Gator Basketball Game

                While attending BYU Tyler and I attended several BYU Sports events. We wore our BYU shirts. We  clapped. We cheered. But I was never a dyed in the wool, true blue, through and through cougar fan. Tyler still likes to keep up on BYU sports. It’s nice when they win. Makes a school he graduated from look good. This same attitude applies to Gonzaga sports (GU basketball--they don’t have a football team). During the three years we lived in Spokane we didn’t attend a single sporting event, or buy a single Gonzaga T-Shirt! Upon arriving in Florida, I assumed our passive attitude toward sports would remain the same. Instead, I’ve detected an ever growing enthusiasm in the Petersen household for the University of Florida Gator teams. Perhaps it’s the constant assault of orange and blue, the ever present UF Gator logo, the Sports highlights each day on the front page of the paper, or maybe it’s something in the water. But I’m guessing our descent into Gator fandom began when Tyler’s professor gave us tickets to a University of Florida basketball game.

                I was having a rough day with the kids. I had missed Tyler’s many phone calls during the day. I was tired and grumpy. So it came as a bit of a surprise when Tyler arrived home and announced that we were leaving for a basketball game in an hour. I wasn’t thrilled. But I tried to put on a happy face and somehow we made it out the door. What little enthusiasm I had dwindled as we got lost on campus, couldn’t find parking, walked nearly a half mile to get to the stadium and arrived shortly before half time. Thankfully, that is where our bad luck ended. Once inside we quickly found our seats and discovered that we were actually having fun watching UF crush the other team, spending a fortune on your very average concessions, and (the best part) seeing the kids get excited to find Albert the alligator mascot and do the alligator chomp. Here are a few pictures.

Go Gators Go!

We're Number One!

The Gator Chomp!

It's Albert!

               In the end, it was a good night. We won. The kids got free posters and pom-poms. They were happy. The walk back to the car was downhill. We didn’t get stuck in traffic for hours leaving the event. Tyler and I were happy. What started out (at least to me) as a nightmarish adventure, ended as a nice family event. Usually it’s the other way around!

               Since then, a soft spot for all things gator has sprouted within. With time, I think I could actually label myself a fan. Not that I would take the time to watch the televised games, care who the coaches and players are, or what conference they’re in- Tyler does all that for me. But I could see myself taking an interest in whether they did well, investing in some gator paraphernalia and wanting to attend games if I ever get the chance.  Yes, I think I might like to be a gator fan.   

Trick or Rib-bit??

Fall had finally arrived in the great state of Florida- meaning it’s questionable whether you want to take a dip in the swimming pool or not. To Naomi’s delight a warm Florida Fall meant that our neighborly frog friends were still hopping about. Since moving to Florida, Naomi’s interest in frogs has morphed from non-existent to an all-out obsessed groupie.  If you ask her what her name is she’ll pause for a moment while the corners of her lips curl into playful smile and then answer, “Froggie.” Thus, it came as no surprise that she wanted to be a frog for Halloween. Luckily for me, I found an adorable frog costume on sale before I invested too much time and energy figuring out how to make one myself. Truthfully, it wouldn’t have mattered if the costume was on sale or not. The moment Naomi saw me pick the costume up she insisted on putting it on and refused to take it off for the rest of the day…and the next day…and the day after that.

Noah was a more difficult nut to crack. He played with a couple of different ideas before deciding on dressing up as King Peter from the Chronicles of Narnia movies. Together we studied different scenes from the movie till he found which outfit of King Peter he wanted to wear. Then we went to several different stores looking for a similar knight/king costume but we struck out everywhere we went. Apparently knights were not “in” this year. I finally gave in and did my best buying different fabrics from JoAnn’s and piecing them together to create the Noble King Peter. I was working on his costume till minutes before our ward Trunk or Treat when he informed me he only wanted to wear the basic red tunic, belt and carry around his sword for the night. I was crushed. Instead of a noble king I ended up with a scrawny squire. I begged him to wear the rest of his costume, but he insisted it was too “scratchy” and wouldn’t even wear the full costume for pictures!  I’m ok though. Yes I was angry. Yes I was hurt, but what goes around comes around, and all was made right in the end.

Apparently I did get Noah to wear another piece of his costume for this picture. He was still being a stinker!

Halloween fell on a Sunday this year so we limited our festivities to our ward Trunk or Treat and trick or treating in Alachua’s (a neighboring city) down town square the evening prior to Halloween. At both events Naomi would walk right up to the people handing out candy and say “Tank- U” as soon as she received candy.  Whoever was passing out candy would then comment on how cute she was, ask her if she was a Frog- to which her reply was a great big “Rib-bit!” and then they’d put more candy in her bag. Despite Noah’s efforts (or lack thereof) he just couldn’t compete with the adorable Frog standing beside him. By the end of the weekend Naomi had received twice as much candy as Noah. I know I shouldn’t gloat inside, but I did… and still do! Serves him right for not wearing his costume I worked so hard on. Going to bed that night, my soul was at peace, justice had been served!

Blue Angels

The third week in October was very eventful for the Petersen Family. It started with a whirlwind of doctor appointments for me and the kids- including the ultrasound where we learned that little Abram will be joining the family. Wednesday the kids and I drove Tyler to the Orlando Airport so he could surprise his brother Brandon at his Missionary Homecoming. Thursday Noah and I had our rocket ship conversation and on Friday Brandon actually arrived home from Hawaii: but for those of us in Gainesville, it was a very uneventful day. Our excitement came on Saturday when we went to see the Blue Angels at JAX Navel Base in Jacksonville . We had seen them once before while living in Spokane before Naomi was born. Obviously Noah was born to fly because it still ranks as the # 1 happiest moment I have ever seen my son. I thought it would be exciting to watch Noah on Christmas, but we haven't had a Christmas yet that could compete. Perhaps a picture will better explain...

So naturally when I learned that the Blue Angels were comming to Jacksonville, we packed our lunch, loaded the stroller and went on our way! We planned to arrive about an hour and a half before the Blue Angels flew, and thank goodness we did becuase we ended up sitting in traffic for an hour outside the air force base! Luckily we made it in before they closed the gates and joined the masses of people making their way to the runway. It took a little longer for the Angels to get in the air, and the announcer always has lots to say before the pilots actually take off, so we had some time to enjoy some of the other attractions.

They had an entire section of the event filled with jump and bounce rides for the kids. Noah could have gone on many of the other slides/ bounce houses many times, but instead he insisted on standing in line to climb into the rocketship and go down the slide.

They also had lots of Helicopters and Airplanes that the kids could sit inside and view. Of course, there was a line to go inside them as well.

Noah was a little distracted. Looking at the Camera was not his number one priority.

Yoda came to recruit some new Jedi's.

Finally looking at the Camera! Noah enjoyed the air show. But this time, I think he enjoyed the helicopters most. 

Noami was not as impressed with the Blue Angels or the helicopters. She didn't like the loud noise as the airplanes flew overhead and was much happier when they were back on the runway--but she sure did like her lolly-pop!

Thankfully she warmed up to the helicopters in time for mom to get at least one good picture!

After the airshow was over we stayed for awhile so that Noah could enjoy some more time touring the helicopters. He and Naomi also got fireman hats and got to sit in a fire truck!

We stayed until the masses left than wandered around till we found our car. We sat on the grass (we were parked in a field) and enjoyed a yummy picnic dinner while we talked about all that we had seen that day. Noah said that his favorite part was getting to sit in the helicopters and the fire truck. Naomi didn't say, but she seemed to enjoy herself in the end. My favorite part...All of it.