Cornbelly's

We all headed to Thanksgiving Point- CORNBELLY'S!

After jumping on the jumping pillows and watching the pig races, we moved to the pedal bikes.

Grandpa helped Jackson until he figured it out, and Blake gave Chase some rides.

After that was a cow train ride, a haunted lizard, and a hayride.

Then it was over to the slides. Laura took Chase the first time to show him the ropes.

He caught on quick and did it all by himself from then on.

up the stairs, down the slide, up the stairs, down the slide, up the stairs, down the slide...

He must have done it fifty times- He loved it! Finally, he face planted at the bottom one time so we decided to move on to the next adventure.

A pretty competitive game of dodgeball broke out. Jackson kept getting nailed right in the face, but he'd keep going out. Grandpa was in there knocking down as many little boys as he could.

They completely buried Blake in the corn with just one little hole for his nostrils. After playing in the corn, we did duck races and played on the playground.

"If you have some time, then have some fun- CORNBELLY'S"

Jackson went around for the next couple of weeks singing this catchy tune. He loves the shirt Grandma got him there.

This is my little corn-fed belly!

We went through the kids maze and got lost, but on the way found lots of fun corn for the kids. The bigger kids stayed and went through the real corn maze with Grandma and Grandpa that night.

I was so impressed with my Mom and Dad. They were playing with all the kids and totally keeping up. I'm so grateful to have young parents. From rides, to dodgeball to mazes- they did it all!

The giant rocking chair was a perfect photo opt.

What a fun FALL day with my family!

Aquarium Visit

Straight from the party we headed to our next adventure- The Aquarium.

The kids loved looking at the fish. One of Chase's words is "fishy" so he was excited.

Blake steering the boat.

Audrey and Jackson exploring a deep dark cave. It won't bite Audrey!

The highlight for most of the kids was petting the stingrays... except Jackson. He didn't "want to die" from touching them. Audrey's CTR ring came off in the water while going for one, so that brought a few tears. But a nice boy reached in and got it for her.

Jackson liked crawling through the caves.

Benson, Luke, Chase, and Jackson would have watched the sharks for an hour straight if we would have let them. Chase would get SO excited every time one would swim by.

Erica and Laura have year passes to this place so they invited us along. We had BLAST!

Fall Break- 2009

This time I drove to Utah with all of the kids, but still minus Matt. First item of business was to go watch Tyler's Football game. Tyler is an awesome little player with a lot of fight in him. Clark is his coach so he allowed Blake to have a "sideline pass". He even let Blake come to their practices. Thanks Clark!!

The little guys wanted in on the action too. Cooper taught Jackson and Luke the proper football stance, and they had their own little game going on .

It was so funny, they didn't even have a ball. They were just pretending. They would just run and tackle each other and then do it all again.

Chase playing peek-a-boo with Laura. Nice pants Ferfie:)

Blake watched Tyler's game so intently and would cheer him on each play! Of course they won. GO LEHI!

Next item of business was to head to Provo. We had a little time to kill so I took the kids first to my dad's duplex where I lived after my freshman year. 1934 N. Someone was moving out that day so the door was open. I asked if we could come in. They didn't care, of course, so I showed Blake and Audrey around. There were a lot of updates since I've been there but some of the stuff was exactly the same. Like the fake wood laminate table and chairs, which was actually mine as a kid, and the old, beat up piano. I showed them my bedroom and told them the story of how Matt proposed to me there... against honor code!!! oops.

Then we headed to Snow Hall which is where I lived my Freshman year. We didn't go in to that apartment- it's a BOY dorm now but still Lucky #13. I have a few pictures on this same ledge with my roomies- Good times!!!

Denise's Wedding

Next item of busines (and the reason why we drove up early) was to attend Denise's (Matt's cousin) wedding. So I'd been telling Jackson and the kids that we were going to get to go to another temple. When we pulled up, I said, "we're here!". Jackson looked out the window and exclaimed, "That's not a temple... That's a giant CAKE!" I love that kid.

We got to see Cindy and Audrey met little Cylie. (Blake and I actually met her when we were in Utah earlier- we did a surprise drop by after the football/soccer game and visited with Mom and Dad who were visiting. Another fun surprise story from that weekend.)

Denise looked so beautiful. Her dress was exquisite! Craig was also on cloud nine. He looked like he'd just won the lottery... You actually won much more than that. Congrats. you two.

Jackson playing with "his friend". Uncle Howard lets Jackson hang all over him once again.

What a beautiful day- totally worth the trip to see all of Matt's family, even without Matt.
We love them all!

Chase's first Motorcycle Ride

Chase was a little hesitant, but caught on quick and LOVED Grandpa's motorcycle ride. The line of kids was long, and they were all grand kids, but Grandpa gave everyone a ride or two... or three.

