Mary Poppins in the Desert

This cute face was my date last night!  We went to Tuachan to see Mary Poppins, she loved it!  We have been a bit spoiled living 5 minutes from Tuachan, I will miss it.  The shows,  the farmers market, the gorgeous canyon.  There are lots of little things I am realizing I will miss about living here.... BUT.... I am so excited for the next chapter.

Summer Lovin'

Just a few reasons I love SuMmEr:

Waking up to my kids squeals and giggles and not my alarm.

Playing at the splash pad.

Road trips...

...to look at houses, for our BIG move!

Hiking 

Reading with my 4 year old!

Being tourists in our own (soon to be old) town.

Making cookies in the morning!

NAPS!

Potty Training (okay it is NOT my favorite but I needed a few solid summer days to get it DONE!) she has done FABULOUS and I am pleased to say she may just be trained!  Whew!

(Yes, yes, maybe I am having her go potty in the back of my van, maybe, after 3 days of being stuck at home potty training we NEEDED to get out and go hike and play and maybe, just maybe, we brought our potty with us!) 

Running through the sprinklers.

 Spending time with cousins, looking for lizards!

Ordering items for OUR (mine and RUSS's) new classrooms!  

I am decorating his bulletin boards whether he likes it or NOT!

letting the girls dress themselves, and nobody CARES!

Picnics at the park.

 Hanging out with this face ALL DAY and her pure joy when I tell her, "Mommy doesn't have to go to school today!"

I LOVE SUMMER!

Despite the fact that I am also trying to do this:

and selling a house is not my favorite thing!   I put off getting it listed until summer because I knew myself well enough to know my house would NOT be ready to show to ANYONE during the last couple weeks of school!  Please tell me your house turns into a disaster zone during the final weeks of school as well.  

Ready or not next year brings BIG and EXCITING changes for our family!  I am so excited!  I am so nervous, eek!  I have to make new friends and colleagues (I have taught at the same school and lived in the same house for 8 years, it will be hard to start over). But, I can't wait, this transitional phase is HARD because Russ and I just want to get up there and start getting settled.  I am trying to remind myself to be patient and enjoy our last summer in BEAUTIFUL St. George. 

Happy Summer!

Just a Mom...

I adore this sweet girl... A.DORE.  I love her!  The two of us spend a LOT of time together these days, we have a good time.  We hang out before and after school, eat lunch together, and she is in my class every afternoon.  She is amazing.  

Okay so I won't pretend we don't have our melt down moments (both of us) and have those days where life is anything but ideal... they don't happen too often though.  As a mom I am pretty lucky!

For the most part I think Al really likes hanging out at school with me, she enjoys spending time in 'our' classroom and she does a pretty great job helping out.  I was kind of surprised this past week when we were learning about community helpers and she had changed her "When I Grow Up" dream.  For years she was going to be a ballet teacher and a mom.  This week, "A mom' just a mom." she announced proudly and then added, "sometimes I wish you were just a mom."  

My. Heart. Broke.

I am not going to pretend that I don't have days where I wish I were 'just a mom' because I do ALL THE TIME.  I wish I spent more time with my babies.  I feel pulled in a million and one directions most of the time.  I am NEVER caught up and my house is filled with laundry to be done, and kids needing attention. 

 I do sometimes wish I were 'just a mom'.

I love my job though.  I love teaching.  I am good at teaching.  Let's be honest I need to be teaching.  We would have a pretty hard time making our house payment if I weren't teaching.  As far as professions go it is a pretty great one, I get to spend weekends and holidays with my kids (probably with a little school prep mixed in but that is just a given), we get our summer's together.  

Still, the guilt has taken over and I worry... has my job left me too unavailable to my kids?  Are they worse off because I am working?  

Today my babies were sick.  I had to get a sub.  I spent 3 hours typing sub plans and getting everything ready.  I stayed home.  I watched them play.  I cuddled with them.  I read them books.  I cleaned up their vomit.  

We made a tent in the kitchen.  

Maybe I have denied them of something.  But then I remembered.  We do those things.  We do them on weekends.  We do them in the summer.  We do them on sick days.  

Because we HAVE to make those times special.  So maybe, just maybe because we are not together every day all day... maybe the times we are, are extra special and if I weren't teaching Aly and I wouldn't have all this time together because she would be in someone else's classroom.  

I haven't ruined them.

If you have met them they are pretty amazing!

But I am going to try and do a little less prep on the weekends.

Returning to Monterey...

Russ and I have almost been married 10 years!  EEK!  I suddenly feel so old, haha.  

We have been trying to figure out our anniversary trip for months now.  Our anniversary is over spring break (one benefit to getting married on spring break in college and then becoming a teacher... you always have time off for your anniversary).  We always had a great excuse to do something fun to celebrate.  Then almost 3 years ago...

...our youngest baby (who is not so much of a baby these days) was born over spring break (best spring break ever) and so going away now means being gone on her birthday.... major momma guilt.  So for the past 2 years our anniversary get away has become a family vacation and little Maggie gets to spend her birthday on vacation!   This worked out great for us and we loved celebrating our anniversary/Maggster's birthday together as a fam.

