December get-away

Virginia Beach...that's where I've been. It rarely snows here, in fact it rarely rains. Both have been plentiful these past five days, however, as two of my parent clients and one of my staff members accompanied me to the NHSA Annual Parent Conference (Nat'l Head Start Association). The scarcity of tourists was rather nice - no crowds to contend with at restaurants or for taxis. The cold, however, was not nice. I can handle cold if it is accompanied by decent snow and no wind chill - not quite what happened here.
I did, however, wake up to the ocean every morning. I would be okay with doing that more often.

Meat Pie at Murphy's - a local Irish Pub. Pretty tasty it was.

I am pretty sure this giant smiling cement ball on the beach was the inspiration for my "Mr. Happy" back massager. They could be twins...

This is my new friend, Shirley Hiatt Lineberry. She spared me a $25 cab ride back to my hotel from church on Sunday. She is positive she is related somehow to Kim Hiatt's family since she is from North Carolina. She is 71 years old, loves to dance and used to sing. A year ago she had a stroke, which caused her to have to relearn to walk and talk (hence no more singing) and is basically a walking miracle/angel.

I am always amazed at others' kindness and generosity, especially when personal circumstances are taken into consideration.

When I grow up I want to be more like her!

Now off to see my Maryland kiddos...

Thanksgiving 2010

Here's the day's festivities - BACKWARDS

After-dinner movie watchers

Pie eaterCoupon Crazies

Nose-pickers

Gratitude Play

Word Gamers (too serious for me)

Beautiful, under-appreciated yams

Decor

What made this day special:

1- Everyone together (we missed the Morrey Gang)

2- Children's laughter

3- Good friends who sacrificed time to come

4- Yummy food

5- Memories from when I was a kid playing with my cousins

6- Hangin' out

7 - Mom's rolls

8- Melissa and her Family's prep work

Gratitude: the one feeling I feel the most often yet am unable to ever express adequately.

Family and Friends: those I feel the most gratitude for.

California

Conferences are great mini get-aways that allow a little, much-needed play time. This November trip to the LA and Anaheim area was no different. In fact, it called for a few extra days of play.

Here are Cyd and I waiting to hop on the awesome Indiana Jones ride at the end of a long day in Disney Land where we rode every ride we wanted to and more, as we escaped from reality for a bit. Space Mountain was great, Captain EO was not. Splash Mountain was refreshing, the Finding Nemo submarine ride was not. Just fyi...

The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens were an amazing escape. Surprisingly, the Desert garden was my favorite outside display and I took way too many pictures of cacti (for Melly-belly, of course) since they were about the only plants in bloom.

Next time I will have to visit the actual library since I spent the entire day lost in the gardens and British Musuem.

The purpose of this trip was initiated by the NAEYC conference, and here are some of our state UAEYC board members who were in attendance.


Cyd and I at Newport beach where I collected lots of seashells for the kiddos back home.

Now don't be jealous...Kim has a close relationship with none other than Richard Simmons and frequents his aerobic studio often on Saturday mornings. We worked out with many other fans, and yes - he does make you sweat to the oldies! He is a rare oddity that while one workout in person with him is plenty for me, I'm glad there are people in the world like him who help others be inspired to be their best.

I have never gone out of town before for a conference where I came back so refreshed and rejuvenated. Was it the California sun? Mickey's home? Quality Kim time? Whatever it was, I could use more of it!

Day of the Dead

Venice Beach is an interesting place: all kinds of "artists" displaying their goods in strewn out fashion along the roadside, strange men offering unsolicited affections, beach attire for sale, marijuana users in abundance, drum circle participants warming up for sunset, ghettoblaster dancing moves displayed without any music by seriously talent-depraved youth, abandoned twenty-dollar bills, and these two fine specimens - skull head one and skull head two - the perfect accessory for last minute halloween costumes. On Halloween the Forever Hollywood cemetary hosted a huge event called "Day of the Dead" that allows families to remember their deceased loved ones in an interesting fashion. Families can rent spots in the cemetary like you would rent a booth or table for a carnival and they set up a display on their deceased relatives that include lots of yellow and orange marigold flowers, bright colors, and skeletons. Many people paint their faces like skeletons, and there are bands and dancers and food. After a very long time waiting to find parking, and a longer time in line to get in, we were able to join the festivities in our not-so-skeletal costumes...
Thank you for the fun evening, Kimberlee, and for allowing my skull stick to stay with you (I do miss him...)

Summer Fun

Here are some of the happenings of this summer that is about all gone:

Aunt Colleen and I after Kyle's sealing ceremony. Oquirrh Mountain Temple - so pretty inside and out!

Temple Square visit with Dylan and Abbie

Waterfall at the Salt Lake public library...since it was closed and we couldn't go inside we played on the grounds

Tossing coins over the shoulder and making a wish...

View of Salt Lake valley from mountain behind the Red Butte Gardens

Abbs and Dyl on the hike with me

Water fount play at an Orem park...Regen roo splashin' it up...

Crazy, wet cousins and sisters...

Kylie soaked...

Cadence goin' swimming...

It was tricky splashin' the kids without getting wet ourselves...

The girls were all soaked, but it was so hot that when they got out they were completely dry in 20 minutes!

The Bean Museum of Natural History at BYU

Tree-swinging Cadence...

Regen playing catch...

more tree fun...

Tara found out quick it is very difficult to climb a tree in a skirt and flip flops!

Little monkey nieces...

We had a fun girl sleepover (we missed you Abbie)

I also made the top layer of this wedding cake for a co-worker's son's wedding.

The End!

Hard Work

In July my staff had a celebration for completing our Federal Review.

Don't worry all you tax-payers: no federal dollars were used! We were able to have this special event due to a research company we are participating in a study with. We dressed up "dollar store" style for our own academy awards presentation and movie screening, followed by a catered luncheon. Below is most of my staff enjoying lunch.They made me wear this hat, which while cute was annoying...but all is fair since we made everyone wear all black.
So while I do work A LOT, there are small rewards along the way.

WARD CAMPOUT

I took a few kiddos camping with my ward up the Spanish Fork Canyon.

It was Dylan's and Abbie's first camping trip and I'm pretty sure they'd come again!

The favorite part for all the kids there was this tree swing (LaNell and I were the official "take turns" Nazis out of the adults, as well as awesome pushers)

Camping isn't official without tin foil dinners and S'mores! Roasting marshmellows was interesting since I forgot to buy fresh ones and hence took old ones in the pantry...no one got sick, but they were extremely special-looking.

Tree shot

Freezing kiddos very early in the morning...

Evening flashlight talk...

Abbie's favorite place was the tent, hence we did no socializing with the ward. We did, though, laugh a lot...and I've never seen a package of Redvines or Lays stackables disappear so fast! Maybe the tinfoil dinners weren't as enjoyable as they appeared to be...

Fakers!

Kiddos exploring the little, cold pond.

Our HUGE tent...there was room for several more - next time!