Visit to LOGAN

Next item of business was to head North. Jen goes to Utah State, so we wanted to see her place, spend more time with her, and check out her "friends":) We even went to work with her. She takes pictures at the mall and she's good! Connor got his pictures taken and we fit in a little shopping as well.

Next we went to her intramural volleyball game. This was serious stuff- the semi's. Jennifer got some major air and they pulled off a win! Way to play Ferf!

Her apartment was SO nice. She has her own room with a walk-in closet and attached bathroom. It's decorated all cute and coordinated. She's a princess and she knows it.

We love hanging out with the girls. But Jen had homework and we had tired boys so we had to call it a night. (Somehow Benson, Andrew and Connor didn't make it in this picture)
GO AGGIES!!

Cadence's Birthday Party

We lucked out and got invited to Cadence's birthday party and Jumpin' Jacks! Boy did the kids have a blast!

The kids could have jumped for 10 more hours! Happy Birthday Cadence!

Sam was being so cute with the kids.

Chase was VERY hesitant at first but I made him get on and after testing it slowly, he got the hang of it.

Audrey was right by his side, playing and watching out for him. She loves him and he loves her right back.

At the end, the kids got an awesome goody bag with Jungle toys. Jackson couldn't believe he got a cougar since that's what he wants to be for Halloween and Chase surprisingly didn't want to take his off. I looked back in my rear view mirror after driving home and he was sitting back there with it still on. He went around the next couple of days growling at everybody. Thanks Sam and Jessie- it was so fun playing with you guys!

Surprise Trip to Utah!

.My Mom surprised Blake for an early birthday weekend trip to his dream destination...Utah. I picked Blake up from school early, telling him he had a Doctors appointment. In the car, I was briefing him on the shots he needed and that one needed to be given in his bottom. Boy was he squirming. Asking all sorts of questions about why, how, and WHERE??? I had just recently gottten a tetnus shot and it hurt for about 2 weeks and Blake new this. He was very nervous. So to calm him down, I told him that Grandma Jones had been given a similar shot and she could tell him about it. We called Grandma and she informed him that he wasn't driving to the Doctor, but instead he was driving to the airport to fly to Utah. He couldn't believe it. He, Chase and I all flew up together. There were a few more reasons we came...
Reason # 1: Erica had just had her birthday. When we got there, my mom made sure Erica was at the house. I called her and starting talking. Asking about her birthday and such. Then I said, "oh, I never told you what I got you for your birthday" and she said, "no! don't tell me!" and then I said, "Okay, I'll just show you." and I walked around the corner and gave her a huge hug. Super fun surprise!!

reason #2: Grandparents day at Tyler, Zach and Cooper's school so we all got to visit and Blake got to hang out with Tyler and his friends. What a beautiful school!!

reason # 3: Evan wanted to see "little fat guy"

reason # 4: My mom wanted me to compete in the 2nd Annual True Grit Triathlon. First, as just the running leg for our family team and then she decided she wanted me to do the whole thing. Mind you, this is a last minute trip so I had not been training for a Triathlon. But she got the tickets for us to come so I'm at her mercy to do what she wants. I just about drowned swimming because I couldn't breathe (altitude- right?) and almost got lost on the bike I borrowed from the Shoells. But on the run, I was motivated by beating my old neighbor Mikey Hammer who was wearing his Ute shirt. So I finished strong- I even caught Jen in her cute 'skapriz'.

reason#5: I hadn't seen little Connor yet and couldn't wait to meet him. Luke and Benson love visitors as well and played so cute with Chase.

BYU Baby!

Reason #6 (or should I say #1): BYU Football game!! Need I say more. Green grass, fall leaves, crisp air, sun shining, mountain backdrop, blue and white everywhere and excitement in the air.

BYU vs. Colorado State- GO COUGS! Before the game Grandma and Grandpa let us go to the Cougar Den in place of them. We didn't stay too long because Blake was dying to see BYU warming up. He's a freak I tell you.

Mom, Dad, Ferf, me, Kimball, Erica, Benson, Blake, Tyler, Zach and Coop
all were able to sit somewhat close together.

A huge highlight of the whole trip was to see Paul and Brig sporting blue and white. Little Brigham was so cute and excited to be there- you guys look good in BLUE!

I caved and bought Blake a helmet, uniform and ball at halftime. You should see this kid's face! He was so excited- I couldn't say no. It is his birthday present and Halloween costume.

We even got a surprise visit from Cosmo! How could this day get any better?

Thanks Kimball!! Nice hook-up.

After the football game we visited the new Athletic building before going to the Women's soccer game. We found Grandpa Watts' picture of course.

...and a few other BYU greats. What an AWESOME day. Blake just had a permanent grin!

When we were walking to the football game and entering in through the ticket gate, Blake said to me, "Mom, someday I won't be coming to the game through these gates..." Keep dreaming big Blake! You make mom smile!