Falling Back to Bouncing

During the summers, we have stayed busy bouncing at Jump N Bounce. If you follow this blog, you've probably seen many pictures and posts about it. But it's generally a summer thing. It's a little pricey without the month-pass deal (which we only really have time to take advantage of during the summer). But this fall ... we did get back to bouncing a couple of times.

Keaton REALLY wanted to go to Airborne. It's a bit further away (in Draper) and even more expensive than Jump N Bounce. $20 for an hour of play! We went on Tuesday, and got a 2xTuesday deal ($20 for 2 hours ... which is about how long it takes the kids to wear themselves out). It was a bit of a birthday gift for Keaton (but Cooper's birthday is right around then too). We took our neighbor Jacob, and the four boys had a great time. It's got trampolines, foam pits, and obstacle course ...

Then, The DiFran family came to town! Yea, we LOVE the DiFran family. We used to spend so much time hanging with them (at Jump and other places) until they moved to California. As they came in town for a bit, we got together ... where else but Jump N Bounce, just like days past. Our little neighbor Ambree came also (so Mara wouldn't be the only girl). It was so fun to see them again.

Not sure when the next bouncing will be ....

Fall Fun

 We do not have a single tree in our yard (after Landon cut down the peach tree which had died. Chop Chop). But that doesn't mean we don't have leaves. The backyard neighbors have BIG trees which do drop quite a few leaves in our yard.   While the kids were out of school for Fall Recess, they went out to rake up the leaves.

Unfortunately, we couldn't find a rake. I came out and found one. Keaton wanted a "leaf" rake, which I could not find (although I know we had one once). The boys ended up using snow shovels to gather the leaves into a pile. Then they buried Keaton in the pile.

That wasn't enough to keep them entertained for too long though. Funny how we can get through an entire summer, but a couple days off once school has started up and the kids are "bored" without a specific activity. I pulled out some "Bloonies" and that entertained them for a while too.

I'm glad Fall Break is short!

OT Activities & DiFran Family Fun

It feels like the kids were JUST off track (it was back in Oct/Nov), but the long Christmas break feels like off-track time. We go back in January for just two weeks (even less, with our boys getting sick) and then it's out of school AGAIN. But I have to say, I have never enjoyed an off-track time more. We filled it with FUN and the DiFrancesco Family!

I'd run into Kiana and kids a few years ago as we volunteered in the Columbia classrooms. It was mostly in Cooper's (her son Marc was in the same class). We also figured out that her son Tony was in Keaton's class and that they were good buddies. Then we happened to get Colton and Mara on the same soccer team (and they are now in the same kindergarten class).  It was last year (Spring Off-Track) when we got together for our first playdate at the park. The kids got along so well (and Kiana and I enjoyed chatting) so we continued to get together  from then on. 

Last summer we hit Jump N Bounce a LOT ... and we did it again this off-track time. I'm always watching for the specials offering a month pass for $25. It's such a great deal and we really made the most of it. I think we went six times during this off-track. But it wasn't the only fun place frequented ...

I had also picked up some coupons to Fun N Motion ... Laser Tag and Laser Maze. Another fun day with friends. There are also arcade games there, but I try to tell the kids to save their arcade play for someplace like ... NickelMania ...

Keaton said he actually enjoyed NickelMania more the Fun N Motion, so next off-track we might try to hit it more than once. Look at all those tickets (they actually got about as many at Fun N Motion too). I'm never sure if the kids are actually playing games, or just trying to get tickets! They always love redeeming them for the penny prizes. 

We also invited the DiFran family over for breakfast one morning. I made french toast and then the kids played for a couple of hours. We'll definitely be doing that again too. 

Of course, off-track time is also a good time for various appointments and such, without having to pull the kids out of school. So both Cooper and Colton had visits to the dentist (and they both did SO great) and Cooper had a followup with the pediatrician.

Back to school on Monday ... back to the routine!

Ping Pong PUNISHMENT

 

The ping pong table continues to be popular at the Blackham home. A regular game scores to 21. The boys also play "consecutive" which one person wins if they can score five points in a row (it's actually hard to do). Then of course, there is "around the world" where multiple players rotate quickly around the table. It's a favorite game ... and to it the boys add "PUNISHMENT" ... which means if you miss, one of the other players gets to try and pelt you with a ball. Now you would think a ping pong ball wouldn't inflict much damage, but these boys hit it HARD. They are ecstatic when it leaves a mark ...

Callahan's back after a game of "punishment" ping pong.

Fun?

Off-Track Activities

Off-track time ... in the past, we've always done bowling, but enough schools have gone back to the traditional schedule that there just wasn't enough demand this year. Bowling was not even offered. I worried that the kids might go stir-crazy, but then I realized this off-track time was different ... no Callahan! Callahan was the one who needed scheduled activities. With him still in school, the other three boys were pretty content to stay home and relax.

