Part 2 of our Memorial Weekend

So I am slow is posting this. I would have thought with having some time off this last week I would have been current but with such nice weather I chose not to stay indoors.

We went to my dad's grave on Sunday night. It had been raining all day at around 4 it actually gotten sunny and then around 7 when we were leaving to meet up with my family it was gray and ugly. After we paid our respects to my dad we hopped in the car and it started to rain. Then it poured the rest of the evening. I am so glad it was at least not wet while we were at my dad's. I sure do miss him!

Cole took it upon himself to make sure the graves had the American flag
My mom and 3 of her granddaughters
My cute mom . . . I would like to think my dad is standing there next to her I know she misses him so much!
Hanging out with the dogs. . . they love the water!
For lunch we headed to the local 7-11 for what I am sure was a very nutritious lunch. We packed it to the nearest park, sat on a bench and just enjoyed being outside and together!
Then we headed up to Brett's parents house. Maddy was busy picking flowers for her grandmother to put on the graves.
Cole busy being employed mowing the lawn. He is such a good lawnmower and has become very particular in doing so now!
Brett's family at his grandparents graves. We don't have many pictures of just the 4 of them so I thought we would take the opportunity to get one.
At Brett's other grandparents grave. This cemetery is so old it has the really cool headstones all over which are fun to read! I love all the flowers on the graves as well the cemeteries are so prettty this time of year.
Then the part I had been looking forward to all weekend. We went to Nielsen's for a concrete. YUM!!! I love this place and could eat there often. Not the cheapest ice-cream but oh- so worth it.
Enjoying. . .
YUMMY
Delicious . . .
You know it's good when it is all over your face :)

First half of our Memorial Weekend

Brett and I went and saw Angels & Demons the other night. I had really enjoyed the book much better than Da Vinci Code so I have really been looking forward to this movie. I wont say I was disappointed I enjoyed the movie but I really don't like when they change things around to fit a movie. We enjoy spending time together so our family went to see Night at the Museum yesterday. The movie was good there were some good laughs but we did expect more. The lady next to us was really enjoying it. . . her laugh was so annoying I wanted to muzzle her :)

After the movie we just wandered around Jordan Landing and ended up at Old Navy (which always disappoints me), Barnes and Noble and Famous Dave's for dinner. As Cole is so busy working on training his dog we made a stop at Sportsman's Warehouse for some more advance training material. All in all we had a great day- no where in particular to be and able to just do what ever we want to this weekend.

Teaching the little dog some new tricks!

Last weekend we took Spade out for a swim. . .

Cole had to throw her in at first but after that getting her into the water was not a problem (as long as there were feathers involved).

She is a good swimmer


I am afraid that when she goes hunting she may end up eating the birds instead of retrieving them. Ummm . . . tasty, tasty!

Cole loves his little girl!

Cole's Run in with the LAW. . .

Cole got pulled over. . . . while on foot. He must have bionic legs and was speed walking too fast for the cop.

Here is Cole's story:

So I am walking down the street on my way to the High school for a baseball game, I have my baseball bag with all my gear on my back. I pass by a church and notice a cop sitting in the parking lot but didn't think much of it and continued on my way. Got a little farther up the street when all of a sudden I heard the siren pulled up next to me. I was a little startled and wasn't quite sure what was happening. I was on foot. The cop asked me for a street pass lucky I had had my street pass delivered in 3rd to me. I gave it to him and asked what I had done wrong, he said your out of school a little early aren't you I said, yes but I have that street pass, yes well we will see about that so he looks it over for like 2 minutes and says to me well it looks real you think the story would end right there wrong!!! I failed to mention he had to take a call from someone and told me to hold on so I sat there for 5 minutes, finally he got off the phone and said well it looks real but I'm going to call the school, so i over heard his conversation and he says to the lady up front is a Cole Ratcliffe excused from school? The lady says yes and he hangs up, well he looks at me and says, they say your excused and your street pass looks real sarcastically he says so I'm going to let you go. Gee thanks officer, no problem son where you headed? Over to the High school. Oh ya, what you got up there? Baseball game. OK and he drives off and I continue on my way.

Race for the Cure 2009

On Saturday we went downtown to participate in the Race for the Cure. What a moving experience. I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check. I know several ladies who are survivors and I am grateful they are, but being there brought reality of so many who have not survived. This picture was in the Deseret News on Sunday and Madison is right there in the middle with the pink bandanna.
We walked with a team from my neighborhood "Carla's Chemosabes" Jenifer was just diagnosed a few months ago and currently undergoing chemo. She is the one in the cute hat and her sister is next to her who shaved her head to match Jenifer. Out of 625 teams her team was the 10th in donations.

