Cornbelly's VIP Night

It's fall time, which means it's Cornbelly's time again!!!! We bought our season passes weeks ago and are so excited for the VIP night. On that night, only people with season passes can come. It's still pretty crowded, but nothing like during the regular season when pass holders as well as everyone else can come. We have attended with the Shapiro family for the last couple of years, so, we are calling it a tradition. We started out in the big tires - with the kiddos rolling them from inside in a race to see who could finish the fastest.

Next, we climbed the big slide and the kiddos rode down on potato sacks (or some kind of sacks). We were waiting a long time with the kiddos at the top and ready. Then, the people working the slide came down bit by bit, spraying something on the slide and wiping it with one of the sacks. Yep - I guess they got it nice and greased up because, after that, our kiddos FLEW down the slide, hitting each bump harder than the one before. Reagan's hair was in the air more than it was down :)

The video on this one did not disappoint:

As soon as they were done with the slide, they wanted to crawl in this thing called the Rat Maze. Basically, you crawl into this thing and go up or down through it to come out the other side. At one point, there are windows so we can see them. Steve, who happens to be claustrophobic, thinks they are insane to even want to go in there. Oh well, as long as we don't have to go in....

Once they were done going through the Rat Maze a couple of times, the zip line was open. They were weighed, harnessed up and they headed over to the zip line tower. Cole came down first and then the girls came down. They were laughing and smiling. The end of the zip line had quite a kickback - whoa!

This is another one where I had to include video:



Once we were done with the zip line, we headed over to climb some hay bales and slide down them. Next, we hit those big, pillow things in the ground.

Steve and I were talking that our kiddos have loved these since they were babies. I seriously remember bringing Cole here in a stroller with him drinking a bottle. They were itty bitty and we've loved the different parts of Cornbellys ever since.

After playing on the swings and taking a few pics in covered wagons, we made our way to the Apple Shooting Guns. This is Steve's and Vic's favorite attraction. They love to shoot those guns and make a mess. Reagan and Cole enjoy it too. The guns are pretty heavy, so, Cole has to get whatever leverage he can to move those things around.

Another little video:

When we were done shooting apples, we climbed on some spider webs and played some huge pool game.

Then, it was time for the bull riding. Steve and Vic both commented that they hurt their neck or back or hip or something last year, so, they were out. Andrea joined the kiddos and rode. They had a great time until the bull bucked them off.

Reagan rode for a bit and then was bucked off. Cole hung in there a bit longer, but eventually, the bull sent him sailing.

This is one that I HAD to include video because Cole cracks me up.



After riding the bull, the kiddos went into this place to have a sort of volleyball game with this huge, plastic ball. For some reason, Reagan and Cole love to stand in the middle of the two sides and help one side or another. I think it isn't playing the game right and may even venture into cheating, but if none of the other kids in there cares, I'm not sure why I do :)

After that, we bought some drinks and some grilled corn on the cob ... yum! Then, we waited for the Candy Cannon to shoot stuff into the air. Steve, having learned from last year, positioned himself just right and scooped up candy for all of our kiddos. I just laughed at watching everyone strategize where to be to collect the candy. Since the presidential debate is on tonight, the Shapiros left after that. We stayed (figuring we had the debate on DVR anyway) and hit Cole's Corral. This is also one of our kiddos favorites. They pair up into teams and shoot each other with ping pong type balls from an air gun. They have a great time and I love watching them play.

Yep - another great night at Cornbelly's. VIP Night did not disappoint. We'll be back for sure this season!!!!

More Lost Teeth

Cole lost another tooth. We realized that he had never put his last tooth under his pillow. So, he doubled up (and was double paid) this time.

Reagan lost a tooth the same day. She always writes the nicest notes to the Tooth Fairy.

Once again - both kiddos asked the Tooth Fairy to leave their tooth with them and to put glitter on the money. (I think the glitter just happens since the Tooth Fairy is covered in glitter. However, at our house, that means it is "special money" and neither Reagan nor Cole will spend it :) )

The Rivalry

Our friends, the Shapiros, came over to play in the yard one day. Well, Andrea was out of town, so we just had Sophia and Vic. The kiddos headed outside to the trampoline and we were invited outside to sit on blankets, eat snacks and watch "The Rivalry". 

Apparently, The Rivalry is a competition between all three of them to see whom can do the best tricks, be the most creative or have the best routine on the trampoline. We - as the spectators - get to be the judges. There was a whiteboard and everything where we were to mark their individual scores.

They did a great job!!!

Each one of them had very interesting, and different, moves that they performed on the trampoline.

We awarded Cole the "Most Athletic", Reagan the "Most Creative" and Sophia the "Most Dramatic" in our judging estimation.

After The Rivalry, the adults went inside to watch the BYU game while the kiddos played at the bottom of the yard.

Thanks Shapiros - we always have fun when you guys are around!

Fall Decor

I LOVE our fall decor. I can't wait - each year - until it is time to put it up. I love the copper pumpkins. I actually found some additional ones this year at White Barn. They were more gold than copper, but I bought three more. Not that I need any more, but I love these and use them every year. I haven't found them for years, so, when I saw them, I snatched them up :)

I don't think we added anything else new this year. I did get some extra of the luminaries with the pumpkins on them. Last fall was the first season that I found them and I had only bought a few. So, I added to our collection this year.

This year, I stayed downstairs and unpacked item by item from our fall storage boxes. I handed each item to Cole and told him where to put them. He was amazing. He would run up the stairs, place that item and run back down the stairs.

