McAllisters: Oct 7, 2008

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Flag Football

The 2008 flag football season came to an end last week. Hubby, the football coach, won't let them play tackle yet (even though the only one who could is #1, but that's his rule) so they live for flag.

#2 trying to avoid any flag handlers.

#2 throwing down field.

#1 running the ball. Notice the tongue pushing against his cheek. He gets that from his dad.

#1 trying to decide his next move.

This is a less than ideal picture taken with my phone (Guess who forgot her camera...again!). #1's team ended up champs in their age division. #2's age doesn't do a tournament but they took 2nd overall. It was a pretty fun season! Thanks to the great coaches, Jamen and Jed who took the time out to coach these boys!!

Capitol Reef Field Trip

Every year the fifth graders take a day trip to Capitol Reef. This year there are so many 5th graders that parents were informed that while they were welcome to come, they would have to drive themselves as there was no room on the bus. I asked #1 if he wanted me to go and he said, "Nah. It's no big deal."
The night before, as I was getting ready to work my night shift, he asked if I would PLEASE go. Luckily, the girls at work helped me out and I was able to get home by 3am and to the elementary by 6:45am.
I was a little worried about driving the hour and a half alone on so little sleep but Kelly offered to drive us both. I have to say, that was a blessing. I had the BEST time riding with her, laughing the whole way there and back. Not to mention, she is the sole reason I am back to blogging. She reminded me of all the wonderful reasons we blog, even though it does take up some time. Thanks, Kell, for a great day, great inspiration, and lots of laughs. (Oh, and thanks for the pictures I stole off your blog since I forgot my camera...AGAIN!)

Kycen, Koy and #1 deciding it's probably not very cool to do the polka. Kelly, being the good friend that she is, didn't get a picture of me doing my rendition of the polka, embarrassing the snot out of these three boys. (Well, maybe she did get a picture but she was kind enough not to post it on her blog!)

Mr. Stewart's class sitting in the first school house in Fruita. The kids were able to go to several workshops and learn various things about early life in Utah. Oddly enough, there was a ceramics class taught by none other than Mr. Andy Watson, my high school ceramics and jewelry teacher.

In an attempt to completely plagiarize Kelly's blog, I want to thank Braxton for letting me come. There won't be many more field trips that I'm invited on and I thoroughly enjoy hanging out with him and his friends. He has the greatest group of friends that crack me up - and luckily - still don't get too embarrassed by my dance moves.

Gooseberry, baby!

For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to live in our area, let me explain Gooseberry (pronounced goooz-berry). Every year the third graders load a bus and head up the canyon to the Gooseberry camp ground for an overnighter. The fact that there aren't rules or laws against this in this day and age is a miracle in itself. The fact that every third grader makes it home alive the next morning is another. Parents are invited (begged) to attend and chaparone their child and a small group of parentless kids (hoodlums).

Here we have Lucas (left), Brodee and #2. They're showing how tough and prepared they are to take on Annie Bangs. Annie Bangs is the ghost of a young girl that died at Gooseberry in the 40's who comes to the third grade camp every year, scaring the holy crap out of the kids. No lie - teenagers come and dress in a red dress and long blonde wig and streak through the camp after the kids all sing songs about her. Right before bed. Again, how this is legal is beyond me. But I pray they never change it. It is HILARIOUS to watch these tough kids hide behind their moms and dads when Annie dashes through the forest. It's a rite of passage that every third grader in the district looks forward to. They get back to school the next day and start scaring the living daylights out of the second graders that will get to go next year.

#2 and I sitting at an ATV class. The majority of the two days at Gooseberry are spent at classes like Stream Ecology, Forestry, ATV Safety, Mapping, Fire Safety, etc. They really learn a lot in two days.

#2 and I lucked out this year. All of the boys usually sleep in a giant rec hall with all the dads. All the girls get smaller cabins they share with their moms. Since moms can't stay with boys in the rec hall, and boys can't sleep with the girls in the cabins, #2 and I stayed with Haley and Brodee in their trailer. We had a blast! The boys zonked at around 10pm and Haley and I stayed up talking. Around 1am #2 sat up and asked,
"Are you two ever gonna shut up?"
At which point Brodee woke up and said,
"Jar, that's why you never go camping with girls!"
At least we're providing good morals at an early age!