Madison and Harly among the throngs of people - 18,000 of them

The family after our walk

More of Harly and Maddy - These two have hung out off an on since they were little so it meant more to Madison that we were walking for Harly's Aunt! They walked arm in arm the whole 3+ miles. It was fun for them to have each other!

Spade sporting her support with her pink. She is becoming a walker for any cure, she just wants everyone to healthy and be free of all disease!

We really enjoyed walking among so many amazing women. They have incredibly strong spirits to get through all they have endured. It's obvious they have very supportive family and friends to help them through as well. Very humbling experience!

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Brett, Cole and I went and saw this movie last weekend and I must say I was not as impressed at the boys were. There were some funny parts but I had seen most of them on previews. The thing that bugged me the most was ALL the sexual content. It might make it worse that Cole gets what they are talking about but I just felt there was too much talk about sex in the movie. Matthew was as always great to look at and his accent is darling, Jennifer was good as well. Overall, not one I will see again.

More Stupid people. . .

Yesterday us ladies at work were headed out for lunch having a great time and laughing as usual when we pulled into our parking stall when Tanya all of a sudden says "oh my gosh you guys" (now in my head I am thinking did we leave someone behind?) then she quickly points out that there is a baby in the car in front of us. At first I thought it was a doll because of how wide open it's eyes but no we had a little one left alone in a vehicle. Kamie quickly checked the car doors to find them all locked and the windows rolled up completely. Immediately she called the police. Now mind you we had 2 pregnant ladies with us and the rest of us are mom's. As some of us were entering the fast food restaurant we had a gentleman hold the door open for us now mind you he had a toddler and a baby in carrier. Interesting how simple he made it look and yet we had just seen a baby locked in a car. When we got in we figured out real quick which lady was the mother we thought so we watched her. She was in no hurry to get out to her car but we figured it was her since she kept looking out at the car where the rest of us were waiting for the police. I do not know how much time went by but it felt like we had to wait in line longer than usual. Finally this lady we thought went out to the car and was super rude to the ladies out there. Thanked them rudely for turning her in to which Kamie kindly let her know she was welcome and that you don't leave your child in the car. She drove off in a hurry but I am sure the police caught up with her at some point they had all the info they needed. Seriously people who does this. When we got back in the car we commented that it was stuffy and warm already and we had only been out of the car for 20 mins or so. You just never know what could happen and she should have been grateful people care. Way to go Kamie and Tanya, I work with very caring people and I am fortunate to work with them.

Better late than never Part 2

We had a family reunion at the park while Steve and his family were here. We started the day off with going and feeding the ducks. Everyone had fun except for when the rats (not me) would run out and steal the bread. Eww, yucky rodents!

Then off to the park for some super fun games. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard. My older sister was the funniest in her potato sack. Sorry no pictures of that we got it on video which is even better!

More relays and then off to a wicked game of kick ball! For some it was the first time playing and for others it was the first time playing in many years but everyone got the hang of it and had a great time! There were kites for flying as well.

What a great day at the park. Spending time with those we love is so much fun. Getting sunburned was not in the plan but boy did we get fried.

To end our time together we attended the temple together. I sure miss my brother and his family, loved every minute we were able to spend with them!

Family Reunion - Better late than never! PART 1

Yes I have been really slow at getting these posted. My little brother and his family came into town a few weeks ago which was wonderful. It has been way to long since we have seen the kids!

So here are our adventures from that time. . .

I had a nephew report home on his mission so we all headed to church and then to my sisters for a fabulous dinner!

Shortly after everyone was done eating at Cindy's we hurried over to my mom's for the annual Easter egg hunt.

We spent Monday with the kids at Hollywood Connection and then they came out to our house the next evening for little O's birthday and a little Wii playing. Kirsty (my sis-in-law) told Owen we were going to celebrate his birthday and he asked if we were having cake for him. He has this birthday thing all figured out! I think he enjoys blowing out the candles.

Cole and Owen playing trucks, I miss Cole playing like this

We had a baby shower for a niece as well during the week. Unfortunately we did not get a picture of all of us together, it was the first time all of the girls in my family have been in the same state for years.