Rachel Altobell

8th Grade Class Photo

Rachel Altobell, 8th Grade 2007/2008
View Rachel's K through 7th Grade Photo

A "Dear Santa Letter" from a 13 year old girl

by rachel altobell

From: Rachel Altobell
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 8:04 PM
To: 'Santa Claus'
Subject: christmas list

• Long board
• Surfing kit
• Chicago - DVD
• Gift cards to:
  
  
• The Cherry Hill mall (Mall)
• Hot topic
• Pacsun (I will love you)
• Target
• iTunes
• Visa

• A new phone. Orange env .
• Go ask Alice - book
• Fantasy and Curious by Britney spears perfume (the pink bottle)
• I want this camera too…I will not break it I swear! - Click here.
• An oil pastel art notebook
• Oil pastels
• A CD with all classic rock music, it doesn’t have to be bought. (big haired bands). Example: Scorpions, Pat Benatar, Journey, ect.
• Neon green bed sheets and pillow cases

Talk to my mom about who has what so there is no confusion.
Merry Christmas!

Phillies / Astros - April 23, 2007

Phils' Bats Thaw in 11-4 Victory

Last night my daughter Rachel and I saw one of the best baseball games I've seen in a long time. With the first pitch of the game the Astro's Craig Biggio hits a home run. At the bottom of the inning Jimmy Rollins answers right back with a solo dinger of his own. I knew after witnessing those two homers that this was going to be an interesting evening.

Here's the recap from today's Philadelphia Inquirer. By Jim Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writer

There were two thunderous cracks of the bat in the seventh inning last night at Citizens Bank Park.

First, Chase Utley hit a mammoth, you-wish-you-were-there-to-see-it home run over the batter's eye in dead-center field and onto Ashburn Alley.

Moments later, Ryan Howard struck out for a third consecutive time and turned his huge maple bat into kindling by ferociously smashing it into the hard clay around home plate.

Howard's histrionics were telling - he's hitting just .218 - but his frustration turned out to be just a theatrical footnote to a night Phillies fans had waited too long for.

Finally, everyone had a good time at the ballpark. Warm weather made it feel like baseball season. And the Phillies knocked the yarn out of the ball with a 20-hit outburst en route to an 11-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Jackie Robinson tribute night.


Players on both teams wore No. 42 in Robinson's honor.

"It was great being out there and having a chance to wear that number," said Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' hitting star with two singles, a triple, a homer and four runs scored. "The atmosphere was great. It was very special."

The slow-starting Phils seem to be experiencing an April thaw as they've improved to 7-11. They have won three in a row for the first time this season. They'd be looking at a five-game winning streak had Tom Gordon been able to close out Friday night's game in Cincinnati.

Tonight, they look to keep it going as the Washington Nationals come to town for three games.

Every member of the Phils' starting lineup - including pitcher Adam Eaton - had at least a hit in the rout of Houston. Ironically, Utley carried an 0-fer to the plate and was the only starter without a hit when he came up with Shane Victorino on second base with two outs in the seventh.

Facing righthander Dave Borkowski, Utley unloaded on a 2-2 pitch. Everyone in the crowd of 32,517 knew it was gone. The only question was which concession stand it would be visiting on Ashburn Alley.

After the blast, Phillies officials pulled out their charts, graphs and protractors and calculated the distance of Utley's homer at 460 feet. That might have been conservative. This ball appeared to go at least 462 feet. Either way you slice it, that's a lot of real estate.

Utley's homer was one of two the Phillies hit in support of Eaton, who coughed up two early leads but ultimately locked it down after the Phils rallied for three runs in the fourth to break a 4-4 tie.

Rollins led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer, matching Craig Biggio's feat from the top of the inning.

Before the game, Harold Gould, a former member of the Philadelphia Stars Negro league team, asked Rollins to hit a home run for him.

Rollins, the NL leader with seven, delivered.

"They came out banging," Rollins said of the Astros. "We needed to score some runs and we stayed after it. We know we have a good offensive team. Hopefully as the weather gets warmer, we'll see it."

Victorino, Rollins' partner at the top of the lineup, had two singles and an important two-run double in the seventh.

Rollins and Victorino combined for seven hits, six runs and five RBIs. They are fun to watch when they get going like this.

"When Jimmy and I are on the bases, things seem to fall into place," Victorino said. "It seems like everyone swung the bats well.

"Jimmy really gave us a lift. After Biggio's [leadoff] homer, people might have been thinking, 'Here we go again.' Jimmy came right back and the offense took off from there."

Pat Burrell and Wes Helms both added three hits apiece to the Phillies' attack. Burrell was lifted for pinch-runner Michael Bourn in the bottom of the sixth. Manager Charlie Manuel said he will sacrifice Burrell's bat for defense when his team has a late lead.

Over the last two games, the Phils have 32 hits and 20 runs.

Eaton (2-1) worked into the seventh and allowed four runs in helping Manuel pick up his 400th win as a big-league manager. Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson and Francisco Rosario teamed on three scoreless innings to seal the win.

Rachel Altobell: Student

Class Pictures - K - 7th Grade

Halloween 2006

A Scarry Time Was Had by All

Maple Shade Kids

The fruits...er...candy of Michael's hard work

The King of the Forrest...Courage!

