Vegas to Vernal

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Kindergarten Graduation (Kinda)

Our little girl is almost through with kindergarten. Her last day is Thursday. But this past Thursday they had a Kindergarten Program. Not a graduation, but a presentation of all the songs and poems they had learned throughout the year.

Coral, of course, had already messed up her hair and couldn't sit still the whole time. But that is just one of the things we love about her. And the fact that she kept waving at me and blowing me kisses during the whole thing. I felt like one popular mom. It's nice that someone loves me so much. :)

Here's some pictures of our cute girl:

Monday, April 1, 2013

Spring Holidays

Today is our last day of spring break. For some unknown reason, we had off Thursday through Monday. And Daniel has been sick for the whole time. Poor guy. Carlo even came home from his training in Colorado early to play ball with Daniel and the kid has been sick in bed the whole time.

So, today we are on the couch, the kids are watching "The Rise of the Guardians" and I am watching the first rainstorm of the year while typing away. I feel like it's the perfect day.

Here are some pictures and catch up.

Spring has sprung and I love looking outside. There are always fun things to look at. And soon it will be green!

Recently, a naughty leprechaun came, hid some treasure in our house and wrecked it in the process.

Naples Elementary had a vocabulary parade. The kids were asked to dress up as a word and have the definition displayed. Daniel in his witty humor chose "Me" and Coral chose "Snowflake".

I am loving small towns and holidays. Now my kids get to have my small town experience I had growing up. They even play outside and run up and down the street with their friends. I heard rumor of a club too. Oh, I loved those days!

Smiths had an Easter event where you collected candy they scattered on the floor. With Daniel being sick, it was just Coral and I for the day. I gave her a pep talk to get as much candy as she could so Daniel would have some when he got better. The girl made me proud! And a little embarrassed. She had so much candy! Way more than any of the other kids. She told me she just loves candy and had to have it all.

Then we went over to the Dinosaur Museum where they were having an Easter Egg Hunt inside. It was fun. They were putting eggs everywhere. It didn't matter how many you collected, each kid got to pick three toys they had taken from the gift shop when they had finished. They even let me take a few for Daniel.

I had a fun day with this cute girl. Sad Daniel wasn't there, but it was still fun.

She always keeps me laughing (or pulling my hair out). I made salad last night and she wanted to put cucumbers on here eyes like they do at the spa.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Disneyland of Libraries

I've been wanting to post about the library in Vernal for awhile. It's kind of funny because as I drive around or go places I'll think to myself, "This would be fun to share." I really thought when I moved here there would be absolutely nothing to do, but that is far from the truth. Vernal embraces families. It's refreshing.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to check out the library. From first sighting, I was already impressed. The building was beautiful with open glass windows for easy inside viewing daring anyone to take just one look and not come in.

The whole first floor is just for children. Yes! Just for children. With a very large open area for story time. We went to one of the story times last week and the kids were able to make a craft after story time. Pretty cool.

My kids just can't stay away from the abc's built into the wall. A great place to curl up with a book.

They also have great events. A few weeks ago was a Live Clue Night. They just started "Date with a Book" where you pick a wrapped book, check it out, take it home, unwrap it, read it and then rate it. For each book you take, you are entered in a raffle. Sounds fun! They also have a Lego Club (I will be taking Daniel to it tomorrow night), Friday afternoon Wii games in the conference room and Family Game Night on Mondays. They also host free classes on different subjects, one of which is Love and Logic, my favorite discipline method as a parent and teacher.
I look forward to spending lots of time there.

I sure sound like I'm trying to advertise for Vernal. Yes. Friends and family please move here! Or visit often. Then my life would be complete.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Sno More

I have shoveled the driveway twice in the past two days. It has been snowing a lot, but it warms up when it snows, so I don't mind. At least it's not 28 degrees below. And snow is beautiful. And quiet.

Simply breathtaking.
And no. I don't follow my kids on the bus to school. I go straight to the gym and get to drive behind them for a tiny stretch.

