3/16/2009

Michael Pascua

Jon gets to spend quality time with Cara, while Kate brings the kids to a Sesame Street concert.

This episode basically divides between Jon plus one and Kate plus seven. Jon decided to make a father-daughter trip with Cara in Utah. She was excited about skiing the last time. Kate was planning on going to Sesame Street Live while Jon and Cara were out. Before that, Mady had to have her braces adjusted. The family decided not to put the whole brace situation on camera since they never knew how Mady would react.

Jon had a long trip planned for Cara, skiing, bobsledding and tubing. Bonnie was Cara's instructor. Bonnie wonders what it would be like to have eight children to instruct, but was grateful that she could teach one. Cara turned out being a natural. She found it fun the whole day. Cooper, a snowboard pro, had some encouragement for Cara and hung around with the two. Cara even knew to weave around. Jon drags Cara around by the sticks.

Kate prepares food for the dogs. She warns them not to be naughty for the sitter. They look at her confused. The kids, except for Mady are excited. Mady throws a tantrum in front of Kate when she didn't brush her teeth.

*The Canyons*. Cara got a little homesick. Jon didn't know if she would call home or not. They eventually called the next day and she was doing good. After a few skis it was hot chocolate time.

The sextuplets are dragged into the van. Kate lifts all the kids, including Mady who screams at her mother because she's old enough to get in the van herself. She accidentally hops into the passenger side.

Back on the mountains, Cara continues to go down the hills. Although the situation is fun, Jon suggests going sledding next.

When Kate gets to the stadium, all of the kids were asleep in the van. She worried that all the kids would be cranky or tired. She has to wake up all the kids, since she couldn't make multiple trips. Of all the children, Hannah had a meltdown, she basically wanted to be held. Kate had to focus on getting all the kids inside the theater.

Kate was excited that the family got a box seat so the kids could be able to run around a little bit. Mady is worried about Cara, but Kate reassures her that the family is doing well.

Jon and Cara decide to go bobsledding. Cara wasn't going to ride, just watch, because she didn't reach the height requirements. Pat Brown was the driver, he was better known as John Candy's character in *Cool Runnings*. Jon gets an intense orientation class. They warn about bruises, what happens when the bobsled flips, and how to position oneself.

The sextuplets are excited to see the Sesame Street show. Luckily, the box allowed the kids to shift focus whenever they had to. By the end, the kids got a little tired and walked up and down the stairs.

While Jon preps for the bobsled, the producers ask Cara if she was tall enough if she'd ride. She'd do it in a heartbeat. Jon's sled is pushed out and he exclaimed that it's bumpier than one would expect. The camera makes it look like it was a smooth ride, but he got jostled around. Jon forgot to breathe from the downward forces and holding in a position. The ride finishes smoothly. Jon feels a little lightheaded.

Jon and Cara decided to go to a tube park next. It turns out that Jon worked at a tube park during his high school years. They pick two tubes and head to the top of the hill. She's a little nervous at first, but she's excited by the lift. The two slide down together, and with at least one slide down with the cameraman. Cara enjoyed it a lot and never got out of the tube. After ten hours of activities they are tired.

The little boys talk about the monsters a little bit and one suggests that the fire truck walked which he found was funny. The kids were ready to go home, but before they left they got to see the characters. They all ran and hugged the monsters. Mady, was a little hesitant and wasn't as excited. Kate thinks all the kids as well. Alexis was really excited about her "boyfriend" Elmo. One boy asks why Cookie Monster's eyes are like that.

Jon was really happy he spent time with Cara. The two definitely bonded. He hopes that they could do this again, possibly next year.