First Grade Field Trip

The first graders received the opportunity to go on a field trip this year (not something our first graders typically get to do). I was unable to go on Justin's kindergarten field trip, and he highly anticipated my presence at this one.
I swore off field trips years ago. I love to have friends come and play, but counting heads in mass chaos is not my bag of chocolate. The last field trip I chaperoned was for Ty in 3rd or 4th grade in downtown SLC where we started at one historical building, walked a few blocks, rode TRAX, and ended up doing something else at the Delta Center (which involved walking a little further in downtown SLC). I thought I'd done quite well at keeping six boys of that age together (when they ALL wanted to go in separate directions at once, the ENTIRE time), and safe. I didn't think I came across as overly stressed about the whole thing. It wasn't until afterwards when Ty, trying in a very diplomatic way, asked that I not go on any other trips. We made a deal that I wouldn't go on any other trips, and his friends would always be welcome in our home. We both felt great about that compromise!
None of my children thus far have cared to look the part more than Justin. I think it was one of the proudest days of his life when he learned to put on his tie (still the zipper kind) and button his Sunday shirt just right all on his own. I still can't get enough of watching him proudly stand in front of the mirror and do this each and every Sunday.
I can't help but remember the Christmas Eve just after he turned three where we were loading in the car to head out to celebrate at Gma and Gpa Steve's and we couldn't find Justin anywhere. I finally found him in the bathroom, getting all ready to go:

Yes. That IS Vaseline.

Well, he has always liked things "just so." I blogged not too long ago about him being the only first grader to wear a tie to the Winter Concert. Well, about a week ago, he started coming home, asking for a "tux or tuxedo". He particularly wanted one to wear to the play we were going to on the field trip. Up until today, his sudden knowledge of tuxedos baffled me. I was certain that they had discussed in class about dressing up for this occasion, but couldn't figure out where the tuxedo conversation came into play. It became a common conversation this week that he was welcome to wear a tie on the field trip, but we would not be purchasing a tuxedo.

So Tuesday arrived and on our walk home from school, he informed me that his friend Leila said that he could borrow her dog's tux tie. I thought, "you have got to be kidding me." A clarifying conversation ensued and I learned that not only was it not a real dog's tie (thank heaven's for stuffed animals), but that she had actually already brought it and given it to him. So much for trying to talk him out of it :)

I realized way too late that setting aside his short sleeved white shirt as opposed to his long sleeved made him look just a little too like a waiter, or a member of a barbershop quartet, or one of the penguins from Mary Poppins. . .I cannot help but absolutely adore this kid who marches to the beat of his very own drum and is so happy doing it.

Spencer was able to go to his very favorite person's house (that would be Ellie), informing me that I could NOT come in. Off I went on the field trip.

I was in for such a treat. Somehow, the kids in my group were so happy, well behaved, and got along famously. We had such a great time together. On the way home, the two I was sitting next to asked if I knew how to make "fish lips." Uh oh. Confession time. Although there was a time in my life I could to that, it is no longer the case. Either braces messed up that ability, or my face has just had a bit too much roundness added. Regardless, that talent has escaped me for a few years now. So I proceeded to show them how I cannot make "fish lips," but I can try really hard. We laughed so hard we were almost crying, and they kept rolling long after I was done :)

A few bad quality cell phone pics from our morning out in a gorgeously sunny downtown Portland:

What a great day :)

Post Script: Although I had a fabulous time, by the time I left the school to pick up Spencer, I had a major pain of a headache. I can usually feel these things coming on, but this one struck out of nowhere. I loaded myself up with caffeine, got comfy and curled up on the couch until it was time to pick Justin up from school (by which time I was feeling fine). We were halfway through our walk to the school when I realized the socks I was wearing were the two slipper socks I quickly grabbed out of the sock hamper in my daze to get comfy. One of them black, the other black, yellow, and white stripped. If your question is the same as Dave's first question, the answer is: Yes. I was wearing shoes.