Grandma's Pirate Party

Grandma Bolander was ready for the boys to come and have their first fitting for their Halloween Costumes. She had discovered Pirate O's recently and decided it would be fun to have a pirate party for the fitting. She bought a package of Pirate band-aids that the kids used as patches.

She bought a couple of interesting pirate drinks

and to finish the party she had everyone try a tasty cricket for dessert.

The kids were not sure at first. Josh was not going to try it at all, but Grandpa talked him into just trying a leg. After that he decided it was not so bad and ate the rest. I think Joe gagged on his a little, but in the end they all liked it.

The costumes are looking fantastic. I can't wait to see them finished.

The Late Night

Joe had been wanting to invite some friends over to play night games in our yard. I told him last weekend that I thought Friday would be great for that. Then the weather turned and I realized that Friday was going to be cold, and maybe a little wet. So I told Joe we had to have a change of plans. Now instead of inviting anyone he wanted to come play outside, he needed to narrow it down to no more than 4 friends, who could come over for a late night, where we would play indoor games.

Joe thought that sounded great too, I told him to only invite three or four kids, because any more than that would make it hard to find games to play, and I didn't want things to get too crazy. Joe knew right away who he wanted to have come and started inviting them. I got busy looking for games that 6 boys (Josh of course was going to be in on the late night too.) would have fun playing. I really considered just having a movie, but Joe wanted games.

Friday night arrived and the late night began. We started off with just having the boys play with Lego's. I put out a few goodies (mini candy bars and popcorn) and the night was starting off nice. When the Lego building started to slow down, I brought out the first game. Being October we decided to have a mummy race. I divided the boys into two teams. One boy was the mummy and the other two boys on the team had to wrap them in toilet paper. The first team to run out of toilet paper wins. The boys loved this. At the end of the game the two mummy's ripped themselves out of the toilet paper. I asked the boys if they would pick it up and put it in the trash. They picked it up all right, and then the toilet paper fight began. Before too long there was toilet paper everywhere, and the boys were having a great time.

When the toilet paper throwing starting getting too crazy we put it all in the trash. Then we went for a calmer game and started playing Apples to Apples. We ended the night with a good old fashioned game of charades. Which somehow ended in a big wrestling match.

I am still not quite sure how that happened.

It was a great late night, and all of the boys had lots of fun. I am sure we will have a few more of these, but for some of them I think we will watch a movie...........Although I have a feeling that could end in a wrestling match too.

Out Of Her Comfort Zone - Killer Bees

When the time arrived to sign Emily up for Fall Softball, I found myself with a dilemma. We liked the girls Emily had been playing with for the last four to seven seasons, but we also felt like Emily had been at somewhat of a standstill when it came to her progress in the game.

The way the league had been set up in the past there were two age groups. When Emily turned 11 she was supposed to move up to the older age group. I was really excited about her getting to play with older girls who would push her a little bit more. But when it came time to register we found out that they had now divided the league into three age groups. Putting Emily towards the oldest of the middle age group. The last two seasons we had her play in this age group. By the end of the last season I was a little frustrated that it was pretty much the same as playing in the younger age group, with not much development for Emily.

So this season I told Emily that I thought we should bump her up into the next age bracket just to give it a try. We talked about how this move might mean she will not get to play her favorite position as catcher, and she may spend a lot of time in the outfield, but in the end playing with the older girls would help her become a better player. She agreed. So this fall Emily played in the 15 and under league.

When I say 15 that means the girl was 15 as of January first. The fall season being in September meant some of the girls were 16. I took her to her first practice. I was a little intimidated by her new team. Most of the girls on her team were 15 and 16. A couple had played on the school teams, but there were also a couple of girls who had never played before. Her coach asked Emily what positions she likes to play. She told him catcher and 2nd base. So he had her try them out at practice.

After the practice Emily was really excited about playing. I asked her if she felt okay playing with the older girls. She told me it would be fine, and she didn't fell intimidated at all, because she knows what she is doing, and there were a couple of girls at practice who had never played before.

The coach must have liked what he saw in Emily, because she got to play catcher for at least two innings at every game. When she was not playing catcher he rotated her to 2nd base or outfield.