But with this being the big 10 we decided we were going away, just the two of us, no matter what!  Maggie is turning 3 and we will celebrate her birthday before and after we leave... I am sure she will forgive us.  

So once I got over the guilt of leaving my baby on her birthday, maybe I am still not completely over that... hmmmm.... and made sure my mom would take the kids, because if I can't be with her on her birthday Grandma is the next best thing, right?!?  We had to choose a destination.  Hubby has left this completely up to me... he just wanted me to make up my mind... days ago.  haha.

So I began trying to choose where to go...

Cruise (I am afraid I will get seasick)

Skiing (I am not as young as I once was and if I blow out my knee, who is going to teach my classes and take care of my children)

New York (not in the budget, but oh I wish)

Seattle (because that is where we honeymooned 10 years ago.... but it is so cold and rainy this time of year... I really would rather visit in the summer months)

Hawaii (definitely not in the budget)

Hubsters  then told me he would rather not fly... hmmm... okay within driving distance from Southern Utah... Cali?

Santa Barbara (I am a huge fan of Psych so this just seemed like a great idea!  Finding a hotel ON THE BEACH was just not going to happen though.)

San Diego (eh? I really would rather go here with the kids,  Sea World... the Zoo... I think we will save this trip for later...)

I really wanted something near the ocean... not too busy... with a relaxed atmosphere... but still had shopping and great food (because according to my hubby that is what makes a good vacation).

Then it hit me I was trying so hard to find a place like MONTEREY.  Why not just go to Monterey?

We went to Monterey two years ago when Maggie, turned one.  I loved it.  Our hotel was right on the beach.  I woke up to the sound of waves and walked on the beach everyday.  The food was amazing.  A perfect getaway.  It was a wonderful family vacation but how great would it be for just the two of us.  No need to visit the aquarium, which I highly recommend my kidlets loved it, or hang out at the park, or the children's museum.  We could do grown up things.  We can go to nice restaurants and talk, cause that does not happen with three little kids.  Maybe even sight see.  Drive down highway 1.  Sleep in.  Relax.  Read a book on the beach.  I am not saying I don't love making a sand castle, but the thought of going to the beach and just enjoying it for me... not worrying if my kids are too close to the water, or reprimanding my little man for throwing sand in his sisters' eyes.  

So I made our hotel reservations today...

This photo of BEST WESTERN PLUS Beach Resort Monterey is courtesy of TripAdvisor

...at the same hotel we stayed at two years ago.  I finally made a decision and  in March I will be waking up here for 4 beautiful days!  Just me and my best friend.  I am kinda excited. And yes those are stairs, to the beach, from the rooms... yep.  It is kinda like heaven on earth.

Now I just have to start shopping for all the things I need for the trip, new clothes are definitely in order.  Nothing gets you through January like planning for a vacation!

Christmas Recap

Christmas was simple this year.  I was as always running around crazy trying to get everything done for my kindergarten kids, trying to get shopping done for family and friends, it was hectic and insane and then Newtown happened.  I took a step back and decided that simple was okay.  The important thing was to be with my kids, my husband, my students and let them all know just how much I loved them.  So shopping was minimal, and I focused on time.  It was perfect.  I love my little family.

 The kiddos at the ward Christmas party.  It was on December 21st and the theme was the eve's before Christmas.  Everyone was invited to wear their PJ's.  It was a good time!

Below are the kidlets all dressed for Christmas Sunday.  Grandpa Sumens came  down for a visit and took the kiddos shopping for new Sunday attire.  They love their new clothes!  Thanks Grandpa.

 Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma Peg's.  Julia, Josh, Scooter, and baby Lilly were there.  Mags is in love with her baby cousin!  The four of them looked pretty adorable in their new PJ's.

Christmas morning was marvelous.  Simple.  Just like I like it.  We woke up, had our OJ (it is a tradition in Russ' fam that you have to drink a glass of orange juice before you can open ANY presents and everyone has to wait and wait and wait for that last person to drink their juice), and then opened presents.  Santa found the kids and they were thrilled to get just what they had asked for.  

Plus this, and Russ and I spent hours in the cold putting it together.  But the kiddos love it!

We made it to Grandma's that afternoon for Christmas dinner and then the next day my parents arrived, however we didn't take a single picture.  We were too busy playing.  I always think it is a good thing they come after Christmas, because they kinda out do Santa every year! Haha.  If they came first my kiddos wouldn't even be excited over their Santa gifts.

Hope your Christmas was blessed.  Happy New Year.

Fall Fun!

 We are loving the beautiful fall weather, finally!  It is so nice to finally want to be outdoors and enjoying the fresh air!

