole's schedule being so flexible. I am getting spoiled with how much time he has been able to be at home. I almost feel guilty (until I remember how many other times I am essentially a single parent due to his insanely busy schedule!) We have done some fun family things as well as make some good head way on reorganizing and rearranging the house. It has been wonderful! I am afraid the fall schedule is going to come with full force! I am just enjoying it as much as I can now before it is gone.

4th of July

We had a fun Fourth. Cole and I did some deep cleaning of the house and then we did fun stuff in the evening. (It was the same thing as last year but the kids love it!) They jumped in the moon walks, rode on a firetruck and on a train.  We were all very festive and wore red, white, and blue.

 Cade and Cole are racing in this one.  If you look carefully you can see how happy Cade's face is. He loves to race.

Cade won ;)

Then we went to a friend's house to watch fireworks. I was pretty sure Cade was going to hate it since he is pretty sensitive to sound. But he did great and even was brave enough to take his hands off his ears towards the end. Rylee liked the lights and it didn't seem to effect her otherwise. She was just happy to go around sitting on everyone's laps!

Rylee did go to just about everyone and sat on their laps. Parents and kids alike.

It is neat to be able to live in an area close to a military base and see some of the sacrifices people make to defend our country. Some are sad, some inspiring, and most just make me very, very grateful. 



My birthday

I am posting just so I can document the fact that I turned 27. Birthdays are starting to get less fun. I am way to close to 30. But anyway, it was fun besides the fact that me and the kids were sick. I got lots of love and calls from family and friends. So I guess that is one good thing about getting older. Shanna and I got each other the same thing. Which happens to go along with the identical swim suits we received from our mom (because after individually searching for suits online we happen to love the same one). Go figure.

Here is the cake Cade and Cole made for me. Rylee loved the candles. Cade is really nervous that there is going to be a fire. Thanks Cade.