Nerf Mania

I guess it's my fault really ... a few months ago, I was shopping and I found some Nerf Dart Tag sets on clearance. I picked up a couple of boxes, thinking they would be good to have on hand for birthday gifts. They stayed in the gift closet for most of the summer ... then Landon stumbled on them. He bought them from me, opened them up and ... Nerf mania began ...

That first day, Landon's playmates were Colton and his buddies. Then when Callahan and Keaton returned home, I think it was probably just a day later before the boys talked me into taking them to the store so they could spend their money on more Nerf guns ... and it happened to be birthday time for Cooper, Keaton and Landon too ...

The hallway downstairs has become a battlezone ... the boys set up barricades (a card table, Callahan's old science fair tri-fold, etc) ... it makes it quite hard to get to J&G's gym, even if there isn't a game going on (it's almost impossible when they are in the middle of a battle, and they often aren't good at not shooting the mommy!). And several boys sweating in such a small space? It get's pretty stinky!

Sometimes the Nerf Wars move outdoors ...

Friends and neighbors join in

Can you say crazy?!

The boys have been watching several funny Nerf videos on YouTube as well ... here's one of their favorites ...

Crash at Columbia

Yesterday, Colton and I had just returned from a trip to the grocery store. I was unloading when the phone rang. It was a nice, sunshiney day, so I really wasn't expecting a call from Cooper, but there it was, with him sobbing in the background. But it wasn't the office, it was my neighbor Shari (who was there prepping for the school carnival) ... and it wasn't a weather worry ... it was a plane crash!

It was a small plane, no real damage to the school (although as you can see in the picture above it was SO close to hitting it). No explosion or fire. No one on the ground was hurt, although the sixth graders were out to recess at the time and did witness the plane going down. The pilot was killed on impact.

I had a message from Keaton (they were having the kids contact parents to let them know they they were ok). Cooper's stress was more about how I was going to pick him up, as both parking lots were being roped off and no one was being allowed over on the South end of the school (which is where I usually pick up the kids). I did go in early to check Cooper out of school, as we had an appointment that we would be rushing to, even without any pickup delays.

While everything was calm and controlled, picking him up was still a bit of an ordeal. With police cars and emergency vehicles everywhere, cones in front of the school (prepping a place for the buses to park) I went ahead and left the car in the neighborhood on the other side of Bangerter Highway and the walked the rest of the way to the school. We had to show our identification, and only authorized people (who had been listed on the emergency release forms) were allowed to check students out. Once you were cleared, someone from the school went into the building (the checkout station was situated about 50 feet out, on the edge of the school grounds) to collect the student and bring him out.

As the school year starts, and parents are inundated with paperwork, I often gloss over some of the many forms that need to be filled out. But in an emergency situation, all the rules are followed to the letter. So it IS wise to take some time and put down the names of family members or friends and neighbors that, if there was an emergency, and you couldn't get to the school yourself, would be able to pick up your kids if needed... that's something I learned at school today.

Updated ... a few more close crashes over the years. Here's an article.

Pretty Piggies

It's a fairly new indulgence for me ... a pedicure. It started a few years ago, and it's not something I keep up constantly, but I love having a pretty paint job on my tootsies. I do like the pedicure itself, the soaking of the feet and the massage is relaxing (just stopping for an hour is nice) but mainly, I like the after effects. I always get the French tip painted on, and I certainly don't mind having smoother skin, removal of calluses, etc. Just looking down at my toes after a pedicure makes me smile ...

Bugged!

Grayson works up in Davis county ... as he commutes on Legacy Highway, often his truck windshield comes back coated with bugs! As we've driven up to Maga's house, I've heard them hit and seen the suburban covered in bug guts as well. The other day, Grayson took an afternoon run on one of the Davis trails ... and HE became covered in bugs too! All those little black dots? Bugs! He took a picture to share with me ... and I share with you ...

For the Birds

As you come into our neighborhood, you cross a canal. For several years now, a family of ducks has nested along it's banks. I think the ducks have always stuck around, but this year, they have really made a home for themselves right on the banks. We look for them every time we pass by, and we almost always see them there. I think many people have been feeding them, as they seem to have "expectations" when people walk by. Landon said as he would come home from school, they would come right up to him. One Sunday morning, we decided to go feed the ducks ... (picture above is in the Spring .... photos below are of the grown up ducklings).

Grayson can always get them to eat right out of his hand ...

Great Expectations ...