The amazing view I am lucky to witness while working out in the mornings. I took it with my cellphone while running, so it's not the best picture.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Vegas to Vernal

I was thinking it would be fun to start a blog titled Vegas to Vernal. Kind of a big city girl gone small town (although if any of you know me, you also know I grew up in a small town). However, I'll just stick with the one I have.

But oh the things you forget about small towns. Or the things I didn't deal with or know about because I wasn't an adult. Now I'm living the other side of it. And am now looking back on my childhood, not upon my memories, but pondering on my mother's life as I embark upon a similar path. Like shoveling snow. I look at that task completely different as an adult verses the child who dreaded when Mom would ask me to come and help shovel the driveway. Love ya Mom!

This is what I get to look at every single day. There are no houses right next door or right behind my house. It is wide open here with cows and sheep and . . . . snow. Lots of it. I am eagerly awaiting spring to see what pops up from the thawed ground. Seriously, what is underneath all of this stuff. And what will the farmer grow in this field?

If you are interested, I'll be posting my about my life in Vernal. Things I like, find interesting or am just not plain use to. Maybe it'll help me wrap my head around this new adventure!

Monday, January 23, 2012

A Different Story

I just finished lesson plans for one week of school and as always I am thinking I could spend way more time on them. While thinking this, I looked up at my messy kitchen and the laundry basket full of clothes beside me and thought that I could spend all of my time on that too. There just never seems to be an end in sight. And I'm glad.

Because today I am thankful I was able to go with my daughter on her preschool field trip. I'm thankful I don't have to work on Mondays period and that I am blessed to take my son to work with me everyday and that I will be taking my daughter with us next year. I am thankful that I am able to teach some of the funniest, smartest students I know in a school I love with a principle I adore with teachers and staff that have become fast friends. And right now I am thankful for my husband who made dinner tonight even though he didn't feel well because I was busy with report cards and lesson plans and who just called me from the grocery store to find out what size of bottle I need for my math lesson tomorrow.

Love and support are powerful tools.

Now tomorrow night I may not be so full of thanks. I am sure I'll be grumpily washing those dirty dishes and folding that neverending pile of clothes, but tonight. . . tonight is a different story.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Bellagio

The last time I watched the Bellagio fountains, Daniel was in my belly. At least that is the last time I remember.

My last day at work was on Friday, August 12th, so I had some time this week to spend time with my two favorite kids. My children thought we were in a completely different city when we started driving down The Strip. In a sense, I suppose it is . . . a place all its own.

We had a little talk about the possibility of seeing inappropriate things and as soon as I announced we were on The Strip, Coral said, "I'm going to keep my eyes closed so I don't see anything bad." Sweet, sweet girl. Surprisingly, we didn't see anything inappropriate- not even scantily clad women. I suppose that is one of the benefits of venturing down there at 3 in the afternoon.

We had a fun time strolling through the whimisical garden with Coral and Daniel begging to ride the display rides. I even had a passerbyer snap a picture of all three of us so I wasn't behind the camera the whole time. Then we made the trek out to the fountain. The kids were hurrying afraid they would miss it and then kept asking over and over once we were there when it would start. Funny kids.

Daniel was most impressed with the "shooting" noise the water made and Coral . . . I'm not too sure. I think she had to go pee the whole time since she had a panic attack in reaction to the automatic toilets in the Bellagio.

You see, a few weeks ago we used the family restrooms at Tivoli Village and when Coral sat down on the cute, little, kid size potty, it flushed. I've never seen her move so fast. The Bellagio toilets were the first encounter since the incident and when she saw they were automatic ones, she ran screaming and crying out of the stall and then out of bathroom like I was beating her. I didn't know if I should laugh or be embarrassed just thinking about how I must look chasing my crazed child down and pulling her back into the stall. I still had to go pee after all.

So yes, the bathroom happened to be the most memorable of the little excursion.