A month or so ago, Groupon offered a deal for Chuck-E-Cheese, so we did go there one day. We had the place almost to ourselves (one of the few benefits of being out of school during the school year) and the boys had a blast.

They played lots of games,

got lots of tickets,

redeemed them for prizes ...

Got pizza and drinks and had a great time!

We also redeemed a Groupon for a month pass at Jump N' Bounce, and although we went a few times, we didn't make use of it as much as we did during the summer months (we were regulars then!). We also had some doctor and dentist appointments ...

and then it's Back to School again ...

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 ...

Bouncing Buddies

Not five minutes from our house, is a warehouse of inflatable fun. It's called Jump 'N Bounce. Last Spring, we bought a Groupon ($25 for a family month pass) and used it while the boys were off track ... Unfortunately, when Cooper broke his arm (playing soccer, not bouncing ... although Landon DID break his arm at this very location several years ago), it did impact our getting in very often (we still made it a few times). We found that bouncing is MUCH more fun with friends, so when Groupon offered the coupon dealio again, I talked a couple other families into buying a family pass as well. So summer was FULL of bouncing with buddies!

The Blackham Boys and the Gunderson Gang

(and Travis)

Callahan's best basketball buddy has two little brothers, not exactly the same ages and Cooper and Colton, but pretty dang close. This summer was actually the first time the little ones played together, but Colton was thrilled. He said "I made a new friend and he's just my size" ...

The Blackham Boys and the DiFrancesco Family

I'm trying to remember how many times we went jumping with these guys ... at least five times I think, and the kids still didn't get tired of each other (and I enjoyed chatting with their mom each time). We had multiple playdates after our bouncing sessions as well. I think the DiFrancesco's sweat as much as the Blackham boys!

The Blackham Boys and R&R

In the Spring, I had mentioned taking R&R with us ... then Cooper broke his arm. I didn't figure Ridley would want to go bouncing if Cooper couldn't. Now that the arm was better, I followed up on my promise and we had another day of bouncing with buddies (this day was CROWDED) ...

It was a Jumping July... we certainly made the most of our month pass!

Laser Land

I'm always on the lookout for fun things for the kids to do, especially to keep busy during the summer months. I had noticed a flyer for a new play place called Fun 'n Motion which was opening up very close by (90th South and 40th West). It had bouncy houses ... but Jump'nBounce has a lot more. It had arcade games, but NickelMania or even the arcade at bowling had more ... BUT it was unique in that it had Laser Tag and a Laser Maze. These two activities made this place an instant favorite for the older kids (I think the young ones would actually like it too, but it is a bit pricey, and when the little ones didn't ask, I didn't push them to try it). I think the place has been open about a month, we hit it on Monday just to check it out, as Groupon was offering a deal ($11 for an all day pass) and I wanted to see if we should purchase it. We went with a coupon giving us a pizza, a pitcher of soda and 100 tokens for $20. Then I paid for a game of laser tag and laser maze for Landon and Keaton (Callahan had left that morning for scout camp). They liked it ... a LOT!

As Keaton and Landon had the laser activities, I let the little ones use most of the tokens ... it's amazing how quickly kids can go through 100 tokens! Cooper was pretty happy about hitting the jackpot in a couple of the games and winning quite a few tickets. The boys love collecting tickets and redeeming them for prizes.

We got a pizza, and all the boys said it was yummy. Landon and Keaton wanted to do more laser tag ... Landon really wanted Cooper and Colton to try it, but at $6 a game, well ... I shut it down for the day and we went home and bought the Groupon. I wanted to wait a week (for Callahan to be able to go too), but Landon and Keaton were too anxious to try it again ... we went back the next day (well, I just dropped the two older boys off). Unlimited laser tag and laser maze. They lasted a few hours and got in several games of each. With the maze, they keep a record of the top 10 times (three levels, Rookie, Veteran, Elite) since the place opened. They also keep a video loop of the kids with the fastest times. Keaton was so excited because he had placed in the top 10 for the higher levels, and was holding the first place spot on the rookie level! He completed the challenge in just 13 seconds! He wanted to get a picture and video (before somebody broke his record) ... so we actually went back AGAIN that day with camera in hand, but I was glad for the pictures and video to make a muvee of his accomplishment!

I bought four unlimited passes on my Groupon account, and four more on Grayson's account. So after using two today, the three older boys can go back a couple more times. We look forward to introducing Callahan to the place. The little boys want to go back too. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for more coupon deals!

Inflatable Fun

Being a holiday weekend, we didn't have any basketball games on Saturday ... but we kept busy! Cooper had a birthday party in the morning, and in the evening, we were invited over to our friends, the DiFrancesco's. They had also had a birthday party (for a cousin) in their backyard, and still had a big inflatable obstacle course. The boys had a lot of fun jumping and bouncing and just being crazy!

Look at that perfect flying form!

Relaxing as he falls ...

I took a lot of pictures and video and put together a muvee ...