Moving her up to the older group turned out to be just what Emily needed. She really sharpened her skills this season. Her coach was very positive, and also really great at telling Emily how she could improve.
The girls on her team were great too. They made sure Emily felt like part of the team. It was a fun season to watch. We won a few games and lost a few, but the girls were all into playing, and that made the games really fun to watch.

Smores, Friends, and Cecret Lake

Last Summer we went with a group of friends up to Cecret Lake, and then stopped at the camp ground to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. We wanted to do that again this year, but with the campground and hike opening so late this year we were having a hard time getting it in. Monday the kids were out of school, so we decided to head up there for lunch.

I was surprised to see how much lower the lake was in just the few weeks between our hikes. We could see all of our favorite rocks again, and the waterfall was gone........so I guess that is why I never noticed it before.

The kids were glad to be there with their friends. This is Joe with his friend cooper.

This is Valerie's little friend Addie. WE decided to pack a picnic lunch to eat at the lake, because we were not sure if the campground would be open, so we didn't want to risk not being able to cook our hot dogs.

The campground was closed, but after reading all of the signs at the campground we decided to go ahead and build a fire. After we got it going some Alta canyon people drove by in their truck, but they just waved and drove on.

So the roasting began.

and the eating.

Red Cheetahs - T-Ball

This fall Josh signed up for t-ball. T-ball is one of my favorite little league sports to watch. It is more like having practice instead of an actual game, and the kids all seem to just have fun. They also don't quite understand the rules yet, and occasionally do something entertaining. Like when one of Josh's team mates, after hitting the ball and running to first base, went to the dugout to get a drink from his water bottle, because he was thirsty.

Josh's coach is really great, and tries really hard to encourage the kids, and make sure they are learning. He has them each take turns at the different positions. After every batter they rotate to a base, or to the pitchers mound. That way they all get a chance to get the ball and throw it.

Josh signed up for t-ball mainly because that is what Joe did after soccer, but unlike Joe, Josh likes to have as many people as he can come and watch and cheer for him.

I know he really likes t-ball, because he is always excited to go.

He is doing great at it too.

Utah State Fair

Last weekend we headed to the State fair.

It is so fun to see all of the exhibits. Some of them make me wonder what exactly the categories are. Emily and Joe liked this dragon made out of metal pieces. A lot of them looked like they came off of bikes.

Valerie loved this picture of the pink chicken. Because it is pink that means it is hers. Even now as I type this she is telling me "Oh that's my chicken!"

Another favorite part of the fair is the really yummy, heart attack waiting to happen, treats .

The boys enjoyed fried cheese on a stick.

Grandma and Emily shared a plate of fried potatoes.

And we all had ourselves a scone......mine was stuffed with cream cheese, and it was very tasty.

After seeing all the crafts, animals, and other things on display, the kids ended the night with a couple of rides.

It was no surprise that Valerie loved the rides too.

While the kids were waiting in line for one of their rides Grandpa took Valerie on the Merry-go-round over, and over, and over again.

She loved having him for a ride buddy.

The final ride of the night was the big yellow slide. Emily, Joe, and Josh were not quite sure if they would like it, but Grandma asked them to give it a try.

They loved it so much, they declared it "The Best Ride Ever," and wanted to go for a second time.

Valerie talked Grandpa into taking her on it too.

I think the kids would have gone on it over and over again if we would have let them, but it was time to head home.

Valerie was not happy to leave. She wanted to keep sliding on the slide.

As always it was a great time at the fair.

Labor Day

This summer, our bike riding adventures were few and far between. The spring and early summer were cold and wet, and with the high river waters, our favorite bike trail was under water in many places. By the time the water receded, the weather was too hot for the kids.

Ryan and I went on a few rides together, including a 24 mile ride on the Legacy parkway, but the kids opted to stay home.

Now that it is Labor Day the family bike ride was a must do activity. So we loaded our bikes and headed to the trail.

The Family bike ride is not complete without Grandma,

And Grandpa. They add to the fun of the trail.

Valerie still does pretty well in the cart, but she really liked getting out and running around the park.

Ryan and Emily are the top riders of the group, and usually take off at some point and ride a little further than the rest of us. This is usually no big deal, except this year, the trail was still flooded at the stopping point for the rest of us, and I did not like watching my daughter sprint across 12300 south with her bike, because they could not go under the bridge.

She thought it was great though.

It was fun spending Labor Day together doing something we all enjoy.