We headed to Town Square Park for their Taste of St. George Festival ie: free kids day!  It was awesome, free bounce houses, free carousel rides, free carnival games.  We had a blast.  It was just me and the three kiddos though so there are not enough pictures due to the fact that there were so many people and I was trying not to loose anyone, pictures took a backseat.  We did spend a little time over at the food booths scarfing down yummy fry bread and Maggie enjoyed rocking out to the free entertainment.  It was a very fun day.

Our little ballerina had her first dance performance a couple weeks ago.  She was very nervous due to the fact that she had only began ballet two weeks prior, yep, only 2 classes to learn a dance.  You will see from the video below that she could have used a couple more rehearsals but she had a great time and I was so proud of her getting up on the stage and performing anyway.  It was a great reason to take the entire family out to Staehli Farm and enjoy the fun fall festivities there.  The kids had a blast.  

 Below the kiddos are loving the corn slide at Staehli Farm.  After Aly's dance was over we went to the petting zoo, jumped on the giant pillow and played on the playground.  Good times.

Grandma Thatcher came for a visit last weekend to help out while I was presenting at SUECON.  After  the conference she and I took the kids to Spook Town Fair at Town Square Park.  It was fun to have some time playing with Grandma, the kiddos have missed her, and are counting down the days to Thanksgiving.

 Trick or Treat.  We had a great Halloween.  We began the festivities with a Trunk or Treat at the church.  Then a little trick or treating.  Grandma Peg got the kiddos the most adorable candy bags, monogrammed with their names. Miss Alyse was Rapunzel (the wedding version), Thatcher was a Scary Skeleton, and Maggie was a Nice Witch (she was super concerned that she wanted to be a NICE WITCH, not a scary witch for Halloween this year and picked out her own costume... so cute).

 That's what we have been up to... Happy Fall Yall.

Surprise!

We got a great surprise this weekend... Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit.  We had no idea they were coming and even better they had their wheelers with them so we got to take them for a few rides around Ivins (the kids were in HEAVEN).

Thatch also got to bring home Happy the Hippo this weekend from pre-school so we had to take the him out to breakfast at the Egg and I, don't you love T's glasses, too cute!

What a fun surprise!  Thanks for the visit!

It's great to be SIX !!!

It's official my Alyse is 6!  It was quite the day.  It was a busy, busy, busy day!  It rained and rained, then this happened:

Santa Clara Focusing On Clean Up After Flooding | KUTV.com

I found out what was going on when parents began checking out students because their homes, their neighbors homes, or their grandparents homes were flooded.  It was crazy!  Alyse's party was scheduled for 4:30 at Michael's and it was a bit of chaos with Santa Clara under water.  Of course a few of Alyse's friends were not able to make it to the party because they were in the middle of a disaster.  I was afraid that no one would show at all.  They did.  It was fun.  We crafted, opened presents, ate cake, it was a PaRtY!  (The whole time I was worried about all my friends and students dealing with the disaster).  Poor Aly, as if sharing a birthday with 9-11 is not enough to overcome, this year she got to share with a Natural Disaster.  She had no idea, I love her.  

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea.  You are one amazing 6 year old and I am super proud to be your Mommy.

School Days...

Not gonna lie peeps, my days revolve around school.  Lessons to plan, prep, and teach.  Class parties, books to bind, calls to make, e-mails to answer, PLC meetings, training, copies, assessments, grading, creating resources, laminating, cutting out lamination, copying, scrubbing tables, sanitizing, newsletters, homework packets, copies, class blog, teaching blog, blog stalking, entering data, testing, more copying, etc. etc. etc.  I have felt for years so torn between what I feel I need to get done to be a good teacher and what I am not doing to be a good mother.  Now that Aly is in school with me every day and Thatch is coming with us on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for a bit before pre-school I feel like I see my kiddos more, I love it!  They love it!  So here are a few pictures of our school days.

Thatch hanging out before school with Mommy.

Alyse working hard in Mommy's class.

The love school as much as I do!  Hopefully it will last a LONG time.

It's Official... He is a Preschooler!

 Thatcher started pre-school today.  He was over the moon with excitement, it has been killing him to have Russ, Alyse, and I back to school while he waited and waited for the BIG DAY!  He has been wearing his backpack all over the house for weeks.  This morning he was all attitude (see below) and ready to go!  His teacher is RoCkStAr and picks him up from me at my school in the morning right before the bell rings and then lets him hang out after class for 10-15 minutes until I can get there to pick him up during my lunch.  At lunchtime I run my little man back to Grandma Peg's and then return to the school for my afternoon class.  Miss Alyse is lucky enough to have our school counselor's daughter as one of her new friends and they have lunch together in the counselor's office on Tuesday's (on Thursday Russ picks the little man up after pre-school whew, he is the best Daddy EVER!).  What would I do without my little village!  I am amazed at all of the people that work together to help us!   Because how could I ever tell that sweet handsome little man that he can't go to pre-school because Mommy has to teach kindergarten (do you see the irony in that?!).  Anyway, he had the BEST day EVER!  Which made my day pretty great as well.

Can you believe that I have 2 kiddos going to school because I can't.  Maggie is not far behind... before I know it they will all be graduating!  Eeek!