As luck would have it, we got rained on almost the entire first day. Add cool mountain temps and you get pretty nippy! Haley, Kenzie, Kamree and I all huddled close to stay warm.

After a successful Annie Bangs encounter, the boys once again show what they're made of in Haley's tub.
Thanks for letting me come, Jar. I had a blast...rain and all!

FiRst dAy oF PrEschOoL!

So technically, this is #3's first day of preschool for the third year in a row. Because he is a summer birthday, we decided to hold him back a year. He's with a new teacher though and enjoying it every bit as much as the first time around. And truthfully...the difference in what he's grasping this year is already drastic. Don't tell Hubby, but I'm glad we held him!

This is #4's very first year of leaving the nest. Many of you cried on your last child's first day of school. Not me. I threw a party. A big, loud, crazy party for one. I LOVE this little girl more than anything but I really LIKE her more the older she gets.

A couple of big deals

#4 informed me as I was getting ready to leave her that she would be walking home...alone...when her day was over.
"Hunny, it's a long ways away. You don't know the way."
"Yes I do, Mommy. I watting home. Awone."
"OK, sweety. See ya after school."
"Otay, Mommy. See ya."
Needless to say, I was waiting with all the other mommies when it was over. She was so excited to tell me about her day she didn't even noticed she hadn't walked home.

And yes, #1 and 2 also had a first day of school but being the AWESOME mommy that I am, I didn't get any photographic evidence.

Capitol Reef Mud Studs

Uncle Josh is a better Uncle than I am mother. He takes the boys to do all of the cool stuff. This August he took them swimming at Capitol Reef. He had been there the week before and the water was crystal clear and warm. By the time the boys got there, it had stormed and they got to swim at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.

The Mud Studs

Thank heavens for life jackets. If he'd sunk he wouldn't have been found for months.

Chocolate Bombs Away!

Judging by the look on his face, it doesn't taste like chocolate.

Right before they took the plunge. They all look a little apprehensive, don't they?

Uncle Josh is a big rock climber and he's instilling these values in the boys early.

New York, New York!

Excuse this post...the pictures are in reverse order...they start with the end and work their way to the beginning of our stay in New York.

A highlight of any McAllister family vacation is always bronzed weenies

Sitting in front of the fountain at Central Park.

The Manhattan Temple

Grandma with Biff from Letterman. I'll give you three guesses on who was more excited for this picture...

Checking out the weird "Central Park Bugs" with their new CSI Magnifying Glass

Checking out the super cool "New York City Sewer System" with same magnifying glass

Hubby with Rupert

Grandpa getting his groove on in Times Square (wish it wasn't blurry!)

All of us in Times Square at night. #2's by far the coolest in the crew

The boys busting up the Brooklyn Bridge

This is #3's cool new trick that he discovered on the New York City Subway. He would inhale through his nose as hard as he could until his nostrils stuck to his face. For some reason, having the little buck teeth protruding helps with suction. Everyone on our subway train was laughing until they cried.

Three little monkeys in front of the Statue of Liberty. No, #3 doesn't need to use the bathroom.

#3 running "routes" on the Statue of Liberty lawn.

Granpa and Gramma with the boys

On the ferry to S of L

This is the inside of the Ladder 10 Fire Station across from the World Trade Center site. Notice the six plaques on the wall. Those are the six men from this engine that died when the WTC came down on 9/11.

This is John, our new hero. He was in the WTC when it came down and got out untouched. He was so gracious to tell us about his experience that day. (And couldn't he play himself in a movie??)

#1 with the foul ball that the beer guy handed him at Yankee Stadium

Hubby and Grandpa before the Yankee Game. And no, we are NOT Yankee fans. Grandpa was sure that if we all showed up in NYC with Boston hats on we'd be mugged and left for dead in a dark subway corner so they all bought $5 Yankee hats on a street corner the minute we hit the city.