Last Day of School before Halloween

Ava the skeleton girl-age 7

Jake, a.k.a. Jerry Lewis-age 13

These two picked out what they wanted to be for Halloween and dressed up on the last day of school before the big night. Ava had a parade at her school that Eli and I went to and enjoyed seeing all of the cute little kids dressed up. They sure enjoy being someone else for a day don't they?

Crazy hair and sock day 2015

Ava decided to put two ponies in her hair without combing it so it was all snarly looking for her crazy hair day and she put one long sock over her pants and one ankle sock for crazy sock day. She was so excited to show her class:)

Pumpkin carving 2015

Ava

Eli straining to lift his pumpkin to show us his muscles

Jake, who was also taking pictures

Jake showing Eli his picture

Dennis helped Ava, Brad helped Eli, Jake did his own and Mom watched:)

Eli with his pumpkin that Brad carved

Ava with her pumpkin that Dennis carved

Jake

Halloween excitement

Eli, Jake, Ava (Pip)

The kids chose their Halloween costumes and had to model them when we got home. Eli is so proud of his muscles and how fast he can run in this Spiderman costume. Jake wanted to dress as a nerd. The picture is a little blurry but he has tape in the middle of his glasses. And Ava is going as a skeleton girl. On Halloween her face will be painted white with black lips. Brad is going to stay home with me and pass out candy this year. Or maybe he'll go with his friends if they can talk him into it:)

St. George-Fall Break 2015

Ava, Autumn holding Eli, Jake, Grandma, Jesse, and Hunter

Brad and Dillan

Jesse, Jake, and Hunter

Hunter, Jesse, Jake, Ava, Eli, Brad, Dillan (Autumn and Grandma were at the salad bar). We always stop at the Timberline restaurant in Beaver Utah whenever we go to St.George.

Jesse, Jake Autumn, Brad, Dillan, Hunter
Ava

Main Street has lots of art studios and antique shops. Jake, Jesse, Autumn, Ava, Hunter

Jesse, Hunter, Jake

We did lots of swimming, hiking, and looking at antique shops with Grandma. We had such a good time and the kids got to have a mini vacation for their fall break. I am so glad that mom decided 8 kids would be too much for me by myself because it would have been! With Eli still needing naps it was nice that one of us could stay with him and the other could be at the pool with the kids. It really was a fun little vacation!

Loosey Goose!

Ava was doing the "running man" dance at Grandma and Grandpa's house the other day and Grandma tried to do it. Here she is trying to learn how from Dennis.

Couple Lost Gems

Jake had these pictures on his phone. I don't remember what movie we went to but he sure is a cute kid!

Eli with his Charlie (September 2015)

My friend and neighbor, Jen Bryne sent me these pics of our two little boys in her backyard. Eli is always begging to go to Charlie's house. He loves to play and jump on the tramp with him. I believe Charlie just turned 5 so there's a bit of an age difference but they seem to get along just fine. Jen and I were both wishing we could have listened in on this conversation! Sweet little buds!

Midway and Heber 2015

Brad, Jake, Ava and Eli at "The Barn"

Can't break tradition! We go up to Midway to "The Barn" each fall with Grandma Merrill to see their decorations and knick-knacks. We check out "Racehorse Lane" as well. It used to be the cutest little antique store but is now mostly jewelry. Then on we drive to Heber to "Grannies" for a shake or a burger. We love to see Deer Creek and the fall colors. They were pretty muted this year. Just not enough rain and snow this past year!

Donut King

Brad with his two favorites, blueberry cream and coconut cream.

Our neighbors own a food truck called "Art City Donuts" and they opened it up for the neighborhood a few nights ago. Brad and his friends were each going to go get one so I told Brad to bring one back for the rest of us. I didn't realize at the time that they sell mini donuts by the dozen. So Brad came back with 5 baskets full of mini donuts. Flavors like blueberry cream, coconut cream, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, maple, etc., all with fun names. We all had fun taste-testing these interesting little donuts.

Best Buds (2013) ?

Sharing earphones



All dressed up for church


 

I discovered lots of pictures I hadn't seen before that Dennis sent as Downloads to the computer. So I'm going to put a few on here for safe keeping!

Eli Dennis Ralph (random pics of his first two years)

A boy, a dog, and a toilet. He's always been a messer;)

Thing 1 or Thing 2 ?

Climbed out of his T-shirt

Meg and Eli (I think he was almost a year here)

Meg and Eli really enjoying Grandpa's dirt!

So precious!

How I love this boy! I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent him to our family. He adds so much joy and just as much spice to our lives. He is a very active, temperamental little guy but I wouldn't have him any other way!

Ralph Family Get-together at Bear River Lodge (August 2013)

Kayla, Reagan, Whitney, Ava, Brad with Eli, Jason, Zeke



Dennis enjoying a little walk to the river with Ava, Brad, and Eli



Ethan and Jake



Don, Reagan, Ava, Whitney, and Dennis (blue shirt)



Dennis let Brad drive (Mom didn't find out until later)



Jake and the lake



Brad and Dennis



Of course I'm in the kitchen!



Baby Eli is helping me cut up peanut butter cups for the cake.



Riding in the quad with my sweetie!

Brad and Ethan



Baby Eli hot tubing with Daddio



Dennis, Jill, and Deanna



Alexis, Cassidy, Jan (Anita's mother), Jill



Jill, Grandma, Deanna, Anita, me (yeah, I'm that sexy one on the end;)



Don, David, Grandpa, Dennis, and Dale



Dennis and Don went for a run one morning on vacation. Don took a little spill on the slick dust.