Landon O'le

Landon's Spanish class made a little music video ... I guess Landon DID inherit some of my dramatic flair ... who knew? My kid is the one in the hat and mustache!

... and then they did it again ...

Fear Factor!

During the month of September the youth had several "fun" activities ... one week for mutual it was ... Fear Factor! The above picture is Landon in the "Ice Cream Drop" portion of the activity. One kid would lay on the ground holding a cup above their face, while another youth would climb a ladder and drop ice cream ... trying to get it into the cup. There were other gross activities ... one was swallowing a live goldfish. YUCK! But I think the youth were entertained.

Then at the neighborhood park, the kids were given nylon stockings filled with flour ... you can see the results! And a couple weeks before that, it was paintball (below) ... I guess it all keeps the kids coming!

The month culminated in a Court of Honor where Landon received his "Life" ... next up, Eagle.

Family Photos

The family was all in town, so the entire Blackham/Bailey clan got together for a family photo. We went to Wheeler Farm, and although I've been there before, I hadn't really noticed that it has a ton of nice picture places. Of course getting everyone there was the challenge. You should have heard my boys moaning and groaning ... "Why do we have to go take pictures?" "Do we have to smile?" "We have to wear PANTS? It's HOT!" I'd had to run around in the days preceding to locate brown shirts for everyone, the boys did NOT want to wear brown socks and shoes. I brought my own camera and tried to take a few shots of the boys myself ... they were less than cooperative and then the camera battery died. But it is good to have a nice family photo *Ü*

Alarmed *Ü*

Every weekday at about 3:00, we pick up Landon (and company ... carpool) from the middle school. We get home and have just 45 minutes or so before it's time to head to the elementary school to pick up the Columbia Kids Carpool ... during those 45 minutes ... Colton takes off. He's usually fairly close, downstairs, or at one of two neighbor's homes ... but trying to locate him quickly so that we can leave has proved problematic (he's always the last place I look!). So I bought him a watch and set the alarm. Every day at 3:55 the watch starts to beep, and Colton knows he is supposed to come find me because it's time to leave. I'm SO happy to report, it's been a couple of weeks since we first bought the watch, and it's working like a charm!

Games on the Go

While we're out driving in the car, we play many of the usual travel games. The boys have been spotting VW Bugs for as long as I can remember... I do try to discourage the "slug" part of that game (don't the kids hit each other enough?) When Cooper noticed certain little cars carried his name, we started to point out Mini Coopers as well. As the older boys got interested in "cool" cars, they would oooh and ahhh over as we would see them on the road (cool cars being a Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Charger, Corvette, etc.) I have to say I'm pretty good at pointing them out now too *Ü*

I know there are many variations of the "License Plate Game" ... spotting all the letters in alphabetical order, making words from the letters, sighting different states ... Cooper especially LOVES finding plates from different states. The boys also call out patterns in the numbers or letters ... if they are double or triple, or "skippy" (the same number or letter with one number or letter in between).

So if you're ever in the car with us, don't be surprised to hear the kids (or me) calling out "Mustang" or "Skippy Two" or "Look, Texas" ... in fact, the picture at the top I took because I Cooper had fallen asleep during our drive and I happened to have my camera on my lap ... I knew he would be sad if he missed the "Triple O from Idaho" ...

Happy Birthday Landon!

We don't have "friend" birthday parties every year, but we do usually get together with family to celebrate the boy's birthdays. Last Sunday, the Blackham Bunch got together, and this Sunday, it was the Westra side. We celebrated Cooper, Keaton and Landon (as Cooper and Keaton blew out candles last week, we let Landon have the honor this week). We also celebrated cousins Rella and Taylee, and Uncle Chris. The end of August/first week of September is busy for birthdays! Just like last week (and last year), we brought the two yummy cakes (one white buttercream, one chocolate fudge) and like last week, the chocolate cake was almost gone, while there was still half the white cake left. We didn't bring any leftovers home with us this week though (too tempting). Landon's actual birthday was today, and Landon got lots of Facebook birthday wishes. His main gift was making his ownership of Dad's old Iphone official (no service, so basically an Ipod Touch ... Landon had absconded with it when Gray upgraded to the Iphone4). He also got a couple hackysacks, some Silly Bandz, and a UofU backpack. For dinner he requested french dip and of course ... we finished up with MORE cake (this time, an Oreo Ice Cream cake ... yum!). Here's a look back at the last 15 years!

Last but not Least

Colton and his new Buzz Backpack

The Columbia kids started school first, then Landon was off to Elkridge ... and last but NOT least, Colton started preschool. He's back at Ms. Cindy's, where he went last year. This year, it is three hours twice a week (last year it was just two hour days). The preschool is right in the neighborhood, so (weather permitting) Mommy walks Colton there in the stroller. Colton loves school, loves seeing friends and just really does NOT like being home alone with just Mom. I was worried about how he would do, now that Cooper is in school ALL day (instead of the half day kindergarten like last year) and it is tough. As soon as the brothers are gone, Colton wants to check with the two nearby neighbors to play, and if they aren't home ... it isn't good. So I have arranged set playdates four afternoons each week, and that is helping. I think Colton will be very ready for kindergarten next year.