With all that crazy jumping, we only had a couple minor body burns, and two bloody noses ... not too bad for bouncy Blackham boys and our DiFrancesco friends! Thanks again for having us over!

Off Track Activities

Bowling Boys

Off track ... this Spring it was for FOUR weeks! But we kept busy. Of course there was off-track bowling. The Blackham Boys ALWAYS go bowling when they are off track. I'm not sure how many years we've been doing it now, but it's been several. In addition to the three Blackham Boys, we took friends Travis, Ryland and Ridley. For Cooper, it was broken arm bowling AGAIN (he's getting good at his bowling left handed). This will be Callahan's LAST time participating in the off-track bowling as he will be going to middle school next year (but Colton is looking forward to joining his older brothers ... he did get to go with them on the first day as his preschool had a break).

Park Play

We also went to the park to play. Again, we took friends Travis and Jacob, and met friends Mara, Marc and Tony there. It was wonderful weather, not too hot, and not too crowded.

Inflatable Fun

And then there was Jump and Bounce (previously "JumpingJacks ... we hadn't been since it changed ownership and we were surprised at all the changes). I had purchased a Groupon for a month pass a while back, and thought this off-track time would be the perfect time to redeem it. We went the first week the kids were off track and the boys had a blast. We planned to go several more times ... then Cooper broke his arm :(

We did still make a couple more trips in ... once taking Travis (above), another time taking Jacob and Bailey (pictured below). Even Landon went ... he's not in the picture below because he is an ornery teenager and doesn't always obey his mommy, especially when it comes to cameras. Just FYI ... when we went a couple years ago, Landon broke HIS arm jumping off one of the large inflatables. This was the first time Landon had gone back... luckily, without incident.

We also went once in the evening, meeting friends Mara, Marc and Tony there... it was less crowded than during the day, which was surprising to me. Our month pass still has a week left, so hopefully we'll get in one more visit after school hours.

Cooper still went with us after he broke his arm. He was a good sport, and sat waiting with Mom in the lounge. I brought books, puzzles, Ipods, etc. to help entertain (yes, in the picture above he's playing a game on one Ipod touch while a movie is playing on another one). To reward him for his patience, Mom and Cooper went out to lunch at Golden Corral, one of Cooper's favorite spots ... although I think he'd be happy with just the dessert bar (just the ice cream in fact!).

So, we probably would have done a little more during the off-track time, if we didn't have the broken arm to deal with. I did drop off the older boys (plus Ryland and Travis) at Nicklemania one day. We thought about a movie, but that didn't materialize. The kids were pretty happy just playing and hanging out. The Wii got a workout, and the basketball hoop was in fairly constant use. And while the boys are great kids and I don't mind having them around, it will be nice to get back to school and back to a routine to finish up the year. I just hope we can get up in the mornings after sleeping in!

Super Saturday

We had a BUSY Saturday! The day started with ...

• Garage Sales. A few neighbors were having garage sales and the boys would run over, look around, and come back with TREASURES ... they spent some money, but lots of stuff was given to them "for free" ... such nice neighbors! *Ü*
• Water Parties. In the late morning, Cooper (and Colton) went to a kindergarten water party and Keaton had a water party with his baseball team. I walked the little boys to their party (it was in the neighborhood). There were slides, pools and water guns. They had some water balloons but couldn't keep up with the demand, filling them one at a time at the kitchen sink. I ran home and grabbed Grayson's WATER BALLOON FILLER (I'll have to do a post on it!) which has seven spigots and we still had trouble keeping the kids busy with balloons. I had to leave a little bit early to get to ...
• Callahan's Basketball Game. Summer season has started. We blew away the team last week and were expecting a fairly easy game today ... but the boys had to earn it! They pulled ahead early, but then got into foul trouble and the other team caught up and even pulled ahead. The kids did manage to get the win. I jogged five miles while watching the game from the track above. We came home for a bit and then it was time for ...
• The Neighborhood Carnival. We walked to the park at 4:00, right when the activities first started. There was a dunk tank, and my boys were the first to get wet. There was a fishing pond, gunny sack races, face painting, cars and motorcycles, apple bobbing, a tractor pull and a pie eating contest. Lots of fun for everyone. I DID bring the camera and photos are below. We had to leave a little early again, because I had purchased tickets to ...
• The Demolition Derby. There is a demolition derby at the West Jordan rodeo grounds every year. We hadn't ever gone before. We left the little ones with a babysitter and went to check it out. It was great fun watching the cars CRASH into each other, almost tipping over, blowing tires and having to be carried off the field with a forklift. I didn't bring enough water and the boys were DYING of thirst, but it was a very fun evening ... the end of a very fun, very full day.

Colton getting ready to throw the ball (above) ... Landon getting dunked (below)

The boys enjoying a snowcone after getting dunked ...

gunny sack races (above) and the tractor pull (below)

The pie eating contest ...