Landon walked backward along the canal path

All the ducks followed

Even Cooper came!

I've picked up some bread at the day old store

and we've been back a few times.

It's fun to have the ducks so close.

They are lucky ducks ... and fat ones!

SO Funny!

See Callahan

Callahan is Laughing

Callahan thinks he is SO funny

He locked Mom out of the car ... again.

It happens EVERY time ... if Callahan is in the car and I am not, he will lock me out ... and then he will laugh and laugh and laugh. Then he will unlock and relock it, seeing who is faster, if I'm able to get the door open before it locks again. If he wins, he will laugh and laugh again. As crazy as it makes me sometimes, it is hard not to laugh. Even after 100 times ...

Landon decided to be SO funny the other day too. We had gone to the store and I had him return the shopping cart while I started to back out. He walks back ... slams into the car and falls onto the ground. He was quite convincing, I'm sure many people around thought I had hit him... until he got up laughing. Again, it was hard not to laugh. Landon, like Callahan, has now started to pull this trick over and over again (I'm a little afraid one of these days he's going to actually get hurt in the process though, that would not be so funny).

I pull my own trick on these two boys. When we get home from school carpools, they have to come from the passenger side of the car, around up to the door to the house ... and I start closing the garage door on them (there is NO room behind the car once the door comes down, so they could conceivably be trapped). Landon has become quite adept at hopping over the the little safety laser light and ducking down, getting onto the other side of the garage ... Callahan still needs a little work (he trips the laser which makes the door go back up) ... but I think I'll keep pushing the little button and watching them scramble while I laugh and laugh and laugh ... I'm SO funny!

Baptism Day

In the midst of birthday week, was baptism day ... it was not only Cooper's baptism, but also my niece Taylee's baptim. Her's was in the morning hours, so we headed out for that first thing, then came home to prepare for Cooper's baptism which wasn't until the afternoon.

We kept the program within the immediate family ... Landon and Callahan gave the talks, Colton did a poem and Keaton played "I am a Child of God" on bells. We had everyone over to the house after where we had the chocolate fountain set up. Cute Cooper ... Eight years old.

Birthday Week

September 5th is the birthday of my brother Chris ... it was also the due date (very often, appropriately "labor" day) of three of my boys (Landon, Keaton and Cooper). None of them actually landed on that date, but with three birthdays so close together, it does make for a crazy week (well, a little over a week). This year, we started even earlier, with a Blackham Birthday bash at Maga's house on August 21, where we celebrated the three boys, and Aunt Courtney's birthday. Sam's Club didn't have our traditional chocolate cake in stock, so we had to settle for the white buttercream.

Cooper's actual birthday is August 28 ...

we DID get the chocolate cake this time.

Eight years old!

The next day (Monday) we invited a few friends and had a little party at Fun n Motion. We went as soon as school was out, and the kids (all except Cooper) lasted until closing!

Lots of lasers!

In the photo above, the flash is off ...

In the photo below, the flash is on ...

The boys got gifts (Keaton wanted to have a party with TWENTY friends, so he would get twenty presents) and Maga showed up too.

... and of course, more cake (oreo ice cream cake!)

Keaton's actual birthday was on Wednesday (Aug31).

Mom made lemon jello cake.

Eleven years old!

You may notice both Cooper and Keaton wearing a basketball jersey in their birthday photo ... yes, they each got one as a birthday gift.

Landon's birthday is September 7th, SIXTEEN years old. How did that happen? Chocolate cake again, if you look at other birthday posts, you'll see the chocolate cake from SamsClub is a family favorite! But I think we've had enough cake for a while!

I've compiled a photo album of each of the birthday boys, from baby to current birthday. Here are the links ...

Cooper

Keaton

Landon

Happy Birthdays Blackham boys!

Wall Art

The other night, I came outside to tell Colton it was time to come in ... and this is what I found ... little artists, BIG artwork. We've lived at this house for over 15 years, and while there was been plenty of sidewalk chalk on the sidewalk, this was the first time the kids had taken their artwork vertical.

I thought it was pretty funny ...

there is Colton proudly pointing out his name ...

Now THIS "artwork" ... permanent black marker on the kitchen wall ... I wasn't so pleased with it! I asked Colton about it, he said "I didn't think anyone would notice". I noticed. :(

This is on our coffee table/chest ...

at least he's not trying to hide WHO did it!

Paracord Passion

Back in May, I did a post about PARACORD ... and since then, the passion for paracord has only continued to increase. All the boys are crazy about it. Pictured above is just a small sampling of some of the weave variations you can create. From left to right, they are ...

