Fun With Other Ratchfords

After three days in Preston, we headed down to Layton, Utah to hang out with the Ratchfords.  

Here we are having a "nosh."

It is always crazy when seven little Ratchfords hang out together, but it's chaos of the best kind, especially when Garreth pulls out one of his genius kid-friendly ideas.  (He just never seems to run out of them!)  

Sam continued to wear his cowboy boots...

...and I continued to document it for future blackmailing/prom date embarrassment purposes.

We took the kids to Cherry Hills and had a lot of fun cooling off in that hot and dry Utah sunshine.

This picture just makes me smile every time I see it.  Classic Sam and Declan.

One night we got a babysitter and the grown-ups headed down to Rio Tinto Stadium to see the All-Star game.  The US All-Star team played England's Everton team and it was a great match.  I really love watching soccer, and watching it with 20,000 other people made it even more exciting.

The game ended in a tie, so they kicked penalty kicks to determine the winner (which ended up being Everton).  It was an exciting way to end the game.

We love benefitting from the perks of Davy's job! 

Garreth's sister Elaine, his mom, a very important soccer person, Garreth, Rachel, and me.

Leah and Eva had horse camp while we were there and we got to go over to watch their graduation.  The owner let the kids pet and sit on one of the horses afterwards, which was a big hit.

Cowboy Ronan.

Cowboy Sam.  (Doesn't he look at home on a horse?)

Wee cowboy Declan.

And the Marlboro man.

We also went up to Park City to shop at the outlet stores, and thanks to Rachel's supreme coupon-ing skills, got some great deals and finished most of our school shopping.

Here's Sam in a dressing room.

After a fun-filled three days at Davy's house, we headed back up to Preston for one last day of rodeo festivities.  On the way, we stopped to see our niece Candi's brand-new baby boy, Kellin.   He is so cute, and Candi was very patient as we all ogled over him.

Garreth and Elaine.  

Garreth and Flo.

It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, not knowing when we'll get to see them all again.  We love you guys!  Thanks for everything!