I can't think of an interesting title...

Last Friday was the UIL competition over at Folsom Elementary in Prosper. Since our school district was sponsoring it, we got out of school at noon, and I had to volunteer at a concession stand for 2 hours. :) Parker and Tyler were bussed over there, along with the the other UIL kids. A lot of Tyler's friends were in it, so it was fun for him to be there. Parker can have fun with anyone, so it was fun for him too. And Aliza knew a gilr there whose big sister was in it. Imagine a school with 1000+ kids in it, (13 or 14 schools particiapted...) almost no parental supervision (the teachers were there to supervise), and a cafeteria where they are selling all kinds of nutritious things, like hot dogs, nachos, pizza, popcorn, pop, and candy. And then just for qualifying for UIL you get to take an additional day off later in the year to go to Six Flags, on a school day, when all the other kids have to be in school.

So they had a time where they were to go in front of the judges and the rest of the time they got to play until they were done and got to go home...Parker and Tyler played four square in the gym...
...they used a small bouncy ball, all the more challenging...
...this man playing with them is Drew Watkins, our District Superintendent. He is seriously in the schools getting to know teachers, students and parents all the time. He is a very supportive leader, we have been very impressed with the schools here.
Here is Aliza and a girl named Regan from her class. (Yes, we know lots of girls named Regan.) Cheer leading is very intense here...can you tell?? And since this is a public blog, I won't tell you about the attitudes of some of them and what I think of it...

All said and done, Tyler was an alternate and so he never even had to compete, and Parker did well, but there were 50 or so kids in his division and he was not one of the 6 who advanced to the finals. In all, they both felt it was a great experience. Parker is determined to practice and make it farther next year, and Tyler has already decided which areas he is going to prepare for. And since most of the divisions start in 3rd grade, Aliza wants to try to go next year too.
Friday night was the Ward Christmas Party. Above is Aliza and McKinley. They get along very well...Parker did not want to go because the Primary was singing, and he did not want to sing. So, conveniently, he was nowhere to be found when they called for the Primary kids...hmmm. As soon as we got there, Ty gravitated to his buds and we didn't see much of him all night. I guess this is how it is going to be...
And here are the pictures I promised of McKinley's party...(top) Emily, McKinley, Reagan (McKinley's sister) and Aliza. They are in the hot pink limo and think they are very cool!
Here they are giggling, ready to roll.
And here is Ty and Tanner. They got to go too, but they rode with Tanner's dad and ate dinner at Chilli's. Tanner and T will go to Prosper Middle school together next year (7th grade). He is McKinley's brother.