Rachel and her cousins

The Crazy Altobelli Brothers

Previous Post: Halloween 2005

Johnson's Corner Farm, Medford NJ

October 2006, 2004, 1994

For me a perfect fall day is a visit to Johnson's Corner Farm with my kids. A trip out to the farm usually includes a hayride, pumpkin picking', petting zoo, and apple cider doughnuts. All of my kids have enjoyed a day out at Johnson's Farm and here's a few pictures to prove it.

Joey 2006

Michael 2004

Rachel 1994

Rachel Altobell: Super Model

Rachel poses for an art class

Brigantine Vacation: Day 3

By Special Contributor, Rachel Altobell

Yesterday we decided to go to the boards in Ocean City. We had a huge dinner with a whole pizza, a bucket of fries, chicken buffalo wings, water, soda, and baby formula. All of which was eaten with gusto. After getting our pictures taken in a photo booth we set out for Wonderland—on of the largest “piers” in Ocean City.. Michael’s favorite ride of the night was riding on Rockets. Daddy and I went on the log flume. It was fun I screamed really loud but the ride ended to fast, it only had one drop not two like I’m used too. But it was really fun!!! We all had a fun time! I hope we can go back and visit another Ocean City pier, Playland. Then I can go on the Double Shot!!!!!
Click here to visit yesterday's photos.

Brigantine Vacation: Day 1

My family and I are on vacation all this week. Joining us are Lisa's sister, Lauren, her husband Kenny and their baby girl, Allie. Also with us -- at least for a few days -- are Lisa's parents, Lucy and Jim.

I'm going to try to post comments every day about about the previous days events. Yesterday, outside of arriving around 4pm and unpacking we did not do much. Michael and Rachel played in the elevator and Joey and Allie did their thing -- cry, poop, eat, sleep, and cold chill -- the regular routine. Today, we're heading to the beach, which happens to be right across the street. It will be Joey's and Allie's first time. I'll be sure to get "first time" pictures -- first time touching sand, first time dipping their feet in the water, etc.

In celebration of this week of activities I finally setup a Flickr account. Click here to view yesterday's photos. Feel free to add a comment.

New club for baseball fans...

From the April 29, 2005 Philadelphia Business Journal print edition--better late than never
Peter Key, Staff Writer

When Paul Altobelli took his 11-year-old daughter Rachel to a Philadelphia Phillies game a few weeks ago, she was disappointed that she didn't get to meet any of the players. The following week, he got a chance to cure her disappointment.

Altobelli, a Cherry Hill resident, brought her to the first area event held by Players Choice Platinum Club, which gives baseball fans a chance to get up close and personal with members of their favorite team.

Rachel got to socialize and have her picture taken with Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, outfielder Jason Michaels and shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

"She just thought I was the greatest daddy ever," Altobelli said.

That's the type of reaction Ravi Kothare hopes the Platinum Club will evoke frequently in the years ahead.

Kothare, a New York financial planner who lives in Voorhees, N.J., launched the club earlier this year as the first venture of Affinity Club Network LLC, a Philadelphia business he heads.

The club, which is the only organization of its kind licensed by the Major League Baseball Players Association, charges members $19.95 a month, although Kothare said he's thinking of having annual memberships for less.

Members get to attend, for a fee, meet-and-greets, such as the one Altobelli went to with his daughter, and other events, including dinners, golf tournaments and baseball and softball clinics. They also can buy discounted merchandise at the club's online store. And they can earn points for discounts on events and special merchandise.

Players are paid to attend the events, but they get something out of them besides money.

Why buy a flat iron/hair straightener...

...when you can do it the old fashioned way!

Tinfoil Boats

contributed by my daughter, Rachel Altobell

One afternoon it started to rain real hard. Our sunny day at the beach was ruined. My cousins and I were so bored. We didn't know what to do. All we could think about was when it was going to stop raining so we could go swimming again. My mother's brother, Uncle Ritchie, noticed we were unhappy and bored. He gathered all us kids into the kitchen and we sat at the table. Tinfoil, glue, and tape sat in front of us. My Uncle Ritchie, the engineer, explained that there were huge puddles outside and he thought we should make boats out of the tinfoil and have races.

It took forever to make the boats. I actually had to rebuild my boat a few times. When the rain finally stopped right around the time we finished our boats. I must say I thought everyone's boat was impressive. After we showed off our vessels to the family we went and changed into our bathing suites and flip-flops.

We went outside and looked for the biggest puddles. They were not hard to find. We placed our boats in the water and lo and behold they floated! We were so excited however, every few minutes we needed to empty out all the water that collected in our boats.

We soon got bored with the puddles and Uncle Ritchie suggested we take a walk to the beach. We decided that was a good idea so we made our way to the beach. The waves were so big. We walked over the jetties and Doug made the first move with a big splash. Jessie and I decided that was a good idea. So, the three of us splashed around while Becca and Lissa stayed watched from a distance.

Later we met up with Mommy and our dog Chloe. We stayed on the beach until it started to get dark. Then we made our way back to the house wet and cold because we did not have towels.

I'll always remember that day and how it all stated with tinfoil boats.