P.E. Festival 2012

At our school, the third grade's spring program is traditionally the "P.E. Festival."  They play awesome music and have kinds of coordinated dance moves using P.E. equipment (jump ropes, hula hoops, relay batons, etc.).  I couldn't wait for Niece to be in third grade and finally get to be in this program!

I got a few photos - not super quality, because they were taken with the iPhone while I was also tending my own class during the performance, but fun to look at anyway.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Face of a Champion

Nephew just finished another season of "spring" football - basically, a way to keep the players active and engaged during non-football time.  Spring ball can be rough, in part because a lot of the boys also play baseball, leaving fewer players to fill the roster.  Yes, they get more playing time, but it's tough on their bodies - Nephew's team is suffering turf burns, whacked-up elbows, a possible concussion, and more. 

But they're dedicated (and so are their parents!). These boys, now 7th graders/almost 8th graders, have been playing together since third grade. I remember being at one of their very first practices and thinking "this is NEVER going to work!" 

But it did. And they made the play-offs every fall season, often right into the championship game. And every year they lost, even in 2009 when their championship game was dedicated to The Wombat, the most devoted football grandma ever, who passed away just two weeks before the game.

Nephew is so smart, and such a hard worker. He maintains an A average in school, he volunteers as a lunch worker every day, he participates in Boy Scouts and school activities, he helps both at our house and at GolfDad's with heavy labor whenever asked. He's generally polite and well-mannered, he's a voracious reader, and he'll eat ANYTHING.  You could not ask for a more delightful teenage boy!

But of course, something was missing for him and his teammates... until November 2011. Finally they succeeded! And THIS is the face of a champion, for so many reasons!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Choir at Tuachan

A couple of weeks ago I got to accompany Niece as she performed with our school's choir and several others from various elementary schools in the county at the Tuacahn Amphitheater.  It was a fun evening of good music, and a nice opportunity to see lots of families from school in a pleasant environment.

We started by having an Aunt Mamie and Niece-only dinner at Red Robin, where the waitress was oddly enamored by our matching school t-shirts.

 Mmmmmmm, french fries!

Our school's choir solo number was "Footloose," and they had some very cute props to go with the song.

Those are giant feet that they're waving around.

 Here's a shot with lots of choirs onstage together:

 Fun event and nice time with the niece!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Spring Football

 Nephew had his first game of the spring football season on Saturday 4/14.  Now mind you, LAST weekend were were on the patio in flipflops with the pool filled... however, THIS was the weather on Saturday:

I must say that the 50% chance of rain was a total joke, because it was rainy, cold, and miserable ALL DAY!  Naturally the game was at a high school on the other side of the county, so I got to drive there and back in busy Saturday traffic.  A venti-sized hot caramel apple spice from St*rbux did make me feel a little better though. ;)

I sat with Mrs. Igor; Niece was at a friends and declined to join us out in the elements, and Mr. Igor got drafted to run the chains during the game.

Nephew is #88 on the left-hand side in the lovely gold helmet.  He's the odd-man out when it comes to helmets... the gold one was the only one that fit his giant head!

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

New Year's Day Hike 2011

Last New Year's Day  we headed up the canyons at 6,000 feet for some sledding. This year it was off to our usual haunt, Zion National Park, for ringing in 2011.

On the west side of the tunnel, headed east:

Approaching the west entrance to the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel.

The tunnel is 1.1 miles long and was completed in 1930. Mr. Mamie always wants to drive through, whatever other plans we have in the park. Why? Well, because he is a direct descendant of the families that originally held title to the land that now comprises the west entrance and visitors' center of the park! A cousin (hi Lois!!!) told us recently that the steps to the homestead house are still visible, which we didn't know and are anxious to go check out).  Mr. Mamie's mother grew up in what is now the park. When we got married next to the Virgin River in the park, it was in a location that was in view of the fruit orchards planted my Mr. Mamie's ancestors. So, Zion is special to us not only because of it's amazing beauty and adventure, but because of Mr. Mamie's family ties!

Fun with the camera in the tunnel!

More camera-in-the-tunnel hijinks.

East side of the park, Canyon Overlook area:

A little stroll through a snowfield:

This is a little field that has a path down into a wash we we have hiked through several times before (summer and winter). Today it was too icy to make the drop down into the wash, so we had to stay up above.

 

Mr. Mamie is standing at the top of the path down into the wash. Too icy!

West side, up-canyon, at the Temple of Sinawava:
 

On the Riverwalk trail headed into The Narrows:
 

We mostly hung out and stomped around by the river. The trail was both icy and surprisingly busy - lots of Asian tourists and cars from California.  All in all,  a nice (though COLD!) day, and a good way to start 2011.

~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)

Potato Dreams

 Niece was helping me make our Shepherd's Pie for dinner. Her first task was to peel potatoes. While doing so, she asked me if "potatoes and onions make a good side dish." I of course responded affirmatively, and described the various renditions of "potato and onion side dishes" we have eaten.

She then told me" "I had a dream that I was a cook show host, and I did a feature on potatoes and onions."

What an awesome dream!

~Mamie
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!"

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