Steve helped me put the items above the cabinets, but much of the rest of the decor was Cole's doing. I loved having his help.

I have loved the fall being up, but am SUPER excited for the Halloween decor. Yay!

A Beautiful Night in the Yard

It's another beautiful, fall evening in our yard. The colors are popping on the mountain (although I don't think they are as vibrant as past years) and it is cooling down. The kiddos are jumping on the trampoline, playing football and running around. 

Cole has turned out to have quite the football arm. Steve pushes him to practice to be more accurate and to throw farther.

Both of the kiddos love jumping from the rocks to the trampoline. This mama doesn't exactly like that. Truly, I hold my breath each time they jump. I guess it is all part of being a kid.

Reagan doesn't do as many tricks on the trampoline as Cole, but she likes to have music playing and to jump and spin and do cartwheels. I'm not sure you can even hear the music she has playing in the video below.

Yep - we LOVE this yard. It is perfect for us to play in during these gorgeous, fall evenings.

Wolf Badge - Check!!

Cole has been in cub scouts for almost a year now. They don't hold scouts during the summer and the last week of the month is when they hold pack meeting. So, our last pack meeting was in June.

They always have a lesson or a message at pack meeting. This time, they had a firefighter come and talk with them about fire safety. He showed them his gear and Cole was chosen to put on his pants and suspenders .... they were SO heavy.

After the lesson, they handed out the awards. Since Cole will be moving up to the Bear den after his birthday, we knew we had to pass off some requirements to help him earn his Wolf badge.

We worked really hard and passed off WAY more than what was required. He was awarded his Wolf badge and pinned it on my necklace next to the Bobcat badge.

He also earned a TON of belt loops for his extra work. The scoutmaster just kept reading badge after badge, after badge.

Cole was super excited (can you tell from the pictures?) and we were so proud of him for working hard and earning all of those belt loops as well as his wolf badge.

Now, he will join the Bear den when he turns 9 next month. He is excited since many of his friends have already advanced to Bears.

Keep up the good work, Cole! We are so proud of you!

A Belt Test for Practice

So, it's time for another belt test at our karate studio. However, Reagan and Cole have earned all of their belts prior to the black belt. The black belt can only be earned at a tournament and the tournament isn't until November. So, in their efforts to fully prepare themselves for the black belt test in a couple of months, they participated in our studio Ban Bu test just for practice. During these last three months - they have really improved their skills.

Both of them have CRAZY high kicks when they want to.

Their forms are longer and more complicated, but they have memorized them and they perform them well.

Their power karate is coming along well.

They are learning more self-defense techniques and are now defending against guns and knives.

They are getting better at sparring - especially at doing different things to keep their opponent guessing.

In Black Belt Training, they have been working with short sticks.

In Black Belt Leadership, they have been working with kamas.

They continue to work on their acrobatics and Cole continues in Demo Team.

There is always something new they are learning or trying or improving.

The (practice) belt test went well and they are getting more and more prepared for their black belt test.

Next up - the tournament and black belts.... gulp!

Fishing Sibs

Steve and some of his sibs headed up to the Uintas to go fishing.

They went up to Pass Lake and fished from the shore.

They caught tons of fish and had a great time!!!!

It's great when they have a chance to get together as sibs - I'm glad they went.

That's Confidence!!!!

So, Cole decided to show Daddy some of his grappling moves from karate. Apparently, he temporarily forgot that Daddy wrestled in high school and college. Within a few seconds, he was wrapped up with his feet by his face and his arms tangled up. Worried, I asked if he could breathe. Cole replied "Don't worry Mom - I've got him right where I want him!!!" Um....... alrighty then ... go get him Cole!!!!!

Happy 13th Anniversary!!!!!

It was our 13th Anniversary. It fell on a weekend, though, and we didn't want to get a babysitter and leave Reagan and Cole, so, we decided to wait and spend the day together when they were at school.

We drove up to Brighton and were going to walk around Silver Lake but it was unbelievably crowded - like busses bringing people in and dropping them off - crazy!

So, we kept climbing up the canyon - to Guardsman's Pass. We looked down at where Steve had crashed a car over the edge when he was much younger. We talked and we planned and we reminisced.

We decided to take a walk down to a little lake. We encountered a few people along the way, but not many. We sat on a big rock and just talked for a long time.

We heard dogs coming our way and decided it was time to move on. A big dog ran through the water and ran right up to us and jumped up on me. I was wearing white pants - now they were white pants with big brown paw marks all up the front of them. His owner walked up behind him as I was trying to wipe off the dirt and mud. "Oh - sorry." she said as she proceeded to ask us where the 2nd lake was. Seriously!?! I know we aren't exactly pet lovers, but if I had a pet and it jumped all over someone - ruining their pants - I think I would be apologizing profusely and not just as a precursor to my question. Ugh! So, we moved on and went around the lake. It was a perfect day - sort of cool, blue skies, gorgeous lake in these beautiful mountains. Plus, I was with my love, so, it just doesn't get better than that for an anniversary celebration. :)

We will have to bring Reagan and Cole down here to this lake - it is so pretty. As we left and started driving, we saw an eagle (Steve's favorite bird and symbol) sitting in a tree. It was so cool.

Thirteen years - whoa. We've had our share of challenges and trials, but we have an amazing, wonderful life with our babies. Here's to 13 more Steve - I love you more than words can say.