Colossal Cave

While visiting my sister's, we ventured over to Colossal Cave. It was really cool. We all anticipated it was going to be cold in the cave, and boy were we wrong. Sweatshirts stayed tied around our waist. Jackson asked a ton of questions. There were steep stairs that had the kids on edge a bit, but everyone handled them well. Hands stayed held the entire time because there are significant drops next to the edges that we definitely did not want to experience. My sister wins the prize, as Denae was not having the tour so she ended up nursing the entire time. Yay for dark spaces and the back of the line!

It's always a success when you get ALL the cousins looking somewhat in the same direction at the same time...

The boys were excited to have a "boys car" and a "girls car." So the boys all rode with me, and the girls with my sister and her hubby. Listening to the boys chatter the whole way there and back was just a riot. The things they say!!!!

Cousin crew

Kids and I had Columbus Day off this year, so we headed out to my sister's house for the weekend. Jackson and Addison were sooo excited to play with their cousins, and from what my sister said, Parker and Bennett were equally as excited. We got there mid-afternoon on Saturday and immediately had to do the Earring Reward. The kiddos had a lot of fun hanging out, playing inside and out and just being. They built houses with the blocks, played in their treehouse and shot some high flying things into the sky (and the neighbors backyard). Addie held ice to her ears on and off all weekend (I am so glad we don't have to do that again). We can't wait to visit again!!

Earning earrings

Over the summer, we set a goal with Addison. Reading was not a strength of hers, in fact she despised it. We spent the summer going back and forth from Sylvan so she could strengthen not only her reading, but also her confidence. It was the best decision we could have made. Her attitude and ability going into school this year is night and day compared to years past. Even when she found out that all of her friends from her class last year were in a different class, she stayed positive. Addie decided she wanted to earn getting her ears pierced as a reward for her hard work. We told her that at the end of the summer, if she achieved her goals set through Sylvan, we would do that. So we did. But, holy cow.

This is my daughter who HATES needles. We ended up doing it while visiting my sister. Thankfully, we were able to have both ears pierced at once. If this wasn't possible, she would have walked out with only one pierced. She wasn't so sure when she was sitting in the chair. Then she asked me to sit with her, so of course I did. I even told her over and over that we didn't have to do this. But she kept saying she wanted to. So I held her and they pierced.

After the trauma, she was happy with them! She got to pick out a few earrings to buy also because part of the fun of earrings is changing them. She has taken great care of them, and we had NO infections!!! She and Bennett played all the way home, smiling and laughing...the way it should be!

Farm fun

We got to spend some time at a close friend's farm at the beginning of October. It was a two fold visit. Jackson had to get his pen ready for his 4-H goat, and Addie got to spend some time with the horses that she REALLY wants to ride. Growing up in the city, my "animal" exposure has always been to cats and dogs, plus those that live in small cages. This farm thing is still relatively new, even though we've lived here 14 years mow. But let me tell you, there is something most definitely calming when we visit. 

Jackson is raising a goat for 4-H this year, so he had to get his pen ready. He had to clean out the shavings and add fresh shavings. This entails also taking the old shavings in the wheelbarrow to the dump spot and dumping them out. I was impressed with his get in and go because he really wanted to jump into the pen with all of her other goats and just stay.

Addie got to walk Midnight over to the horses arena. She loves horses, but surprised herself by getting a little spooked by them. They aren't your "trail" horses that she has ridden before. 

Jackson also got to de-spiderweb his pen to make sure there were no Charlotte's hanging around. (He may or may not have gotten distracted by Pedro, the large male goat in the pen next to his).

While the horses were hanging out in the arena for a bit, Addie hopped into the goat pen and had some fun there.

He is off to dump!!!

Addie was definitely getting a little more comfortable with the horses, and gave them sweet rubs and kisses while they snacked. 

After Jackson dumped the old shavings, he got to hang with the goats. He loves Pedro. Since then, Pedro has been the source of many laughs and educational conversations to say the least. 

The horses were pretty jumpy the day we were out there, and Addie wasn't still sure. So she just got up on Midnight and walked for a bit. It was a new kind of saddle for her which was also different. But she loved being up there. I have no doubt that in the coming months we will be over there a lot and she will get a chance to ride.