• Trilobite Bar
• KBK
• T-Virus
• Backbone
• Cobra
• Ladder Strap
• Single Half-Hitch
• River Bar
• Zipper Sinnet
• Larcks
• Double Half-Hitch
• Ripcord
• Tire Tread
• Rattler
• Tire Track
• Snake Belly Bar

If you want to see step-by-step instructions on how to make any particular weave, just search "TIAT" (TyingItAllTogether) on YouTube. That's where my boys got their info. These videos are playing almost constantly at our house!

Paracord has become so popular, it surprising it's still rather difficult to locate. If you can make the trek, Smith&Edwards seems to be the best place to purchase (both in quantity, selection and price). Gray and the boys have made several trips, and have gone ahead and bought the entire spool of several colors (see below). Yes ... that's a lot of paracord.

As you can see in the first photo, the kids now prefer buckles to simple knots on the ends. We found the best price for buckles was on Ebay. Gray is constantly finding new and better tools (for cutting and heating the cord) to make the creative process easier and better.

The boys almost always have a paracord bracelet on their arm ... I tease Landon that he has one to match all his clothes. If you glance back at the Back to School post, you'll see a paracord bracelet on the arm of each of the older boys. Older photos, and photos yet to come will be showing off a plethora of paracord as well I'm sure.

Back to School

The Blackham Boys at Back to School Night

Summer is over, it's time to go back to school! I could have done portions of this post several weeks ago, as the "back to school" situation has been spread out over several weeks. I just figured I'd wait until EVERYONE was back to school then do ONE post to catch you up :)

I have three kids in elementary school this year ... my Columbia kids. Back to School night was July 20 (that's SUMMERTIME). It was a simple affair this year, simply going and meeting the teachers, seeing the classroom and getting a treat. Cooper was a bit disappointed, because LAST year they had big inflatables and games and such (he and I went while the rest of the family was in Seattle). I was ok with the simple version of "Back to School" night, and there will be an upcoming carnival to fulfill Cooper's expectations.

The Columbia kids (being year round) were the first to go back to school, although being on "D" track, they had a few more weeks than kids on A,B or C ... Keaton is starting 5th grade, Cooper is going into 2nd. Colton, being in kindergarten, started a week later than his brothers, but he did have his kindergarten evaluation that first day too.

Colton was so disappointed that he had to stay home that first week (although Callahan and Landon were still around to help keep him occupied). Then the big day came ... love this last look back... (I remember Landon game me a similar look. His photo is here. You can also compare/contrast Cooper coming OUT on his first day here ... out of all the shirts in the closet, what were the chances they would both choose the EXACT same one!).

The first couple weeks of school have been pretty rough for Cooper though. I was hoping that with the return to routine and the structure of school, his weather worries would fade ... but they haven't. They've gotten worse. It's a phobia. The first day of school I did stop in at the office to let the women there know about his fears (if he showed up there crying or complaining of being "sick"). I also stopped and talked to the school psychologist. I did get a call the first day and went in, but we did get him to finish the day. There have been a lot of calls, a lot of tears, I've had to bring him home a couple of times, and once spent an hour sitting in the back of the classroom ... and we're only on week three ...

After quite a bit of rearranging, I've worked out a carpool so I only have to pick up after school. I have a car FULL of boys on the way home!

Callahan is starting 7th grade at West Hills Middle School ... no one else in the neighborhood is going there, but he's got several of his best buddies from basketball, and he says he's seen several more kids he knows. He seems to be making the transition just fine!

Landon is now in 10th grade at West Jordan High School. The middle school he went to (Elkridge) splits into FOUR different high schools, so his friends are heading in all different directions. He was happy to report that he did have at least one friend in most of his classes. There is a bus ... but it picks up the kids an entire HOUR early. He's been able to snag a ride to school (which is good, as it starts at exactly the same time as Callahan's school does, but is in the opposite direction!), but instead of taking the bus home ... he's decided to walk (it's got to be 2.5 miles!) We'll see how long that lasts when the winter weather kicks in.

As for ME? I love the return to the routine. We've adapted to getting up earlier again without too much trouble (I had been a little worried). So we're signing all the disclosures and paperwork that comes with the beginning of the year. Setting up a homework station and trying to get into good habits for reading and bedtime. And for three hours Mon-Thurs (two hours on Fri) ... I am ALONE ... and that's ok *Ü*